The New Year's banquet was about to begin, but Qin Xi was suddenly darkened by the shadow cast by the person in front of him.
"Um?"
She looked up in confusion, only to find it was the Fourth Prince.
Lu Huai stared at him warily.
"Sister Qi..." The Fourth Prince looked at Qin Qi with affection in his eyes.
"Fourth Prince, please don't call me that anymore. It's not proper etiquette." Qin Xi stood up, curtsied, and spoke softly with his head bowed.
“But… I’ve called you that since I was little. Does that mean we have to grow apart now that we’re older?” The Fourth Prince murmured, his eyes filled with hurt.
"You were young and ignorant, why suffer such unrequited love? Things are very different now, Fourth Prince, please have some self-respect!"
"I..." The fourth prince wanted to say something, but was pushed away.
"Hey, move away, you're blocking my light," Lu Huai said impatiently, his brows furrowed.
The fourth prince stumbled from the push and only then noticed Lu Huai.
He pointed at the two of them, his face full of disbelief: "Why...are you still together?"
“Of course I want to be with her,” Lu Huai stood up, took Qin Xi’s hand, and looked directly at the Fourth Prince: “She is my wife, whom I married with proper ceremony and great pomp.”
Qin Xi was stunned, her heart pounding uncontrollably.
The fourth prince looked somewhat bewildered, and made a sound, but did not utter another word.
Seeing him leave in a daze, Qin Xi turned to look at Lu Huai.
He had started to frown frequently, and his expression seemed somewhat displeased.
Qin Xi pursed her lips, grabbed his sleeve, pulled him to a seat, and whispered, "Lu Huai, don't be angry."
Lu Huai glanced at her, exhaled a breath of stale air, and then took her hand.
Qin Qi smiled gently.
The New Year's banquet was about to begin, and people were arriving one after another. Only the seats opposite Qin Cheng and to the left and right of the six ministers were still empty.
Those were the positions of General Tan Yu, Deputy General Gongsun Sheng, and Lu Chuan, which had been vacant for several years.
Butler Lu had said that Lu Chuan would return for the New Year's banquet, but it's already this late, so I'm afraid it's a bit uncertain.
Just then, a sharp voice rang out—
"His Majesty has arrived! Her Majesty the Empress has arrived! Her Imperial Concubine has arrived!"
Everyone knelt facing the dragon throne, Qin Xi and Lu Huai were no exception.
Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!
Long live the Empress! Long live the Empress! Long live the Empress!
"Hahaha, all of you, rise. Today is the New Year's banquet, so there's no need for such formalities." Emperor Yuming, wearing a crown and dragon robe, emerged from behind the hall, raised his hand, and said.
"Thank you, Your Majesty—"
Emperor Yuming sat down on the dragon throne. To his left was the Empress, below him was Consort Qin, and below that were the other concubines.
Upon seeing Qin Qi, Consort Qin flirtatiously tossed her hair and gave her a seductive wink.
Qin Xi quickly lowered her head; her aunt still loved teasing her.
Consort Qin chuckled softly, drawing Emperor Yuming's attention.
"Does my beloved concubine dislike such occasions?"
His gaze was so intense that it was difficult for Consort Qin not to answer.
Just as she was about to speak, the Empress interrupted her, saying, "If you're not happy, you'll have to bear with it. Today, all the guests are important officials of the court, so you can't act childishly."
Consort Qin smiled charmingly, her eyes sparkling: "Sister is right. As the mother of the nation, you have always been very reasonable. I've heard that many officials have praised you highly."
The Empress's smile froze, and she quickly looked at Emperor Yuming, afraid that he would become suspicious.
However, Emperor Yuming only looked at Consort Qin and did not pay attention to her.
The empress gripped the silk handkerchief in her hand tightly.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
