northernbook Chapter 179 Blind Date Banquet
Chapter 179 Blind Date Banquet
Bai Zhaozhao had no choice but to tell the truth, causing Zhong Jingting to cover her mouth and laugh, and then told Bai Zhaozhao not to think about the rare species bestowed by the Queen Mother, because if you want it, it means you want to enter the Eastern Palace.
Bai Zhaozhao sighed secretly, thinking that she had come here in vain this time. She could just be a foil and leave as soon as she was done. But why did the Queen invite her? Did she think she was suitable to be the Crown Princess?
Or, has she upgraded in the Queen's heart? She used to be worthy of the Cheng'en Marquisate, but now she is worthy of the Crown Prince?
Could it be that Concubine Xu's pregnancy put pressure on the Empress? Well, it seems that the emperor's true love can also be anxious.
Looking around, Bai Zhaozhao didn't see Qin Sha, so he asked Zhong Jingting: "Is there anyone from Qin Ge's hometown here?"
Zhong Jingting replied in a low voice: "I guess so. The Miss Han in the blue dress over there is the granddaughter of Mr. Qin."
Bai Zhaozhao understood. As expected, the Queen was unlikely to give up on winning over Lord Qin. Perhaps a complicated relationship would be more appropriate, allowing for both advance and retreat.
"The Queen is here!" The sound of chanting made all the noble ladies quiet down.
The queen sat gracefully in the main seat. She smiled and nodded to everyone. When she saw Bai Zhaozhao, a hint of satisfaction flashed in her eyes. But then she greeted everyone and asked someone to bring several pots of flowers and plants.
"These are precious flowers and plants that I have carefully cultivated. Feel free to take a look at them. If you like them, you can tell me."
Bai Zhaozhao was a little confused. Is it that simple? Isn't it like in TV dramas where everyone takes turns to perform a talent show? No, performances are only suitable for banquets. Today, the Queen just invited them to chat. The fact that they were invited means that they have been selected by the Queen. There is no need to use performances to add icing on the cake.
Just as he was thinking about it, he heard the Queen Mother call out Bai Zhaozhao's name: "Princess Zhaohe, do you have anyone you like?"
Everyone looked at Bai Zhaozhao. After all, she was the only noble lady with a title, so it was reasonable for the Queen to ask her first.
Bai Zhaozhao calmed down and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I know nothing about flowers and plants. If you really give it to me, I'm afraid I will kill it. Wouldn't that be a waste of your kindness? So I won't be so shameless to ask for it."
The queen nodded, obviously not caring, and turned to ask others. Some of the noble ladies spoke very well and had a good chat with the queen, while some knew a little bit but also had a good chat with the queen.
Finally, the queen let everyone appreciate the winter jasmine flowers on their own, and would serve them food at noon. Then the queen left first, and before leaving she gave sachets to several young ladies.
Zhong Jingting told Bai Zhaozhao that the meaning of giving food was that the prince would come over to eat together, as a way of seeing each other. The prince would definitely take a special look at the woman who brought the sachet.
Bai Zhaozhao understood: "Then you don't have a sachet, does that mean the Queen doesn't like you?"
Zhong Jingting stretched out her hand to tidy up her hair, revealing the white jade bracelet on her wrist: "Wrong, the sachet is a backup, or Liang Di meant that I was given the bracelet before I came here. In addition to me, there are also Miss Han and Miss Mei."
Bai Zhaozhao understood: "So the three of you are the contenders for the position of Crown Princess?"
Zhong Jingting nodded: "That's the theory, but you also know that many things are subject to change before they are confirmed. For example, if the selection is not smooth this time, or if the emperor disagrees with the selection, then the next time the queen chooses someone, the situation may not be the same as it is now."
Bai Zhaozhao was silent. She had neither a bracelet nor a sachet, so was the Queen asking her to make up the numbers out of politeness?
Just make up the numbers. Anyway, she has never met the prince in person, so she might as well take this opportunity to see what kind of person he is.
After all, the prince in the original book was a short-lived man who knew nothing. Well, speaking of it, Qin Sha’s plot against the prince failed last time, and the prince did not fall deeply in love with Qin Sha, so did he succeed in changing his fate?
It’s hard to say. In the original novel, the prince blocked Cheng Jiayu’s way, so the plot master naturally had to get rid of him. Now the prince is still not the same kind of person as Cheng Jiayu, so maybe there will be a fatal disaster!
Soon, it was time for lunch and the ladies went to a side hall. Each person's table was filled with exquisite food.
The prince also arrived as promised, dressed in a dragon robe, looking very noble. After paying his respects to the queen, he greeted all the young ladies, being very polite and approachable.
The whole banquet went smoothly. Everyone was chatting and laughing, and everything was said without words.
Bai Zhaozhao was in a good mood at this time. It seemed that she was really called by the Queen to make up the numbers. The Prince was surprised to see her at the beginning, but there was nothing else. There was even a hint of inquiry in his eyes when he looked at her later, as if he didn't understand why she was here.
However, what she couldn't understand was that the prince did not treat the three women wearing jade bracelets in any special way. Instead, he was polite and tactful to each woman, like a master of keeping things in balance, and treated all of them equally.
Great!
Just like that, when Bai Zhaozhao was muttering in her heart that the banquet should end quickly, it really ended, and the queen ordered the palace servants to escort the young ladies from each family out of the palace.
So in the end, Bai Zhaozhao still couldn't tell who would become the Crown Princess.
But as she walked, she finally realized something was wrong. This was not the route out of the palace, but the route to the Imperial Garden.
Oh, it seems someone wants to see her?
Who is so capable that he could ask the queen to call her to meet him?
If there were anyone in the palace who wanted to plot against Bai Zhaozhao, it would definitely be Concubine Xu and Princess Changxing, but the Queen would never help them, let alone the Prince's blind date party?
Then there is only...
Sure enough, when they walked to a pavilion, a lady dressed elegantly inside stood up and asked as if they had met by chance: "This must be Princess Showa! Look, she's getting prettier!"
I met the wife of Marquis Cheng'en at the palace banquet before the New Year.
But Bai Zhaozhao didn't want the other party to think that he remembered her: "May I ask where the lady comes from? How come I have never seen her before?"
The wife of the Marquis of Cheng'en froze. This Princess Zhaohe was really a peasant girl and didn't know the rules. How could she not recognize people properly after becoming a princess? Princess An didn't teach her carefully?
She looked slightly contemptuous and said, "I am from the Empress's mother's family, the Cheng'en Marquis' Mansion. I am lucky enough to meet the county lady today. Why don't we have a cup of tea together?"
Bai Zhaozhao raised a playful smile and said, "Forget about the tea. I have something else to do outside the palace. Madam, please do as you please!"
The wife of the Marquis of Cheng'en was stunned. How could such a self-willed woman marry into the Marquis's mansion? This was the imperial palace, so how could they not even give her face? How could they control her in the future?
Why did the Queen have to choose her? She also said that only such a powerful woman could truly turn the Marquisate around, and it would be a great loss if she missed it. Why didn't she believe it?
But when she saw Bai Zhaozhao turned around, she became anxious again, and hurried forward to stop Bai Zhaozhao and said, "Hey, county lady, don't be in a hurry to leave. This place is far from the palace gate. It's not too late to rest for a while before leaving."
The palace maid who brought her here also advised: "Yes, county lady, my feet are sore from walking so much. Please think of it as you feel sorry for me and take a rest here!"
Bai Zhaozhao didn't look at the palace maid, but sat down and said indifferently: "Okay, then I will pity you."
Lady Cheng'en Hou breathed a sigh of relief, but she felt something was strange, as if Bai Zhaozhao was not feeling sorry for the palace maids, but for her.