The emperor, in his fifties, wore a bright yellow dragon robe, naturally exuding an aura of imperial authority.
As for his appearance, he wasn't as stunning as Yun Qingran had imagined. It seems that Jun Molin's appearance is just like his mother's.
"Tonight's New Year's Eve palace banquet is prepared by the ladies of the harem and all the noble ladies. Please enjoy." The Empress stood up and announced in a warm and cheerful voice.
"Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress." The people present became excited.
"There are seventeen sisters who have prepared performances. Let's draw lots to determine the order of appearance now." After the Empress finished speaking, four palace maids immediately came forward with a tray carrying silver lots.
"Yes, Your Majesty." The seventeen empresses stepped forward and headed towards the tray, ready to draw lots.
"Consort Ning, I heard that Ning Jitang is injured and can't perform. It's so pitiful. There were only three people to begin with, and now there's one less." The Imperial Noble Consort walked in front and said sarcastically to Consort Ning behind her.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. We can still perform even with just two people." Consort Ning was not intimidated by the Imperial Noble Consort at all.
The Imperial Noble Consort came from a prominent family and was pampered from a young age. After entering the palace, her promotion was rapid, and she had never been looked down upon like this before.
"Hmph, then I wish my sister a great victory in advance." The Imperial Noble Consort snorted coldly.
The Imperial Noble Consort approached the trays of the four palace maids, glanced at the maid in the lead, whose gaze fell on the second tray in the second row of her own tray.
The Imperial Noble Consort reached out and took this one. She looked at it and saw the number three written on it. The third one to appear!
"Congratulations, Your Highness the Imperial Noble Consort." A concubine standing nearby quickly offered her fawning congratulations.
When there are many people, the third person to appear is considered the golden opportunity, as everyone's interest has just been piqued and they haven't yet started to experience aesthetic fatigue.
After the seventeen ladies drew lots and listed their order, they left the stage.
"Aunt, where are we in the rankings?" Ning Jitang asked Consort Ning excitedly at seven o'clock.
“The seventeenth.” Consort Ning’s expression was somewhat solemn.
The last person to appear was there, and it was already very late. Many of the ministers present were elderly and found it difficult to concentrate until the very last performance.
"It's alright, anyway, we're not going down the path of strength. You've forgotten, we're going down the path of flattery." Yun Qingran winked and smiled at the two of them.
Consort Ning and Ning Jitang were stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing.
"Ranran, how do you say the words 'flattery' so confidently?" Consort Ning covered her mouth and chuckled.
"What's wrong with being assertive? There's always someone better. When facing a stronger opponent, it's perfectly acceptable to flatter them appropriately to increase your chances of survival and improve your living conditions," Yun Qingran said confidently.
"Yes, yes, you're right. The person who marries you will probably be completely under your control," Consort Ning teased with a smile.
"I will never marry." Yun Qingran waved her hand.
Just as Consort Ning was about to retort, a sharp announcement came from outside the hall: "His Highness the Prince of Beihan has arrived, as have the young princess and the young prince."
Upon hearing this announcement, the hall fell silent, and everyone turned to look outside. A collective gasp filled the air; it was as if they were witnessing a divine being.
Under the black carpet of night, Jun Molin slowly walked in, dressed in black. His slender and upright figure made his waist appear even slimmer and his legs longer. Looking up, his face was even more stunning.
With deep-set, three-dimensional features, prominent brows, and a pair of phoenix eyes that are cool and indifferent, occasionally flashing with a glimmer of light, they are like snow lotuses blooming silently on an ice peak.
He held Jun Yan Yan's hand with his left hand and Jun An An's hand with his right. Jun Yan Yan's hair was tied in two buns, simply adorned with delicate pearl flowers. Although she looked only three or four years old, her features were already exquisitely beautiful.
Jun An'an looks exactly like a chibi version of Jun Molin, incredibly cute, and her temperament is similar too, with thin lips pursed and an aura of dominance over the world.
The father, his son, and his daughter, standing in this magnificent palace, appeared almost divine, a scene that would be etched in their memories for a lifetime.
"Being good-looking is all that matters." Yun Qingran felt a surge of jealousy.
God, Buddha, when will I be able to regain my normal appearance?
<(￣ ﹌ ￣)>
Jun Molin slowly walked in with the two children, and the three of them stopped in the center of the hall.
"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."
"Yan Yan, An An, pay your respects to the Emperor." After Jun Molin clasped his hands in greeting, Jun Yan Yan and Jun An An greeted the Emperor in unison.
Looking at his handsome and accomplished son, the Emperor smiled broadly and said, "Rise, Lin'er."
After saying that, she looked at her grandson and granddaughter and said lovingly, "You two little ones, get up quickly too."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." The siblings expressed their gratitude in unison once again.
After paying his respects to the Emperor, Jun Molin took his seat with his two children. His seat was at the very top on the right, almost on par with the Crown Prince.
On the way to his seat, I passed by Yun Qingran's seat.
"Sister." Jun Yanyan stopped and gave Yun Qingran a sweet, innocent smile. Her voice was so soft and sweet that it could melt anyone's heart.
"Sister." Little cool guy Jun An'an also showed a slight smile.
"You're here too," Yun Qingran greeted with a smile.
Whether it was due to Jun Molin's excellent upbringing or their illness, these two children were exceptionally well-behaved and sensible, which was heartbreaking.
"Mm." Jun Yanyan nodded.
Because his two children stopped, Jun Molin also stopped, and the three of them stood neatly in front of Yun Qingran.
"Yun Qingran actually knows the young princess and the young prince."
"She got incredibly lucky."
"I heard that His Highness the King of Northern Cold personally escorted her home."
"Not only that, His Highness the Northern Cold King called her name in front of everyone."
...
The crowd whispered among themselves, all thinking that Yun Qingran was like cow dung thrown onto flowers, three flowers at that.
Everyone was both curious and envious about how His Highness the Northern Cold King ended up hanging out with Yun Qingran, this ugly woman.
"That bitch!" Liang Jingxue was so angry at the sight that she almost ground her teeth to powder.
Although Yun Xiyue didn't show it on the surface, she was insanely jealous inside. Was His Highness the King of Beihan blind? Why was he looking at Yun Qingran, this ugly woman, instead of looking at her, the most beautiful woman in Beiyin?
"Young Princess, Young Prince, it's getting late, please take your seats." Yun Qingran felt a barrage of sharp gazes, and the hairs on her body almost stood on end.
It wasn't that she was afraid of these people, but rather that she found it strange that Jun Molin was being scrutinized and suspected.
"Okay." Jun Yanyan nodded. "See you later, sister."
"Mm." Yun Qingran nodded.
After the three left, everyone's attention gradually shifted away from her, and Yun Qingran felt that the pressure of the entire world had decreased.
That scoundrel Jun Molin is a real source of trouble. From now on, I must stay away from him, except when it comes to helping the two children get medical treatment.
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