The scumbag ran away from marriage, I remarried on the spot

After entering the palace, the court ladies who attended the palace banquet went to the Weiyang Palace to pay their respects to the Empress.

It was Meng Jinyao's first time entering the palace. Although she was curious about the imperial palace, she did not look around. Apart from what she saw in front of her, she did not even glance at other places. She followed Madam Gu, walking gracefully and elegantly.

Upon seeing this, Old Madam Gu nodded imperceptibly. Her daughter-in-law was always calm and composed, and was capable of taking on important responsibilities.

On the way to pay respects to the Empress, Meng Jinyao also met many familiar ladies, all of whom were women with imperial decrees. These people were the wives of high-ranking officials and dignitaries. The families of officials without imperial decrees could not attend today's palace banquet unless specially permitted by the Empress.

When they arrived at Weiyang Palace, Meng Jinyao followed Madam Gu and, in accordance with palace etiquette, respectfully saluted the Empress: "Your Highness, I greet you. May you live in the best of health and happiness."

Perhaps because Gu Jingxi had once saved the emperor, the Empress treated her and Old Madam Gu very gently, and quickly asked them to stand up and gave them seats.

After Meng Jinyao sat down, she finally saw the mother of a country. She couldn't look directly at the empress regardless of the hierarchy, so she just took a quick glance and then lowered her eyes. The empress was wearing a bright red palace dress and a nine-tailed phoenix hairpin on her head. She was graceful, dignified and gentle. Her every move showed the demeanor of a mother of a country. Although she was nearly forty years old, one could still see the charm of her youth through her charming face. The empress must have been a gentle and moving beauty when she was young.

The Queen looked at Meng Jinyao curiously and said with a smile, "Madam Gu, your daughter-in-law is really pretty. She is a perfect match for the Marquis of Changxing. They are a perfect match of talent and beauty."

If it were any other elder, he would have to be humble when others praised his younger generation.

However, Madam Gu was not modest this time. She looked at her daughter-in-law with loving eyes and replied, "Ayao is a filial and sensible child. We are lucky to have such a good daughter-in-law."

Meng Jinyao felt a little embarrassed by the compliments. She lowered her head and said nothing, just like a shy and docile young wife.

The ladies present were surprised to see that Madam Gu praised her daughter-in-law so highly in front of the Empress. Madam Gu was always modest. How much did she like Meng Jinyao to say that? In the past, when someone praised Gu Jingxi for his intelligence and talent, and said that he was a good candidate for the top prize, Madam Gu always replied modestly that the child was just a little smart, and how could he be as good as you said?

The Queen said in a gentle voice: "Marquis Changxing did not marry for many years until he met Madam Gu. This is fate."

As she spoke, she glanced at her daughter-in-law, Crown Princess Hui Zhao, who had been sitting next to her silently, holding her child. Her eyes dimmed for a moment. Her son and daughter-in-law used to be a loving couple, but after her son was murdered, her daughter-in-law lost her vitality and became like a stagnant pool of water, too quiet. Fortunately, she still had a young child to take care of, otherwise she would probably have committed suicide for love.

When the other ladies heard what the Queen said, they all echoed her and praised Gu Jingxi and Meng Jinyao, the couple who had got married in an absurd way.

It was almost time, and the ladies of honor went to the hall where the palace banquet was held. They took seats according to their status, with men and women sitting at separate tables. The women sat on the right, and the men on the left. The Empress would not come so early, and would appear with the Emperor when the palace banquet began. The Empress Dowager was worshiping Buddha in Xiangguo Temple and had not returned to the palace yet, so she would not attend today's palace banquet.

The Emperor and the Empress have not arrived yet, so the ladies of honor will not sit there idly and will chat with the ladies they are familiar with.

"The Emperor has arrived! The Queen has arrived!"

At this time, the eunuch's shrill voice was heard, and everyone immediately fell silent and stopped talking. They saw Emperor Jingwen and the Empress coming side by side, followed by a young man and woman in gorgeous clothes. They should be the third prince and seventh princess of Anguo.

Everyone withdrew their gazes and respectfully saluted Emperor Jingwen and the Empress: "Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor, and a thousand years and a thousand years of live the Empress."

The voice echoed throughout the hall. Emperor Jingwen walked to the main seat, replied with a "stand up", and sat down. The Empress sat next to him, and the princes, ministers, and ladies also took their seats.

The third prince and seventh princess of Anguo were arranged to sit in the guest seats for honored guests.

Meng Jinyao looked at the third prince and the seventh princess calmly with a little curiosity. The third prince was about seventeen or eighteen years old, with thick eyebrows, big eyes and handsome features. The seventh princess was about fifteen or sixteen years old, with a pretty face and skin as white as cream. She was a charming and attractive beauty.

This palace banquet was held to welcome the third prince and the seventh princess. Emperor Jingwen exchanged friendly greetings with the siblings and then announced the start of the banquet.

There was singing and dancing in the hall, and the sound of stringed instruments was pleasing to the ears.

At the banquet, the Third Prince suddenly stood up, bowed respectfully to Emperor Jingwen, and said in his not-so-fluent Zhao dialect: "Your Majesty, my sister and I came here not only for the friendship between our two countries, but also for my sister's marriage. My sister has loved Zhao culture since she was young, and she has also learned Zhao's writing and is proficient in poetry and songs. Now that she has reached the age of marriage, Zhao is full of talented people, and my sister wants to find a suitable husband from Zhao."

They came for marriage alliance. Some ministers had already heard that the third prince and the seventh princess were siblings from the same mother. It was heard that the third prince of Anguo had the best chance of inheriting the throne besides the eldest prince, so they sent their sister to marry. It was estimated that they wanted to use the power of Zhao State to increase their chances of winning the throne.

Although Anguo was a vassal state, when the princess came to marry, she would definitely marry someone from the royal family.

Emperor Jingwen had already figured out their intentions, so he was not surprised. He asked in a gentle tone: "There are many good men in Zhao State. I wonder if the Seventh Princess has any man she likes? I will grant her a marriage."

The third prince looked at the seventh princess and gave her a wink.

The Seventh Princess stood up and bowed to Emperor Jingwen, but she did not say that she loved the Emperor as originally planned. Instead, she said, "Your Majesty, I met a young man on the street yesterday and fell in love with him at first sight, but I didn't know his name. I thought I would never meet him again, but I never thought I would meet him today."

She spoke Zhao dialect fluently, and if you didn't listen carefully, you would think she was a native of the capital of Zhao.

When the third prince heard this, he frowned unhappily. This was not in line with their original plan. What did this mean now?

Their original plan was to let the seventh sister become the concubine of Emperor Jingwen. The seventh sister was Princess Anguo, so her rank would not be low.

As for the other princes, the second prince already has a wife, so she cannot be his concubine. The third prince is not favored. The fourth prince is a sickly man and has no chance of becoming emperor, so she cannot be of any help to him. The rest of the princes are still young and not of marriageable age.