After waiting for a cup of tea, it was Shen Lan’s turn.

  Shen Lan got off the carriage with a smile and ordered the maid beside her to hand over the palace banquet invitation to the chamberlain. The inner servant checked it carefully, and said with a smile, “Third Miss Shen, please come into the palace.”

   Shen Lan did not rush to enter the palace, she turned her head and smiled at Lu Mingyu: “Let’s go in together.”

  Lu Mingyu didn’t have the slightest bit of joy that she was about to enter the palace for a banquet, so she hummed casually. Qi Yun, who was beside her, also took out the invitation.

   The inner servant looked at the invitation, his bent waist lowered a little bit, and his smile was very attentive: “It turned out to be Fourth Miss Lu, please enter the palace gate.”

  Shen Lan’s father was a second-rank senior official.

   However, when the Great Wei Dynasty was just established, the status of military commanders was much higher than that of civilian officials. King Xingyang, who holds a lot of troops and has great achievements in battle, was also the top figure among the military generals.

  In the palace, the inner servant was used to holding the high and stepping on the low, with the red top and the white. ^[1]basically they pander to the people in power and overlook those that aren’t His attitude towards Lu Mingyu was obviously much more attentive and warmer than Shen Lan’s.

  Shen Lan was broad-minded, laughed it off, took Lu Mingyu’s hand, and walked into the palace gate together.

   It was Jin Can’er’s turn again, and the servant’s half-bent waist was lifted up again, although it was considered respectful. However, the difference was obvious to anyone with a discerning eye.

  Snobbish doggone thing!

  The arrogant Jin Can’er, with her pretty face flushed with anger, glared at the servant angrily.

   The fair-skinned and handsome eunuch’s expression remained unchanged, and his eyes rolled in his heart.

  The daughter of the Minister of the Ministry of Industry dared to compete with the daughter of the King of Xingyang! Not to mention her family background, if she just compared her appearance and bearing, she was totally surpassed by Fourth Miss Lu in a single face-to-face.

   Feeling aggrieved in her heart, if you have the ability, go rush to Fourth Miss Lu, and show prestige to her. Showing your temper to a servant who has no descendants, what kind of ability!

  …

  Donghua Gate was a long passage.

   As far as you can see, there were tall palace walls, vermilion eaves, and eunuchs and palace maids silently bowing and making their way. The solemn and oppressive atmosphere made people’s hearts sink suddenly.

  Lu Mingyu’s eyes looked away, the scene in front of her was so familiar; it was disgustingly familiar.

  Shen Lan was entering the palace for the first time. At this time, she was a little nervous and pursed the corners of her mouth slightly.

   She subconsciously turned her head and glanced at Lu Mingyu.

   But she saw that Lu Mingyu had no smile at all, and her expression was indifferent, almost cold. There was no respect in her eyes, instead, there was a hint of sarcasm.

  Lu Mingyu, what happened?

   Entering the palace for the first time, about to meet the Empress and all the concubines in the palace, such an expression was very inappropriate.

   Shen Lan was startled, she reached out her hand quietly and tugged at Lu Mingyu’s sleeve.

  Lu Mingyu paused slightly, turned her head, and returned to her usual appearance, smiling at Shen Lan.

  Shen Lan almost thought she had read it wrong just now, so she couldn’t help blinking.

  Lu Mingyu was amused by this little gesture, pursed her lips, and smiled.

   She reached out to hold Shen Lan’s hand and smiled softly: “Sister Lan, don’t worry about me, I know the severity and won’t cause trouble easily.”

   Shen Lan was nervous again, lowered her voice, and said, “Shh, stop talking.”

  Lu Mingyu smiled lightly and didn’t speak anymore.

  They walked silently for a while, rounded two bends, walked for a while, and finally arrived at Jiaofang Hall.

   Jiaofang Hall had always been the residence of the Empress of the Central Palace. Lu Mingyu lived in Jiaofang Palace for three years, until Li Hao passed away and the new emperor succeeded the throne. Then she moved into Changchun Palace with her son.

  Jiaofang Hall was located in the middle of the harem, with magnificent decoration and beautiful interiors.

   The group of noble ladies from the capital was introduced into the side hall of Jiaofang Hall, waiting for Empress Qiao to call them.

  According to the rules in the palace, you can only bring one personal maid when entering the palace. After entering the main hall later, the maids cannot accompany you.

   There were two rows of chairs in the side hall. At first glance, there were about ten chairs. Today, there are more than 20 noble ladies who entered the palace for the banquet. Furthermore, even if there were enough chairs to sit on, the girls who entered the palace for the first time did not dare to sit down and talk at will.

   Didn’t you see a female officer in her thirties standing in the corner?

   It must have been Empress Qiao who sent the people around her to look at everyone calmly.

  If anyone shows timidity at this time or made a noise and made a fool of themselves, they will be the first to be eliminated from the list of candidates for the prince’s consort.

   As a result, all the girls stood dignifiedly with smiles on their faces.

  Lu Mingyu did not do anything out of the ordinary.

   She was not interested in being a prince consort. However, she could not lose the face of the Xingyang Palace.

  …

   This wait was another half an hour.

  The girls stood with sore legs and weak feet. Fortunately, everyone was wearing long skirts and could move their legs quietly.

   The 30-year-old palace maid in the corner quietly withdrew with a hint of satisfaction flashing in her eyes. After a while, Empress Qiao sent someone to summon all the girls into the main hall for an audience.

   There was also a sequence of going in to meet the Empress.

   All the girls stared at the palace maid in unison.

  The palace maid was dressed in a light purple palace dress, with a slender figure, fair skin, and a small black mole under her eyes. It was Cai Lan, the palace maid next to Empress Qiao.

  Cai Lan smiled and bowed her head: “The Queen’s niece, Miss Xuan Qiao, will go in now.”

  Third Miss Qiao, who was wearing a blue dress, replied with a smile. Third Miss Qiao’s boudoir name is Wan. As her name suggests, she was born gentle and beautiful.

   Qiao Wan walked away gracefully under the jealous and envious gazes of the girls.

  Jin Can’er couldn’t hold back, she whispered to the girl beside her, “I didn’t expect Qiao Wan to come out on top today.”

  The girl was wearing a rouge-colored dress and had a pink face and peach cheeks. She was quite charming. She was the young daughter of the Marquis of Guangping. Her surname was Meng, her boudoir name was Yunluo, and she was the maiden niece of Concubine Meng in the palace.

   In terms of family status, Marquis Guangping’s mansion was also a first-class great Wei family. Concubine Meng was quite favored in the palace, and the Eldest Prince was even more favored by Emperor Yongjia.

  However, no matter how favored Concubine Meng was, she had to bow her head to Empress Qiao. Meng Yunluo was in the palace, so naturally, she was not as important as Qiao Wan.

  Meng Yunluo glanced at Qiao Wan’s figure, a trace of jealousy flashed in her eyes, and said lightly, “Qiao Ge is always the first assistant of the dynasty, Qiao Wan is the niece of the Queen, so she is more important.”

   After a while, Cai Lan came to call again.

   The person who was summoned for an interview this time was Zhao Yu, the fifth young lady of the Zhao family of the Marquis of Puyang. The Zhao family was the natal family of Empress Dowager Zhao, and Zhao Yu was the grand-niece of Empress Dowager Zhao. She was often called into the palace to accompany Empress Dowager Zhao on weekdays.

   Zhao Yu, who was not tall, was wearing a pink dress, which was exquisite and cute. When she smiled, two deep dimples appeared on her cheeks.

  Jin Can’er pouted.

  Meng Yunluo pursed her lips slightly, feeling more and more annoyed.

   They were all famous and noble ladies in the capital. Who didn’t want to be strong every day? Who wanted to be left behind?

   This suffocating breath was really hard to swallow.

   It was always her turn next.

When Cai Lan appeared again, Meng Yunluo subconsciously straightened her waist, with a reserved but elegant smile on her face, she raised her legs slightly and was about to take a step forward…

   Then, Cai Lan’s voice clearly entered her ears: “Please asking Fourth Miss Lu to visit the main hall.”

  Meng Yunluo: “…”

  Meng Yunluo smiled condensed at the corner of her mouth and she silently retracted her outstretched foot.