As soon as the Empress finished speaking, everyone looked at Lanqin.
Lanqin was unaware of the true situation and was thus placed in the spotlight. Lanqin understood that Fourth Master had made her take the seat of honor despite the lack of etiquette in order to compensate her for not seeing Wuxiha off.
“Yes, Consort Xi, the Emperor has invited you, you mustn’t spoil his fun…” said Lady Nian.
Although the Empress remained expressionless, her eyes revealed jealousy and rage. To suppress her anger, she clenched her fists in secret.
Consort Nian was overjoyed, and her voice rose: "Your Highness, this is a banquet specially prepared by His Majesty for Wuxiha's wedding. As Wuxiha's legal mother, it is only natural for you to sit next to His Majesty..."
After Consort Nian finished speaking, she softly asked the Empress, "Your Majesty, do you agree with what I said?"
The Empress's face twitched. She sat up straight and turned to look directly at Consort Nian: "Consort Nian is very thoughtful. As long as His Majesty is happy, what harm is there in me offering my seat to Consort Xi? The other person sitting here is a relative, so there's no need to be so formal today."
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty the Empress and the Noble Consort. I am truly unworthy of such a favor! Your Majesty the Empress and the Noble Consort Nian understand my grief over my daughter's marriage and have disregarded etiquette for my sake. I am deeply moved..." Lanqin resolutely stood up, walked to the center, gave a slight bow to the Fourth Prince and the Empress, and politely declined.
The Fourth Prince looked dejected and drank a cup of wine alone. The Empress, hearing Lanqin's words, finally breathed a sigh of relief. She glanced at the Fourth Prince, then raised her own cup and smiled at Lanqin, saying, "Consort Xi's constant adherence to the rules is truly a model for everyone in the harem. I am ashamed to admit my inferiority. I almost put Consort Xi in an unjust position just now; I have failed in my duty, and I punish myself with this cup..."
Lanqin smiled and said, "Your Majesty flatters me. I am merely keeping Your Majesty's teachings in mind. It is my good fortune to receive Your Majesty's farewell. I am deeply grateful!"
The Empress was very pleased with Lanqin's actions this time, and smiled at her more often.
Consort Nian, however, was not so satisfied. She angrily turned her head away, her face already showing her resentment. She hadn't expected Lanqin to refuse; she had thought she could use this opportunity to embarrass the Empress, but now she had missed out. Suddenly, she felt the banquet was pointless, but still unwilling to give up, she spoke up: "Consort Xi is indeed Consort Xi! She can refuse the Emperor's good intentions so easily! The Emperor said you can take a seat, so naturally you can! I've already said this is a family banquet; there aren't so many rules!"
These words were clearly a provocation. If they didn't sit, it would seem like they were offending the Fourth Prince. If they did sit, it would give everyone something to criticize them for. Not only would it embarrass the Empress, but the imperial relatives and their families would also gossip.
Lanqin knew in her heart that she could not overstep her bounds as Empress at the banquet.
Hongli suddenly stood up, smiling as he said to the Emperor, "Father, I am deeply moved to see the ladies showing such consideration and courtesy to one another. I think Father should include this scene in a book. Hongzhou argued with the young prince for a long time in the Imperial Study for a seat close to his tutor. This is a good opportunity for Hongzhou to learn from this..."
Hongzhou suddenly heard his name called, scratched his head in surprise, stood up and said angrily, "Father, you're wronged! I can't hear my master, so naturally I want to sit in the front..."
Everyone burst into laughter, leaving Hongzhou completely bewildered...
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