Li Qianru's nails dug into her palms, and her thoughts slowly returned. She looked at Su Heng and Su Zhihui, brother and sister. The clothes they were wearing didn't look like those of ordinary people.
Yes, just as he said, how many people who can come to the banquet are ordinary people?
Realizing that she had done something stupid, she suddenly looked at Shen Li, it was all her fault, and the moment she saw her she remembered how her face was ruined.
When Li Qianru said this, Bai Shuran had been looking at Chen Li for a long time. As for what Chen Li said, she didn't care at all.
There are so many ladies from prominent families in the capital, and many of them like Pei Yu just for his status and appearance, including Li Qianru.
However, Li Qianru said that this woman had been to the north and had been in and out with King Jingnan, and they had a very close relationship. This made her a little wary, and at the same time, she was more in favor of the idea that Li Qianru had just given her.
"Let's go, the banquet is about to begin, don't waste time here."
After Bai Shuran finished speaking, he left with the maid beside him. Apart from looking at Chen Li a few more times, he didn't even look at anyone else.
Pei Yu was dealing with other officials just now. As soon as he arrived, he was surrounded. In the end, it was his cold face that scared away the remaining officials.
Mo Qing sat calmly on the side, and he felt relieved when he saw this scene. He had been very busy these days, while Pei Zian had a beautiful woman by his side and was traveling around.
Humph, now seeing him like this, I feel much better.
As expected, the two of them are indeed bad friends.
As soon as Pei Yu turned around and saw the expression on Mo Qing's face, he knew what he was thinking.
However, he saw that Chen Li seemed to be surrounded by people, so he started walking towards that side. Halfway through, he passed by Bai Shuran and Li Qianru.
"Ali, are you okay?"
When Pei Yu came over, Chen Li was chatting with Su Zhihui, and there was no strange expression on her face.
Hearing his question, she shook her head and said, "I'm fine. You looked quite busy just now. Did I interrupt you?"
Officials cannot avoid socializing. There were so many people around him just now, but they dispersed in the blink of an eye. Chen Li was afraid that it would affect him.
"No, it's all just flattery. It makes people upset. Important things won't be discussed here."
"That's good."
Pei Yu sat down in Shen Qi'an's seat, and Shen Qi'an had already moved a little to the side and came out.
Watching the people outside the hall slowly come in and take their seats, even the women who came to pay their respects to the imperial concubine had arrived, Chen Li looked at the man beside her.
"Aren't you going to the front?"
Pei Yu shook his head. "No hurry. The Emperor will arrive in a cup of tea."
While the two were talking, Xie Yunche also walked in from outside the store. He was wearing a scarlet prince's robe, with his head held high and his chest puffed out, looking very dignified. He looked in good shape today.
When he saw Pei Yu, he turned around and walked over here.
“Prince Jingnan, Miss Shen.”
Chen Li and the Shen family members in front of him stood up and saluted him, "Greetings, King Yan."
When he saw their luggage, Xie Yunche originally wanted to say no, but when he saw the crowds of people in the hall, he reached out his hand and pretended to support Shen Changshan, who was at the front.
"Uncle, please stand up."
Another prince came, and there were more people looking at him. Chen Li looked at the sweat on his parents' foreheads and ordered them to leave.
"Ayu, Prince Yan, you two are of noble status, so please hurry to the front."
Pei Yu naturally understood what he was worried about, so he stood up and said, "Okay, the emperor will be here soon, so we'll go to the front first."
The two of them left side by side, and the surrounding gazes gradually faded. Shen Li sat in the back and could see that Shen Changshan and Lin Cuicui's stiff backs had relaxed.
Although charcoal fire was lit in the hall, it was too spacious. After entering the hall, no one took off their cloaks. It was not until the emperor was about to arrive that more than a dozen pots of charcoal fire were lit.
Chen Li wondered, a royal banquet shouldn't be short of this little bit of charcoal, right? Or was this done on purpose?
"The Emperor has arrived! The Imperial Concubine has arrived!"
Not long after the charcoal fire was lit, Xie Yunci brought in the imperial concubine Bai Shuyi. Xie Yunci was wearing black clothes with a five-clawed golden dragon embroidered with gold thread, which was hovering on the clothes, looking lifelike.
Concubine Bai Shuyi has a bright and elegant appearance, and a small mole on the left wing of her nose adds a bit of charm to her. She also dressed up for the banquet, wearing a golden concubine's costume and a peony-shaped headdress on her head.
"Your Highness, long live the Emperor, and may Your Highness live a thousand years."
Xie Yunci pulled Bai Shuyi to the top and waved his hand, "My dear ministers, please stand up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
In this kind of situation, Chen Li naturally had to kneel down and salute, but because she had been mentally prepared, she was calm.
Xie Yunci gestured to a young eunuch beside him, who immediately shouted, "Begin the feast!"
After he finished speaking, the dancers and musicians who had been waiting outside the hall for a long time came in with their musical instruments, and the sound of stringed instruments began to resound throughout the hall.
Not long after, groups of palace maids dressed in festive attire came in carrying cakes and fruits.
The fruits and pastries were fine, it didn't matter that they were cold. The food that was brought in later had been prepared long ago, and was already cold when it was served.
But no one mentioned this matter, as no one came here to eat.
Chen Li picked up a piece of dragon beard pastry from the plate. It melted in her mouth and was just the right amount of sweetness. A little less would not be sweet enough, and a little more would be too greasy. As expected of an imperial chef in the palace, the pastries she made were delicious.
As for the dishes on the table, I had no intention of touching them. We were eating lard now, and white lard flowers were forming on the dishes. I was afraid of getting diarrhea if I ate them.
Xie Yunci had a total of five concubines. In addition to the highest-ranking imperial concubine, there were two concubines, one noble lady and one maid.
The imperial concubine did not present the gift on the spot. After the other four concubines presented their gifts, it was Xie Yunche's turn.
Xie Yunche came forward holding a box. "Brother Emperor, this is a gift I prepared for you. I wish you a long life, endless blessings, and grace for all. I pray for peace in the world, for the people to live and work in peace, and for the whole world to be at peace."
A young eunuch took the box and opened it. Inside was a jade dragon and two lions. The jade was of high quality. The big lion was lying down and looking back, with its front paws stepping on a ball. The small lion was standing upright with its front paws raised and playing with the big lion.
"good."
Seeing the emperor's joy, the ministers immediately knelt down and said, "May our emperor live forever, have good health, prosper the country, and have good fortune as great as the heavens."
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