Undercurrents simmer at the palace banquet; a sea of jealousy churns.
The palace banquet held to welcome Lu Beichen was located in the resplendent Linde Hall. Tonight, the capital's most powerful and influential figures gathered here, with melodious music and clinking glasses creating a scene of peace and prosperity. However, beneath the calm surface, undercurrents were surging.
Lu Beichen was undoubtedly the focus of the entire event. Dressed in the imperial-bestowed Qilin battle robe, he stood tall and straight, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes. Though tempered by the battlefield, his brows bore the marks of hardship, which only added to his composed and heroic aura. He calmly handled the toasts from all sides and the emperor's inquiries, neither servile nor arrogant, displaying extraordinary bearing that drew countless gazes, including shy and timid glances from noble ladies of marriageable age.
Prince Yi, Zhao Jingyi, and Qin Yuti arrived early. He was unusually energetic today, his eyes darting around as he excitedly observed the entire room, especially the direction of Shen Anci and Lu Beichen, like a mischievous child waiting to watch a show. Qin Yuti, on the other hand, remained as dignified and elegant as ever, conversing quietly with Princess Rui, Su Wanqing, and others beside her, but her eyes were also constantly watching the movements in the room.
Shen Anci also came today, dressed in a neat equestrian outfit, standing out from the group of elegantly dressed beauties, yet possessing a unique heroic spirit. She sat beside her father, the General of the Northern Garrison, seemingly engrossed in the song and dance, but the knuckles of her fingers gripping the wine cup were slightly white, betraying her inner turmoil. Her gaze was almost uncontrollably fixed on the radiant figure opposite her.
After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became increasingly lively. Several ladies of the royal family who were on good terms with the Duke of Anguo's mansion began to intentionally or unintentionally steer the conversation toward Lu Beichen's marriage.
“General Lu is a young man of great talent. Now that he has returned in triumph, it’s time for him to consider settling down and starting a family,” a lady said with a smile.
Another immediately chimed in, "Indeed, I've heard the general is still unmarried? I wonder what kind of young lady he prefers? There are quite a few talented and beautiful daughters in the capital." As he spoke, his gaze casually drifted toward a brightly dressed young woman beside the Duchess of Anguo, who was the Duke of Anguo's niece.
Lady Anguo also chimed in with a smile: "The general is a pillar of the nation, and his marriage should be taken very seriously. If he can find a virtuous and capable wife who is of equal social standing, it would be the icing on the cake."
The implication in these words couldn't be clearer: the Duke of Anguo's family intended to form a marriage alliance.
Shen Anci's face instantly darkened. She slammed her wine glass down on the table with a loud thud, drawing the attention of several people nearby. Her chest heaved, and she looked ready to explode.
Just then, Zhao Jingyi, who had seemed lost in thought, suddenly chuckled. His voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet moment. As if just snapping out of his reverie, he whispered loudly to Qin Yuti beside him, "Wife, did you hear that? Someone said Lu Beichen is looking for someone of equal social standing? Haha, what a joke! In our Great Liang Dynasty, besides the royal family, who else can talk about 'matching social standing' with the Zhenbei General's Mansion, which holds significant military power and boasts numerous war achievements? Does someone think their family is superior to the General's Mansion?"
His words, spoken so innocently and casually, as if unintentionally, were like a resounding slap in the face to those who sought to curry favor. The smiles of the Duchess of Anguo and the others froze instantly, their faces flushing red and then turning pale.
Qin Yuti gently pinched Zhao Jingyi under the table, but with a polite smile on her face, she said to the ladies, "His Highness has had too much to drink and is talking nonsense. Please don't take offense, ladies." Her words gave him a way out and confirmed Zhao Jingyi's "innocent remarks," making it impossible for anyone to pursue the matter.
Lu Beichen also stood up at the opportune moment, toasted the emperor and the imperial relatives, and cleverly changed the subject. He sincerely expressed his gratitude for the emperor's grace and his remembrance of the soldiers on the frontier, without mentioning any private matters, thus defusing a possible "marriage proposal" controversy.
Seeing this, Shen Anci's tense shoulders relaxed slightly. He glanced gratefully at Zhao Jingyi, who was making jokes, and Qin Yuti, who was trying to smooth things over. Then he glared at Lu Beichen, his meaning clear: I'll settle the score with you later!
Lu Beichen caught her gaze, and the corners of his mouth curved almost imperceptibly. He raised his glass to her, his eyes filled with reassurance and a hint of tenderness.
All of this was silently observed by Princess Rui, Su Wanqing, who sat not far away. She watched the unspoken understanding and affection between Shen Anci and Lu Beichen, then looked at her own perpetually gentle and aloof husband beside her. A bitterness and loneliness spread through her heart like the deep night outside the palace. She picked up her wine cup and drank the slightly cool liquid in one gulp, the spicy taste burning from her throat to her heart.
The palace banquet drew to a close in a seemingly harmonious atmosphere. Zhao Jingyi yawned contentedly, feeling he had thoroughly enjoyed the show tonight. He leaned close to Qin Yuti's ear and whispered boastfully, "Wife, what did you think of my move just now? Wasn't it incredibly clever?"
Qin Yuti glanced at him helplessly and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, you seem to enjoy making things worse. But... it did help Anci out of a predicament." She had to admit that this guy's ability to sometimes achieve things by accident was quite useful.
The palace banquet ended, leaving some people happy and others sad.
Lu Beichen's marriage is destined to be anything but peaceful.
Meanwhile, Prince Yi and his wife had unknowingly become even more deeply involved in the intricate web of human relationships and power struggles in the capital.
Their lives were destined to be devoid of the word "peace".
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
