Gu Qing smiled gently, "Third Prince, what you said is biased. Even if I wanted to protect my sister, how can I disobey the princess' order?"

"Just like if this subject were your Third Prince, what would you think?"

Gu Qing's words blocked Li Xiangsheng's mouth for a moment.

He suddenly laughed out loud twice: "Mrs. Chen is really sharp-tongued."

As he spoke, he turned his head to look at Gu Miao. There was no admiration in his eyes, but rather a hint of playful amusement.

This woman is somewhat similar to Gu Qing, but her eyes and eyebrows are more petty.

Boring.

Li Xiangsheng waved his hand and said, "It's getting late. Father and mother will be here soon." Then he walked towards the men's seats.

Chen Zhizhou's eyes were always looking here, observing Gu Qing's movements at all times. If it weren't for the Third Prince's suppression, he would have appeared beside Gu Qing at this moment.

As soon as Li Xiangsheng left, Mu Xin immediately said coldly: "It's really annoying, what does it have to do with him?"

"I think he's just looking for trouble."

Gu Qing just smiled but said nothing. At the same time, the seats in the hall were already full, including the envoys from the Northern Frontier, who had already taken their seats in full view of everyone.

The Emperor and Empress appeared together with a sharp announcement.

"Everyone is here." This was the first time Gu Qing met the emperor. Although he was over fifty years old, the fierceness and vigor in his eyes remained, and his whole body exuded an imperial aura that made people dare not look directly at him.

The empress beside the emperor was wearing a queen's dress today, looking more dignified and noble than the last time they were seen. The two of them appeared in the hall together, and the Peony Terrace immediately became quiet.

The envoy from the Northern Frontier was the first to toast, and briefly asked about the princess's recent situation without saying anything else.

Gu Qing sneered in his heart, feeling more and more sad and helpless about Naiza's situation.

Mu Xin looked at Gu Qing's expression from the side and asked, "What's wrong? You're not interested right from the beginning?"

"Xin'er, you're joking. I just don't understand what your majesty said." Gu Qing and Mu Xin bowed their heads and died.

Mu Xin waved his hand and said, "No need to understand. We just need to eat and drink to our heart's content. This is all the emperor's business."

Gu Qing laughed: "Yes, it's all the emperor's business."

If the emperor did not value the Chen family and was afraid of Chen Zhizhou, how could he have killed hundreds of people in the Chen family after being framed by a traitor?

Thinking of this, Gu Qing hated the man who sat firmly on the throne of the court even more.

When everything is settled, she wants to find a quiet place and disappear early.

Gu Qing's thoughts drifted away, and the string music turned into the drum music of the vast grassland. Accompanied by the drum beats of the Northern Frontier musicians, the Northern Frontier Princess appeared wearing a veil and stepping to the drum beats.

The Northern Frontier Huxuan Dance was performed with vigorous movements and brisk rhythm. The masculinity and femininity were perfectly integrated in Naiza's body. Everyone in the hall felt as if they were in the scene, as if they were about to plunge into the grassland in the next moment.

Gu Qing couldn't help but be attracted by Naiza's dancing, which was different from others.

But she saw a hint of determination and stubbornness in her desire to sacrifice herself. Naiza was like a wrapped butterfly, struggling to death with the last bit of resistance even though she knew there was no hope of breaking out of the cocoon.

Gu Qing clenched her fists. This time she must save Chen Zhizhou.

The drums stopped abruptly, and when Naiza finished her dance, there was continuous applause in the hall. Even the old emperor's eyes showed a hint of affection.

Gu Qing sneered in his heart and felt that the Peony Terrace was more and more ridiculous.

The emperor's expression was nothing special.

"As expected of the Princess of Northern Frontier, this Huxuan dance is truly unrivaled in the world."

Naiza bowed to the envoy from the northern border, but ignored the queen's words. To her, she was still the stubborn and proud princess who never bowed her head for the hegemony of the world.

The Queen's face was embarrassed for a moment, but she concealed it well, showing the grace of a mother of the country, and continued: "Come, prepare a table for the princess."

The emperor's gaze fell on Naiza with a man's aggression.

He was very satisfied with the Queen's arrangements. Over the years, the Queen had been his best helper.

"The Hu Xuan dance of our Northern Frontier is powerful, energetic and beautiful. I wonder if Tianxuan can compare with it?" The envoy from the Northern Frontier deliberately found fault, hoping to save some face after his defeat.

Seeing them so blinded by their own ignorance, Gu Qing felt more and more sad and pitiful. The Northern Frontier was a wild and desolate land, and their Khan was now old and weak, and was no longer the overlord who could gallop across the grasslands and the Northern Frontier.

"Our dynasty is brimming with talent, and I imagine there are countless who can rival the Huxuan dance." The Fifth Prince stood up, raised his glass, and said with a smile, "How about I start a competition among all the beauties? I'll ask the Empress for a reward for the winner."

The Queen laughed and said, "Since the Fifth Prince has spoken, Bin'er, go and get my six phoenix hairpins."

After hearing these words, everyone at the table became excited. The six phoenix hairpins were the Queen's dowry when she married His Majesty.

Bin'er moved quickly and took out the hairpin and offered it to the women. The women's eyes lit up and the men were eager to try it.

Regardless of who can get the priceless jewelry, whoever gets the most will be appreciated by the emperor in the future.

Gu Qing's lips curled slightly, and looking from afar, she could see Gu Yunzhao's determined smile.

"Old Fifth, you have the most ideas." The emperor laughed and raised his hand: "Since that's the case, let's get started. Everyone, please share your talents."

"Yes." Everyone bowed.

Officials from the Imperial Household Department put up a sign on the spot, announcing that any woman who came to the banquet, regardless of age, and was willing to perform could participate.

So everyone, from the old Grand Tutor in the General's Mansion to the young girls who had just come of age, filled out the list.

The envoy from the Northern Frontier turned pale, knowing that Tianxuan was insulting them and that this was really too much!

Naiza's face was also not looking good. As a woman, she was nothing but duckweed in the face of national hatred and family resentment. She could not cause any waves and could not even walk out of the courtyard wall of the deep palace.

The more he thought about it, the more hateful he became. Naiza drank the wine in the glass in one gulp to drown his sorrows.

Behind her, Gu Miao was eager to make a move. She had to compete before Gu Qing in order to beat her.

So on the roster, she specifically gave some silver to the people from the Imperial Household Department to move her position forward.

Gu Qing glanced at the roster and a sneer flashed across his lips.

Just what she wanted.

When Gu Qing sat back down, Mu Xin smiled and asked, "Why are you so happy? What good things have you prepared?"

Gu Qing was helpless: "I have nothing and I don't know anything. I will just make a fool of myself."

Mu Xin shrugged: "Don't underestimate yourself. We Tianxuan people, even a child can surpass Beijiang."

The people from the Imperial Household Department collected the names of the people and arranged them to go on stage one by one according to the order.

The performances of the previous few people were wonderful but not amazing enough, but they were good enough to compare with the Hu Xuan dance in northern Xinjiang.