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

Chapter 331 Palace Banquet 3

The Imperial Garden was brightly lit with candles.

The moonlight was obscured by the candlelight.

The banquet was filled with singing and dancing.

The female relatives of the officials attending the banquet below chatted while enjoying the dance.

They noticed the commotion on the stage, but only dared to glance at it out of the corner of their eyes.

They could see a girl's figure in the distance, standing neither humble nor arrogant.

He was speaking to Princess Wanming.

"Grass, though inconspicuous and very ordinary, has a strong vitality. Give it just a little space and it will grow wildly."

“They can be found everywhere, in the cracks of stone slabs, on the edge of cliffs, and even in the arid desert.”

"The reason my mother gave me this name is precisely because she had expectations for me and loved me enough. She hoped that I could grow freely like a blade of grass, and no matter what storms I experienced, I could still stand up after the storm."

"Grass is tenacious and full of vitality."

"I don't think grass is lowly."

"If things that can be seen everywhere are considered lowly, then according to what you said before, are all the hundreds of millions of people in this world lowly?"

Shen Cao spoke to Zhao Ruhui.

Looking at the composed and dignified young girl before him, the Emperor grew to admire her even more.

He frowned and glanced at Zhao Ruhui with a sullen face.

Is this why Shu Hua suddenly told him at noon to postpone bestowing the title of Wan Ming upon him today?

He smiled at Shen Cao and said, "Shen Cao, what you said is quite right."

"Everything has its reason for existing. Your mother was quite remarkable to be able to see the tenacious life in an ordinary blade of grass and give you such a name."

"Isn't this empire mine because of those hundreds of millions of ordinary people?"

Zhao Ruhui had already lowered her head when she heard Shen Cao mention the common people. At this moment, she felt a sharp gaze coming from the direction of the Emperor.

After speaking, the Emperor turned to look at Shen Shuhua, "Speaking of grass, I remember that the Shen family had a family heirloom, a jade pendant shaped like grass. Grass seems to be a very special thing for the Shen family."

Shen Shuhua nodded, looking at Zhao Ruhui with some anger, "Grass is not a lowly thing."

"Your maternal grandfather's family, the Shen family, started by selling grain and fodder for horses, and gradually built up their current vast fortune."

"Even now, no matter how big the Shen family's business is, they still attach great importance to businesses related to grass."

"It can be said that without grass, there would be no Shen family as we know it today, not even me, and including you."

"Ming'er, what you said today was indeed very inappropriate. Go and apologize to Shen Cao right now."

Zhao Ruhui looked at Shen Shuhua with some surprise.

Her mother actually made her go and apologize to Shen Cao.

She, a princess of a nation, actually had to apologize to a commoner.

She clenched her hands, reluctantly picked up a cup of tea, and walked over to Shen Cao.

“Miss Shen Cao,” she couldn’t bring herself to say it. Why should she apologize to her? She hadn’t said anything wrong.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the Empress.

The Empress gave her a look.

A ruthless glint flashed in her eyes, and without hesitation, she splashed the cup of tea onto Shen Cao.

"I am a princess, I will not apologize to her."

After saying that, he ran away angrily.

Actually, she didn't run far; she only ran a few steps before stopping not far from the Imperial Garden.

The Empress just told her with her eyes that she is the princess, and the Emperor will not blame her for anything she does.

She didn't see the deep disappointment in the Emperor's eyes the instant she ran away and saw what she had done.

Shen Shuhua was also disappointed in her.

She was even a little confused. She had clearly done something wrong, and she had asked her to apologize, but her daughter simply wouldn't listen to her.

When her mother suggested that she postpone the bestowal of the title, she actually hesitated.

That was the daughter she had been searching for, and she wanted to give her the best things in the world.

But after hearing her mother tell her about Shen Cao, and because Wan Yue always talked about Shen Cao to her, she realized that Shen Cao was a real problem.

Although she hesitated, in order to save face for the royal family and for the good of her Wanming, she went to tell the Emperor about it.

But she had some regrets until just now.

However, that cup of tea washed away the slight regret in her heart.

This child definitely needs to be taught a lesson for doing such a rude thing in front of everyone.

That's absolutely unacceptable.

Especially after she did something wrong, she still acted like this.

This was undoubtedly a public slap in the face to her and the emperor.

The princess actually bullied people in public.

As expected, the Emperor said with a stern face, "Alright, since Princess Wanming is not happy with today's banquet, then let's call it a day."

After saying that, he angrily left with Li Defu.

Before anyone could react to what had happened, they all hurriedly left after hearing the Emperor's words.

Wanyue rushed to Shen Cao's side and took out her handkerchief to wipe the tea off Shen Cao's face.

Then someone draped the cloak prepared for her over her shoulders.

"Sister Grass, are you alright?"

Shen Cao shook her head. She was fine; thankfully, the tea wasn't too hot.

When Shen Shuhua saw someone following Zhao Ruhui, she quickly ran to Shen Cao and apologized to her on Zhao Ruhui's behalf.

"I wouldn't dare. Luckily, the tea isn't too hot. I'm fine, it's just my clothes." They're wet, and she can't very well go back to the palace in wet clothes.

Seeing that she wasn't angry, Shen Shuhua sensibly brought up the clothes instead.

Yes, if someone saw her in her dirty, wet clothes, they would definitely be able to deduce what had happened.

She stepped forward and took Shen Cao's hand. "Come with me to Yuehua Palace, change your clothes, and then leave the palace."

The Empress watched the departing crowd, especially the Emperor who left in anger, and felt a great sense of satisfaction and joy.

She picked up a wine glass from the table, poured herself a drink, tilted her head back, drank it down, and left with a smile.

In the Moon Palace, Shen Cao was surprised that the Imperial Concubine would personally come to change her clothes.

Shen Shuhua didn't know what was wrong with her, but seeing Shen Cao being wronged made her feel very sorry for him.

When she realized what had happened, her hand was already on Shen Cao's clothes.

"Your Highness, I can do it myself." Shen Cao took a step forward gently and took her clothes from Shen Shuhua's hands.

Shen Shuhua looked at her empty hands, feeling a little disappointed.

She simply sat down on a stool nearby and watched Wanyue help Shen Cao change her clothes.

Granny Cao went to pour tea.

Shen Cao's shirt was completely soaked.

She took off her clothes until she was only wearing a bodice.

Wanyue handed her clean clothes, a low-cut ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress).

She put on her inner garment first, tucking her hair inside.

After she finished dressing, she reached up and pulled all her hair back, trying to take it all out of her clothes.

Upon seeing this, Wanyue immediately stepped forward to help her.

She grabbed all of Shen Cao's hair, rolled it around a few times, and then pressed the hair onto the top of Shen Cao's head.

Shen Cao's nape was exposed.

“Hey, Sister Grass, you have a pink birthmark on the back of your neck.”

With a 'crack', the two were startled by the sound of the teacup shattering.

Before the two could react, they saw Shen Shuhua rush to Shen Cao's side and stare blankly at Shen Cao's birthmark.