Chapter 457 Forced Competition (1)
The tribute banquet was filled with boisterous wine and lively conversation, giving the impression of a truly prosperous and peaceful era. However, at the VIP table, Emperor Wenhui and Crown Prince Huangfu Hao's conversation was somewhat cautious, and those who were watching could clearly hear it.
Among Qin, Daliang, and Mingqi, Mingqi was the weakest, Qin was second, and Daliang was the strongest. The Yongle Emperor's unyielding style made both Qin and Mingqi wary, and thus they treated the Rui Wang from Daliang with great respect. As for Huangfu Hao, he was also quite tentative when speaking to the Rui Wang.
Most of the women were glued to the Rui Prince, their every move a delight to the eyes. Ming Qi's men were indeed quite handsome, like Fu Xiuyi, but in front of the Rui Prince, they lacked some of their inherent elegance and nobility, appearing somewhat inferior.
Although Luo Tan also loved beautiful women, he was a fickle person and was quickly attracted by the delicious food. He tried this and that and was very happy.
Because the tribute banquet did not distinguish between men and women, the official family sat together. Luo Ling also sat close to Shen Miao. Seeing that Shen Miao did not eat, he handed the piece of snow cake in front of him to Shen Miao and said gently, "Cousin, eat something too, otherwise you will not have enough energy when you go back."
Chen Qiu wanted to pick up a piece for Chen Miao, but Luo Ling had already got there first. He didn't know where to put the snow cake in his chopsticks. His own bowl was already full. Besides, why would a grown man eat snow cake? After thinking for a while, he put it in front of Feng An Ning, who was closest to Chen Miao.
Feng Anning took it flattered, said thank you but didn't eat it, staring at the snow cake in a daze.
But at this moment, Huangfu Hao suddenly spoke, "I heard that the mighty General Shen returned to the capital a few days ago. I have always heard of the mighty general's name, but I wonder if I will have the honor of meeting him today?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the lively banquet suddenly became quiet again.
Prince Qin wants to meet Shen Xin? What does this mean?
Chen Xin and the Crown Prince of Qin had no connection at all, but now one of them was the general who had just been recalled to Dingjing by Emperor Wenhui, and the other was the Crown Prince of Qin. Both of their identities were very sensitive. Everyone couldn't help but look at Emperor Wenhui's expression.
Emperor Wenhui's smile remained unchanged, as if this was just a very small request, and he looked at Shen Xin and said, "My dear Shen."
Chen Xin hurriedly stood up, bowed to Huangfu Hao, and said, "This humble general greets His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Huangfu Hao smiled and said, "I've long heard that General Shen is incredibly brave and invincible. Even scattered troops from the borderlands can form a new formation. When the Shen family army returned to the capital that day, the people lined the streets and cheered. Alas," he sighed, "If only our Great Qin had a general as talented as him, we would have no worries for a hundred years."
Emperor Wenhui's pupils shrank almost imperceptibly, but the ministers at the banquet changed their expressions, looking at Shen Xin with extremely complicated eyes.
Saying that even scattered troops in remote areas could form a battle formation was ostensibly a compliment to Shen Xin's exceptional talent, but it also implicitly pointed out the dangers he faced. The saying that a tree standing out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind is a time-honored truism. And the people's outcry was so overwhelming. For a general expelled from the capital by the emperor, it meant that between the imperial family and Shen Xin, the people were on Shen Xin's side. No royal family would tolerate a subordinate whose outcry was greater than their own.
As for the last sentence, it truly pushed Shen Xin to the forefront. Huangfu Hao was trying to poach Shen Xin in front of Emperor Wenhui. Even if the Mingqi ministers present had their own ulterior motives, they would always stand united in the face of foreign enemies. The way they looked at Shen Xin, they looked at him as if he were a traitorous general.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
