HCB Chapter 151 Palace Banquet
Chapter 151 Palace Banquet
Xu Ke chuckled.
"Maybe it's a little princess."
Nanny Wang said hurriedly.
"Whether it's the young prince or the young princess, they are both the prince's legitimate children. They are both the young mistresses of our palace. They will surely grow up surrounded by stars in the future."
Xu Keke gently stroked her slightly bulging belly, her eyes full of tender care.
"I hope this child can come into this world safely and smoothly."
Nanny Wang smiled and comforted her.
"Princess, please don't worry. If you do good deeds every day, the child will be well-born.
This old servant sees that your pregnancy is stable, and the child in your belly will surely be a blessed one."
At this moment, snowflakes suddenly began to float outside the window, adding a unique winter scenery to this festive day.
"Alright, let's go into the palace now! It's been ages since I last paid my respects to the Grand Empress Dowager!"
Xu Keke stood up and Dingdang put a mink cloak on her. Anxiang helped to hold up the long skirt that dragged on the ground behind her.
As we walked out of the palace gate, the palace's carriage was already waiting outside.
Sheng Er and twenty guards were guarding the carriage.
Everyone is in high spirits and ready for battle.
This posture...
It feels quite safe.
Xu Ke, with the help of Nanny Wang and Dingdang, stepped onto a low stool and got into the carriage.
The carriage was spacious, so Dingdang and Anxiang got in.
The car was covered with thick blankets and had a heater, making it very warm and comfortable.
"Let's go!"
Nanny Wang gave some instructions, and the carriage slowly moved forward.
Dingdang and Anxiang looked out the car window at the lively and festive scene on the street, chatting and laughing from time to time.
Xu Keke listened to them talking with a smile, not finding it noisy at all.
Soon, the carriage stopped at the palace gate.
Sheng Er dismounted first, then respectfully opened the carriage curtain and protected Xu Keke and the others as they got off the carriage.
Walking into the palace, you will see lights and decorations everywhere, creating a festive atmosphere.
Nanny Wang showed her badge and walked all the way to the Empress Dowager's bedroom. When the palace maid at the door saw them, she saluted and informed them.
Entering the Empress Dowager's bedroom, Xu Ke saw that she was sitting on the couch with a kind face.
She hurried forward to pay her respects.
"Your son pays his respects to the Queen Mother. May she live a long and healthy life."
The Empress Dowager smiled and waved for her to get up.
"My dear daughter-in-law, come here quickly and let me take a look. Are you okay?"
Xu Keke walked over with a smile and started chatting with the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager looked at her slightly pregnant belly and smiled so much that she got a few wrinkles at the corners of her eyes.
"At the palace banquet today, you should sit next to me! You're pregnant, so you can't get bumped into anything."
Xu Ke nodded obediently.
"That's great. How is your health lately, mother?"
The Empress Dowager took her hand and patted it gently.
"My daughter-in-law is so thoughtful. I'm still in good health and looking forward to holding my little grandson!"
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were talking when the young eunuch guarding outside the hall came to report.
"Grand Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager and the ladies from the other palaces have come to pay their respects to you."
"Let them in!"
The Empress Dowager gave an order and held Xu Ke's hand tightly without letting go.
Empress Dowager Wei Ling'er led a group of concubines into the hall and paid their respects to the Grand Empress Dowager.
"Greetings to the Empress Dowager."
The Empress Dowager raised her hand slightly.
"Everyone, get up."
The Queen Mother looked up and saw Xu Ke beside her, and a fake smile appeared on her face.
"Oh, Princess Sheng is here too. I haven't seen her for a few months. She looks a little plumper."
Xu Ke bowed in greeting.
"I have met the Queen Mother. Thank you for your kind words."
"Princess Sheng, you're too polite."
The Queen Mother said this and sat down on the armchair closest to the Grand Empress Dowager's phoenix couch.
The virtuous concubine, the virtuous concubine and others also took their seats in order of rank.
After they were all seated, the Empress Dowager spoke with a smile.
"Today is a day of universal celebration. I am here to announce a piece of good news. Princess Sheng is four months pregnant."
Upon hearing this, all the concubines smiled flatteringly and stood up to congratulate him.
Concubine Shu said: "This is truly a great event. Princess Sheng is pregnant with an heir to the throne. The Prince Regent has someone to succeed him. Grand Empress Dowager, you have another grandson. It is truly a cause for celebration."
Concubine Xian also followed suit.
"Yes, this is truly a blessing for our dynasty. Princess Sheng, please take good care of yourself and continue to support the royal family."
Xu Keke thanked everyone for their congratulations one by one, and the smile on the Empress Dowager's face became even more gracious.
The smile on Empress Dowager Wei Ling'er's face almost disappeared.
She finally took advantage of the excuse of organizing the year-end palace banquet to get back the phoenix seal that controlled the harem.
Just when he was feeling a bit of the long-lost joy, he was hit by the news that Princess Sheng was pregnant.
There are regents everywhere in the former dynasty and the harem. Once he has an heir, can his son still sit on the throne safely?
This would happen in the main hall of the Empress Dowager, in full view of everyone, without her having time to think too much.
The Queen Mother took a sip of tea and smiled dignifiedly.
"Princess Sheng, you must take good care of this baby. I will instruct the Imperial Hospital to send more staff to look after it."
Xu Ke knew in his heart that the Queen Mother did not really care about him, but he still spoke respectfully.
"Thank you for your concern, Her Majesty the Queen Mother. I have a royal doctor in the palace to look after me, so I won't bother you."
At this time, a low-ranking concubine said flatteringly.
"Looking at the face of Princess Sheng, this baby is definitely a prince."
Another concubine took over.
"Look at the round belly. Maybe it's a little princess. No matter whether it's a boy or a girl, she's a royal princess."
The Empress Dowager said with a smile.
"Whether they are the prince or the princess, they are all the blessing of the royal family."
While everyone was talking at once, another young eunuch came to report.
It turned out that several princesses outside the palace had also come into the palace to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager.
Another round of congratulations and inquiries about each other's well-being.
When the time came, the Empress Dowager led the royal family to the palace banquet hall for today.
The Empress Dowager was surrounded by the crowd and walked in front, with Xu Ke following carefully beside her.
The palace banquet hall was brightly lit, and the ministers and ladies of honor were all in their seats.
When the Empress Dowager sat on the platform, everyone saluted in unison.
"Greetings to the Grand Empress Dowager, may the Grand Empress Dowager live a thousand years and a thousand thousand years!"
The Empress Dowager raised her hand slightly.
"Everyone, please stand up! Today is a palace banquet. No need to be formal. Enjoy yourself."
Everyone thanked him, stood up, and took their seats.
Xu Ke followed the Empress Dowager's instructions and sat on the seat to her left.
This seat usually belongs to Regent Chu Musheng.
It is reasonable for Xu to be allowed to sit here.
The banquet started soon.
Exquisite dishes were brought to the table by the palace maids.
After three rounds of drinks among the ministers, the atmosphere became more and more lively.
Empress Dowager Wei Linger raised her wine glass and toasted the Grand Empress Dowager.
"May the Empress Dowager be blessed with fortune as vast as the East Sea and a life as long as the Southern Mountains, and may our dynasty prosper."
Everyone joined in the toast, and Xu Ke also raised his glass.
The Empress Dowager glared at him in anger.
"My daughter-in-law, you are pregnant now, so you can't drink anymore."
The sound was not loud, but many people heard it.
Including the little emperor who was only four years old.
The little emperor looked at the empress dowager beside him with a helpless look on his face.
After all, he is still young, and as the emperor, he seems to have to say something when facing such an emergency.
But the Queen Mother didn’t prepare an excuse for him in advance!