After swallowing my anger and taking the blame, I became the lucky little queen

Nian Su Su has made a decision and is just waiting for the birthday party to arrive.

……

Because Nan Chu Bian Jing was building the Great Wall and the whole country was advocating frugality, the Queen's birthday banquet was kept simple and not as large as in previous years. There were more than half fewer officials at the banquet, and no one dared to give too expensive gifts, for fear of being found guilty of something wrong.

However, the queen was not unhappy. Instead, she praised them for their compassion for the people and for having a sense of the overall situation.

The emperor was very happy to hear this and drank a few glasses of wine happily.

Nian Qiao Yue volunteered to sing to liven up the atmosphere, and the queen agreed.

Nian Susu was not in the mood to enjoy the singing and dancing, and glanced towards Qin Junyu from time to time.

Qin Junyu's condition was much better, but he did not drink during the meal, and no one came up to talk to him. Most people tried to please Qin Zehai and Qin Fengtian.

He sat alone quietly, looking somewhat lonely.

Qin Junyu could never forget what Nian Susu said: Marrying His Highness is better than marrying Prince Qing.

So she was not willing to marry herself, and only agreed to Qin Fengtian's proposal because she did not want to marry him.

It would be a lie to say that he didn't feel sad, but if he could marry her, even if he didn't get her heart, it would be good for him. At least he wouldn't have to worry every day that she would be snatched away by someone else.

Nian Susu looked away and sighed softly, wondering if he really didn't want to marry her, otherwise he wouldn't be so sad.

She had never seen such a distraught look on his face.

Just as she was immersed in her own world, applause broke out in the hall.

Nian Susu came back to her senses and looked up. Nian Qiaoyue was smiling sweetly, and the queen praised her generously: "Miss Nian's singing voice is still as beautiful as ever. It is not an exaggeration to say that she is the Fairy of Wonderful Music."

The Queen said jokingly, "Even the oriole, who sings the best, is outdone by Miss Nian."

The emperor also smiled and nodded in agreement.

When Nian Qiaoyue heard the word "Oriole", she immediately turned pale with fright and subconsciously looked towards Qin Zehai, but Qin Zehai was talking to the people around him with his head turned aside and did not pay attention to what they were saying.

She didn't dare to lose her manners in front of the palace, so she could only suppress the fear in her heart and force herself not to think about the oriole that was strangled to death by Qin Zehai.

"Thank you for the compliment, Her Majesty." After expressing her gratitude, Nian Qiaoyue fled and hurriedly returned to her seat.

Everyone else just thought she was shy and embarrassed. After all, she was a concubine's daughter and could not show up in public. Only Qin Zehai listened to the people around him with one ear and paid attention to the queen with the other. When he heard the "Oriole" and Nian Qiaoyue's almost trembling voice, he curled up the corners of his mouth almost imperceptibly.

The queen did not pretend to take Nian Qiao Yue seriously. She looked in the direction where she sat and towards Nian Su Su who was sitting in front of her.

Nian Susu held her chin with her hand, staring absentmindedly at the wine cup in her hand. The queen knew a little about what she was thinking and couldn't help showing a sarcastic expression.

It was a blessing for her to marry Tian'er, but she was so ungrateful and hesitant, making excuses.

In the Queen's opinion, Nian Susu was somewhat conceited. She relied on the fact that she was the daughter of the Prime Minister's family and was ignorant of the immensity of the world.

The singing and dancing continued. Amid the sound of stringed instruments and orchestras, the emperor asked in a clear voice, "Is the second brother leaving the capital in the next few days?" He looked a little lonely and sighed, "It's like this every year. Now my health is getting worse every year, and you don't even know how to stay and help me."

Qin Guanqing laughed heartily, "In my opinion, Father's health is getting better day by day! Besides, with the support of the Emperor's uncle and elder brother, why would Father want to have an idler like me who only knows how to eat and drink around to bother him?"

The emperor pointed at him and smiled indulgently, "You... I really can't do anything about you."

Concubine Ning agreed: "Your Majesty, this is not the first time you have met your son. Don't you know his character? Don't make things difficult for him."

"I think he was spoiled by you." The emperor glanced at her in feigned anger.

Concubine Ning was laughing so hard that she was shaking with laughter, but she didn't mind.

The Queen suddenly felt a little envious of Concubine Ning, and a hint of loss flashed across her eyes.

It's not that I envy her for being favored by the emperor, but that I envy her for being able to talk and laugh freely with her beloved without having to care about other people's opinions.

She glanced in Qin Zehai's direction inadvertently and found that he was also looking at her, but she couldn't even look him in the eye.

The emperor also asked Qin Wenyuan about his studies.

Qin Wenyuan had a dull personality. When he communicated with the emperor, he did not feel the joy of fatherly love and filial piety at all. Instead, it was like a discussion between the monarch and his subjects about state affairs.

However, today, Qin Wenyuan's face was much darker than usual, and his tone was also cold. After answering the emperor's question, he added: "In the past, when I encountered something I didn't understand, I would go to the East Palace to ask my brother, and the problem would be solved immediately. But in the past half month, I didn't dare to disturb my brother while he was recovering from his injuries, and the confusion was not solved, but accumulated more and more."

These words were meant to blame the emperor for beating Qin Junyu with fifty boards, and the meaning was clear and straightforward. Everyone present was so shocked that they held their breath.

At this critical moment, who would dare to get involved with the Crown Prince and the Nian family? The Fifth Prince, on the other hand, spoke up for the Crown Prince in public. Should we say that he is a young and inexperienced person who is not afraid of tigers, or that he is innocent and ignorant?

All the officials looked up cautiously and found that the emperor's face looked strange.

Qin Wenyuan sat upright, his face very serious, and he didn't feel that he had done anything wrong.

The atmosphere became more serious, and even the cheerful music had an indescribable heaviness. Concubine Xin hurriedly tried to smooth things over: "Your Majesty, when I was tutoring Yuan'er these days, I also heard him muttering to me. It would be great if I could ask the Crown Prince for advice. Yuan'er is still young, and he always says whatever he thinks. He is troubled when he encounters confusion and no one answers him. Your Majesty, please don't bother with him."

After saying that, Concubine Xin looked at Qin Wenyuan seriously again, "Yuan'er, you must be careful in what you say and do in front of your father, don't you remember?"

Qin Wenyuan was not convinced, but he had to nod, "Yes."

He didn't want to see his mother humble herself to please others and work around them for him, even though that person was his father.

The emperor's expression eased a lot. He looked at Qin Wenyuan meaningfully and said nothing more.

After such a twist, the atmosphere in the hall became heavy. No one dared to laugh or joke, and their heads were as droopy as quails.

The Queen didn't want to make things too awkward at her own birthday party, and remembering the main purpose of the evening, she took the initiative to redirect the topic elsewhere.

"Another half a year has passed, and none of the princes have married, and some don't even have concubines." The Queen smiled and looked at the Emperor, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is about 25 or 26 years old this year, right? The eldest brother hasn't married yet, so how can the rest of the brothers surpass him?"

Nian Susu's heart sank further and further. What was coming finally came. She drank two glasses of liquor in a row. Her throat was burning and her heart was anxious.