I am the champion of palace intrigue, and even the proud prince bows his head in submission.

Chapter 78: Qin Jiuwei Loses Control Again

He glanced down at his underpants.

This time it's not just a matter of having a reaction...

He lost control again because of Qin Jiuwei.

The next day, breakfast.

"Young Madam, the carriage is ready," a maidservant reported respectfully.

Qin Jiuwei stirred the red date and rice porridge in the bowl with a porcelain spoon, without raising her eyebrows, and said, "I understand."

"Mother, are you going out?" Xie Jue asked, blinking her eyes.

He noticed that his mother seemed a little different today than usual.

It seems like there are even more sparkly things on my head now.

Qin Jiuwei nodded. "Mother is going to the palace to attend the Autumn Banquet hosted by the Princess."

Autumn banquet? Xie Jingchun raised an eyebrow slightly, but quickly lowered his eyes, losing interest.

He had already attended the poetry gathering at the Prince Qi's residence last time, but it was really not very interesting.

Why not eat a few more crab roe soup dumplings?

Xie Jing frowned. "Go to the palace?"

There are probably many people like Qiu Yueli there.

Xie Jing was well aware of his father's popularity.

For a time, he often received letters from his classmates' older sisters, asking him to pass them on to his father.

It contains love poems they wrote to their father.

Of course, he burned all those letters and didn't give a single one to his father.

He likes his current life and no one can ruin it.

But he was somewhat uneasy about his mother going to the palace alone this time...

Xie Jue chuckled and said, "Mother, I want to go too, is that alright?"

"No, you can't." Qin Jiuwei put a crab roe soup dumpling on Xie Jue's plate. "Jue-ge'er, eat your food properly, and then go to the front yard to study."

None of the people in the palace are easy to get along with, so Xie Jue is really not suited for this kind of occasion.

Xie Jue pouted, somewhat dissatisfied.

He opened his mouth, wanting to speak, but was suddenly interrupted by Xie Yanli.

“You can’t go.” His voice was slightly cold.

Xie Jue, who had originally wanted to cause more trouble for Qin Jiuwei, immediately quieted down.

Uh... Father is a bit scary, he'd better behave.

Qin Jiuwei raised her eyes to look at Xie Yanli, only to find that Xie Yanli turned his eyes away.

Her brow twitched slightly. Was it her imagination? Xie Yanli seemed to be intentionally avoiding her gaze…

Xie Yanli pursed his lips tightly, his dark eyes deep and unfathomable.

I grew up reading classical texts, so why do I become completely out of control when I'm around Qin Jiuwei?

Now, whenever I see her, all I can think about is that...

Xie Jue, who had recovered from his daze, poked at the rice porridge in the bowl with a porcelain spoon.

Hmph, fine, I won't go then.

Even though his mother never takes him out, he still loves his mother the most, hehe.

"Father, Mother, I've finished eating. I'm going to the training ground now."

After finishing his meal, Xie Jingchun wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and then went out.

Qin Jiuwei couldn't help but chuckle upon seeing this.

This child has so much energy. It seems that martial arts is the most suitable thing for him.

After Xie Jingchun left, Xie Yanli and Xie Jue also left one after another.

Soon only Qin Jiuwei and Xie Jing remained at the dinner table.

Xie Jing took small sips of porridge with a porcelain spoon.

Qin Jiuwei found it strange. Xie Jing was always the first to leave in the past. Wutong Academy was far from the Marquis's residence, so Xie Jing had to go there early.

But why is Xie Jing eating so slowly today? He's almost the last one to leave.

She raised an eyebrow, about to ask a question, when Xie Jing put down the porcelain spoon and looked up at her.

"Mother, I want to go to the Autumn Banquet with you."

Qin Jiu was taken aback; this was the first time Xie Jing had suggested going somewhere with her.

Today is truly an extraordinary day.

Can you tell your mother why?

Xie Jingqing's handsome face remained expressionless as he simply said in a low voice, "I want to go with my mother to take a look. I can help if anything happens."

Qin Jiu smiled slightly. This child is really thoughtful.

"Are you worried about your mother?" Qin Jiu asked gently.

She looked at him with a smile in her eyes and tender gaze.

Xie Jing blinked his gentle eyes and softly replied, "Mm."

Qin Jiuwei's eyes immediately crinkled with laughter upon hearing this.

She originally planned to go alone, without anyone else.

But with her second son being so filial, she simply couldn't bring herself to refuse him.

Moreover, the second son is different from the eldest and third sons. The second son is intelligent and thoughtful enough, and he is also exceptionally polite and able to protect himself.

After tidying up, the mother and son went out.

The carriage was parked outside the mansion gate.

"Jiuwei." A familiar voice sounded from behind, and Qin Jiuwei paused slightly and turned around.

Just then, she saw Lady Hou walking towards her with Xie Wanning and Qiu Yueli.

Qin Jiuwei curtsied to her and softly called out, "Mother-in-law."

Lady Hou smiled faintly and said, "Jiuwei, are you also going to the Princess's Autumn Banquet?"

"Exactly." Qin Jiuwei nodded.

"What a coincidence! We were just on our way, so we're going the same way."

The Lady Hou's voice was full of laughter. This was the Autumn Banquet hosted by the Eldest Princess, and she was determined to attend.

When the eldest princess held a banquet, noble ladies from the capital would attend to choose their daughters-in-law.

Her Wan Ning might just catch the eye of some noblewoman who would want to marry her as her daughter-in-law.

And then there's Qiu Yueli. Since Xie Yanli is unwilling to take her in, it's a good opportunity to find her a new, high-class family to marry into.

Qin Jiu slightly curved her lips, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. "It really is a coincidence."

However, she was unwilling to travel with the Lady of the Marquis. After bowing, she led Xie Jing towards the carriage at Qinglan Courtyard.

Qiu Yueli watched Qin Jiuwei's retreating figure and bit her lip hard.

Qin Jiuwei was already beautiful in the past, but now, after dressing up carefully, she is even more stunning.

Recalling Xie Yanli's cold rejection of her last night, she felt even more heartbroken.

Qiu Yueli thought for a moment and remembered this autumn banquet.

I've heard that the eldest princess loves poetry; this is a great opportunity for her.

When the time comes, we will make her talent famous throughout the capital and vent our anger!

How long can one's beauty be enough to please another?

You still need to be talented to keep a man's heart!

Prince Xie simply didn't see her good qualities.

Once Prince Xie sees her talent for poetry, he will surely change his mind about her.

Royal palace, royal garden.

"I heard that Young Master Xie's wife will also be coming today?"

"Who knows what she looks like? I want to see what the person who ends up marrying Prince Xie looks like!"

"If I had known, I would have gone to the poetry gathering at Prince Qi's mansion last time. I could have not only met Prince Xie, but also seen his wife."

Mentioning this matter, the women couldn't help but sigh with regret.

They're from noble families, who would attend a poetry gathering? They're all a bunch of poor, pedantic scholars, who would even look at them?

But who would have thought that Prince Xie, who rarely attends banquets, would actually go!

"When you went last time, tell me what the Crown Prince's wife looks like?"

One of the noble ladies remembered something, turned to look at the round-faced noble lady next to her, and asked.

The round-faced noblewoman thought of Qin Jiuwei's appearance and pouted, "Not good at all, very ordinary, terribly ugly."

"Really? The young master Xie would marry an ugly woman?"

The crowd started chattering and arguing again.

At this moment, the eunuch's shrill report silenced them instantly.

"Lady Xie has arrived—"