“Qiaoqiao, I’ll only be able to see you at night.” Mo Lian hugged his little lady without letting go. “Be more careful since you’ll be on your own. If a problem arises, immediately send me a message.”
“I know.” Afterwards, Qiao Mu thought of Courtesan Zheng’s unusual suggestion. She didn’t know what Courtesan Zheng had up her sleeves, so she could only respond appropriately to whatever Courtesan Zheng dished out!
Wei Ziqin and her second daughter had also alighted from their sedan chairs, and they walked over to say goodbye to the crown prince.
Crown Prince Mo thus sulkily watched his wife walk into the Central Palace before departing with the little monk.
By this time, many noble ladies and young misses had already gathered in the queen’s Brilliant Sun Hall.
The Qiao Family trio had arrived relatively late, especially since they had been delayed at Huabei Gate. Therefore, upon entering, they received many gazes that were giving off flying sparks.
It didn’t need to be said for those that had seen the Qiao Family trio during the small banquet before the new year. After all, they had already witnessed the crown prince consort’s temper.
However, most of the ladies, especially the family members of fourth and fifth-rank officials, hadn’t seen her before. So at this moment, they were all curiously sizing up this little lady that had suddenly become the crown prince consort, reaching the heavens in a single leap.
She really looked quite young. Did she have her coming-of-age hairpin ceremony yet?
A hundred or so small tables had been set up in two lines, with a spacious path running through the center and up a dozen or so steps to where Queen Zhao was sitting. She was smiling with closed lips as she looked down on all the people inside Brilliant Sun Hall from her elevated seat.
This morning, she had received news sent back from Her Majesty the Queen Dowager, saying that she had encountered Yu’er at Ziyu Mountain Villa, so she was keeping this naughty young grandson at the mountain villa to celebrate the new year with her.
When she thought of how disobedient her youngest son was, the queen felt very embarrassed on the inside.
Now, also looking at this stoic-faced eldest daughter-in-law, she was fuming with anger.
The Qiao Family trio walked up and properly curtsied before wishing the queen a Happy New Year. In terms of etiquette, no one could find any fault with them.
But the queen was still depressed!
Look at the Shu Family’s fourth miss, Shu Hui, she was so considerate and acted appropriately according to the occasion. Not only did she personally present a painting, she even came with Madam Shu early this morning to pay respects and wish her a Happy New Year.
This was what a daughter-in-law ought to do!
Yet look at the little stoic’s sluggish expression, what time was it already? She had only just arrived at Brilliant Sun Hall!
The first sentence the royal concubines said after wishing her a Happy New Year was: ‘Why isn’t the crown prince consort around…’
That’s why, upon seeing the little stoic, she couldn’t suppress the irritation in her heart anymore, and it wanted to erupt fiercely.
Yet Noble Consort Zheng spoke up first with a chuckle. “Crown Prince Consort, you really didn’t come early. Her Majesty the Queen has been waiting for you since early in the morning, not expecting that she would have to wait until now!”
“Your Sophora Flower Palace has been repaired?” Qiao Mu apathetically shifted her gaze, staring at Noble Consort Zheng.
Just this gaze was enough to frighten Noble Consort Zheng into feeling chilly all over, and her fingers involuntarily twitched on her handrest.
How abhorrent!
She was actually scared into shivering by this girl’s mere look.
Noble Consort Zheng was incredibly infuriated.
The noble ladies below were also whispering to each other in pairs and trios, discussing what had happened a while back with Noble Consort Zheng’s Sophora Flower Palace getting pulverized.
Wasn’t it precisely the crown prince consort who did it?
At this moment, the crown prince consort was extending her regards to Noble Consort Zheng in a rather ridiculing tone of voice, and it was obvious that she completely looked down on Noble Consort Zheng.
Noble Consort Zheng’s face trembled, and she forcefully suppressed the anger in her heart. After managing to smile at Qiao Mu with difficulty, she finally forced out a sentence from between the gaps in her teeth. “The crown prince consort really knows how to crack a joke.”
“You know clearly in your mind whether I’m cracking a joke.”