“Where’s old six, how come he still hasn’t appeared?” Le Cheng Emperor couldn’t help but frown.
Having that many seats, yet just one was empty, how can it not be conspicuous? Just, as the guest, they naturally can’t question, and on Qi Yuan’s side, they all knew who that seat was arranged for. For them, his special privileges have already become a habit. If the ones with the power to question don’t say anything, then they naturally can only play deaf and mute, pretending to not see.
Speaking of which, the Empress was still ill, and although compared to the beginning, her condition has improved by a lot, her stamina was still lacking, and attending this kind of occasion was a kind of burden. Perhaps after going back, her condition will just worsen.
Fortunately, this was just a mere welcoming banquet. Even if she doesn’t appear, to want to meet her, one most likely will have to wait until the day of the birthday banquet. By Le Cheng Emperor’s side, there was just Noble Consort Su and Shu Consort Qin. And those with the rank of an imperial concubine or lower similarly can only wait until the day of the birthday banquet to show their face. Of course, their situation was completely different from the Empress. For them, it was wanting to come but not having the qualifications. And for the Empress, even if healthy, if she doesn’t want to appear, then it wasn’t a problem either.
Aside from Le Cheng Emperor, the only one able to interfere in Li Hong Yuan’s matter was also just Noble Consort Su. However, she also just carried an appropriate smile the entire time. This while, hearing Le Cheng Emperor’s words, she lightly sighed before opening her mouth to speak, “Your Majesty, it’s not like you don’t know Yuan’er’s temper. Nowadays, he really is becoming more and more disobedient. Previously, didn’t he send someone to inform that he will arrive a bit later? Who knows how late it will be.”
“If this consort has to say, ever since Jin Qinwang got married, he has already restrained himself a lot. Noble Consort doesn’t need to be too strict.” Shu Consort Qin to the side said with a smile.
“Carefully thinking it over, beloved consort’s words really are correct. Looks like for men, it’s still needing to take a wife in order to settle down.” As Le Cheng Emperor said this, he even felt somewhat gratified. “If it was a few years earlier……….this emperor can also headache a few years less.” Li Hong Yuan right now still willfully acted as he pleased, but as long as he restrains himself a tiny bit, then Le Cheng Emperor can just feel greatly comforted. If his other sons were to make a single mistake, then they can all get scolded until they were drenched in blood by him. This was precisely the disparity.
“After all these years, they just happened to encounter at this time. It can be seen, fate is predestined by the heavens. Didn’t even Grandmaster Liao Chen all say they were a match made in heaven?”
“That’s right, it’s indeed this reasoning.” Le Cheng Emperor nodded his head. Thinking it over, this marriage was even voluntarily requested by the Luo family after getting forced into a corner. He although also worried about his son not having someone to care for him, but for all these good family daughters to meet with mishap one after another, even if he’s the emperor, he would still feel guilty. Originally, he was already mentally prepared for the worst, but who knew, this marriage, in the end, turned out to be very good. His son curbed his bad habits, and his daughter-in-law was also perfectly fine, having no illness and mishap, and further not meeting with disaster.
Noble Consort Su listened to the side, her face not changing, but on the inside, it wasn’t the same. Prior to them marrying, she also felt that this girl was a good one, but in the end, it was nothing more than an act. Not only was her temper big, not having her, this mother-in-law, taken seriously, she even seduced her son all day long. In any case, it was just increasingly disliking. However, she also couldn’t do anything about it. Between her and her son, there was already animosity. And the things that her daughter-in-law did, his Majesty didn’t take seriously. In addition to her son shielding her, what can she do? In the entire inner palace, there was probably no other mother-in-law more sullen than her.
However, Noble Consort Su has never considered, although she was said to be the best and the most amiable mother-in-law, in reality, it was using this kind of method to suppress Rui Wangfei to the point of suffocation. If there’s anything slightly out of line, then it was just the daughter-in-law’s fault. Rui Wangfei perhaps appear relaxed on the surface, but in reality, she was even more sullen and miserable than her zhoulis, even having hardship but nowhere to voice. Some things, if she says out loud, perhaps even her own mother all wouldn’t believe her. In the end, Noble Consort Su was also one that had an extremely strong desire of control, using this seemingly gentle, but in reality, extremely harsh method to make Rui Wangfei be deferential towards her, not daring to say the slightest no. And Rui Qinwang was also restrained by his reputation on all sides, unable to resist.
In comparison, Jing Wan was just the complete opposite type. Towards Noble Consort Su’s methods of hiding needles in silk, she simply just didn’t put up with. Moreover, she had Li Hong Yuan backing her, so her confidence was ample.
Speaking of which, the other wangfeis appear to not be as carefree as Rui Wangfei, but including the deceased Kang Wangfei, under the Empress’s hand, all weren’t as miserable as her.
“Shu Consort is right, that is fate set by the heavens. Right now, the only regret is just Yuan’er still not having a child, don’t know when there will be movements in old six’s wife’s stomach.”
This line can be said to have intentionally or otherwise jabbed at Le Cheng Emperor’s heart.
Shu Consort Qin casted Noble Consort Su a glance. Speaking of which, the ones that understood Noble Consort Su the most certainly was still them, these ‘veterans’ that have been serving by Le Cheng Emperor’s side around the same time, “Children also depend on fate. When it’s time, they naturally will come. This grandson, Noble Consort sooner or later will be able to hold.”
Noble Consort Su’s eyes momentarily flashed. She had two sons, yet this grandson has never appeared. This thorn…………Moreover, Yuan’er’s son…………..
The three above chatted amongst themselves. Their voices weren’t considered loud, but the people below all tacitly remained quiet. In addition to being relatively close to the imperial seat, even if there was music, that was still some distance away, as such, they for the most part all heard the conversation clearly. Although it was possible that their respective point of interest was different, they nevertheless all concentrated their attention in listening.
Noble Consort Su was just about to open her mouth again, when outside, “Jin Qinwang and Jin Wangfei have arrived———–”
The esteemed Emperor was already sitting upon the banquet hall, yet the son slowly arrives late. The old man listening to the inner court attendant announce the son’s arrival, truthfully speaking, regardless whether it was Former Wei or Qiang, it was all unheard of. However, judging from the expressions of the others from Qi Yuan, they seemingly were all accustomed to it. Even the Qi Yuan Emperor all didn’t have an indignant look. How can this just be described as strange?
The women that were originally gracefully dancing, upon hearing the voice, quickly yielded to the side. The music also temporarily stopped.
Very soon, two figures appeared at the doorway. Everything else aside, those that have not seen Li Hong Yuan before, for the most part, were all captivated by that face of his. Of course, those that were unable to return to their senses for a long while were only a few. Majority of the people instead felt that Jin Qinwang was a bit too different from the rumors. If not for being certain of his bestowed title, and knowing that one country can’t have two people with the same title existing, then they really wouldn’t have been able to have the one in the rumors associated with this one before them.
In the rumors, Jin Qinwang was malicious and violent, cold-blooded and heartless, and extremely temperamental. Although his appearance wasn’t mentioned, but it goes without saying, someone with this kind of personality, regardless of how good-looking, certainly would be covered in dark currents all over. Then, no matter how good of a face, it would all be ruined by it. But, Jin Qinwang just appeared a little cold and detached, the air around him tranquil, like a jade tree, charming and handsome. And that peerlessly beautiful face increasingly stood out, making one practically unable to move one’s eyes.
However, despite him being this outstanding, the person standing next to him still didn’t get buried by his radiance. Although not a stunning celestial beauty, she was still a pretty good beauty, donning the qin-wangfei formal gown, bright and magnanimous, in a sense, an entirely different person from Jin Qinwang. However, the two of them standing together nevertheless felt exceptionally harmonious, as if there was no place for a third person to insert a foot.
Li Hong Yuan and Jing Wan bowed towards the three up top.
Le Cheng Emperor didn’t say anything, just waving his hand, letting them sit down. On the surface, he seemingly was a bit indifferent, but anyone with a discerning eye could sense that he was happy.
This realization made certain people once again raise their eyebrows. They originally had heard that Qi Yuan’s Le Cheng Emperor exceptionally doted on his sixth son.
Originally, they even somewhat snorted disdainfully, not believing this to be true. In the imperial family, there were no father and son. The imperial family had no familial love. Even the so called doting also had a limit. However, right now, seeing the reality, this doting, afraid it surpassed their expectations.
Li Hong Yuan took his seat with Jing Wan, waving away the palace maid that came forward to pour wine, pouring a cup himself. Just when he was about to pour a little for Jing Wan, he paused midway, “Prepare a pot of green plum wine.”
Green plum wine carried a bit of sweet and sour, the alcohol concentration also very low, very suitable for women that weren’t good with alcohol. Who it was prepared for, it was obvious to see.
This kind of thing, for Jing Wan, couldn’t be more normal, but that was all at home. Right now, they were in the palace, even having the other countries’ emissaries present…………..Jing Wan lightly smiled, calmly accepting.
Jing Wan and Li Hong Yuan weren’t affected, but those that were already present nevertheless clearly sensed it. Actually, this while, the atmosphere was a bit low.
However, the Former Wei fifth prince suddenly smiled brightly, “Since Jin Qinwang came late, shouldn’t one drink a cup as punishment?”
Under normal circumstances, these words in this kind of setting wasn’t a problem, but to use on Jin Qinwang, this problem was very big.
He didn’t have any interest in dealing with these people to begin with, his attention just on Jing Wan, but upon hearing this, he lightly looked over, “Who?”
This one word made the Former Wei fifth prince nearly explode.
At the table next to them, the sickly fifth wangye lightly coughed, “Sixth brother, this one is Great Wei’s fifth prince.”
Li Hong Yuan took a sip of wine, “The one that got beaten up by He Shi Hai yesterday?”
This matter, originally had already been swept under, but now, getting mentioned by Li Hong Yuan like this, the atmosphere immediately became awkward again.
However, Li Hong Yuan was like as if he didn’t notice, “He Shi Hai sure enough is a useless one. Yesterday, he even shamelessly boasted to this prince that he had the person beaten to the point of being unable to crawl up, but does this something Former Wei fifth prince look like he can’t crawl up?” All say one shouldn’t poke at other’s wounds, but for Li Hong Yuan, it was wherever it hurt, that was wherever he stabbed. Moreover, ‘Former Wei’, this address, generally speaking, all won’t be said in front of Former Wei’s people, yet Li Hong Yuan didn’t avoid out of taboo in the slightest. All things just completely depended on his mood.
What was called ‘having none in one’s eyes’, what was called ‘no dust under one’s gaze’, what was called ‘the eyes empty to all’, Jin Qinwang will perfectly interpret for you[1].
What did little tyrant He in the northeastern border town count as, what did the Former Wei fifth prince wantonly running amuck in Former Wei’s capital city count as, in front of this one, that was all petty bread crumbs.
The living Enma was subtly arrogant, magnificently rampant. How can ordinary people catch up to his level?
“Old six, yesterday’s matter was all a misunderstanding.” Le Cheng Emperor tried to remedy the situation, but on the inside, he was actually a bit pleased, and also somewhat pitying the people of Former Wei. However, this son of his, when provoked, even his face wasn’t spared, so for Former Wei, really sorry, probably can only accept the misfortune. Who let you throw yourself forward for no reason.
“Misunderstanding?” Li Hong Yuan sneered. The mockery couldn’t be more obvious.
Le Cheng Emperor’s old face was all somewhat unable to be maintained, the blue veins on his forehead pulsing. Perhaps letting this bastard attend the welcoming banquet was just a mistake in itself. Why didn’t he just learn his lesson?
Jing Wan suddenly reached out to take the cup from Li Hong Yuan’s hand, filling it up and saying with a smile, “Since imperial father said it was a misunderstanding, then it’s just a misunderstanding.”
Li Hong Yuan glanced at her, taking back the cup and retracting his line of sight. That meaning couldn’t be more obvious.
[1] All three of these phrases are idioms meaning condescending and arrogant.
