The legitimate daughter returns, and everyone in the Marquis's mansion regrets and begs for for

The banquet hall was a huge, spacious garden, elegantly decorated with famous paintings on the walls and various brightly colored potted plants. A delightful fragrance wafted through the air, refreshing the mind and spirit.

The banquet hall was very large, with more than a hundred seats, all separated by round glass tables. Around the round tables sat many young or unmarried women, about twenty in total, including Lin Zhirou, Su Muya, and others.

As soon as Su Muya stepped into the banquet hall, Lin Zhirou spoke in a sarcastic tone.

“We were already very quick. It was the eunuchs who were late; we waited for a long time,” Su Muya retorted with a sweet smile.

"Yeah, you don't need to rush. It doesn't matter whether you come or not, hahaha..." Lin Zhirou covered her mouth and laughed wildly.

Lin Zhirou is the daughter of the Vice Minister of Revenue. She is seventeen years old this year. She is bright and charming, with fair and delicate skin. She wears a peach-colored silk dress, which makes her look as beautiful and charming as a blooming peony.

The Lin family were high-ranking officials in the imperial court, extremely wealthy, and among the most prominent and aristocratic families in the capital.

Old Madam Su ignored her and went to find her own seat. Old Madam Su was the legitimate matriarch of the Zhenguo Marquis's mansion, of noble status, holding the rank of a first-grade noblewoman, and therefore sat at the head of the table.

Su Muya pulled Su Muyu along with the head maid to the lower right corner.

"This servant greets Princess Dexian!" A nanny bowed to Su Muya with a respectful attitude.

Su Muya raised her hand in a gesture of support, "Granny, no need for formalities, you may all rise."

The old woman straightened up and directed the maid behind her to present a brand-new official robe to Su Muya.

Su Muya accepted the official robes, dressed herself neatly under the envious gazes of the crowd, and gracefully walked to the old lady Su before bowing deeply, saying, "Granddaughter-in-law greets Grandmother!"

Grandma Su reached out and stroked Muya's smooth, silky hair, and said with a smile, "Muya, don't use the title 'De' randomly anymore. Just call me Grandmother."

Upon hearing this, Su Muyu's eyes widened in surprise. "Grandmother, this is probably inappropriate. You are my father's legal wife, and I am born of a concubine. According to custom, I should address you as Aunt Grandmother. If I call you by your name directly, it might cause offense."

After frowning and pondering for a moment, Madam Su agreed with Su Muya's suggestion. She glanced at Su Muyu and sighed, "Muyu, you are an illegitimate daughter and shouldn't be competing with Muya for the emperor's favor. But Muya is, after all, your sister, and you two have always had a good relationship. After she enters the palace, you will need to take care of her for a while. I hope you sisters can get along harmoniously. Are you willing?"

Su Muyu paused for a moment, then nodded, "Granddaughter-in-law understands, and will do her best to take care of Muya."

"Okay, I'm leaving Muya in your care. You must be considerate of her. She's innocent and kind-hearted, so don't bully her."

"Granddaughter-in-law understands."

Seeing that Su Muyu had agreed, Su Muya happily took her arm. "Sister, I'll still need you to take care of me in the future. Don't worry, I won't mistreat you."

"I'll take good care of you too, and we sisters will definitely get along well."

The intimate display between the two made the surrounding girls grit their teeth. None of them had ever experienced such affectionate treatment from a princess. Moreover, Su Muyu was merely a lowly and humble concubine's daughter.

"Hmph! She can only attend the banquet at the palace because her father is the Left Deputy Commander of the Military Command. If it weren't for her father's backing, I could have entered the palace too. Why can she? She's so annoying!"

"Hey, don't talk nonsense. If such words reach the ears of the imperial concubines, you'll be in deep trouble," another young lady quickly stopped her.

Su Muya appeared affectionate, but in reality, she was warning Su Muyu, "Sister Muyu, let's go sit over there."

"Okay!" Su Muyu nodded obediently, and the two left the banquet side by side, settling down in a quiet, secluded pavilion.

"Muya, why does today's palace banquet seem more grand than usual?" Su Muyu asked in confusion. Although she didn't understand palace affairs, she keenly sensed that the atmosphere at today's banquet was very solemn and serious.

Su Muya smiled faintly, "Today is the eighth day of the ninth month, the Empress's birthday. The Emperor is preparing to hold a celebration banquet at the palace."

Su Muya paused for a moment, then continued, "This is the first time Her Majesty the Empress has held a birthday banquet. It is said that she has invited daughters of various families in the capital, and even members of the imperial family."

As Su Muya spoke, a strange glint flashed in her eyes, "I heard that the Emperor dotes on the Empress, so this birthday celebration banquet must have been specially held for the Empress."

After saying this, Su Muya shut her mouth and silently drank her tea.

Upon hearing this, Su Muyu secretly made her own guesses. In her memory, the Emperor did indeed hold a banquet for the Empress every year, and would also invite civil and military officials and young ladies from the inner chambers of the court to come and offer their congratulations, which could be considered as building momentum for the Empress.

The fact that the Emperor doted on the Empress was no secret in the inner palace.

Su Muyu suddenly felt a chill down her spine. She turned around and happened to see Su Muya's mocking gaze.

"Hehe... Muya, why are you staring at me? Is there something on my face?" Su Muyu asked with a smile.

Su Muya immediately put on a gentle and graceful smile, gently shook her embroidered handkerchief, and said shyly, "No, sister has misunderstood."

Su Muyu smiled and shifted her gaze to the center of the banquet hall.

At this time, a number of people, both men and women, had gathered in the banquet hall.

In the center of the banquet hall, a woman in palace attire sat gracefully on a phoenix chair. Her hair was adorned with gold hairpins and jewels, her makeup was exquisite, her figure was slender and graceful, her face was like a spring breeze, and her brows were full of affection. A gorgeous sable cloak wrapped around her exquisite and graceful body, showing her proud and dignified status.

"That is Her Majesty the Empress, the Emperor's only wife, the current Empress." Su Muya whispered in Su Muyu's ear.

Su Muyu looked at her and nodded slightly to express her friendliness.

Seeing that Su Muyu did not show any fear or lose her composure, Su Muya breathed a sigh of relief but was also secretly annoyed, thinking that she was useless.

"Your Highness, which palace does this concubine belong to?" Su Muyu asked Su Muya in a low voice, as it was inappropriate for her to reveal her presence in this situation.

Su Muya explained in a low voice, "Those are Consort Xian, Consort Shu, Consort Hui, and Consort Rong, who are my three elder sisters."

Su Muyu nodded, understanding in her heart that these were the other three of the four concubines in the harem.

“That is…” Su Muyu looked to the other side, where the Empress Dowager’s palace was located.

Su Muya followed her gaze and looked in that direction, her tone tinged with jealousy, "Those are the Imperial Noble Consort and the Virtuous Consort."

Su Muyu raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. These two were indeed extraordinary, getting so close to the Empress Dowager.

"The Empress Dowager is getting old, and such a lively banquet might not be enough to cool her down. She's resting in Cining Palace," Su Muya whispered to Su Muyu.