I traveled back to the Southern Song Dynasty and was actually outmaneuvered by Yue Fei.

On the seventh day after being granted the title of Prince of Pu'an, Consort Zhang held a banquet in the palace.

The story of their relationship begins after Zhao Bocong was confirmed to have entered the palace.

When Zhao Bocong was only six years old, he was selected to enter the palace, and Zhao Gou immediately arranged for his concubines to meet him.

Young Zhao Bocong approached Zhang Jieyu on his own initiative, and Zhao Gou readily agreed, ordering Zhang Jieyu to take care of him.

Zhang Jieyu carefully taught Zhao Bozong and devoted herself to raising him for nearly ten years.

Now that Zhao Bocong has been promoted to Prince of Puan, Consort Zhang is naturally happy because of her son's status.

The invitation to the family banquet was personally delivered to the Prince of Puan's residence by the head lady-in-waiting of Consort Zhang.

As Zhao Bocong accepted the invitation, the lady-in-waiting whispered, "Her Majesty said this is a family banquet, Your Highness need not be so formal."

But the female official emphasized the words "family banquet" very softly, as if she were giving instructions or reminding someone.

It seems to be saying that this isn't a formal court gathering, but you shouldn't treat it like a family dinner either.

Zhao Bocong placed the letter on his desk and read it through.

The banquet was held in a side hall of the Cining Palace, and the guests were members of the imperial family residing in Beijing. The first name on the list was his own, and the second was Zhao Bojiu.

Consort Zhang was Zhao Bocong's adoptive mother. He entered the palace at the age of six in the second year of the Shaoxing era, and Zhao Gou ordered Consort Zhang to raise him. From then on, he called her "Your Majesty".

Consort Zhang treated him extremely well; it wasn't just a polite way of treating him as her own son, but a genuine way of raising him as her own.

He remembered one winter when he had a fever, Consort Zhang stayed by his bedside all night. At dawn, she fell asleep with her forehead against his palm. When she woke up, her first words were, "Bo Cong, what do you want to eat? Mother will make it for you."

That was the first time in his life that someone had called himself "Mother" in front of him, but now Consort Zhang's health was not very good.

I started coughing last autumn, and it lasted on and off all winter. The imperial physician said it was due to cold in my lung meridian and prescribed several doses of medicine, but it didn't help.

In the past few months, she has rarely left Cining Palace, and has even waived the greetings to Zhao Gou several times.

She suddenly hosted a banquet today.

Zhao Bocong knew that she was using her last bit of strength to pave the way for him.

When Consort Zhang led him into the side hall, all the members of the imperial family present stood up and bowed.

Zhao Bocong followed behind his foster mother and noticed that Consort Zhang had to stop and catch her breath every few steps.

Her lung meridian cold syndrome was more severe than the imperial physician had said.

During the most ruthless period of Qin Hui's purge of the pro-war faction, this sickly woman, despite her illness, laid out the first network of connections for him at the royal banquet.

Zhao Bozong felt a mix of emotions. He wondered if some of the original owner's feelings were still there. Since ancient times, the imperial court had been known for its coldness, and he was lucky to have found someone who treated him with genuine kindness.

The banquet was held in a side hall of the Cining Palace, with six tables set up.

There are specific rules for banquets for members of the imperial clan. The person of the highest seniority sits at the head table, and those of the same seniority are arranged in order of their branch of the family.

Consort Zhang sat in the main seat, occasionally turning her head to cover her mouth with a handkerchief and cough a few times. After coughing, she would put the handkerchief back into her sleeve, and when she looked up, her face still had a gentle smile.

Zhao Linghui, as the Prince of Anding and the Minister of the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs, sat at the head of the first table, wearing a purple official robe, a gold belt around his waist, and with white hair and beard.

Zhao Bozong sat to the left of Consort Zhang, and two seats away from him sat Zhao Bojiu.

The Duke of Chongguo, dressed in purple official robes with a gold belt around his waist, was chatting and laughing with a member of the imperial clan next to him.

Zhao Bocong knew that he would come, not to congratulate him, but to visit him.

Let's see what abilities this collateral descendant of the founding emperor, who rose from Duke of Jian to Prince of Pu'an, really possesses.

The banquet began. Zhao Linghui stood up shakily and began to deliver the prepared congratulatory speech.

The congratulatory message was written on silk and drafted by an official of the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs. The handwriting was neat and the wording was appropriate.

After talking about Zhao Bocong, he then talked about Zhao Bojiu, using the phrase "intelligent and precocious, gentle and refined."

When it came to all the younger generation present, each person received an appropriate evaluation.

But he never mentioned Qin Hui, Yue Fei, or any other people or events related to the political situation.

Zhao Bocong shifted his gaze from Zhao Linghui.

Of all the things the Prince of Anding said, only when he mentioned Zhao Bocong did his tone become a completely formulaic admonition to a junior, without any extra affection or emotion.

He was keeping his distance. This elder member of the royal family had staked his bet on neutrality, remaining impartial with neither side, so he wouldn't lose out if either side won.

After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere at the table gradually became more lively.

The members of the imperial family began toasting each other, and their conversation ranged from the entertainment districts and brothels in Lin'an to the harvests in their respective fiefdoms.

Zhao Bozong responded to the toasts from each table with a perfectly appropriate smile on his face. He wasn't a big drinker, but he couldn't get drunk today.

Zhao Bojiu walked over, holding a wine glass.

He stood in front of Zhao Bozong, raising his cup in a very proper manner, with the rim of his cup half an inch lower than the rim of the other person's cup, a gesture of respect from a junior to a senior.

But they are of the same generation, and this is not proper etiquette.

"Brother Bo Cong," he called out warmly, but everyone at the head table could hear him. "I'd like to offer you a toast. Speaking of which, I recently read an old story that has deeply moved me."

Zhao Bozong held his wine cup, waiting for him to continue.

"In the second year of Shaoxing, when Yue Shaobao was reporting on his duties in Lin'an, he met his elder brother once."

Zhao Bojiu's voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for everyone at the head table to hear. "It is said that Yue Shaobao once told others that this young man has a clear and upright gaze and the appearance of a benevolent ruler. After my death, this young man will surely clear my name."

The atmosphere in the side hall instantly became quiet.

The words "Young Master Yue" seemed to have touched upon some taboo when Zhao Bojiu uttered them.

This is a name that everyone deliberately avoids, yet Zhao Bojiu brazenly put it on the table.

He used "Yue Shaobao" instead of the derogatory titles that Qin Hui's cronies usually used in court.

"Junior Guardian" was the title Yue Fei was granted after his Northern Expedition in the tenth year of Shaoxing, and it was his official title at the height of his military achievements.

Zhao Bojiu's use of this form of address in front of Consort Zhang was a double test, to see how Zhao Bozong would respond and how Consort Zhang would react.

Consort Zhang paused for a moment while fiddling with the prayer beads, then continued fiddling with them, her face still bearing a gentle smile.

She did not speak up to help Zhao Bocong out of the predicament.

Zhao Bozong held his wine glass and remained silent for a moment. He knew that Zhao Bojiu was making trouble.

All eyes in the side hall were on him.

"Regarding what the Duke of Chongguo mentioned, Yue Shaobao was an important minister in the court back then, and he often encouraged the younger members of the imperial family. If he has indeed met me, it would be my honor. However—"

Zhao Bozong's smile remained unchanged, and his voice was humble, "I was only seven years old that year, and had just entered the palace. I can't remember most of the people I met."

Yue Fei was renowned throughout the land, and many members of the imperial clan had met him at that time. It was common for them to say a few words of encouragement to the younger generation.

"But I will never forget the Empress's nurturing grace and the Emperor's cultivation grace."

He shifted the topic from Yue Fei to Consort Zhang, and rose to offer her a toast.

Consort Zhang held her teacup, smiled and nodded, gently raising the teacup to conceal the fleeting look of satisfaction on her lips.

He calmly put down the glass of wine that Zhao Bojiu offered him.

Halfway through the banquet, Zhao Bozong got up and went to the side hall to change his clothes.

As he walked through the corridor, he saw a person in the shadows at the corner.

The man had his back to the lamplight in the corridor. He was tall and had a straight back. Most of his hair was white and was neatly tied up with a wooden hairpin.

He is Zhao Shi, the Prince of Qi'an.

"I apologize for any shortcomings in our hospitality at today's banquet. I hope the Prince of Qi'an will forgive us." Zhao Bozong stopped and bowed.

Zhao Shi turned around. "Young Master Yue has indeed seen you before," he said, his voice somewhat low.