Chapter 173 The Great General Wang Fenglangjuxu
The glazed palace lanterns illuminated the snowy night like day, and everyone bowed and shouted, "Long live the Queen Mother..."
"Everyone, get up!"
Chu Ruohan and Gu Junze took their seats, with Princess Huijia sitting at the top, followed by Shen Qingwan.
"Aunt." Gu Junze bowed.
Chu Ruohan had a perfect smile on her face and bowed in the direction of Princess Huijia and Shen Qingwan.
"Meet Princess Huijia, Miss Shen is well."
Princess Huijia raised the corner of her mouth, with a touch of friendliness in her eyes, and nodded, "We are all family, why be so polite? Just call me aunt, Junze."
Chu Ruohan bowed slightly and replied obediently, "Yes, aunt."
While they were talking, a cold snort suddenly came from behind. Princess Huijia's smiling face instantly turned cold. She turned her head and her eyes, like torches, shot straight at Shen Qingwan.
"Behave yourself! I told you not to enter the palace, but you refused to listen! The King of Zheng is probably here to discuss a marriage. What? Do you still want to be favored by him?"
Shen Qingwan immediately stopped and lowered her head. She didn't want to marry into a barbaric land.
Every day I have to compete with a group of women for their favor, and try my best to please a man. Just thinking about such a life is scary.
From outside the palace came the eunuch's shrill announcement: "The King of Zheng has arrived—"
For a moment, the entire hall fell silent, and everyone's eyes were cast towards the hall door.
A tall and straight man stepped into the hall, wearing a crystal clear and warm jade crown with intricate and delicate dragon patterns outlined with gold threads.
Zheng Lin, the king of Zheng State, was followed by Wang, the general of Zheng State who was in charge of the Liangjuxu Army.
He joined the army at the age of thirteen and was crowned the Wolf's Lair at nineteen...
He was a brave warrior who made great plans on the battlefield and expanded the territory of Zheng State by more than three times.
The emperors of the two countries exchanged some pleasantries and then took their seats.
The banquet officially began with lively singing and dancing, and delicious food and wine were served continuously.
Chu Ruohan was watching the performance on the stage intently. Suddenly, Zheng Lin's gaze swept towards them and his eyes briefly met Chu Ruohan's.
Chu Ruohan was startled and subconsciously lowered her eyes, feeling that there seemed to be deep meaning in the eyes of the Emperor of Zheng.
Gu Junze noticed her strangeness and followed her gaze, and happened to meet Zheng Lin's eyes.
Zheng Lin nodded slightly as a greeting, and Gu Junze also responded politely.
Shen Qingwan had her eyes lowered, playing with the corner of her clothes out of boredom. Just at this moment, she raised her eyes and met Zheng Lin's cold yet handsome face.
Her breathing suddenly stopped, and she couldn't help but mutter to herself, "She's quite pretty."
"I thought the King of Zheng was an old man in his fifties, but I didn't expect him to be so handsome."
Princess Huijia had of course heard that her daughter was still so impatient when she met a man with outstanding looks.
She coughed lightly. Although the sound was not loud, it made Shen Qingwan shudder all over and lower her head. No matter how beautiful she was, it was useless. She only had her cousin in her heart.
She secretly raised her eyes and glanced at Gu Junze, and saw that he was talking in a low voice with Chu Ruohan with a gentle expression.
It was something she had never seen before.
Shen Qingwan felt a pang of bitterness in her heart, and quickly lowered her head, her fingers subconsciously tightening the hem of her skirt.
In the magnificent banquet hall, the sound of stringed instruments echoed melodiously, and the aroma of wine and delicacies filled every inch of the air.
Everyone was laughing and talking, clinking glasses, and the party was very lively.
However, amidst this clamor, there was a place that seemed to be separated by an invisible barrier.
General Wang Duan Qingye sat alone at the table, his face as cold as frost and his features hard, as if they had been carefully carved by the knife of time.
He just sat there quietly, but his whole body exuded a solemn and murderous aura that made people feel daunted.
Although everyone secretly cast their eyes at him from time to time, no one dared to come forward to toast him.
This is a killing god.
Back then, if the princess had not led the army to defend the border, the country would have been annexed and fallen into the hands of the State of Zheng.
A pair of gazes locked onto him. Duan Qingye put down his wine glass and looked accurately at Marquis Anyang.
There were complex emotions hidden in Marquis Anyang's eyes, including fear, unwillingness, and a hint of imperceptible resentment.
Duan Qingye, however, had an indifferent expression, his thin lips slightly raised, revealing a hint of mocking smile.
That cold look seemed to declare that he didn't take Marquis Anyang's hostility seriously at all.
"Prince Consort Gu, I haven't seen him for many years, yet he has already been granted the title of Marquis. However, his face has aged a lot, and it's even uglier."
The disdain in his voice was so obvious that the originally noisy guests around him all cast curious glances at him.
When did Marquis Anyang get to know Duan Qingye?
Judging from their appearance alone, the two men are of similar age, but Marquis Anyang looks ten years older and no longer has the charm and elegance of his youth.
In contrast, the years have only added a touch of maturity to Duan Qingye's features.
"Duan Qingye!" Marquis Anyang gritted his teeth and spat out these three words, the anger in his eyes almost bursting out, "Don't go too far! This is Jin State, not the place for you to act wildly!"
The ministers around him all thought he was crazy. Who was Duan Qingye? How could he be easily offended?
They no longer have a Princess Anyang in the State of Jin.
Duan Qingye stood up slowly, his posture as straight as a pine tree. His black brocade robe swayed slightly with his movements, making him look even more imposing.
He walked towards Marquis Anyang step by step with steady steps. Every step seemed to step on everyone's heart, making people hold their breath.
"act wildly?"
Duan Qingye walked up to Marquis Anyang, leaned forward slightly, stared straight into his eyes, with a mocking smile still on his lips.
"If I really want to act wild, what can you do to me?"
His voice was not loud, but it was like a heavy hammer, hitting Marquis Anyang's heart hard.
So arrogant.
The banquet was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Everyone held their breath, afraid of making even the slightest sound.
The emperor's face was gloomy, and his eyes were filled with indescribable anger and helplessness.
Why would Marquis Anyang provoke him for no reason?
Duan Qingye picked up his wine glass and took a sip. His leisurely demeanor was at odds with the tense atmosphere around him.
He put down his glass, looked up at the entire room, and spoke slowly but with great penetrating force: "It was just a misunderstanding, please don't take it personally. I also hope that the friendship between our two countries will be like this fine wine, becoming more fragrant with age."
Although the words were spoken beautifully, the sharpness in the eyes still made people feel cold.
"This prince and Lord Gu haven't seen each other for a long time, and the joke went too far."
As Duan Qingye spoke, he looked at Anyang Hou again. The provocation in his eyes had not diminished at all. He sat down again as if nothing had happened, picked up the wine glass, and drank slowly.
Zheng Lin walked down from his high seat, holding a wine glass, and walked in front of Gu Junze.
"Prince Gu, I am deeply grateful for your care for my younger brother."
Gu Junze raised his head and met Zheng Lin's gaze, feeling a strong sense of discomfort in his heart.
It seemed like he was saying thank you, but in fact he was bringing his relationship with Yun Ge'er to the table.
Once the war between the two countries breaks out again, he and Han'er will become the target of public criticism.
What a ungrateful person!
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