After marrying a powerful minister, the female partner was pampered

Chapter 362 Palace Banquet
forecourt.

When Qiao Jingjing and others arrived, Qin Moyuan and Qin Xuan were already waiting inside.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Qin Moyuan took a package from his personal guard and handed it to Lu Xingzhi, "This is a specialty of Sifang Town. Brother Qingshan asked us to bring it to Jingjing, saying that these are her favorite foods."

Lu Xingzhi took it and put it on the table.

Qiao Jingjing touched the package and felt a little touched.

It would be great if Father Qiao and Aunt Xu could come to Beijing.

Seeing that she was somewhat touched, Lu Xingzhi understood what she was thinking and said in a gentle voice, "Next year when you give birth, I will have someone pick them up and bring them to the capital. I'm sure they won't refuse."

"Yeah." Qiao Jingjing collected her thoughts and nodded.

"I wonder what the result of my father-in-law's trip was?" Lu Xingzhi asked.

Qin Moyuan said with emotion: "Jingjing's adoptive father is a man of great righteousness. He is always thinking about Jingjing. When I mentioned it, he agreed without even thinking about it."

Qiao Jingjing naturally understood what the two were talking about.

She looked a little dazed.

In fact, based on her understanding of Mr. Qiao, she knew this would be the result.

Father Qiao has always been kind, selfless and loves her very much.

He must have felt that if the Qin family could recognize her, it would only benefit her, so he agreed without hesitation.

"By the way, Brother Qingshan also wrote a letter and asked me to give it to you." Qin Moyuan remembered something, took out a letter from his arms and handed it to her.

Qiao Jingjing took it.

As it was getting late, she had no choice but to take the letter and get on the carriage.

She waited until the carriage started to set off before she opened the letter and began to read.

Lu Shuangshuang was sitting in a carriage with her. Seeing her smiling face when she read the letter, she couldn't help but become curious, "Sister-in-law, is there any happy event for Uncle Qiao and his family?"

Qiao Jingjing put down the letter, her face full of joy, "There really is good news, Aunt Xu is pregnant."

Hearing this, Lu Shuangshuang exclaimed and said happily, "That's really a great happy event. Uncle Qiao will definitely be very happy."

Qiao Jingjing smiled and said, "That's for sure."

"I didn't expect that you can still be a sister at this age." Lu Shuangshuang said with emotion.

Qiao Jingjing was so angry that she laughed, "What do you mean I'm this old? Am I really old?"

Lu Shuangshuang giggled, "Not old, not old, but compared to your unborn brother, I am much older, more than a generation older."

Qiao Jingjing was speechless. It turned out that there was indeed a huge difference.

But there was nothing that could be done about it, as her father and Aunt Xu got married late.

"By the way, how many months has Aunt Xu been pregnant?" Lu Shuangshuang asked.

"It's been more than a month, but it's almost two months." Qiao Jingjing replied.

"Then won't you two give birth at about the same time?" Lu Shuangshuang said.

"It should be." Qiao Jingjing nodded.

Thinking of Aunt Xu's age, she couldn't help but feel a little worried.

Aunt Xu is considered an elderly mother giving birth at this age. Moreover, medical technology in ancient times was backward, and the risks of giving birth were even greater.

Qiao Jingjing thought about it and felt that she should bring Father Qiao and Aunt Xu to the capital as soon as possible. The medical skills of the doctors in the capital would at least be better than those in Sifang Town.

Not long after, the carriage arrived at the gate of the palace and stopped.

After getting off the carriage, everyone walked into the palace on foot.

After entering the palace, Lu Xingzhi and others went to the imperial study, while Qiao Jingjing and Lu Shuangshuang went to the Cining Palace first.

The Cining Palace is very lively today, with many ladies of high rank and noble families coming.

When Qiao Jingjing and Lu Shuangshuang went in, the eldest princess had already arrived.

The two of them stepped forward and first bowed to the Empress Dowager, and then bowed to the eldest princess.

The eldest princess asked the two to sit next to her.

"Why did you come just now?" the eldest princess asked in a low voice.

"My father and brother are back. We were waiting for them and wasted some time." Qiao Jingjing looked at her with a smile.

The eldest princess paused and said uncomfortably, "Is your brother back?" "Yes." Qiao Jingjing nodded.

At this moment, Lu Shuangshuang suddenly pushed her arm. Qiao Jingjing turned to look at her and was about to ask something, but saw her nodding her chin towards the corner.

Qiao Jingjing looked in the direction and saw someone she hadn't seen for a long time.

It turned out to be Shangguan Xueer.

Qiao Jingjing was surprised.

It was because the Shangguan Xueer in front of him was completely different from before. She looked very silent and weathered. She no longer had the liveliness that she should have at her age, giving people a feeling of twilight.

She sat alone in the corner, looking out of place.

Just as Qiao Jingjing was about to look away, she saw Qin Yue'er walking towards Shangguan Xue'er.

It was unknown what the two of them said to each other. Qin Yue'er looked very unhappy and left in a huff.

The princess noticed that Qiao Jingjing was looking at Shangguan Xueer and whispered, "After what happened last time, her personality has changed drastically. She is much more sensible than before. The queen mother has already chosen a husband for her. She will get married after the New Year."

Qiao Jingjing sighed a little.

The princess paused, glanced at Lu Shuangshuang, and whispered, "After all, mother loves Xue'er. After the incident, mother originally wanted my brother to take Xue'er into the harem."

Qiao Jingjing was startled.

Lu Shuangshuang, who was sitting next to them, naturally heard it as well, but she didn't react.

"But my royal brother disagreed, so my mother didn't mention it again. Instead, she helped Xue'er choose a husband's family." The eldest princess continued.

Qiao Jingjing didn't say much after hearing this.

After everyone gathered in the Cining Palace and talked with the Empress Dowager for a while, it was almost time, so they moved to the main hall where the banquet was to be held.

Unlike ordinary palace banquets, today's New Year's Eve banquet is large in scale and grand.

The entire main hall was filled with tables and banquets.

After everyone had paid their respects to the emperor, officials and female relatives sat down at their seats separately.

After the emperor gave some congratulatory remarks, the banquet began.

At the end of the palace banquet, the emperor ordered fireworks to be set off outside the palace.

Everyone moved out of the hall.

With a few loud "bang bang bang" sounds, the dark night sky was lit up by fireworks.

It is so dazzling and gorgeous that people can't take their eyes away.

"How beautiful!" someone exclaimed.

Lu Shuangshuang was also very excited. She pulled Qiao Jingjing's arm and said, "I've never seen such beautiful fireworks. They are so beautiful."

Qiao Jingjing praised: "It is indeed beautiful."

At the end, everyone bid farewell to the emperor and prepared to leave the palace.

Qiao Jingjing and Lu Shuangshuang were walking behind and suddenly noticed someone was watching them.

She turned her head in confusion and met the gaze of a young girl.

The girl probably didn't expect to attract her attention, and she lowered her eyes in panic.

Qiao Jingjing was stunned for a moment, then pulled Lu Shuangshuang's sleeve and asked in a low voice: "Shuangshuang, do you know that girl?"

Lu Shuangshuang also noticed the girl and shook her head, "I don't know her."

"Then why is she always looking at us?" Qiao Jingjing was very confused.

"I don't know either. How about I go and ask?" Lu Shuangshuang said.

Qiao Jingjing shook her head, "Forget it."

At this time, Lu Xingzhi, who had just finished greeting his colleagues, walked up to the two of them.

"Do you recognize that girl?" Qiao Jingjing immediately grabbed his sleeve and asked.

Lu Xingzhi followed her gaze and saw Chu Zongling and the young girl following him.

He paused and said calmly, "That should be Miss Chu, the daughter of Chu Zongling."

"It's her." Qiao Jingjing was surprised.

"Who is it?" Lu Shuangshuang asked as she moved closer.