The Eldest Daughter Returns: Imperial Uncle, I'm Pregnant!

Chapter 219 Welcome Banquet - Entering the Palace

However, Gu Hanjiao was still somewhat disappointed. This time, it wasn't Xiao Yuheng himself who came. Xiao Yuheng had gone to the palace to find Consort Yu early on. He arranged for someone to come because Consort Yu told him that the Empress had also included Gu Hanjiao in the banquet. In order not to make things too awkward, he sent someone from his residence.

This time, Hongxiu came along. Hongxiu didn't wait under the carriage from the beginning, but waited until Gu Hanjiao walked up to the carriage before getting off.

"Why is it you? Where is the Third Prince?"

"The Third Prince went to the palace early this morning and specially arranged for a maid to come and pick up Miss Gu."

"Oh, let's go then."

Hongxiu glanced at Chunlu, who was following beside her carrying a bundle, and smiled as she took the bundle from Chunlu's hands, saying, "According to etiquette, a young lady from a noble family is generally only allowed to bring one maid with her when entering the palace."

“I know that, but I only brought Chunlu with me,” Gu Hanjiao said.

"Miss, you must have misunderstood. The Third Prince has sent me to accompany you to the banquet, so Miss Chunlu doesn't need to go."

"Why should I? Why should you go with our young lady? Do you even know what our young lady likes or needs?" Chunlu immediately became agitated when she heard that she couldn't go with her. A banquet in the palace was a scene that ordinary people could only dream of seeing. Anyone who had seen it once could brag about it for a long time.

Hongxiu smiled and said, "This servant does not know what Miss Gu likes or needs, but this servant knows what Miss Gu needs to do and does not need to do in the palace. This is the Third Prince's good intention and the Imperial Concubine's good intention. I hope Miss Gu can understand."

Gu Hanjiao understood that Consort Yu was worried that she would embarrass herself at the banquet, so she had someone monitor her. However, she could not rule out the possibility that it was Xiao Yuheng's idea, since Hongxiu was one of his head maids.

"Fine, Chunlu, just listen to Hongxiu. Just go home and wait for me."

"Miss..." Chunlu was still somewhat upset.

"What, you won't listen to me anymore? In the past, you'd run faster than anyone to do anything someone asked you to, but now you can't even be ordered around by me? Don't you understand who's the master and who's the servant?!"

Gu Hanjiao scolded.

"I'm sorry, Miss, I know I was wrong." Seeing that Gu Hanjiao was angry, Chunlu, though somewhat unwilling, dared not be presumptuous anymore.

Hongxiu smiled indifferently. What Miss Gu said wasn't Chunlu's opinion, but rather meant for her. Gu Hanjiao's words implied that she had overstepped her bounds and forgotten her place of rank.

"It's getting late, Miss, let's hurry up and get going."

Gu Hanjiao didn't say much, and helped Hongxiu into the carriage, and Hongxiu followed her in.

Inside the carriage, Hongxiu sat upright with her eyes downcast. Hongxiu was truly a well-trained person; even her breathing was so light that her master couldn't sense her presence at all.

Gu Hanjiao sighed inwardly, thinking that someone like her who could become a prince's head maid must not be someone easy to deal with, so Gu Hanjiao greatly reduced her intention to win over Hongxiu.

"How long has Miss Hongxiu been following the Third Prince?"

"Replying to Miss, Tianxiang and I have been taught by the Imperial Concubine in the palace since we were young, so we can be said to have been following the Third Prince since childhood."

"That's quite a long time. No wonder you have such an air about you, no less than the young ladies of noble families. It turns out you were personally trained by Consort Yu."

"You flatter me, Miss."

"So Miss Hongxiu is very familiar with the procedures and precautions in the palace?"

"I don't know much about it, but I do know a little bit. I just hope that Miss Gu can control her temper, especially when she is facing Miss Gu. I also hope that Miss Gu can consider the overall situation."

Gu Hanjiao was immediately unable to continue speaking. Hongxiu was practically telling her clearly, "Behave yourself and don't cause trouble."

Gu Hanjiao felt awkward. The carriage swayed for a while. She had left in a hurry and hadn't eaten a proper lunch, so she was a little hungry now.

"Is there any food prepared in the carriage?"

"Are you hungry, Miss?"

"I left in such a hurry, and the sun is getting late. There's still some time before the banquet, so I'd like to have something to eat first."

Hongxiu said, "Miss, please bear with it. It's not that I'm mistreating you, but whether it's a young lady, a lady, or an official, they rarely drink water or eat when they enter the palace, so as to avoid having to go to the toilet, which would delay things too much."

"What, you're not even allowed to use the restroom?"

“It’s not that it’s not allowed, but… as you know, Miss, many things can happen on the way to the toilet. You might miss the opportunity, be plotted against by someone with ulterior motives, or encounter something you shouldn’t. Miss caused so much trouble before because you were too careless. So I advise you to bear with it.”

She had been to the palace so many times, but she never knew there were such ridiculous rules. Gu Hanjiao was a proud and arrogant person, and now that a maid had pointed at her face and said that, she was naturally unhappy.

"I didn't realize there were so many rules in the palace. I'm just a young lady from a humble family now. If I go there, I'm afraid I'll embarrass the Third Prince. Why don't you send me back?"

Hongxiu was stunned. Why was this Miss Gu acting so unpredictably? Even if she had been bullied, she should have endured it to get into the palace. Besides, she hadn't said anything unpleasant. How could this be...?

"Miss, you mustn't be willful. This is Her Majesty the Empress's decree. Are you going to disobey it?"

“Miss Hongxiu, I am timid. Don’t label me with your words. In the end, you are just a servant sent by the Third Prince to accompany me. Whether I am punished or not seems to have little to do with you.”

"Please forgive me, Miss. I'm clumsy with words and don't know which of my words offended you. But I really meant well and didn't want anything to happen to you. The Third Prince cares about you the most, and if anything happens to you, I will be held responsible."

Hongxiu then lowered her proud neck and apologized to Gu Hanjiao. She had indeed underestimated Gu Hanjiao, but since Gu Hanjiao had been so successful before, she was not to be underestimated. She had been careless.

Gu Hanjiao is also someone who knows when to quit while she's ahead.

"It's nothing. What you said makes sense. Let's leave it at that. You'll come with me to the palace later. I don't know what the arrangements are like inside the palace, so I'll do whatever you say."

"Miss, there's no need to belittle yourself. The Third Prince has made all the arrangements. You can just relax and enjoy your meal and the performance."

The carriage swayed and wobbled forward. The two people inside seemed not to speak, but each had their own thoughts.

Hongxiu had been by the Third Prince's side since childhood. She and Tianxiang had long been the Third Prince's women, but because the Third Prince had not yet found a principal wife and needed them to handle matters, they had always acted as his head maids.

She always felt that the Third Prince was the most outstanding and should not be held back by a pretty face like Gu Hanjiao. Now, Gu Hanjiao not only cannot help the Third Prince, but also causes him trouble in every way, which is not good for the Third Prince's future.

Gu Hanjiao didn't stop thinking either. As a woman, she was definitely not satisfied with the presence of such a capable and attractive woman by her husband's side.

Having a younger cousin in the household was already a headache, and now there's her childhood sweetheart, who's been with her since she was little. She's really having a hard time. She's thinking about how to get Hongxiu to target Yu Xinqiu instead of herself.

She needs to carefully plan a scene of wolves and dogs fighting each other. As long as she intervenes at the right moment, whether the wolf or the dog wins, she will be the ultimate winner.

The carriage arrived at the palace gates quickly. Many people had already gathered there, greeting each other and heading inside in small groups. The rule in the palace was that one had to dismount from their horse or carriage at the palace gates, unless someone had made a special arrangement. No one was exempt from this rule.

If Gu Hanjiao had come before, her girlfriends would have definitely gone up to chat with her, but now they all avoid her and pretend they didn't see her.

Gu Hanjiao smiled. See? This is the coldness of human nature. There's nothing to be disappointed about. When she becomes successful, they'll naturally flock to her. She looked around but didn't see Gu Qingwan. She wondered if she had arrived.

"Miss, let's go. The banquet will last for a while. We need to pay our respects to the Imperial Concubine first."

"Shouldn't we pay our respects to the Empress first?"

"According to etiquette, that's how it should be. However, since Miss is not accompanied by any elders, and there are many people at the Empress's side, we can go directly to the Noble Consort's place. This is what the Empress instructed us to do."

Gu Hanjiao didn't say anything and walked ahead, while Hongxiu followed half a step behind, walking step by step into the depths of the palace.

She had traveled the road to Consort Yu's residence several times, so she was quite familiar with it. From afar, she saw Aunt Amber waiting at the door. Gu Hanjiao was overjoyed. Could it be that Consort Yu had specially arranged for Amber to wait for her? If so, it seemed that Consort Yu did not dislike her as much as she had imagined.

But it was ultimately wishful thinking on my part.

Amber's eyes were fixed on Hongxiu, and Hongxiu was also a little excited, after all, she hadn't seen Aunt Amber for a long time.

"We're here! We're here!"

"Why did Aunt come here in person?" Hongxiu asked.

"I heard that the Imperial Concubine asked you to accompany Miss Gu to the palace today. It's been so long since we last met, so I've come to welcome you. Second Miss, please come in quickly, the Imperial Concubine has been waiting for a long time."

Although Amber was polite to Gu Hanjiao, her eyes never left Hongxiu. Gu Hanjiao guessed that the relationship between Amber and Hongxiu must be unusual. Since Hongxiu said that she grew up in the palace, she must have grown up with Amber.

"Thank you for your guidance, Aunt." Gu Hanjiao smiled politely, stepped inside, and ignored Hongxiu and Hu Po talking hand in hand behind her.

Upon entering, one sees that the room is also full of people. The two young ladies of the Yu family, Yu Linglong and Yu Xinqiu, are present. Yu Linglong has a smile on her face, but she has a distant attitude that keeps strangers at bay. In contrast, Yu Xinqiu is rubbing the legs and shoulders of the Imperial Concubine and making witty remarks, which makes the Imperial Concubine smile from ear to ear.

Sitting next to Consort Yu was Li Qianyu, the future wife of the Third Prince. Li Qianyu hadn't appeared in public for a long time, and now she had become more serene, even somewhat silent.

Although she had a smile on her face, she always gave off a faint sense of melancholy. At this moment, she was being held by the hand and talked to by Consort Yu.

For some reason, Li Qianyu glanced at Xiao Yuheng sitting below drinking tea, blushed, and lowered her head with a smile.

"Greetings to the Imperial Concubine, and greetings to the Third Prince."

"Oh, Jiao'er is here too, please take a seat quickly." Consort Yu was in a good mood and hurriedly had someone find a seat for Gu Hanjiao.

Xiao Yuheng looked at Gu Hanjiao with surprise and delight. He had never seen Gu Hanjiao dressed like this before. She used to be an ethereal fairy, but now she had the charm of a mature woman. He recalled the scene of his passionate lovemaking with Gu Hanjiao a few days ago, and his heart began to stir with desire.

Women who have been pampered are indeed different.

Gu Hanjiao naturally noticed Xiao Yuheng's aggressive gaze, but she just lowered her head and smiled, as if she were shy.

Yu Xinqiu was a little jealous and unhappy, so she quickly started the conversation, saying, "It's quite lively here at Aunt's place now. Although Sister Li doesn't talk much, she's a beauty. It's pleasing to the eye to see her smile. And with Sister Gu joining us, it's the icing on the cake."