无翼乌工口里番无色无摭挡

It was time.

Train soldiers for a thousand days, use them for a moment.

The enormous sums of money spent by Silla on those officials in the past has finally come the time for payback!

…

In the afternoon, princes, nobles, and ministers, carrying their women with imperial edicts, entered the palace one after another in preparation for the banquet.

This was a special grace of the royal family for their officials. Only those of high status and with great merits, such as princes and ministers, were qualified for it.

Not only would the Emperor and Empress attend in person, but some high-ranking concubines would also have the opportunity.

For instance, the experienced Concubine Xian and Concubine Yu, who had made great contributions by giving birth to the Sixth Imperial Prince.

Concubine Xian seemed to have her courage thoroughly shattered by Princess Consort. She no longer dared to act ostentatiously and would mostly plead ill and decline any banquet where the Princess Consort was present.

She was indeed old, her looks had faded, and the Emperor’s feelings for her were nothing more than a few fond memories. The Emperor would not care whether she came or not.

This time attending the palace banquet, she knew that the Princess Consort would definitely be there, so she declined early with an excuse. But she couldn’t resist the Empress’s persuasion and after hesitating for a long time, she ended up going.

She was not doing this for herself, but for her son.

Concubine Xian’s son, the Prince of Huai, who was the previous Crown Prince, had been living in seclusion in the Mansion of Prince Huai ever since his legs were broken by Li Hongyuan for provoking Jiang Ning.

In the Great Sheng’s Imperial Court filled with turbulence and grandeur, he had already been forgotten.

Even the Emperor had not mentioned the name of this useless son for a long time.

With the increasing power of the Crown Prince, the Prince of Huai’s days would become more and more difficult. As a mother, Concubine Xian felt terrible watching her son suffer and be bullied.

If she too was completely forgotten by the Emperor, then the Prince of Huai would be truly finished.

She had to appear in front of the Emperor from time to time, reminding him of their past feelings when they were young, and reminding him that his third son was still suffering.

Concubine Xian gritted her teeth, dressed according to her rank, and held the hand of a palace maid, just reaching the entrance of the Heavenly Worship Hall when she met Jiang Ning.

Seeing Jiang Ning reminded her of the snarling mad dog that had bared its fangs in front of her.

Concubine Xian unconsciously steps back twice.

Jiang Ning stopped and smiled, “Your Highness Concubine Xian, it has been a long time since we last met.”

“Yes, yes.”

“It is rare that Your Highness Concubine Xian is in the mood to attend as well.”

“After all, it’s the New Year, and it’s more lively with more people.” Concubine Xian lowered her eyelids, not daring to make eye contact with Jiang Ning.

In a way, they were in a mother and daughter-in-law relationship, but the scene looked as if Jiang Ning was the mother-in-law, and Concubine Xian the daughter-in-law.

The arrival of Jiang Ruobai and his wife relieved Concubine Xian from the awkward situation.

Jiang Ning took her parents’ arms and was surprised to see Jiang Yan joining them as well.

According to the rules, concubine-born daughters generally do not attend such occasions.

However, rules are dead, and people are alive. As long as the legitimate mother is willing, no one will say anything if a concubine-born daughter is brought along.

And with the Jiang Family being so powerful, even their concubine-born daughter is considered prestigious.

Jiang Yuan was already married, and only Jiang Yan remained as the unmarried daughter in the Jiang Family. Bringing her along, Jiang Ruobai and his wife obviously had other intentions.

Jiang Ning saw that Jiang Yan was being cautious and shy, so she personally took her hand and asked her parents, “Where are Uncle and Aunt?”

Jiang Ruobai snorted, “Whether he comes or not, what does it have to do with me? You are her daughter, not mine?”