"When did the King of Dingbei take a wife? I should prepare a generous gift to congratulate His Highness on starting his family."
Emperor Mingji, seated on the main throne, raised a goblet of wine with a smile towards Xiao Chizhan.
Zhongzhou was a small country, dependent on the two great powers of Daliang and Beiqi, surviving almost in the gap between them. Looking at the two formidable figures below, he felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles.
If he made the wrong choice this time, Zhongzhou would become cannon fodder in a war between the two nations.
As the Emperor of Zhongzhou, he could not afford to gamble and had to be cautious.
Xiao Chizhan gave a lazy smile, holding his wine cup, and said, "She has not yet entered the bridal chamber. We will be holding a wedding banquet next year, and I hope Your Majesty will honor us with your presence."
"Getting married?!"
Suddenly, a scoff from the opposite side shattered the harmonious atmosphere.
Everyone looked over and saw the Crown Prince of Beiqi leaning against the phoenix-carved chair, a cold, thin smile playing on his lips.
"When the King of Dingbei gets married, I will certainly attend. I hope His Highness will not forget me then."
Xiao Chizhan sneered, "On my auspicious day, I will surely have the Crown Prince as my honored guest." He paused, then continued, "On the day the Crown Prince marries Princess Danyang, I will also personally bring my consort to Beiqi to congratulate the Crown Prince on his grand wedding."
As his words fell, Xie Beihan's expression instantly turned gloomy. His beautiful phoenix eyes indifferently swept over Ye Luan opposite him.
Seeing her with her head bowed, silently eating pastries, a flicker of mockery crossed his face.
"I only consider her a sister. Your Highness, please do not jest."
"Oh?" Xiao Chizhan's smile was cold. "Does the Regent know that the Crown Prince thinks this way?"
The air between them was clearly charged with animosity, something everyone present understood clearly.
Beiqi and Daliang were already at loggerheads, and it was uncertain when they might go to war. Emperor Mingji's banquet for envoys from various countries was precisely to find a compromise to preserve Zhongzhou.
The atmosphere became peculiar, and no one dared to interrupt.
Besides the singing and dancing on stage, it was only the two irreconcilable men engaging in a battle of words.
Emperor Mingji, seated in his high position and observing the conflict below, felt a cold sweat break out. He quickly picked up his wine cup, feigning a smile to ease the tension.
Ye Luan, sitting next to Xiao Chizhan, could clearly feel the killing intent emanating from him.
Her hand, hidden beneath the banquet table, was being squeezed fiercely by him, feeling as if her bones were about to be crushed.
"Last night, the wine stove in the West Market caught fire. Did the Crown Prince go to rescue it? Your wrist is injured like that?"
A sinister voice, laced with a faint smile, reached everyone's ears. Involuntarily, they all glanced at the purple-robed man's wrist.
Unfortunately, only the white bandages wrapped around it were vaguely visible, completely hidden by the wide sleeves.
Xie Beihan raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Your Highness, you are very well-informed even at the posthouse. Someone might think Your Highness ordered the wine stove to be set on fire."
"Tsk, Your Highness, please do not speak carelessly. I would not do such a heartless deed."
Their words were like sharp daggers, filled with overt mockery and veiled sarcasm. As seasoned veterans of court politics, everyone could see the underlying implications.
Ye Luan could even feel Emperor Mingji's gaze upon her.
She felt like a thorn in her back, and her wrist, which he was pinching, had turned red.
They both, at the drop of a hat, resorted to pinching her. She was truly exasperated.
Was Xie Beihan deliberately framing her again and again, just to spite Xiao Chizhan?
She really didn't believe Xie Beihan truly liked her.
Not to mention they had only met a few times. With Xie Beihan's power and status, what kind of woman could he not have?
He was simply deliberately opposing Xiao Chizhan, liking to snatch everything from him, finding it amusing.
She truly was the cannon fodder in their confrontation, extremely unlucky.
"Your Highness?"
The low voice pulled Xiao Chizhan back from his rising murderous intent. He turned his head, "What is it?"
"I've had too much to drink and need to go to the privy."
If she didn't leave now, her hand would be ruined.
Xiao Chizhan didn't want her to go out alone. "I'll accompany you."
"Ah, no, everyone is watching you."
As the two spoke, they were close. The man, clad in a snow-white robe, had a devilishly handsome face, while the girl was bright and beautiful. As she leaned closer to the man, a gentle and charming smile graced her small, palm-sized face.
No one knew what they were saying, but it was evident that the usually indifferent and fierce King of Dingbei showed a hint of tenderness.
Everyone subtly watched their interaction, some even glancing towards Beiqi with a look of amusement.
Xie Beihan naturally noticed their small gestures. He held his wine cup and drank his wine indifferently, his expression sinister and strange, his thoughts unreadable.
"It happens that I also have a stomachache. I'll accompany A'Luan."
Lan Murou broke the stalemate between them.
Ye Luan immediately assured him, "We'll be back soon."
Xiao Chizhan's caution was truly unparalleled. She was in the Zhongzhou imperial palace and could not escape. She didn't know what he was so afraid of.
"Mm."
After they left, Xiao Chizhan immediately gave Tantai Ye a look.
"Send the shadow guards to follow."
Tantai Ye nodded his chin, indicating he understood.
The two of them stealthily left the palace hall, finally exhaling in relief.
Ye Luan looked at the red marks on her wrist and frowned slightly.
"Two young ladies, please follow this servant."
The Zhongzhou imperial palace was vast. A maid escorted them to the privy. When they emerged, the maid was no longer there.
Fortunately, Ye Luan had a good memory and led Lan Murou back.
"A'Luan, why did that Beiqi Crown Prince keep looking at you at the banquet?"
Lan Murou had noticed it, and the shrewd courtiers must have as well.
Ye Luan frowned. She truly didn't want to go back and be subjected to stares.
"He's just a lunatic, deliberately trying to cause trouble for Xiao Chizhan. He likes to play."
"They--"
Before Lan Murou could finish her sentence, she suddenly clutched her forehead and felt dizzy.
"Murou, what's wrong?"
Ye Luan quickly supported her, looking at her with concern.
Lan Murou shook her head, forcing a smile, "It's a lingering effect from drinking that… thing. I can't be away from him for too long."
Love Potion!
Ye Luan frowned. "You can't drink any more of it. Drinking too much can lead to mental derangement. Besides, only loving him and having only him in your life – isn't that becoming a soulless husk? It's simply sick."
"He is indeed sick."
As she spoke, the two of them looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh.
"I feel much better. Let's go."
"Mm."
After walking back for a short while, they passed by a rockery in the imperial garden. From within, a muffled, languid sound suddenly emerged.
The woman's gasps of pleasure echoed, somewhat jarring in the quiet garden.
Ye Luan quickly pulled Lan Murou to hide on the other side of the rockery.
They had stumbled upon such a royal secret; it was truly unlucky.
"What should we do?" Lan Murou gestured with her hand.
To return to the main hall, they had to go around this side of the rockery and through the garden's covered walkway. What if they made a noise and were discovered by those inside, and then silenced?
Ye Luan covered her mouth with her hand, shook her head, and gestured.
"Wait here. Don't move."