The customs of this dynasty are open-minded. The grand banquets in the palace are for Your Majesty, the Queen, important officials of the court, and princes of the royal family to celebrate the festival together. Naturally, high-ranking concubines in the harem can also attend.
There was no distinction between men and women at the table. Xie Wanning and Pei Yuqing were led to their seats by the eunuchs.
As the nephew that the emperor values very much, he naturally cannot be arranged to stay too far away, just a few steps away.
Xie Wan Ning slightly turned her head and saw her aunt, Concubine Shu, nodding at her with a smile. With such intimacy and kindness in her eyes, who could believe that there was really a conflict of interests that could lead to her being poisoned without mercy?
Even though he told himself not to mind the cause of death in his previous life, this was the first time he met the 'relative' who killed him after knowing the truth. Xie Wan Ning still felt uncomfortable in her heart. After reluctantly nodding and bowing, she looked away.
But when he turned around, his eyes inadvertently glanced and happened to meet the person opposite him. His pupils suddenly shrank unconsciously. This time, Xie Wan Ning's face was even stiffer than when he saw his murderous enemy.
Her heart skipped a beat and she quickly lowered her eyes to avoid the gaze from the opposite side.
As early as when I left, I had thought about this palace banquet and I would not meet this person again. I didn't expect that as soon as I sat down, he would be right in front of me.
Pei Yuqing noticed her abnormality, raised his eyes, and saw Lu Ziyan sitting alone opposite her. Just like that, the two men stared at each other across the hall, as if whoever looked away would admit defeat.
The ministers around who noticed the developments here were so intimidated by Lu Ziyan's usual cold and hard demeanor that they didn't dare to make a sound to disturb him.
It was not until a group of dancers came on stage and danced gracefully in the center of the hall, blocking the two people's view, that they stopped.
The dances performed in the palace were naturally very novel. A dozen dancers dressed in exotic costumes were graceful and charming, all of them showing a part of their waists and swaying gracefully. Among them, the dancer in the middle was the most attractive, with a straight nose, deep eyebrows and eyes, and the most beautiful dancing posture.
Even Xie Wan Ning, who was a little absent-minded at first, gradually became fascinated by the scene.
After the dance, everyone praised it highly.
The emperor smiled and said, "This is the song and dance presented by Lord Yu, performed by a Qiang woman. If any of you take a fancy to it, I will appreciate it."
The surname Yu is rare, and the only official with the surname Yu whose name was called out by the emperor was Yu Cheng, the general stationed at Yanyun Pass and the governor of Xiangzhou.
Yanyun Pass is the southwestern border of the Khan. Outside the pass are the Qiang people who eat raw meat and drink blood. This barbarian tribe, which has never been taken seriously by the Khan, suddenly invaded a few years ago. The cavalry almost broke through the city gate. It was General Yu Cheng who led his troops to defend the city, but in the end they were seriously injured.
Although the invasion was unsuccessful, the Khan was not in a state of crushing the Qiang people. It seemed that the Qiang people finally realized that even such a huge monster as the Khan was not so unshakable.
In recent years, there have been constant wars on the southwestern border, and the Jin Dynasty outside Yangping Pass in the northern border has repeatedly invaded, causing the Khan to be at a loss as to what to do.
Last year, Lu Ziyan went to Yunzhou to arrest Lu Ping, who was in collusion with the Qiang people and tried to use internal and external forces to spread cholera throughout the Khanate.
At this moment, the ministers in the hall were all a little surprised that these graceful dancers were actually the uncivilized Qiang people whom they had always believed to be.
It seems that the emperor intends to reward them to his ministers and has no intention of keeping these exotic dancers forever.
The ministers looked at each other. They would be very happy to have one or two more dancers given by the emperor in their backyards, but they did not want to leave an impression of being eager in front of the emperor and their colleagues. Therefore, even if they took a fancy to one, no one would be the first to ask for it.
Xie Wan Ning's eyes lit up, and she was thinking about whether to take the leading dancer home and let her dance for him every day. Then she heard Pei Yuqing beside her cupping her hands and saying, "The cholera at the border is caused by the military commanders' meritorious service in the war. Your Majesty, why don't you give these foreign beauties to the generals who are not yet married."
As soon as these words were spoken, the hall suddenly became quiet.
Everyone knows that the Khan has been facing increasing internal and external troubles in recent years. His military generals are more valuable and busier than each other. Most of them are guarding the borders, while a small number are ordered to fight campaigns in the country to stabilize the civil strife. The major military governors are not allowed to return to the capital without being summoned.
The generals who had the time to stay in the capital for the New Year were either injured or too old. The officials who could appear at the palace banquet were at least of the third rank and above, and they had to be unmarried...
After counting all these conditions one by one, it turned out that no one else in the palace met the requirements except Lu Ziyan.
A father would certainly not object to giving a woman to his adult son.
Then, the emperor turned his gaze to Lu Ziyan and said with a smile, "Does your son like any of these dancers?"
Everyone's eyes followed the emperor and turned to Lu Ziyan.
The hall suddenly became quiet, with only the sound of faint music playing in the corner.
Xie Wan Ning picked up the fruit wine on the table, took a sip, and tried her best to restrain herself from looking over.
As the person involved, Lu Ziyan was not affected at all. Seeing that everyone was looking at him, he put down the wine glass in his hand, raised his eyes and looked across. The corners of his lips curved up and he said in a lazy tone, "I do have a crush on someone, but she's not a dancer."
Others followed his line of sight and discovered that he seemed to be looking at the Prince of Peiguo Mansion, and also seemed to be looking at the Prince's Consort beside him.
Thinking about the relationship between these three people again, the atmosphere became a little weird for a moment.
Lu Ziyan was completely unaware and continued to smile: "Since Lord Pei cares so much about the generals, why not..."
The sound of a wine glass hitting the table interrupted his words. Xie Wan Ning's hand suddenly trembled, and the wine glass in his hand fell down, and the remaining wine in the glass wet his cuffs.
Pei Yuqing on the side frowned slightly, took the cotton towel from Zi Erqing's hand, held her hand, and wiped it gently.
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