Chapter 2680: Entering the Palace

Chapter 2680: Chapter 2614: Entering the Palace

Manbao returned to the legitimate wife’s room wanting to lay on the bed, but she was pulled by Bai Shan and dragged directly to the bathroom, “I’ve had hot water prepared, wash up first.”

Manbao could only take a bath first.

As a result, once she soaked in the bath, she felt refreshed.

She came out wearing her underclothes, and there were some snacks on the table, including steamed buns, dumplings, and porridge.

Bai Shan served her a bowl of porridge, placed it in front of her and said, “Eat something first, then take a nap. We have to enter the palace this afternoon.”

Only then did Manbao remember this important matter. As she ate the porridge in a daze, she said, “These two children picked a good time to be born, one on the fourteenth of August and the other on the fifteenth.”

Bai Shan thought the same and laughed, “In the future, even if they forget each other’s birthdays, they’ll never forget their own.”

It’s just bad luck that it coincides with the Mid-Autumn Festival. In the future, relatives and friends might be too busy to celebrate their birthdays and just combine it with the festival.

So is this timing good or not?

Manbao took a nap and woke up after lunchtime.

She then washed up and got ready to change clothes to enter the palace.

Manbao decided to follow Bai Shan’s suggestion and wore her official robe. The weather wasn’t too hot or cold, so it was perfect for it.

However, Bai Shan planned to wear casual clothes inside because he was the family member.

Manbao said, “Oh, ask Xi Bing to prepare a new set of clothes and jewelry for Liru. Let’s pick her up and go to the palace together.”

Manbao decided to take Zhou Liru to the palace for broader exposure, as she would eventually enter court as an official in the future.

Bai Shan agreed and turned to give instructions.

Manbao, with her family, headed to the palace, first making a detour to the Imperial Medical Institute. She handed the clothes to Zhou Liru and asked May to dress her up properly.

Manbao held a cup of tea and sat beside Zhou Liru, telling her two big pieces of news, “Yesterday, your sister gave birth to a son.”

Zhou Liru’s eyes widened with surprise and before she could cheer excitedly, Manbao continued, “This morning, your sister-in-law also gave birth to a daughter.”

Zhou Liru almost jumped up, but May held her down, “Third Lady, you can’t move, your hair will get messy.”

Zhou Liru, still in a daze, followed her little aunt into the carriage heading to the palace, only snapping back to reality after a while, “Aunt, you’ve worked hard.”

Manbao gracefully nodded, politely saying, “It went well, the births were quite smooth.”

“Can I go home to see the children tomorrow?”

“It depends on whether Honglu Temple is capturing people tomorrow.”

While speaking, the group arrived at the palace gates. At the same time, there were many other official family members entering the palace, and everyone queued up.

Bai Shan, in luxurious clothes with a jade pendant on his waist, sat neatly on the horse. He stretched his neck slightly to look ahead and saw the Yin family’s carriage.

He waved his hand towards them, and when Yin Family’s servant saw it, they moved aside to wait after entering the palace city. They only came out after the Zhou family’s carriage and guards entered, and the two parties proceeded forward one after another.

Gao You pursed his lips tightly, watching with clenched fists. A guard whispered, “Prince, do you think the information we gathered is true? The Emperor of Great Jin doesn’t even want to see us. Would he be willing to accept our peace proposal?”

Gao You replied coldly, “Didn’t that person imply that Great Jin wants more tribute? This is all about cooling us down to raise the price. Anyway, let this good news transmit back first. The Wang Ting over there is urgently pressing, and even the base price must inquire about Wang Ting’s opinion.”

“Before coming…”

“Before coming, we didn’t expect Great Jin to be so tough this time. We can’t even give away gold, silver, and jewels. It seems the previously settled tribute quantity doesn’t satisfy Great Jin, and it has to be increased.”

It’s hateful that he cannot make a full decision on this matter, and he has to seek Wang Ting’s instructions over such a long distance. After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the two countries will definitely have to negotiate. He can’t delay for a long time, otherwise what if Great Jin becomes angry out of embarrassment?

Although they are far from the emperor and unafraid of Great Jin, he’s just someone in the palm of Great Jin’s hand.

At the palace gates, Manbao got off the carriage with Bai Shan’s help. Watching as their carriage and horses turned a corner and left by another route, she looked at Yin Huo and said, “You actually came to attend the palace banquet?”

Yin Huo smiled slightly, “Father said my health has improved a lot and I’m no longer afraid of sitting for long periods, so he let me enter the palace to take a look.”

In fact, it was the Old Madam’s unyielding heart, always wanting to find a wife for Yin Huo, so she wanted to show him around and in formal occasions, announce to the world that Yin Huo’s health has improved significantly.

However, Yin Huo didn’t want deep entanglements with another woman and family; he wasn’t suited for marriage.

But attending a palace banquet was fine.

He smiled at Bai Shan and Zhou Man, then took note of their attire and couldn’t help but laugh, “Let’s enter the palace.”

“Let’s pay a visit to your grandmother first.”

Old Madam Yin also got out of the carriage.

Manbao and Bai Shan smiled and stepped forward to pay respects.

Old Madam Yin quickly smiled, “No need for formalities, Lord Zhou and Lord Bai.”

Looking at this pair in front of her, she said enviously, “Lord Zhou and Lord Bai truly are a talented man and beautiful woman.” Actually, the terms were interchangeable; they were just a good match.

Envious.

She glanced at her grandson standing to the side, sighing internally, wondering if her grandson could find such a match.

The Emperor and Empress have always been kind to the elderly and physically weak officials, so many sedan chairs waited inside the palace gates.

Like Old Madam Yin, who was older, she could directly take a sedan chair into the palace after entering. Otherwise, with such a long distance, even if she didn’t collapse from exhaustion, she’d be uncomfortable and dripping in sweat, and catching a cold from the breeze on her way back could make her sick.

Old Madam Yin sat on the sedan chair and immediately pointed for Yin Huo to come up as well.

Yin Huo, however, shook his hand, “Grandmother, I’ll walk slowly with Zhou Man and them. You go ahead.”

Bai Shan knew he didn’t want to walk with Old Madam Yin, so he smiled, “Don’t worry, Old Madam. We’ve studied in the palace for years, we’re familiar with the way. We’ll catch up with you soon.”

Old Madam Yin could only give up and let the sedan chair ahead go first.

They had all entered the palace early, and didn’t know how long it would take for the banquet to start. So they ambled forward unhurriedly.

Zhou Liru envied Zhou Man, “Little aunt, your official attire is so much more convenient than ours.”

Manbao noticed this too and boasted, “This is called foresight.”

Zhou Liru chuckled, looking around.

Manbao said, “Don’t look, Minister Liu’s family might enter the palace later.”

As the words fell, Zhou Liru was already pointing behind them, “Liu Huan!”

Several of them turned back, seeing Liu Huan running toward them, “You can’t shout loud in the palace, but I’ve been calling for ages. How come you didn’t hear?”

Manbao: “You mustn’t have called out loud enough, otherwise you’d have been caught by now, wouldn’t you?”

Liu Huan felt bitter, “You actually want me to get caught?”

Liu Huan looked around and asked, “Where’s Bai Er?”

Bai Shan: “He entered the palace yesterday afternoon.”

So he must reside within the palace, eliminating any need to walk from the palace gate.