Dugu Jingyao is reborn as Li Chu's beloved

Chapter 496 How can I not go to the banquet?

Chapter 496 How Can I Not Go to the Banquet?

Whether it was hunger or a feeling of being underappreciated, Li Ying suddenly burst into tears without warning. Instantly, everyone's attention quickly shifted to the two little ones.

In comparison, Li Shi remained relatively calm, but Li Ying's crying was like a bursting dam, torrential and difficult to stop.

Seeing this, Li Chu and Dugu Jingyao rushed forward, took turns hugging her tightly in their arms, and comforted her softly. After a lot of effort, they finally succeeded in stopping her thunderous crying.

Soon after, Dugu Moyan, Shen Zhenzhu, and Murong Linzhi gathered around. They looked at the quiet and well-behaved Li Shi, and then at Li Ying, who had just stopped crying, their eyes filled with endless affection, as if they could never get enough of looking at them.

At this moment, Shen Zhenzhu's heart moved, and she had the idea of hugging the children. She stretched out her hands, ready to take one of the babies, but was stopped in time by the quick-eyed and quick-handed Dugu Jingyao.

Dugu Jingyao smiled and said softly, "Zhenzhu, my good sister-in-law, you'd better not hug them for now! It's not that I mean to stop you, but these two children are too naughty and noisy right now. If they accidentally kick your stomach, the consequences will be unimaginable!" Hearing this, Shen Zhenzhu nodded slightly to show her understanding.

Seeing this, Li Chu on the side quickly echoed: "That's right, sister-in-law. There is a long way to go. When you give birth to a baby boy safely, it won't be too late to hug these cute little babies then!" After that, everyone smiled at each other, and the atmosphere became particularly warm and harmonious.

After playing for a while, Li Shi and Li Ying seemed hungry, so Dugu Jingyao asked the wet nurses to take the two children downstairs to feed them.

When the main hall returned to calm, Dugu Jingyao asked, "By the way, Lin Zhi, I have a question for you."

Murong Linzhi had an expression that said, "Tell me what you want to say," so Dugu Jingyao asked, "Linzhi, is there any medicine that can make a child appear sick without actually hurting the child?"

Murong Linzhi felt a little nervous when she heard this. She asked, "Jingyao, why are you asking this?"

Dugu Jingyao sighed and said, "Hey, the Queen is holding a chrysanthemum viewing banquet in the palace. I'm sure my sister-in-law has received the news too, right?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Zhenzhu nodded slightly and said, "Yes, the Queen also invited me to participate."

Dugu Jingyao continued, "All the prominent women in Chang'an City have probably been invited, including Gu Shiyi."

Dugu Moyan didn't understand what Dugu Jingyao meant. He asked, "Although her character is not good, she is the Princess of Nanyang County, so it's normal for her to be invited to the banquet."

Dugu Jingyao continued in a low voice, "Didn't Lin Zhi tell me two days ago that Gu Shiyi went to Baicaotang to have her pulse checked to determine the gender of the baby, and that it was a girl? I was wondering, she had vowed to the Li family that she would help them advance to a higher rank after giving birth to a legitimate son. But now that she knows she's pregnant with a girl, will she take any action to protect her status?"

Shen Zhenzhu seemed to have figured something out, so she said, "Jingyao, you mean she might have a miscarriage at the chrysanthemum viewing banquet and then frame someone else, especially you."

Dugu Jingyao nodded gravely, but she said, "This is just my guess. After all, this woman is unscrupulous in achieving her goals. This is just one possibility. Another possibility is that she will replace the baby during the birth."

Dugu Moyan frowned and said, "Although this woman is unscrupulous, she is confusing the royal bloodline. If any news leaks out, she will be punished by death."

Li Chu then added, "That's why Ayao and I suspect she'll have a miscarriage at this chrysanthemum viewing banquet. This way, she can avoid having the child and frame someone else. The best target is our Chu Palace. If our father becomes suspicious, the Chu Palace will be finished."

Dugu Jingyao seemed to have thought of another possibility, so she looked at Dugu Moyan and Shen Zhenzhu and said, "Apart from us, it's you two, because you are my family. If he frames you, he can say that he did it for the Chu Palace and for me. This way, the emperor will also be wary of our Dugu family."

Murong Linzhi said, "In that case, then both of you should not go."

Shen Zhenzhu was a little troubled: "But how can we not go? After all, it's the Queen's invitation, not just an invitation from an ordinary lady that can be turned down by saying something like I have something to do."

Dugu Jingyao then said, "That's why you need a reason not to go! Actually, Zhenzhu, your child is here at the perfect time. Just say you're newly pregnant and have been suffering from severe morning sickness lately. You don't want to spoil everyone's fun, so you're not going. I'm sure the Empress will agree with this excuse. And you have to go right away to prove that you've already confirmed your pregnancy and it's not just a last-minute ploy to avoid the banquet."

Dugu Moyan and Shen Zhenzhu both agreed with this. Shen Zhenzhu immediately instructed Hongrui to deliver the letter, as it should still be in time.

Dugu Moyan looked at Dugu Jingyao and asked, "What are you going to do then?"

Murong Linzhi realized something and said, "So, Jingyao, you just asked me if I had that kind of medicine because you wanted to avoid going to the banquet."

Dugu Jingyao nodded helplessly and said, "Yes, there's really no other way. I'm not pregnant. If I lie to the Emperor and Empress, wouldn't that be deceiving the monarch? I wouldn't dare to do that. But... if Shi'er and Ying'er can appear sick instead of actually being sick, then I can logically skip the chrysanthemum viewing banquet."

Murong Linzhi said: "Although I have some here, they are too small to be suitable. It would be fine if they were adults."

Upon hearing this, Dugu Jingyao had a new idea: "Then just give it to me. I don't need to go even if I'm sick!"

Li Chu said, "No, Miss Murong, you should give me this medicine. It's only natural for A Yao to take care of me when I'm sick."

Dugu Jingyao said, "How could it be better if I wasn't feeling well? After all, if you were sick, there would still be Li Wanqing and Zheng Wan. But if I were sick, it would be normal for me not to go!"

Seeing the two of them arguing back and forth, Murong Linzhi quickly stopped them, saying, "Alright, alright, Your Highness, Prince Chu, Jingyao, stop arguing. This medicine will only make you look sick, but you're not actually sick. Combined with my acupuncture method, it won't harm your body."

Hearing this, Dugu Jingyao looked at Li Chu and said, "Donglang, you heard it too, so let me use the medicine, okay?"

Although Li Chu was still unwilling, what Dugu Jingyao said was indeed reasonable. Unless she herself was unwell or her child was sick, it would be reasonable for her not to attend the banquet.

He then said, "Well, in that case, I'll have to trouble Miss Murong."

Murong Linzhi waved his hand and said, "It's okay. I'm glad to be able to help you!"

After this matter was settled, Dugu Jingyao seemed to recall something and said, "Zhenzhu, do you remember that you said you were rescued from the water when you were a child?"

Shen Zhenzhu's eyes were a little flustered when she heard this, because she had not told Dugu Moyan about this matter, but she believed that Dugu Jingyao would not harm her, so she said: "Yes, I remember."

Dugu Jingyao smiled and said, "I know who this person is."

Shen Zhenzhu's face actually turned red, and she asked, "Who is it?"

Dugu Jingyao glanced at Li Chu and said, "It's our Prince Chu!"

Shen Zhenzhu was a little confused, but her mind was now filled with Dugu Moyan. As for that incident and that person, they were just passers-by in her life.

So she smiled and stood up, bowed and said, "Your Highness thanks the King of Chu for saving you."

Li Chu quickly stood up. This was Dugu Jingyao's sister-in-law. He extended his hand and said, "Sister-in-law, please stand up quickly. I wouldn't stand by and watch anyone die."

Dugu Moyan also stood up to help Shen Zhenzhu. Shen Zhenzhu stood up with the help of Dugu Moyan and said, "It's just a courtesy to thank you for saving my life. It's what a concubine should do."

Dugu Jingyao stood up and said, "Alright, alright. I only said this because I didn't want you to have any regrets. I didn't mean for you to come here and thank me."

Of course, regarding this matter, the few people who knew the inside story tacitly did not mention how Li Chu saved Shen Zhenzhu.

Dugu Moyan's impression of Li Chu improved a lot. After all, if it weren't for Li Chu, he wouldn't have met Shen Zhenzhu, and the two of them wouldn't have been able to get to know each other and fall in love.

Not long after, Li Shi and Li Ying were brought back, and everyone's attention was attracted by the two little guys again, and no one mentioned the matter again.

When it was time for dinner, Dugu Moyan insisted on keeping Li Chu and Dugu Jingyao, and said he wanted to thank Li Chu very much.

Li Chu and Dugu Jingyao finally compromised, but agreed to take the child back early. After Dugu Moyan agreed, they stayed for dinner.

Dugu Moyan's way of thanking Li Chu was undoubtedly to take out the fine wine hidden in his home and treat him to it...

After eating for a while, they drank one cup after another. Dugu Jingyao was afraid that Li Chu would tell the truth. Finally, it was Li Ying's wailing that stopped them from drinking anymore. The two of them successfully escaped and returned to the Prince of Chu's Mansion.