Extra 8 Celebration Banquet
The pair of usually cold and hard Ruifeng eyes softened a little, "This child's eyebrows and eyes are very similar to the Empress's."
Song Lingyi smiled: "Brother actually said the same thing as Master Pei."
Hearing this, Lu Qian's slightly raised lips immediately turned down, and he sat down on the crescent stool next to him. "You know that he and I have a bad relationship, so don't disgust me."
Hong Ju brought over a cup of hot tea, her voice filled with joy: "General and Master Pei haven't seen each other for so many years, why do they still act like enemies?"
"Don't flatter him." Lu Qian took a sip of hot tea, a hint of arrogance between his brows. "He's still a little short of being my enemy."
The master and servant smiled at each other. The subtle estrangement that had lasted for three years melted away in this familiar conversation.
Song Lingyi stood up from the couch and handed the little princess to Lu Qian. "Hurry up and hug your niece. You just returned to the capital and haven't had a good time with her yet."
Before Lu Qian could react, the soft ball had already fallen into his arms, the big round eyes looking up at him, and the rattle was shaking loudly.
“…”
In the middle of the year, Lu Qian learned that Song Lingyi had given birth to a daughter. Apart from worrying about her health, he did not have much feeling for the little girl. After all, she was the daughter of his rival in love. He was not broad-minded enough and could not love her as well as the whole family.
But when he saw this little girl today, whose features resembled Song Lingyi's, his thoughts changed. Especially when those big, twinkling eyes looked at him, it reminded him of the day they first met in the carriage four years ago.
"What's her name?" Lu Qian asked casually.
In fact, it was mentioned in the letter sent from Kyoto, but he forgot it after reading it.
"Fuyan." Song Lingyi smiled slightly.
Perhaps it was because Lu Qian's embrace was too cold and hard. The little princess could play with the rattle quietly at first, but after a while she became restless and twisted her body, babbling and asking her mother to hold her.
The noise wasn't loud, but it was enough to make Lu Qian nervous and break out in a sweat.
Song Lingyi quickly picked up the little princess and coaxed her for a while, then said calmly, "Since my brother has returned to the capital, you should stay home and accompany your grandmother. She always misses you. And A-yu, she has been engaged in the middle of the year and will be getting married after the New Year..."
Listening to Song Lingyi's chatter, Lu Qian's heart warmed, but his words were still as incoherent as before:
"I haven't seen you for a few years. Why have you become so nagging?"
“…”
The voice stopped abruptly, and Song Lingyi's eyes fixed.
"What are you talking about? You haven't been back to Beijing for a long time, so I just wanted to chat with you more."
"Then what?"
Lu Qian looked at her expressionlessly. His incoherent words made Song Lingyi stunned for a moment. She blinked her eyelashes slowly a few times, and then realized what he meant. She handed the little princess in her arms to Hongju and dismissed the serving palace maids.
The candlelight in the hall was dim.
Song Lingyi sat upright on the soft couch, with a very familiar carved wooden box placed on the table beside her.
"I've seen what's inside, but I can't accept it." Her eyes were calm and her voice was gentle. "Brother, you've made great military achievements. I don't know how many dignitaries in Kyoto would like to marry you. You should think more about your own life."
Lu Qian is the only son in the Duke's Mansion, and the huge family business needs to be inherited. She can't give a response, but she can't delay him for the rest of his life.
The candlelight danced in the man's light-colored pupils. His expression was decadent yet romantic. "What are you thinking about? Youzhou has just been settled, and the foreign invaders are still harboring evil intentions. As a general, I will have to go to the battlefield sooner or later. If any noble lady marries me, she might become a widow one day——"
"Pooh, pooh, pooh."
Song Lingyi squinted at him and said, "Today is your celebration party, and you don't have any auspicious words to say."
Lu Qian smiled nonchalantly, his brows revealing an insolent spirit: "You know today is my celebration party, but you still say things I don't like to hear. Who asked you to persuade me? Mother, or grandmother?"
"You are already twenty-one, and Ayu is getting married next year. You can't always ignore the important matter of marriage," said Song Lingyi.
In the past few years, every time her aunt came to the palace to visit her, she would talk about the marriage of her two children, and she couldn't help but worry.
"stop."
Lu Qian raised his hand, frowned, and said, "This sounds so familiar. It must be your mother nagging you about these things. I'm only twenty-one, not thirty-one. Why should I be so anxious?"
Being urged to get married by the elders in the mansion was annoying enough, and he didn't want to hear these words again after entering the palace.
"If you don't want that wooden box, just throw it away. Don't give it back to me. Once I give something away and say something, there's no way I can take it back."
After saying that, Lu Qian bowed and turned to leave the side hall.
…
The lights in the Linde Hall were on, and a group of officials and their wives took their seats one by one.
Soon after Lu Qian sat down, many officials came over to greet him. After he had finally dealt with them, Pei Zhao, who was sitting next to him, raised his glass and said with a faint smile, "Today is General Lu's celebration banquet. It's my turn to toast you."
To be fair, Lu Qian didn't want to live in harmony with this guy, but the elders of both families were watching. If he showed his displeasure in public, he would have to listen to his parents' nagging when he returned.
Bang--
The glasses clinked.
Lu Qian raised his head and drank the wine, with the cup facing downwards, and said calmly: "It's not like we can have a drink together, so Master Pei, there's no need to be so polite. Oh... I forgot, Master Pei is a well-known gentle gentleman. Even if you don't like someone, you can never find fault with his way of dealing with others. In this regard, I really need to learn from you."
Pei Zhao listened to the indirect accusation of hypocrisy without changing his expression. "There are few people in this world who follow their own will as General Lu. I have been studying calligraphy and etiquette at Wenlushan Academy since I was young. There are many rules and regulations there, and they restrict people's words and actions. Over time, I developed the habits I have today."
Meeting those dark, deep, auspicious phoenix eyes, Pei Zhao curled his lips calmly, "If General Lu is truly interested in learning, I can write a letter of recommendation. Although you're a little behind in age, you have a good understanding, so it shouldn't be difficult to teach you."
“…”
The atmosphere was silent for a moment.
Lu Qian suddenly chuckled twice, his eyes wild and arrogant, "That's right, it's easy to dodge an open spear, but it's hard to guard against an arrow from the dark. Master Pei, if you're too polite, I'm actually a little scared."
As soon as he finished speaking, the eunuch's long voice rang out in the hall: "Your Majesty has arrived, and the Empress has arrived."
Everyone in the hall was solemn and stood up to bow and kowtow:
"Your Majesty, and Your Majesty the Queen."
An overwhelming amount of greetings rang out in the bright and magnificent hall. Soon, the emperor and empress entered the hall hand in hand.
Until a voice came from the high platform: "Gentlemen, please stand up."
After all the ministers and their wives thanked him in unison, they stood up and sat down.
Before the banquet begins, the emperor must first say a prayer, and everyone raises their glasses and looks at the emperor and empress on the platform.
Xiao Mingyi was dressed in a crimson brocade robe with a dragon pattern, which looked like jade and gold, and he exuded a noble aura; while Song Lingyi, who was standing beside him, had changed into a more gorgeous phoenix robe and pearl crown, and her every move showed her dignity and grace.
As for the little princess, she had been taken back to Yongning Palace by her wet nurse to sleep.
"Tonight is General Lu's celebration banquet. The foreign tribes were fierce, but General Lu led 800 troops to raid the enemy camp and defeated the enemy. It is a blessing for Dayuan to have such courage and bravery. I am deeply pleased to have such a good minister." Xiao Mingyi raised his glass and said.
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I am honored." Lu Qian collected his thoughts.
After the king and his ministers finished their words, they drank up the wine in their cups.
The banquet officially began. The sound of stringed instruments and orchestral music filled the air, and dancers filed in, their colorful skirts fluttering. The magnificent hall was filled with the sounds of clinking glasses and laughter.
The candlelight on the platform is shining brightly.
Just as Song Lingyi picked up the wine glass on the table, a hand reached out from the side and clinked glasses with hers.
She tilted her head slightly, her gaze moving from the small wine glass held between her slender fingers to the man's handsome face.
"I heard that before the banquet started, Ali met Lu Qian in a side hall?" Xiao Mingyi said casually.
Knowing full well that men are prone to jealousy, Song Lingyi didn't respond immediately. She raised her wine glass and took a sip before saying, "Brother just returned to Kyoto and hasn't met Yan'er yet. It's important for uncle and nephew to meet, right?"
Those deep, narrow eyes looked at her without saying a word.
"Besides, my aunt was nagging me about my brother's marriage a while ago. He's wild and unruly to begin with, and after spending a few years in the military camp, I'm afraid he's even harder to listen to advice. I met with him today to persuade him to consider marriage."
Xiao Mingyi showed a subtle expression of "this is more like it" and chuckled: "If the Duke's wife is really that worried, why don't I arrange a marriage for Lu Qian? It's both respectable and he won't be afraid of rejecting it."
By the way, I'll also grant Pei Zhao a marriage, so that these two won't be obsessed with their old relationship and delay getting married.
Song Lingyi glanced at him and said, "Goodbye. I'm afraid he'll get wind of it and leave Kyoto to hide again."
It is said that what you cannot get will always make you restless. How come this man is still so scheming even after marrying her?
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