After the birthday banquet of Mei Haoxuan, the eldest son of the prime minister, Mei Qingxue once again became a topic of lively discussion among the people in the capital city after a seven - year hiatus. A young lady from an official's family who had been voiceless for seven years could miraculously speak at her elder brother's birthday banquet. It was hard for people not to be curious.
However, after that banquet, the second young lady of the prime minister's mansion disappeared from everyone's sight again. It wasn't until a palace banquet a year later that her figure was seen once more.
In the Pure Heart Courtyard of the prime minister's mansion.
"Miss, tomorrow is the birthday of the current emperor. As the prime minister of the court, the master must go. But this banquet is different from the previous ones. Besides the officials, their family members are also invited." Yue Ru looked at Mei Qingxue, who had become even more beautiful and charming than a year ago, and said.
Mei Qingxue was teasing the rather chubby mastiff with dried meat. When she heard Yue Ru's words, her hand stopped.
"Are you saying that I also have to attend the emperor's birthday banquet?"
After she started speaking a year ago, she thought her life would change to some extent. But she was wrong. Except that the guilt in her family's eyes gradually turned into more doting and joy, her life remained the same as before. Moreover, she could faintly feel that her family was protecting her more strictly. She was never allowed to step out of the mansion, and there had to be someone following her wherever she went.
She understood her family's concerns, so she didn't make a fuss and obediently listened to them. Tomorrow should be the first time she left the prime minister's mansion since she traveled to this world.
The next day.
Yue Ru helped Mei Qingxue put on a light - blue silk dress. There were white plum blossoms embroidered on the skirt. A silver belt cinched her slender waist. Since she didn't coil up her hair, her long black hair was all scattered on her delicate shoulders and simply tied with a silk ribbon. The black hair made her fair and delicate skin look even more moist. There was a jade - inlaid pearl forehead ornament on her smooth forehead. The shiny pearl made her big eyes look as bright as stars. When she gently turned, the long dress fluttered, and her every move was as graceful as a willow swayed by the wind.
After everything was done, the two of them came to the main gate of the prime minister's mansion. From afar, they could see that her father and mother were already waiting beside the carriage.
When Mr. and Mrs. Mei Zhenguo saw Mei Qingxue, they were momentarily stunned by her stunning beauty. While they were overjoyed, they couldn't help but feel a bit worried. In three years, it would be the emperor's selection of concubines. They were afraid that by then...
"Daddy, Mommy, I've kept you waiting." She didn't see Mei Haoxuan's figure. Presumably, at this time, he should be protecting the emperor.
"Alright, get in the carriage."
The three of them each got into a carriage and drove towards the palace.
This was Mei Qingxue's first time riding in a carriage. The prime minister's carriage was very comfortably decorated. There were soft cushions, and there was also a small table for fruits and pastries inside. But even so, Mei Qingxue was jolted so much that she felt dizzy. She almost vomited several times. If she had known it would be like this, she wouldn't have eaten anything before coming out!
It took quite a while for her to gradually get used to it. Hearing the increasing noise outside the carriage, Mei Qingxue's curiosity was piqued, so she lifted the curtain and looked out.
At this sight, her heart skipped a beat. There were many people on the street, and the street vendors were all enthusiastically shouting. The more she looked, the more she wanted to get out and stroll around.
"Miss, you can't lift the curtain. Look, many people are looking at you." Seeing Mei Qingxue lift the curtain, Yue Ru quickly put it down. Mei Qingxue knew that in ancient times, a young lady in a carriage couldn't lift the curtain casually. She pouted in her heart and then stopped looking out. But her heart was no longer as calm as before.
The ancient palace was the highest power center of a country. Looking at the ten - meter - high city wall, Mei Qingxue couldn't help but sigh. The place where the emperor lived was truly extraordinary.
The carriage they were riding in stopped when they entered the third gate. Since the prime minister was a first - rank official, officials of different ranks were treated differently. Officials below the third rank had to get off the carriage and walk when they entered the first gate.
Sure enough, as soon as Mei Qingxue got off the carriage, she saw many officials with their family members walking towards them.
Mei Qingxue always kept her head down and followed behind Mei Zhenguo and Xia Ruolan obediently. She didn't dare to look around randomly, presenting a completely demure and elegant appearance of a young lady from a noble family.
The banquet was held in a large garden in the palace. The whole banquet was held outdoors. As the sky was getting dark, four - cornered dragon - patterned palace lanterns had been lit everywhere in the garden, instantly making the banquet garden as bright as day.
"The second young lady of the prime minister's mansion is really beautiful. It makes people reluctant to take their eyes off. Her voice is as sweet as that of a yellow oriole coming out of the valley."
"Yes, yes. The prime minister's wife is really blessed."
Several ladies in gorgeous clothes saw Mei Qingxue and her family coming and quickly greeted them with beaming smiles, flattering them.
"Thank you for your compliments, ladies."
Since Mei Zhenguo had been an official in the court for several years and had considerable power, as soon as they appeared, many family members of the officials surrounded them and flattered them. Mrs. Mei responded to them one by one. Mei Qingxue had lived nine lives after all, so she didn't appear nervous.
"Xue'er, you haven't been out of the prime minister's mansion for these years, so you don't have any close friends outside. Take this opportunity today to have a good time with those young ladies." After a while, Mrs. Mei looked at Mei Qingxue, who had been quietly following her, and a flash of pity crossed her eyes. Her daughter would eventually get married in the future. It was good to start getting to know more friends now.
"Mommy, I know." Coincidentally, she didn't want to engage in the false politeness with those official ladies. She wanted to take this opportunity to have a good look at the legendary palace.
Watching Mei Qingxue's departing back, Mrs. Mei sighed silently and then started chatting with the noble ladies beside her.
The emperor's birthday banquet was like a high - class outdoor party. Every decoration showed the nobility and luxury of the royal family. Mei Haoxuan's birthday banquet a year ago couldn't be compared with it at all. Even the basins for waste were inlaid with gold and jade. Mei Qingxue now witnessed the extremely luxurious life of those at the highest point of power.
"Isn't this the little mute from the prime minister's mansion? Why aren't you suckling at your mother's side? What are you doing here?" When Mei Qingxue was carefully admiring a rare and strange peony flower, a rather shrill but somewhat childish female voice sounded behind her. But she ignored it. Since the person didn't name names, who knew who she was talking about?
"What? Now you're not only mute but also deaf?" Seeing that Mei Qingxue ignored her, the girl stepped forward dissatisfiedly and grabbed her.
Mei Qingxue never expected the girl to pull her, nor did she expect a half - grown girl to have such great strength. She was pulled so that she staggered and almost fell to the ground.
"What do you think you're doing!" Mei Qingxue slightly narrowed her beautiful eyes and looked at the girl with annoyance in her eyes. A chill emanated from her body involuntarily.
Su Shangqing didn't expect Mei Qingxue to have such an imposing manner and couldn't help but shrink back. Mei Qingxue, who had been constantly praised by people when surrounded in the crowd just now, made her feel extremely annoyed. What was so good about a little mute! Did everyone have to flatter and fawn on her? She remembered that those people used to praise her!
"What if I do this? What are you, a little mute, being so arrogant about! Now that you can talk, who knows when you'll be scared silly again!" Although Su Shangqing was a bit afraid of Mei Qingxue's cold eyes, how could she show weakness at this time as someone who never admitted defeat?
Mei Qingxue looked at them and saw that they were all half - grown children. With a psychological age of over twenty, she didn't want to argue too much with children, so she turned around and walked back to her seat and sat down.