Chapter 453: King Rui (3)
Near the upper seats for guests sat a man and a woman, both very young. It was late autumn, and the weather was actually quite chilly. Even the daughters of officials, who often dressed extravagantly to show off their splendor, would wear cloaks to avoid catching a cold. The young woman wore a thin, golden gauze dress, intricately embroidered with patterns that would have taken a year or two to complete. Her features were delicate, but her movements were not particularly respectful. Even as the ceremonial officer began to recite the blessing, she glanced at the crowd with disdain, her expression devoid of any respect.
This young woman was Princess Ming'an. Beside Princess Ming'an was the Crown Prince of Qin, Huangfu Hao. Huangfu Hao was a better person than Princess Ming'an, at least not as overtly impudent as she was. He continued to smile as he watched the proceedings unfold, as if genuinely honored to see Ming and Qi pay tribute. However, this smiling face only served to chill one's heart.
Luo Tan was attending such an occasion for the first time, and naturally, she noticed the person in the VIP seat. She thought for a moment, tugged on the sleeve of a nearby official's daughter, and when no one was paying attention, whispered, "Why are only the Crown Prince and Princess of Qin here, and His Royal Highness the Prince Rui of Daliang here?"
The young lady was caught off guard by Luo Tan's sudden pull and was almost startled. Although she was a little displeased, she still explained her doubts to Luo Tan in accordance with her good manners: "His Royal Highness Prince Rui of Daliang is not feeling well and has not come today."
Luo Tan suddenly realized what was going on and looked at Shen Miao, who was standing beside her. Naturally, she had heard everything that Luo Tan and the young lady were saying. Luo Tan said, "His Royal Highness Prince Rui is really arrogant. He's deliberately trying to embarrass the Emperor."
Ming Qi paid tribute, and the people from Qin and Daliang came to offer congratulations. However, Prince Rui's absence during the ceremony was a slap in the face to the Ming Qi royal family in front of the entire world. Yet, the Ming Qi royal family dared not get angry, and even treated him to delicious food and drink. For no reason, in this world, the strong are respected, and Ming Qi would never dare to go against Daliang.
The tribute ceremony lasted a full three hours, beginning at midday, when the sun was at its hottest, and ending near dusk. All civil and military officials and their families were confined to the ceremony, a prolonged ordeal. The same was true for the emperor and empress. The higher one's status, the more attention they received, and the less likely they were to show signs of fatigue.
Even a young lady from a military family like Luo Tan, who had martial arts skills, felt somewhat powerless. Turning around, she saw Shen Miao standing straight, her hands folded before her, looking dignified and majestic. Luo Tan couldn't help but be slightly startled. She quietly asked, "Little cousin, aren't you tired?"
Shen Miao said, “Not tired.”
Luo Tan was amazed. The women around him were all relaxing in the dark, using their wide sleeves or skirts to relax. It was rare to find someone as honest as Shen Miao. Luo Tan wanted to persuade Shen Miao to secretly relax a little, but watching her movements, he couldn't bring himself to say it.
Luo Tan had always known that Shen Miao's demeanor was rare. She wasn't one for nitpicking, so she couldn't quite articulate the feeling. She simply had a hunch that Shen Miao looked different from the other girls in Xiaochun City. Now, upon arriving here, she felt a false sense of security, as if the solemn and majestic demeanor of heaven and earth, when exhibited by Shen Miao, was the correct posture. Even the empress on the high throne couldn't match Shen Miao's grace at this moment. For another sixteen-year-old girl to display such grace was already a rare sight.
Luo Tan wasn't the only one who noticed this; it seemed some of the sons of noble families were also gradually drawn to Shen Miao. Among the listless noble ladies, Shen Miao truly stood out. Seeing this, Luo Ling frowned slightly, then quietly shifted his body to shield Shen Miao from his own gaze, shielding her from those somewhat presumptuous glances.
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