Meng Yihuan knew perfectly well why the Empress had hosted this flower appreciation banquet. What she couldn't understand, however, was why the Empress would send her an invitation after having explicitly told her to stay away from the Crown Prince. Was the Empress perhaps uneasy and wanted her to witness the Crown Prince selecting a Crown Princess in person? At the thought of this possibility, Meng Yihuan couldn't help but offer a wry smile, feeling truly helpless toward the Empress.
A few days later, the banquet arrived as scheduled. To ensure that Meng Yihuan’s status as a married woman did not appear too conspicuous, the Empress had specifically invited Princess Wei, Princess Zhao, and several other noblewomen to attend.
The venue was a vast garden within the inner palace. By the time Meng Yihuan arrived with the palace attendants, the place was already filled with laughter and chatter. This time, no woman dared to mock her; however, many cast strange, searching glances her way. They were all well aware that today’s banquet was intended for the Empress to help the Crown Prince find his consort, and they had all witnessed how the Crown Prince had defended Meng Yihuan time and again. While they dared not ridicule her openly, they harbored envy and anxiety that the Crown Prince’s attention might fall on her.
Chapter 180