After finishing the New Year's Eve dinner.
Suddenly, news spread from the palace: the old emperor had awakened, and imperial relatives, high-ranking officials of the third rank and above, and their families were summoned to the palace for a banquet.
Before leaving the Prince's mansion, Xiao Changqi and Yuan Qing exchanged a glance.
It seems the Crown Prince couldn't resist taking action.
Xiao Changqi handed the little bird to Yuan Qing, patted her head, and said, "Wait for me to come back."
She had a premonition about New Year's Day and obediently rubbed her head against the man's fingertips, saying "Chirp chirp chirp".
I'm waiting for you.
Everyone was hastily summoned to the palace. When the carriage stopped at the palace gate, the officials who had not yet entered the palace made way for them before exchanging greetings.
Xiao Changqi walked expressionlessly through the path cleared by the crowd into the palace gate, followed closely by the others.
Yuan Qing, who stayed at the Prince Gan's residence, also had important matters to attend to and could not take a little bird with him everywhere. So he could only temporarily place Yuan Dan in Xiao Changqi's bedroom.
Jinjin was taken away by Sun Jianchou, and Sparrow stayed with her.
"Little Yuanyuan, stay here obediently and don't run around. No matter what happens, don't come out, understand?" Yuan Qing whispered his instructions.
On New Year's Day, she nodded her little head and said, "Chirp chirp."
Don't worry.
I also value my life.
"Master, what's wrong?" Sparrow, unaware that something was about to happen, was carried to Xiao Changqi's room by Green Sprout in a daze.
"The weather is about to change," Yuan Dan said solemnly, squatting on the windowsill and looking up at the gloomy night sky.
Sparrow: "Master, are you saying it's going to snow again?"
New Year:"……"
never mind.
She said that even this silly sparrow wouldn't understand.
On the other side.
The Imperial Palace.
Because of the cold weather, the palace banquet was held inside the palace.
In just a few days, the old emperor looked as if he had aged more than ten years. His originally plump figure had become thin, and his complexion was slightly better. It was unknown whether this was a sign of a final burst of energy before death.
Xiao Changqi sat below, drinking his wine with a cold expression, while Xiao Yan sat at the next table.
Seeing Xiao Changqi drinking alone, Xiao Yan couldn't bear it and picked up his wine cup, saying, "Seventh brother, let me toast you."
Xiao Changqi glanced at him indifferently. After New Year's Eve was the day Xiao Yan and Fu Qinglan would get married.
The question is whether this marriage will proceed smoothly.
In front of everyone, Xiao Changqi did not go against his wishes, picked up his wine cup, touched it slightly, and drank it all in one gulp.
"Seventh Brother, is something troubling you?" The Crown Prince at the opposite table noticed their commotion and asked with a gentle smile.
"No." Xiao Changqi coldly uttered two words.
"Then why have you been drinking alone?" The Crown Prince smiled gently and raised his wine cup. "Come, Seventh Prince, let your elder brother toast you."
Xiao Changqi showed him no respect, even putting down his wine cup and turning to watch the singing and dancing.
The crown prince's face darkened for a fleeting moment, but it was so brief that no one noticed.
"Today, all my brothers have brought their families to the banquet, but only the seventh prince has brought his steward. It's rather lonely," the Crown Prince said with a smile, concealing the gloom in his eyes.
“Yes, Seventh Brother, I already have two concubines in my household, but you don’t even have a single close confidante,” Ninth Brother Xiao Jin added.
Xiao Yan glanced at his younger brother indifferently, his gaze slightly sharp.
Xiao Jin realized he had said the wrong thing, pursed his lips and said no more, turning to talk to the person next to him.
"My marriage is none of Your Highness's concern." Xiao Changqi's expression was cold, and his deep voice was as cold as ice.
The old emperor then spoke up, saying, "Your elder brother is right. You're not getting any younger, it's time to choose a princess."
The Empress, who was standing nearby, chimed in at the right moment: "It was my oversight that I forgot that the Seventh Prince is not yet married."
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