Chapter 274 Waiting to see the joke
What Li Mu placed in her hand was a handkerchief.
On top is a piece of ghee-fried abalone and a steamed pear.
It was exactly the same as what she had just eaten.
"Ke'er, stop laughing. You and your mother each have one, eat them while they're still hot."
Li Mu used his body as cover to urge him in a low voice.
"I just inquired and found out that the food at the palace banquet was too cold to eat. These two pastries are still warm, so please have them quickly."
Li Nanke and Song Yi exchanged a glance.
Suppressing a laugh, Song Yi asked curiously, "Where did you get these hot snacks, husband?"
Li Mu chuckled.
“I just ran into Prince Xuan’s guards and heard him say that the food at the palace banquet was inedible, so I went to the imperial kitchen to get some hot snacks for Prince Xuan.”
On a whim, I asked him for two yuan. Surprisingly, he was quite kind; he agreed as soon as I asked.
Li Nanke...
Did Ninth Brother feed her first, and then have Erfeng feed her father?
She subconsciously looked in Shen Cong's direction, only to see several ministers talking around him.
It's unclear what he said, but the ministers, looking pale and sickly, turned and left.
Seemingly sensing something, he looked up.
Li Nanke smiled at him, clasped her hands in a gesture of gratitude.
Shen Cong raised an eyebrow and withdrew his gaze.
Before Song Yi could say anything, Li Nanke quickly stuffed the pastry back into her mouth.
"My mother and I have already eaten something. Father, you can have these two pieces."
Li Mu was taken aback and looked at Song Yi.
Song Yi nodded.
"Husband, eat it while it's hot."
As she spoke, she stood up and stood on the outside to shield him.
Li Mu assumed that the mother and daughter had already eaten in the palace, so he didn't ask any further questions. Taking advantage of Song Yi's cover, he quickly lowered his head and ate both pastries.
I only returned to my seat after I finished eating.
Li Nanke felt a gaze fixed on him. He looked back and met Zhao Wanqing's gaze, which she hadn't had time to look away from.
Song Hui and Zhao Wanqing happened to be sitting next to them.
Seeing her look over, Zhao Wanqing's eyes revealed an undisguised smugness.
She pouted and whispered, "She's just a county princess, Cousin Ke'er, don't get too cocky."
Li Nanke wanted to roll his eyes, wondering which of Zhao Wanqing's eyes had seen him smug.
She twitched the corner of her mouth. "Compared to princesses and county princesses, a county princess is indeed insignificant, but... it's a pity you're not even a county princess."
"you....."
Zhao Wanqing was so angry that her eyes were blazing with fire. She glared at her fiercely and blurted out.
"What's so great about that? I'll be a county princess soon enough!"
Li Nanke scoffed.
"Do you think the vegetables on the main street of the county are something just anyone can buy?"
Zhao Wanqing bit her lip, clearly unconvinced.
"We'll see. When I become the county princess, that's when my cousin will be proven wrong."
Li Nanke chuckled.
"Really? Then let's talk about it when you become a county princess."
Zhao Wanqing hoped to see jealousy, shock, or disappointment on Li Nanke's face, but she saw none of them.
It felt like a ring of cotton wool, making her feel suffocated and extremely uncomfortable.
Song Hui was busy making friends with the lady on her left when she turned around and overheard Li Nanke's words.
He reached out and pulled Zhao Wanqing closer to him, letting out a cold laugh.
“Some people may be young, but they are very stubborn. Qing’er, you don’t need to talk to her. When you become a county princess, she will be jealous.”
Li Nanke was completely bewildered, wondering where she got the confidence to be so sure that she would receive the title of county princess.
Seeing that her daughter didn't say anything, Song Yi immediately retorted.
"What a joke! My Ke'er is a county princess personally appointed by His Majesty. If you want my Ke'er to be jealous, wait until your daughter becomes a county princess."
Song Hui's face turned ashen.
At that moment, a soft, effeminate voice came from outside.
"His Majesty has arrived, Her Majesty the Empress has arrived, His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived..."
Everyone in the hall immediately stood up, knelt down, and paid their respects.
The emperor and Empress Xue sat at the head of the table, while the other concubines sat on either side behind them.
Empress Xue pulled Shen Xu to sit down in front of her.
The eldest prince, as the emperor and empress's only legitimate son, and having just returned, is a major event for the entire court.
The emperor solemnly introduced Shen Xu, and only after Shen Xu had received everyone's homage did he announce the start of the palace banquet.
As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Xu suddenly stood up and knelt down.
Empress Xue's expression changed slightly, and she quickly reached out to pull him.
"My son, if you have something to say, speak up. What are you doing?"
Shen Xu kowtowed earnestly to the Emperor and Empress.
"Today is New Year's Eve, and it is also the first New Year that I have spent with my father and mother since I returned home. I am extremely excited."
"May my father enjoy good health and long life; may my mother be safe and well, and stay young forever; may our Great Chu be peaceful and prosperous, with tribute coming from all directions."
In the years that Shen Xu has been living among the common people, he has not only become particularly adept at reading people's expressions, but has also developed a silver tongue, able to spout a long string of auspicious words.
These words greatly pleased the emperor.
"Very well, my son, you speak well. Stand up and speak."
When Empress Xue saw her son being praised, she couldn't suppress the smile on her face.
“Chang Sheng, come to Mother’s side.”
Shen Xu smiled but did not go over. Instead, he continued, "The reason why I was able to reunite with my father and mother is thanks to the wife and daughter of Minister Zhao."
If it weren't for them, I'm afraid I would have died at the Prime Minister's temple fair!
As soon as the words were spoken, everyone's eyes in the hall fell on Song Hui and Zhao Wanqing.
Song Hui straightened her back excitedly, thoroughly enjoying the feeling of being watched by everyone.
Zhao Wanqing stared at Shen Xu with wide eyes, her excitement shining through her.
The emperor stared at Shen Xu for a moment, then softened his voice and asked, "What does my son mean?"
Shen Xu said, "When I was slashed, I felt like I was about to die. When my life was hanging by a thread, it was Miss Zhao who rushed in and saved me."
Without Miss Zhao, I fear I would never have been able to see my father and mother again in this lifetime.
Your Majesty, I humbly request that you bestow upon Miss Zhao the title of County Princess, as a way of repaying her for saving my life.
As soon as he finished speaking, the entire hall fell silent.
Li Nanke's doubts were also answered.
No wonder Zhao Wanqing was so careless just now; it turns out she had received a promise from Shen Xu.
Oh.
Shen Xu had lost his memory and had just returned from the common people, so it was understandable that he didn't know the rules of the court.
Don't Song Hui and Zhao Wanqing understand?
Li Nanke rested his chin on his hand, waiting to see the joke.
As expected, Empress Xue's face turned somewhat pale.
The emperor had already issued a decree to reward the Zhao family, but Changsheng, in front of all the officials, requested another reward at the New Year's Eve banquet.
He even asked Zhao Wanqing for the position of county princess right off the bat.
Isn't this a blatant accusation that His Majesty's reward to the Zhao family was too meager?
Who exactly tricked the prince into coming up with this idea?
Empress Xue was both shocked and furious, and in an instant she went through everyone around Shen Xu.
Before she could come up with a solution, she heard the emperor ask in a deep voice, "Why does my son make this request? Do you know what kind of people have historically been granted the title of County Princess?"
Empress Xue's heart skipped a beat, and her face turned even paler!
Oh no, His Majesty is angry!
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