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  Chapter 12: The Cost

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  The queen changed into a court dress, a red gold-thread embroidered five phoenix morning sun large sleeve shirt, the collar and cuff are gold thread embroidered with floral patterns, outside is a red cape, the cloud shoulder strap on top is also crimson, also embroidered with phoenix head, hanging down with a gold jade pendant. On her head was a dragon and phoenix pearl crown, sitting upright on top, several newly summoned female officials sat on both sides, including Lan Zixiang.

  The two went forward and kowtowed, saying "We pay our respects to Your Majesty." The Empress smiled and raised her hand to excuse them from the ritual, then invited them to take their seats.

  The eunuch beside him brought over two golden lacquered round stools, on top of which were cushions covered with gold-embroidered satin, surrounded by flowing tassels.

  The two sat down, and the queen smiled directly at Chu Yunting and asked, "Is she the second granddaughter of Chu Shaoshi? How old is she this year?" As she spoke, she looked her up and down.

  Chu Yun Ting replied respectfully: "Your Majesty, I am fifteen years old this year."

  "I heard you're quite good at painting? Do you often like to paint?" The queen asked with a smile.

  "My daughter's paintings are all spontaneous, I don't dare say they're outstanding..." Chu Yun Ting's palms were sweating as she replied.

  "Good at painting? The other day they brought in a garden picture that he painted, said to be twelve years old, I really liked it."

  "My daughter is not skilled, she just scribbles randomly, and it's fortunate that the empress finds it pleasing to look at. My daughter is truly ashamed." said Chu Yun Ting.

  She was a bit too modest, the queen was slightly displeased, and after a moment of silence, she no longer mentioned painting, but instead asked in a soft voice about some other things.

  Chu Ke sat on the side with her head down, watching Empress come over and rush to ask Chu Yunting questions. Obviously, Empress wanted to summon Chu Yunting, but she didn't say anything and dragged her along too. Unfortunately, there was also a Lan Zixuan sitting here, who had just been scolded by her, and she was afraid that Lan Zixuan would take revenge at this time.

  As expected, Chu Yun Ting answered the empress's question and as she spoke, she steered the topic towards herself, "The three Chu sisters are good at calligraphy, especially Chu Ke'er, whose handwriting is much better than mine."

  "Oh, is that so? The queen is an old hand at palace infighting. After hearing Chu Yunting's few words just now, she already had her thoughts. This questioning sentence was full of dissatisfaction, causing an old eunuch standing beside the queen to glare fiercely at Chu Yunting."

  Chu Xue's head remained bowed, and as long as the empress didn't ask her anything directly, she wouldn't say a word.

  Her worries have just come true, Lan Zixiang is now reporting to the Empress Dowager, my daughter can indeed serve as a witness for Chu Er, and Chu San's small seal script is truly well-written.

  The queen is a human being, can she let us two lead her by the nose?

  The queen's voice was faintly heard, saying to Chu Yun Ting: "After dinner tonight, go to the East Warm Pavilion and paint a beautiful woman. Paint Lan Zhi Xiang."

  The surroundings fell silent for a moment. Chu Yunting and Lan Zixing hastily stood up, "Yes, we obey your orders."

  The queen looked at Chu Ke and asked, "Chu Ke, how old are you this year?"

  "I report back to Your Majesty the Empress, my daughter is fourteen years old this year." Chu Ke replied hastily.

  The queen nodded and asked her a few more questions, Chu Ke'er answered them all respectfully and didn't try to show off or deliberately reveal her weaknesses, which made the queen even more suspicious. After a few questions, she felt a cold sweat break out all over her body.

  Not far away, a eunuch stood under the table. When Queen asked Chu Ke questions, his eyes quietly swept back and forth on the queen's face, observing her expression.

  Fortunately, the queen only asked a few simple questions and didn't ask her anymore, turning to ask others instead. Chu Ke'er secretly let out a breath of relief. She didn't, that eunuch carefully looked at the queen's expression after, also secretly breathed a sigh of relief, continuing to coldly stare at the ground.

  Taking advantage of the queen's inquiry to others, Chu Ke Hui secretly took a look at the old eunuch standing beside the queen, who was the one who had just glared at Chu Yun Ting. This should be the one bribed by the old lady, otherwise he wouldn't have gotten so angry after hearing Chu Yun Ting's irrelevant response.

  She secretly memorized the eunuch's appearance, then lowered her head, and whether it was useful or not, remembering his appearance wouldn't hurt.

  The queen was still asking others, basically all of whom were skilled in their respective fields, and she also had some understanding of each person's situation. It seems that the queen had specifically investigated these people before summoning them.

  After listening for a while, Chu Keji realized that the empress had kept several people behind under different pretexts until after the evening banquet.

  She estimated that it was already past noon, and according to the palace etiquette, even if they had a banquet, it would take at least an hour. Even if they started at the end of noon, they would finish by midnight, which is the time when the palace gates are closed, so those who were left behind wouldn't be able to leave the palace either.

  Chu Xue's heart skipped a beat as she thought about what the empress had just said.

  Except for Chu Yun Ting and Lan Zhi Xiang in the East Warm Pavilion, the others were arranged separately, either in the West Warm Pavilion, or in the Summer Palace, or in the Green Silk Pavilion...

  Chu Xue's heart was racing with excitement, thinking that she might have guessed correctly. Tonight, the Emperor might enter the palace and choose one of them to become his new concubine...

  Zhengde Emperor Zhu Houzhao was a notorious emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and his life has been written about in some detail. He did not live in the palace but instead resided outside the imperial city in the Leopard House.

  The banquet began at the end of the hour of You, Chu Ke and Chu Yun Ting sat in the side hall. Because each person needs to place a long table in front of them, and they need to leave a certain distance from each other, so it can only be arranged like this, the main hall is not enough, it can only extend to the side hall. The layered curtains and pillars of the hall blocked the door of the main hall, they were separated from the empress sitting at the top by several rooms. And there was a certain distance from the surroundings, those opposite could see each other, but probably couldn't hear anything.

  Dozens of eunuchs and palace maids took turns carrying in dishes, silver bowls and plates covered with large silver lids, passing by the tables in front of everyone like a flowing stream.

  The two of them sat side by side, Chu Ke heard Chu Yun Ting ask the palace maid who was serving wine, "What kind of wine do you have?"

  "There is Fen liquor and Du Kang." The palace maid replied softly.

  "I have received the imperial edict from Her Majesty the Empress, and soon I will be painting a beautiful woman in the East Warm Pavilion. I'm afraid that if I drink wine, I'll lose my composure. Can't I not drink? Chu Yun Ting pointed to Chu Ke Hui and asked me to let San Mei substitute for her, how about it?"

  Chu Xue's maid hadn't even waited for the palace maid, and was already rushing to say that Her Majesty the Empress Dowager had granted a banquet. Not drinking wine, would they use tea when it was time to toast? Wasn't that being too arrogant?"

  Chu Yun Ting suddenly turned around and looked at her, "I can't paint after drinking."

  "No way," Chu Ke replied in a light tone, seething with anger inside.

  Chu Yun Ting asked again, "Excuse me, is there any other wine available?"

  The palace maid asked the young lady if she wanted wine?

  "I once drank a wine brewed by a border people, called Ma** wine, it's actually good to drink, no matter how much I drink, I won't get drunk." Chu Yunting said thoughtfully.

  The palace maid thought for a moment and said, "It seems like there is, I'll go ask the young lady."

  Chu Yunting smiled and nodded, while on the other side, Chu Keqi almost burst out laughing. Maotai liquor, this is her favorite wine! No matter what Chu Yunting wanted to do, it would ultimately end in vain. Therefore, when she saw that palace maid turn around and leave, not even pouring a cup of wine for this side, she didn't say anything.

  The palace maid held a white porcelain bottle and smiled softly, saying "It just so happens that we have this kind of wine, shall I pour some for the two young ladies?"

  "Chu Yun Ting nodded and poured it down."

  The palace maid poured for both of them, Chu Kei looked at it and was a bit reluctant, but she still remembered that Chu Yun Ting had been looking for half a day, definitely not with good intentions.

  The music started in front, and the banquet began. Everyone stood up to toast the empress, regardless of whether they could see or not, as long as their attitude was respectful.

  After drinking this cup, everyone sat down. Chu Ke looked at Chu Yunting and drank first, only then did she feel relieved to drink too.

  The main hall didn't tell jokes, but laughter came over, and this side couldn't see anyway. Some people have already started eating.

  Behind everyone, there were palace maids serving them, refilling their cups. The familiar taste made Chu Ke'er unable to resist drinking another cup. Feeling Chu Yun'ting's gaze beside her, she thought to herself, "Endure, must endure, don't drink too much."

  "Does Sanmei like drinking this wine?"

  Chu Xue looked and nodded with a smile, "Yeah, I quite like it... Has Er Jie drunk any?"

  Chu Yun Ting pretended to be deep in thought as she looked at her third sister "Can't remember anymore? Oh... I was young back then, shouldn't remember it anyway."

  Chu Ke looked at her determined appearance and couldn't help but feel a little heavy-hearted. She pursed her lips, looking at her without asking any more questions.

  Chu Yun Ting's face finally slowly revealed a smile. Third sister, when she was young, someone gave this wine to her grandfather, and after secretly drinking a mouthful, he got drunk... He didn't wake up for a long time after getting drunk, and later it was only after seeing a doctor and taking medicine that he woke up, saying that his body couldn't handle this kind of wine, and that one drink would get him drunk.

  Chu Ke's expression didn't change, and she even smiled slightly, turned around, but didn't say anything - because in her heart she was shocked, she had forgotten about her current body, she didn't understand, what Chu Yun Ting said might be true, or maybe it was just to scare her, but she didn't

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