In the following days, Wen Fuyue was so busy preparing for the Mid - Autumn Banquet that she hardly had time to catch her breath.
She was really swamped. Watching the hasty back of Xiaolinzi, the apprentice of Anfu, Wen Fuyue let out a sigh and slumped onto her lounge chair, her body aching all over.
These days, she had been immersed in the preparations for the Mid - Autumn Banquet. As a transmigrator into this book world, Wen Fuyue was not familiar with many of the noble families and ministers here. Yet, she had to prepare for such an important banquet. Even with the assistance of Xiaolinzi, Liang Xinyue and others, she was so busy that she began to question her life.
The day after tomorrow...
Wen Fuyue suddenly fell silent, thinking of the most headache - inducing thing. There would be many ladies entering the palace for the Mid - Autumn Banquet. The original body's mother and grandmother were still alive, and given their status, they couldn't possibly miss this event.
However, she was not the real Wen Fuyue. She might be able to deceive Wen Yu, the maid who was sent to serve her just before she entered the palace, but there was no way she could fool her family who had lived with the original Wen Fuyue for more than a decade.
Just thinking about being exposed made Wen Fuyue's head ache so badly that she even wished she could pack up and run away immediately.
"Your Ladyship, it's time to go and see the Emperor." Wen Yu looked at Wen Fuyue rubbing her head with some concern. After saying this, she whispered, "Does Your Ladyship need this servant to massage your head?"
"Thank you then, Wen Yu." Wen Fuyue closed her eyes contentedly, enjoying the gentle massage on her head, and couldn't help but let out a deep sigh.
"Why is Your Ladyship sighing?"
Wen Fuyue paused for a moment, opened her eyes and looked at Wen Yu, her face full of worry. "The Mid - Autumn Banquet is coming soon. I..."
Wen Yu's hand on Wen Fuyue's head paused for a moment. Then she looked at Wen Fuyue gently and said, "Is Your Ladyship worried about seeing the Lady and the Old Lady?"
"Why should Your Ladyship be worried? Even though Your Ladyship was indeed a bit... " Wen Yu paused for a moment, trying hard to find an adjective to describe the original Wen Fuyue. "A bit infatuated as a young girl. It's normal to be carried away by emotions for a moment. Moreover, His Majesty dotes on Your Ladyship so much now. The Lady and the Old Lady should be happy for you. How could they bear to blame you?"
Wen Fuyue: She had forgotten that the original Wen Fuyue had a big fight with her family in order to enter the palace. She even threatened to kill herself before finally getting this chance. So, not only did she need to worry about being exposed, but also the anger of the original body's mother and grandmother?
Forget it. Think on the bright side. There couldn't be a more difficult situation. If it really comes to the worst, she might as well fake her death. At least she could enjoy the pleasure of being a favored concubine for a few more days.
With this "give - up" mentality, Wen Fuyue was in an extremely excited state of mind until the day of the Mid - Autumn Banquet.
"Your Ladyship, the Imperial Concubine."
Anfu knelt down, looking at Wen Fuyue with full respect and a hint of hesitation on his face.
"What's the matter?" Wen Fuyue was already prepared to meet the original body's family later. She was sitting in front of the dressing table, letting the maids apply makeup on her face.
"Your Ladyship, just now a message came from the General - of - the - North - Border's Mansion. The Old Lady caught a cold yesterday and is not feeling well today, so she can't come."
Huh?
Wen Fuyue suddenly turned her head, looking at Anfu in shock.
What was going on? It was like getting a pillow just when she was sleepy!
Seeing that Wen Fuyue seemed a bit unhappy, Anfu tightened his lips. He thought that the Imperial Concubine was sad and worried because of this news, so he added, "His Majesty has already sent the imperial physician to check on the Old Lady. She is not seriously ill and just needs to rest for a few days. His Majesty also sent many rare items such as the thousand - year - old ginseng that the neighboring countries had offered as tribute. I believe the Old Lady is a blessed person and will recover soon."
"Okay." The tense string in Wen Fuyue's heart suddenly snapped. She came back to her senses from the worries of the previous days and let out a deep breath.
It seemed that she could survive for a while longer. Maybe she could, just like she originally hoped, manage to stay hidden until the end of the whole story?
Maybe the plot was protecting her from being exposed? She made a bold guess.
Wen Fuyue felt that she could carry on.
The banquet was about to start.
After washing and dressing up, Wen Fuyue walked towards the main hall where the banquet was to be held.
The Empress Dowager had been unwell recently, so she didn't attend this banquet. Wen Fuyue's seat was moved one position forward, to the lower right of Wei Sinian.
"Why is my seat here!"
Wen Fuyue exclaimed in surprise. She was led by Anfu towards the front of the main hall, where there were two seats side by side.
"Your Ladyship, this is His Majesty's arrangement." Anfu stood respectfully behind Wen Fuyue after she sat down.
Wen Fuyue was stunned for a moment. She sat on the seat, let out a deep sigh, looking rather dejected.
The ministers and their families who had been invited into the palace came one after another. When they saw the two side - by - side seats in the front, most of them couldn't control their expressions and stared with wide eyes.
This! Could it be that the Emperor was willing to sit with the Imperial Concubine?
People below had heard that the Imperial Concubine was in favor, but they never expected that the Emperor, who had always been reluctant to sit with others, would let the Imperial Concubine sit beside him.
Wen Fuyue tried hard to ignore the burning gazes from others and sat on the seat with a standard smile on her face.
[I hate it! What is Wei Sinian doing? He always said he would never sit with others. Help! I'm about to be stared through by the gazes below!]
As soon as Wei Sinian entered, he heard Wen Fuyue's inner wail.
It seemed that the Imperial Concubine didn't like being stared at?
After the ministers got up from their seats to pay their respects, Wei Sinian scanned the crowd coldly and then said, "All of you may rise. Let the banquet begin."
The ministers below wisely withdrew their inquisitive gazes and sat there obediently, waiting for the banquet to start.
Wei Sinian casually glanced at Wen Fuyue.
The Imperial Concubine was very beautiful today. Wei Sinian liked her eyes very much. They were like a clear pond. Especially today, with a little line drawn at the corner of her eyes, her eyes looked even bigger and more vivid.
"Try this, Imperial Concubine?"
Wei Sinian picked up a white jade meatball and put it in Wen Fuyue's bowl. She was feeling a bit shy about eating in public. Then he said calmly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Wen Fuyue had been dining with Wei Sinian recently and was used to him suddenly putting food in her bowl from time to time.
Looking at the food in the bowl, she let out a sigh of relief and began to eat slowly.
[Finally, I can start eating. With so many people watching me, I was too embarrassed to pick up food. Wei Sinian is so considerate today. I think I can cross one item off my grudges list.]
[Wow! This dance is really beautiful! There are so many beautiful girls!]
Hearing her somewhat cheerful inner thoughts, the corner of Wei Sinian's mouth couldn't help but curl up into a faint smile. He would turn his head from time to time to steal a glance at her.
The ministers covered up their shock and looked at each other in surprise.
When had the Emperor ever been in such a good mood?
[Ah! My stomach hurts! I'm in a hurry! I need to go to the toilet!]
Suddenly, Wen Fuyue felt a sharp pain in her stomach. Her face instantly turned ugly.
Should she hold it in? The thought had just popped up when another sharp pain forced it back.
She tilted her head slightly and whispered to Wei Sinian, "Your Majesty, this concubine caught a cold last night and is not feeling well. May I be excused first?"
Seeing Wen Fuyue's action, several people hiding in the dark exchanged glances.