Chapter 26 Under the Emperor's Favor

The banquet was in full swing, with pleasant music playing and clinking glasses. Su Luoxue sat beside Yuwen Che, feeling the awe and envy in the eyes of those around her, and the warm glow of the charcoal fire in front of and behind her. Although she felt a little uncomfortable with the grand occasion, she felt more of a sense of happiness from being cherished.

Just then, Yuwen Che turned his head and grasped her hand tightly. He gave her a slightly mysterious smile, then nodded slightly to Li Dehai, who was standing to the side.

Li Dehai understood and immediately bowed and withdrew. A moment later, amidst the puzzled gazes of the crowd, he led the three into the grand hall where the powerful and wealthy gathered.

When those three all-too-familiar faces came into view, Su Luoxue's smile froze instantly, replaced by incredulous shock. She abruptly stood up, the movement so forceful that she knocked over the wine glass in front of her.

The visitors were her father, Su Wenyuan, her mother, Liu, and her elder brother, Su Jingxing!

It was clear that this was the first time the three of them had stepped into such a solemn palace banquet. Although they were dressed in new clothes that were as dignified and appropriate as possible, their brows still betrayed their unease and nervousness. Su Wenyuan and Madam Liu, in particular, cautiously scanned the hall full of nobles in their crimson robes, unsure of what to do with their hands.

According to palace rules, commoner merchants without official rank were absolutely not qualified to attend a palace banquet of this caliber. Yet now, not only were they allowed in, but Li Dehai had also led them directly to the very head of the table—beside the thrones of the Emperor and Consort Chen!

This scene not only stunned Su Luoxue, but also rendered all the nobles, officials, and their families present utterly silent! Countless gazes focused on the three members of the Su family, filled with inquiry, astonishment, and even a complex, indescribable emotion. His Majesty's actions had utterly broken ancestral rules, elevating Consort Chen's family to an unprecedented level!

"Father... Mother... Brother..." Su Luoxue murmured, her eyes instantly reddening. She had been in the palace for half a year, and although she was deeply favored, the palace was lonely, and her longing for her family had never ceased. She never imagined that she would see her loved ones in this way at her birthday banquet.

She instinctively turned to look at Yuwen Che, her eyes filled with questioning and excitement: "A-Che...you...this is..."

Yuwen Che had already stood up with her, and seeing her reaction, his eyes were full of tenderness and a triumphant smile. He reached out and firmly grasped her slightly trembling hand, leading her down the steps to personally greet her parents and brothers.

This gesture shocked everyone present! The emperor himself descended the steps to greet a subject, who wasn't even a formal subject—what an honor!

"Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, Jingxing, no need for formalities." Yuwen Che spoke first before the three members of the Su family were about to kneel in fear. His tone was calm and showed a hint of respect from a junior to an elder. This respect stemmed from Su Luoxue. "Today is Xue'er's birthday. I thought she must miss her family, so I invited you to the palace for a gathering. Consider it a family banquet, so there's no need to be reserved."

His use of the phrase "father-in-law and mother-in-law" was like a thunderbolt, leaving everyone stunned and speechless. This was practically a public acknowledgment of the Su family's status as the emperor's in-laws!

Su Wenyuan and Lady Liu were so moved that tears streamed down their faces. They immediately tried to kneel and thank the Emperor for his grace, but Yuwen Che gestured for Li Dehai to help them up. Su Jingxing was relatively calmer, but he also bowed deeply, his voice trembling slightly: "This humble subject... kowtows to thank Your Majesty for your divine grace!"

Yuwen Che patted Su Jingxing on the shoulder as encouragement, then, still in shock and ecstasy, led the Su family to seats specially prepared next to the throne. These seats, adjacent to the Empress, held a level of prestige even surpassing that of the princes present!

Looking at her parents and brothers beside her, and then at Yuwen Che with his gentle smile, Su Luoxue finally couldn't hold back her tears. She gripped his hand tightly, a thousand words stuck in her chest, finally turning into a soft, nasal complaint: "You... why didn't you tell me beforehand..."

Yuwen Che chuckled and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "If I told you beforehand, what kind of surprise is that?"

At this moment, palace rules and etiquette, and the criticisms of court officials, were all unimportant to Yuwen Che. He only wanted to give his Xue'er the most perfect and happiest birthday. He wanted her family to witness her glory, and for her to know that with him, she could have all the good things in the world. This birthday banquet, because of the arrival of the Su family, truly became Su Luoxue's "family banquet," and it also made everyone more clearly aware of the true weight that Consort Chen, Su Luoxue, held in His Majesty's heart.

Yuwen Che helped Su Luoxue, who was still trembling slightly from excitement, to sit down again. Her gaze remained fixed on her parents and brothers beside her, as if afraid they would disappear in the blink of an eye. Tears streamed down her face like a broken string of pearls, impossible to wipe away; they were tears of joy and longing intertwined.

Just as everyone in the hall was still reeling from the shock of His Majesty personally descending the steps to welcome the "Yue family," Yuwen Che's next words struck like a thunderbolt from the heavens, leaving everyone utterly stunned.

He took Su Luoxue's hand as if no one else was around, his fingertips gently stroking the back of her hand, his voice so tender it could melt water, clearly echoing throughout the silent hall:

"Xue'er, don't cry. I promise you, from now on... your parents will be allowed to enter the palace one day each month to visit you and talk to you. Is that alright?"

Entering the palace once a month?!

This...this is simply unheard of! Throughout history, what rule has ever allowed the families of imperial concubines to visit the palace regularly? Even for the Empress, there were strict restrictions on the number of times her maternal relatives could enter the palace! This is not a favor from His Majesty; it's practically trampling palace rules underfoot and making an unprecedented exception for Consort Chen!

Even Su Luoxue herself was so shocked that she forgot to cry. Her tearful eyes widened as she stared at Yuwen Che in disbelief. She could see her parents every month? This... this really is possible? The overwhelming surprise left her dizzy and speechless for a moment.

Looking at her silly expression, Yuwen Che felt even more affection for her. He raised his hand and gently wiped away the tears on her cheeks with his fingertips, as if handling a rare treasure. Then, he simply pulled her into his arms and let her lean on his shoulder, completely disregarding the solemnity of the occasion and the many eyes watching below.

He chuckled softly, speaking in a tone filled with endless doting and teasing, his voice not loud, but so clear that those nearby could hear him clearly in the quiet of the hall:

"Look at her, she's so grown up, yet she's still like a child, crying at the drop of a hat. I'm starting to feel more and more like I didn't just bestow upon her the title of Imperial Concubine, but rather upon her a spoiled little princess who needs to be pampered and coaxed every day."

The words "proud little princess," filled with affectionate teasing and indulgence, struck Su Luoxue's heart like the sweetest arrow, shattering the last psychological defenses of everyone present.

His Majesty... he actually described Consort Chen in such a way at such a formal palace banquet, in front of all the civil and military officials and the concubines of the harem! This is no longer just simple pampering; it's treating her like a precious darling who needs to be spoiled, allowed to be willful, and must be protected!

Su Luoxue burst into laughter through her tears at his words, feeling both shy and embarrassed. She couldn't help but bury her burning cheeks deeper into his neck, gently punching his chest with her small hand, and protesting softly, "You...you're the one who's being arrogant..."

Her coquettish demeanor, seen by everyone, only solidified her reputation as a "proud and spoiled princess." Everyone understood that in the Great Zhou palace, and indeed throughout the entire realm, Consort Chen, Su Luoxue, was His Majesty Yuwen Che's unique exception, a "princess" to whom he was willing to break all rules to pamper. Rank, rules—all seemed pale and powerless before His Majesty's affection for her.

Seeing their daughter so cherished and cared for by His Majesty, Su Wenyuan and Lady Liu were moved to tears, their last trace of worry vanishing. The others in the prince's entourage, however, were filled with extreme shock and envy, their understanding of the meaning of "Imperial Favor" being redefined once again. This Consort Chen must have saved the world in her past life to deserve such good fortune in this one.