Qin Ge had to admit that Jun Chenbi's words had unsettled him, leaving him in a state of utter confusion for quite some time.
Out of necessity, he claimed to be ill for a few days, wanting to calm down for a while.
However, he was destined to become a powerful minister, and he could not keep running away. How could he become a close advisor to the emperor if he kept feigning illness and staying away from home?
He has always been mentally mature and strong. After adjusting his mindset, he "recovered" and returned to work.
Fortunately, the tyrant did not mention the incident at the Jade Dew Pool again.
In the eyes of the world, Qin Ge was still the top scholar who was deeply favored by the emperor, with a bright and limitless future.
However, with Princess Fengxi as an example, even if someone wanted the top scholar as their son-in-law, they wouldn't dare risk offending the princess.
Previously, Qin Ge had intended to mention to the tyrant the matter of Princess Fengxi entangled with him, but after what happened that day, he gave up on the idea and didn't utter a single word in front of Jun Chenbi.
With no one to restrain her, Princess Fengxi's advances toward the top scholar became increasingly high-profile.
There were even rumors in the court that the top scholar would become Princess Fengxi's husband.
It seemed as if the matter was already a done deal.
…
Only Jun Yuanyao herself knew that no matter how much she tried to win over the top scholar, she could never truly enter his heart.
That person was like a flower in a mirror or the moon in the water, only to be admired from afar and not to be touched. Only when you get close will you find that he is surrounded by a hazy mist, and he is hidden behind that mist, making him unfathomable.
As a princess of Dayong, Jun Yuanyao possesses the obsessive and fanatical bloodline of the Jun royal family. The more unattainable something is, the more she desires it and the less likely she is to give up easily.
After pouring so much effort into "Mu Xiange", Princess Fengxi found it hard to give him up.
—Whether from a subjective emotional perspective or from the perspective of advantages and disadvantages.
Inside the princess's residence, Jun Yuanyao's eyes flickered slightly. She thought she had to do something, otherwise, if she, a dignified princess of Dayong, lowered herself to please a scholar from a poor family who had achieved the highest rank in the imperial examinations, and in the end she didn't even get a title, she would probably be ridiculed by the whole world.
She, Jun Yuanyao, couldn't bear to lose face like that!
Not long after, it was the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet. The current Empress Dowager was not the Emperor's biological mother. Since Jun Chenbi ascended the throne, she had been worshipping Buddha at Mount Wutai and did not live in the palace. She did not even show up when the tyrant took a concubine.
However, according to custom, when the Empress Dowager celebrates her birthday, the emperor and his ministers are expected to join in the festivities.
Empress Dowager Cixi was welcomed back to the palace.
The birthday banquet was organized by the Ministry of Rites.
Qin Ge is from the Hanlin Academy, so there's no need to put in much effort.
On the day of his birthday, he would wear a scarlet official robe and have plenty of time to attend the birthday banquet held by Empress Dowager Cixi in the palace.
It is said that Empress Dowager Cixi lived a secluded life since the reign of the late emperor, devoted herself to Buddhism, and was a person with the most compassionate heart. Her birthday banquet was not extravagant and was held in the Imperial Garden.
As night falls, 108 palace lanterns are lit, illuminating pavilions, towers, and waterside terraces, making the moonlight hazy and radiant.
Palace servants attended to him, serving tea, wine, and food.
Female musicians and dancers performed.
The sounds of silk and bamboo instruments filled the air.
Qin Ge pointed to a cup of wine, his crimson official robes flowing freely as he sat among the officials. Amidst a group of middle-aged officials with families, elderly court veterans in their seventies or eighties, or burly military generals, the handsome and refined scholar was indeed a unique sight.
This attracted many young women to secretly watch.
It's just a pity...
This is the future consort that Princess Fengxi has chosen.
They could only look, not touch.
…
Qin Ge felt he had been discreet enough tonight, but when he looked up, he saw Princess Fengxi, dressed in a magnificent palace gown, standing in front of his desk, holding a wine cup and smiling at him.
Qin Ge was quite annoyed, thinking: 'Here it comes, here it comes again...'
As a subject, he still had to give Jun Yuanyao some face in this situation.
Qin Ge stood up and bowed, "Princess."
"No need for such formalities, Your Excellency. It is the Empress's birthday, and I am in high spirits today. I would like to offer you a toast!" Jun Yuanyao said as she turned around and picked up a pot of wine from the tray carried by a palace maid. She personally filled the wine cup in front of Qin Ge, then poured one for herself before raising her cup to him: "Fengxi has done many things that were not right in the past, causing trouble for Your Excellency. I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to Your Excellency and ask for your forgiveness."
If Qin Ge doesn't drink this cup of wine, it would be disrespectful to the Empress Dowager and it would also show that he hasn't forgiven her.
They offended two of the most noble women in the imperial family.
Therefore, Qin Ge had no choice but to drink this wine.
Perhaps seeing Qin Ge's slight hesitation, Jun Yuanyao drank first as a sign of respect.
Seeing Jun Yuanyao drink it all in one gulp, looking so cheerful, and knowing that the wine was poured from the same pot and the cup was the one he had been using, Qin Ge hesitated for a moment, thinking that perhaps he was overthinking it...
Tonight is Empress Dowager Cixi's birthday banquet. As a princess of the country, Jun Yuanyao would surely not do anything improper...
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