The emperor just doesn't treat everyone equally, and it's none of my business!

As the saying goes, after Laba Festival, it is the New Year.

After Laba Festival, time passed very quickly, and in the blink of an eye it was the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month. Lu Junze stopped writing on this day. To use Gu Shijin's words in his previous life, the Great Xia Dynasty began to celebrate the Spring Festival from today.

Lu Junze was used to being busy, so even if he had put down his pen, he would stay in the imperial study on the morning of the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month to deal with some things, and he was really free in the afternoon.

The Chinese New Year is the most important festival of the year, not to mention that it is ancient times now, the atmosphere of the Chinese New Year is particularly strong.

As soon as Lu Junze entered the harem, he saw the palace maids and eunuchs busy cleaning, pasting window decorations and blessing characters, hanging lanterns, etc. Everyone had a smile on their face.

Lu Junze has not been to the Queen's palace recently, including the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month. He rested alone in Chengqian Palace. However, the Queen did not commit any major fault after all, and Lu Junze could not just leave her alone like this, so he prepared to go to Fengyi Palace to see the Queen.

Ever since Defei was given the power to assist in the management of the six palaces, she has always paid close attention to the affairs of the six palaces. Many times, she even handles matters without the approval of the Queen, and her ambition is obvious.

But everyone had seen the emperor's attitude towards the queen in recent times, and no one dared to offend Concubine De, so they just did what she said.

The Queen also knew about this matter, and Yunzhi even advised her to take care of it, but Shangguan Yan just smiled indifferently.

"Does Concubine De think that she can control the six palaces and seize my power just like this?" Shangguan Yan's eyes were full of sarcasm. She curled her lips in disdain and said, "She is quite imaginative."

But it's just thought.

Shangguan Yan will take back the rights that belong to the queen sooner or later. The more proud Concubine De is now, the harder she will fall in the future.

As long as nothing happens to the Shangguan family and Shangguan Yan has done nothing wrong, the emperor will not depose her even if he dislikes her.

Her marriage to the Emperor was granted by the late Emperor himself.

Today, Concubine De came to Fengyi Palace to discuss the New Year's Eve banquet with the Queen.

The Great Xia Dynasty was different from the dynasty that Gu Shijin knew in his previous life.

On New Year's Eve of the Great Xia Dynasty, the imperial palace would hold a total of two banquets. One was held during the day in the Jiying Hall, and all officials of the fifth rank and above would attend, with the emperor and his subjects enjoying themselves together. The empress and Concubine De did not need to worry about this one, as someone would take care of it.

They had to worry about another one. The second banquet could be said to be a family banquet, held in Chuigong Hall on New Year's Eve, mainly attended by the emperor, the empress dowager, the concubines, and the imperial concubines.

However, this year the Empress Dowager and the Concubine Dowager will not return to the palace on New Year's Eve. Only the Emperor, concubines, and the Emperor's children will attend.

"Empress, I think there are too few dishes for the dinner." Concubine De was discussing the dishes for the dinner with the Empress.

Anyone else would not speak to the Queen like this even if they had the power to assist in managing the six palaces, but Concubine De has been flattered a little too much recently.

This was the first time that Concubine De was in charge of such a banquet, so she naturally hoped to do her best and leave a good impression on the emperor. She looked at the dishes prepared by the queen and thought they were too few, so she wanted to add a few more, but the queen would not allow it.

"De Fei, I have been taking care of the six palaces since the Emperor ascended the throne. Don't I know more than you do?" Shangguan Yan said in a cold voice.

Shangguan Yan allowed Concubine De to be proud, but she would never allow Concubine De to provoke her in front of her.

"De Fei, I am the queen, and I will do what you say."

Concubine De smiled softly and said, "Your Majesty, the Emperor asked me to help you manage the six palaces, so I naturally have the right to make suggestions."

"I feel that the dishes arranged by the Queen are unreasonable, and it is normal to raise questions." Defei continued.

"Besides, the palace has been serving the same dishes for six years in a row. It's time to change it up."

Just like the position of queen, it can also be changed.

Shangguan Yan immediately understood the hidden meaning behind Concubine De's words and grasped the armrests of the chair tightly with both hands, until her fingers turned white.

"If I say there is no need to change it, then there is no need to change it. If Concubine De has any objections, you can go to the emperor." Shangguan Yan said coldly.

How could Concubine De possibly go to see the Emperor? Although she has been feeling proud recently, she is not stupid. The Emperor is obviously trying to warn the Queen and will not depose her in the short term.

The Queen is not the only one who knows about the affairs of the previous dynasty.

Concubine De bowed and said, "Since this is the arrangement of the Empress, I will obey your order."

After saying this, he left with the palace maid.

As soon as Concubine De walked out of the house, she saw Lu Junze standing outside. She panicked, then forced herself to remain calm and said, "I pay my respects to the emperor."

"Yeah." Lu Junze nodded and went in.

Concubine De looked at Lu Junze's back, thought about it and left.

Even if the emperor heard it, what would happen? She didn't say anything excessive today. But she didn't know that her provocation to the queen today was already an excessive act.

Shangguan Yan saw a hint of joy in Lu Junze's eyes, and then he bowed and greeted him calmly.

"Get up." Lu Junze said.

Shangguan Yan sat down with him and asked, "Why did the emperor come here at this time?"

Lu Junze came here on a whim, and Shangguan Yan couldn't tell him why when he asked him.

"The eldest princess is already seven years old. I plan to let her go to the study room to study with me next year." Lu Junze can make the decision on this matter himself, but the queen is the eldest princess's biological mother after all, so she still has to say something.

Shangguan Yan's expression did not change when he heard this. He nodded and said calmly, "Your Majesty, please make the decision."

Lu Junze frowned, expressing dissatisfaction with the queen's attitude: "Lan'er is your biological daughter, you should care about her more when you have time."

He knew that Shangguan Yan was not happy with the eldest princess because she didn't have a son and she was injured and couldn't get pregnant again, but this was not the eldest princess's fault.

The eldest princess is still young and needs her parents' care and attention. It is inappropriate for Shangguan Yan to throw his daughter to the palace people.

Shangguan Yan paused and said, "I understand."

"Father, Mother!" As they were speaking, the eldest princess came running over.

The eldest princess usually doesn't come to the main hall, she only comes when Lu Junze is around. She likes her father very much.

Lu Junze picked up the eldest princess and said, "Lan'er."

"Father."

"Do you miss your father?"

"Yes, father hasn't visited Lan'er for a long time." The eldest princess complained aggrievedly.

Lu Junze rubbed her head and said, "Father is quite busy, so I'll come to see Lan'er as soon as I have time."

"Yes, Lan'er knows."

"So nice."

Lu Junze has always been kind in front of children and gets along well with his own children.

Lu Junze put the eldest princess down. The eldest princess ran to Shangguan Yan's side and carefully pulled the corner of Shangguan Yan's clothes: "Mother."

Shangguan Yan looked down at the eldest princess.

The eldest princess was raised in Fengyi Palace, but Shangguan Yan rarely visited her, and she had grown up without her noticing.

Shangguan Yan gently touched the eldest princess's cheek.