"Sister-in-law Qiqing, if you are in the palace today, just follow me and I will help you," Huangfu Lingmeng said to Qiqing.
Today was originally a family banquet in the palace, but it happened that the Tianqing delegation and the Lord of Posha City were also in Shengyuan Imperial Capital, so the banquet became a little more lively.
In addition, today Emperor Shengyuan and the Empress are going to choose a Crown Princess for Crown Prince Huangfu Lingao, so the Crown Princess has three concubines and seven emotions.
Other ladies from prominent families and Princess Chaoyang of Tianqing Kingdom will also be present.
"Okay," Qiqing responded.
"Your Highness, at today's palace banquet, are you really going to choose Qiqing as the Crown Princess?" Zhou Nian asked curiously.
Huangfu Lingao quietly looked at the painting of a beautiful woman in red that was unfolded before him, and after a long moment he said, "Meng'er is right, this is the best choice.
Qiqing doesn't understand love, and I don't need love, but I need a crown princess for now."
Huangfu Lingao thought of a conversation he had with Qiqing two days ago when she accompanied him to paint. He asked her if she was willing to be his official Crown Princess.
He gave her the title of Crown Princess and protected her. She supported his title of Crown Princess and fended off all kinds of difficulties for him.
He promised her that when she regained her memory and wanted to leave, he would arrange a good future for her. If she didn't want to leave, he would definitely give her the dignity she deserved.
Qiqing didn't understand love, but she instinctively understood his needs and knew that he needed her help, so she readily agreed to his request.
Zhou Nian was stunned for a moment, and suddenly understood what His Highness had been thinking all along. His Highness must enthrone a Crown Princess, but the Crown Prince can only be chosen by His Highness himself.
But... His Highness is the Crown Prince of Shengyuan Kingdom, so there is no need for him to choose an official Crown Princess.
If it was just to avoid being constrained, he could choose a lady from a less prominent family.
unless…
Zhou Nian's eyes swept across the picture of the beauty, and a bad feeling emerged in his heart...
At the palace banquet
Qiqing sat quietly in the front, next to Princess Huangfu Lingmeng of Ningguo. Next to her sat His Royal Highness Shang Chen, and to Shangchen's left sat the Crown Prince Huangfu Lingao of Shengyuanguo, who was also the first person to sit below him.
Sitting below the Seven Emotions were Meng Shuixian, Du Shuangshuang, and Li Bingying. Since the three of them were already members of the Crown Prince's Mansion, this was understandable.
Sitting in the first seat on the other side was Dugu Ling, the lord of Posha City, who was wearing a green-faced and fang-toothed mask. Dugu Ling was considered a local overlord, so he sat in the first seat.
Following them were the Second Prince of Tianqing, Shangguan Chiyue, and Princess Chaoyang, as well as the royal family and prominent families of the Shengyuan Imperial Capital who had already taken their seats.
Even the super wealthy businessman Murong Yu entered the palace this time. First of all, Murong Yu was one of the richest businessmen in Shengyuan Imperial Capital.
The second and most important reason was that the Yunlang Kingdom delegation had not yet arrived in the Shengyuan Imperial Capital, so they did not have time to attend the banquet.
Murong Yu, who is also a Yunlang countryman, will participate instead, but his position is not as close as before.
Murong Yu didn't care. After sitting down, he toasted Qiqing with several glasses of wine from afar. Huangfu Lingmeng was so annoyed that he almost overturned his table.
"Your Majesty has arrived...The Empress has arrived..." As a sharp voice sounded, everyone stood up to welcome Emperor Sheng Yuan and the Empress.
Qiqing was also helped to stand up by Huangfu Lingmeng beside him.
"Long live His Majesty, and a thousand years of life for the Queen..." everyone shouted in unison.
"No need for formalities, everyone, please stand..." said a man in a bright yellow dragon robe with a smile.
"Thank you, Your Majesty..."
After everyone was seated, Emperor Sheng Yuan, as usual, exchanged a few words with the envoys from other countries, and then spoke with Dugu Ling and Shangguan Chiyue.
Furthermore, since the envoys had already met with Emperor Sheng Yuan on the day they entered the imperial capital, and all that needed to be discussed had been discussed privately, the only issue left at today's banquet was the selection of the Crown Princess, which required Emperor Sheng Yuan's decision.
So Emperor Shengyuan called out "Crown Prince" as he did in the past, and the royal relatives and ministers of Shengyuan Kingdom all understood that the subsequent procedures would be arranged by the Crown Prince.
Since it was a banquet, singing and dancing were naturally indispensable. In addition to the singing and dancing girls from the specialized music academy, ladies from prominent families would also seize this rare opportunity to show off their talents.
Everyone knew that the main purpose of today was to select a concubine for the prince. No matter if she was the main wife or the concubine, as long as she could catch the prince's eye, she would be able to rise to a high position and prosper.
Therefore, all the ladies present were secretly ready to fight. Not to mention Huangfu Lingao's status as the only legitimate prince of Shengyuan Kingdom, and the only prince, he also controlled the most elite army of Shengyuan Kingdom, the Posha Army.
Just Huangfu Lingao's cold and god-like appearance is enough to make people infatuated and willing to submit to him.
Princess Chaoyang had only seen Huangfu Lingao once before her heart was completely captivated. She could no longer see anyone else, and she was incredibly grateful that her father had sent her to Shengyuan to marry him.
She can spend her life with this man, and is more likely to become his Crown Princess and the future Queen of Sheng Yuan.
"Your Highness, I am Princess Tianqing Chaoyang. Today, I am willing to play a song for Your Highness. I hope Your Highness will show mercy." As soon as these words came out, there was a private agitation.
Although Princess Chaoyang was indeed a princess who came to marry a foreign prince, it was really damaging to Tianqing's reputation for her to be so aggressive in front of everyone.
At this moment, Shangguan Chiyue's face was as gloomy as the bottom of a pot. He could only blame his father for doting on Princess Chaoyang too much, which made her so ignorant and shameless.
However, no matter how angry Shangguan Chiyue was, he couldn't drag the person to sit down now, otherwise it would only be more embarrassing.
If Huangfu Lingao could show some compassion to the beauty, respond, or even interact with her, it would have been quite a story. However, Huangfu Lingao sat motionless in his seat, as if he hadn't noticed the beauty's glances.
As the surrounding discussions and mocking voices grew louder, Princess Chaoyang's face became paler. Although Shangguan Chiyue hated his sister's recklessness.
But he hated Huangfu Lingao's cruelty even more. In Shangguan Chiyue's opinion, Huangfu Lingao was deliberately embarrassing Tianqing.
Just as Princess Chaoyang was about to collapse, the Empress intervened, saying, "I've always heard that Princess Tianqing Chaoyang is straightforward, talented, and beautiful. With such a distinguished guest here today, it's a great honor to hear the princess sing. Is that what the Emperor thinks?"
The Queen winked at Huangfu Lingao, who naturally wouldn't deny the Queen's respect. He simply nodded faintly at Princess Chaoyang, "Princess, please..."
Princess Chaoyang, heartbroken, feigned composure and went on stage to perform. Although she played the piece in its entirety, it was ultimately subpar. Afterward, she bowed to Emperor Shengyuan and the Empress and hurried off the stage.
Shangguan Chiyue beside her scolded her in a low voice, which made her feel even more aggrieved. She stared at Huangfu Lingao opposite her with her beautiful eyes, full of resentment.
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