Chapter 38: King of Beining

No wonder Lu Lang is so obsessed with high positions and generous salaries. It turns out that power is such an addictive thing.

Xu Miaoyan first experienced the transcendent feeling that power brought her. As she walked, she observed the female official in front of her. She had light makeup but delicate features. Although her hair was tied in a crown without any extra decorations, she looked very noble, unlike the ordinary women with jingling jewelry.

She was not very clear about the rank of this female official, but she was very clear that she liked this feeling of being superior. After all, she was different from those materialistic and vulgar women.

Thinking of this, she felt that the scarlet brocade robe she was wearing was a bit of a hindrance. With her looks and aura, why did she need these vulgar things? These were all bad ideas that Chen had come up with. "Natural and unadorned" was more suitable for her.

"Empress Dowager, Lord Xu is here." The female official led her into the hall and quickly stepped forward to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager.

"Greetings, Queen Mother." Xu Miaoyan knelt down and bowed.

"Miao Yan, you're here." When the two of them entered the hall, Empress Dowager Liu waved her hand and said, "The banquet won't start soon. Come here first. I will take you to see someone. This is the Nineteenth Prince."

Xu Miaoyan slowly raised her head and saw a man in a dark gold-painted brocade robe standing beside the empress dowager.

Xu Miaoyan's heartbeat slowed down a beat.

King Xiao Mingzhe of Beining?

The man was tall, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. He had a handsome but cold face. When he raised his eyelashes, his disdainful eyes seemed to be able to knock people away.

Xu Miaoyan didn't dare to look any further, so she called out, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

The face of Lu Changqing appeared in her mind. They were about the same age and both were handsome, but in comparison, Lu Changqing was much inferior.

When she was in Jiangning, she came into contact with men from all walks of life, so when she saw the Lu brothers from the capital, she was attracted by their elegant demeanor. Now that she has met the King of Beining, she knows what the difference is.

The sense of oppression from the royal family made him naturally mysterious and noble, and coupled with the muscular lines hidden under his robes, these were things that Lu Changqing could not compare to.

Xu Miaoyan felt a little regretful.

Xiao Mingzhe did not respond. He glanced at the kneeling woman and then looked away.

"That Qilin beast was brought back from the Western Regions by the King of Beining," Empress Dowager Liu said cheerfully, "You don't know, a few days ago the Qilin went crazy and killed a trainer. I was afraid that something might happen again at today's banquet, so I asked Zhe'er to protect you. You see, he is so ferocious that even the Qilin is afraid of him."

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Xu Miaoyan said, and then looked at King Beining shyly.

The Queen Mother asked Prince Beining to protect her. Does that mean that the two of them will go together to tame the Qilin later?

Thinking of this, she felt relieved instantly and a little excited.

"No need to thank me," Xiao Mingzhe frowned, "You are the protagonist today. I will just watch from the side and prevent Qilin from killing you. As for whether you are injured or disabled, I am not responsible."

Xu Miaoyan felt a chill in her heart and lowered her head in grievance: "Yes."

"Zhe'er!" the Queen Mother said angrily, "Why do you have to scare a little girl like her? Miaoyan is timid to begin with. If you scare her again, what if she falls ill like last time? What should we do?"

Xiao Mingzhe said impatiently: "It's getting late, if you want to tame the Qilin, go now."

"He Qiong," the Queen Mother called to the female official beside her, "Take the Nineteenth Prince and Miao Yan to the Imperial Garden to see the Qilin beast. I will be there soon."

"Yes." The red-robed female official bowed her head and responded, and said to the two of them, "Your Majesty, Lord Xu, please follow me."

Fengqi Palace.

"Your humble servant greets the Queen Mother and the Prime Minister!" Lu Changqing knelt at the bottom of the stairs.

The beauty behind the pearl curtain smiled softly, and her voice like broken jade rang out: "Master Lu, please stand up. Why didn't Miao Yan come with you?"

"Miao Yan went to Shou'an Palace first. The Queen Mother asked her to tame the Qilin beast," Lu Changqing said, "Does the Queen Mother have anything to say to her?"

Empress Yang's face changed, and she exchanged glances with her brother at the bottom of the stairs. The latter then said, "I heard that the Lu family owed Jinxiuzhai several thousand taels of silver, and even had to sell the ancestral home. Lord Lu, is this true?"

Lu Changqing bit his lip and remained silent.

It’s true that good news never travels far, but bad news travels far and wide!

Prime Minister Yang continued, "I also heard that a few days ago, Xu was bitten by two white cranes that were summoned, and even Lord Lu was seriously injured. Looking at the hat on your head... is it true?"

"This is all an accident!" Lu Changqing hurriedly cupped his hands and explained, "Miao Yan was too tired that day, and the two white cranes suddenly went crazy for some reason. It was all an accident!"

"Don't be so nervous." Empress Yang opened her red lips and said, "I know."