There is a god in the sky

Chapter 178 Reunion on New Year's Eve 2

At the palace banquet, Lady Miao's drum dance won applause from the entire audience.

If the emperor weren't so old, he would have wanted to take this girl into his harem immediately.

However, the emperor was not the only one eyeing Miao Niang; many of the guests also showed expressions of longing.

The eldest princess was very satisfied with the result.

She set up a dance competition, inviting the best dancers in the world to choose the champion, but her purpose was not to have her serve men.

She already knew about Qingman's plight; the second son of the Tong family used her beauty to win over court officials, a despicable act.

Her open selection of such a leading dancer, giving her a chance to turn her life around, is a satire of the princelings.

"Your Majesty, isn't this girl's dance very graceful?" the Princess asked cheerfully.

"Excellent, a reward is due!"

At the emperor's command, a eunuch announced loudly, "His Majesty decrees that Lin Miaoniang be rewarded with a box of pearls and ten bolts of silk!"

Miao Niang knelt outside the hall and kowtowed to express her gratitude.

The eldest princess then said, "I think this girl is young and beautiful. If she is released, she will surely be harmed by some bad people. It would be better to keep her in the palace as a dancer, so that she can relieve the Emperor and Empress's worries and boredom."

The Empress secretly rolled her eyes and laughed, "This palace has no shortage of dancers, and even more so, beautiful dancers. If you like them, keep them for your own amusement."

The princess ignored her, smiling broadly as she looked at the emperor, waiting for him to speak.

"My elder sister did mention this to me. It's just a minor dance official. I've given my permission. Once the seal is opened, I'll have the Empress issue the decree."

"Then I thank Your Majesty and Your Majesty on behalf of the young girl."

Having achieved her goal, the eldest princess did not bother to check the empress's expression.

She and the Empress had been at odds for many years, and as long as the Tong family's influence remained, the Emperor would not be too biased towards the Empress.

This is the secret to her being favored for so many years.

Midway through the banquet, the Queen excused herself, saying she couldn't hold her liquor.

She took the arm of a eunuch and walked out of the main hall, stopping in front of where Miao Niang was kneeling.

With just a glance from above, Miao Niang sensed something was wrong.

"Raise your head and let me take a good look."

Miao Niang had no choice but to look up, her gaze still fixed on the ground.

Her gaze fell not only on the Empress's bright red embroidered phoenix shoes, but also on a pair of ordinary black leather boots.

She heard the Empress say in a cold tone, "She's alright looking, quite alluring."

Miao Niang knew this wasn't a compliment, but in the palace, life and death were not in her own hands.

A clear, melodious eunuch said, "Your Majesty need not concern yourself with such a minor figure. This servant will draft the imperial decree."

"Hmph, she just loves to go against me."

The empress turned and left.

Miao Niang kept her head down and didn't see the eunuch beside the Empress give her a complicated look.

Following a large gate, the extravagance and liveliness of the palace seemed to have nothing to do with her.

She exuded a cold and lonely aura, making her completely out of place in the palace.

Was she forced into the palace?

As night deepened and all was quiet, Li Ge sat on the cold rooftop, still pondering this question.

"Master, the things you gave to Master Chen have been given to Xiao Ji."

Under the eaves, a young eunuch said this.

“Oh.” Li Ge was not surprised.

"Do we need to take the items back?"

Li Ge jumped down from the roof, turned around and went inside. "What's the use of bringing back what he's seen? Besides, isn't this a great opportunity to sow discord between the Crown Prince and the Xiao family?"

The Xiao family may not take sides, but they can force others to do so.

Shen Lan enjoyed a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner.

The Xiao family also prepared generous gifts for each guest attending the banquet.

Even someone like Shen Lan, who had only recently joined, received a thirty-tael red envelope, five catties of venison, and three jars of fine wine.

After leaving the Xiao family, someone bought her venison and wine at a high price, and her red envelope received an extra twenty taels.

With this large sum of money in her hands, Shen Lan did not go home immediately, but instead strolled to the back door of the Liu family's house.

The Liu residence was still brightly lit.

People nowadays have the custom of staying up all night on New Year's Eve. Since the masters of the Liu family had not yet rested, the servants naturally dared not go to sleep either.

Shen Lan had already figured out the layout of the Liu residence and even prepared a set of clothes for a maid in the Liu residence.

This time, she walked openly in the Liu residence, not going to join the commotion in the main courtyard, but lingering outside the servants' quarters.

"I heard that the young master got an A grade again in this year's assessment, and the master is very happy."

"Our young master is good at studying, he will definitely pass the imperial examination in the future, and he will definitely receive more reward money then."

"After the New Year, I'll beg my uncle to transfer me to work for the eldest young master, and then I'll follow him around."

"Dream on! You think you can serve anyone like a young master?"

The man whispered a few words, and the listener asked incredulously, "Really? Where did you hear that?"

"Don't worry about where I heard it from. Believe it or not, it's up to you. Just don't blame me for not warning you."

As the two were talking, they entered the house. Shen Lan followed them in, found the room where Shen Qing lived, and gently pushed open the door.

No one was in the house.

However, judging from the furnishings and items inside, it seems that only one person lives there.

She wasn't sure if Shen Qing still lived there.

Considering that Young Master Liu had a penchant for abusing his servants, Shen Lan was somewhat worried.

Not long after, footsteps and voices could be heard outside.

Shen Lan jumped onto the roof beam and watched the two of them help each other into the house.

"Brother Shen, if you can't drink, then don't drink. How could you get so drunk?"

"I...I'm happy."

"Yes, yes, yes, I know you're happy to receive the reward money from the madam. She even said she'd betroth Yan Hong to you. How could you not be happy!"

"I...I'm engaged."

Another person helped him onto the bed and joked, "Come on, your childhood betrothal doesn't count, the person's already gone, right?"

Shen Qing suddenly jumped out of bed and punched the man in the face.

"Don't talk nonsense! She's still alive!"

"Ouch……"

The man fell to the ground, clutching his face and yelling, "You bastard Shen Qing! I kindly helped you back, and you dare to hit me!"

The man jumped up to retaliate, but something suddenly hit his knee, causing him to feel a sharp pain and fall to the ground.

He looked left and right, and felt something was very strange.

"Pah! I should have let you die drunk on the road! You jinx!" He took a pair of shoes from the house and then swaggered away.

Shen Qing fell back onto the bed, staring at the bed curtains with her eyes open, a tear silently streaming down her face.

After a while, Shen Lan thought he had fallen asleep, so she jumped down from under the roof beam.

As soon as she landed, a sharp pair of scissors came hurtling towards her.

She stepped aside and whispered, "It's me."

The person on the bed slowly sat up, showing no signs of drunkenness, but stared blankly at her.

Was I dreaming?

Shen Lan closed the door and moved a small stool to sit on the edge of the bed.

"Can we talk properly now?"

Shen Qing slapped herself, then widened her eyes, rushed towards Shen Lan, and hugged her tightly in her arms.

"I'm not dreaming... Xiao Lan'er, is it really you?"