Xin Yunzhou raised his glass in return, his tone still calm: "Thank you, Your Highness."
Xin Kui also picked up her wine glass, nodded slightly, and said nothing more.
Qiqige looked at Xin Kui, a hint of jealousy and disdain flashing in her eyes. She suddenly laughed and said, "Sister, you are so elegant now, I almost didn't recognize you. I remember when we were little in the royal court, you always hid in a corner, wearing old clothes, and you couldn't even get a sip of hot milk tea." Her tone was innocent, as if she were just reminiscing about the past, but the content was extremely derogatory, implying that Xin Kui had a humble background and a shameful past.
The atmosphere at the table suddenly froze.
Bo Rigu interjected, swirling his wine cup, and sneered, "Qiqige, stop talking nonsense. What sister? She's just the daughter of a lowly slave girl. Does she deserve to be called your brother and me? She's already incredibly fortunate to be in her current position. It's all thanks to the benevolence of His Majesty the Emperor of Liang and the Empress, and... General Xin's leniency." His words were cutting, directly trampling Xin Kui's dignity underfoot.
Xin Yunzhou's face instantly darkened, and he nearly crushed the wine cup in his hand. He abruptly turned his head, his gaze like an icy blade shooting towards Bo Rigu: "Prince, watch your words! My wife is the First-Rank Duke's wife, personally bestowed by His Majesty. How dare you insult her so casually? Is this how the Northern Barbarians teach their princes manners?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a chilling killing intent from someone who had been through many battles, which made Bo Rigu's face turn pale, and he was momentarily stunned.
Agula quickly tried to smooth things over: "General, please calm down! Prince Burigu is young and impetuous, and he misspoke after drinking. He had no intention of offending the lady! Prince, quickly apologize to the lady!" He secretly kicked Burigu.
Due to the occasion, Bo Rigu could only reluctantly raise his glass, wave it in Xin Kui's direction, and say insincerely, "I misspoke just now, please forgive me, Madam." But his eyes still held contempt.
Xin Kui gently pressed Xin Yunzhou's clenched fist under the table, signaling him to calm down. She raised her head to meet the gazes of Qiqige and Borigu, her face showing no anger, but rather a faint yet distant smile: "Your Highness and Princess are too kind. The past is past, why bring it up again? Although I came from humble beginnings, I have been fortunate to have the mercy of Heaven, the grace of His Majesty and Her Majesty, and the love of my husband, which has brought me to where I am today. The past is like yesterday's death; the present is like today's birth. I am now only the wife of Xin Yunzhou, the Duke of Zhenguo of Daliang, and my heart is only for my husband and my country. As for the past with the Northern Barbarians, please forgive my shallow memory; many things have become blurred."
Her voice was gentle and calm, neither arrogant nor humble. She acknowledged the past (but subtly downplayed it) while emphasizing her current status and happiness, defusing the other party's insults with ease and implying that they should not try to drag her into the past. This composure made Qiqige and Borigu's provocations seem like those of a clown.
Xin Jiuwei, seated at the head of the table, observed everything before finally speaking with a smile, her voice carrying clearly throughout the banquet: "The Lady of the Duke of Zhenguo is right. Now that we have entered our Great Liang, we are citizens of Great Liang. Your Excellency is virtuous and kind, possesses superb medical skills, has rendered meritorious service to the country and benefited the family, and is deeply trusted by His Majesty and myself. Moreover, you and the Duke of Zhenguo are a perfect couple, a model of a fine couple in our Great Liang. The past is indeed like smoke in the wind, there is no need to mention it again. Today's grand banquet should be a celebration of the friendly relations between our two nations. Come, everyone, let us drink to this cup!"
The Empress made the final decision, elevating Xin Kui to the level of "meritorious service to the country" and "exemplary couple," completely affirming Xin Kui's status and value, and silencing any further attempts by the Northern Di people to use her identity as a pretext.
The officials raised their glasses in unison, shouting, "Let us celebrate the friendly relations between our two nations! Long live His Majesty! Long live the Empress!"
Agula could only force a dry laugh and raise his glass. Qiqige reluctantly withdrew his gaze, gritting his teeth inwardly. Boriguzhe snorted coldly and turned his head away.
Xin Yunzhou grasped Xin Kui's hand tightly in his palm, looked down at her, and his eyes were filled with undisguised heartache and admiration. His wife was far stronger and wiser than he had imagined.
The following afternoon, Xin Jiuwei summoned Xin Kui to the pavilion in the Imperial Garden to speak with her, actually because she was worried about her and wanted to comfort her.
"I'm sorry you had to go through what happened yesterday," Xin Jiuwei said softly, holding Xin Kui's hand. "I never imagined that the Northern Di would be so shameless."
Xin Kui shook her head, her smile gentle yet tinged with weariness: "Your Majesty, rest assured, I am fine. A few rumors cannot harm me. It's just... that they have angered my husband, and I feel uneasy about it."
“It’s only natural for Brother Yunzhou to protect you,” Xin Jiuwei said. “But you handled it very well, saving face and silencing them. I’m very pleased.”
Just then, a palace maid came to report that Princess Qiqige requested an audience with the Empress, saying that she had long admired the scenery of the Imperial Garden and wished to come and admire it. She happened to find the Empress here and came to pay her respects.
Xin Jiuwei and Xin Kui exchanged a glance, knowing that this "chance encounter" was by no means accidental.
"Let's announce it," Xin Jiuwei said calmly.
Qiqige arrived in full regalia, bowed, and her gaze fell upon Xin Kui. Feigning surprise, she said, "So, Sister is also here with Her Majesty the Empress? What a coincidence." She sat down on a stone bench and looked around the pavilion. "The gardens of Daliang are indeed exquisite, unlike our Northern Di, with their boundless grasslands. Although vast, they lack a certain charm." Her words still carried a sense of comparison.
Xin Jiuwei remained calm: "Different places nurture different people, and each landscape has its own beauty. As long as the princess likes it, that's fine."
Qiqige smiled, then suddenly turned to Xin Kui, her tone "concerned": "Sister, yesterday at the banquet, my brother's words were offensive, and I apologize to you on his behalf. He was also...sigh, he was just worried about me."
Xin Kui raised an eyebrow slightly: "What do you mean by that, Princess?"
Qiqige lowered her head shyly, fiddling with the hem of her clothes. "To be honest, Your Majesty and my sister, actually... actually, the reason my father sent me here with my uncle is because he... he wants to forge an eternal alliance with the Great Liang. My father hopes... hopes to choose a hero from the Great Liang as my husband, so that from then on, the Northern Di and the Great Liang will be related by marriage, and there will be no more wars." As she spoke, her gaze seemed to drift into the distance—there, Xin Yunzhou was being summoned to the palace, walking with Qi Huaihe towards the Imperial Study, his handsome figure particularly striking in the sunlight.
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