Chapter 998 Sending a Woman
The princess was too weak to celebrate her full month, so this palace banquet was the first time everyone in the court saw the princess’s true appearance.
The three-month-old child already has some of his parents' good looks on his face, with a delicate and graceful appearance like a fairy.
There were constant sounds of praise in the hall, and because of the enthronement in the Taimiao, the gifts originally prepared by the court officials and their wives for the hundred-day banquet were much more valuable.
There are gold, silver, jade, rare treasures, and all kinds of precious things.
Tang Ning just sat there and listened to the endless flattery from below. On the contrary, Xiao Yan held the child from beginning to end. Even if the little princess suddenly started crying in the middle, he could still hold her skillfully. In the intervals, he would turn his head from time to time and look at Tang Ning with tenderness and concern.
The intimate whispering between the emperor and empress at the table attracted many people's attention. Some people who were far away at the banquet even used the sounds of gifts and congratulations to cover up their whispers.
"Didn't they say that His Majesty and His Majesty are not on good terms?"
"Yes, after His Majesty returned to the capital, the Empress has been confined to the palace. Even the power that previously ruled the court has been taken back by His Majesty. Many people say that His Majesty is suspicious of the Empress, but why doesn't it seem like that now?"
After Your Majesty led his troops out of the capital, the Queen stayed in the capital to take charge of the government. During that half year, the Queen's methods were no worse than Your Majesty's.
She fought against the aristocratic families and cleaned up the court. Her methods were sharp and her mind was cruel. Many old ministers in the court fell silent overnight, and many of those who came to power were promoted by her. For a long time, the people in the capital even followed the empress's lead.
After His Majesty returned to the capital, the Queen stayed in the palace to recuperate due to a difficult childbirth. Although there were rumors that she was injured by someone, not many people knew about Lu Zhinian's affairs.
Many people only know that after His Majesty returned, the Queen never asked about state affairs again, and all power in the court was owned by His Majesty. Moreover, His Majesty dealt with many people in a row with thundering means, using killing to intimidate the court, but the Queen never showed up again.
Many people speculated that His Majesty might be afraid of the Queen.
The fact that she was recuperating after giving birth was fake, and the fact that the emperor and empress were at odds over power was real.
But now, seeing that His Majesty pays attention to the Queen almost all the time, speaks to her gently and softly, and is obsessed with her, it is clear that his love for her is even greater than before, and he even loves the Queen's eldest daughter so much.
How can this be suspicion or discord?
"Could it be that the Queen was really injured during childbirth?"
"Shh, keep your voice down."
The discussions at the banquet were suppressed, and everyone became more respectful to the queen.
After the ministers’ congratulations, the princess’ hundred-day celebration came to an end, and the New Year’s Eve palace banquet followed.
The palace spent a lot of energy preparing for this banquet. When it got dark outside, the entire palace was still brightly lit and drums and music were playing.
The sleepy little princess was taken away by her wet nurse. The banquet was filled with singing, dancing and drinking, and the atmosphere became lively as people toasted each other.
At the banquet, Xiao Yan rewarded the generals who had made contributions in the previous war, and issued an edict to provide compensation to those who died in the battle and to build a shrine to heroes. Wen Xinhou was granted the title of Duke Dingguo, Yin Bao was granted the title of Duke Anguo, and Xiao Jinan was granted the title of Prince Lin.
Di Shuangcheng and his son, Hang Li, Qu Yiming, Canglang, Qi Cheng and others were all rewarded.
Boxes of rewards were brought up, and the real gold and silver received cheers from the generals.
The civil officials at the banquet couldn't help but feel jealous when they saw the joy of the military generals, but they had all won their achievements by fighting on the battlefield, so no matter how jealous they were, no one was so tactless as to interfere and say something inappropriate. Instead, they all raised their glasses to congratulate them, and some even wanted to win over those young military generals and make friends with them.
The banquet was extremely lively.
The envoys from Beiling Commandery and Western Frontier sat at the banquet, their faces stiff and expressionless as they looked at the injured Wei generals who had been rewarded for their merits in beating them.
Nie Xuan glanced at the emperor and empress at the top, and suddenly said with a smile while holding his wine glass:
"The Wei Dynasty had so many capable ministers and generals. No wonder they were able to capture Beiling and force them to surrender. This is truly enviable."
Hu Baoxian's face was a little gloomy, and the several Beiling barbarians sitting next to him glared at him.
Xiao Yan glanced at Nie Xuan and said, "Prince Hu of Beiling County is a skilled warrior. From now on, these barbarian warriors will be the backbone of our Great Wei. If the King of Qi is envious, I can now have Prince Hu lead the soldiers from various tribes on the grassland to visit Southern Qi. Let Qi experience the powerful generals of Beiling County. I am sure Prince Hu will not refuse."
Hu Baoxian said coldly without hesitation: "This humble servant has long admired the literati of Southern Qi, and is willing to follow the emperor's order to make this trip."
The smile on Nie Xuan's face almost froze.
This Emperor of Wei has absolutely no moral principles!
It was common for Yin Yang to make a few sarcastic remarks at the banquet. A verbal battle would be fine. At most, Yin Yang would come back, but he would threaten to send troops at every turn. He simply had no dignity as an emperor!
Nie Xuan raised his glass with a forced smile, "Prince Hu, you're joking. Southern Qi and Great Wei are on good terms, so they are naturally friendly neighbors with Beiling County. The journey is so long, why would Prince Hu bother traveling all that way?"
"Today is New Year's Eve and the Great Wei is hosting a grand banquet. I have prepared a gift for the Emperor of Wei."
"Jade Book."
The woman who had been sitting next to Nie Xuan suddenly stood up and walked slowly to the front of the hall. She looked generous, bright and outspoken, with a top-notch appearance. She was wearing a gorgeous long dress like the most beautiful rose, and she bowed directly to Yingying above her.
"Yu Shu pays his respects to His Majesty the Emperor of Wei."
Nie Xuan smiled and said, "Yushu is the third princess of Southern Qi and my biological sister. She is only seventeen years old and in the prime of her life. She has heard a lot about the Emperor of Wei's charm and has long admired you."
"I came to the Great Wei this time to congratulate the Emperor of Wei on his conquest of Beiling and the strengthening of the Great Wei. I also want to fulfill Yu Shu's wish and make the friendship between Southern Qi and the Great Wei last forever."
The third princess, Nie Yushu, raised her head and smiled, her grace and elegance captivating everyone.
"Yu Shu has long admired His Majesty the Emperor of Wei and wishes to remain by His Majesty's side. I hope His Majesty will grant my consent."
The hall suddenly became quiet, and even the singing and dancing stopped.
Everyone couldn't help but look at the Princess of Nanqi in the hall, and many of them looked surprised.
Previously, when Nie Xuan attended a banquet, he was accompanied by a woman. Everyone who saw him thought that she was his concubine, but no one expected that this person was actually the princess sent by Southern Qi to Wei for a "marriage".
Since their Majesty ascended the throne, he abolished the practice of favoring the queen exclusively among the six palaces, and was unwilling to cause a big fight in the court because of the selection of a concubine. Everyone knew that the love between the emperor and the queen did not tolerate anyone else, but now this Princess of Southern Qi was different.
She was beautiful, and she expressed her admiration in front of everyone, while also shouldering the responsibility of maintaining diplomatic relations between the two countries...
All the court officials could not help but look at their own emperor, wanting to know whether he would keep the Princess of Southern Qi. Even Hu Baoxian and others were vaguely expecting that if Xiao Yan accepted this person, it would mean that his so-called empty harem for Queen Wei was false, and it would be justified to give other women away in the future.
Seeing the quietness in the hall, Nie Xuan smiled and said, "A marriage between the two countries would benefit both Southern Qi and Great Wei. Moreover, I have prepared 100,000 gold, 50,000 books, and the land of Luofeng City as a dowry for Yu Shu. I believe His Majesty the Emperor of Wei will not refuse."
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