He cursed Li Chengyun countless times in his heart.
But when Ye Jingyi saw Li Chengyun enter in a red and black outfit, she couldn't help but look at him.
The other noblewomen were the same; they couldn't help but stare at Li Chengyun's androgynous face a few more times.
A feast for the eyes!
So pleasing to the eye!
However, he quickly revealed a disdainful look in his eyes.
The son of a convicted woman in the Jing Palace is born of lowly birth; no matter how handsome he is, he is still a useless person.
No matter how many military achievements he had, he could not be made a king. Even the sixth prince born to Consort Li was made a prince with three pearls, while Li Chengyun was still a bald prince.
Ha!
After giving Li Chengyun a disdainful look, the noblewomen quickly looked away. Some of the younger ladies were seeing Li Chengyun for the first time. They spent all their time in their boudoirs, and the most presentable man they ever saw was a servant in the mansion.
I've never seen a man like Li Chengyun before—so stunningly beautiful, so elegant, and yet exuding such a wicked charm.
They stared shyly at Li Chengyun, their hearts pounding. The adults around them couldn't bear to watch, so they quickly told them how the Prince of Zhennan's mansion had rebelled and plotted against them. This immediately frightened the young noble ladies so much that they didn't even look at Li Chengyun.
Especially after hearing from the noblewomen that Li Chengyun had characters carved on his body that only criminals would carve, they didn't even dare to glance at him.
"How terrifying!"
"The Fourth Prince actually has sin marks etched on his body!"
Sensing the strange gazes of everyone, Li Chengyun's demonic and evil aura not only did not subside, but instead intensified.
I don't know if it's just my imagination, but his crimson lips, illuminated by the light, looked as vibrant as if he had drunk blood.
Even Ye Jingyi was a little scared by his appearance.
The others lowered their heads, not daring to look at him at all.
The Crown Prince, upon seeing Li Chengyun, immediately invited him to sit down. Seeing their deep brotherly affection, the First Prince Li Chengyou scoffed disdainfully, "Pretentious!"
Crown Prince: "..."
A hint of embarrassment flashed across the Crown Prince's face, and he was about to speak.
"Her Imperial Noble Consort has arrived!"
Suddenly, melodious music filled the palace, and dancers began to dance gracefully.
The Imperial Noble Consort Gao, dressed in her finest attire, appeared at the entrance surrounded by her concubines. Once she was seated, the grand birthday banquet officially began. First, eunuchs chanted and recited birthday wishes, and finally, the concubines led their children to offer their birthday greetings to her.
"The Imperial Noble Consort's pomp and circumstance are no less than those of the Empress."
"Her Majesty the Empress was in good health before, so why was she suddenly promoted to Imperial Noble Consort? Could it be that His Majesty intends to depose her..."
The ladies, both inside and outside the court, all wore expressions of deep regret and confusion. They had many guesses in their hearts, but none of them dared to show them.
Crown Princess Ye Jingyi was even more cautious, fearing that the Imperial Noble Consort and Guo Yaqin would have something to say about her.
The Imperial Noble Lady was naturally extremely pleased. She had previously held the responsibility of assisting in the management of the six palaces, but at that time she was only a Noble Consort, while now she was the Imperial... Imperial Noble Consort.
The word "emperor" is quite subtle.
Actually, there weren't so many rules before, but since the previous dynasty, the rank of Imperial Noble Consort has not been granted much, especially when the Empress was in power and in good health. I remember the last person to be granted the rank of Imperial Noble Consort was the current Emperor's birth mother. After the Emperor ascended the throne, his birth mother became the Empress Dowager.
Thinking of these things, the Imperial Noble Consort couldn't help but feel smug.
The eldest prince, Li Chengyou, was the same. Although his advisors suggested that he support the land reform, he was indeed on edge and did not want to go against the powerful families.
However, as his advisors said, although the powerful families were very dissatisfied with his actions, he ultimately had the support of the Guo family, so he didn't need to be too afraid of them.
Moreover, he gained a lot of popular support because of this.
The will of the people...
even.
Even his father, the emperor, promoted his mother's rank, which was a form of recognition.
Then look at the Crown Prince. He was originally a weak and incompetent fool. Even if he married the daughter of the General Who Pacifies the West, he still wouldn't have any support in the court.
The Crown Prince is no match for him.
Imagine Li Chengyou picking up the wine on the table and drinking heartily, while the Crown Prince is drinking alone, one cup after another. Sometimes when Li Chengbao comes to toast him, he has to greet him with a smile, but he is also very unhappy inside.
Li Chengyun, on the other hand, who was disliked by everyone, was like a transparent person, drinking alone and enjoying himself as long as he ignored the gazes of others.
Then, not long after, Li Chengyun discovered that there was someone even more relaxed than him at the banquet, and that person was Jiang Shuwan.
She sat comfortably in her seat, eating and drinking as she pleased, completely ignoring the stares of those around her. Even when the Imperial Concubine spoke to her, she remained calm and composed, behaving as if she were at home.
No one at the entire banquet was more at ease than her.
Yes.
Jiang Shuwan was indeed very at ease. Since no one dared to provoke her, who else would be at ease if she wasn't? So when she noticed Li Chengyun's gaze, Jiang Shuwan immediately raised her glass to him in a cheerful manner.
Li Chengyun: "..."
The man raised an eyebrow, finding it quite amusing.
It was truly rare; this was the first time Jiang Shuwan had ever toasted him.
Li Chengyun raised his glass and toasted Jiang Shuwan from afar. Jiang Shuwan nodded in high spirits, drank the wine in her glass in one gulp, and felt even more delighted.
The wine served in the palace this time was Zhuyeqing, brewed in the south by her merchant caravan.
The south is rich in resources. Although pearl farming is highly profitable, it takes a long time to recoup the investment. She has invested so much manpower and resources, she can't just do nothing and wait for the pearls to grow in a few years.
She ordered the caravan to brew some wine to sell, which became her side business. Unexpectedly, the wine even made its way into the palace.
what to do……
I accidentally earned the Imperial Noble Consort's money...
With a slight smile, Jiang Shuwan was secretly delighted, as was the Imperial Noble Consort. However, seeing that Guo Yaqin didn't speak to Jiang Shuwan at all, while the Crown Princess and Jiang Shuwan chatted happily, the Imperial Noble Consort became somewhat displeased.
"The Guo family is one of the top four of the eight great families, with a long history of family learning and noble lineage, but in the end, their approach to educating their daughters is still too superficial."
"Being polite and courteous, and possessing skills in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting are certainly good, but sometimes she's just too petty. Doesn't she see how eagerly the Crown Princess fawns over Jiang Shuwan? If Jiang Shuwan wanted to marry the Crown Prince, the Crown Princess would probably be the first to agree. But she's only concerned with her own petty interests and calculations, completely forgetting what I told her..."
"Guo Yaqin is ultimately lacking..."
"No wonder. I heard that her elder sister was mentally unstable. She didn't marry any of the many noble young men in the capital, but instead married that good-looking but useless young master of the Yongchang Marquis's mansion. In the end, she died of illness on her wedding night, and her husband remarried before the funeral could even take place..."
"The daughter of the Guo family..."
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