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墨書 Inktalez
In just a few days, it would be the birthday of the Empress Dowager.
Over the years, the Empress Dowager had been cultivating herself at the Palace of the Empress. She was a devout Buddhist, often eating vegetarian meals and reciting prayers for the royal family's safety.
The Emperor placed great importance on the Empress Dowager's birthday. His health had deteriorated, and this might be the last time he could host a birthday banquet for her.
Thus, even though the Empress Dowager intended to keep things simple as she had in previous years, the Emperor insisted on a grand celebration.
"The Empress Dowager's birthday is a matter for the entire nation to celebrate; how can it be treated casually?" The Emperor's reasoning sounded quite reasonable. "Moreover, this year we have distinguished guests from the Exiled Nation visiting. It's a rare occasion, so please do not decline."
In the end, the Emperor's insistence prevailed.
This birthday banquet would invite officials and their families, as well as the Envoy Group from the Exiled Nation.
Due to Luo Jingxian's health condition, Ye Xiaohan would also accompany them in his capacity as a doctor.
He was concerned about Luo Jingxian, especially after what had happened with Murong Cheng last time. On another note, Ye Xiaohan also wanted to take this opportunity to meet Gu Bei.
Both of them were usually too busy to find time to meet. This time, Gu Bei, as a general, would certainly attend, allowing them to sit down and have a good conversation.
"Xiao Han!"
As soon as Ye Xiaohan arrived at the venue, he heard Gu Bei's voice and quickly spotted him approaching.
"General Gu."
“Prince.”
Gu Bei and Lo Cheng exchanged greetings, and Lo Cheng tactfully led Luo Jingxian towards the banquet, leaving time for the two lovers.
Ye Xiaohan felt a bit shy, cautiously glancing around to see if anyone was watching them.
“Everyone in the palace is trained to serve others; they wouldn’t behave in such an intrusive manner,” Gu Bei chuckled, dispelling Ye Xiaohan's concerns.
To survive in the palace, one must be perceptive; even if they see something they shouldn’t, they pretend not to notice.
“Being a royal servant is truly not easy!” Ye Xiaohan remarked, letting it go. She wasn’t trying to hide her relationship with Gu Bei, but being watched made her feel embarrassed.
Gu Bei took Ye Xiaohan on a stroll around the area. This birthday banquet was hosted by the Empress Dowager at the Palace of the Empress. Although the Palace of the Empress wasn’t as grand as the imperial palace, its unique bridges, flowing water, pavilions, and towers were exceptionally beautiful, offering a distinct charm.
With someone she loved by her side and picturesque scenery before her eyes, Ye Xiaohan felt very happy.
As time passed, the Officials chatted among themselves while slowly making their way to the banquet hall.
The star of the day was the Empress Dowager, and everything was arranged according to her preferences. Older individuals tend to enjoy lively gatherings; even someone like the Empress Dowager, who practiced vegetarianism and meditation and was accustomed to tranquility, liked to have some lively songs and dances at her annual birthday celebration.
After the Officials congratulated the Empress Dowager, they began to take their seats more freely.
At such large banquets, few people came solely for the food; most were there to network with colleagues. However, there were exceptions like Luo Jingxian, who was solely focused on enjoying the food.
Since the Empress Dowager was a devout Buddhist, every year’s banquet featured vegetarian dishes. Fortunately, this posed no challenge for the Royal Chef, who could always come up with new delights. For Luo Jingxian, who preferred vegetarian food over meat, this was just perfect.
Watching the Princess eat happily, Lo Cheng's gaze unconsciously softened. Ever since Luo Jingxian had changed, he had felt a deep ache in his heart. It was rare to see her happy, so he made a note of her preferences and pushed his own share towards her.
Luo Jingxian looked up and revealed a smile so faint it was almost imperceptible, yet Lo Cheng was already satisfied.
Across the table, a pair of eyes stared intently at Luo Jingxian, growing increasingly gloomy as a result.
Just as the host and guests were enjoying themselves and the atmosphere was harmonious, Murong Cheng stood up, bowed towards Emperor Queen and Empress Dowager, then spoke.
"Father, the Exiled Princess is of noble birth and possesses an ethereal grace; she is indeed a rare beauty. I wish to be with her for the long term, and I hope you will grant your blessing!"
This was Murong Cheng's idea; since the Emperor had refused to arrange a marriage for him, he would personally propose in front of the officials at the banquet and see if the Emperor could refuse him again!
Sure enough, as soon as Murong Cheng spoke, everyone at the banquet was stunned. Laughter faded instantly, and all eyes discreetly shifted between the parties involved.
The Emperor felt a surge of anger; he hadn't expected Murong Cheng to use such an almost coercive method! Following that was a strong disappointment in Murong Cheng. How could he not have anticipated this? His son had always been one to stop at nothing to achieve his goals.
Given the earlier incident where Murong Cheng had teased Luo Jingxian only to be beaten up, everyone was astonished by his audacity to propose.
Only the Empress Dowager was unaware of what had transpired before; she had always favored this grandson. After seeing Luo Jingxian's appearance, she was very pleased with this marriage proposal.
"Your Majesty, young men should marry and young women should wed. In my opinion, the Crown Prince and the Exiled Princess are well-matched in both character and appearance; they will surely have a long-lasting love like you and the Queen. Since the Crown Prince has already made this proposal himself, why not bring this beautiful union to fruition?"
With the Empress Dowager's support, Murong Cheng suddenly felt emboldened.
"Thank you, Grandmother, for your approval!"
The group felt utterly disgusted. They never expected that Murong Cheng, as the crown prince of a nation, could be so despicable!
Luo Jingxian's gaze landed on Murong Cheng, her face openly displaying her disdain. She lost her appetite entirely and set down her chopsticks.
"Don't be afraid!" Lo Cheng discreetly patted the back of Luo Jingxian's hand, urging her to remain calm.
Before Lo Cheng could decline, someone else spoke up first.
"Your Majesty, this marriage proposal from the crown prince is not an ordinary royal wedding. Moreover, the bride is a princess from the Exiled Nation; this involves a union between two countries and requires careful consideration."
It was the Queen who highlighted the crux of the matter, presenting a reasonable argument.
The emperor had initially opposed this marriage but was troubled by Murong Cheng's public proposal. If he were to reject it outright, it might provoke Murong Cheng's retaliation and disrupt his plans.
Hearing the Queen's words now was like being offered a staircase to descend gracefully.
"Indeed, the Queen has made an excellent point!" The emperor nodded. "This matter requires further deliberation. Today is the Empress Dowager's birthday, which is of utmost importance; let us set aside other matters for now."
Murong Cheng's face was nearly frozen in restraint, harboring resentment towards both the emperor and the Queen. Yet on the surface, he maintained a smile. "A union between my son and the Exiled Princess would solidify a century-long friendship between our nations; isn't that a wonderful prospect?"
He truly did not expect that the emperor would not be intimidated. Did he not fear that father and son would turn against each other and become a laughingstock?
The emperor clearly shared this concern. If he were to refuse the crown prince's request today, it would be tantamount to publicly displaying discord within the royal family before the officials.
Under normal circumstances, the emperor might not have given such matters much thought and would have resolved them casually. However, time was no longer on his side, and Sixth Prince's path had yet to be paved; he could not afford to waste time dealing with Murong Cheng.
In a moment of hesitation, the Emperor instinctively glanced towards the direction of the Envoy of the Departed Nation. With a shift in thought, he decided to throw the question to Lo Cheng for resolution.
"Marriage is a lifelong matter; it cannot be decided by one person's words alone," the Emperor stated. "The Empress of the Exiled Nation is not present, and as Elder Brother, I must also consider the opinions of the Prince."
Lo Cheng silently cursed the old fox. He certainly would not allow his sister to marry a man who would treat her lightly.
Moreover, Luo Jingxian was currently on high alert, clearly resistant; he could never push his own sister into a fire pit.
"Your Majesty, since the Princess was injured, her emotions have been unstable. This is not an appropriate time for marriage," Lo Cheng used Luo Jingxian's condition as a shield.
"The Crown Prince has misjudged; let us thank the Princess for her patience here and wish that the Crown Prince of Dongchuan soon finds his true match." Lo Cheng's words were a flawless refusal, leaving no room for criticism.
Indeed, Luo Jingxian was still unwell; could the Crown Prince really force someone to marry him?
The Emperor was not surprised by this response. He had already heard about Lo Cheng's care for his sister and had witnessed Luo Jingxian's aversion towards Murong Cheng.
It was precisely because of this that he dared to hand over the decision-making power to Lo Cheng.
He was certain that Lo Cheng would never allow his precious sister to marry a man of questionable character, even if that man were a Crown Prince of a nation.
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