Chapter 369: Peach Blossom Banquet

trick won’t work!” Xiao Yuge, agitated, felt her wound throb again. She covered her chest, and her entire face scrunched up in pain."Alright, alright, don't get excited, I said what I said!" Qian Ting..."Your Highness!" Despite being outside, Xiao Yu Ge still respectfully bowed to Mu Huan.

"No need for formalities." After this period of getting to know each other, Mu Huan had already considered Xiao Yuge a friend, and she grabbed her arm. "Time is running out, let's go quickly."

"Strange, we always entered the Peach Blossom Banquet through Yonghe Palace Gate in the past, but this year we have to go around to Chonghua Palace Gate." The noble ladies who came together for the Peach Blossom Banquet were whispering amongst themselves.

“I heard that the other palaces have already imposed martial law, I wonder if something happened”

"What could possibly happen It's just that I heard the State Teacher instructed each noblewoman participating in the Peach Blossom Banquet to walk through the ChongHua Gate and pass before two large bronze mirrors. They say it's to ward off evil spirits."

It is said that the national master is very skilled. Just take the recent ghost incident in the palace as an example. Many people said they saw a woman wearing green, which caused panic among the people. After the national master performed rituals, it became quiet that night.

"This State Teacher is truly amazing!"

Xiao Yu Ge heard their discussion, and couldn't help but furrow her brow slightly. She wasn't sure if it was her overthinking, but she always felt that the national teacher's eyes on her were off, uncomfortable. Villains are just bad people, aren't they Hmm Where did she learn this saying from

"Xiao Yuge, don't listen to them. We don't have to go to the main gate of Chonghuagong with them. We can go through the side gate," Muhuan pulled Xiao Yuge along a different path.

"Can we really go to the Peach Blossom Banquet if we don't go through the Chong Hua Palace Gate"

"Don't worry, I'm a honored guest of your Lan Zhao Kingdom now, and I have special privileges. Just follow me." Mu Huan shook the privilege order given by the emperor, mysteriously pulling her along.

As expected, after a long detour and an accidental crawl through a doghole, I finally saw Chonghua Hall.

"Is this the side gate you were talking about" Xiao Yu Ge touched her forehead, looking speechless. So even a high-ranking princess like her had a penchant for squeezing through dog holes

"I just discovered this a few days ago. There's not just one here, there are several! Don't make a sound, if anyone finds out it'll be bad." Mu Huan hurriedly covered her mouth.

Xiao Yu ge casually glanced back at the so-called dog holes, only to discover that these dog holes seemed to be newly dug. Strangely, this place was so remote, who would dig dog holes in such a place, and even dig so many

"Come on, let's go." Mu Huan pulled her towards Chong Hua Palace.

From afar, one could see the long red carpet stretching from the main gate of ChongHua Palace all the way down the steps. Indeed, on both sides of the steps stood two bronze mirrors, each about a man's height tall. Every woman who passed by these mirrors had to adjust her appearance before she could ascend the steps and enter the main hall of ChongHua Palace.

Xiao Yu's song, they didn't walk through the front gate, so naturally they wouldn't have passed the red carpet, nor would they have stood in front of the bronze mirror.

Xiao Yu Ge looked at the two bronze mirrors, feeling a bit eerie. What was that national teacher trying to do So strange!

Entering the hall, Mu Huan immediately pulled Xiao Yuge to sit beside her.

"Your Highness, this is not in accordance with etiquette." As Xiao Yuge's current status, being able to enter this grand hall of Chonghua Palace to attend the Peach Blossom Banquet was already a great favor, how could she possibly sit at the front

"What's the matter You sit by my side, no one dares to say anything." Yet Mu Huan insisted on pulling her to sit with him.

They took a shortcut, so they arrived earlier. Outside the door, young masters and ladies from prominent families were still arriving one after another, but at a slower pace. Young men and women all love beauty, and for today's banquet, they had each carefully dressed up. Standing in front of such a large bronze mirror, they definitely had to admire themselves properly.

At this time, the national teacher stood on the steps with a blank expression, looking at the young masters and ladies from prominent families who were walking down one after another. He lowered his voice and asked the apprentice standing beside him, "Apprentice, is there anything unusual"

The disciple hurriedly bowed respectfully and shook his head. "Master, I haven't yet."

Not a single one

"None at all." The young apprentice shook his head.

The national teacher frowned, his already small eyes narrowed into a line. He didn't know what he was thinking. Seeing that most of the noble daughters and sons who came to the Peach Blossom Banquet had arrived, he could only reluctantly order someone to put away the two bronze mirrors first.

The so-called Peach Blossom Banquet wasn't just about admiring the beautiful scenery of Taoyuan, it was also about enjoying various snacks and treats made from peaches. There were also poetry competitions where young men and women would write poems based on peach themes. In short, it was as extravagant and lively as possible.

Xiao Yuge noticed that the Peach Blossom Banquet was usually presided over by the Empress herself, with the Emperor also coming to admire it for a while. But today was very strange. From the beginning, the entire Peach Blossom Banquet was hosted by Roufei, who was usually unknown. Even Xianfei didn't attend. The atmosphere at the entire Peach Blossom Banquet was also strange.

Xiao Yu sang looked around four directions, but even Qian Si Chen wasn't there. Logically speaking, as the Crown Prince, he would definitely attend such a banquet. After searching around, she didn't see Qian Ting Xuan either. Thinking about how he had promised her yesterday that he would come to the Peach Blossom Banquet today, why hadn't he come

"Could something have happened"

“What’s wrong These peach pastries are delicious, why aren’t you eating them You seem absent-minded”At this time, Mu Huan quietly came closer, following her gaze around in a circle, as if she understood something: “Oh, I see. You’re looking for the Duke He didn’t come, it seems he has some business to attend to. Even the Emperor and Empress haven’t arrived either.”

"Something feels off..." Xiao Yuge always felt that something was amiss. Every year, she would go to Taoyuan with everyone to admire the peach blossoms during the Peach Blossom Banquet. However, Rou Fei had excused herself by saying that she needed to wait for Empress Dowager and the others.

Every year, the Peach Blossom Banquet gathers almost every prominent young master and lady from noble families in the capital city, as well as princes and royal sons. As Empress Dowager would say, its purpose is to strengthen the bonds between different families and facilitate many aristocratic marriages, thus consolidating the imperial court.

But today something is definitely off.

"What's wrong Wasn't the Peach Blossom Banquet always like this before" Mu Huan was attending for the first time, naturally unable to see what was amiss. She only felt that it was lively and happy with all the young people together.

Xiao Yu Ge bit her lip tightly. In her previous life, she had attended the Peach Blossom Banquet more than once, but the situation then was completely different from today. Where did the Emperor and Empress go

But today, it seems the heavens are not cooperating. Originally, there was clear skies and sunshine, but at this very moment, it began to rain steadily. Someone suggested going out to appreciate the flowers in the rain, but they were mostly delicate young ladies and pampered young masters; few dared to brave the rain. Besides, the weather wasn't that warm yet. Getting drenched would surely lead to catching a cold.

Besides, every year's Peach Blossom Banquet is held here with people staying overnight. Although it's a vulgar custom, it has indeed helped many lovers find each other. Finally, they slumped softly to the ground at the feet of the Grand Tutor. Their faces, which had once been filled with youthful vitality, now looked as withered and aged as those of eighty-year-olds...