Disguised as a man, she became the biggest villain in the book.

Chapter 247 Birthday

Royal Palace

During these days, Consort Yue has been enjoying unparalleled favor and popularity.

From the moment Consort Yue stepped into the palace, Xue Huaiyu fell deeply in love with her and stayed in her palace every night.

"Your Majesty, His Majesty... has already rested in Consort Yue's palace today." The palace maid reported to Chen Xianlin tremblingly, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, for fear that she might accidentally say something wrong and anger this ill-tempered lady, bringing about her own death.

This time, however, Chen Xianlin did not fly into a rage or show any displeasure as usual.

Chen Xianlin simply responded with a faint "Okay, I understand. You may leave."

Tomorrow is Chen Xianlin's birthday, and the entire palace is filled with a festive atmosphere. The palace maids and eunuchs are busy preparing for Chen Xianlin's birthday.

Tomorrow is Chen Xianlin's birthday, but she feels no joy at all.

The night was deep outside. Chen Xianlin sat quietly alone in front of her dressing table, carefully examining her face through the bronze mirror in front of her by candlelight.

Looking at her face, which bore a resemblance to her mother's, Chen Xianlin gazed at herself in the mirror and couldn't help but recall the scene of her mother's passing.

At that time, she was still young and ignorant, and only had a vague understanding of what her mother said before she died.

But as the years have passed and she has grown older, she has finally come to understand the deeper meaning behind it.

Chen Xianlin sat in front of the mirror, her gaze fixed on the woman in the mirror. She frowned slightly, her lips parted slightly, and she began to mutter to herself.

"Mother... I will always remember what you went through and will never repeat the same mistakes or walk down the same old path you once walked."

After saying that, she took a deep breath, her eyes gradually sharpening, and continued, "I know that there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world."

"Instead of waiting for favors from others, why not strive to earn them through your own efforts? Isn't that right?"

.........

The next day

At dawn, the vermilion palace walls stood solemnly in the dim light, and the eunuchs stood quietly on both sides of the imperial road, their robes fluttering in the morning breeze.

Zhao Chong, the Minister of Rites, wore a first-rank official robe with a crane emblem. The silk embroidery on the robe shone brightly in the sunlight. He wore an official hat with a ruby ​​inlaid in the center that gleamed softly.

Over fifty years old, his temples were gray, but he did not lose the composure of someone who had long held a high position. His narrow eyes revealed the calmness and experience gained from years in officialdom.

At this moment, he led a group of officials from the Ministry of Rites, carrying congratulatory gifts, and slowly entered the inner palace. (Note: The Minister of Rites and the Vice Minister of Rites are not the same person; the Vice Minister of Rites was Zhang Yuanqing, a subordinate of Zhao Chong.)

Zhao Chongwu steadily ascended the steps and entered the hall. His gaze lowered for a moment before he raised his head and looked at the Empress on the phoenix throne.

At this moment, all the officials in the hall had taken their seats and were waiting for the Empress's birthday banquet to begin.

Today, Chen Xianlin is dressed in a gold-embroidered phoenix and pheasant robe, wearing a nine-dragon and four-phoenix crown, with bright pearl tassels swaying and shining. She sits on the phoenix chair, exuding the majesty of an empress.

Zhao Chongwu stepped forward, and an official from the Ministry of Rites presented him with the gift list. He personally took it, unfolded it, and read aloud: "Your subject, Zhao Chongwu, Minister of Rites, along with his staff, respectfully congratulates Her Majesty the Empress on her birthday." His deep voice echoed throughout the hall.

Zhao Chong gestured to the side, and the attendants presented their gifts in turn.

"A mutton-fat jade ruyi scepter, a set of kingfisher feather and gemstone-inlaid headdresses, a pair of red coral bonsai..."

Each time an item was presented, the long, drawn-out chant of the palace attendants would echo through the hall.

After the ceremony was completed, Zhao Chongwu led everyone to kneel down and said in unison, "May Your Majesty be happy every year, stay young forever, be healthy and strong, and bestow blessings upon the whole world."

"Be flat!"

This was Chen Xianlin's first birthday after becoming empress, and the banquet was of extremely high standard. In addition to the civil and military officials of the court, the families of officials of the fifth rank and above were also invited. However, the banquet venues were not the same. The officials were seated inside the hall, while their families were seated outside the hall, with men and women seated separately.

Inside the hall, singing and dancing filled the air, and toasts were exchanged.

Chen Xianlin and Xue Huaiyu sat above in the hall, watching the singers dance gracefully.

On one side of Xue Huaiyu was Chen Xianlin, and on the other side was Consort Yue, who had recently become very favored.

Generally speaking, at such banquets, it was not up to Consort Yue to sit next to the emperor.

This time, Xue Huaiyu made an exception and let her sit next to him. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that the emperor really liked this new favorite concubine.

Consort Yue was indeed as beautiful and charming as the rumors suggested, with skin as smooth as jade and a tall figure. In particular, her phoenix eyes were watery and resembled those of a fox.

Zheng Luoqi glanced at Consort Yue a few times and couldn't help but exclaim in her heart, "Such superb disguise skills!"

If Zheng Luoqi hadn't known Consort Yue's true identity, she wouldn't have been able to tell at first glance that Consort Yue was in disguise.

Perhaps Zheng Luoqi's gaze was too direct, so much so that Consort Yue, sitting in the distance, seemed to sense it and subconsciously raised her head to look in Zheng Luoqi's direction.

In that instant, their eyes met without warning.

However, after only a short while, Consort Yue began to feel an inexplicable sense of unease throughout her body.

The sensation was like countless ants crawling on her skin, making her restless.

So she quickly looked away, not daring to meet Zheng Luoqi's gaze any longer.

At this moment, Consort Yue was filled with doubt and unease. She couldn't understand why Zheng Luoqi was staring at her like that.

Could it be... that she has already been exposed? But then she immediately shook her head, silently rejecting the thought.

After all, the person who disguised him was Shan Yan, whose disguise skills were unparalleled. Even he himself could hardly find any flaws when he looked closely in the mirror, let alone others!

Thinking of this, Consort Yue felt a little more at ease, but the vague worry still lingered in her heart and wouldn't go away.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the venue, in the family seating area, Yu Yifei and his father had come to attend the Empress's birthday banquet.

The banquet was grand, but for the pampered young men, the monotonous song and dance performances seemed rather uninteresting.

Before long, many young men got up and left their seats.

But since this was inside the palace, they couldn't just wander around. So they decided to find a quiet pavilion to rest and pass the time.

Yu Yifei was also thinking the same thing, but when he arrived at a pavilion, he found that many other young masters with the same idea had arrived there first.