Shipin Dalizheng

Rong Tang's heart sank, and he had a bad feeling.

"Don't wander around, follow me closely."

Feeling uneasy, he gave Rong Zhan another instruction, "The four of you, focus on her and don't worry about me."

In theory, escorts weren't allowed into the palace to attend the celebration banquet, but Rong Zhan and his companions were special cases. Besides being Rong Tang's escorts, they were also on the new army's celebration list. Rong Tang had long since freed them from slavery and given them official military positions. While their positions weren't high, they were a significant leap in social status.

Rong Zhan and the others nodded, and the formation entering the palace changed, protecting Tang Tiantian in the center.

Tang Tiantian's voice was nervous, "Have I caused you any trouble?"

"Don't be afraid, this is not your problem."

"Yesterday afternoon, Nanny You from the palace came to my mother and told me not to enter the palace. My mother and I had already agreed to go to the Fahua Temple to pray for blessings today, but Concubine Xie sent me a private invitation early in the morning, and I had no choice but to come. I was a little scared, so I waited for you at the palace gate."

"Yeah! You're right to think so."

Very good, she did not act on her own, nor was she so careless as to think that everything was fine, and she knew how to find the right support.

Along the way, the scene of the two walking together received a lot of comments, most of which were jokes about the two not being married yet and being inseparable like lovebirds.

Tang Tiantian's face flushed. "I, I'll go find my brother later. He hasn't come to the workshop yet."

As a craftsman who designed and crafted the weapon, Tang Fuyun was also invited to attend the palace banquet, but he was a fanatic. Once he was obsessed with something, he would easily forget the time and it was possible that he would not be able to come in the end.

"Let's talk about it when he arrives. Remember, you are not allowed to eat, drink, or go to the toilet at the palace banquet."

It sounds harsh, and any normal person would probably spit at him.

Tang Tiantian nodded with a red face.

This team quickly attracted the attention of others, and a palace maid was ordered to come and greet Tang Tiantian, "Miss Tang, the Queen Mother invites you."

The palace has its own rules. No matter whether you are a lady of noble birth or a noble lady, you must first see the Empress Dowager before you can take a seat.

Tang Tiantian looked at Rong Tang, and Rong Tang pushed Tang Tiantian back and pulled her behind him, "Let's meet His Majesty first, and then go to pay our respects to the Queen."

The palace maid had no choice but to go back and report.

Tang Tiantian asked anxiously, "Will we offend the Empress?"

"So we must go to see His Majesty immediately."

But when they arrived at the Qinzheng Palace, it was Concubine Xie who was accompanying the emperor. Seeing the two of them coming together, she covered her mouth and chuckled, "The Earl of Jian'an can't leave his young wife for a moment, and he always takes her with him. His Majesty just said that I should pay my respects to the Empress before attending the palace banquet. Miss Tang, you should go with me!"

Her slender, white fingers gently stroked Tang Tiantian's little face, making her shiver.

Rong Tang pulled Tang Tiantian behind him and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to tell Your Majesty. It's very important. Tiantian can't leave yet. If Your Majesty is anxious, you can go first."

Concubine Xie became curious, "What is this matter? Even I can't listen to it."

"It's a matter of state."

Concubines are not allowed to interfere in state affairs. Generally speaking, when it comes to important state affairs, concubines should leave.

But Concubine Xie was very serious, "Even when discussing important matters of state, Miss Tang must also stay away!"

"The important affairs of state I want to discuss are related to Miss Tang. If she leaves, no one will be able to explain to Your Majesty."

Noble Concubine Xie wanted to say something, but Emperor Xuan Ning had already heard that Rong Tang had something to say that was avoiding Noble Concubine Xie.

"My beloved, please go to Kunyi Palace and wait. I will meet up with the Queen later."

After Emperor Xuanning gave the order, He Daban gestured to Concubine Xie to leave. Concubine Xie twisted her waist and pouted coquettishly, dragging her long skirt that fell to the ground, looking back every step of the way as she walked away.

"I really can't stand it. If you hadn't come here, I don't know how to get rid of her."

Speaking of which, ever since the Southern Xie family ran away with the second prince of the Southern Dynasty, Taifu Xie's situation in the court has become extremely embarrassing.

The Southern and Northern Xie families are one family. The Southern Xie family is loyal to Nangong He. Taifu Xie was an important official in the Northern Dynasty. Even though Taifu Xie vomited blood to prove his innocence, in the eyes of all officials, the Xie family had produced two officials, which is difficult to explain clearly.

So during this period, Concubine Xie tried her best to exonerate her brother.

Including but not limited to, wearing cool dance clothes on a cold day and dancing barefoot in the snow.

Emperor Xuan Ning admitted that he was old and could no longer do it. Rong Tang's words at this moment just saved him.

"What's your business?"

Rong Tang said smoothly, "I have nothing to do. I have brought my fiancée to pay my respects to Your Majesty first, just to wish him a happy new year."

Emperor Xuanning laughed heartily. "Why are you paying respects so early? You are also indispensable for the palace banquet on New Year's Eve."

"Let's go, it's almost time."

Emperor Xuanning was going to meet the Queen first, so Rong Tang said goodbye and took Tang Tiantian's hand as they walked towards the main hall where the banquet was being held.

Emperor Xuan Ning looked back and could still see Rong Tang holding Tang Tiantian's hand tightly. He nodded and said with satisfaction, "It's great to be young. You have thick skin and are not afraid of being laughed at. You hold your wife's hand everywhere you go."

He Daban chuckled, "After the New Year, they will be fifteen and sixteen respectively, and they can both get married. In fact, Earl Jian'an has no elders or siblings, so he is all alone. The sooner he gets married, the sooner he can settle down and do his work."

Emperor Xuanning didn't say anything, but he took it to heart. As the old saying goes, a man should first get married and then start a career. If he doesn't get married, he will always be a child, and if he gets married, he will be an adult.

Rong Tang held her hand tightly, and Tang Tiantian was also nervous. The moment Concubine Xie's fingers touched her, she felt her scalp numb.

Rong Tang's expression was also very solemn. Concubine Xie was very different today. She seemed to have a deep hostility towards Tang Tiantian. He hoped it was just his illusion.

The palace banquet was almost full. As the protagonist of today's celebration, his seat was very close to Emperor Xuanning's throne. Originally, Tang Tiantian's seat was far away, so far away that he couldn't see her. But at Rong Tang's insistence, she sat next to him.

His subordinates were all assigned to distant places. There was no other way. They had just obtained a small military position, which was not enough to become the emperor's close ministers.

The two of them sat down and realized they were looking directly at several princesses: the eldest princess Zhaoming and her husband, the fourth princess Zhaohua, the seventh princess Zhaoling, the eighth princess Zhaoyue, and behind them was the eleventh princess who had no title.

On their left were the Prince Rui and his wife, the Prince Huai and his wife, the Prince Yong and his wife, and behind them were several princes who had not been crowned kings or married.

The table on the right was empty, and no one knew who was sitting at it. Just looking at the ranking this time, Rong Tang felt that he was not among the ministers, but rather a relative of the emperor, and a relatively prominent relative.

The owner of that table came over, and sure enough, it was Prince Han, Nangong Jing, and his wife.

Rong Tang glanced behind him again. Behind him was Prime Minister Wang's legitimate son, the Empress's nephew. It wasn't that Prince Wang was of lower status than him, but rather that he was the star of the celebration banquet, and no one could get past him.

Sima Zhi was also among the military generals. He and several of his colleagues had just rushed over from the military camp. They looked at each other and smiled, and nothing more was said.

Then, his eyes turned and he saw Zheng Jiu, who had now changed back to his real name, Zheng Jiuan, pushing Zheng Changzhi's wheelchair. The twins looked very similar except for their skin color.

The two stopped behind Nangong Jing. Zheng Jiuan was about to move Zheng Changzhi to his seat when he noticed Tang Tiantian beside Rong Tang. He left Zheng Changzhi behind and asked, "Who is she?"

Rong Tang didn't want to pay attention to him, and silently turned around to cover half of his face. However, Zheng Jiuan was so aggressive that he couldn't help but slam the table and stand up, "She is my wife, so what!"