Xi Xizhi glanced down and saw at least twenty or thirty beauties sitting below, including Consort Hua and Consort Ning...
Many people witnessed An Honghan and Xi Xizhi's actions, but everyone wisely refrained from saying a word.
"Consort Hua, just look at this! His Majesty is embracing that girl in front of everyone. She's still young and can't cause any trouble now, but... it's hard to say what will happen in the future." Consort Ning gritted her teeth and secretly observed the scene on the high platform.
Such intimate actions, such an inseparable distance...
None of the women in their harem had ever been able to get so close to His Majesty...
Consort Hua noticed it from the beginning, but she didn't expect that even after she warned that person, that person still didn't restrain himself at all and actually got closer and closer to His Majesty.
Consort Hua was a shrewd woman. She maintained a calm demeanor and seemed to be advising her, "Consort Ning, she's just a child. How can we argue with a child? Aren't we afraid of losing our dignity?"
Even if they wanted to punish the other party, they couldn't make it so obvious.
The princesses' seats were not far from those of the concubines. Since An Ruoyan's death, the previously unknown Fourteenth Princess had gradually become the Emperor's favorite. Not only did she frequently receive gifts from the Emperor, but she also became the head of all the princesses. The princesses who used to oppose her at every turn all curried favor with her and sided with her.
An Yunyi happened to overhear the conversation between Consort Hua and Consort Ning, and followed their gaze to the ninth-tiered platform.
She first met that girl at the Imperial Tutor's Academy, but for some reason, the girl never went there again after that one visit.
There have been many rumors about Xi Xizhi lately, but no one can guess whether they are true or false.
Looking at a girl with no connection to the royal family, leaning against her elder brother's lap, An Yunyi felt a growing sense of jealousy. She had done so much to gain her brother's attention, and just when she thought she had everything, another obstacle appeared at the crucial moment.
She finally understood the way An Ruoyan used to look at her, as if she were a thorn in her side.
Xi Xizhi's clear, innocent eyes would glance at An Honghan for a moment, then at the ministers seated below.
Although it was An Honghan's birthday, few people dared to laugh out loud, or rather, even if they did laugh, it was a forced smile, a purely feigned expression.
"Is this how you always celebrate your birthday?" This banquet seems no different from before. Doesn't An Honghan find it boring?
"This banquet was relatively good." Trying to recall his previous birthdays, An Honghan held Xi Xizhi's small hand and played with it. "Before I ascended the throne, my birthdays were all about the secret competition between the princes. Since I ascended the throne, I have finally had some free time, but occasionally a few assassins would still sneak out to add to the festivities of the banquet."
Xi Xizhi's heart skipped a beat. Why did An Honghan talk about such a dangerous thing in such a nonchalant tone?
I felt a little sorry for An Honghan. Although he held a very high position, he had to be wary of others every day. Even on his birthday, which should have been a happy occasion, he had to be careful to avoid anyone who might harm him.
"Stop looking at me with pity." An Honghan put his hand in front of Xi Xizhi's eyes. "I don't need anyone's pity. I've weathered so many storms, do you think I'm afraid of a few assassins?"
"It's not sympathy."
...It's heartache.
Xi Xizhi raised her small hand, sighed, and patted An Honghan's shoulder, "I will celebrate your birthday with you from now on."
As if making a promise, Xi Xizhi slowly uttered these words, and at this moment, even Xi Xizhi herself did not understand why she said them.
"You said those words. If you go back on your word, I will not let you off lightly." An Honghan's lips curled into a playful smile, as if he had come up with a plan.
It felt like being held down by a tiger's claws and toyed with at will.
Xi Xizhi shrank back in fright, thinking to herself, An Honghan never smiles normally, so his smile now must mean he has a wicked plan!
"Am I that scary?" An Honghan asked in a deep voice as he noticed the child shrinking his head away every now and then.
Xi Xizhi quickly shook her head, her little head bobbing like a rattle-drum.
Of course, this was a reluctant action. You're not just scary, you're absolutely terrifying! Even demons and monsters would avoid you, let alone this little mink.
An Honghan didn't care too much about it; anyway, it was quite beneficial for the child to be afraid of him.
Beautiful traditional Chinese music filled the air as everyone clinked glasses and drank.
Every now and then, several people would come up to offer An Honghan drinks, but An Honghan would drink one cup after another, as if he were drinking water rather than wine.
Looking at his expressionless face, Xi Xizhi thought to herself, "An Honghan's alcohol tolerance is amazing. He's drunk so many cups of wine and he's not even a little tipsy."
An Honghan's embrace of Xi Xizhi attracted much attention, and many people whispered about her. Who had ever been so close to An Honghan before? Even a favored concubine might not have been allowed to sit in his arms.
"Your Majesty, I have a gift that I would like to present to you in front of everyone. Please take a look." A middle-aged man stepped out from the crowd. He was wearing a dark green court robe and, judging from his appearance, he belonged to a civil official.
Xi Xizhi glanced at it carefully. If someone dared to present a gift in front of everyone, it must be a top-notch treasure. Sitting upright, Xi Xizhi stared down, waiting for that person to speak.
An Honghan had no interest whatsoever, because with so many people coming to present gifts, it was rare to see anything new or interesting.
This minister was Fan Yi, who was also Consort Ning's father.
"I heard a few days ago that Your Majesty had lost your beloved pet Phoenix Cloud Sable, so I sent many people to search for it. Heaven rewards those who persevere, and yesterday I finally received news of the Phoenix Cloud Sable and brought it back." Fan Yi spoke with great pride, because he was not the only minister who went to search for the Phoenix Cloud Sable; there were many others.
Many people turned their attention to Fan Yi, some of them surprised, and asked, "Found it? All the people we sent out didn't have a single clue. Where did you find it, Lord Fan?"
Fan Yi's words immediately caught the attention of Xi Xizhi and An Honghan. Xi Xizhi's previously nonchalant expression turned serious.
Your Majesty's Phoenix Cloud Sable?
Wasn't she sitting in An Honghan's lap? How did they find her?!
Xi Xizhi gritted her teeth, cursing inwardly, "Does she not even need to think before she lies?!"
She didn't go anywhere, and she certainly didn't disappear.
An Honghan remained calm and gently patted Xi Xizhi's back, "Let's take a look first..."
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