Chapter 157 A Frenzy of Losing Composure
The dishes served were all excessively sweet pastries, and Wen Weizhu ate them too quickly and hastily, soon choking. She covered her mouth, her face turning bright red.
Consort Jiang hurriedly fetched her water, but the table was empty except for some snacks.
The people at the banquet had been paying attention to their table, and of course they all noticed the situation, but without the emperor's orders, no one dared to offer them any help.
It wasn't until Wen Weizhu's face turned purple and she slid off the table, struggling to breathe, that the Emperor chuckled and said, "It seems the second young lady of the Wen family is too happy and eager to celebrate with the young master Wen. Someone, bring Miss Wen a pot of good wine."
We can't let Wen Weizhu choke to death at the banquet in front of everyone.
This little girl was locked up for several months, and she was wolfing down her food like a starving ghost. You'd think he hadn't arranged for anyone to deliver food to Dongling Pavilion.
He felt that Wen Weizhu had embarrassed him, so naturally he didn't want Wen Weizhu to have an easy time.
That's why I instructed the servants to bring wine instead of water.
At this moment, Wen Weizhu was already on the ground, choking and making a complete fool of herself. When she got the wine jug, her survival instinct made her gulp down several mouthfuls.
The choking caused her considerable suffering, bringing tears to her eyes and soiling her prison clothes.
But that's not the worst of it. At least before, there were other people from the Prince of Anshun's mansion who were there to face this embarrassing situation with her. Now, everyone's attention is focused on her alone. Their gazes have changed from pity to mockery and ridicule. Even her father and mother look at her with disgust.
But how can you blame her? She was just hungry, craving something, and wanted to eat something. What's wrong with that?
These are the people who are bullying her, making things difficult for her, and waiting to see her make a fool of herself!
This idea of her indiscriminately hating everyone around her was reinforced once again.
"Prince Wen and his bride have arrived," the eunuch announced loudly at the entrance of the banquet.
Only then did everyone stop their mocking glances at Wen Weizhu and turn to look at the intersection.
Leading the way was Wen Zhiming, who was dressed with an air of grandeur and unparalleled handsomeness. However, his eyes wandered around and his hands moved erratically, making it impossible to ignore his foolishness.
Li Yanzi was supported by palace maids and followed behind, her steps slow and her hands clenched. She seemed unable to adapt to such a grand occasion.
The man was mentally challenged, and the woman was timid; the onlookers shook their heads and sighed inwardly.
Wen Zhiming walked to the center of the banquet, looked at the Emperor, and then at Prince Anshun and others on the side. His handsome face looked around, as if he didn't know who to approach first. It was only after his subordinate reminded him that he knelt down to pay his respects to the Emperor.
Li Yan'er, who was behind her, hurriedly knelt down as well. However, the movement was too abrupt, and the buns and eggs she had tucked into her sleeve rolled out. Knowing that this was extremely impolite, she didn't even say a word of greeting before kneeling on the ground and frantically picking them up.
The officials craned their necks in curiosity and whispered among themselves.
"What is this that the bride is wearing?"
"It looks like meat buns and eggs. This bride is so greedy! Look at her sleeves, they're covered in oil, what a mess..."
"Indeed, it's so improper. The young lady of the Prince of Anshun's mansion is greedy, and so is the newlywed bride. They really are birds of a feather."
"To be so disrespectful in front of the Emperor is utterly disrespectful! Good heavens, she picked it up again after it was all soiled!"
"The bride used to be a palace maid, and she was used to being frugal; her ingrained nature is hard to change..."
Li Yan'er was extremely ashamed and just wanted to finish picking up all the luggage as quickly as possible so that everyone's attention would no longer be on her. However, an egg rolled under the table next to her. Li Yan'er was kneeling on the ground, her vision blocked by her bridal veil. When she picked it up, she bumped into the foot of the minister next to the egg.
The minister was so frightened that he stood up and waved his hands repeatedly.
"No, no, no..."
The officials, who had been chuckling softly, burst into laughter upon seeing this.
Only the table where Prince Anshun sat had particularly unpleasant expressions.
Li Yan'er finally picked up the steamed buns and eggs, knelt on the ground, and stammered and trembling as she bowed to the Emperor.
Everyone thought the Emperor would be angry, but he just smiled and told them to rise.
"The bride is pregnant, and she certainly doesn't want her unborn child to go hungry. Hiding some food in her wedding dress, though against the rules, shows her love for her child. Prince Wen has married such a virtuous and thrifty bride, and they will surely be a loving and devoted couple in the future."
Seeing that the Emperor himself had come to Li Yan'er's rescue, the officials who had been mocking her immediately straightened their faces and repeatedly agreed.
Despite the livid faces of the Prince of Anshun and his wife, there was still no sign of their expression softening.
The emperor ostensibly tried to extricate them from the predicament, but in reality, he was still trying to rub salt into their wounds.
After all, what decent young woman would get pregnant before marriage, and what noble family would need a thrifty bride?
The emperor was very pleased with their unpleasant expressions.
He then took pity on Wen Zhiming and said, "Good nephew, didn't you want to see your father and mother? I've invited them over. Go over and say a few words, and you can get married shortly afterward."
Upon receiving the order, Wen Zhiming nodded with delight and said, "Thank you, Imperial Uncle."
He ran to the table of Prince Anshun and his group in a few steps, leaving Li Yan'er in the middle of the banquet without paying any attention to her.
Li Yan'er was stunned for a moment, then secretly followed behind him.
After running over, Wen Zhiming called out "Father" and "Mother," then looked aggrieved and couldn't say anything else.
Looking at his eldest son, who was even taller than him and had an outstanding appearance but was somewhat mentally challenged, Prince Anshun felt both ashamed and pained. However, with so many people watching, he couldn't say anything sentimental.
He patted Wen Zhiming on the shoulder and said, "It's good that you're alive. Live well."
Princess Anshun had countless questions to ask and countless concerns to express, but the moment her eyes met Wen Zhiming's, she suddenly felt that Wen Zhiming was a little different. She actually saw a wisdom and composure in Wen Zhiming's eyes that she had not seen in ten years.
Her son seems to have returned to normal!
Her daughter-in-law, Meng Lingge, succeeded!
Princess Anshun's heart was pounding with excitement, but she knew that Wen Zhiming was still feigning madness to deceive the Emperor. She absolutely could not show any abnormality and put Wen Zhiming in danger.
She pretended not to know anything and gently punched Wen Zhiming.
"You're ridiculous, you're useless! How could you marry a palace maid? And get pregnant before marriage! Are you trying to drive your father and mother to their deaths?"
The frustration of seeing children fail to live up to their potential, coupled with pity for the children, moved everyone present to tears.
Wen Zhiming stood there dumbfounded, seemingly unaware of what he had done wrong.
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