The Eldest Daughter Returns with Power

Inside Qingfeng Hall, the lanterns were lit, illuminating the entire palace as bright as day.

The palace was resplendent with gold and jade, its carved beams and painted rafters a magnificent sight. The spacious hall was filled with guests, a multitude of distinguished attendees, their laughter and chatter echoing throughout. At this moment, those attending the palace banquet were gathered in small groups, some whispering, others laughing and talking loudly, creating a lively and extraordinary atmosphere.

A pretty young woman in a pink dress walked gracefully to the group of several other young and beautiful girls and whispered, "Did you see Princess Linglong in the carriage when we were at the palace gate?"

A gentle woman in a light blue dress quickly chimed in, "Of course I didn't see her, but I've heard that Princess Linglong is as beautiful as a fairy."

At this moment, another beautiful woman, her face full of envy, softly echoed, "Indeed! Moreover, I've also heard that Princess Linglong is exceptionally talented, proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting!"

Hearing this, the girl in pink nodded slightly in agreement, and continued, "Indeed. What's even more remarkable is that I've heard His Majesty dotes on this Princess Linglong! That's why this grand palace banquet today was specially held to welcome the princess back to the palace." After saying this, the others all showed expressions of envy and continued their lively discussion about Princess Linglong.

"Sister Ning'er, it's been so long! Since you entered the Third Prince's residence, we sisters have had less and less contact! I heard that the Third Prince dotes on you, so you must be living a very happy life now." Zhang Hanyan, the second daughter of the Vice Minister of War, held the hand of a young woman with an exquisitely styled hair bun tightly and said in a low voice.

Addressed as Sister Ning'er, Su Ning'er lowered her eyes slightly, a faint smile appearing on her face, and softly replied, "Sister Hanyan, now that I am a wife, my status is naturally different from before. Besides, the Third Prince's residence is heavily guarded; how could I come and go as I please? If it weren't for Princess Linglong's family recognition banquet, I probably wouldn't know when I would have been able to see you again. Furthermore, the Third Prince's residence has not yet established a principal wife, so there are bound to be many inconveniences." As she spoke, she gently patted Zhang Hanyan's hand.

Zhang Hanyan blinked and curiously leaned closer to Su Ning'er, asking, "Sister Ning'er, have you heard anything about that Princess Linglong in this manor?"

Su Ning'er shook her head and replied in a low voice, "Sister, you may not know this, but ever since His Majesty announced Princess Linglong's identity to the world, she has been protected with extreme secrecy. To this day, even the Third Prince has not had the honor of seeing this princess, let alone obtaining any useful information. So, this Princess Linglong is truly mysterious!"

Just as people were whispering and discussing among themselves, a sharp, thin voice suddenly pierced the noisy atmosphere: "Your Majesty and the Empress have arrived!" This sudden announcement was like a thunderclap, instantly silencing everyone present. Everyone looked at each other, and then, as if by telepathy, they all knelt down and respectfully bowed to the approaching Emperor and Empress.

Accompanied by melodious music, the Emperor and Empress, surrounded by numerous attendants, gracefully entered the Qingfeng Hall. The aura of nobility emanating from them seemed to envelop the entire palace, making it difficult for anyone to look directly at them. After the two were properly seated in their main seats, the Emperor, with a smile, glanced lightly at the kneeling crowd below, and then said in a gentle yet authoritative tone, "Today's palace banquet is for you, my beloved ministers and your families. Please do not be reserved; enjoy this joyous occasion to the fullest." Hearing this, everyone responded in unison, carefully rising to their feet and returning to their seats according to their rank and status.

However, at this moment, although everyone appeared calm on the surface, many people couldn't help but secretly glance towards the entrance, anticipating Princess Linglong's stunning appearance. Time ticked by, and finally, the eunuch waiting at the door raised his signature high-pitched voice once more and shouted, "The Empress Dowager has arrived! Princess Linglong has arrived!"

Before the words were even finished, everyone saw a woman dressed in magnificent palace attire carefully supporting the Empress Dowager as she gracefully approached. This woman was elegant and light-footed, like a fairy descending to earth. A thin veil covered her face, obscuring her entire features, but even from the glimpses of her forehead and her bright, beautiful eyes, one could sense her breathtaking beauty. Without a doubt, this woman was the legendary Princess Linglong. Her noble and elegant demeanor captivated everyone present.

The woman moved gracefully and elegantly before the Emperor, then gave a slight bow, her movements refined and perfectly timed, and said in a sweet voice, "Linglong greets Your Majesty, and wishes Your Majesty's empire a long and prosperous reign." She then turned her gaze to the dignified and noble Empress beside her and continued, "Linglong greets Your Majesty, and wishes Your Majesty eternal youth and everlasting beauty."

Upon hearing these words, the Emperor and Empress's faces softened with affection. They looked tenderly at their adorable niece and gently gestured for her to sit down. After Princess Linglong gracefully took her seat, everyone's gaze still frequently drifted towards her, their hearts filled with curiosity and speculation.

Just then, the Empress Dowager, seated at the head of the table, coughed softly, instantly drawing everyone's attention. Then, with a smile, she said slowly, "Today's palace banquet is, firstly, specially held for Linglong's return to the palace; secondly, it's also to allow everyone to get together and have a lively celebration. Our Linglong has suffered so much wandering and hardship all these years; now that she's finally back in the palace, everyone must cherish and love her dearly!"

Just then, a rather bold minister suddenly stood up. Facing the emperor, he clasped his hands in a respectful bow and congratulated him, saying, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, on finally finding Princess Linglong after overcoming countless hardships!" As the minister finished speaking, the others seemed to awaken from a dream, echoing his words. In an instant, a chorus of congratulations filled the entire Qingfeng Palace, making the already bustling palace even more festive and joyful.

As melodious music began to play, a group of graceful and beautiful dancers entered the hall like delicate butterflies. Dressed in magnificent costumes, their sleeves fluttering, they began to dance with fluid grace, their toes barely touching the ground. Their beautiful and captivating movements seemed to erase all worldly worries and sorrows, leaving one utterly mesmerized.

The guests, while enjoying the spectacular song and dance performance, whispered amongst themselves, gossiping about various rumors and anecdotes concerning Princess Linglong. Su Ning'er, meanwhile, was intently watching Princess Linglong seated high above her, a vague sense of familiarity washing over her, yet she couldn't quite place where she had seen this esteemed princess before. She began to ponder this silently.

After pondering for a moment, Su Ning'er quietly approached the Third Prince beside her, leaned close to his ear, and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Your Highness, for some reason, I feel a sense of familiarity with this Princess Linglong, but upon closer reflection, I am certain that I have never had any interaction with the princess. This is indeed quite strange."

Upon hearing this, the Third Prince frowned slightly. He turned to look at Su Ning'er and replied seriously, "You must be sure of this before you speak carelessly or make wild guesses. After all, this concerns the princess and is no small matter." With that, he turned his gaze back to the group of dancers who were performing.

The grand palace banquet continued in full swing, while Princess Linglong remained seated with an elegant and dignified demeanor throughout. She would occasionally smile and whisper a few words to the Empress Dowager beside her, and at other times raise her beautiful eyes to survey her surroundings, seemingly accustomed to the curious gazes directed at her. However, the more she acted this way, the stronger the people's curiosity about this mysterious Princess Linglong became.

"Father, have you noticed that Princess Linglong beside the Empress Dowager bears a striking resemblance to our eldest sister? It's strange, really, that our eldest sister declined this grand banquet today, citing illness." Su Wenhan lowered her voice and whispered in Su Wu's ear.

Upon hearing this, Su Wu nodded slightly in agreement. He turned his head and looked at his son, saying in a deep voice, "I have also noticed this. We might as well find a suitable opportunity to test him." After saying this, he narrowed his eyes thoughtfully, as if he was considering a specific plan.

Just then, a clear and curious child's voice suddenly rang out from the banquet: "Father, which aunt is that Linglong Princess's daughter? I've never heard of any aunt losing her daughter!" Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw that the speaker was the sixth princess, born to Consort Wan. The little girl was still young, with a delicate and beautiful face, and was blinking her big, bright eyes, looking up with a face full of doubt.

The Sixth Princess's sudden question stirred up a storm at the banquet, causing whispers and speculation. The Emperor, noticing this, frowned slightly and turned his gaze, tinged with displeasure, to Princess Linglong. However, despite the strange looks and the Emperor's scrutiny, Princess Linglong remained unmoved, maintaining her elegant and dignified demeanor as if the outside world's turmoil were irrelevant to her.

Seeing this, Consort Wan's heart tightened, and she quickly stood up. She strode to the Sixth Princess, gently took her daughter's small hand, and then gracefully bowed to the Emperor and Empress Dowager, pleading, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please calm your anger. A child should not be so careless in her speech. I beg Your Majesty and Your Majesty not to blame her. I will certainly discipline her strictly in the future and never allow such a thing to happen again." Having said this, Consort Wan stood with her head bowed in fear and trepidation, awaiting the Emperor and Empress Dowager's judgment.

The Emperor slightly raised his hand and gently waved it, a movement of unparalleled elegance and composure. His majestic and profound gaze fell upon Consort Wan, and then he spoke in a gentle yet irresistibly powerful voice, "My beloved consort, please take your seat." With the Emperor's command, the previously noisy hall fell silent instantly, and the murmurs of the crowd gradually subsided, as if suppressed by an invisible hand. However, despite the apparent calm, the curiosity in everyone's hearts burned even brighter than a flame.

Just then, His Highness the Crown Prince slowly stood up. He first bowed respectfully to the Emperor, and then said, "Father, all the ministers and their families are now filled with curiosity about the true identity of my cousin Linglong. In my opinion, why don't we let my cousin no longer hide it and tell everyone honestly about her background?" After saying this, His Highness the Crown Prince stood there quietly, waiting for the Emperor's response.

Hearing the Crown Prince's words, the Emperor smiled slightly, a hint of approval in his eyes. Then, he turned to the woman sitting beside the Empress Dowager, his eyes full of smiles, and said, "Linglong, since that's the case, then you should tell everyone yourself." At the same time, the Empress Dowager extended her well-maintained, fair, and slender hands, gently stroking Su Yunruo's back, softly comforting her, "Ruo'er, don't be afraid. Just introduce yourself to everyone confidently." Feeling the Empress Dowager's care and encouragement, Su Yunruo took a deep breath and nodded, replying, "Yes, Uncle Emperor. And Grandmother, don't worry."

"I am the daughter of the eldest princess, and also the twin sister of Gongsun Lin!" Su Yunruo said slowly, her voice clear and resonant, each word reaching everyone's ears with perfect clarity. However, although everyone could understand the meaning of these words individually, when they were put together, everyone present was completely bewildered and had no idea what to do with them.

Just then, Su Wu, who had been silent all along, suddenly felt a tightness in his heart, as if he had been struck by something. He involuntarily raised his head and looked directly at Princess Linglong beside the Empress Dowager. His eyes instantly turned icy cold, as if they had been frozen into a layer of frost, containing a deep chill and indescribable complex emotions.

The Empress Dowager tilted her head slightly, her gaze falling upon Gongsun Ruotang before her. She scrutinized the girl closely, and the more she looked, the more she felt a resemblance to her deceased daughter in her features. The Empress Dowager sighed softly, then said gently, "Ruo'er, now that you have been recognized by your ancestors, I will bestow upon you a new name. From this day forward, you are a child of the Gongsun family, named Gongsun Ruotang." With that, a faint smile appeared on the Empress Dowager's face, a smile that held both satisfaction and a hint of wistful reminiscence and emotion.