Tianliangyuan

Chapter 104 Palace Banquet

Xu Zhaozhao felt a pang of sadness; after several years of hardship, father and son were finally reunited.

However, Gao Shouxin has lost part of his memory, so it cannot be confirmed whether he is really his son.

"Uncle Gao, take him back first to let him recognize the people. If he can still recognize his younger brother and sister, then it should be the right one."

"Thank you so much, Miss. We can never repay your kindness in this lifetime. From now on, our whole family will always be your loyal followers and will never back down!"

Gao Da Kui knelt down and kowtowed three times in quick succession, so fast that Mai Dong couldn't stop him.

"Uncle Gao, there's no need for that. You take him first. Changsheng, your younger brother might be shy, so you can accompany him too. After the family meeting, we'll arrange a job for you."

"Thank you, Miss."

Upon hearing that he could stay, Changsheng quickly kowtowed as well, and then happily followed his younger brother to meet his relatives.

Half an hour later, Gao Da Kui led his family over to kowtow and express their gratitude to the young lady.

Although Gao Shouxin didn't remember his father, he always remembered his mother, as well as his younger brother and sister. As soon as they met, he called out the names of his younger brother and sister, and Gao Da Kui's wife also confirmed that he was indeed her eldest son.

There is nothing that makes them happier than a family reunion.

Gao Shouxin was still young, so Gao Da Kui thought he should rest at home for a while and then work for the young lady.

Xu Zhaozhao, however, was not in a hurry.

"Gao Shouxin and Changsheng should both learn to read a few words first. I heard from Maidong that Changsheng also has some martial arts skills. I'll have Maidong arrange a teacher for him to practice with first. If he wants to work for me, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future. There's no need to rush."

“Miss Xie, my family will never forget your great kindness and is willing to serve you like a slave for the rest of our lives.”

"Alright, Uncle Gao, please get up. Your eldest son has just returned. You should put aside what you're doing for now and spend more time with him. Perhaps if you spend more time together, he will remember you."

"Yes, thank you miss."

After the family left, Dingxiang sighed with emotion, "What incredible luck! Who would have thought that someone who fell into the river could be found again? Tsk, it's just that Gao Shouxin's life wasn't meant to end there."

Xu Zhaozhao smiled. Sometimes, human destiny is just that unpredictable.

Upon receiving the imperial decree, Wang Ruolan ordered someone to summon Xu Zhaozhao.

"The Empress is hosting a banquet, and the families of officials of the fifth rank and above are invited to the palace. According to the rules, I can bring two unmarried girls, but since you are my only daughter, I may bring your second uncle's sister."

Xu Zhaozhao asked in confusion, "Can't Second Aunt also bring two girls? I only remember having two younger sisters!"

Wang Ruolan glared at her: "Have you forgotten that your second aunt brought back a niece?"

Xu Zhaozhao then remembered that there was also Li Biyao.

"Mother, is it inappropriate to bring my cousin from the Li family to such a palace banquet?"

Li Biyao's father did not hold any official position, only the title of Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations at the provincial level), but that was hardly enough in the capital.

Therefore, strictly speaking, Li Biyao was not a member of an official's family and was not qualified to attend the banquet in the palace.

How could Wang Ruolan not know this?

“This time is different. The Empress is hosting a banquet, mostly to select consorts for the princes. So it’s fine for Li Biyao to go, but I reckon it’ll just be a formality. As you said, her family background is too weak, and she’s not qualified to be a prince’s wife.”

The daughter of a successful candidate in the imperial examinations probably doesn't even qualify to be a concubine.

Xu Zhaozhao was even more confused: "Mother, but I'm already engaged!"

Mentioning this, Wang Ruolan smiled again: "Knowing that you are engaged, the Empress specially instructed that you be invited to the palace this time, saying that your peach blossom wine will be used at the palace banquet, so naturally we must invite you, the host, to attend."

Xu Zhaozhao looked troubled: "Isn't this inappropriate?"

"Don't worry, I've asked around. Princess Leyang and Princess Anhe will also be there. Just stay by their side. And if there's a talent show segment, you don't need to pay attention to it. In short, the Empress just wants to see you."

Xu Zhaozhao understood. If she were to attend the banquet at the palace, she would simply be a good foodie.

"Mother, is it the Empress's decree to bring unmarried girls into the palace?"

Wang Ruolan's smile faded slightly: "I suppose so. Otherwise, do you think I would willingly bring a girl from our Xu family into the palace?"

Marrying into the royal family sounds prestigious, but not everyone can live that kind of life.

Being the principal wife is better, but being given the status of a concubine or mistress is truly unbearable.

But everyone knows this is a secret, so who dares to say it out loud?

I'm afraid they'll be punished for a serious offense of disrespect!

Xu Zhaozhao sighed. This kind of banquet is something you have to go to whether you want to or not. And once you're there, you have to be on guard in every way. It's really exhausting.

Wang Ruolan inquired with several friends and learned that the Empress had specially issued an edict summoning several young women who were already engaged to the palace. The reason was obvious: she wanted to meet these well-known young women.

Princess Anhe is the betrothed daughter-in-law of the Xu family, Xu Zhaozhao is the fiancée of the heir of the Duke of Huguo's mansion, and there are several other young ladies whose marriages are all to nobles of the court. Therefore, it is reasonable for them to be summoned to the palace by the Empress for a talk.

After returning to Ziyuan, Xu Zhaozhao kept thinking about the palace banquet a few days later. She had to dress in a low-key manner, speak as little as possible, and not drink too much water. Going to the toilet in the palace was really troublesome, and who knew if someone would take this opportunity to plot against her.

Meanwhile, the two concubine daughters of the second wife, who had also received the news, were equally uninterested. Although they were born out of wedlock, they had not been mistreated by their stepmother at home and knew that such a palace banquet was not a good place. However, the cousin who was with them was different.

Li Biyao learned about the palace banquet yesterday, so she went to ask her aunt for help. Only today did she learn that she finally had a chance to enter the palace.

While Xu Tingting and Xu Wanwan were worrying, Li Biyao was full of anticipation: "What color clothes will you two sisters wear that day? It would be best if the three of us wore different colors, and our hairstyles and hair accessories would also be different."

Xu Tingting asked in confusion, "Why do we need to use different colors? There will be many noble ladies at the palace banquet, and many of them will definitely wear the same color. Why bother?"

Xu Wanwan wholeheartedly agreed: "Exactly, and if we wear similar clothes, it will be easier for people to recognize that we are sisters from the same family."

Li Biyao's face froze, and she said awkwardly, "Really? I originally thought that if we were to use different colors, we could find the two younger sisters by their colors if we got lost at the banquet."

Xu Tingting's expression changed slightly: "How could you have such an absurd idea? Do you think you can just move around freely at a palace banquet?"