Mu Bai looked at the few happy people in the distance and fell silent.
Having mastered Mu Bai's hand, Jiang Qing easily raised an eyebrow, then quickly changed the subject, "I wonder what our Fifth Prince looks like now? So many years have passed, and I remember his appearance was quite outstanding. I hope he hasn't grown up much since arriving in Dongwei?"
Mu Bai frowned and said with a stern face, "How could that be? The Fifth Prince is the only prince of our Emperor and Empress. How could Dongwei Kingdom dare to neglect him!"
Jiang Qing nodded, raised an eyebrow and smiled, "That's true. Don't be surprised, back then the Fifth Prince was an ice block, and you were an ice block who always frowned. You two don't still look alike now, do you?"
Mu Bai became more serious, "Jiang Qing!"
Jiang Qing coughed, realizing he'd offended the Fifth Prince again for being disrespectful.
However, the Fifth Prince was indeed an ice block. Jiang Qing recalled seeing a boy with red lips and white teeth standing next to Empress Gong when she was a child. He glanced at her coldly, without any warmth, and his indifference was terrifying.
In comparison, it's clear that a friend who is cold on the outside but warm on the inside is indeed not like that inhuman Fifth Prince. Jiang Qing was also a little puzzled, wondering how someone as gentle as Empress Gong could give birth to someone like the Fifth Prince.
"Alright, I won't say anything more, okay?"
After a while, Jiang Qing opened his mouth again, excitedly asking, "Why do you think His Majesty wanted the Fifth Prince to choose a concubine in Dongwei?"
Mu Bai didn't say anything, but just rolled his eyes at his friend.
Jiang Qing opened her mouth, then painfully closed it again: "..." Being forced to be silent, this chatterbox, is just too painful to not be able to gossip.
The officials stationed in the capital also received this special group of foreigners, took them to the post station, and then immediately returned to the palace to report on their duties.
—
With the arrival of the people from the State of Chu, the State of Dongwei held a palace banquet ostensibly to welcome foreign guests, but in reality, to select a royal consort for Xie Ping.
All the high-ranking officials and all unmarried daughters of the principal wife who were over the age of sixteen were required to attend this palace banquet.
Since choosing a concubine for a prince of another country was not a proper pretext, Qin Heng knew to cover it up by having the court officials attending the palace banquet bring their legitimate sons and wives, thus making the purpose unclear.
Upon receiving the news, Minister Lin also took the palace banquet seriously, assuming it was simply a banquet held in the palace to entertain the envoys from the State of Chu.
He even complained to his wife about the upcoming palace banquet.
Lin's father didn't think much of it, but the shrewd and experienced Prime Minister Bai, although not summoned by the Emperor, felt something was amiss, especially when he thought of his granddaughter Qingqing's captivating face, his heart tightened.
"Chen Wang, go to the Minister's residence and send a letter to Qing'er. Tell her that she is going to a banquet and must wear a veil. Make an excuse that she is sick or something, and tell her not to worry, that her maternal grandfather will support her."
"Yes, sir." Chen Wang was one of the old man's confidants and had seen Miss Lin's true face. He understood his master's intention. Miss Lin Qingqing's face was enough to cause trouble. If it were in earlier times, before the establishment of several kingdoms, she would be a femme fatale who could bring about national disaster and war. After thinking about it, Chen Wang's expression became more serious, and he quickened his pace.
—
Lin Shangshu's residence, Yunjin Pavilion.
"Miss, someone from the Left Prime Minister's residence has come with a message." Xiang Lian ran over, panting.
Upon hearing this, the beautiful young woman, who was lying on the chaise lounge with her delicate features and graceful figure, lazily raised her eyes. That one glance, shimmering with spring-like beauty, instantly possessed a breathtaking allure.
Xiang Lian took a deep breath. She never felt tired of looking at her mistress's stunning face. On the contrary, every glance made her feel that the person in front of her was so beautiful that she was unapproachable. Her aura was so captivating that it made people tremble with fear.
Xianglian dared not delay, afraid that looking at her mistress's exquisitely beautiful face would make her forget what had come from the Prime Minister's residence earlier, so she quickly said, "Miss, the Prime Minister said that if you attend the banquet tomorrow, you must wear a veil. You can use the excuse that you are sick. If anyone asks, don't worry, just say that it is the Prime Minister's order and concern."
Qingyin nodded knowingly. Her maternal grandfather always acted with discretion, which was much better than Lin's father. At least Lin's father hadn't realized the potential danger of her face yet.
"Yes, I understand. Tell that gentleman in the Left Prime Minister's residence to give me a reward and say that I understand."
"Yes, Miss." Xiang Lian came in a hurry and left in a hurry.
Knowing something is different from understanding it. Qingyin believed that her maternal grandfather should have understood what she meant.
Indeed, when Bai Zuoxiang received Qingyin's reply, his wrinkled face relaxed considerably, and he even showed a rather joyful smile.
His granddaughter is quite clever. Cleverness is good; only a clever person with such a face will not be a source of trouble.
Old Master Bai smiled, and Chen Wang, who was delivering the message, no longer felt so much pressure.
It seems that the wise Prime Minister Bai Zuo and Miss Lin Qingqing have already figured out how to handle the situation.
—
Outside the palace, in several fine courtyards, a group of handsome young men couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding.
With a face like Qingqing's, won't something bad happen if she attends a banquet?
No matter how worried they were, they couldn't defy the supreme imperial power and could only attend tomorrow's palace banquet while anxiously waiting.
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