Rebirth of a Lost Nation: Princess, Please Respect Yourself

Making such a fool of himself at the birthday banquet would not only make him lose his own people, but also ruin Empress Dowager Jiang's birthday banquet. His intentions were indeed sinister.

If Jiang Lige remembered correctly, there was no such thing as this in his previous life. After all, his reputation was so bad in his previous life that there was no need for him to bother with embarrassing himself.

Thinking of this, Jiang Lige couldn't help but look at Fu Longzhou who was kneeling in the hall, and sighed secretly. This group of people really couldn't keep quiet at all.

"It's just a piece of music. Li Ge should work hard to learn it. Grandma, please don't be angry. Li Ge came here today to report something important. Why don't you let Lady Fu take care of the birthday banquet arrangements first?"

"Well, but we can't let this matter go. Lady Fu, please consider it carefully and come back to discuss it with me."

Empress Dowager Jiang waved her hand helplessly after saying this, "Go down."

"Yes."

Fu Longzhou retreated as he was told, and then Empress Dowager Jiang glared at Jiang Lige in reproach.

"You've just learned the difference between Gong, Shang, Jiao, Zheng, and Yu, and now you have the nerve to challenge me on a piece of music? If you don't play well, you'll lose face!"

"The arrow is on the string and must be shot, great-aunt."

Jiang Lige shrugged. "Besides, the invitations have already been sent out. What can Fu Longzhou do? Even if they were to change it at the last minute, it would still be embarrassing to run away at the last minute."

"You still feel ashamed?"

Queen Mother Jiang tapped Jiang Lige's forehead in frustration, "In the past, asking you to practice the piano was more serious than asking you to die!"

"Don't worry, Grandma. Li Ge will not embarrass you this time."

Jiang Lige patted his chest and promised, then changed the subject briefly, "I believe this matter has nothing to do with Fu Longzhou. Can you please just turn a blind eye to this matter, Grandma?"

Fu Longzhou is the eldest daughter of the current Prime Minister Fu Jin.

Fu Jin came from a humble family and had no one to rely on, but he was indeed an official who did great things for the country and the people, which was why he was highly valued by Emperor Shengwu.

Fu Jin holds an extraordinary position in the court and is an honest official. Many people want to win over the Fu family, so Fu Longzhou's marriage has become particularly popular.

Fu Longzhou has been well-read since childhood. He did not want the Fu family to be embarrassed because of him, so he resolutely chose to enter the palace as an official.

Palace ladies-in-waiting are not allowed to leave the palace until they are 25 years old. In this way, the Fu family can live in peace for at least ten years.

Jiang Lige has always admired the character of the Fu family. How could a woman who sacrificed her best years for the sake of not taking sides be hindered by the turmoil in the harem?

"If she hadn't been careless, this matter wouldn't have been so ugly."

Empress Dowager Jiang naturally also understood this truth, but she still said with a gloomy face.

"If this matter is left unexamined, won't others think that my Funing Palace is weak and can be bullied?"

"While it's certainly wrong to be negligent, planning a birthday party is also a tough job."

Jiang Lige hugged Empress Dowager Jiang's arm and continued to persuade her quietly, "It's difficult for a pure minister to do this. If all officials in the world had the integrity of the Fu family, the people would no longer be displaced. Grandaunt, please consider the Fu family's contributions and balance the merits and demerits!"

Thinking of the Fu family, Empress Dowager Jiang's anger also subsided a lot. She sighed and asked Jiang Lige:

"Didn't you just say you had something important to tell me?"

"Oh." Jiang Lige finally remembered her intention. "Lige's inappropriate words yesterday displeased Prince Zhao, and I was wondering if I could invite him into the palace to see her today. Lige wants to apologize to him."

"I'm afraid there's no chance. Yun Xiao left the city yesterday without even returning to Prince Zhao's mansion. I don't know where he went."

Empress Dowager Jiang glared at Jiang Lige and said, "Look how angry you are!"

"..."

Although Jiang Lige did not refute, he felt that Ning Yunxiao would not leave the city because he was angry, so he could only stick out his tongue.

"Then I will stay in Qingge Cottage and practice my piano for the next few days. I will apologize to him after the birthday banquet."

"You!" Empress Dowager Jiang smiled, but still a little worried. She asked, "Do we really not need to change the program for the birthday banquet?"

"No need! Don't worry!"

Jiang Lige answered decisively, then took Song Yue's hand and hurriedly said goodbye to Queen Mother Jiang, saying that he had to rush back to Qingge Cottage to practice the piano.

Looking at Jiang Lige's limping figure, Empress Dowager Jiang shook her head helplessly. Although Jiang Lige was a quirky person, he would not be confused about such an important matter as a birthday banquet.

Since returning from the jungle injured, Jiang Lige seems to have grown up a lot.

At this point, she could only hope that Jiang Lige really "woke up" so that she could win back a victory at the birthday party.

Thinking of this, Empress Dowager Jiang summoned Nanny Kong.

"Send the scorched tail from my storehouse to Princess Zhaohua."

……

"Princess Zhaohua will perform 'Three Variations on Plum Blossoms' at Empress Dowager Jiang's birthday banquet. For this, Empress Dowager Jiang specially gifted her the famous Jiaowei qin."

Jiang Lige was not familiar with music, and almost everyone in the palace knew it.

Therefore, after the news of the song presentation spread like wildfire in the palace, people came to Qingge Cottage every day to watch the fun.

Jiang Lige didn't care much at first, but later she was really annoyed by the noise, so she asked Queen Mother Jiang to dispatch a team of guards to guard outside and drive out anyone who didn't come in person.

For several days, there was no movement at Qingge Cottage, which made everyone even more excited.

Jiang Lige has been in the spotlight several times recently, and this time we finally see her in trouble!

Three days passed in a flash, and Empress Dowager Jiang's birthday banquet arrived as scheduled amid everyone's anticipation.

The Empress Dowager Jiang played an indispensable role in the current emperor's ability to sit firmly on the throne. Therefore, the scale of Empress Dowager Jiang's birthday banquet was second only to that of Emperor Shengwu, with lights and decorations and a large number of guests.

The song and dance at the beginning were the same ones that had remained unchanged for many years, with only a change of tune and costumes, which did not cause any waves.

Zheng Baoyao came over at some point and squeezed together with Jiang Lige to start gossiping.

"I heard that the two beauties from the Xiao family are here today and will be performing in front of the palace. Their performance will be scheduled before yours."

Xiao Siyou and Xiao Silian, a pair of sisters born to the eldest son of Marquis Xiao's family, were known as the Xiao family's twin sisters. They were well-known for their knowledge of music, chess, calligraphy and painting. Empress Xiao also loved her two nieces very much.

One is famous, the other is infamous. Jiang Lige could guess Empress Xiao's thoughts with his eyes closed.

Although Jiang Lige had his own plans, he still felt warm in his heart when he saw Zheng Baoyao come to tell him.

"It's okay, Miss Zheng, don't worry about me. I just need to play my piano well."

"Pfft-"

As soon as Jiang Lige finished speaking, he heard a woman's teasing voice.

Turning around, she saw that it was the third daughter of the Qiu family, Qiu Yuyan, who was sitting next to Jiang Chuchu.

Qiu Yuyan has always had a close relationship with Jiang Chuchu. Now that she has suddenly launched an attack, Jiang Chuchu’s contribution is probably indispensable.

Seeing Jiang Lige looking over, Qiu Yuyan looked up and said with no intention of backing down.

"I heard that the Empress Dowager gifted the precious zither Jiaowei, but Princess Zhaohua hasn't plucked a string in three days. I wonder if the talent Princess Zhaohua will be performing today is the guqin, or is it a retreat?"