When Xu Jingxiu returned, he looked dejected. Wei Zhirou dared not voice her frustration, but she treated him with a rather indifferent attitude.

Unfortunately, Xu Jingxiu returned barely clinging to life, his spirits and energy completely gone, and he didn't notice Wei Zhirou's change.

Xu Jingxiu would not have shown up if it weren't for the fact that all officials had to attend the palace banquet.

Previously, the officials had not realized that Xu Jingxiu had connections with several families.

Later, when they learned that his former wife, whom he had mistreated, had become the emperor's favorite concubine, those families stopped associating with his family and only exchanged some New Year's gifts.

Once the news of Jiang Tian's pregnancy spread, the Xu family was completely ignored.

In truth, no one could fathom Yan Heng's meaning.

Xu Jingxiu's awkward identity is an eyesore no matter how you look at it.

Who would dare to go against the emperor?

After sitting on the sidelines for so many days, even though Xu Jingxiu had groomed himself and put on some new, shiny clothes, he still couldn't hide the restlessness in his eyes.

Needless to say, Wei Zhirou, as the general's legal wife, naturally wore heavy makeup to cover up the freckles that appeared on her face after she became pregnant, so as not to be looked down upon and to prove herself.

The two entered the palace banquet, and although they were already seated, no one greeted them.

Wei Zhirou felt rather uneasy.

In the past, at the border, although the place was bitterly cold and there was no fresh clothing or jewelry, Wei Zhirou was respected and fawned over by everyone.

She was so radiant then, but now she feels so uneasy.

What made them even more upset was yet to come.

The news that Yan Heng was bringing Jiang Tian to the palace banquet would not be communicated to the officials.

When the two men appeared in their finest attire, the officials were momentarily stunned, but quickly realized what was going on.

When an emperor hosts a banquet, he can bring his favorite concubine along, and no one dares to utter a word of dissent.

When Yan Heng told them to rise and sit down again, neither Xu Jingxiu nor Wei Zhirou said a word.

The air here seems to have frozen.

Although Xu Jingxiu was a third-rank general, there were many high-ranking officials in the capital, and he was not among them. Therefore, he was assigned a position at the back.

Jiang Tian happened to be sitting right in front of them.

If you want to see her, you have to look up.

Wei Zhirou could only see Jiang Tian's face by looking up at her.

She had almost crushed the handkerchief in her hand.

Xu Jingxiu reacted even more strongly than Wei Zhirou.

He suddenly understood what it meant to feel like he had fallen into an ice cave.

Actually, he still harbored a bit of wishful thinking, hoping that Jiang Tian might suddenly fall out of favor.

He will have a chance to make a comeback then.

But after waiting for a month, he received the news that Jiang Tian was pregnant.

Xu Jingxiu felt dizzy and disoriented. He stayed in his study and smashed everything he could.

Having finally managed to hide her true feelings and attend the palace banquet, she was surprised to find Jiang Tian there as well.

There was a long distance between them, as if she had become someone unreachable.

Xu Jingxiu's hands, hidden in his sleeves, trembled uncontrollably.

He appeared to be drinking, but in reality, he kept glancing at Jiang Tian's movements out of the corner of his eye.

Jiang Tian's seat was carefully arranged by Yan Heng.

He brought her here, firstly to show off her status, and secondly to keep her from getting bored.

At the beginning of the new year, Yan Heng couldn't help but feel sorry for her, leaving her to wait for him in the empty palace after the banquet.

That's why he ordered Jiang Tian to accompany him to the banquet.

As the daughter of an imperial censor, Jiang Tian was exceptionally well-versed in etiquette. While she often broke the rules during intimate moments, she was impeccably proper in formal settings.

Yan Heng kept glancing at her, and Jiang Tian inadvertently turned her head and met his gaze.

Yan Heng didn't avoid the question and continued to look at her.

Jiang Tian blinked innocently at him, then casually looked away.

Yan Heng: "..."