Prince Beiping curled his lips and smiled, "I'm going to prepare a birthday gift for the Empress's wife."
Su Man noticed that even in front of Murong Hong, he still called himself "The King".
As Su Man expected, Murong Hong's face immediately turned as if he had eaten half a fly. He was about to vomit and his face turned green.
But the Queen Mother continued, "Thank you, Prince of Beiping. I wonder what kind of birthday gift you would like?"
Murong Hong couldn't get angry after being interrupted by the Queen Mother. He could only say with a forced smile, "The gift from the Emperor's uncle is certainly a treasure."
Prince Beiping turned his head to face the outside of the palace and said, "Come on, move in."
Seven or eight people carried in a golden Buddha.
"Knowing that the Empress Dowager sincerely worships Buddha, I have specially requested this for her. May she live a long and healthy life."
The Queen Mother smiled happily, "Prince Beiping is so thoughtful."
After presenting the gift, the Prince of Beiping walked over and sat down below the emperor.
When Murong Hong ascended the throne, he had dealt with all the previous emperor's princes, leaving only the youngest, Twelve, who was granted the title of a prince.
Therefore, there is only one prince with the surname Murong, the Prince of Beiping, whose status is noble and second only to the emperor.
Su Man used the action of drinking to look at the King of Beiping subtly.
Prince Beiping turned his head sharply and met Su Man's eyes.
He raised the wine glass frivolously, put it to the slightly thin lips, slowly tilted his head back, and his Adam's apple rolled.
Su Man acted as if nothing had happened and drank the wine in the glass.
Prince Beiping raised his eyebrows. In the past, Guman had never been kind to him because of Prime Minister Gu and Murong Hong, but now he responded to him.
Haha, interesting.
...
The royal family's banquets were nothing more than Kabuki performances, with performances by concubines with special skills.
Halfway through, the Queen Mother said she was tired and left early.
After the Queen Mother left, everyone relaxed a lot, and the concubines began to toast Su Man and Murong Hong.
Concubine Li raised her wine glass and said in the direction of Su Man and Murong Hong, "I wish the Emperor and Empress a long and prosperous life."
Murong Hong raised his glass and said, "My beloved concubine is thoughtful. Today's birthday banquet is very well organized."
Concubine Li reacted calmly to Murong Hong's praise. Instead, she looked at Su Man and asked, "What do you think, Your Majesty?"
Su Man smiled, "Excellent."
Concubine Li smiled and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty and Your Majesty."
In the eyes of the scheming emperor, the friendly interaction between the two was just a deliberate provocation by Concubine Li, and Su Man was speechless and perfunctory.
He nodded with satisfaction.
Suddenly, a cry for mercy attracted everyone's attention.
"Your Highness, please calm down. This servant did not mean it."
The little palace maid who poured wine for Prince Beiping knelt at his feet and trembled.
The front of the Prince of Beiping's clothes was soaked, and his index and middle fingers were still holding the blue and white porcelain wine glass.
Murong Hong glanced at the palace maid and said, "What crime should you take for being so careless?"
The little palace maid kept kowtowing, "Your Majesty, please spare my life, Your Majesty, please spare my life."
The Prince of Beiping lifted the maid's chin with his folding fan. "Such a beauty, crying like a pear blossom in the rain is pitiful. Today is the Emperor's sister-in-law's birthday, so it's inappropriate to see blood. Why not let her help me change my clothes and atone for my sin?"
The words were ambiguous, and the concubines all lowered their eyes.
After the King of Beiping left the table, a gloom appeared in Murong Hong's eyes.
-
rear hall
The Prince of Beiping hung his coat on the screen and said, "Bring the clothes here."
The coat was passed around the screen.
When Prince Beiping came out and saw the people outside, the smile on his lips became even wider. "I feel unworthy of asking the Queen to serve me."
Su Man ignored the teasing in his tone and said, "Please forgive me, Prince Beiping. I have no choice but to meet you in this way. I really have something important to discuss with you."
"Important matters to discuss? Isn't it enough that Prime Minister Gu discusses matters with me in court every day?" The King of Beiping said in a teasing tone.
Su Man paused and said, "As a minister, there are some things I have to do even if I don't want to. The court is now divided into two factions, led by the prince and my father. If we fight to the death, we will both end up being eaten alive. So, on behalf of the Gu family, I have come to form an alliance with the King of Beiping."
“…”
After saying this, Su Man was still unsure.
The two families have been fighting openly and secretly for many years, so you must show great sincerity to gain his trust.
But the Prince of Beiping was able to survive the struggle for the throne between two dynasties, so he was no ordinary person. If he didn't believe it and called someone in, she would probably die here today.
Prince Beiping did not respond, but his eyes slowly slid across Su Man. Although he did not move, she felt that she was being taken advantage of.
"Surrender to me?"
Prince Beiping laughed. He pressed on, blocking the candlelight and completely shrouding Su Man in his shadow. He lowered his head and asked, "Why should I trust you?"
If we can’t form an alliance today, it will be difficult to meet the King of Beiping again next time.
Su Man was desperate, "How do you want me to prove it, Your Majesty?"
"Then show some sincerity."
The next second, Su Man's waist was restrained by strong arms and pressed against the chest of King Beiping.
At a distance within earshot, Prince Beiping sniffed her hair.
"Jasmine."
Aside from her initial surprise, Su Man remained calm. "I want to form an alliance with the prince for mutual benefit, but that doesn't mean my Gu family will grant you whatever you want."
The Prince of Beiping did not retreat but advanced, holding Su Man's waist with his big hands, and a steady stream of warmth was transmitted into her through the clothes.
His voice became hoarse, "What if I say that you are the condition for me to join forces with the Gu family?"
Su Man remained calm. "Your Highness's position is second only to the emperor, yet the emperor cannot tolerate even his own brothers, let alone his uncle who holds military power. Whether my Gu family wins or Your Highness wins, we will both be doomed in the end. Please consider this carefully, Your Highness."
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