Chapter 456: King Rui (6)

His face was covered with a half silver mask.

The mask began at the forehead and ended at the tip of the nose, yet because it fitted the features perfectly, it displayed remarkably smooth lines. One could see the high bridge of the nose, the eyes shaped like objects in a scroll, even a casual glance conveying a thousand emotions, the exposed chin graceful, the lips thin and rosy, even tightly closed, as if a silent invitation.

Everyone was silent.

The young man was clearly wearing a mask, obscuring his features, yet he possessed a captivating power. Everyone stared at his face, unblinking. The silver mask shone with an icy light, giving off a chilling feeling. However, his eyes, dark and bright, seemed to hold a playful smile, a touch of frivolity and indifference, making it hard to tell whether they were warm or cold.

He is a young man who is as bright as the sun and can attract everyone's attention.

He sat down in the VIP seat, his every move elegant and dignified. In contrast, Huangfu Hao, who had been well-mannered just now, seemed as rude as a boor. Princess Ming'an, who was beside Huangfu Hao, had already been staring at him in a daze.

Emperor Wenhui laughed heartily and looked at Prince Rui, saying, "Prince Rui is not feeling well today, so why did you come to the tribute banquet? This really surprised my ministers."

Prince Rui nodded to Emperor Wenhui, his attitude somewhat casual and lazy, and said, "I suddenly felt interested again, so I came here."

His voice was pleasant, deep and magnetic, making the girls present blush slightly. But his words were utterly disrespectful and impertinent. Ming Qi's tribute banquet was a major event, but in Prince Rui's words, it was like an ordinary family banquet—come and go as they pleased. He was truly arrogant.

Ming Qi's ministers were all furious but dared not speak out. Even Emperor Wenhui didn't dare to say anything, so what could they do? This Prince Rui of Daliang followed a similar style to Emperor Yongle: unbridled yet imposing.

Emperor Wenhui really did not pursue the matter any further and allowed his ministers to continue eating and drinking, obviously intending to put the matter behind them.

Luo Tan ate the cakes at the banquet while whispering to Shen Miao, "This His Royal Highness Prince Rui is truly bold. He actually dares to speak to the Emperor in this way. Isn't he afraid that the Emperor will punish him?"

"What crime?" Feng An Ning curled his lips upon hearing this. "He's the Prince Rui of the Great Liang Dynasty. People from the Great Liang Dynasty are merely guests of Ming Qi. Whatever a guest does is right." Although Feng An Ning spoke in a low, vague voice, he didn't dare to be too explicit. After all, this was within the palace. If someone with ulterior motives overheard him, who knew what the consequences would be.

"I've never heard of this King Rui before." Luo Tan held his chin and said, "He looks like a handsome man. I really want to see what he looks like under the mask." Luo Tan liked handsome men the most. When he saw this King Rui, his eyes were almost glued to him.

"Maybe there's an ugly monster under the mask." Feng Anning poured cold water on her: "Otherwise, why would you wear a mask?"

“I bet he’s a rare handsome man in the world.” Luo Tan nudged Shen Miao: “Otherwise, little cousin, tell me, what kind of person do you think this King Rui is?”

Shen Miao didn't even raise her head: "I don't know."

"Tell me," Luo Tan insisted. "Guess who's more beautiful: this masked Prince Rui or the young marquis of the Xie family, who once dazzled the capital?"

Shen Miao had not expected that Luo Tan would actually describe Xie Jing Xing as "the most stunning beauty in the capital". She was drinking tea when a mouthful of it got stuck in her throat and she coughed violently twice, scaring Luo Tan and Feng An Ning so much that they quickly covered her mouth to avoid being rude.

However, the movement was a bit too loud after all, and some people who were close by looked over. Shen Miao wiped the corner of her mouth to cover it up, but in the blink of an eye she saw a pair of eyes.

The masked man in the VIP seat tilted his head slightly, and it was unclear whether it was real or an illusion, his eyes stayed on her for a moment, then moved away.

His eyes were quite playful.