The book has no strength, the female supporting role just wants to survive

"Why is the hairpin on my cousin's head so plain? The jade on it is probably broken jade."

Xiao Mingrui was also a little confused. Why didn't Jiang Tunan wear the white jade bracelet? Did she not like it?

Jiang Tunan just smiled and said nothing.

She is poor, so she keeps silent.

"Cousin, if you ask me, gold looks better. Why don't you wear gold?"

Haha, it’s because she doesn’t want to? It’s because she doesn’t have it!

"Cousin, why don't you become a top scholar? Is it because you don't like it?"

Jiang Tunan asked in an innocent manner, Xiao Mingli and Xiao Mingyue and their spouses laughed out loud, and Xiao Mingrui's mouth corners also curled up slightly.

Xiao Mingxu looked embarrassed and scratched his head and replied,

"I'm not good at studying, let alone becoming the top scholar. Xiao Mingli has already entered the Honglu Temple, while I'm still in the Imperial College. But it doesn't matter. Everyone has their own aspirations. But if you like gold, my cousin, next time I'll give you the latest style of gold hairpin from Qishefang. The butterflies on it are very lifelike and look very beautiful..."

Before Xiao Mingxu could finish his words, he was interrupted by Jiang Tunan.

"Then again, I actually think that even if Cousin Mingxu doesn't get the top spot in the imperial examination, he's still a standout among the crowd. If that's the case, why would he want that false reputation? Don't you think so, Cousin Mingxu?"

Xiao Mingxu said a lot before, but Jiang Tunan didn't listen. Now her mind was full of giving her a gold hairpin.

Xiao Mingxu said happily,

"Cousin, you understand me!"

Jiang Tunan also responded positively.

"Cousin! I understand you!"

Everyone: ...These two idiots.

"What are you all doing here? Why don't you get in the carriage?"

Xiao Huaimin walked over with a serious face. Everyone stopped talking and got on their carriages.

The welcoming banquet for Princess Guangping was held in the imperial palace. When the carriage arrived at the palace gate, everyone had to get off and walk inside.

Therefore, many carriages carrying guests for the banquet were parked in front of the palace, making it very lively.

Jiang Tunan: There are so many people (Zhou Xun face)

"Master Xiao, what a coincidence!"

A middle-aged man with a big belly slowly came over to greet Xiao Huaimin. Xiao Huaimin looked over and found that it was the Minister of Revenue Yan Jian. He was from the Second Prince's faction. He didn't know what he wanted to do here.

"Master Yan, what a coincidence, you just arrived too?"

Yan Jian was followed by his wife and daughter. His wife was the concubine sister of the current Concubine Li. She was dressed luxuriously, fearing that others did not know how well she was living.

"Yes, we saw you guys just after we got off the carriage. Those people behind Sir Xiao must be your sons, each of them looks very impressive."

Yan Jian's only daughter, Yan Wanqing, was standing next to her mother. When she saw Xiao Mingli looking at her, she lowered her head shyly.

Jiang Tunan: Another fan of Xiao Mingli.

Jiang Tunan was seriously considering it at this time. It was more likely that Xiao Mingli was the male protagonist. Only the male protagonist had such charm.

Suddenly Yan Jian noticed Jiang Tunan standing next to him.

"Who is this?"

Madam Xiao was the first to answer.

"This is my daughter from my mother's family. She finally made it to Beijing. Today I am bringing her here to see the world."

Jiang Tunan: Oh, yes, yes, yes.

Yan Wanqing curled her lips. The woman had a rather dark complexion and looked shabby. She couldn't be a poor relative from some mountain village who came to the Xiao Mansion to beg for money.

Yan Jian did not pay too much attention, but gradually approached Xiao Huaimin.

"I don't know how the welcoming banquet went, Lord Xiao, but Lord Xiao doesn't need to worry too much. After all, the Second Prince will always help at critical moments."

Xiao Huaimin smiled politely.

"Thank you for your concern, Second Prince. I have already arranged the welcoming banquet. Second Prince is very busy, so I won't bother you."

Yan Jian understood Xiao Huaimin's refusal, but he was not angry. This was Xiao Huaimin's personality. He exchanged a few more pleasantries with Xiao Huaimin and left with his wife and daughter.

"Just follow me closely and stay by my side, okay? If I don't allow you to speak, don't speak casually."

Mrs. Xiao gave Jiang Tunan some instructions, and Jiang Tunan had to act obedient. Seeing this, Mrs. Xiao stopped nagging him.

As soon as the Xiao family members entered the palace, they separated the men and women. According to the rules, female and male guests should sit separately. Jiang Tunan followed Madam Xiao to the table and began to observe the entire venue.

"I didn't expect that someone of your status could come to the princess's welcoming banquet."

A sarcastic voice sounded behind Jiang Tunan. Jiang Tunan knew it was Ye Ruxuan who had argued with them that day.

Jiang Tunan closed his eyes and pretended not to hear.

"How dare you ignore me?"

Jiang Tunan looked innocent and ignorant.

"Ah? Sister, are you talking about me?"

Ye Ruxuan became even angrier when she heard this.

"What sister? I just turned 15 this year!"

Jiang Tunan remembered that this body was already sixteen years old, so he really couldn't call her sister.

"Really? It doesn't look like it."

"Don't you see that you are as black as coal? How dare you criticize me?"

In fact, Jiang Tunan was not dark. It might be because the original owner had done farm work at home, so she got a little tanned. So compared with these young ladies who had never been exposed to the wind or the sun since childhood, she was indeed not that white. But after she came to the Xiao Mansion, she didn't have to work every day, and she gradually became a little whiter.

Ye Ruxuan said this just to embarrass her.

"A white complexion hides a myriad of ugliness. You use white complexion to hide your ugliness. It's so funny. I'm not ugly."

Jiang Tunan rolled his eyes at her, turned away and ignored her.

"You wait for me!"

Ye Ruxuan turned and ran away. Jiang Tunan panicked for a moment, thinking that it was not good to offend someone just as he arrived.

"Sister Yun Qing, is Ye Ruxuan's father a high-ranking official?"

Luo Yunqing looked puzzled.

"Ye Ruxuan's father is only a fourth-rank Jingzhao Yin, while his father is a second-rank Shangshu."

Jiang Tunan nodded to show that he understood, and secretly regretted that he should have cursed a few more times earlier.

While he was speaking, eunuchs outside the palace began to chant.

"The Queen Mother has arrived~"

Everyone stood up and saluted, and Jiang Tunan had no choice but to follow suit. The key point was, why was the etiquette in the palace different from that outside? The nanny had never taught him this!

Nanny Jin, who was far away in the Xiao Mansion, scratched her head: Strange, I always feel like I forgot something today.

Fortunately, the Queen Mother didn't notice this side, so Jiang Tunan got away with it.

Next to the Queen Mother was a lady dressed in gorgeous clothes. That must be the Princess of Guangping. Jiang Tunan thought that she was quite elegant.

Several men in fancy clothes came out from the men's section.

"My grandson pays homage to the royal grandmother!"

They were the three princes of the Daxing Dynasty. The one standing in the front should be the eldest prince, who was well-proportioned and dignified. The second prince was more handsome. The third prince stood at the end and was a little inconspicuous. He often coughed and seemed to be in poor health.

"Okay, okay, everyone, please sit down."

The Queen Mother and Princess Guangping took their seats one after another. Princess Guangping sat at the top and spoke slowly.

"I haven't been back to Kyoto for many years, so I don't recognize many faces. Today is my welcoming party, so you don't have to be too formal. You can be more casual."

Princess Guangping hadn't finished her words when she heard the eunuch outside singing again,

"The Emperor has arrived"

Everyone stood up and saluted again. Jiang Tunan wanted to take a closer look at what the emperor looked like, but Luo Yunqing pushed him down.

"You still dare to look up? Are you trying to kill yourself?"

Jiang Tunan was shocked to realize that this was a true feudal society. If she was discovered as she did just now, she might become the book-traveling person who died the most shabby death in history. She quickly lowered her head obediently.

"I'm not late, am I?"

Behind the emperor followed the empress and Concubine Li. Concubine Li was slender and graceful, and had a kind of charm. The empress had a pair of phoenix eyes, which were like water, but also had a coldness that looked down on everything, as if she could see through everything.

Princess Guangping replied with a smile,

"Your Majesty has arrived at the perfect time. The banquet has just begun."

Baili Quan laughed loudly.

"It's really better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early, haha."

The Imperial Concubine Li beside her also laughed softly.

"Your Majesty is absolutely right."

There seemed to be a hint of mockery in the queen's eyes, but it disappeared quickly.

"Your Majesty, please take a seat first."

Baili Quan responded,

"The Queen is right. Let's take our seats first."