The Duke's Daughter is Reborn

In front of the palace gate, the black iron armor of the imperial guards shone with a cold luster under the morning sun, and the fragmented morning light between the armor pieces was like flowing mercury.

The commander of the imperial guards standing at the front held a gilded bronze plate in his hand, and the gold-inlaid bronze bell on his waist rang crisply with his steady steps. Every ring of the bell caused the sedan chair waiting to enter the palace to tremble slightly.

"Please show us your invitation." The commander's voice was as deep as a bell as he was screening the dignitaries waiting to enter the palace. However, his eyes involuntarily swept across the long line of gilded chariots in the back. He was afraid that he would be very busy today.

The carriages that could be seen sparkled in the morning light, and were more than one specification higher than those seen on normal days. It must be that every mansion today was using the best carriages.

Lifting a corner of the pearl curtain, Princess Cheng An looked at the winding convoy in front of her. Her golden silk butterfly-flower hairpin swayed slightly with her impatient movements: "Why are there so many people attending the meeting today?"

She tapped her fingertips on the gilded window sill. "I'm afraid the road to the palace will be jammed until noon."

Princess Heshou rubbed her throbbing temples. Although her daughter's outfit was luxurious, it still had a bit of childishness and frivolity.

She lowered her voice and said, "Cheng'an, just act like a fool."

As he spoke, he gently tapped the hairpin on his daughter's bun with his fingertips, "Today's Hundred Flowers Banquet is a grand ceremony personally proposed by the Emperor and hosted by the Empress. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will also be in attendance."

Today is the Hundred Flowers Banquet, and Princess Heshou also received an invitation from the royal family, so Princess Cheng'an followed Princess Heshou's carriage into the palace today.

"Of course I know." Princess Cheng An curled her lips and caught a glimpse of the jade ring faintly visible on her mother's sleeve. She suddenly remembered the luster of Song Yangqi's jade hairpin flowing under the candlelight at the banquet in the Moon Palace last time, and she became angry: "Why did mother say that to me? Which banquet did Cheng An embarrass you?"

This jade ring for my mother was a gift from the Queen Mother and is from the royal family.

Yangqi's jade hairpin was probably from the royal family and must have been a gift from the Queen Mother. Thinking of this, Song Yangqi felt furious.

Princess Heshou closed her eyes. Over the years, she had done so many ridiculous things for the prince.

The most outrageous thing was the time she pretended to fall into the water. If the prince hadn't rescued her in time, the consequences would have been disastrous.

"The last time the Queen held a flower-viewing banquet..." She had just opened her mouth when Cheng An suddenly lowered the curtain.

"Mother!" Princess Cheng'an bit her lower lip, a trace of grievance flashed in her eyes, "I just don't accept it! Who is Song Yangqi?"

She remembered that the Queen had specifically asked Song Yangqi about this during the flower viewing banquet, and Princess Yuanyi was also very close to Song Yangqi. Cheng Anjun's fingertips unconsciously pinched into her palm, "How could she be so respected by the Queen? She even helped organize the Hundred Flowers Banquet!"

The orderly footsteps of the imperial guards could be heard outside the carriage. Princess Heshou lifted a corner of the curtain and lowered her voice: "Cheng'an, if you really want to marry the prince, you must understand..."

She paused, looking at her daughter's dim eyes, and finally softened her heart, "How could you be the only one around the prince? The girl from the Bai family..."

"Bai Yuxin!" Princess Cheng'an raised her head suddenly, a flame of unwillingness burning in her eyes, "She is still in prison!" Even the position of Crown Princess promised by the Emperor himself is now nothing but a mirage.

Moreover, even though Bai Yuxin had been designated as the Crown Princess by the Emperor at that time, the Crown Prince did not seem to show much favor towards Bai Yuxin.

Princess Heshou frowned: "Be careful with your words! The Bai family is now a hot potato."

She tidied up her daughter's messy hair, "As for Song Yangqi..."

Princess Heshou turned her jade tablet and said, "If the queen likes it, why not accept a precept? It won't go beyond you."

During this period, Yang Qi won the favor of the Queen Mother. Princess Shou knew her daughter's concerns, so she naturally considered her daughter more and also put some effort into investigating Song Yang Qi.

Besides, Song Yangqi's life experience was not a secret and it didn't take much effort to investigate.

Song Yangqi has a grandfather who is a criminal. How can he achieve anything great in his life?

Seeing her mother's serious expression, Princess Cheng'an bit her lip and said softly, "I know, mother."

At the same time, the carriage of the Duke of Song's Mansion moved slowly along the palace road.

Inside the carriage, Song Hongwen sat next to the old lady. His bony fingers held the celadon teacup steadily. With a slight tilt of his wrist, the amber tea slowly poured along the wall of the cup. The rising hot steam rose like mist, blurring his smiling brows.

"Mother, have a cup of tea." Song Hongwen handed the teacup to the old lady again. He looked at the rising sun over the palace wall. The golden light was climbing up the glazed tile roof little by little, casting mottled light and shadows between the palace walls.

"There are many people entering the palace today. I'm afraid we'll have to wait in line for a while before we can enter." His fingertips tapped unconsciously on the edge of the teacup, making a gentle rhythmic sound.

She got up early in the morning and washed up. The golden hairpins in the old lady's temples swayed slightly as she shook her head. Although the court dress was luxurious, it was really heavy - the golden thread embroidered phoenix pattern weighed down her shoulders, and the brocade belt tightened her waist and abdomen.

The old lady rubbed her throbbing temples, and for a moment was too lazy to move. She shook her hands and said, "Forget it, I don't know when the queue will end." Suddenly she remembered something and tapped her sleeves with her fingertips, "Besides, you should drink less before entering the palace."

Song Hongwen understood and gently placed the teacup back on the table. His fingertips paused on the brocade handkerchief at the bottom of the teacup: "Mother is right." He looked up at the white hair at his mother's temples, which were shining faintly in the morning light, and his heart was slightly moved.

The old lady smiled. Today was a happy day. Even the wrinkles at the end of her eyes were filled with smiles. "I guess the third girl has been busy since early this morning."

Among so many noble ladies in the imperial city, only the third girl has the honor to catch the eye of the Empress and help co-organize such a formal state banquet as the Hundred Flowers Banquet.

During this period, even the old lady heard a lot of discussions, all of which were about the possibility that the Queen Mother would make the decision to bring Yang Qi into the Eastern Palace soon.

When Song Yangqi was mentioned, Song Hongwen also showed a trace of relief: "Since I am going to the palace to assist the Queen in organizing the Hundred Flowers Banquet, I will definitely be busy today."

"My Lord!" A servant's voice suddenly came from outside the carriage, "The carriage ahead is that of the Minister of War. I'm afraid we'll have to wait a little longer."

Song Hongwen stood up and straightened his clothes: "Mother, please be patient."

He lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, and in the morning light he could see many gilded chariots lined up in a long queue ahead on the palace road.

The old lady patted Song Hongwen on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry, Duke. There are many things going on in the palace today. We must be cautious in everything."

The Duke's Mansion is in a weak position now, so it would be inappropriate to add more trouble on an occasion like today.