Actually, bringing an extra palace maid would be fine: "How about I take you to see her?"
"Really?" Looking into her bright eyes, it was good to take her along. Wan'er was smart; if anything happened along the way, she could help out.
"You two are really something, you're starting to disregard me." Li Zhaole had been outside without making a sound.
She walked over, took the belt from Wan'er's hand, and started tying it on herself: "I can do this kind of thing too."
The technique was too rough; my back is so sore.
"How was it?" Seeing her expectant look, I didn't want to discourage her, so I could only praise her.
"This outfit was made by the embroiderers on my mother's side, and it's not bad." This person is always boasting. I miss her bad temper from before.
This outfit is indeed beautiful, both glamorous and sophisticated. Looking at myself in the mirror, I see a dashing and confident figure. I can't stand it anymore; seeing Ji Ying every day evokes a mix of love and hate.
But only she could keep Xie Yuancheng, so I... well, I'll just pretend it's me.
Li Zhaole suddenly blushed. "I told Xiren to get some snacks to tide us over. We'll be watching performances and listening to Father and Chequ's people talk at the banquet, so we'll definitely be hungry."
I sighed inwardly. Where did that bastard Xie Yuancheng go? Why isn't he here yet?
"I've come at just the right time," I thought to myself. "If I hadn't come, I wouldn't have let you stay in my room tonight."
Li Zhaole, who was originally some distance away from me, now stands right next to me: "Brother Yuancheng, what brings you here?"
"The snow outside hasn't melted yet. I'll come with you so it won't be lonely." Xie Yuancheng's eyes were filled with amazement when he saw me. Sometimes I think he's the kind of person who's blinded by lust.
"That's perfect, let's have some snacks together before we go." Li Zhaole was quite easygoing. Of all the people in the room, Xie Yuancheng was the oldest, but none of them were even twenty-one years old. Young people chatting and laughing together was the most pleasant thing.
The banquet was really lively. The people of Chequ were dressed in very interesting clothes, with a strong exotic flavor. I asked around and found out that Chequ was in the Western Regions. No wonder they all had high noses, fair skin, and long legs.
Li Zhaole deliberately sat between me and Xie Yuancheng; she was being far too cautious.
While Li Zhaole and Anxiang were talking, I deliberately glanced at Xie Yuancheng with a dreamy look. He gripped the cup in his hand tightly, making me compromise on my own.
The Emperor, Empress, and Consort Ji were all dressed in their finest attire, each more radiant than the last.
When the Emperor began to raise his cup, I poured wine for Li Zhaole, but she just lowered her head and didn't say anything.
"Princess and King of Chequ have come from afar, you must be tired."
The wine at the banquet was so spicy that I almost coughed up. I really miss the wine I drank in Linyang.
A burst of music drifted over; the sound was powerful and particularly mysterious.
Several dancers walked in wearing revealing costumes that exposed their waists, arms, and legs. Their dance resembled a modified version of the Flying Apsaras Dance from the Western Regions.
"It's quite pretty," Li Zhaole glanced at me, and I quickly looked away, taking a sip of wine to cover it up.
Just then, a person dressed entirely in red floated over from a nearby pillar. Her clothes were more exquisite than those of the dancers beside her; she must be the princess of Chequ Kingdom.
She had delicate willow-leaf eyebrows, deep-set eyes, and perfectly shaped lips. She was about the same height as Ji Ying, and her legs were stunning—fair, long, and slender, clearly the result of someone who danced regularly.
I glanced at Ji Ying's legs instinctively; they looked nice.
The music grew longer and more mysterious, and everyone stared at Princess Chequ.
I thought the dance would end when the music stopped, but then another person floated down from above. She was dressed in purple, and the moment she came down, she looked at Xie Yuancheng. I was furious.
Because she was wearing a veil, her face couldn't be seen clearly, but judging from her eyes alone, she was definitely very beautiful.
I clenched my fists. If she took a liking to him, I'd beat Xie Yuancheng up when I got back.
This one's dancing skills are actually a notch above; could it be that there are two princesses?
When the music stopped, everyone applauded.
"You think it's just so-so? I think so too," Li Zhaole whispered in my ear. Since she said it so nicely, I poured her another glass of wine.
"Your Majesty, this is my daughter, Cailu." The Emperor stroked his beard and nodded.
Although he had a beard, he looked to be under forty years old, and his eyes betrayed his lustful nature.
"The princess's dancing skills are superb; I'm afraid the Great Zhao Dynasty will not find anyone who can dance better than her."
"Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty." Cailu removed her veil, revealing a truly beautiful face.
Fortunately, Xie Yuancheng had good judgment and picked Ji Ying right away.
Cai Lu is quite alluring, and when no one is around, she is unique. However, if Li Ruowei or Ji Ying stands next to her, she will be overshadowed.
I glanced at Li Ruowei across from me. We were so close, yet I couldn't speak.
She saw me too, and gave a subtle smile. I poured my wine and moved my glass forward, and she moved hers forward as well. I grinned; being able to toast with her like this was pretty good.
I really like those two siblings; I feel both sorry for them and love them dearly.
The banquet was lively and bustling, with everyone toasting and chatting.
I thought the little snacks looked nice, and when I glanced back at Wan'er, I saw that she was also looking at the snacks. I'll secretly put them one by one in the oil paper underneath and take them back to her later.
"My lord, I toast you. Let's forget all the unhappiness of the past." Li Zhaole has really changed a lot. I took the cup and drank it all in one gulp.
I wanted to see Xie Yuancheng, but things are different now than before. There are too many people around, and Consort Ji even glanced at me several times from up there. I guess I'll just have to bear with it.
Someone shouted something, and everyone looked over.
King Chequ walked a few steps to the emperor and whispered a few words in his ear, which made the emperor beam with joy.
"My beloved ministers, Princess Chequ has come from afar to choose a suitable husband for our country. It is truly a blessing from heaven that she has already found someone."
Everyone was cheering and clapping. I closed my eyes briefly, and my palms were sweating.
"Princess Chequ, which one have you taken a fancy to? I'll make the decision for you." Your Majesty, you are truly hospitable.
I prayed in my heart that it wouldn't be Xie Yuancheng, but anyone would do.
Cailu walked to the middle, her beautiful eyes looking in our direction: "Your Majesty, I have taken a liking to that gentleman in black robes with a dark red jacket." Fortunately, Xie Yuancheng was not wearing red or black clothes today.
Li Zhaole looked at me with anger in her eyes. What had I done to offend her?
I looked down and realized I was wearing a dark red robe with a black lining. No way, is Cailu blind?
"Haha, Princess Cailu, he is the son-in-law of our dynasty, I'm afraid he won't be able to get what he wants."
"The prince consort? But there's no princess sitting next to him."
Cailu walked over, her alluring eyes filled with innocence. "I thought the man next to me was so handsome, but when I saw you, you were even more beautiful. The men in my area are all big and burly; I've never seen anyone like you before."
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