a little too stubborn. Since she had already done it, what difference did it make if she had the child or not "Forget it!" Quan Qingyun took a deep breath, pretending he hadn't heard anything. He wo...The women entering the palace had to go through the Zhaofeng Gate. At this time, many people had already gathered at the gate of Zhaofeng Gate, all of them were the wives and concubines of officials from Beijing who held a rank of at least Grade Four. 。The palace gate hadn't opened yet, and there were imperial guards on duty. There were also eunuchs and maids from the palace pinching the hour, waiting to check the banquet invitations. 。Carriages were not allowed to stop too close, and people got off far away and then walked towards Chaofeng Gate. 。During the previous emperor's reign, grand banquets in the Northern Qi palace were not common. Besides the annual New Year banquet, there was only the monthly moonlit banquet. Thus, people highly valued the opportunity to enter the palace for a banquet. They would stand outside in groups of three or five, chattering away despite the cold. 。The wives were relatively quiet, even their voices were very soft. The girls, however, were more lively, speaking in louder voices and occasionally giggling. 。The women of Beijing are usually divided into a few groups. One group stays home most of the time, rarely going out and keeping to themselves. They don't have many friends and aren't very talkative, so even when they come to palace banquets with their families, they mostly stand with their mothers, just watching without saying much. 。There was also a group who used to follow Night Fourth Sister because she was the most beloved granddaughter of General Ye Zhenwei. In addition, Night Wenyan had an outgoing and cheerful personality and made many friends, so many daughters of officials were willing to play with her. 。Of course, playing together can also be divided into two types. One is like Jiang Wanting, a close confidante, and the other is that there are instructions from adults at home, asking them to spend more time with Ye Wenyan, out of respect for the old general and the general's military might. 。Besides these two factions, there is also a faction that follows the Li family. 。The Li family was not an aristocratic family, but because it was the maternal clan of Li Xiaohan, they were often invited to court banquets. 。The Li family is now headed by Li Taizi's uncle, Li Zhiyuan. Li Zhiyuan has one legitimate daughter and two illegitimate daughters. His wife, Tao Shi, is dedicated to cultivating her legitimate daughter, Li Yanran. Therefore, she takes Li Yanran to the palace every year for court banquets, which has also cultivated a group of followers and supporters for Li Yanran. 。And these followers and supporters are all those in the family who favor the Sixth Prince and want to protect his succession to the throne. 。

Get up, there were many people around Ye Si before. Although everyone called her a witch and was also resistant to her stunning beauty, because the Ye family held military power, all officials understood that military power was paramount. They also understood that even if the Sixth Prince ascended the throne in the future, the Ye family would not fall. Besides, the Sixth Prince was engaged to Ye Si. >>>。So, the girls gritted their teeth and tried to get closer to Ye Wen. 。But that was in the past. Now that both of the Night Family's generals are dead, military power has returned to the royal family. Night Fourth Sister and the Sixth Prince have no chance now. 。Although Empress Li had no more sons in use, she had a very close relationship with the regent king. 。So people started to watch and wait, and as they did, they discovered that this year at the palace banquet, Miss Li from the Li family not only attended in full regalia but also refused the invitation sent by Empress Dowager Li for her to enter the palace first. She insisted on adhering to the rules of the imperial palace, stating that she wouldn't be special just because her aunt was the Empress Dowager. After all, there were two Empress Dowagers in the palace, and doing so would make the other Empress Dowager feel embarrassed. 。This statement was heard by many. People, hearing it out of the blue, didn't understand what it meant and why someone from the Li family would make such a remark to contradict Empress Dowager Li’s kindness. 。But those who could attend the palace banquet were not fools either. At first, they didn't understand, but gradually they figured out the reason. 。Looking at Li Yanran's attire today, she perfectly embodies both the solemnity of a royal funeral and the elegance of a noble family's daughter. 。The hem and cuffs also used orange. Some say that's the new emperor's favorite color. 。

Li Yanran was originally a great beauty, although not as stunning as Ye Wenyan. However, she possessed an innate grace that resembled her aunt, Empress Dowager Li. Just standing there could radiate the aura of a mother's benevolent fortune.

Someone recalled an old rumor from many years ago, that the Li family ancestors had accumulated great virtue. It was said that even a daughter who lived as a concubine could become the empress by leaps and bounds because of the unique feng shui of the Li family. 。Moreover, some have calculated that in the next fifty years, the Li family will see not just one empress, but two. Besides Li Xiaohan, another empress is sure to emerge. 。This matter seemed contradictory in the past because with Empress Li, the next emperor was almost certainly her son, the sixth prince. 。The Sixth Prince and the Li family are related by marriage, so they cannot marry. How could the Li family then produce another empress Unless a daughter of the Li family takes over Li Xiaohan's position, only then could a second empress be established. 。Li Xiaohan had also made preparations for this. She had looked at many members of the Li family for many years, and finally her eyes fell on Li Yanan. 。In her view, if the Li family were to produce another empress, it would undoubtedly be her outstanding niece. 。So she also thought of countermeasures to suppress it, such as letting Li Yanran go and get close to >>> 。Yes, Li Yanran was once chosen by Empress Li to marry into the Gu Yue Kingdom. She was chosen to be the bride of the newly crowned king of Gu Yue who had not yet married. 。For this, she even moved against the Li family. As long as Li Yanran became empress, the country of Guiyue would fall under the Li family's control. 。The Li family had already begun preparations for this, from the day when their son Gui Yue returned home to mourn his father. 。But what no one expected was that right after, the Emperor of Northern Qi passed away. Then, the Sixth Prince became incapacitated. And then, the Seventh Prince became the new Emperor. 。This series of changes caused the Li family to start wavering. Why choose to leave for distant lands when a suitable candidate was right in front of them Those who were quick-witted immediately understood this logic, realizing that the Li family was about to take a different path. 。Therefore, Li Yanran refused her aunt's invitation and bluntly said she had to give Empress Dowager Yu of the East Palace face. 。Thus, the dynamics among these young ladies in Beijing changed. Some stopped aligning themselves with Sister Ye Si or Sister Li, choosing to remain neutral and observe. They couldn't see which way the political winds were blowing. 。Some people are more impulsive. They think that since Night Four Sister is now missing, and even if her life and death are clear, based on the rumors circulating on the streets these days, Night Four Sister will most likely end up with Prince Dust King. 。And Prince Chen Wang had no future prospects, so Ye Si's move was practically a wasted effort. 。However, Sister Li is different. If Empress Dowager Li safeguards her niece's ascension to the throne after her son loses all hope, coupled with Regent Wang's current clear preference for Empress Dowager Li, then Li Yanran has a high probability of becoming the sole victor in this power struggle. 。Thus, these people chose to follow Li Yanran, and even many who had previously gotten along well with Ye Wenyan began to disregard him and favor Li Yanran instead. 。Now that Ye Wenyan is naturally not here at night, but Jiang Wanting is still 。Seeing those sisters who usually pretended to be so close, one by one leaving her side and standing with Li Yanran, she was furious. 。"A fence-sitter is never loyal, always wavering between sides and ending up satisfied with neither!" Jiang Wanting's mouth was a weapon, ready to unleash cutting remarks at any moment. She never thought twice before speaking, her words sharp and unforgiving. 。A large part of the girls who were scolded lowered their heads and felt that what they had done was not quite right. They felt embarrassed, but didn't want to change, so they simply bowed their heads and ignored Jiang Wanting. 。

But there is also a part who feels they are right, so they retort: "Jiang Wanting, you don't need to talk coldly here. Who we want to play with is our own choice, and you are not our parents, so what qualifications do you have to make decisions for us Besides, it's rumored that Ye Wenyan has disappeared, and now we don't even know if she's alive or dead. Could it be that we still wait for her to come back and never make new friends in this lifetime Is there such a reason Also, Jiang Wanting, you are just relying on Ye Wenyan to be tough. Without Ye Wenyan, what are you"

As soon as these words were spoken, Mrs. Jiang Lan Meiyu, who had been standing on the side, immediately objected and looked at the family of the woman who spoke: "Are you the mistress of the house Although I don't know which house you are from, I believe you must know which house we are from..." 。This is the first time I've heard this in Lin'an City. Apparently, some people don't even put the Jiang family in their eyes. 。Ask me what my daughter is Of course, she's whatever her father is. 。And what are you, naturally it depends on what position your family holds. 。"Madam, might I ask what position your husband holds, and to what rank has he been appointed" Mrs. Jiang Lan Meiyue had the same temper as Jiang Wanting, even more domineering than her. 。No matter what, it is absolutely unacceptable for someone to insult her child in front of her. 。

Even if she were just an official, or even a high-ranking official of the first rank, she would still speak her mind.

No matter what happens later, at that time, I absolutely couldn't lose. 。Of course she wouldn't lose, because no one is foolish enough to go head-to-head with the Ministry of Justice, let alone a mere fourth-rank official. 。It's fine for young girls to be quick-witted and speak their minds, but as someone who is going to be a wife, one naturally has to consider things more carefully. 。So I quickly apologized to Mrs. Jiang: "My child is young and doesn't understand things. Please don't take her words to heart, Mrs. Jiang. I will definitely discipline her when we get back." 。"Done, and she even pulled on her own daughter, "Apologize to Mrs. Jiang quickly!" 。"

Mrs. Jiang took a step back, "This has nothing to do with you. You should apologize to my daughter." 。And besides, madam, you don't need to beat around the bush and scold me for speaking my mind. I'm a kind person who's just worried that your child might grow up with bad habits if they keep behaving this way. 。It's fine if she gets into trouble herself, but what if it drags her father down too 。"That woman immediately became agitated: “Mrs. Jiang, you're being unreasonable! My mother has already apologized to you, and you still want to pursue this My father is an honest official. What are you afraid of from the Ministry of Justice Could the Ministry of Justice possibly frame my father based on a petty argument between our families" Mrs. Jiang laughed, “Honest official, ah! You should go ask your father about that and come back to speak to me after." 。The lady who had previously apologized grew even more flustered, she tugged at her own daughter and glared fiercely at her. The younger sister was startled and realized she had spoken out of turn. 。To be honest Who among officials would truly dare to be so candid Even if she had genuinely believed her father was above board before, seeing her mother's gaze made her understand something. Her face flushed red, and she dared not continue. 。Jiang Wanting gave a cold smile, and Mrs. Jiang also gave a cold smile. The scene was slightly awkward for a moment..." 。But that was in the past. Ever since he met this girl, he seems to be moving around the mortal city frequently. Didn't he just go climbing a mountain the other day Now that spring is warming and fl...