Wealth and glory seek stability

Xuanwu Royal Court.

Zhang Qiao was wearing a yellow and black embroidered imperial robe, with her brows tightly furrowed. Having been in a high position for a long time, she already had an irresistible majesty about her.

The fingers wearing the blue crystal gem ring were flipping through the reports from the border. There was also a thick stack of tribal congratulatory messages on the table.

Her fifty-first birthday was approaching, and all the tribes had sent her gifts, but she had no heart to look at them at the moment.

"Your Majesty, the soldiers guarding the city have come to report that the Fourth Prince and the Sixth Princess have arrived in the imperial capital."

Zhang Qiao put down the report in his hand and looked sharply at the guard who came to report.

The empress was too majestic. The guards did not dare to look her in the eye and lowered their heads even more unconsciously.

"Since you're back, invite them in and tell the Emperor to prepare a banquet. We'll have a good family dinner tonight."

"Yes."

The guards left after hearing this.

Zhang Qiao placed her fingers on her chest, her heart beating slowly inside her chest, just like her calm mood over the years.

The entire Chongming Hall was very spacious. She sat alone on a nine-foot high platform, quietly looking at the audience below.

In the magnificent palace, a crystal chandelier in the center was lit with milky white candles, and every decoration in the palace revealed an extraordinary luxury.

She doesn't like crowds of people. They are always nervous when they see her, which is not fun at all. It's better for her to be alone.

Zhang Qiao's gaze drifted away.

It seemed like she hadn't laughed happily for a long, long time.

It's been so long that I almost forgot that I am still a real person.

Zhang Cen'er and others were strolling leisurely in the market.

Because the north is cold, the snacks of the Xuanwu Dynasty are mostly oily and meat-based, which can provide more calories.

Jian Xi fell in love with a snack, which was sugar balls made of snow. There were various flavors. They were cool and bursting in the mouth.

Ever since she became pregnant, she always felt hot all over. Even when the weather was very cold, she liked to eat something cold to cool down.

But she didn't dare to give the two little girls cold food, so she only bought them some fried food. The two of them enjoyed eating the fried fish in their hands.

As for Mo Chuan, he has been letting himself go ever since he had money.

In his left hand was a roasted leg of lamb, in his right hand was a piece of rock candy, and in his mouth was food that he had just bought from the stall.

At this time, a group of guards dressed in the same attire and holding spears came towards the group from a distance.

Walk in front of Zhang Cen'er.

"Welcome the Sixth Princess!"

The loud sound covered the entire bustling market.

Zhang Cen'er suddenly felt bored, handed the thing in his hand to Yinping, and walked ahead with big strides.

Jian Xi always felt something was weird. Rumor had it that Zhang Cen'er was not favored, and Zhang Xuanyu was also here. Yet, these guards only saluted Zhang Cen'er.

This doesn't seem like he's unpopular, but rather like he's waiting for Zhang Cen'er.

While Jian Xi was still in a daze, she followed the team into the royal court.

At the gate of the royal court.

An old woman dressed strangely was waiting at the door with a branch in her hand. The old woman's clothes looked somewhat similar to Wu Zhan's style.

Zhang Cen'er and Zhang Xuanyu were very respectful to the old woman and stepped forward respectfully to pay their respects.

"Meet the high priest."

The high priest Wu Lanya nodded in return, swept a branch over the two of them, and muttered something.

It should be similar to the exorcism ceremony.

Wu Lanya swept everyone with the branch one by one.

When passing by Jian Xi, Wu Lanya smiled more and asked, "Are you pregnant?"

Jian Xi nodded without understanding why.

Wu Lanya put down the branch and said, "A pregnant woman doesn't need to go through the ceremony. You can go in."

Jian Xi nodded and went in.

I wonder if the old ladies in the Xuanwu Dynasty all have such sharp eyes that they can tell that she is pregnant without taking her pulse.

Next, everyone was taken into a pool with hot springs, with men and women separated.

Seeing that Jian Xi didn't understand, Zhang Cen'er took off her coat with the help of the maid, and then said:

"This is holy water. All members of the royal family who return from outside must be baptized with holy water. You are my guests, so you just need to go through the formalities."

The pool smelled of sulfur, and Jian Xi was afraid that it would be bad to soak in it for too long, so she got up after staying there for only a short while.

"Jian Xi, your body is so white. Are all the women in the Central Plains so white?" Zhang Cen'er held his chin with both hands.

As he said this, he looked at Lan Qi beside him.

Jian Xi:.......

Lan Qi: ...

Lan Qi also has fair skin, but it is a healthy cream color, unlike Jian Xi who has cold white skin.

Lan Qi, who was caught in the crossfire for no reason, glanced at Jian Xi and surprisingly did not get angry. She said calmly:

"Not everyone is as white as her." At least her elder sister Lan Mei'er, who became the Princess of Jin, was not as white as her.

The etiquette of the ancient royal court was very complicated.

When meeting the empress, you need to change into a formal dress.

By the time everyone had finished washing up, it was almost evening.

Jian Xi estimated the time. It should be around six or seven o'clock in the evening, but the royal court was still as bright as day, with no sign of darkness at all.

"Princess, the Emperor's husband and Li Cejun are already waiting in the banquet hall."

"understood."

Zhang Cen'er, wearing a court dress and a crown, looked indescribably noble. She had heavy eye makeup and her usual red lips, as if she was out of place in this cold royal court.

Jian Xi was wearing a blue dress, looking extremely cool and stunning. In comparison, Lan Qi was a little inferior, but because of her tall figure, she was still considered a beauty.

Jian Xi took a deep breath and followed Zhang Cen'er.

I am about to meet the empress, an empress who openly has a harem.

I don't know if the empress's concubines were like the concubines in Emperor Xuanyuan's harem, dressing up extravagantly to win favor.

The intrigues between men are more exciting than a hundred palace fighting dramas.

Jian Xi lowered her excited eyes, fearing that others would see the gossipy soul beneath her calm appearance.

Banquet Pavilion.

Ruan Chizheng was wearing a white sable coat and had a gentle face. Although he had white hair, he still looked as handsome as he was in his youth. He knelt in the seat second only to the empress.

Sitting at the bottom was Li Cejun, whose features were 50% similar to Zhang Cen'er's. He was born with an extraordinary heroic look, and was dressed in a flamboyant red.

This royal court exudes exquisiteness and luxury everywhere, and the etiquette is extremely complicated, but Jian Xi feels oppressed and restrained.

Looking at Ruan Chizheng sitting on the throne as calmly as a lotus, it seemed that such a person should be in this royal court.

Like Zhang Cen'er played by Li Cejun, she has a vibrant vitality, is unyielding and stubborn, and like a thorny bush, she wants to break through this oppressive cage.

"The Empress has arrived!"

Zhang Qiao is here.

Jian Xi imitated others and bowed.

Mo Chuan, Ling Bao and Bai Zhi were all standing behind her, and they followed suit and saluted.

When you are in someone else's territory, you can avoid a lot of unnecessary trouble by adapting to local customs.

Jian Xi secretly glanced at Zhang Qiao.

She seemed to know why the empress favored Li Cejun.