C14 The banquet began!

"Whose face is twitching? What are you talking about? Why are you so happy? "

Chunhe and Yulan were shocked. They quickly said, "Madam, Empress Dowager, it's nothing."

"Then why aren't you going to work? Do you think there's nothing to do? "

Chunhe was so scared that she quickly left.

Just as Yulan was about to leave, she was grabbed back by Chu Linglang. "What were you talking about just now? Quickly learn it from me. "

Yulan told Chu Linglang the entire story. Chu Linglang frowned slightly and said angrily, "How dare you! This Mrs. Du is too pitiful. I'll go take a look. "

Chu Linglang walked to the table beside them and sat down. Because Chu Linglang had changed into a white green robe and had removed her makeup, she looked like a big sister next door. She was completely different from her previous elegant and noble appearance. The people on the side didn't recognize her as the empress dowager.

Second Mrs. Du looked at First Madam fiercely. "What? You didn't live up to your expectations and came here to embarrass yourself. How can a country girl be so thick-skinned? You don't even look in the mirror and still dare to choose concubines. Hahaha, what a joke. "

"It's fine if you treat me normally, but as a mother, I can't stand it. Every mother can't stand it. My own daughter is being slandered. " First Madam returned.

"With your daughter's appearance, she won't be able to sell even if she sold herself to the brothel. You still have to treasure her so much. You still expect her to cling to you. Save it! You should go back to the mansion. I won't let the old master break your legs. " Second Madam said with disdain.

Ah! Chu Linglang could not stand it anymore and stood up, "What smell is this? It's disgusting to smell such a smell in broad daylight." As she spoke, she walked to the Second Madam's side and frowned, "So it's the Second Madam's smell. She looks so beautiful, but why is she so smelly? First Madam, this is your fault. As the mother, you don't know how to discipline her. It's inappropriate."

Second Mrs. Du got up in anger and raised her palm. However, Chu Linglang caught it and fiercely grabbed her wrist. "Why is Second Mrs. Du trying to hit someone?"

"I'm hitting you. Where did this wild girl come from? How dare she treat me like this? Watch me tear your stinky mouth apart." Second Mrs. Du was so angry that she stomped her feet.

Chu Linglang narrowed her eyes and asked sternly, "Is what I said wrong? One is disrespecting the mother. Two is impersonating a daughter. Three is publicly causing trouble in the Empress Dowager's bedroom and disrespecting the Empress Dowager. These are all crimes. There is no need to say too much. Which of these three crimes isn't enough to punish you?"

Second Mrs. Du was forced to stagger and sit on the chair.

"Stop slandering me. What evidence do you have? In our residence, I am the law, and I am the family rules. But you, little girl, are talking nonsense."

Chu Linglang saw that the guests were coming one after another, so she left. When she left, she only said coldly, "Second Mrs. Du, believe it or not, there will be results very soon. As for you, I advise you that if you do evil, you will die."

Second Mrs. Du was furious at this moment, but she didn't dare to vent it out. After all, what the little girl said was extremely true. This was the empress dowager's bedroom, so she wanted to go back and vent her anger on First Madam, making her suffer.

At this moment, First Madam's heart was also extremely complicated. After all, she knew that her daughter had always been inferior to the other young ladies in the residence since she was young. She had never learned to play the zither, chess, and calligraphy, nor did she have beautiful clothes. Moreover, she had been forced to drink medicine, causing her figure to change. However, she just wanted her daughter to see the world. For this reason, she had knelt for two hours and cried for the general the previous day. Only then did she agree to give her this opportunity. For this reason, she and her daughter had used a piece of cloth that no one else wanted to sew together overnight. However, now it seemed that she would be tortured by this Second Madam again when she went back.

Chu Linglang returned to her own room and was so angry that she gnashed her teeth. She paced back and forth and muttered, "This is too much, really too much. I don't even know how this First Madam has been living. She looks like the wife of a rich family, but in reality, she is not even as good as my begging life. Begging is just asking for food, but there are still so many kind people in the world. This First Madam has to suffer every day, and even her daughter is bullied like this."

At this moment, Chunhe quietly walked in and patted Chu Linglang.

Chu Linglang was shocked and said, "You want to scare me to death?"

"Empress Dowager, you are too engrossed in your thoughts. Just now, you scared me once, and now I scared you once. It's a draw." Chunhe stuck out her tongue.

"Didn't you see that I'm angry? How dare you be so sad?"

"I know! I was observing you silently from the side just now. You were so cool just now. You were too domineering." Chunhe gave a thumbs up.

When Chunhe saw Chu Linglang stand up for the First Madam, she was secretly happy. She had a good master, and Xiliang had a good empress dowager. If it were anyone else, even if they knew that things were unfair, they would only talk about it in private and ignore it.

Chu Linglang's expression became a little better. "Is everyone here?"

Chunhe nodded, "Yes, Empress Dowager. The guests are almost here, but there's something I find strange. All the girls who haven't gotten married have their faces painted like monkey's buttocks."

Oh! Chu Linglang thought about it. She saw that the two girls also had rouge on their faces. Could it be that this year's fashion was popular? No! I didn't see it last time I left the palace. Forget it, let's just see.

"Chunhe, call me when you open the banquet. I'm going out. Otherwise, I will get angry when I see Second Mrs. Du."

"Yes, Empress Dowager."

Chu Linglang was thinking about how to improve the unfairness that women suffered at home. She deeply understood the status of women at home. Even if they had their husband's love, once they lost their favor, it would be a bottomless abyss. They would have to endure it for the rest of their lives. This problem had already been deeply rooted. She could only do her best to protect women.

When the banquet was about to begin, Chu Linglang still went out wearing that white plain dress.

The empress dowager arrived.

The group of people knelt and bowed. "Empress Dowager, may you live a golden life."

"Forget it." Chu Linglang gestured with her hand.

"Thank you, Empress Dowager." After the group of madams sat down, they started to discuss in a low voice. Only Second Mrs. Du's face was pale, and the First Madam was very surprised.

"This empress dowager is so young, she doesn't look like that at all."

"That's right! She's already the empress dowager at such a young age. It's a pity that the previous emperor …"

"Hey, this situation is not like ours! She looks high and mighty, but she's actually a young widow."

"Shh, don't be so reckless. It's good to know some things in your heart. Look at your mouth. The child is still at the side!"

"What do you think the empress dowager is doing? Is she trying to show me how to be frugal? She's so pretentious. She dresses even worse than us, how can we bear it?"

"Who says that it's not true! This dress obviously doesn't respect us."

Although Chu Linglang was mentally prepared, she still laughed out loud when facing so many monkeys.

Only Chunhe and Yulan vaguely heard their discussions. They puffed up their cheeks and felt injustice for the empress dowager, but the empress dowager did not say anything, so how could they dare to speak?

The madams saw the empress dowager and were happy. They revealed an astonished expression. "Is the empress dowager laughing at us? What does she mean by that smile?" They looked at each other in dismay.

"Madam, don't blame me. I'm not laughing at you, but haha, forget it. I heard your questions. Yes, I am very young, so my hearing is naturally good. I met you in the morning, so I am respectful. But why do I need to dress in plain clothes? This meal means that we have met for the second time. Our husband is the late emperor that you mentioned. Now, he is still a state funeral. I can't dress too extravagantly. But what else do you want to know?"

"Empress Dowager, don't listen to our idle talk. How can we have any questions about you?" One of the madams said.

"That's right! Empress Dowager, I have said something wrong." The madams all returned to the topic.

"Then since there are no more questions, we will start the meal."

"Start the meal." The palace maids shouted.

Everyone ate very carefully. They ate a mouthful and wiped their mouths ten times. They were still careful, and they all said compliments. They did not dare to say anything else.

Chu Linglang looked at their pretentious behavior and naturally lost her appetite. She also ate a few mouthfuls and admired their monkey buttocks. She laughed very happily. If it wasn't for these monkey buttocks, this meal would definitely be very tiring.

Because Chunhe and Yulan were full, they were especially spirited. Yulan even helped Chu Linglang to massage her shoulders.

Chunhe saw that Chu Linglang was not appetite and picked up some food for her, hinting that she should eat more. She put down her chopsticks. No one else could eat.

"Did the ladies eat well?" Chu Linglang asked when she saw that it was about time.

"Yes, I did. Today, I can be considered to have had a good meal. Thank you for your hospitality, Empress Dowager."

"Esteemed Empress Dowager, the imperial chef in the palace is really skilled in cooking."

Chu Linglang did not want to hear these flattering words anymore, and quickly said, "Since you have eaten well, pass me the ink and paper. In a while, write your names and talents on the paper. You must not write them on your own. You will draw lots to decide who will come up and perform, and hand over the slip of paper. Because of the time, the performance is not easy to last long, understand?"

"Understood, Empress Dowager."

The ink and paper were passed to them.

Second Mrs. Du felt a little more at ease at this time. Fortunately, the Empress Dowager did not punish her.

The young ladies began to write, while Chunhe waited by the side with a red paper box.

After a quarter of an hour, Chunhe began to collect the slip of paper. Yulan also looked to see if there were any mistakes in the writing. Seeing the good words, it was really pleasing to the eyes. This was the brilliant part of the Empress Dowager. In Xiliang, only the daughters of the true noble families knew how to play the zither, chess, painting, and calligraphy. Because of the short time of the invitation, some people who thought that they could take advantage of the opportunity did not expect that they would be examined on these things on the first day.

"Aiya, why are you so stupid? I have really taught you nothing. I just gave you a good lesson just now to let you have some talent, but who would have thought that the Empress Dowager would suddenly ask you to write." One of the wives at the side was anxious.

Some ladies were so anxious that sweat was dripping down their foreheads. They couldn’t write it out. The ladies couldn’t do anything about it. They could only say that they had something to do first.