The Emperor’s deep, dark pupils naturally shifted to the center of the joke, the elegant figure holding a cup of fragrant tea, appearing as serene as ever, watching the maids around her as if the recent events had nothing to do with her. xxs壹贰
Murong Liu Zun’s curiosity was piqued. His eyebrows twitched, and his mellow voice rang out, “Yao’er, what joke were you telling? Do tell us, so We can hear it.”
“Nothing, it’s just that these maids are easily surprised by trivial things.”
Mu Qingyao calmly refused. She didn’t find the joke particularly funny, yet these few maids had laughed uncontrollably, like lunatics.
Xing Zhu, hearing that the Emperor wanted to hear, immediately shook his shoulders and recounted the joke with gusto.
“There was a man named Ji Xiaolan. One day, he was walking down the street with a friend and suddenly saw a shop. The shop owner’s wife was busy inside. Ji Xiaolan made a bet with his friend.”
“I can make the proprietress laugh with one sentence, and make her furious with another.” No one believed him, and they decided to settle the wager over a banquet.
Ji Xiaolan walked to the shop entrance, bowed to the dog guarding the door, and called it ‘father.’ The proprietress, upon hearing this, burst into laughter. Ji Xiaolan then turned around and shouted ‘mother’ at the proprietress. The proprietress was immediately enraged and began cursing Ji Xiaolan. Thus, Ji Xiaolan won a banquet.”
The palace maids in the hall burst into laughter again at Xing Zhu’s joke, but restrained themselves due to the Emperor’s presence, their faces turning red.
The Emperor, on the other hand, his handsome face showing a rare smile, a departure from his usual sternness, commented, “This Ji Xiaolan is indeed very clever.”
Mu Qingyao rolled her eyes. Of course, Ji Xiaolan’s cleverness was beyond ordinary people. But the Emperor coming to Fengluan Palace couldn’t just be to listen to jokes; he must have something to discuss.
“Does Your Majesty have something on his mind?”
Murong Liu Zun withdrew his smile, replaced by unfathomable calculation. A thoughtful expression settled over his refined features.
“In three days’ time, We shall hold a flower appreciation banquet. All the daughters and sons of high officials in the court may attend. There are also two princes and two princesses in the palace who are unmarried. If suitable matches are found, We will arrange marriages for them.”
As soon as the Emperor finished speaking, Murong Xing Zhu, standing beside him, immediately objected.
“Brother Emperor, I won’t marry. I don’t want to marry.”
“A daughter grows up to be married; how can she indulge her whims?” Murong Liu Zun’s pupils deepened, his narrow eyebrows raised, his dark eyes like an unfathomable lake.
Mu Qingyao calmly observed the Emperor beside her, wondering what this man was planning now. Was he going to deal with the Northern Jin King? A flash of insight came to her, and she subtly smiled.
“Alright, Qingyao will help select consorts for the Northern Jin King and the Southern An King. Your Majesty can rest assured.”
“Hmm, Yao’er is thoughtful,” Murong Liu Zun said, standing up. With him present, it was likely they couldn’t focus freely, and he also had state affairs to attend to. “The flower appreciation banquet is in three days.”
Mu Qingyao, along with Murong Xing Zhu and the people of Fengluan Palace, respectfully saw the Emperor off.
As soon as the Emperor left, Murong Xing Zhu’s face fell. She pouted, incredibly displeased, “Sister-in-law, I don’t want to get married.”
Mu Qingyao cast a cool, sidelong glance at the pouting girl. Really, this girl’s worries were completely unnecessary. Even if she wanted to marry, the Emperor would likely want to keep her for another two years. The Emperor saying this was merely a pretext for holding the flower appreciation banquet.
“Xing Zhu, you needn’t worry. If marriages are to be bestowed, the Northern Jin King, the Southern An King, and Princess Ru Yin are all ahead of you. It’s not your turn yet. Where would so many outstanding individuals come from all at once? Just relax.”
Upon hearing her sister-in-law’s words, Murong Xing Zhu realized it made sense. There were three people ahead of her, so others should be the ones rushing. What was she anxious about? She became happy again and pestered Mu Qingyao to continue the joke from earlier. Mu Qingyao initially didn’t want to humor her, but eventually, she couldn’t stand the girl’s persistence and told another joke.
In Fengluan Palace, a harmonious atmosphere prevailed.
Meanwhile, in Guangyang Palace, the atmosphere was somewhat peculiar. The entire hall was silent. The Empress Dowager sat regally at the head, her expression inscrutable and thoughtful. Eunuch Li, standing beside her, spoke cautiously, “Your Highness, what do you think of this matter?”
“Immediately send a message to the Left Prime Minister’s residence, instructing him to come to the palace for a discussion without delay.”
The Empress Dowager waved her hand with a stern face, and Eunuch Li respectfully withdrew to dispatch someone to the Prime Minister’s residence.
The Emperor’s current actions must have a hidden motive. What exactly did he intend to do?
The Empress Dowager pondered, her face shadowed. On the surface, his intentions seemed good – to arrange marriages for the Northern Jin King, the Southern An King, and the two princesses. But in reality, the person he truly wished to bestow marriage upon was likely her son, Liu Mo.
She would never allow him to control her son’s marriage. Who her son married should be decided by her, his mother.
Before the Prime Minister could enter the palace, Princess Ru Yin stormed in, her face flushed with anger, and indignantly questioned the Empress Dowager.
“Mother Empress, what is the meaning of this?”
The Empress Dowager, who was in thought, was bewildered by Princess Ru Yin’s outburst. She shot a cold glance at her daughter, “What are you talking about?”
“The flower appreciation banquet, the bestowal of marriage, is this true?”
Ru Yin’s voice rose significantly, confronting the Empress Dowager head-on.
Inside the hall, the palace maids and eunuchs broke out in a cold sweat. Princess Ru Yin always opposed the Empress Dowager. This matter, however, didn’t seem to involve the Empress Dowager. The flower appreciation banquet was arranged by the Emperor, and the Empress Dowager seemed equally confused. Besides, shouldn’t Princess Ru Yin be happy?
It was rumored that the flower appreciation banquet would also include bestowal of marriage for the princesses. Princess Ru Yin was known for her arrogance and domineering nature. If the Emperor did not arrange a marriage for her, who else would dare to take her?
Although everyone dared to think this, no one dared to reveal even a hint of it, their gazes fixed on the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager showed a look of annoyance and waved her hand, “This Empress Dowager only just learned of this. I heard the Emperor is holding a flower appreciation banquet in three days, and marriages will be arranged for you then. You should prepare yourself and find someone to marry.”
“Mother Empress?”
Murong Ru Yin suddenly shrieked, her voice so loud that it made the Empress Dowager’s heart skip a beat. She clutched her chest, her breathing rapid, and pointed accusingly at Murong Ru Yin.
“What are you doing, shouting so loudly in Guangyang Palace? Do you want to anger your mother to death?”
“Mother Empress, I will not marry.”
This time, Murong Ru Yin stated her refusal with absolute resolve. Her beautiful face was etched with determination, her eyes flashing with ferocity, leaving no room for negotiation.
The Empress Dowager was somewhat perplexed, scanning her daughter. Was this girl out of her mind? She was already seventeen, an age by which she should have been married long ago, yet she refused to marry. Did she intend to remain in the palace forever?
“This matter will be decided by the Emperor.”
The Empress Dowager found her daughter a source of both headaches and stomach aches. She wished the Emperor would immediately bestow a marriage and marry her off.
As long as someone was willing to have her, she would be out of sight and out of mind. She never considered how to share her burden with her mother, always causing trouble. Thinking of the Prime Minister’s imminent arrival, the Empress Dowager spoke with a cold expression.