Chapter 1541 - 1539: Still Got Duped
Chapter 1541: Chapter 1539: Still Got Duped
Chapter 1539
An elderly Imperial Noble Consort, who had been in the Capital City and met Lin Siyin a few times, stepped forward to explain.
"She looks quite good, and her personality... is also fine! Just her etiquette is a bit lacking, can’t compare with those noble ladies!"
"Ultimately, her background is a bit lacking!"
"Yes!"
"Alas, it’s not only a bit lacking, it’s really lacking, I heard she’s an orphan, living by picking herbs for years, with no family!"
"Ah, ah, ah, it’s inappropriate to speak randomly; after all, she’s the Empress, brought into the palace formally by the Emperor!!"
The elderly Imperial Noble Consorts discussed with a comment here and there, everyone felt discontented yet refrained from saying more.
"Forget it, forget it, let’s not talk about this!"
"Today is the New Year’s Eve banquet, the Emperor and Empress will be here shortly!"
"We’ll all see them, won’t we?"
"After being in the palace for nearly a year, they can’t be too bad!"
"Precisely, let’s not worry unnecessarily!"
The Imperial Noble Consorts laughed and chatted, bypassing the unpleasant topic just now, and the atmosphere became lively again.
Everyone drank tea and enjoyed fine pastries while waiting for the Emperor and Empress to arrive.
...
Two quarters of an hour later.
Finally, a Little Eunuch reported outside Ninghe Hall: "The Emperor has arrived, the Empress has arrived!"
The Imperial Noble Consorts, Princes, and other Royal Clan members promptly rose to welcome them, and after a round of courtesies, everyone took their seats.
Zhao Qichen led Lin Siyin to sit at the head.
The rest sat with male attendees on the left and female attendees on the right, each at their own table, dining separately.
Since everyone was relatives, and mostly older, there weren’t many taboos.
Zhao Qichen rarely showed a smile and greeted everyone.
"Dear uncles and aunts, elders, today is a family feast, let’s skip the cumbersome formalities, just talk and laugh joyfully!"
"Thank you, Emperor!"
The crowd expressed their thanks, and indeed did not stick much to formality.
Many of them had watched the Emperor grow from infancy to adulthood, and adhering strictly to ceremony wasn’t quite possible.
Zhao Qichen was also always respectful to them; to truly receive their salutation, he felt uncomfortable.
Hence, everyone was politely interacting without too much awkwardness.
After a few cups of tea, the atmosphere became bustling again.
Lin Siyin sitting at the head felt a little uneasy.
Firstly, it felt improper to sit above while those below seemed to be elders.
Secondly, she hadn’t met these elders yet, as a new bride entering the family, how could one not meet the clan’s elders? At least offer a cup of tea...
She turned to Zhao Qichen to inquire about his thoughts.
But noticing he was chatting enthusiastically with an elderly Prince over sixty, she thought it inappropriate to interrupt, and continued to fret in her seat.
Seeing her plight, Sheng Chunhua approached to remind.
"Empress, you can’t just sit idly!"
Lin Siyin bit her lip pondering.
’Alright, since sitting idle is not an option, I’ll go offer a cup of tea!’
Sheng Chunhua previously shared with her the identities attending the banquet and informed her that the seating arrangement was based on rank.
Thus... she judged them based on seating order and attire.
She carried a cup of tea and respectfully walked to the first seat in the first row, kneeling before an elderly Imperial Noble Consort around fifty.
"Senior Concubine Cheng, please have some tea!"
Senior Concubine Cheng was the birth mother of Taishang Huang’s second son, Prince Hong, having deep connections with the Empress Dowager over many years and assisting her significantly.
After ascending the throne, Zhao Qichen treated her with high regard.
Not only granting his second brother a fief close to the Capital City, but also augmenting Senior Concubine Cheng’s stipends.
Originally even intended for her to reside in Ningshou Palace, but Senior Concubine Cheng, known for her manners, declined, and Zhao Qichen didn’t insist further.
Being aware of all this.
Lin Siyin thought that since both Taishang Huang and the Emperor valued her greatly, Senior Concubine Cheng must be considered an elder.
Since she’s an elder and it’s their first meeting, as a young bride in the family, there’s no harm in kneeling and offering tea.
However... she couldn’t have guessed how utterly wrong her actions were.
Nor could she imagine that within a royal family where imperial power reigns supreme, all elder and junior relationships must stand aside.
Thus, at the moment she knelt.
All the Imperial Noble Consorts present, particularly Senior Concubine Cheng, after a brief shock, immediately left their seats to kneel.
"Empress, you honor me greatly, please swiftly rise, I can by no means accept this!"
The Commandery Princes and Princes on the other side, witnessing this, also rose from their seats to kneel, remaining silent.
Zhao Qichen’s expression quickly turned from bright to dark.
He slowly stood up, pulling up the bewildered Lin Siyin, forcing a smile to say to everyone.
"Everyone, please stand up!"
"The Empress is new to the palace and doesn’t know the rules, please excuse her!"
Having said so, he pulled Lin Siyin back to their seat.
By then, Lin Siyin’s face was already blushing with heat.
After everyone retook their seats, Zhao Qichen spoke several words to pardon her, and the atmosphere gradually turned around.
Lin Siyin patted her chest, exhaling deeply.
"I was scared to death!"
Zhao Qichen pinched her shoulder hard, signaling her with his eyes not to act impulsively again.
She sheepishly smiled and nodded quickly.
"Yes, it’s all my fault, causing you embarrassment!"
The irritation Zhao Qichen was holding instantly dispersed, unable to blame her more, he merely shot her a contemptuous look and ignored her.
The banquet continued, amidst the banter, it was time for toasting.
A Prince stood to toast Zhao Qichen, exchanging polite words of praise, and then imbibed a cup, downing it all.
When it was Zhao Qichen’s turn, ready to drink, Lin Siyin stopped him.
"Emperor, you’ve been overworking recently and your health isn’t well, why don’t I... let me drink on your behalf!"
Though she found herself somewhat lacking in class for this gesture.
But Sheng Chunhua advised her, she must show in public how much she cared for the Emperor, treating him as the sky, displaying virtues, and so on.
So, she again carried out this earth-shattering and tear-jerking move.
Then... those present exploded once more.
Zhao Qichen, grim-faced, had to make yet another lengthy explanation for her.
Only then did everyone suppress their grievances, continuing the banquet.
Such incidents repeated three or four more times.
By the time Lin Siyin realized Sheng Chunhua, the damned Palace Maid, was deceiving her, she’d already committed many foolish acts, almost losing face entirely.
Ha ha!!
...
Returning that night.
Zhao Qichen, having drunk quite a bit, coupled with a disinclination to engage with her, quickly drifted to sleep.
She too was exhausted and not in the mood to speak, closed her eyes and slept.
The next day was the first day of the new year, early in the morning required participation in ancestral worship, with an afternoon dedicated to receiving the enjoin from outside the palace.
Lin Siyin temporarily decided to forsake the rules taught by that damned Palace Maid.
Therefore... she stirred up another pile of comedic mishaps during the day.
Finally enduring to the second day of the year, finally finding some leisure, she’d lost face thoroughly.
Lin Siyin remarked:
Indeed deceived, life in the palace, turns out is really hard to endure!