Oh no! Seven kids at the start, all yellow and skinny.

Chapter 285 Palace Banquet

Capital City, Imperial Palace.

After the various government offices relinquish their seals at the end of each year, a series of banquets will follow.

The reasons are all the same: the banquet before the New Year is a farewell banquet, and the banquet after the New Year is a welcome banquet.

The palace would also hold one or two such events.

In the past, the Empress would usually host a palace banquet at the end of the year, and then the other concubines would host their own palace banquets in the first month of the lunar calendar.

However, in recent years, because the Empress was imprisoned, it was Consort Chen who made the preparations.

This year was no exception; Consort Chen convened a farewell banquet on the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month.

In fact, whether it was a banquet held by various noble families outside the palace or a banquet held inside the palace, the theme was always women, and the main functions were twofold: matchmaking and diplomacy among wives.

Ning Wushuang was the eldest daughter of the Princess. In terms of status, appearance, and talent, she was the benchmark of noble ladies in the entire capital.

However, because he was disfigured, he has not attended any banquets or even left his home in the past few months.

But she attended this palace banquet.

Princess Qiaochu and her husband personally attended the palace banquet with their two children.

Perhaps it was a case of bad luck, for the princess's carriage had just arrived at the palace gate when it encountered the carriage of the Marquis of Xing'an.

In terms of status and position, the Xing'an Marquis's family cannot compare with the Eldest Princess. Moreover, the Eldest Princess has special privileges; her carriage can directly enter the palace.

As soon as Han Lian'er got off the carriage, she saw the Princess's carriage enter the palace gate directly. She couldn't help but purse her lips, but when she met her grandmother's gaze, she quickly lowered her head.

Although the Empress was not the host of the palace banquet, the banquet was still held at the Liuguang Water Pavilion.

The place is bright and has a nice environment, making it perfect for hosting banquets.

The princess's carriage stopped in front of Qiankun Gate.

The eldest princess led Ning Wushuang through the Qiankun Gate towards the inner palace, while Ning Xun took his son to the Golden Palace. The man had to see the emperor first and attend the palace banquet with him.

The eldest princess led Ning Wushuang slowly forward, stopping at a fork in the road and turning her head to look west.

"Mother, Aunt..."

"Let's go," the eldest princess interrupted her daughter.

Ning Wushuang stuck out her tongue, realizing she had just misspoke.

There were already quite a few people in the Flowing Light Pavilion. When they saw Princess Qiaochu coming, they all hurriedly came over to pay their respects.

Princess Qiaochu nodded with a smile, then sat down and chatted with some noble ladies. After a few words, she looked at her daughter and said, "Wushuang, go play by yourself and take Nongqi with you."

Ning Wushuang nodded and led Ruhua and Nongqi outside.

Although it was winter, the entire waterside pavilion was enclosed, and some areas were even covered with transparent glass covers, so it wasn't cold.

Therefore, there are also some different flowers in bloom.

"Wushuang." A girl in red ran over happily. "Finally, I see you! It's been so long since you've even paid attention to me. How many letters have I written to you? You haven't replied to any of them."

"I'm sorry, Yi." Ning Wushuang grasped Youyi's hand. "You know, I..."

"Alright." Youyi interrupted her, taking a bottle out of his pocket. "My dad and I have been researching for a long time and finally made a scar removal cream. I've tried it, and it works pretty well. You should try it."

Youyi is the youngest daughter of You Song, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy. She is Ning Wushuang's best friend. However, this girl loves medical books. Not only does she learn from her father, but she also often travels around with her father's fellow disciples to broaden her experience.

After Ning Wushuang's accident, she was not in the capital. She returned later and met with her, but Ning Wushuang was in despair at the time, so she had no intention of seeing anyone again.

Unexpectedly, Youyi had always wanted to develop a scar removal cream.

"Thank you, Ayi." Ning Wushuang took it, her eyes a little red. "However, I've already..." she said, leaning closer to Youyi and saying a few words.

Youyi's eyes lit up: "Really?"

Ning Wushuang nodded.

"Let me see?"

Just as Ning Wushuang was about to nod and reach out to remove her veil, a group of people walked over from a distance, led by Han Lian'er.

Ning Wushuang immediately lowered her hand, stood up straight, and looked at those people.

Although Han Lian'er was very unwilling, she had no choice but to come over and bow: "Greetings, Princess Wushuang."

Ning Wushuang looked at these people squatting there and did not speak immediately. Instead, she took a step back and sat down, even pulling Youyi to sit with her.

Ru Hua brought over some tea and snacks.

Ning Wushuang picked up her teacup and took a small sip.

Han Lian'er was filled with resentment and stood up straight: "Ning Wushuang, did you do this on purpose?"

Did I tell you to get up? Ning Wushuang lifted her eyelids slightly.

"you……"

"Kneel down." Ning Wushuang put down her teacup.

Nongqi kicked Han Lian'er to the ground.

The other noble ladies who were following Han Lian'er were so frightened that they immediately knelt down.

Han Lian'er burst into tears from the pain: "Ning Wushuang, how dare you hit me?"

*Slap!* Nongqi slapped Han Lian'er across the face: "How dare you address the princess by her given name?"

Han Lian'er knew that Ning Wushuang had come to cause trouble today. She couldn't just sit and wait to die; she had to go and inform her aunt. She then glanced at the maid beside her.

The girl turned and ran.

However, after running only two steps, he fell to the ground with a thud and couldn't get up for a long time.

"Han Lian'er," Ning Wushuang sneered, "Is this the kind of upbringing the Xing'an Marquis's family has? Even though she's a concubine's daughter, shouldn't she have at least some basic manners? This is a crime of utter disrespect..."

Han Lian'er was frightened at this moment, but she was also a woman who could bend and stretch. She hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed: "Princess, spare my life, I know I was wrong."

Although she was a young lady from the Xing'an Earl's Mansion, she was a commoner, so when facing Ning Wushuang, she could only refer to herself as a commoner.

"It's good that you know you were wrong." Ning Wushuang smiled. "But, I can't just let my face be ruined for nothing, can I?"

Han Lian'er clenched her fist.

"Han Lian'er, it's not impossible for me to spare you, but your face will have to look exactly like mine."

"I……"

"After you hurt my face, you just packed your bags and ran away, sending over a bunch of junk. What? Do you think I'm that worthless?" Ning Wushuang looked down at her fingernails. "It's alright, now that your face is like mine, I'll send you double the junk, how about that?"

"You..." Han Lian'er's face turned pale.

Nongqi was a female bodyguard specially assigned to her daughter by the eldest princess, but now she is out in the open, just to protect her daughter's safety.

At this moment, as soon as Ning Wushuang spoke, Nongqi pulled out a whip from his waist and cracked it in the air.