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The palace is still the palace of Yuan Cang, and the nobles of the Crimson Kingdom have not made any modifications. Walking through the familiar court, Su Peijiu, bearing the identity of Prince Ping'an, greeted various ministers along the way.
"I heard that the Chancellor will also attend the banquet this time..."
"Yes, it's quite rare. The Chancellor hardly ever leaves the National Master’s residence."
"Tonight's banquet is really lively; there are all kinds of people..."
"...who isn't? That's why we need to be more cautious in our words and actions..."
Throughout her journey, these were the most common conversations she overheard. The mentions of the Chancellor and National Master caught Su Peijiu's attention. The Chancellor of the Crimson Kingdom, that mysteriously enigmatic National Master, was actually going to attend this banquet tonight, which seemed to complicate matters further.
"...complicated." She sighed, but her Water Eyes sparkled with excitement. If it weren't complicated, how could it be more fun?
As she was about to enter, Su Peijiu caught a glimpse of a striking figure out of the corner of her eye. However, because the shadow moved too quickly, she couldn't see it clearly. Thinking that there were women in the palace as well, she quickly forgot about it.
When she entered the hall, most of the guests had already arrived. She casually found a spot in a corner to sit down and called over a Eunuch to replace all her wine with tea. Then she rested her chin on her hand and nibbled on pastries while secretly observing the people in the hall.
Directly across from her sat someone who didn't want to draw attention—a man dressed in a dark green patterned robe, sitting quietly with his eyes closed. Su Peijiu found his face somewhat familiar but couldn't recall who he was. Since she was in the palace with too many eyes around, apart from the palace maids and guards, she couldn't place anyone openly to gather information about that Dark Green Robed Man.
Three seats away from him sat Qi Rong, who was also being low-key today. Dressed in a purple-black robe with simple Bamboo Leaf Embroidery, his hair casually secured at the back with a clasp, he appeared relaxed and carefree. However, Su Peijiu noticed his disappointment as he continuously drank wine. If he drank too much now, how would he handle things later?
Her gaze continued to move forward, spotting several ministers. Qi Che had yet to arrive, so naturally, that mysterious figure combining both National Master and Chancellor had not shown up either. As for Jun Ye Su... only those who grasped the overall situation would make their entrance last to control the entire scene.
Thinking about herself, she realized she might have arrived too early.
“Prince Ping'an, I toast you.” A minister with a shrewd beard approached and sat down beside her in a familiar manner, followed by a young boy with well-defined features who was not handsome but still quite pleasant to look at.
Su Peijiu forced a smile and responded, then raised her cup filled with tea and drank it all in one go. “You are too kind, my lord.” She couldn't remember the names and positions of the ministers in court, so she could only refer to them as 'my lord.'
“I am Zhang by surname,” Lord Zhang said with a flattering smile, turning slightly to reveal the boy behind him. “This is my son.”
He then said to the boy, “Aren't you going to greet Prince Ping'an?”
“Greetings, Prince Ping'an,” the boy said obediently.
Su Peijiu nodded and once again emptied her cup of tea, not allowing her gaze to linger on the boy's face for even a moment.
This Lord Zhang probably wanted her to help his son secure an official position in court, but unfortunately, this was the last thing she wanted to deal with.
“Your father has matters to attend to; Cheng'er will stay here and keep the prince company, understand?” Lord Zhang stood up, holding his cup while giving instructions.
“I understand, Father.” Zhang Cheng nodded in agreement and then sat down next to Su Peijiu, but the person beside him didn’t even glance his way.
Once his father walked away, Zhang Cheng dared to openly scrutinize the person beside him. Dressed in men's clothing with a hairstyle typical of men, although a woman dressed like this seemed somewhat inappropriate, there was an undeniable charm about her. Coupled with her lazy demeanor, it made it hard for anyone to look away.
At first, when he heard his father suggest that he flirt with the newly arrived Queen Lord, he was resistant. However, upon seeing her in person, he found himself irresistibly drawn to her.
Su Peijiu sensed that Zhang Cheng's gaze on her was becoming increasingly fervent and felt somewhat displeased. She lifted her eyes to look at him: “Why are you staring at This King?”
Zhang Cheng hurriedly lowered his gaze in panic: “Your Highness is so captivating that one cannot help but be drawn in. I apologize for disturbing you; please punish me…”
“Enough, enough.” She waved her hand impatiently, just as she was about to tell him to move further away when she heard a eunuch's sharp call: “Emissary enters the palace—!”
Dressed in dark robes, Qi Che swaggered in with a beautiful woman in his arms, while Su Peijiu was momentarily stunned, her gaze seemingly glued to him.
She continued to stare at Qi Che even after he took his seat, as if she could bore a hole through him with her eyes.
"What is the prince looking at?" Zhang Cheng followed Su Peijiu's gaze and saw Qi Che playfully teasing the beauty. He turned away in disgust. "The actions of the Rebels are truly disgraceful."
Seeing that Su Peijiu was still in a daze, thinking she was frightened, he called out again, waving his hand in front of her eyes: "What is the prince looking at?"
Su Peijiu calmly withdrew her gaze and replied, "I’m looking at a tiger dressed in wolf's skin."
Zhang Cheng thought that Su Peijiu was indeed scared. He continued with his own thoughts. No matter how high his status, she was still a woman who needed a man’s protection. As long as he married this Prince Ping'an, both the position of prince and her would belong to him. Just thinking about it made him somewhat excited.
When Su Peijiu looked away, Qi Che happened to glance over. At that moment, Zhang Cheng was leaning toward Su Peijiu to speak, and due to the angle, he was quite close. Seeing Su Peijiu silent and demure, a fierce look flashed in his eyes, startling the beauty in his arms.
"My lord..." The beauty shyly tugged at his sleeve. He smiled and withdrew his gaze, playfully squeezing her slim waist.
"What a refined scoundrel," Su Peijiu gritted her teeth as she watched Qi Che flirt with the beauty, her eyes flashing with anger.
Soon after Qi Che entered, more people arrived until almost all the seats were filled. When there was another commotion outside, only two seats remained—one at the upper position and one on the lower side of it.
"The Chancellor enters!" The usually unseen National Master finally made an appearance.
Su Peijiu squinted to look over and saw a tall man in white robes with silver sleeves approaching, wearing a wooden mask and wooden clogs... A green flute hung from his waist, adorned with red tassels.
This National Master seemed somewhat different from what she had imagined... Su Peijiu tapped her fingers on the table as she followed the National Master until he took his seat. When she retracted her gaze, it accidentally met Qi Che's for a brief moment before she quickly looked away as if stung by a scorpion, causing him to narrow his eyes meaningfully.
After waiting for about half a tea's worth of time, they finally heard the eunuch at the door shout loudly: "The Emperor has arrived!"
Finally, everyone was present, and with a command from the Emperor, the banquet officially began.
"Today, the emissaries have come to my Crimson Kingdom, and I am very pleased. All of you, enjoy your drinks... Furthermore, this is our first Queen Lord... I have yet to hold a banquet for Prince Ping'an, so since everyone is here, let’s do it together..."
The person named, Su Peijiu, had no choice but to stand up, wearing a distant smile, and slightly bowed to Jun Ye Su: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Prince Ping'an, please do not be reserved. You are as capable as any man here; there is no need to feel inferior to these gentlemen..." Jun Ye Su dropped this seemingly nonsensical remark, and Su Peijiu furrowed her brow as she noticed the increasing number of gazes fixed upon her.
There were meaningful looks, heated glances, disdainful stares, and contemptuous expressions... All sorts of eyes gathered, igniting an inexplicable anger within her.
Just as she sat down, the man beside her, Zhang Cheng, raised a glass of wine towards her; "My lord, please."
Su Peijiu could only lift her own glass and take a small sip.
After three rounds of drinks, Qi Che wrapped his arm around a beautiful woman's waist and stood up with drunken eyes: "Isn't it boring just watching the beauties sing and dance? How about we play some games instead?"
"What kind of game does the Emissary want to play?" Jun Ye Su squinted and waved his hand to dismiss the beauties from the center of the dance floor, leaving only the sound of flutes and drums.
"In the south, there is a popular game..." He reached out and took the hairpin from the beautiful woman's hair: "Let’s use this hairpin as a passing object. We will have someone beat the drum; when the drumming becomes intense and suddenly stops, whoever has the hairpin will face a penalty." He paused for a moment: "What does Your Majesty think?"
"Very good; I am quite interested. However, to avoid any concerns from you all, I will just watch."
Qi Che handed the hairpin to the beauty. She swayed her waist out of his embrace with seductive eyes; indeed a stunning beauty. Her large eyes casually scanned over the crowd and instantly captivated a group of ministers. She lightly moved her lotus steps and handed the hairpin to an Old Minister: "Let’s start with this esteemed gentleman."
The Old Minister blushed at her light glance, breathing heavily with excitement as he trembled while taking the hairpin.
"Let’s begin."
"Wait a moment." Qi Che called out, and the Old Minister quickly put away the hairpin, looking at him in a daze, unsure of what was happening.
The man squinted his eyes and glanced around, his thin lips curling slightly: "Simply passing around a hairpin is a bit dull and lacks challenge. How about a poetry contest? Those who cannot come up with a line will be punished with wine!"
"Agreed." Jun Ye Su commanded, and the Old Minister began the first line. Although he hesitated a bit, thinking about showing off his skills in front of His Majesty made him more enthusiastic.
"Spring is bright and beautiful beyond compare, so I will embarrass myself with this spring theme..." He stroked his goatee, squinting his eyes as he swayed his head: "The grass and trees know that spring is not far away; countless reds and purples compete in bloom." (Han Yu)
"Good poem, good poem..." The ministers echoed in agreement. A younger minister below raised his wine cup, took the hairpin with one hand, and recited: "Willow catkins and elm seeds lack talent; they only know how to drift like snowflakes." (Han Yu)
"Well done..."
"Indeed..."
Su Peijiu rested her chin on her hand, watching the person across from her recite poetry with great spirit. She counted the number of people; there were still over ten before it would turn to her, so she relaxed.
She poked at the soft pastries on the table with her finger, prodding and bouncing them, having a great time.
Even if she were to compose poetry, she wouldn't...
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