The main hall was very spacious, with several rows of tables on both sides for people to drink and eat. In the middle, a large open space was used as a performance area for palace dancers and musicians.
The emperor's dragon throne is located on the steps in the center of the main hall, at a slightly lower position, with seats on both the left and right sides.
On the left are the current Empress and Crown Prince, on the right is Xiao Heye's seat, and below that is the main hall.
Su Tiyue and her family were seated in an inconspicuous position at the back of the main hall; it would be difficult to spot them unless one looked carefully.
Xiao Heye sat upright, his slender fingers tapping the table with interest in time with the music and drums in the hall, one tap after another... the tapping was slow and casual.
Li Xun poured him a cup of wine and knelt down beside Xiao Heye, serving him silently.
Xiao Heye raised his wine cup, took a small sip, then glanced at the emperor on the dragon throne, who was surrounded by women on either side of him, and gave a contemptuous snort.
He turned his head to the side, then glanced at the Empress and the Crown Prince directly opposite him.
The Empress looked unwell, her head bowed as she fiddled with the Buddhist prayer beads on her wrist.
Hmph, that's true. In this kind of situation, the Emperor only cares about the two beauties beside him and completely ignores the dignified Empress of Northern Liang. Anyone would be unhappy if they experienced this.
...
As for Crown Prince Zhou Tingyue, he looked to be in good health, but for some reason, his eyes always seemed to glance downwards unintentionally.
Xiao Heye frowned, somewhat curious about what Zhou Tingyue was looking at... Could it be those beauties below, swaying their hips and dancing seductively?
Just like his incompetent and lustful father...?
Xiao Heye gripped the wine glass in his hand, following Zhou Tingyue's gaze downwards...
His gaze passed over the group of dancers in red dresses with slender waists, and then fixed firmly on the girl in the inconspicuous corner, wearing a pale yellow dress.
His eyes darkened.
Xiao Heye's lips twitched slightly, and his eyes were fixed on Zhou Tingyue's face, which was as clear and gentle as a banished immortal.
In fact, Zhou Tingyue was extremely careful in his words and actions. He knew he shouldn't look further, but he just couldn't help it.
He couldn't control his eyes, nor could he control his heart.
Every time Zhou Tingyue glanced down furtively, he silently thought to himself, "Just one look, just one look..."
The more I look, the more I want to watch; the more I think about it, the less I can resist...
Perhaps this is human nature: the more unattainable something is, the more one desires it.
Those people and things that are out of reach, kept deep in your heart, are like a needle; the more it pricks, the more painful it becomes, and the more painful it is, the clearer you become...
Xiao Heye understood men's affairs too well. He could tell at a glance that the Crown Prince's eyes were not innocent at all when he looked at his cute little thing.
Tsk. This is getting more and more interesting.
Xiao Heye's lips curled into an enigmatic smile as he looked at Zhou Tingyue again, confirming where his gaze was directed.
Xiao Heye also noticed that during this process, Su Tiyue never looked up once... She didn't look at the old emperor, nor at His Highness the Crown Prince, and of course... she didn't look at Xiao Heye either.
“Interesting…” Xiao Heye lowered his head and downed the wine in his glass in one gulp. Su Tiyue’s innocent face appeared before his eyes, like a nightmare, lingering on his heart.
Su Tiyue is really interesting. And Zhou Tingyue is also very interesting.
I wonder if the little secret between these two people is also quite interesting?
Li Xun refilled his glass and asked in a low voice, "Master Supervisor, what do you mean by that?"
Xiao Heye chuckled softly and said, "What I mean is... there are quite a few interesting things happening in this palace. Someone as boring as me was born to live in the palace; that's where the fun comes from. Hehe..."
Xiao Heye was indeed a boring person. He had no enthusiasm or interest in anything and always had a cold and indifferent attitude.
Only killing can give him a little pleasure and excitement.
Yes, it's excitement...
Being in hell for too long can be suffocating and drive you crazy. Xiao Heye wished the whole world would come down to hell with him.
Chaos in the harem and the court is not enough for him; he only desires chaos throughout the land.
Li Xun was completely baffled and couldn't figure it out even after thinking for a long time. But if he asked again, he was afraid that the Grand Eunuch would get angry, so he simply kept quiet.
Before he knew it, the banquet was halfway over, and Xiao Heye had already finished a whole pot of wine. He seemed a little drunk.
He propped his head up with his left hand and looked toward that inconspicuous corner behind him, but no matter how long he searched, he couldn't find that pale yellow figure again.
Su Sui and Yang Wanzhi are still there, but Su Tiyue is no longer there.
Interestingly... at some point, His Highness the Crown Prince also disappeared.
Xiao Heye stood up unsteadily and walked outside.
The old emperor behind him, thinking he was also drunk, called out to him incoherently, "My dear minister, where are you going? Keep drinking... Minister Xiao...?"
Xiao Heye heard the emperor calling him, but he did not turn around. He walked out with his back hunched and his steps faltering.
Li Xun took the black cloak and followed closely behind.
After leaving the Bright Hall, Xiao Heye suddenly straightened up, his expression unchanged. He said to Li Xun behind him, "You go back first, let's wander around a bit."
“Master, the weather is cold, you should wear this…?” Li Xun handed him the cloak, but Xiao Heye waved his hand and said, “No need.”
"yes."
Li Xun knew Xiao Heye's alcohol tolerance, knew that he had pretended to be drunk in front of the emperor, and also knew that Xiao Heye disliked noisy atmospheres the most.
Li Xun also knew that Xiao Heye was not afraid of the cold.
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