The aroma of cooking filled the house: I sent my eldest brother to become the Grand Secretary.

Chapter 325 Preparing for the Palace Banquet

The moon on the sixteenth was exceptionally round.

On the palace wall, a huge full moon hangs above the palace's eaves, accompanied only by a lonely star.

Shen Shuhua admired the rare beautiful scenery through the window.

How long has it been since she truly appreciated the palace at night?

Granny Cao approached and draped a cloak over her shoulders.

"Your Majesty, the night air is still a bit chilly. Be careful not to catch a cold." A smile appeared on her face.

"Granny, I haven't seen such a beautiful night view in a long time."

Shen Shuhua still gazed greedily out the window, the gloom in her eyes long gone.

Granny Cao laughed at her, "Your Highness, there will be more and more nights like this in the future."

"It's getting late, let's get some rest. Aren't we preparing for the palace banquet tomorrow?"

Since learning that Princess Wanming was still alive, her mistress has clearly become more and more lively.

The worry in his eyes gradually disappeared.

Especially after the emperor sent someone back and confirmed that the woman was indeed the wet nurse from back then.

The Empress has completely changed.

She no longer stares blankly at the mirror every night like before.

She had never had the leisure to appreciate the night before.

For several days now, I've been sitting by the window every day, watching the moon in the sky.

The Emperor entrusted the Empress with organizing the palace banquet to welcome Princess Wanming back.

In the past, the Empress would not have bothered with such a palace banquet, but this time, she took the initiative to ask the Emperor for it.

"Granny, I must prepare well. This child has suffered so much since she was little. This time, I will make it up to her."

The Empress has opened her private treasury these past few days and picked out quite a few good things from it.

If she hadn't stopped her, the Empress might have given her entire private treasury to Princess Wanming.

Shen Shuhua has been very happy lately.

She hadn't been this happy in a long time.

Her little Wanming is still alive.

This was the happiest news she had ever heard.

What made her even happier was that she was not only alive, but also found.

In a few days, she will see her eldest daughter.

In the past, she always felt that time passed slowly, and she would sit at her dressing table every day waiting for it to get dark.

Now, she feels the days are passing more slowly, but she feels happy whenever she sees the bright moonlight in the night sky.

Because the day is finally over, and a new day is just around the corner.

Early the next morning, in the Empress's Chengqian Palace.

The Empress sat on her throne, looking down at the beautiful concubines below, a smile spreading across her face.

"Is Consort Gui not coming to pay her respects again today?" A voice with a soft, southern Wu dialect accent rang out, but also carried a hint of sarcasm.

The Empress took the tea handed to her by the maid beside her, slowly opened the lid, gently blew on the tea leaves, and took a small sip.

A satisfied smile appeared on his lips; the newly harvested pre-rain Longjing tea tasted really good this year.

After putting down her teacup, she glanced indifferently at the source of the sound.

"The Imperial Concubine's daughter has been missing for more than ten years. She has been busy preparing a homecoming banquet for the child these past few days. The Emperor, out of consideration for her, has exempted her from the morning greetings."

"What? Does Consort Ru have a problem with the Emperor's decision?"

Upon hearing the Empress's words, the man was taken aback at first, then quickly stood up and bowed in the direction of the Empress, saying, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was in a hurry and misspoke."

"Your Majesty, I would never dare to question your will."

The Empress lowered her head and glanced at her.

He casually picked up the teacup that was placed to the side and took a sip.

After putting down his teacup, he suddenly remembered that Consort Ru was still kneeling, so he quickly spoke up.

"Look at me, I was so thirsty and in such a hurry to drink water that I forgot to tell Consort Ru that she could dispense with the formalities."

"Hurry up and help your master up."

The palace maid beside Consort Ru quickly went to her side, helped her up, and sat her down.

Having learned from Consort Ru's lesson, the remaining concubines remained silent.

They sat quietly below, listening to the Queen speak.

"If you're talking about yourselves, you should also try to be more understanding of the Imperial Concubine."

"Her daughter is also pitiful."

"She was abandoned in such a place at such a young age; it's unknown whether the rules of the palace can restrain her."

"We'll need your help to teach her properly then."

Pshaw, if she doesn't follow the rules, her mother and empress will teach her. Who are they to interfere?

Consort Chun lowered her head and remained silent, silently grumbling to herself.

She couldn't be bothered with the affairs between the Empress and the Imperial Concubine; all she needed to do was raise the Second Prince to adulthood.

She had heard that, according to custom, the Emperor should have stayed overnight at Chengqian Palace the day before yesterday, the fifteenth.

However, considering that the Imperial Concubine had just found her daughter, he did not go to Chengqian Palace, but went to the Imperial Concubine's place instead.

The Empress threw a huge tantrum the next day.

She didn't believe the Empress could be so magnanimous as to let them be considerate of the Consort.

After the concubines left, the empress allowed the palace maids to remove the heavy phoenix hairpin from her head.

She was the Empress, and only the Empress was worthy of wearing this phoenix hairpin.

No matter what, Shen Shuhua was only a Noble Consort, merely the Emperor's concubine; she was the Emperor's principal wife.

The empress revealed a sinister smile, and decided to let her have a few days of pleasure.

……

In the Moon Palace...

The courtyard was filled with trumpet creeper, hydrangea, and other flowers that the emperor had specially ordered to be transplanted.

The palace servants were all smiling like blooming flowers.

There haven't been any happy events at Yuehua Palace for a long time.

Inside the main hall, Wanyue was having lunch with Shen Shuhua.

"Mother, are you in a good mood?" Wanyue noticed that her mother had already eaten two bowls of rice.

You should know that her mother used to be unable to finish even a bowl of rice.

Shen Shuhua smiled and put down the bowl in her hand. "Yes, your sister is coming back soon. Your mother is happy."

"I've been busy preparing for the banquet these past few days, so I've been eating a lot."

"Look around, is there anything wrong with Mother's palace? Mother looks much better now, do you think your sister will like that?"

Looking at her mother, who was now speaking with a smile and beaming with joy, Wanyue nodded, "Sister will definitely like it."

"My mother is doing very well now, and she is very beautiful."

"You always make fun of me."

"Moon, your mother knows that I've been busy with your sister's affairs these past few days and have neglected you."

"However, in Mother's heart, you are just as important as your sister."

"The reason why your mother is like this is because she feels that she has wronged your sister too much in the past ten years."

"Moreover, as a mother, I don't understand your sister at all. I feel guilty about this, so I will try to make it up to her."

"You don't mind, do you?"

Shen Shuhua looked at Wanyue with some concern.

Wanyue forced a smile, "Mother, I'm so happy that you're telling me all this. I'm just as excited as you are for my sister."

"Don't worry, I won't mind."

……

We waited and waited, and that day finally came.