Dugu Jingyao is reborn as Li Chu's beloved

Chapter 460: Dinner at the Royal Palace

In the evening, when it was time for dinner at the palace, Cui Caiping was the first to arrive at the main hall, followed by Zheng Wan, and then Li Chu and Dugu Jingyao.

As for Li Wanqing, she had lost more than she gained, and was told by Li Chu to rest and not attend the banquet. However, Dugu Jingyao was kindhearted. After all, she was a member of the royal family, and it would be lonely to spend New Year's Day alone. So, after consulting the palace physician, she had the kitchen prepare a light yet hearty dinner for her.

When the dinner arrived at Biluoyuan, Wutong and Cuizhu both thought that His Highness had not forgotten their wives. Only Li Wanqing guessed that such a meticulously prepared dinner could not have been prepared by Li Chu, but most likely by Dugu Jingyao.

After all, Li Chu had already guessed what had happened, so he probably wouldn't want to set foot in Biluoyuan again before Dugu Jingyao gave birth. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel a little sad.

Li Wanqing gave a wry smile and ordered, "Go see if there's any wine, and bring me two jugs."

Wutong was worried that Li Wanqing wasn't fully recovered yet, and if she drank, would it make things worse? So he said, "Madam, you're not fully recovered yet, so it's not appropriate for you to drink, right?"

Even Cuizhu, who was speaking to Li Wanqing, said worriedly, "Madam, you are not feeling well today. Why don't you drink again in a few days? Then you can ask me to drink with you."

Li Wanqing knew they meant well, but she still said, "I know you mean well, but I know my body well. They say drinking warms the stomach, and maybe drinking can help with my uterine cold."

Seeing that persuasion was ineffective, Wutong had no choice but to help Li Wanqing get the wine.

The main hall was peaceful and harmonious. Perhaps it was because of the festival, even Cui Caiping looked much more pleasing to the eye than before.

When all the dishes were served, Li Chu raised his glass and said, "I hope everyone will be safe and happy in the new year. A Yao and Cui Caiping, I hope you both will give birth to my child."

The others also raised their glasses. Li Chu said, "Ayao, Cui Caiping, you two are pregnant, so you don't need to drink. I, Zheng Wan, can drink. Please have a drink with me."

Dugu Jingyao and Zheng Wan naturally smiled in agreement, but Cui Caiping was torn. She was happy that Li Chu finally cared about her, but it was a shame that she couldn't have such a good opportunity to drink with Li Chu. However, she couldn't show it on her face. She could only smile and agree like Dugu Jingyao, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.

They started to eat happily. During the meal, Li Chu picked up some dishes for Dugu Jingyao, asked Cui Caiping to eat more, and had a drink with Zheng Wan from time to time. It must be said that it was really tiring for Li Chu to please everyone, but today was a holiday, and his wives and concubines gave him face, and they were in harmony. He was tired but happy.

In the end, the meal ended with Li Chu eating and drinking well, Dugu Jingyao and Cui Caiping feeling a little full, and Zheng Wan feeling a little drunk.

Because Dugu Jingyao and Cui Caiping were pregnant, they definitely couldn't eat so much and then go back to rest, so Li Chu could only accompany them for a walk in the garden.

Zheng Wan had wanted to join in the fun, but her alcohol tolerance was no match for Li Chu's. She couldn't even stand steadily, let alone take a walk... In the end, she was helped back to Luting Pavilion by Bailu and Mangzhong.

The three of them strolled in the garden for about quarter of an hour. Because the weather was too cold, they were afraid that the two pregnant women would catch a cold, so they didn't dare to stay outside for too long. Li Chu asked Mo Xin and Lian Xin to carefully escort Cui Caiping back first, while he personally helped Dugu Jingyao back to Wangyuexuan.

At Biluoyuan, because it was New Year's Day, Li Wanqing asked Wutong and Cuizhu to have dinner together, and they started drinking after dinner.

After finishing her drink, Li Wanqing said she felt dizzy and wanted to go out for some fresh air. Cuizhu and Wutong offered to accompany her, but Li Wanqing declined. "Why? You're afraid I'll get lost in our own palace? Don't worry, I'll be back soon."

After saying that, she picked up the hanging cloak, put it on and walked out, which really caught Wutong and Cuizhu off guard.

Li Wanqing wandered aimlessly around the courtyard for a quarter of an hour, feeling bored, and prepared to return to Biluo Courtyard. Unexpectedly, Wutong and Cuizhu waited for nearly an hour before Li Wanqing returned, looking somewhat distraught.

Wutong and Cuizhu asked her worriedly what was wrong, but she didn't answer. She just said that she had been walking outside for a long time and it was a bit cold. She asked Wutong and Cuizhu to prepare hot water as she wanted to take a hot bath.

Wutong and Cuizhu thought this was reasonable, so one of them went to make ginger tea while the other went to prepare hot water.

Ginger tea is quicker to make, so Cuizhu came back quickly and said, "Madam, you've been outside for so long, don't get cold, have a cup of ginger tea to warm yourself up first."

Li Wanqing looked up at Cuizhu, and seeing her expectant eyes, she didn't notice anything unusual, so she blew on the ginger tea and drank it all in one gulp.

Soon, Wutong came back and said, "Madam, the hot water is ready."

Li Wanqing didn't say anything, just nodded and went to the bathroom. But this time she said, "I want to soak for a while. Please help me prepare the clothes I need to change and then go back and wait."

Wutong and Cuizhu looked at each other and felt that Li Wanqing was a little strange after coming back, but they didn't ask too much. After all, they had experienced a lot today, so it was probably because of this. So they let her be alone and the two of them bowed and left the bathroom.

Li Wanqing was left alone in the bathroom. She took off her clothes piece by piece and then soaked in the tub. However, she sank lower and lower until her head was completely submerged in the water.

After a while, she finally emerged from the tub like a lotus emerging from water, leaned against the edge of the tub, covered her eyes with a towel and closed her eyes to rest. About a quarter of an hour later, the water gradually grew cold, and she got out of the tub, changed into new clothes, and returned to the bedroom, as if nothing had happened.