Counterattack of the Cannon Fodder Chambermaid

Untitled Part 154

The second prince was brought out to show his face before being carried away again.

Since he was only a month old, everyone was quite understanding. Even if they weren't, a royal son wasn't someone who could be held by anyone. He wasn't like a baby in a normal household who could be played with a little.

Then it was time for the banquet, which really just meant it was time to eat.

But there was quite a lot of etiquette involved with eating in the palace, especially when the titled women from the outside dined with those on the inside. Luckily there was a female official who led the event. Otherwise, Xiao Hua would definitely make mistakes.

She finally understood why his majesty said it was better for her to invite this female official over. Turns out that he had expected this. There were too many complicated rules to follow. Everyone was dressed in formal clothes and the banquet no longer looked like a banquet. Instead, it became like a competition to see whose etiquette was better. This made Xiao Hua feel extremely unnatural and afraid she would make a mistake somewhere.

The female official seemed to have noticed Xiao Hua's anxiety and said quietly: "If concubine doesn't wish to remain, it's ok to leave."

"Is it fine?"

Xiao Hua hadn't experienced such an occasion before, and still had the mindset of hosting guests at a normal household. The host naturally had to accompany the guests in that case. She didn't realize that this sort of banquet was just a venue for the nobility to interact with royalty, and was more for political purposes. It allowed the ruling monarch to maintain and strengthen his relationship with his subjects. The royal family didn't mind giving their subjects some of this glory, and those who were able to participate were naturally pleased to receive it.

But how could the monarch be viewed in the same fashion as his officials? Although Xiao Hua wasn't the monarch, since the Jing Emperor had her entertain the outer titled women, she represented the Jing Emperor's dignity, and should be viewed in the same way. Therefore, once the official ceremony had concluded, it was up to her if she wanted to stay.

"It's fine." That female official smiled as she looked at the various titled women below, "Perhaps these people feel more reserved with concubine being present."

This female official's smile made one feel extremely at ease. It had the considerate feeling of being immersed in spring winds.

Xiao Hua couldn't help but ask: "Does anything need to be said?"

"No need, concubine."

Xiao Hua got up. The music and festivities in the hall quieted down. She gave a smile to the crowd below and took her leave. When she stepped out the door, she heard the female official giving a formal explanation to the gathering. The gist of it was that the concubine had just gotten out of her puerperium and hadn't completely recovered yet. What followed was another wave of congratulations.

After leaving, Xiao Hua complained to Ding Xiang: "These rules are too complicated. It's truly tiring."

"Such occasions are quite common in the future. Concubine still needs to get used to it. But once you're used to it, it won't be a big deal anymore. As the mistress, you can naturally slack off a little."

Thinking of those titled women who were left behind to simmer, Xiao Hua couldn't help but smile at Ding Xiang over their misfortune.

It naturally wasn't comfortable for those outer titled women to enter the palace. Although it was an honor, they would all be exhausted once they left.

The Jinyang Madam had been stewing over things in her mind the entire day, and only after getting on her carriage did she reveal a bewildered expression.