Eavesdropping on Fu Bao's inner thoughts, emptying the stored grain and fleeing the famine

"What is this?" The Empress Dowager examined the necklace in front of her and asked with some curiosity.

"Replying to Your Majesty, this necklace was obtained by me from the Kingdom of Shang. It is said to be called a diamond, symbolizing eternity."

Your Majesty, I wish you boundless happiness and longevity, and the symbolism of this diamond is truly most fitting.

Lian Rongrong's flattery was spot on, and the Empress Dowager couldn't help but smile.

The thought that this clever girl was Li Yuanqi's principal wife made him feel uneasy again.

However, having spent many years in the imperial harem, the old lady still possessed a certain shrewdness.

"I really like the gift from Princess Qi, but it looks a bit too young."

"Princess Qi, would you mind if I bestowed this gift upon someone else?"

The Empress Dowager's features were full of kindness, but the light in her eyes carried a hint of probing.

Upon hearing this, Lian Rongrong quickly curtsied and said, "Grandmother, on your birthday, you should do whatever makes you happy."

"Your Majesty, I only wish to bring you joy; how could I possibly mind?"

As Lian Rongrong answered, she became curious, wondering who this old hag wanted to give the street vendor's goods to.

Just as she was wondering what was going on, the Empress Dowager turned to the chief eunuch beside her and gave him an order.

The chief eunuch bowed to receive the order, then slightly straightened his body and announced to those outside the hall:

"Pass on the song and dance!"

As the music began, a group of dancers filed in. Upon seeing this, Li Yuanqi pulled Lian Rongrong back to her seat.

As soon as the two sat down, a dancer with a red veil covering her face moved gracefully, surrounded by a crowd, to the center of the hall.

She was slender and graceful, wearing a floor-length, fiery red dance dress embroidered with intricate gold thread patterns on the hem, resembling flowing flames.

As the musicians played their melodious string and wind instruments, she slightly raised her smoky eyes, her red lips parted as if telling an endless story.

Her outstretched arms were as gentle as willow branches swaying gracefully in a spring breeze.

Her arms drew graceful arcs in the air, and her waist was so supple that it seemed capable of bending to the extreme, like a new moon in the sky.

The spinning is the highlight of her dance. She lightly touches the ground with her toes, as light as a dragonfly skimming the water, and begins to spin rapidly.

The fiery red dance costume fluttered as she twirled, like a blooming red lotus or a raging storm of flames.

The pearls and jade ornaments in their hair collided with each other, making a crisp sound, like a mountain spring flowing over stones, adding a touch of liveliness to the dance.

As the music stopped, the dancer tossed a thin red ribbon in her hand. The ribbon unfurled in the air and fell, and beneath it, the dancer seemed to be in a crimson dream.

The hall fell silent for a moment, as if everyone was still immersed in the music and dance that had just taken place.

A moment later, thunderous applause suddenly erupted, and the applause was even mixed with cheers from the common people.

The Empress Dowager looked at the dancers in the prince's court with satisfaction. After the applause subsided, she beckoned to one of the dancers.

"Come, come to my side."

The dancer gave a slight bow, her every gesture exuding the elegance of a noblewoman from a prominent family.

Lian Rongrong looked at the dancer and felt a strange sense of familiarity, but couldn't quite place who she was.

The dancer in red slowly walked to the Empress Dowager's side, and the Empress Dowager picked up the "diamond" necklace that Lian Rongrong had just given her.

Everyone was taken aback upon seeing this. It was a birthday gift from the Empress Dowager, and an extremely precious and rare item at that.

What merit or ability does this dancer possess to deserve such a reward from the Empress Dowager?

However, some people had a vague idea, after all, the Empress Dowager had just said that she would give this item to someone else.

Therefore, the red-clad dancer in front of us must also be someone of extraordinary status.

The dancer in red accepted the necklace, knelt down to express her gratitude, and looked very adorable.

"Rise quickly," the Empress Dowager said kindly.

The dancer in red rose, turned to face the crowd, and only then did the Empress Dowager's voice ring out again:

"When I was in the imperial palace, I often felt lonely, and it just so happened that I had a connection with this girl. So I took her in as my goddaughter."

Ling'er, please say hello to everyone.

"Yes." The dancer in red curtsied and then slowly lifted her veil, revealing a delicate face.

Lian Rongrong recognized this face, after all, she was a woman who had been betrothed to Prince Qi since childhood.

Hua Ling first bowed deeply to the old emperor, and then went down to the palace to greet the princes and princesses present one by one.

Finally, she looked around at everyone and said gracefully, "This humble woman, Hua Ling, greets all of you esteemed sirs."

"Hua Ling? Is she a young lady from the Hua family?" The Hua family is one of the most prominent families in the entire Dasheng, so everyone is naturally familiar with the name Hua Ling.

"That's right, it's Miss Hua. What's she doing here? And how did she become the Empress Dowager's goddaughter?"

"Who knows? She was originally a merchant's daughter, but now she's risen to a high social status."

"I've heard that this Flower Spirit was once engaged to His Highness Prince Qi, could it be that..."

Inside the hall, some adults couldn't help but start talking, and these voices reached the ears of Lian Rongrong and Li Yuanqi without fail.

The two exchanged a glance, both understanding the situation without saying a word. Fu Bao, sitting between them, yawned.

After watching the commotion for so long, I'm really tired. If Little Green Tea hadn't suddenly appeared, I'm afraid Fu Bao would have fallen asleep.

Looks like that old hag is up to something.

"You're so smart!" Lian Rongrong looked at her lazy son and communicated with him telepathically.

[Not as smart as Mommy! Mommy tears apart the scheming woman, and Fu Bao loves watching!]

"Let your father deal with his own romantic entanglements."

Upon hearing this, Fu Bao turned to look at Li Yuanqi, then rolled her eyes: [Scumbag!]

Hearing this, Li Yuanqi couldn't help but cough twice: "What's it to you, old man? I didn't cause any trouble. You brat, watch out, I'll deal with you when we get back!"

As Li Yuanqi was glaring at Fu Bao, the Empress Dowager, who had ascended the throne, suddenly spoke:

"Yuan Qi, come here."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanqi stood up, strode to the Empress Dowager's side, and politely greeted her as "Grandmother."

The Empress Dowager nodded, then beckoned to Hua Ling: "Ling'er, come here too!"

Hua Ling looked shy, but her eyes also revealed a hint of excitement.

As soon as the Empress Dowager raised her hand, Hua Ling immediately understood and handed the necklace in her hand to the Empress Dowager.

"Yuan Qi, come, put this necklace on Ling'er."

The Empress Dowager's tone sounded very kind, but upon closer inspection, it also carried an undeniable air of authority.

Li Yuanqi stared at the necklace in the Empress Dowager's hand, remaining motionless for several breaths. The hall instantly fell into an awkward and embarrassing atmosphere.

"Yuan Qi, didn't you hear what I said?" The Empress Dowager's tone clearly carried an undisguised displeasure.

But Li Yuanqi merely raised his head slightly, gave a gentle bow, and replied neither humbly nor arrogantly:

"I heard you, but I cannot obey!"