The Self-cultivation of a Salted Fish Concubine

Chapter 192 Banquet Invitation

Sometimes Xie Run’s premonitions are quite accurate.

As the New Year approached, the emperor finally recovered from his illness and was able to preside over the New Year ceremony.

Even the Queen recovered from her illness in time, and a plum blossom viewing banquet was specially held before the New Year.

In this banquet, in addition to the princess, even Concubine Fang received an invitation.

It was common to send invitations to the princess and concubines at the royal palace during banquets.

But Prince Jing had two concubines in his mansion, and he only sent the invitation to Concubine Fang, but not to Concubine Xie. This is very interesting.

What’s even more interesting is that Concubine Fang had just made a mistake and was under house arrest.

When the princess received the note, she saw through everything and went straight to the front yard to ask King Jing what to do.

When King Jing received the post, he was still a little confused.

"Aren't matters in the backyard always handled by the princess?"

Eunuch Shi'an lowered his head and said softly, "Perhaps the princess feels that this matter is suitable for you, Your Highness, to handle."

When King Jing opened the post, a look of anger immediately appeared on his face.

He scoffed lightly, "You can't even protect yourself, and you're still struggling here."

"She's not afraid of ruining her son!"

This was an insult to the Queen.

Eunuch Shi'an and the guards on the side didn't even frown, pretending they heard nothing.

After a while, King Jing threw the post aside and said, "Tell the princess that Concubine Fang is not feeling well and cannot attend the banquet."

"Yes." Eunuch Shi'an lowered his head and picked up the post.

Fang Yuaner, who was waiting for the post at Songyayuan, was stunned when she heard the news and sat on the chair.

After a while, crying sounds were heard again nearby.

Qiu Kui held the child in embarrassment and said, "Master, the young master has diarrhea again."

Fang Yuaner said numbly, "Have you taken the medicine?"

"I drank it." Qiu Kui's eyes were full of worry. "After drinking this medicine, he recovered after a while. The imperial physician said that the young master's stomach is too weak and needs to be treated slowly."

Qiuxiang said from the side: "Although the palace doctors are skilled in medicine, they are afraid of causing trouble, so they always use mild medicine. Now they are also afraid of using strong medicine to hurt the young master..."

Fang Yuaner: "Then let's change the imperial physician."

"Let the imperial physician prescribe some mild medicine for the wet nurse. If it turns into breast milk, it might be of some use."

"Yes." Seeing that Fang Yuaner was in a bad mood, the two girls didn't dare to speak.

After Qiu Kui took the child away, Fang Yuaner suddenly grabbed Qiuxiang's hand.

"Qiuxiang, do you think the prince is really angry with me and wants to destroy me?"

She was confused but also certain: "Impossible!"

"I did this so secretly, how could the prince possibly find out?!"

Qiuxiang quickly handed over the tea and said, "Master, be careful, there are ears behind the wall."

"This matter is over, and you shouldn't mention it again!"

Fang Yuaner subconsciously held Qiuxiang's hand, trying to draw some strength from her.

She asked softly, "Qiuxiang, Doctor Zhao suddenly retired and returned home... The prince must have found out something."

Xie Run guessed correctly.

Fang Yuan'er was afraid that King Jing would find traces of Yuezhi and Ping'an, so she didn't let them touch the cassava flour.

She gave Doctor Zhao some silver and asked him to bring it to her from outside the mansion.

This way, no one will know.

Who knew that King Jing could actually find traces!

"First, you dealt with Doctor Zhao, and now you're using my illness as an excuse to refuse the Queen's plum blossom viewing banquet on my behalf... This is the Queen's plum blossom viewing banquet!"

Fang Yuan'er's eyes showed a rare hint of fear: "Do you think the prince really wants to keep me imprisoned in Songya Courtyard forever?"

"Yes! The prince has never come to my yard these past few days. He didn't even come to see sick Qiong'er..."

As she was talking, Fang Yuan'er thought of the time in Chunshan Courtyard when King Jing actually personally held Xie Runsheng's fifth son in his arms.

With such a clear attitude, how could Fang Yuaner not be nervous?

Qiuxiang was silent for a moment, "I'm telling you the truth... Master, you shouldn't have used your power against the nanny beside the Queen."

Seeing that Fang Yuan'er showed no sign of anger, Qiuxiang continued, "Doctor Zhao suddenly returned home. The prince must have found some clues."

"But as you said, you did it so covertly, one thing after another. Even if the prince wanted to suspect something, he would first suspect Concubine Wan."

"Now the prince has only confined you and has not imposed any further punishment. Doesn't this just prove that the prince actually has no evidence?"

"If the prince really finds out that the Fourth Young Master's matter is related to you, I'm afraid your life will be in danger."

Fang Yuaner half leaned on Qiuxiang, "Really?"

"Why would I lie to you?" Qiuxiang said softly, "It's about the invitation. There are two concubines in the palace, but the Queen only sent the invitation to you. The prince can naturally see that you are secretly working hard."

"I'm saying something disrespectful. If His Majesty sees this, he won't think you're capable. Instead, he'll think you're deliberately trying to provoke him."

"He just grounded you, and now you're trying to use your power as queen to pressure him... You're the prince's concubine, do you really want him to submit to you?"

Fang Yuan'er immediately understood the whole process and subconsciously explained, "I didn't mean to let the Queen pressure the Prince. I just wanted to take the opportunity to attend the banquet so that I could get more information for him..."

Qiuxiang: "But in the eyes of the prince, this is what it means!"

"As a woman, the most taboo thing is to compete with your husband. Do you think the Queen is noble enough? But she has been so stubborn all her life. Even at her age, she still competes with the Emperor. Now, neither she nor her son is favored..."

Fang Yuaner originally wanted to say that as long as the queen could hold the throne of the empress, she did not need the emperor's favor.

Then Qiuxiang was heard saying, "Logically speaking, the Seventh Prince is the legitimate son and should be crowned Crown Prince, but do you think the Queen dares to mention this?"

Fang Yuaner calmed down instantly.

She also realized that the favor she had received some time ago had made her a little arrogant, so that she could not see the situation clearly.

"You're right, I did something wrong."

Fang Yuan'er paused, "How about I send someone to ask the prince to come and see Qiong'er?"

Qiuxiang pondered: "This..."

"I won't show up!" Fang Yuan'er said firmly, "Now all I have to do is pretend to admit my mistake."

As long as she doesn't have that arrogance and stubbornness, Fang Yuaner's brain is still very useful.

She instructed Qiuxiang: "Tomorrow, please bring me a Buddha statue. During this period of confinement, I will copy Buddhist scriptures every day to show my repentance!"

"My brothers are acting recklessly. I will ask the prince to remove them from their posts soon!"

"With heavy snow in winter, many people outside the capital must have been affected. I'll have the Fang family donate 1,000 taels of silver to provide porridge for disaster relief, and also find some valuable treasures. I want to give them to the Princess and Concubine Xie."

As orders were given one after another, the sky in Songya Courtyard gradually became brighter.