the first lady

Chapter 44

Zongzheng Yi looked awkward, and the corner of his mouth couldn't help but deepen his smile.

"It's okay, the prince won't be so disrespectful."

What else could Qiao Linger say, so she nodded.

"Zongzheng Yi, the prince you knew before shouldn't look like this, right?" After hesitating for a while, Qiao Ling'er finally asked what was in her heart.

Zong Zhengyi looked at her sideways. She didn't have much contact with Helian Feiyan before, but she was able to sensitively perceive the changes in the relationship and Helian Feiyan's attitude. It can be seen that her shrewdness is no less than that of ordinary people. .

Before this, when Emperor Wu hadn't given him a marriage, and hadn't made it clear to win him over, Helian Feiyan really regarded him as a friend.But after Emperor Wu made it clear, he gradually gained airs in front of him.

It's not that he feels sorry for this friend, but that their identities are too different. If there is something in the future, he won't be surprised.

However, if it was because of Qiao Linger...

Zong Zhengyi frowned calmly, he hoped that his guess was wrong, the prince should have a sense of proportion!

"My lord, we've arrived at the gate of the palace." Yueying's deep voice came from outside.

"Okay, I got it." Zong Zhengyi replied, got out of the car first, and then reached out to help Qiao Ling'er.

Today, Qiao Linger wore a formal smoky green dress with a slight court style, with a white embroidered light pink lotus tube top, a floral skirt around the waist, and a misty green smoky veil in her hands. Foggy temples, with pearl flower hairpins pinned in her hair.Compared with other ministers' wives and daughters, her dress is definitely the least conspicuous in the crowd.

Of course, Qiao Ling'er already had the reputation of being the most beautiful woman in the Nanwu Kingdom, but at this moment, she was so dazzlingly dressed that people couldn't take their eyes off her.

Especially when she was standing beside Zong Zhengyi, the two of them stood together, they had to be praised as a match made in heaven.

Today's Zongzheng Yi is not wearing court clothes, the white clothes are almost born for him.The robes were white and spotless, and his black hair set off the poetic luster of his pearl-white neck under the bun.

It seemed that he had never seen a man who was more elegant and picturesque than him. Those smiling eyes and a bright and beautiful aura infected everyone who looked at him from his face.

Zongzheng Yi nodded politely to the ministers and their families, and did not deliberately care about the admiring gazes from around.

Naturally, Qiao Ling'er would not miss the look of admiration in those young women's eyes. She always knew that Zong Zhengyi had his own charm, but she never thought about where his charm could be brought into play.See you today, sure enough...

Suddenly there was an urge to hide Zong Zhengyi.

"What are you thinking?" Zong Zhengyi suddenly asked softly.

Qiao Ling'er was slightly frightened, and immediately shook her head: "It's nothing!" You can't tell him that she's trying to hide him, can you? !

Compared to Qiao Linger's unfamiliarity with this place, Zong Zhengyi seemed quite natural and led her to the main hall.

Outside Chaoyang Hall.

On the brightly lit avenue, many figures came and went, and not long after, a magnificent palace as bright as daylight was already seen from a distance.

The lively and mixed voices came over, tinged with joy, and the people walking behind the two were gradually infected by this atmosphere, and the voices of the conversation gradually became louder.

It has become a tradition for the royal family to hold formal banquets at night rather than during the day.

Walking not far away, you can see palace lanterns, brightly lit candles, and a gorgeous and majestic hall standing in front of you.Just looking at it from the horizontal direction, it can be seen that the occupied area is definitely not small.

Eunuchs, palace maids, guards, ministers, and royal family members were all identities that they had only seen on TV before, but now they are so profoundly displayed in front of them. It suddenly feels like it was still a dream when Emperor Wu personally ordered the marriage.It's like an ordinary person who suddenly sees the president or the president. It's unreal, but it just makes you have such an "unforgettable" memory.

Although it seemed like a dream, Qiao Ling'er was never completely affected by the atmosphere.She wanted to take a look, what kind of tricks did Emperor Wu want to play today?

The two of them walked along with some courtiers, but no one came forward to strike up a conversation, maybe because they didn't want to spoil the atmosphere between the two of them, they consciously followed behind, and no one went ahead.

Many ministers who had come early had already gathered in front of the hall, greeting each other.I don't know who yelled, everyone saw Zong Zhengyi and Qiao Ling'er, they spontaneously gave way, and bowed their hands in salute.

Zong Zhengyi nodded back one by one, and many eyes fell from him to Qiao Linger, and she, who was like a fairy, praised him from the bottom of her heart.

Qiao Ling'er was already a well-known person in the capital, and there were countless rumors about her and Feng Qing.Now seeing her entering in such a harmonious way with the prime minister, I can't help but guess.

"Yi!" A slightly excited voice sounded, and the prince Helian Feiyan appeared beside the two of them in a brocade robe.

"See the prince!" Zongzheng Yi bowed and saluted with a characteristic smile.

"My concubine sees the prince." Qiao Ling'er also paid her respects with a slight blessing. Here, etiquette is essential.

"There's no need to be too polite..." Later, Helian Feiyan didn't know how to address him.

"Prince, etiquette cannot be broken!" When Helian Feiyan stepped forward to help her, she easily turned sideways, avoiding his hand.Moreover, even if it is to help, it should be her husband who is there, and it shouldn't be her anyway!

Helian Feiyan suddenly felt a little embarrassed, but soon looked at Zong Zhengyi: "Prime Minister, please!"

"Please!" Zong Zhengyi stepped into the hall together with Helian Feiyan.

Qiao Ling'er felt somewhat depressed, what exactly was Helian Feiyan's intention?And what is Emperor Wu planning?Why did Zongzheng Yi look so calm?His city should not be like this...

In this seemingly peaceful night, how many undercurrents are developing in unknown places?

Zong Zhengyi, Qiao Ling'er and Helian Feiyan entered the hall one after another, followed by all the civil and military officials and their family members.

Inside and outside the Chaoyang Palace, eunuchs and court ladies were busy shuttling back and forth.

After entering Chaoyang Palace, Qiao Linger realized that there is no most luxurious, only more luxurious.The spacious palace occupies almost a football field, and dozens of gold pillars with a diameter of nearly one meter support the top of the entire hall.The top is a pattern made of multicolored gilded silk thread, including the blanket extending from the center of the hall to the emperor's throne, all of which are woven with gorgeous gold thread, which is extraordinarily luxurious.

The desks are all made of high-quality mahogany, and there are delicious dishes on display on the tables. As far as Qiao Linger judges, one dish here is enough for an ordinary family to eat for a year.

Helian Feiyan designated a seat for Zong Zhengyi and the others, and the fifth prince, Helian Feiyu, two other ministers and their wives were sitting with them.

Qiao Linger sat in the lower seat of Zong Zhengyi, and there were still three seats left on the main seat. She looked at the three vacant seats with a cold expression. If she guessed correctly, the three seats...

Before the thoughts fell, one after another high-pitched voices came from far and near: "The emperor is here--" "The empress is here--"

There was no sound in the originally chaotic hall, Zong Zhengyi stood up and half knelt, Qiao Linger followed him, and except for their table, everyone else knelt on the ground as a whole.

"Long live my emperor, long live, long live—"

"Queen Chitose Chitose Chitose Chitose—"

The loud voice reverberated in the hall, and after Emperor Wu shouted "All Qing's family is flat" with both hands, all the people said "Thank you, Your Majesty" in unison and then stood up one after another.

Qiao Ling'er stood up straight. In fact, when she knelt down, she already felt a pair of unfriendly eyes. When she raised her head now, she met a pair of indifferent and arrogant eyes. Those eyes just swept away , but let her affirm the owner of those eyes——

Queen Chen.

Today's Emperor Wu is wearing a fine bright yellow dragon robe with white jade pinned around his waist. The dragon with teeth and claws on his chest seems to be showing off, as arrogant as Emperor Wu himself; on his left is a 40-year-old man in the same color and material The woman with a tall hair bun with a straight phoenix hairpin and a dignified waist looks more luxurious against the floor skirt embroidered with golden phoenixes; while on the right side of Emperor Wu is a woman in a dark red dress. The queen is a bit old, about [-] years old, her appearance is considered to be above average, but the noble aura on her body is not inferior to the queen's, her eyes are familiar, as if...someone.

And she is the most powerful woman besides the empress—the prince's biological mother, the imperial concubine!
After some congratulations, Emperor Wu also took his seat, and his eyes fell on Qiao Ling'er intentionally or unintentionally.

Emperor Wu sat in the center, with the empress on his left, Helian Feiyu next, another minister, General Wu and his wife, and the concubine and Helian Feiyan on the right. It was Zong Zhengyi and Qiao Linger.

The one at the bottom was an elderly official, and Qiao Ling'er didn't know what his background was.

Sitting like this also allowed Emperor Wu to easily see Qiao Linger, especially the queen, more directly.

It has long been heard that Emperor Wu used means to kill all his brothers when he ascended to the throne of God, so today, only ministers of the opposite sex are sitting at the same table with him.

Qiao Ling'er has studied a lot of history, and she also knows that it is impossible for a monarch and his ministers to be equal. She doesn't know much about the royal family of this country that has no history, but as an emperor, she must have such thoughts.But today, what is his intention to let his courtiers, who are not of low status, sit with him?
"How is Ling'er in Xiangfu?" Sure enough, the next moment, Emperor Wu spoke.

Qiao Ling'er's heart turned cold, but there was a calm and shy smile on her face: "Thank you for the emperor's concern, my husband... is very kind to my concubine..."

It is not difficult for people to hear the frailty in such a tone, especially the shy eyes coupled with the blushing face, it is not difficult for people to associate with the stunning and cowardly Miss Qiao Si before.

(End of this chapter)