The Night Banquet110
Prince Ding王府的客人19. Guests at the Prince Ding王府的客人Madame Wang果然很快就將為葉璃準備好的衣物和首飾送來了。看著來送東西的老嬤嬤和丫鬟一副高傲的樣子，葉璃並冇有生氣。她隻是隨意地看了一眼桌上的物品，然後笑著看了她們一眼，隨口吩咐身邊的丫鬟道：“清霞，把那些東西收起來吧。”看到葉璃毫不在意的態度，捧著一盒首飾的丫鬟不滿意了。她揚起下巴瞥了葉璃...110. Night Banquet (1)
110。Night Banquet (1)
In the palace tonight, some are joyful while others are worried.
The elegantly set up cold and quiet hall was filled with the snow-white figure of Concubine Liǔ in her silver phoenix patterned robe. Behind her, a lady-in-waiting carefully avoided the white train on the floor as she inserted a silver butterfly tassel hairpin into her smooth black hair. Facing the mirror that reflected her icy beauty, Concubine Liǔ's expression remained indifferent.
"Madam, the princess has arrived," reported one of the lady-in-waitings softly beside her.
A faint warmth flickered in the cold eyes of Concubine Liǔ, "Let her come in." Soon, a young girl dressed in light yellow stepped into the hall. Standing at the door for a moment, she shyly looked towards Concubine Liǔ before walking forward and softly calling out, "Mother..." Turning around, Concubine Liǔ extended her hand to pull the girl close, looking at the face that resembled hers.
Lowering her eyes, she suppressed the complex emotions in them as she asked gently, "Níng'er, why are you here now" The little girl looked up at Concubine Liǔ and whispered, "Sister Changle said she was going to attend the banquet with Mother, Níng'er also wants to go with Mother." Hearing this, Concubine Liǔ paused for a moment before frowning and saying, "You're still too young. Tonight’s palace banquet is in honor of the Prince from Beirong; you don't need to be there."
Tears welled up in the girl's eyes—Sister Changle was only one year older than her, yet Mother often took her along to attend banquets and play together. But Mother never brought her or played with her. She knew that Mother didn’t like her... Seeing this innocent face filled with disappointment, Concubine Liǔ’s expression softened slightly but quickly returned to normal as she said coldly, "Níng'er, are you not listening to your mother Go back!" Faced with her daughter's sorrowful appearance, she hesitated before finally saying softly, "Return to your own quarters. Later, the nanny will take you to attend the banquet." The girl wiped away the tears on her face and sobbed, "Wuuu...
Mother, please don't be angry. Ning'er won't go then... I'll stay and play with my brothers..." She turned around and ran out clumsily.
The hall fell silent. One of the high-ranking palace ladies beside Concubine Liu frowned and said softly, "Your Excellency, are you being too...
Concubine Liu turned around and said coolly, "There's no need to say more. Just help me get ready."
The maid didn't dare persuade her anymore after seeing this. She sighed inwardly as she looked back at the door where Princess Ning had disappeared from. Compared to how Empress Dowager treated First Princess, Concubine Liu was too cold towards Second Princess and even the two Imperial Princes. This would certainly affect their feelings for her in the future... It's a pity that...
these maids' words wouldn't be listened to by Concubine Liu no matter what they said. All she could do was skillfully help her mistress with her appearance before standing up and turning around after looking in the mirror, "Let's go."
The grand banquet continued as usual, with music and dancing along with clinking wine cups everywhere. Ye Li sat beside Mo Xiyr and clearly felt that a pair of eyes had never left her from the moment they entered the hall. Lifting her head to look up, she saw this evening's key figure sitting opposite her - North Rong’s Seventh Prince, Yelvye. Seeing Ye Li looking at him, Yelvye raised an eyebrow and lifted his wine glass in her direction.
The blatant lewdness in that gaze made Ye Li’s heart sink with displeasure. Since she married Mo Xiyr… No, it should be said that no one had ever dared to look at her like this since she could remember. It seemed as if Yelvye felt the anger from Ye Li; he raised his eyebrows and smiled before turning away to speak with the person beside him.
Ye Li lowered her gaze indifferently, looking down at her hands. Could it be that Yelvye thought she would lose her temper right then and there
A cool hand clasped onto hers, and Ye Li looked up to see Mo Xiyr's gentle concerned eyes. Mo Xiyr chuckled softly, "My wife, don't be angry. I'll take out his eyeballs for you later." Ye Li rolled her eyes at him and muttered, "He is the North Rong King’s most favored son...
"Why aren’t you starting a fight" Mo Xiuyao raised his eyebrows and said with a light laugh, "Who said we have to start fighting in the Chu Kingdom Once I go to Beirong, I’ll still find a way to gouge out his eyeballs as an apology to my wife."
Ye Li shook her head, “It’s nothing. As long as you return safely from Beirong, that’s all that matters. We shouldn’t cause more trouble.” Mo Xiuyao looked at her with a deeply pleased expression.
"Are you worried about me" said the husband happily. Ye Li couldn't help but reach out to pinch him. This person had been even more pretentious since the lantern festival. He would call her wife and husband all day long without stopping.
The exchanges below were clearly seen by Mo Jingqi, who was sitting above them. The handsome man's face twisted slightly before he turned back to smile at Empress Liushui and Queen Dowager, "Dingwang has been married for over a year, yet their affection still hasn’t diminished."
The queen dowager took a sip of her wine before smiling faintly, “The emperor is right. Dingwang’s deep love for his duchess will surely be another fine tale in the capital.” Mo Jingqi nodded and said with a smile, "What does my beloved concubine think"
Empress Liushui's face was as white as snow while her expression remained indifferent. “The queen dowager is right,” she replied. Sitting next to Empress Liushui, Concubine Zhao looked at the duchess and then back at the emperor. She covered her mouth with a foolish smile.
"I heard that Liu Sister was once childhood sweethearts with Dingwang..." Before she could finish speaking, Mo Jingqi’s sharp gaze shot to her as if it were an arrow. Concubine Zhao's heart skipped a beat; knowing she had said something wrong, she became tongue-tied and didn’t know how to respond.
The queen dowager frowned slightly before saying in a faint voice, "If Concubine Zhao can't hold her liquor, she should drink less. What nonsense are you talking"
Concubine Zhao's face turned red with embarrassment, but knew that the queen had saved her from further trouble and quickly agreed.
"Your Majesty," said Ye Liya below in a sudden voice.
“My lord,” Yelü Ye suddenly stood up and loudly addressed Mo Jingqi on the dais: "Our nation's crown prince’s wife passed away earlier this year. Father King is saddened by our nations’ diplomatic relations, so he promised to welcome Princess Chu with full honors as a crown princess to Beirong. I wonder if I’ll be fortunate enough to meet my future sister-in-law."
Yelü Ye's words caused an uproar in the hall. There was a world of difference between marrying into Beirong as a prince or king’s consort and becoming its crown princess. Even some who had seen through this marriage alliance couldn’t help but be tempted by the thought of it.
What were daughters used for in families Arranged marriages, temporary gains, or relationships. After all, no one could rely on a woman to maintain long-term relationships, right
Even though they knew that women married off into Beirong wouldn’t fare well, but if there was enough benefit, sacrificing a daughter would be worth it. Ye Li felt somewhat surprised and looked at Mo Xiuyao.
Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly as he whispered, "There’s quite the difference between receiving full honors of a crown princess and being officially named one."
"Who said Beirong people are straightforward and valiant, not cunning
Ye Li was enlightened, wasn't it For a moment, she had forgotten about the golden registers that existed in the royal families of various countries, including those considered barbarians like Beirong. Without being officially registered on the golden register, it was as if one hadn’t entered the ancestral temple or been recorded in the family genealogy in the Great Chu Empire. Forget about marrying her with the courtesy of a Crown Princess; even if she were to marry her as an Empress, it wouldn't count for anything. Ye Li recalled Mo Xiuyao spreading news that Yelü Ye would personally select someone. Ordinary consorts and princesses wouldn’t be chosen, but since Yelü Ye was considering a future Crown Princess of Beirong, it wasn't unreasonable to expect him to take a look before making his choice. Given the lack of suitable princesses in Great Chu, Mo Xiuyao mockingly looked at Mo Xiuyao with a mixture of amusement and mockery, as if laughing at him for trying but failing to achieve anything. Mo Xiuyao didn’t mind; since Great Chu needed to marry off a woman to Beirong, and Yelü Ye was willing to offer the position of Crown Princess so generously, he wouldn't object to allowing himself some freedom in choosing someone who would satisfy his requirements. "My wife, you should worry about Miss Hua instead. If Yelü Ye selects personally, there's a 70% chance that he will choose Hua Tianxiang." If he knew of the good relationship between Hua Tianxiang and Ah Li, the probability could even rise to 90%.
Ye Li frowned slightly. "Then it would be necessary for Your Highness to make sure that Prince Yelü understands the importance of selecting a Crown Princess from a noble royal lineage."
Mo Xiuyao shook his head and smiled softly, "If Yelü Ye were the Crown Prince himself, he might choose someone with a royal background. But he's choosing on behalf of Yelü Hong. Although Hua Tianxiang isn't of royal blood, she is still the niece of the Empress and has high status. Moreover, there’s a significant chance that her marriage could create discord between the Emperor and the Hua family. Consider this: although General Huo Jigong no longer commands troops on the battlefield, he still holds considerable prestige in the military. If Hua Tianxiang marries into Beirong, the Hua family will provide no support to Yelü Hong whatsoever." Ye Li lowered her gaze and thought for a moment before looking up and asking: "If he knew that Tianxiang becoming Crown Princess of Beirong could significantly aid Yelü Hong, what then" Mo Xiuyao rubbed his forehead, pondered it for a bit, and smiled. "Well… this might work if we can fool Prince Yelü."
Mo Jingqi was clearly taken aback by Yelü Ye’s sudden statement and only regained composure after a moment to ask with a smile: “Is Prince Yelü speaking the truth”
Yelü Ye said earnestly, "Of course. Your Majesty, I have been sent here personally by my father to welcome the Great Chu Princess. Isn't this sufficient evidence of our sincerity"
Mo Jingqi’s eyes flickered as he looked at Ye Li, who was sitting beside Mo Xiuyao and speaking with him. "Duke Ding's Consort, you were originally in charge of this matter. Are you confident about the candidate for a princess to be married off"
In her heart, Ye Li cursed Mo Jingqi’s cunning; she had already submitted a list of candidates earlier that morning. What did it mean when he pretended not to know Rising respectfully, she said, "Your Majesty, we indeed have several candidates in mind. Before entering the palace, I instructed someone to report to Your Majesty, but perhaps you were too busy with state affairs and haven’t had time to look at them yet." Yelü Ye smiled as he watched Ye Li, raised his brows, and said, “If a decision hasn't been made on a candidate, may this small king participate in the selection” You said that I would personally select a princess. Let me show you how I will do it. However… The person responsible for this is Duke Ding's Consort; what an unexpected pleasure! Yelü Ye was pleased as he calculated his next move.
"Your Majesty, Prince Yelü is still from another ethnicity and such involvement would damage the reputation of our Great Chu’s noble ladies," said a minister who had daughters among the candidates. To begin with, even if their daughters were chosen, they wouldn’t be able to see them again after being sent to Beirong; if not chosen, then their good reputations would be lost, and how could they ever marry
“The matter of a Crown Princess for an entire nation is indeed significant, and it’s understandable that Prince Yelü shows concern. We just need to take some precautions,” said the Consort Li suddenly.
The Empress frowned and glanced at Consort Li. In such an occasion, even the empress didn't speak up; a consort who spoke out of turn would be considered as violating protocol regardless of how favored she was. Mo Jingqi looked somewhat surprised at Consort Li’s intervention, but her expression remained aloof and composed as if she hadn’t said anything inappropriate. Looking at his beloved concubine, Mo Jingqi raised an eyebrow thoughtfully before smiling. "Since my beloved consort speaks thusly, we shall follow Prince Yelü's suggestion." capture target individuals also means elimination! Dismissed!”"Understood!" The Kirin members loudly replied and quickly formed several small teams to head towards their respective destinations.Ye Li...