Chapter 58 Princess Chengbi's Provocation
Chapter Fifty-Eight: Princess Chengbi's Provocation
On the night of the palace banquet, the lights shone brightly, and the Hall of Supreme Harmony was filled with the sounds of clinking glasses and the continuous music of string and wind instruments. The Empress Dowager, due to her poor health, did not attend. The Emperor and his consort arrived late, and when that bright yellow and crimson hues appeared hand in hand at the hall's entrance, the previously noisy hall instantly fell silent.
Li Qianche, dressed in a dragon robe, stood tall and straight like a pine tree, with a cold and stern face and an imperial aura between his brows. Wherever his gaze swept, everyone lowered their heads in awe.
Beside him, Su Su wore a palace gown befitting a noble consort, its colors rich yet elegant, making her appear radiant and graceful. Her slender figure and the gentle sway of her skirt with each step resembled a blooming hibiscus flower under the moon, her beauty unparalleled. This contrasted strangely with the emperor's imposing and domineering presence beside her, creating a harmonious whole.
Amidst the awe and admiration of the crowd, the two slowly walked towards the throne on the high platform. Princess Chengbi from the southwest, from the moment Li Qianche entered her sight, had her gaze drawn to him as if by a magnet, unable to look away.
Having grown up in the southwest, she naturally admired the strong, and the emperor before her was not only incredibly powerful but also exceptionally handsome, perfectly matching all her fantasies of a hero. She made no attempt to hide the burning desire and determination in her eyes until the emperor and empress took their seats and the deafening shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" from everyone in the hall brought her back to her senses.
Following her brother Prince Zhuoke's signal, she boldly looked at the legendary imperial concubine. Before coming here, her brother had repeatedly reminded her that this Consort Su was her greatest rival.
Seeing it with her own eyes now, she was indeed stunningly beautiful, but... Chengbi secretly weighed the situation in her heart. This concubine was beautiful, but she looked very young, with a slender and delicate figure, as if she would break if she were to bend. This was completely different from her own healthy beauty, which was full of vitality and wildness.
How could such a delicate and unromantic woman know how to please a man? How could the Emperor truly like this kind of woman? She thought confidently that she would make this concubine, and the Emperor, witness what true charm could make a man's blood boil.
Prince Zhuoke, seated in the envoy's seat, was also stunned into silence the moment his gaze fell upon Su Su. Such a beauty existed in the Central Plains! Her bearing and allure far surpassed that of any woman from the Southwest. A dark thought flashed through his mind: if he had won the war in the Southwest, such a beauty should have been at his feet… Unfortunately, now this thought could only remain a dream.
Li Qianche's gaze swept calmly across the entire room, finally settling on the Southwest delegation's seats. His voice was steady and authoritative as he uttered a few polite words: "The Southwest envoys have come from afar and must be weary from their journey. I wish that our two nations may henceforth cease hostilities and focus on civil affairs, forging an eternal alliance and sharing peace."
He raised his wine glass and said, "Gentlemen, please don't stand on ceremony, let's begin the banquet."
The music resumed, and palace maids filed in, serving delicacies. Li Qianche exchanged a few pleasantries with Prince Zhuoke and inquired about his impressions of the capital. Prince Zhuoke replied politely, "Your Majesty, I have long admired the grandeur of the Celestial Empire. The capital's prosperity surpasses even the rumors, and the people live in peace and contentment. It truly is a magnificent sight, worthy of our admiration."
Li Qianche nodded slightly, about to speak again, when he caught a glimpse of Su Su beside him scooping up the chilled plum juice again. This was her second bowl tonight.
He frowned slightly, reached out and gently moved the small glass bowl from her hand, handing it to Shen Gaoyi behind him, indicating that he should take it.
Shen Gaoyi quickly bowed and accepted the gift. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the Emperor's meticulous care for the Consort. He knew perfectly well that the Emperor was going to take care of the Consort again. He couldn't help but secretly smile, then quickly lowered his head, afraid of being seen. But the smile still showed through the fine lines at the corners of his eyes.
Li Qianche's tone was filled with unquestionable concern: "You must not indulge in cold things anymore. The imperial physician said that you are prone to feeling cold, so you need to limit these cold foods. Today's portion is sufficient."
Su Su watched helplessly as her beloved plum juice was taken away. Her lips pursed slightly, but she couldn't say anything due to the occasion, so she could only reluctantly withdraw her hand.
This scene, witnessed by the concubines below the stage, secretly delighted them, each glancing smugly at Princess Chengbi—"Did you see that? Since you entered the palace, has the Emperor ever given you a second glance? It's crystal clear whose heart the Emperor has on!"
Princess Chengbi witnessed all of this, feeling both angry and resentful. She believed herself to be beautiful and graceful, and far more alluring than the imperial concubines of the Central Plains. How could the Emperor ignore her so blatantly?
Unable to contain herself, she rose from her seat, walked to the front of the throne, bowed gracefully, and spoke in a charming voice with a southwestern accent: "Your Majesty, I, Chengbi, wish to offer a blessing dance from our southwest to express my most sincere wishes for Your Majesty and for the diplomatic relations between our two countries. I humbly request Your Majesty's permission."
Li Qianche's gaze swept over her indifferently, not lingering on her deliberately exposed slender waist and half-exposed breasts, and he simply waved his hand: "Approved."
Cheng Bi was overjoyed and immediately began to dance to the suddenly intense and passionate music from the southwest. Her dance was bold and unrestrained, her waist twisting like a water snake, her eyes burning as she stared straight at Li Qianche on the high seat. Every movement was full of naked provocation and seduction.
As Su Su enjoyed the exotic dance, she savored the dishes meticulously prepared by the imperial kitchen, finding them quite appetizing. Just then, she heard Li Qianche's low voice, warm and gentle: "Su Su, you used to dance for me too."
Su Su's face flushed, instantly recalling when she first entered the palace, she had danced for him in order to win his favor, but before she could finish the dance, he had forced her onto the bed... Li Qianche obviously also remembered that enchanting past, his Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and his voice became even hoarser: "Tonight, dance for me again, shall we?"
Su Su's ears turned bright red. She gave him a reproachful look and whispered, "Isn't Princess Chengbi's enthusiastic dance enough for the Emperor to see?"
Li Qianche chuckled softly, a hint of amusement in his voice: "Is Su Su... jealous?"
Su Su ignored him and turned her head to focus on watching the dance and eating. Seeing her like this, Li Qianche felt even more affection for her. He accurately grasped her soft hand on her lap under the table, gently squeezed it, and then ordered the palace servants: "Bring the Consort a warm bowl of red date and longan soup."
Su Su felt the burning heat of his palm, and upon hearing about the tonic soup, her face flushed even more. She thought to herself: This guy is going to do something reckless again tonight!
Below the stage, Princess Chengbi, who was dancing energetically, saw that Li Qianche was not only not captivated by her dance, but was also whispering intimately with the concubine beside her. The resentment and anger in her heart almost burst out of her chest.
After the dance ended, slightly out of breath, she looked at Li Qianche again and asked in a sweet voice, "Your Majesty, how was Chengbi's dance? Did it meet your approval?"
Li Qianche's gaze did not linger on her for long, and he only said perfunctorily, "Princess Chengbi's dance... is unique, not bad."
Chengbi was disappointed, but unwilling to back down. She turned to Su Su with obvious provocation in her eyes: "I have heard that the Imperial Concubine's dance is also the best in the harem. I wonder if I would be so fortunate as to ask the Imperial Concubine to dance a piece today, so that I can witness the exquisite beauty of Central Plains dance and learn a thing or two from it."
Her sudden use of the word "elder sister" drew indignation from the other concubines below the stage—the Emperor hadn't even issued an edict to bring you into the palace yet, your rank was still undetermined, so who was your elder sister? How shameless!
Upon hearing this, Su Su put down her silver chopsticks and elegantly wiped her mouth with a handkerchief. She was two years younger than Cheng Bi, and being addressed as "elder sister" made her feel much older. Her expression was calm, and her tone was polite but distant: "I've had a few too many drinks today, and I feel a bit lethargic. I'm afraid I won't be able to dance, and I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint the princess."
Chengbi, however, refused to give up, thinking that she was stage-frightened, and her provocation intensified: "Is it that Consort Gui is... afraid to compare with Chengbi? Or does she think that Chengbi is not worthy to watch you dance?"
Su Su's patience ran out, a hint of coldness appeared between her brows, and her tone became indifferent: "I have already said, I am drunk and cannot dance."
Seeing this, Chengbi turned to Li Qianche, her tone coquettish: "Your Majesty~ look at Consort Gui, doesn't she look down on Chengbi? Chengbi just wants to admire and learn..."
"Chengbi! Stop talking nonsense!" Prince Zhuo Ke saw that his sister's words were becoming increasingly outrageous, so he quickly stood up to interrupt her and bowed to Li Qianche and Su Su to apologize. "Your Majesty, Your Highness, please forgive me! Chengbi is young and has been spoiled by her father since childhood. She is straightforward and speaks inappropriately. She had no intention of offending anyone and hopes that Your Majesty and Your Highness will forgive her."
Li Qianche was already displeased by Zhuo Ke's undisguised gaze upon Su Su. Now, seeing Cheng Bi persisting, his expression grew even colder. He simply said, "It's alright. Since the Consort has already stated that she is unwell, there's no need to force her. If the Princess wishes to watch a dance, there will be palace dancers performing later, which the Princess can enjoy at her leisure." The protectiveness and unquestionable tone in his voice were obvious.
Cheng Bi wanted to say something more, but was silenced by Zhuo Ke's stern glare. He could only retreat to his seat dejectedly, his jealousy and resentment towards Su Su deepening even further.
Li Qianche stopped looking at them, but unconsciously tightened his grip on Su Su's hand under the table. He disliked the way Zhuo Ke looked at Su Su, and he disliked anyone coveting Su Su even more. If it weren't for the diplomatic relations between the two countries, he would have already lashed out.
Su Su's hand bones ached slightly from his grip, and she couldn't help but let out a soft cry, "It hurts..."
Li Qianche then realized that he had lost his composure and quickly loosened his grip, instead gently rubbing the back of her hand with his fingertips, his eyes filled with apology.
Su Su mistakenly thought he was angry because she had rejected his "Princess Chengbi," and feeling stifled, she tried to pull her hand back forcefully. Li Qianche, however, was unwilling to let go and, with a little force, firmly grasped her soft hand in his palm again.
Su Su struggled a few times but couldn't break free. Restricted by the occasion, she couldn't make any big moves, so she had no choice but to let him have his way. She secretly resolved not to let him succeed so easily tonight. Li Qianche sensed her slight resistance, and the corners of his lips curved almost imperceptibly as he tightened his grip on her hand.
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