The banquet hall of the imperial palace was magnificent, with gilded dragons carved on the beams and pillars, and glazed palace lanterns hanging from the dome, reflecting brilliant light and shadow.
Li Sisi followed Xiao Yunchen to the table and sat down next to him amid everyone's inquiring and surprised gazes.
"Nervous?" Xiao Yunchen tilted his head to look at her and asked softly.
Li Sisi lowered her eyes, leaned close to his ear, and replied in a low voice: "A little bit. Is it really okay for me to show up at the palace banquet like this?"
She still felt that this was too risky. Things like resurrection from the dead should be kept secret, right?
Is it true that nothing will go wrong if Xiao Yunchen brings her to the palace banquet so openly?
Looking at these people at the banquet, my eyes are almost popping out of my eyes.
Xiao Yunchen's big hand accurately found her fingers under the table and held them tightly in his palm.
"It's okay, just enjoy the banquet." As he spoke, he picked up the wine jug with his free hand and poured her a glass of wine.
Li Sisi pulled her hand out of his palm and drank the small glass of wine in one gulp.
"Okay, then I won't care." Her eyes fell on the exquisite snacks on the table.
The crystal lotus cake is translucent, the almond pastry is crispy and delicious, and there is also a dish of cinnamon honey glutinous rice lotus root.
Li Sisi felt the sweet fragrance going straight into her nostrils as she looked at it.
She picked up a piece of crystal hibiscus cake between her fingers, took a bite, and the sweet and sticky taste melted on her tongue.
Xiao Yunchen smiled and asked in a low voice, "Is it delicious?"
Li Sisi nodded: "Well, the snacks made by the imperial chef in the palace must be delicious. I have never discovered before that this kind of pastry can be made sweet but not greasy."
Xiao Yunchen curled his lips, his eyes fixed on her face.
Seeing her take the last bite, he immediately took the wine jug and poured her another glass of wine.
Her voice was clear and gentle: "Eat slowly. If you want to eat, I will find an apprentice of the imperial chef to come to the mansion and cook for you."
Li Sisi drank another small cup of wine and waved her hand: "No need, there are so many delicious foods in the world. If you like it, it's enough to try it, but you don't have to own it."
When Xiao Yunchen heard her words, the smile on his lips faded a little.
His eyes fell on Li Sisi's calm and casual face, his pupils darkened, and he murmured, "Since you like it, you must get it."
Li Sisi didn't hear what he said clearly, so she leaned closer to him and asked, "Huh? What did you just say?"
Xiao Yunchen chuckled softly, and rubbed the corner of her mouth with his slender fingers: "It's okay, there are some crumbs here, I'll wipe it off for you."
No matter how bold Li Sisi was, she was embarrassed to behave intimately with Xiao Yunchen at the palace banquet in front of so many royal relatives and court ministers.
Tilt her head back slightly, she lowered her voice to stop him: "No, I'll wipe it myself."
Xiao Yunchen grabbed her hand and said, "You've put on lip balm, so if you wipe it yourself, it's bound to get smudged."
Upon hearing this, Li Sisi stopped moving and let his fingers touch her lips, tickling them gently.
But his eyes fell on the red tips of Xiao Yunchen's ears, and his eyebrows raised.
I thought he was really brave, but it turns out he is also shy.
Suddenly, a eunuch's shrill and resentful voice came from outside the palace.
"The Emperor has arrived—The Empress has arrived—"
The hall, which was originally filled with constant conversation, suddenly became silent.
Li Sisi hurriedly stood up along with everyone else. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Xiao Yunchen's expression change. He lightly shook his sleeves and stood with his head bowed respectfully.
There was a slight tinkling of bells and bracelets, and the emperor in a bright yellow dragon robe and the graceful and elegant empress in a crimson phoenix skirt walked slowly in.
Everyone in the hall knelt and bowed, shouting, "Your Highness, long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress!"
Li Sisi followed the crowd in bowing, lightly touching the back of her hand with her forehead, and reciting along.
"Stand up." The emperor's voice was calm and majestic.
Li Sisi stood up along with everyone else to express her gratitude and sat down again.
Curiously, he raised his head and looked towards the emperor.
Above his head, there was a conspicuous golden lettering:
Emperor of Anyang: An Shouyu
Height: 175cm Age: 45 Birthday: September 18
6.8cm/2.1cm Quality: Poor
Li Sisi rubbed her eyes in disbelief and looked carefully again.
It's just 6.8cm! Such poor quality! Holy crap!
Not even a fraction of his son's!
Li Sisi's eyes shifted, but happened to meet the Queen's gaze.
The queen's inquiring eyes rested on her, and the corners of her lips curved meaningfully.
Li Sisi smiled at her politely.
The Queen was surprised for a moment, then her eyes turned slightly and fell on Xiao Yunchen. She opened her bright red lips and said, "This person beside my dear Xiao is quite unfamiliar to me."
Li Sisi was stunned and thought to herself, I will be called out on the spot!
Before she could think of what to say, Xiao Yunchen patted her twice with his palm under his wide sleeves.
Li Sisi didn't understand. Did Xiao Yunchen want her to answer?
Just as he was about to stand up, Xiao Yunchen calmly pressed him down on the seat.
He stood up, left his seat, and knelt, his dark official robe spread out on the jade-white floor like ink: "This is my humble wife."
"Oh?" The emperor cast a probing glance, his eyes full of interest. "I heard that your wife passed away in the middle of last summer, and you even stayed at the Imperial Ancestral Temple for seven days to keep vigil over her. Now you've been resurrected. Could it be... a reincarnation?"
Li Sisi was shocked when she heard this. Could it be that the emperor suspected that she was a ghost?
I heard that if there are ghosts in this world, they will be burned to death in a pile of firewood!
Just as I was hesitating whether to say something, I heard Xiao Yunchen's clear voice, which was more steady than his age.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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