Phoenix Hairpin

Chapter 120

The sound of laughter was not too loud, just enough for Su Zhaorong and Meng Yunluo to hear.

Meng Yunluo turned her head and glared at Lu Mingyu: “What are you laughing at?”

Su Zhaorong also looked over and met Lu Mingyu’s ironic eyes. Su Zhaorong felt guilty and quickly looked away.

Lu Mingyu said slowly: “Today is a good day, I laughed when I wanted to. I’m not laughing at you! By the way, is there anything funny about you?”

Meng Yunluo was so choked that she almost didn’t come up.

Su Zhaorong listened to it and didn’t intend to support her future daughter-in-law at all. She even pulled Meng Yunluo’s sleeve and reminded in a low voice, “Hurry up! Don’t delay the auspicious time.” 

Meng Yunluo couldn’t help being pulled by Su Zhaorong. After leaving, the sense of uselessness in her heart really lingered in my heart, and it lingered for a long time.

Lu Mingyu looked at Su Zhaorong’s almost fleeing figure and twitched the corners of his mouth mockingly.

This was also Su Zhaorong’s usual trick. At all times, she showed her weak face to others. Tears flew from red eyes at every turn, or a pitiful appearance of being bullied.

As time passed, everyone looked down on Su Zhaorong. No one took Su Zhaorong seriously.

Who would have thought that such a “weak and useless” woman would be so vicious and powerful once she gained power!

Meng Yunluo, who was always focused on being at the forefront and possessed a narrow-minded mentality, will have to endure her position as Su Zhaorong’s daughter-in-law in the future!

…

Today the guest of honor for Princess Jing’an was Concubine Meng.

Logically speaking, Empress Qiao, as the legitimate Mother, should be the guest of honor. However, Concubine Meng insisted on being the guest of honor, and Emperor Yongjia, being biased and doting on his beloved consort, acquiesced to her request.

The fifteen-year-old Princess Jing’an was slim and beautiful. Despite Emperor Yongjia doting on her and Concubine Meng Gui holding her in her palm, Princess Jing’an didn’t develop an arrogant temper, which was really rare.

Emperor Yongjia also came to watch the ceremony in person at an auspicious time.

Lu Mingyu didn’t move forward, but intentionally or unintentionally stood in the corner.

However, apart from Princess Jing’an today, the three future Prince Consorts were the most prominent. As the future Second Prince Consort, Lu Mingyu attracted the attention of everyone.

Then, everyone saw that His Highness the Second Prince, who was standing in front of her, bypassed the crowd at some point and came to Lu Mingyu’s side calmly.

Amidst the silk and bamboo music, no one heard what His Royal Highness the Second Prince was saying, only Lu Mingyu smiled and said something. His Highness the Second Prince chuckled softly.

It’s just blatantly acting like no one else is there!

The scene that everyone envied was actually like this.

”Both Zhao Yu and Meng Yunluo are in the limelight today.” Li Jing laughed softly, “I came here on purpose to make everyone envy you.” 

Lu Mingyu smiled and gave him a blank look, “Then I can thank you very much.”

Li Jing smiled silently: “There is no need to say thank you between you and me.”

In the eyes of others, wasn’t this unmarried couple gathered together and whispering in public, wasn’t it just that their passion was so intense that they can’t help it?

In the crowd, Li Hao silently glanced over.

He was tall and had long legs, so this scene easily fell into his eyes.

Li Hao pursed his thin lips slightly and quickly looked away.

After half an hour, the Hairpin ceremony was completed.

Next, was the palace banquet. There were ten seats in the palace banquet, only two seats for men, and eight seats for women’s relatives. The male and female banquets were divided into two halls.

Empress Dowager Zhao took the chief seat as a matter of course.

Among the female family members of the clan, some of them of the same generation as Empress Dowager Zhao sat at a table with her. Dongping Jùnwáng fēi was the most gracious, serving dishes for Empress Dowager Zhao herself.

Empress Dowager Zhao said with a smile: “There is no shortage of people around Ai’s family to take care of me. Dìmèi, there is no need to bother yourself.”

Dongping Jùnwáng fēi was tángdìxí [1] of Empress Dowager Zhao. She always had a diligent and considerate nature. She had a good relationship with Empress Dowager Zhao in the past. However, since Emperor Yongjia ascended the throne, she has become increasingly obsequious towards Empress Dowager Zhao.

”I don’t have the opportunity to visit the palace often, so today is a rare chance for me to showcase myself,” Dongping Jùnwáng fēi said with a smile. “Empress Dowager, please treat it as showing affection for your tángdìxí.”

Indeed, Dongping Jùnwáng fēi was adept at flattery and sycophancy! With just a few words, she managed to make Empress Dowager Zhao laugh joyfully without ceasing.

The female relatives were both envious and jealous.

They also wanted to flatter Empress Dowager Zhao. However, there were only a few who were qualified to sit with the Empress Dowager. They had no chance to flatter.

Empress Qiao took the second seat, and Concubine Meng and Concubine Qin were also there. Su Zhaorong came from a disgraceful background, but after all, she was also the biological mother of the Third and Fifth princes. So on such an occasion as today, she had the cheek to sit at the head with Concubine Qin.

Empress Qiao glanced at Su Zhaorong lightly but didn’t say anything. Su Zhaorong secretly heaved a sigh of relief, squeezed out a smile, and first flattered Empress Qiao: “The Empress looks very good recently.”

Empress Qiao said calmly, “With the upcoming weddings of several princes, I have been busy organizing the Prince’s Residence, and my sleep and meals have been disrupted for several days. Su Zhaorong was able to notice that I am in excellent spirits. Such discernment is truly admirable.”

Su Zhaorong felt disappointed but dared not show her annoyance. She forced a smile and praised the grand and lively ceremony of Princess Jing An’s hairpin celebration.

Concubine Meng looked down on Su Zhaorong even more, wiped the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief, and responded unhurriedly: “Su Zhaorong has two princes, which is even more enviable.”

Su Zhaorong hit another soft nail.

Empress Qiao couldn’t afford to provoke her, and Concubine Meng didn’t dare to provoke her, so Su Zhaorong could only turn her head and talk to Concubine Qin.

Concubine Qin was severely suppressed by Emperor Yongjia recently, and she was not in the mood to gossip. Su Zhaorong said ten sentences, but she only answered one or two sentences.

In the eyes of others, it was natural that Su Zhaorong wanted to talk to Concubine Qin, but Concubine Qin ignored her indifferently.

Meng Yunluo, who was two seats away, had been paying attention to the movement at this table, and her lungs were about to explode.

Of course, Meng Yunluo knew what kind of virtue Su Zhaorong had. These years, she often went to the palace to pay her respects and often watched Su Zhaorong’s jokes.

But now, this “joke” had become her future mother-in-law. Su Zhaorong was ashamed and embarrassed, and she was also ashamed.

Where can she still laugh?

However, Zhao Yu was still adding fuel to the flames, snickering in a low voice: “Fifth Lu, the Empress’s table is really lively!”

Meng Yunluo’s anger immediately turned to Zhao Yu: “You look at the excitement, why don’t you hold the table?” 

“Go drink some fruit wine to toast the ladies. When the ladies are happy, they will definitely give you a few compliments.”

Zhao Yu thought about it carefully, and thought it was a good idea: “It’s too eye-catching for me to go alone. How about the three of us go together?

Meng Yunluo: “…”

Lu Mingyu glanced at Meng Yunluo with a half-smile: “You have a good idea, why don’t you take the lead?”

Zhao Yu covered her mouth with a handkerchief and giggled.

It was only now that Meng Yunluo realized that her feelings had been tricked by the two of them. Hey, this anger!

What’s even more exasperating was, why did Fifth Lu, who had such a violent temper at one point, join forces with the careless Zhao Yu?

References