Chapter 248 Audience 2

The elegant and beautiful face was lightly powdered, hiding the haggardness between her eyebrows. The thin silk jacket could not hide her thin figure.

It was Su Ying.

Su Ying followed Mrs. Su and greeted everyone with a smile. Su Ying has been very popular in recent years and has the reputation of being the most talented woman in the capital. Everyone thought she would marry into the prince's mansion and become the prince's grandson's consort. Unexpectedly, it was all in vain in the end.

Everyone looked at Su Ying with a bit of regret and pity, and there were also some eyes that gloated over the misfortune.

These strange looks made Su Ying very embarrassed.

Since the engagement of the crown prince and Jiang Rongyue, she has been staying in the Su mansion and unwilling to go out, just because she didn't want to face the mocking and ridiculing eyes of everyone. Today is the first day of the new year, and she can't hide even if she wants to, so she had to bite the bullet and follow her mother into the palace.

As expected, it was true.

Especially when she was greeting Jiang Rongyue, the people around her opened their eyes and ears, fearing to miss a good show.

"Sister Su," Jiang Rongyue was still as affectionate as usual: "I haven't seen you for a while."

Su Ying smiled lightly: "After the winter, I caught a cold, and my condition has been getting better and worse. I have been resting in the mansion. I didn't go out, which made Sister Jiang worried."

Both of them knew what was going on. However, in front of everyone, the show had to be done.

Su Ying greeted Jiang Rongyue calmly for a few words before walking to Ling Jingshu's side.

"Sister Ling, long time no see." Su Ying said with a smile, not seeing anything unusual.

Ling Jingshu smiled and replied: "When the weather gets cold, I'm too lazy to go out. I've been staying in the boudoir these days. It's really been a long time since I saw Sister Su."

At this time, the side hall was full of people, and it was impossible to find a quiet place to whisper. Many people looked at her intentionally or unintentionally. Ling Jingshu would not embarrass Su Ying, and picked some insignificant things to chat for a while.

The eyes on Su Ying gradually became less.

Su Ying breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Ling Jingshu gratefully.

Ling Jingshu smiled slightly.

Smart people don't need to say much, some things are enough to understand each other.

"I have never seen the women of the Ling family when I entered the palace in previous years. I didn't expect that you all came today." Su Ying tried implicitly.

Ling Jingshu did not hide it: "Our Ling family received the imperial edict from the Queen yesterday, and we had the opportunity to enter the palace today."

Su Ying immediately understood.

In just a few months, Ling Jingshu entered the palace several times and was favored by Concubine Wei and Princess An Ning. It was heard that Empress Xu also looked at Ling Jingshu differently. Not only did she summon Ling Jingshu in person, but she also rewarded her with things.

This matter had already spread to all the mansions in the capital, and Ling Jingshu's name was also known to everyone. The fact that the women of the Ling family were able to enter the palace to meet the emperor was obviously due to Ling Jingshu's help.

The two chatted casually, and more and more women of the imperial family were in the side hall.

Soon, a palace maid came to convey Empress Xu's oral order to summon the wife of the Duke of Ying to the palace for an audience.

The fact that the Duke of Ying was summoned first by Empress Xu showed how powerful the Duke of Ying's mansion was. Even if the Duke of Ying stood firmly on the side of the prince, Empress Xu could not be negligent in public.

Under the envious eyes of everyone, the wife of the Duke of Ying led Jiang Rongyue to the main hall.

After a while, the palace maid came to summon the wife of the Duke of Ping.

The legitimate daughter of the Duke of Ping was now the consort of the Prince of Yan. The wife of the Duke of Ping and Empress Xu were legitimate relatives, so it was natural that she was the second to meet the emperor.

Then, it was Mrs. Su and her daughter.

...

The women in the side hall went to the main hall one after another. From the order of Empress Xu's summons, it was enough to see the rank of the wives of the imperial family. There is also a secret ranking in the imperial edicts of the same level.

Everything is in order, not a bit chaotic.

Although Sun entered the palace with the imperial edict, her rank was too low. She watched everyone go to the main hall one by one. After waiting for more than an hour, only the three of them were left in the side hall.

Empress Xu had been slow to summon them. The three of them could only continue to stand and wait.

It was almost noon, and after standing for a long time, not only were their legs sore, but they also began to feel hungry.

Ling Jingyan couldn't help but whispered: "Mother, how long do you have to wait? I'm tired and hungry."

After waiting for such a long time, Sun's excitement was almost exhausted, and she whispered to comfort Ling Jingyan: "Don't worry, we are the only ones left. Wait a little longer and it will be our turn."

Ling Jingshu stood aside, silent.

Empress Xu was clearly deliberately leaving the Ling family alone. Otherwise, she could have summoned them to meet her.

She had expected it right. Empress Xu had no good intentions from the beginning. She had a feeling that this difficulty was just the beginning. She didn't know what would happen today...

After waiting for another cup of tea, the palace maid finally came: "Please ask Madam Ling to bring the two Miss Lings to the main hall to meet the Empress."

Sun breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly responded with a smile.

The three of them followed the palace maid to the main hall.

The spacious main hall, which could accommodate a hundred people, was already full of people. Empress Xu, who was sitting on the phoenix chair, had bright makeup and was dignified and elegant. The concubines of different ranks in the palace sat on chairs on both sides of Empress Xu. The high-ranking imperial ladies, such as the Lady of the Duke of Ying and the Lady of the Duke of Ping, also sat in order.

The rest of the people had to stand.

Even the Crown Princess, who was of noble status, could only stand on the left side of Empress Xu as a daughter-in-law today. Next to the Crown Princess stood a young woman of about sixteen years old, with a beautiful and dignified appearance. She was obviously the newly married Princess of Yan.

On the right side of Empress Xu stood Princess Changping and Princess Anning.

As soon as Sun and others stepped into the main hall, everyone stopped talking and looked over together.

Silence!

Hundreds of people were watching!

This momentum and this scene really tested people's psychological quality. If you are not careful, you will be embarrassed in public. Not to mention the young and inexperienced Ling Jingyan, even Sun felt dry mouth and weak hands and feet.

Ling Jingshu sneered in her heart.

Empress Xu ruled the six palaces and was best at playing with people's hearts. This show of power was specially prepared for the Ling family. No matter who made a mistake, the Ling family would be embarrassed in front of everyone today and would become the laughing stock of the whole capital.

This was a silent contest. No matter what the reason, she would not admit defeat!

Ling Jingshu still lowered her head slightly, but her waist was straight, and she walked in slowly.

Her calmness infected Ling Jingyan.

Ling Jingyan barely suppressed her violently beating heart, calmed down, and followed.

Sun was walking in front, and it was inconvenient to look back, but she could sense the calmness of Ling Jingshu and her sister. The original nervousness and anxiety also eased a lot.