Chapter 328 Whatever you say is right
The defeat in the war on the front line did not affect the mood of Tianqi people for the New Year.
This year's palace banquet was even more luxurious than before.
The heavy gold and silver were all turned into golden nanmu tables and chairs, and each table was placed with bowls and chopsticks, shining brightly.
The musicians played music, the dancers danced gracefully, and the civil and military officials entered the venue one after another, wearing court robes and solemn and dignified.
The foreign envoys all wore their own country's costumes and bowed politely.
The emperor walked slowly with the queen and sat on the high seat. Behind him was a screen with dragons and phoenixes carved on it, surrounded by clouds and mist.
The ministers took their seats in order according to their rank.
Jiang Zhiyu and He Yanting were the only ones who were different. The emperor ordered people to prepare seats for them beside the crown prince.
Although they were separated, they looked like a table for three people because they were side by side.
Jiang Zhiyu sat in the middle and chuckled softly:
[What a beautiful scenery line in the crowd. ]
A few people who could hear his inner voice: "..."
For such a grand occasion as a palace banquet, the queen mother would naturally be there. She came earlier than the emperor, and Song Shiwei stood beside her to serve.
This was the first time that Song Shiwei was in such a front position, but she played the role of a palace maid.
While serving the queen mother, she stared at Jiang Zhiyu's back and gritted her teeth secretly.
Prince Yu sat below the emperor. Although there was no strange smell on his body, everyone couldn't help but sit a little further away.
It is said that when the assassin attacked, Prince Yu was hiding in the woods, but he fell into a hole in the ground. No one knew who dug it, but it was full of animal excrement, and it was very fresh, and Prince Yu was covered with it.
When the assassin saw Prince Yu in this state, he hesitated to assassinate him, and was captured alive.
Although Prince Yu had bathed many times and there was no smell on his body, everyone looked at him with some disgust.
In their eyes, Prince Yu now looked stinky.
Prince Yu could naturally feel the gazes surrounding him. He picked up the wine glass and frowned quietly.
You are disgusted, but after today, you will all come to kneel and beg me.
Across the crowd, Prince Yu's eyes met Erzhu Huaji's, and both of them saw in each other's eyes that they were determined to win.
Their eyes met for only a moment, and the emperor above was already holding up a wine glass and giving a congratulatory speech. After he finished speaking, everyone drank a glass of wine and began to echo him.
Xiao Siyuan's eyes were red, and he looked at Xiao Qingwu and the third assistant minister sitting upright, clenching his fists tightly.
The fourth prince also received the emperor's grace today and was able to go out of the house to attend the palace banquet. He kept reminding himself in his heart to perform well, but after less than a cup of tea, his eyes were on the palace maid next to him.
Everyone had different thoughts. During the entire palace banquet, Jiang Zhiyu was probably the only one who was concentrating on eating.
He Yanting listened to her thoughts and fed her food when she mentioned delicious dishes.
Seeing her eating and drinking, He Yanting's irritability miraculously decreased a little.
While she was eating, envoys from various countries kept presenting treasures, and there were noisy sounds in her ears, but suddenly, the sounds seemed to disappear in an instant.
Jiang Zhiyu looked up curiously and saw a young woman standing in the middle of the hall. She was dressed very coolly and had a pair of soft eyes, looking in her direction.
"It's Princess Toya of Junggar," He Yanting knew she wasn't listening, so he continued to pick up food for her while explaining, "In Junggar's words, Toya means glory. They hope that Princess Toya can marry the prince and bring glory to Junggar."
[Oh~ This is the princess. ]
Xiao Lingyu: "!!!"
He still remembered Jiang Zhiyu's words, so this is the princess who killed him with a cup of poisoned wine? !
His eyes met Toya's, and Toya thought he was interested in her, so her eyes became more seductive.
Xiao Lingyu: "..." The
messenger was still chattering, and the emperor listened patiently at the beginning, but gradually, there was a bit of impatience in his eyes.
"Okay," the emperor interrupted the Junggar envoy, "For matters of marriage, we still need to listen to the opinions of both parties. Lingyu, what do you think?"
Toya's lips curled up. She didn't think anyone would reject her.
The emperor called her name, and Xiao Lingyu stood up and bowed to the emperor, "Father, let's forget about this matter."
Toya's smile froze on her face, and the emperor's eyes narrowed slightly.
Junggar sent the princess here, and its sincerity in the marriage was obvious. This matter was very beneficial to Tianqi. In addition, the prince had reached the right age to marry, and it would be a good thing if it could be promoted.
The emperor was a little embarrassed by the prince's straightforward refusal.
"Why?"
The emperor said in a calm voice, and the others looked at Xiao Lingyu curiously.
Xiao Lingyu paused for a few seconds, then suddenly tilted his head and said, "Father, I already have someone I like."
Combined with his eyes, it was obvious who that person was.
The emperor's eyes suddenly became unfathomable, and the others also looked thoughtful.
Toya's eyes also moved from Xiao Lingyu to Jiang Zhiyu.
In silence, with a "pop" sound, everyone's eyes moved over, and they saw He Yanting wiping his hands lightly, with broken pieces of a wine glass next to him.
"My hand slipped."
He said softly.
Jiang Zhiyu saw that he was not injured and retracted his gaze.
[Using me as a shield? γ
Xiao Lingyu: "..."
He sat down and took out a bulging purse, and pushed it in front of Jiang Zhiyu: "Sorry, I was in a hurry, I will explain later."
Jiang Zhiyu: "..."
She put the money away.
γIt doesn't matter, just give me the money, whatever you say is right. γ
He Yanting: "..."
He took a few deep breaths and gritted his teeth.
The emperor naturally heard the shield, but it was not appropriate to say such things at the banquet. He suppressed his anger and smiled to smooth things over: "Although we cannot become relatives, we can still be friends. The princess will stay in Tianqi and choose another suitable son-in-law."
Although the Junggar envoy and Toya were unwilling, they could only respond and return to their seats.
Both of them had calm faces.
This episode passed quickly, and the banquet returned to a happy atmosphere.
The queen looked at Xiao Lingyu, her eyes full of hatred for him not fighting.
The useless things and tools for fighting for power were personally handed to her by the emperor, but she didn't know how to take them!
Such a person, what can he achieve!
How could she give birth to such a useless thing!
She was angry and drank several glasses of wine in succession.
Time passed by, and the banquet soon came to an end. Many ministers were drunk and were ready to leave.
But at this moment, the queen on the platform had a distorted face and spat out a mouthful of blood.