She nodded.
As she walked towards the door, she instinctively turned her head back. She saw the Empress on the couch, her gaze somewhat vacant, as if looking through the space ahead at something.
Leaving the Wutong Palace, Xue Xingyue looked at Song Xiuyuan in front of her. His straight back was like a pine tree, but she still felt a faint sadness from him.
At this moment, he was like a lonely old man, standing there, waiting for time to slowly pass.
"Song Xiuyuan, thank you!" She knew that if Song Xiuyuan hadn't pleaded with the Empress, the situation might not have been like this. She might have turned the Shu Ming Palace upside down, or perhaps even been controlled by Concubine Min. After all, the Shu Ming Palace had guards.
Therefore, she was truly grateful to Song Xiuyuan.
Moreover, if it weren't for her, Concubine Min might not have targeted the Empress, and the Emperor might not have come here.
However, she always had a feeling that the Emperor's visit to the Wutong Palace was not solely for Concubine Min. Of course, this was just her guess.
"As the wife of this Prime Minister, if you are wronged, wouldn't that be slapping this Prime Minister in the face?"
He turned around, his ordinary face holding eyes like a starry sky, shining brilliantly.
"You're right. Then I will need Prime Minister's care in the future." she said.
He nodded, his every move exuding absolute grace and natural nobility. Even the people she had seen in her past and present lives could not compare to him.
Suddenly, she remembered the stunning and talented Fifth Prince. If he were still alive, perhaps he would be this astonishing.
"Do you know the Fifth Prince?" she asked.
He looked at her, his gaze flickering slightly. She saw him slowly turn around, his voice carrying a hint of melancholy, "I know of him, but I was not familiar."
She was stunned. Not familiar? Shouldn't he be very familiar with him?
"I only entered officialdom at the age of eighteen. Before that, I was at Xifeng Pass," he said calmly.
So that's how it was, she nodded.
"The banquet is about to begin, let's hurry over!" Song Xiuyuan said.
The Empress Dowager's birthday banquet was held in the Tai'an Hall. Upon arrival, the officials and their families were already seated.
Seeing Song Xiuyuan enter, the officials came forward one after another, and many of the officials' wives sized her up.
But despite their scrutiny, no one dared to step forward. After all, everyone knew that the Ninth Princess favored Prime Minister Song. Yet, Prime Minister Song had publicly rejected the Emperor's arranged marriage for a commoner. People didn't know whether to call Prime Minister Song devoted or a fool.
After all, marrying a princess showed the Emperor's favor towards you. But to openly refuse was clearly slapping the Emperor in the face.
Therefore, seeing Song Xiuyuan openly appear with the woman who had refused the Ninth Princess, the officials were gloating. After all, they were happy to see the young Prime Minister Song fall into trouble.
After all, this Song Xiuyuan was very cunning, and it was difficult to catch him. This was not only because of the Song family, but also the Jin family, the Empress's maternal family. Currently, the Empress had no children, and her only son, the Fifth Prince, had died five years ago. It was hard to say that the Empress would not protect this nephew.
However, even if she protected him, it wouldn't matter, as Song Xiuyuan had provoked the Ninth Princess this time.
The officials were all attending the celebration with the attitude of watching a good show.
Song Xiuyuan showed no displeasure and accepted it all.
As the eunuch's sharp voice rang out, the officials and their families stepped out and bowed towards the golden figure at the entrance.
"Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live!"
"All my ministers, please rise!" the Emperor said slowly as he walked to his seat.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
The officials returned to their seats. Xue Xingyue looked up and saw the Ninth Princess, dressed in magnificent attire, standing beside the Emperor.
After the eunuch placed a chair to the Emperor's left, the Ninth Princess happily sat down.
Seeing this, Xue Xingyue narrowed her eyes. The left side was generally where the Empress sat. Today, the Empress had not arrived, yet the Ninth Princess shamelessly sat to the Emperor's left. Was this a display of power?
Thinking of this, she suddenly felt a sense of sadness for the Empress. She couldn't empathize with the pain of losing a child, but she knew it was the same as her own grief at losing her parents. And now, the person who should have been closest to her was like a stranger. The Empress must be feeling very hurt.
This also explained why the Empress had been reclusive for so many years, to avoid seeing these hypocritical people.
Coming back to her senses, she saw Song Xiuyuan drinking wine cup after cup, his expression filled with an indescribable sadness. She thought perhaps he felt the same as her, indignant on behalf of the Empress.
Suddenly, she felt a burning gaze from the front, as if it could melt her. She looked up and indeed, it was the Ninth Princess.
The Ninth Princess's gaze was filled with jealousy and resentment.
She smiled at the Ninth Princess, then picked up the wine pot and poured a cup of wine for Song Xiuyuan.
She could feel the Ninth Princess's anger.
She acted as if nothing was wrong, continuing to do as she pleased.
"The Empress Dowager has arrived!" As the voice announced, the officials rose and bowed, "Long live the Empress Dowager, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!"
The Emperor walked to the Empress Dowager and said, "Mother."
The Empress Dowager surveyed the crowd and said, "Everyone rise!"
The Empress Dowager sat to the Emperor's left, and the Ninth Princess sat beside the Empress Dowager.