Chapter 68 (2/2)

‘It’s time to go to the banquet hall,’ Consort Mu said.

Consort Mu’s family left the chamber while Xiao Nu hid behind a window. Xiao Nu found the bracelet a palace maid ordered her to find. Xiao Nu also found out Consort Mu’s secret.

The emperor’s birthday banquet was held in the imperial banquet hall. There were dancers, singers, musicians and actors who performed at the banquet. The guests ate food and drank wine.

Pei Jin was too anxious to appreciate the performers’ skills. At his father’s birthday banquet the men and women sat at different banquet tables. Pei Jin couldn’t sit next to Yan Shi Ning, he could only look at her. He noticed Consort Mu and Pei Zhang were watching Yan Shi Ning too closely.

Yan Shi Ning didn’t dare touch the delicious food and wine in front of her. She was worried Consort Mu would dare to poison the food and wine to kill her and her son.

Yan Shi Ning was also weary of the venomous Chu Thi who sat next to her, Chu Thi was smiling at her but she felt Chu Thi was displaying fangs.

Yan Shi Ning calmly picked up a cup of wine and pretended to sip the wine while spilling it into her sleeve.

‘Seventh sister, forgive me,’ Yan Shi Ning said. ‘I need to go relieve myself.’

Xiao Tu escorted Yan Shi Ning to a chamber the emperor reserved for his daughter-in-laws in the palace.

‘Mistress, calm down,’ Xiao Tu advised.

Yan Shi Ning watched Xiao Tu help her wipe her dress too calmly.

‘Little sister Xiao Tu, wait until you’re pregnant then you’ll understand how I’m feeling,’ Yan Shi Ning said.

Xiao Tu thought Yan Shi Ning’s words were reasonable and nodded her head.

Yan Shi Ning sat on a chair near a window. ‘I want to stay here and rest. I don’t want to go back to the banquet hall.’

Xiao Tu quietly opened a small chest she packed. She used a silver needle to check if the food and drinks were safe. Then she passed the small chest to Yan Shi Ning.

Yan Shi Ning’s eyes brightened to see the familiar nutritious food and drinks.

‘Ninth prince said his wife wouldn’t dare eat the food at the palace so I secretly brought food into the palace,’ Xiao Tu said.

Yan Shi Ning smiled, she thought Pei Jin was more considerate by the day.

Yan Shi Ning and Xiao Tu happily ate and drank together but Dian Thi entered the chamber.

‘What are you two doing?’ Dian Thi asked.

Yan Shi Ning raised her head and saw a maid help Dian Thi walk.

Dian Thi was nine months pregnant and had trouble walking. The maid helped Dian Thi sit next to Yan Shi Ning.

Dian Thi looked at the small chest of food and drinks and smiled. ‘Little sister, does your body ache when you stand or sit still for too long?’

‘Yes,’ Yan Shi Ning said politely. ‘Big sister, your complexion looks pale. Do you want to call an imperial physician?’

‘It’s alright, perhaps it’s because I’ll be giving birth soon,’ Dian Thi said.

Dian Thi turned to face the maid. ‘Go and bring me lavender oil. I feel a little faint.’

Yan Shi Ning was suspicious of the gleam in Dian Thi’s eyes. ‘Big sister, I rested enough. I’ll go back to the banquet hall first.’

‘Wait,’ Dian Thi said. ‘Little sister can you help me pour a cup of tea. I’m thirsty after eating salty food.’

Yan Shi Ning reluctantly asked Xiao Tu to pour a cup of tea.

Dian Thi accepted the cup of tea, lowered her head and blew.

Yan Shi Ning was startled to see Dian Thi swirl the tea with a fingernail. Yan Shi Ning remembered she and Pei Jin used to same tactic to deal with Su Yue.

Dian Thi spatted blood on her dress.

‘Someone! Help!’ Dian Thi screamed. ‘What did you put in the tea?’

The maid rushed into the chamber and the maid screamed too.

Yan Shi Ning’s back turned cold. Consort Mu didn’t want to poison her… Consort Mu wanted to frame her.

***

End of Chapter Sixty-Eight