I was sold when I opened my eyes! My sick and disabled husband comforts me every night after he wake

The carriage soon arrived at the palace gate. After Aqi helped Lanzhi down from the carriage, Granny Tian came over to help Wei Ming, but he refused.

He jumped directly off the carriage and ran to Lan Zhi's side.

"elder sister……"

Lan Zhi turned around, took his hand, and led him into the palace.

The palace looks exceptionally lively today, with lanterns and decorations inside and outside, creating a festive atmosphere for the New Year.

Lan Zhi was actually feeling a bit depressed. While they were celebrating the New Year, Wei Jianning was probably on his way to the battlefield, or perhaps he was living a life of hardship and sleeping in the open.

When they arrived at Qianqing Palace, palace servants came to guide them to sit according to their age, status, and rank. Wei Ming was seated in the position closest to the Empress Dowager.

Lan Zhi sat to the right of the main seat, with an empty seat in front of her, which seemed to be reserved for Wei Jianning. Her heart warmed, and her longing for Wei Jianning intensified.

"The Empress Dowager has arrived! The Emperor has arrived! The Empress and all the other consorts have arrived!"

The women of the inner palace who are able to come to the Qianqing Palace to attend the New Year's banquet today are all consorts and concubines; the rest are not qualified to attend.

Seated in the main hall were the emperor's children and grandchildren, as well as several highly respected ministers and their families.

For example, Lin Dacheng and Lin Xingliang and their families, Zhu Mei and his family, Grand Secretary Liu and his family, and several other important officials also brought their families.

Everyone rose and bowed to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. The Emperor then gestured for everyone to sit down.

"It's truly a rare occasion for everyone to gather together today for the Lunar New Year, so please don't stand on ceremony."

As soon as the Emperor finished speaking, Qin Shun stepped forward and loudly announced,

"Now, please pay your respects to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor in order and receive your rewards."

As soon as Qin Shun finished speaking, Lan Zhi prepared to be the first to get up.

Logically, the Crown Prince should be the first to rise and offer New Year's greetings to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, but since the Crown Prince was not present, the honor was bestowed upon her, the Crown Princess.

She stepped forward and bowed slightly.

"Granddaughter-in-law wishes Grandmother good health, eternal youth, a blessed new year, and all the best."

Although the Empress Dowager disliked Lan Zhi, she nodded in agreement, considering Lan Zhi's pregnancy.

"Very well, bestow a reward."

She then looked at the Emperor.

"Your subject wishes that in the new year, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, and all the ladies may have all their wishes fulfilled, be safe and joyful, and enjoy boundless blessings."

"Yes, someone come and bestow rewards. Lan Zhi, you should go back and sit down. You're not feeling well, and Ning'er isn't around. You should take better care of yourself."

Lan Zhi nodded knowingly and then returned to her seat.

Next, Wei Jiande, Wei Jianxun, and Wei Jianye, along with several princesses, stepped forward to offer New Year's greetings.

After the Empress Dowager and the Emperor bestowed their rewards, the Emperor sighed helplessly.

"I wonder where Yujie went. It's New Year's Day, why isn't she back yet?"

The atmosphere became somewhat somber upon mentioning Yu Jie, and Consort Duan even secretly wiped away her tears.

At this moment, the Empress Dowager reminded her:

“You’ve spoiled Yu Jie so much that she’s become unruly. Today is New Year’s Day, so let’s not talk about these unpleasant things.”

The Empress echoed this sentiment.

"Yu Jie may be playing around and has gone off to travel and enjoy the scenery among the common people. Your Majesty need not worry. She may come back any day."

Consort Duan snorted.

"So she's not your daughter, of course you don't care..."

Seeing that Consort Duan was implying something, the Empress immediately responded with a cold look.

"It wasn't me who told her to leave, Consort Duan has no reason to say such things."

"Then the Empress has no reason to make sarcastic remarks."

"How can this be considered sarcastic? I was merely trying to comfort the Emperor."

"you……"

"All right."

The emperor, somewhat impatient, snapped, "All this shouting and yelling all day long, isn't it annoying?"

Consort Zhen immediately glared at the Empress, who responded with a snort.

The Empress Dowager then said:

"Your Majesty, why isn't Consort Liang here? And what's that newly promoted Consort Lan doing, hiding in her room all day during the New Year?"

The Emperor straightened his posture, frowned, and replied:

"Consort Lan is young and gets up late. She also needs to get ready, so she will come later. Consort Liang has recently caught a cold and is afraid of infecting everyone, so she will not be coming."

Upon hearing this, the concubines all showed expressions of disdain.

When the Emperor mentioned Consort Lan, his eyes were full of doting affection, which was truly enviable.

The Empress Dowager also snorted with displeasure.

"Is Consort Lan young? Isn't Ming'er young? Isn't Ye'er young? Aren't those two little princesses young? Why is she the only one who gets up late?"

Seeing that the Empress Dowager's tone was unpleasant, the Emperor quickly instructed those around him:

"Go to Zhenlan Garden and see if Consort Lan is ready. Tell her to come and pay her New Year's respects to the Empress Dowager immediately."

After receiving the order, the servants quickly left the Qianqing Palace and ran towards the Zhenlan Garden.

At this moment, Ling Lanhua was sitting in front of the bronze mirror, looking at herself in the mirror with satisfaction.

Xiao Fang kept praising her from behind:

"The outfit His Majesty chose for you is truly festive, and it complements your makeup perfectly today. You look absolutely stunning. When we arrive at the Qianqing Palace, you'll surely outshine all the other ladies!"

Ling Lanhua smiled charmingly.

Compared to before entering the palace, she had long since shed the rustic air of a country girl. Dressed in elegant and luxurious clothes, along with precious hair ornaments and jewelry, she looked as beautiful as a fairy from heaven.

She had never realized she could be so beautiful before.

She couldn't help but think to herself that this was the life she deserved, and that a beauty like her should enjoy this kind of life.

"Your Highness, the Emperor requests your presence."

The voice of a young eunuch came from outside, and she rolled her eyes in displeasure.

"They've been urging me several times this morning."

Xiao Fang quickly bowed and advised:

"The Empress Dowager and the ministers in the palace are all here today. You should go early so as not to be seen as impolite."

Ling Lanhua thought what she said made sense, and anyway, she was already mentally prepared to see Lan Zhi.

"Let's go!"

After uttering those two words, she placed her hand on Xiao Fang's hand, and with Xiao Fang's help, she slowly got up, swaying gracefully as she left Zhenlan Garden, boarded the sedan chair, and headed straight for Qianqing Palace.

By this time, the ladies of the palace had finished paying their New Year's greetings, and it was time for the ministers and their families to pay their respects.

There were quite a few people from the Lin family, including not only Lin Dacheng and Lin Xingliang, but also Madam Lin, Lin Yuwei's eldest brother, second brother, sister-in-law, and Lin Yuwei herself.

This demonstrates just how important the Lin family was in the imperial court.

Lin Yuwei sat close to Madam Lin, her face looking very unpleasant.

These past few days, she has been immersed in the thought that she is not her parents' biological daughter, and she cannot extricate herself from it.

Before coming here today, she finally figured it out. Since she was not the Lin family's daughter, there was no need for her to obey Lin Xingliang in everything. She needed to make plans for herself as soon as possible until they told her by their own mouths that she was not their biological daughter.

Thinking of this, she gave Wei Jianxun, who was sitting opposite her, a flirtatious wink.

Wei Jiande and Wei Jianxun were brothers born to the same mother. When Wei Jiande was born, his mother was just a concubine. She slept with the emperor for one night and was fortunate enough to become pregnant with his child. As a result, she was made a concubine by the emperor. However, his mother was unlucky and died in childbirth when she gave birth to Wei Jianxun. Because they had no mother to protect them, the brothers lived a cautious life in the palace.

Only after they reached adulthood, were granted titles of nobility, and moved out of the palace, could they finally live normal lives.