The Marquis' Wife
The Queen Mother's birthday party

This afternoon, the forbidden state of the royal palace where the royal family's residence was more crowded than usual, the eunuchs and ladies-in-waiting seemed busier than usual to create a large feast to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday, not only them but also the employees in the ministry of the ritual section also worked gently and extra carefully so that the party began to end perfectly because otherwise the least punishment for them was losing class and honor because they prepare very maturely and without error.

One by one the large and luxurious horse carriages reached the main gate of the palace the guests and their families descended one by one and reported to the security department before they entered the palace. They could not bring their horse carriage in because only the royal family had such privileges.

Not far from there Lu Xiang and Adelia also got down from the horse carriage and looked around, looking at the beautiful and beautiful dressed men and women, who had been dressed up, they seem to race to wear the best clothes in order to maintain family honor.

"Heh!, the village woman who has never entered the palace".

The voice of a young girl made Lu Xiang and Adelia turn their heads in unison, they saw a girl dressed in reddish pink with elegant makeup and luxurious jewelry showing the girl's family status was not low.

"What do you see poor families. Get out of front of me".

Lu Xiang's frown slightly looked at the girl's arrogance, he did not recognize the girl but recognized the middle-aged man beside him, he did not recognize the girl, He Mu was the son of He Yaojin who was the maternal grandfather of the fourth prince.

"Let's go". Lu Xiang did not want to serve the rancid and haughty girl, he whispered and clasped Adelia's hand to walk into the palace.

"You!!!". He An'an bellowed furiously and set foot in annoyance.

"An'an, take care of your manners".

"But father...". His father's gaze made He An'an's speech come to a halt, he looked hatefully at Lu Xiang and Adelia's backs.

"They're nobody, why are you wasting your time and energy". He Mu whispered then led his family troupe to report their presence to the security guards.

"This is in front of my son's palace, what if your expression is known by the Emperor, concubine or prince? Our plan will fall apart later". A woman who was dressed very elegantly and charming showed motherly nature on her beautiful face.

"I know mom". He wanted to marry the son of the Emperor's younger brother who would inherit his father's title of first-class prince called Qinwang so that prince Murong Liangzhao sided with the fourth prince in the struggle for the throne.

In the palace, though, Eunuchs and ladies-in-waiting wait for the guests to lead them to the main hall of the ceremony, which is the grand palace where a big party is held such as the birthday party of the Queen Mother or the Emperor and the Queen or the new year's feast will be attended by representatives of small kingdoms under the auspices of the Murong kingdom to give tribute.

A eunuch led Lu Xiang and Adelia after hearing the name and rank of the male class. Inside the palace of the vast main hall of the ceremony, Lu Xiang sat far away from the Emperor's seat which was at the highest level. To the right of the Emperor was a seat for the Queen Mother and to the left of the Emperor was a special seat for the crown prince and princess, to sit not far from the Emperor has its own honor and shows that their status is only one level below the Emperor.

In the second highest level there are the prince son of the Emperor and the younger brother of the Emperor and the elders of the Murong clan who belong to the royal family. On the right side are concubines based on the highest level occupied by the concubine Yang Gufei who is the head of the concubine under the queen, due to the absence of a queen for 8 years in the harem palace, ruling the harem palace is the beautiful woman who is almost 50 years old but looks like 30 years old because of perfect self-care.

At the bottom level continue then the ministers and officials according to the class and Lu Xiang who is 5th class is at the very back because it is the lowest class who attends the Queen Mother's birthday party.

Shortly afterwards, the prince and the concubines entered the palace of the main hall one by one before the chief concubine Yang Gufei who was the supreme concubine under the eunuch announcement with her distinctive loud voice.

"His Majesty the Emperor and the Queen Mother entered the palace!!".

Everyone kneeled down to welcome the two most influential people in Murong kingdom. "We met with the Emperor, may you go on for tens of thousands of years!".

"Sit down".

"Today is a blessed day for bearing witness to the birth of the great Queen Mother". Emperor Murong said, he smiled at his birth mother. One of the great supporters and success he became Emperor was thanks to his mother and the organization under him.

"Aijia is very happy to still be able to meet you all and enjoy this party. Aijia is also grateful to still be able to see the glory of our kingdom that is getting better and growing. Thank you for guiding this kingdom of Liangyou".

"Mother, don't say it like that. The mother is blessed by the phoenix and the dragon so that the mother will definitely live a long life. Liangyou wanted to show mother a better kingdom". Emperor Murong replied softly.

He then took a glass of wine and toasted with his mother before lifting the glass back to all his officials and people. "Reply to the Queen Mother, may she live ten thousand years".

"Reply to the Queen Mother, may she live ten thousand years!!".

The Queen Mother's birthday party begins. It is traditional for people under the status of the queen mother to give gifts in their honor and the first person to give gifts is Murong Xianming who holds the title of crown prince.

Murong Xianming bowed lowly greeting the Queen Mother. "Your granddaughter met you, Queen Mother, may God bless you".

Murong Xianming then brought a luxurious and elegant square box and presented the box before the Queen Mother. "Your grandson gave me a mala bracelet made of lucky wood. This bracelet was already blessed by the head monk Tsing".

The old Queen Mother began to become a delegius so she immediately liked the gift of her favorite granddaughter. "Aijia really liked Xianming's gift".

"Thank you, Queen Mother".

The second person to give the gift was the crown princess, she gave Tripitaka handwriting which she wrote herself for a week long, the gift also pleases the Queen Mother.

Then the princes and concubines before finally the ministers and officials who gave gifts to the Queen Mother, each representing their families.

The third and fourth princes knew that the Queen Mother did not like them very much because it posed a threat to Murong Xianming to hold the next throne, however, in the public eye, it must put a thick face and a loving drama between grandchildren and grandmothers. The third prince gave a gift of brass copper Buddha statue that looks so holy while the fourth prince gave a calligraphy gift containing Buddhist sentences.

The concubines gave various gifts ranging from incense sachets, health and safety amulets and longevity talismans until Lu Xiang's turn to bring gifts of Buddhist paintings, the gift was neither flashy nor too cheap in the eyes of the royal family.

"Mother Suri. Can this concubine say something to Jinshi Lu Xiang?". Suddenly the chief concubine Yang Gufei stood up and bowed towards the Empress Dowager.

All the guests who heard those words were stunned. Why did Yang Gufei suddenly want to say something to Lu Xiang? What because... All eyes were momentarily fixed on Murong Xianting who was slightly smiling as if he knew what his mother was going to do.

The deg!!.

Adelia's feeling became uneasy seeing that smile!!.