The queen is sober in the world, and she is winning every step of the palace fight.

The Fu family troupe arranged three plays for their visit to the palace this time.

The first act is a literary drama, telling the story of a fairy and a scholar meeting by the lake.

The singing voices are lingering and the costumes are beautiful, especially the actors who play the fairies, whose every gesture is full of charm and is very eye-catching.

Lan Zhaoyi introduced the opera troupe and the plays to the Empress Dowager, helping Concubine Xian to ease the atmosphere.

"...Jiang Liuhong is one of the pillars of the Fu family troupe and the eldest brother in the troupe. He often performs in various mansions. I'm afraid half of the court officials and ladies present today have seen him."

Concubine Kang, who loved opera the most, couldn't help but chime in: "Isn't that the silly scholar in blue? He's quite amusing in his acting."

The virtuous concubine laughed and said, "It's not him, it's the one dressed as a fairy!"

"Ah?" Concubine Kang was surprised. "I really can't tell at all!"

Folk opera troupes had always featured male actors dressed as women, but only during this dynasty did female actors gradually begin to appear. The Fu family troupe included both male and female actors, a fact the concubines had long known, but the male actors impersonating women could still tell.

But this fairy on the stage has a petite figure, pretty appearance, and a clear and soft voice. She looks like a complete woman, but she is actually a man?

Lan Zhaoyi asked with a smile, "What does Concubine Kang think?"

"It's really amazing! It's really beautiful!"

Concubine Kang kept nodding.

Staring at the stage intently.

If everyone didn't know that she was a drama fan, they would probably misunderstand that she had a crush on Jiang Liuhong.

The virtuous concubine tried to coax the empress dowager, "I know you don't like loud plays, so today we have three acts, two of which are literary. However, there is one martial arts act, 'Liu Sheng Going to the Woodcutter,' which is the Fu family troupe's signature play. The empress dowager must see it. If you like it, I will have them perform the full set in the palace for you another day."

The Queen Mother was angry about the Emperor sending wine and food to Fei Wan, but after hearing what Concubine Xian said, she just smiled faintly.

He said veiledly, "I watch all kinds of operas, both civil and military. There's so much going on in the palace, why would we need a troupe of actors to come in? From what I see, there's a full set of operas every day."

Xian Fei and other concubines laughed quickly, pretending not to understand.

"The Queen Mother really knows how to tell a joke."

"Let's toast to the Queen Mother!"

"Long live the Queen Mother! Your humble servants are here to wish you a happy birthday!"

The emperor, who had been silent for a long time, now raised his glass and drank with a smile.

The virtuous concubine, along with a group of concubines and nearby ladies and relatives, tried their best to liven up the atmosphere, not wanting the birthday banquet they had painstakingly prepared to become unpleasant.

But the empress dowager was really annoyed by the emperor's insistence on sending food to Fei Wan. Her expression remained dull and her smile was not visible in her eyes.

It was not until the Fu family troupe finished their play and the court musicians took over, and Prince Rui arrived late with a large longevity character, that the Empress Dowager's smile deepened.

"Why are you here so late?"

"Her Majesty, may you be blessed with happiness as vast as the East Sea and live as long as the Southern Mountains!"

Prince Rui bowed, turned around, and pointed at the longevity character that was more than half a person's height. He said, "This is a birthday gift prepared for you by your son and daughter-in-law. The princess and several embroiderers from Jiangnan worked for more than two months to embroider this longevity character with flowing clouds and double-sided gold embroidery. The bottom characters were written by my son himself. If the Queen Mother doesn't believe me, please see--"

The eunuch who was carrying the word "longevity" put down the sandalwood stand, unfolded an empty scroll, and took out the pen and ink.

Prince Rui wrote with his brush on the spot, wielding it like a sword, and performed a set of sword techniques.

At the same time, a big word "Shou" was written on the scroll.

The shape of the characters is exactly the same as the embroidery.

Prince Rui stopped writing and congratulated the Queen Mother again.

Princess Rui also stood beside her husband with a smile and bowed together.

The Queen Mother was beaming.

Praise King Rui for his commendable filial piety.

Among the ministers, some applauded King Rui's graceful and flowing demeanor, while others praised his good calligraphy.

Prince Rui saluted the emperor amidst the compliments and asked with a smile, "Brother Your Majesty, do you think my writing is good?"

The emperor smiled and said, "Excellent. How did you write so well? One day, my sixth brother will become a great calligrapher, praised by future generations."

Prince Rui bowed and said, "Thank you for the compliment, my brother!"

He lowered his head to hide the resentment in his eyes.

How dare you curse me to death!

You bastard, if I had been born a few years earlier, you would have no business being on the throne!

"Sixth brother, you haven't taken the table yet. Are you preparing to write? Has the delay been too long?" the emperor asked.

"That's right." Prince Rui lied calmly, "To achieve perfection, I practiced again and again in a secluded place before taking the table."

Princess Rui knew what was going on, but she gently echoed the sentiment, covering up for her husband: "Your Highness has been practicing calligraphy non-stop these past few days, hoping to make the Queen Mother smile today."

"You are so thoughtful. I have loved you so much." The Queen Mother asked the Emperor with a smile, "Prince Rui is becoming more and more successful. I am sure you, as his brother, will be very happy too."

"I am naturally pleased. Sixth brother has always been a lively person. If he can calmly practice calligraphy, temper his character, and become more calm, he will be more like our father's son."

The Empress Dowager nodded. "Actually, of all the late emperor's sons, the one who looks most like him is your sixth brother. When he was still a baby, your father said that his eyes are most like your father's."

There are hidden meanings in the words of both mother and son.

The emperor was angry.

The Queen Mother became even angrier.

The emperor was angry at being disobedient and promoting Concubine Zhao, and the emperor was angry at squeezing Prince Rui.

He might as well just say in front of everyone that Prince Rui is most like the late emperor.

At this point, even the most obtuse person could sense that something was amiss between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.

Amid the sounds of stringed instruments filling the hall, the voices of everyone's laughter gradually died down, and they began to pay attention to the situation on the throne side.

Suddenly, a bright and high-pitched voice rang out among the crowd.

"Your Majesty, what you said is wrong!

Your Majesty is a man of extraordinary talent. He inherited the throne according to the late emperor's will. His diligence is comparable to that of the late emperor, and his benevolence is comparable to that of Emperor Zhenzong. He is the true emperor blessed by our ancestors.

Prince Rui is just a prince, and the title of prince was bestowed by Your Majesty. In terms of resemblance to his father and grandfather, how can he be compared with Your Majesty?

Heaven and earth have their own principles, and the universe has its own destiny. I beg the Queen Mother not to confuse the hierarchy!"

Everyone in the hall looked in surprise in the direction of the sound.

I don’t know who dares to say that.

But the person who spoke was wearing a low-grade green official uniform and standing near the palace gate.

The seating arrangement is based on official rank and title.

The farther away from the throne, the lower the position.

This person can be said to be one of the lowest-ranking officials today.

"How dare you! Who are you to speak disparagingly of the Queen Mother?"

Chungcheong-bark, the Queen Mother's younger brother, stood up during the banquet.

The official in the green robe was not very old, about thirty years old, and had an ordinary appearance. Apart from being a little tall, there was nothing special about him.

But when he spoke, he was full of energy and not at all stage-frightened.

"Your humble servant is Lu Guinian, a compiler in the Hanlin Academy."

"So you're just a sixth-rank editor!" Zhongqingbo sneered, "Who gave you the guts to speak so abusively at a birthday banquet and slander the Queen Mother?"

"I am merely addressing the matter at hand, and mean no disrespect to the Empress Dowager. While the position of editor is not high, I am still an official appointed by the court. I am paid by the Emperor and grateful for His grace. It is my duty to speak for Him and for the principles of the universe. If the Earl of Zhongqing has any complaints, please speak up. What have I said that is inappropriate? Does the Earl also feel that Prince Rui is more like the late Emperor than Your Majesty?"

Chungcheong-bok was speechless.

The Queen Mother's face had darkened.

The sound of stringed instruments stopped.

The whole hall was in complete silence.

Lu Guinian saw from afar that the emperor had admiration in his eyes on the throne.

My palms were sweating.

My heart was pounding violently.

I just hope I don’t lose my head today!

He was actually not as calm as he appeared.

It's just like taking a note and taking a gamble on your future.

"Lady Zhao... I hope it's true as you said, wealth and honor are achieved through risk."

"My head and my future have all been filled up by your instigation!"