Empress was beautiful and dignified, but the Emperor didn’t like her much, always feeling that he couldn’t see any attachment or adoration in her eyes toward him.
However, with the powerful influence of the Zhuangyong Marquis Residence, especially when the Empress hadn’t made any significant mistakes, it was impossible to depose her and establish a new one.
The relationship between the Emperor and Empress was outwardly harmonious but inwardly discordant, not many knew, but also not few.
Yun Muyou sat in a front-row seat for the first time, her head raised to see the Emperor,, and looking down, she could see many ministers, secretly delighted in her heart.
Not seeing Yun Jinnian, she was somewhat astonished.
During the palace banquet, there were dancing girls and musicians playing.
"Enjoy yourselves, my dear courtiers!" the Emperor thought of Yun Jinnian entering the palace to detoxify and was in a very good mood, more easygoing than usual.
He then granted a few marriage alliances.
Among them were Wang Yanran and Yun Zhen.
He let the ministers relax, stood up, and respectfully invited the Grand Princess of the Nation into the Imperial Study, accompanied by Prince Zhongxin.
Chu Yu thought for a moment and followed as well.
When the Emperor left, the Empress Dowager also excused herself, tired, and the Empress escorted her back to her palace.
Several Imperial Concubines also followed suit and left.
Noble Consort Wang and Noble Consort Wei stayed, but without the Emperor and with several Princes, Chu Zhaowei, and Chu Renzhi lifting the spirits, the atmosphere actually became lively and casual.
Mrs. He was overjoyed, the Emperor’s bestowed marriage was a great honor, and with Princess Yanran being a County Princess and having the support of Noble Consort Wang and the Crown Prince, Yun Zhen’s future was bound to be limitless.
The old matriarch Yun was all smiles; it had been a long time since she had mingled socially, and today she realized she didn’t recognize many people. Not many of the old titled nobility had come, and she had expected a lot of people would seek her favor, but she was mistaken.
Those who approached her held lower official ranks than Yun Chen and Yun Qi, and none from the ducal or count residencies or those with deep ancestral roots came forward to greet her; even when she approached them with a thick face, they made small talk and found an excuse to leave.
The old matriarch Yun suddenly froze in place.
Xu Xinmo called out softly.
Her grandmother and several uncles and aunts had also come, including some of her female cousins. Initially, she looked down on them, unwilling to speak with them, wanting to find Dai Hanmi. However, she saw Dai Hanmi, Chen Danyan, and Yuwen Ming just gave her a faint glance and didn’t willingly speak to her; they turned and walked away.
Princess Yanran was talking with Yun Muyou, Yun Mu Si, and Yun Mulan. She tried to join them several times, but Princess Yanran glanced at her and turned away her head arrogantly.
Seeing her cousins from the Xu Family chatting with Yuwen Ming, she hurriedly approached, but her cousins from the Xu Family also merely greeted her casually and then ignored her.
Feeling a huge disparity in her heart, she walked to the old matriarch Yun’s side and softly called out. The old matriarch Yun was lost in her own thoughts and didn’t hear her. Xu Xinmo called again, this time much louder, "Grandmother!"
She was almost on the verge of crying.
The old matriarch Yun was startled back to reality and looked at Xu Xinmo with displeasure, "What is it?"
"Grandmother, I..." Xu Xinmo’s eyes lowered, tears falling.
But she also knew that she couldn’t cry today, quickly raising her hand to wipe away the tears.
The old matriarch Yun, seeing this, understood everything.
She looked towards Mrs. He, who was engaged in a lively conversation with Noble Consort Wang, then toward Mrs. Han, who was chatting enthusiastically with Marchioness Zhuangyong and Marchioness Zhongyi, and felt a surge of anger in her heart.
But she also knew that she couldn’t make a scene today. If she really did, her actions were not secrets; she would surely suffer greatly.
She pulled Xu Xinmo to sit down, "Don’t rush, your great fortune lies ahead!"
Xu Xinmo thought of something and suddenly said, "Grandmother, may I return to the Xu Family for a while?"