The capital city, the imperial palace.
On New Year's Eve, as is customary, the emperor would hold a grand banquet for his officials, and all officials of the fourth rank and above were required to bring their families to the palace to attend the banquet.
Empress Dowager Wei, along with the Emperor and Empress, entered the Hall of Supreme Harmony, where officials paid their respects.
Empress Dowager Wei and the Emperor both looked toward the Regent's seat, but there was no one there.
Xiao Chenyi frowned slightly and clenched his fist.
His elder brother, the emperor, never took him seriously and even arrived later than him, the emperor himself.
Empress Dowager Wei seemed to sense her son's anger and glanced at him without changing her expression.
Xiao Chenyi realized what was happening, his expression returned to normal, and he sat down in the main seat with the Empress.
"Li Yuansheng, where is the Regent?"
Li Yuansheng, the chief steward by Xiao Chenyi's side, hurriedly replied when the emperor asked, "Your Majesty, they should be arriving soon."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the eunuch at the door announced, "The Regent has arrived!"
All the officials rose again and knelt to pay their respects.
Xiao Yanchu waved his hand: "Get up, everyone. It's the New Year, no need for formalities."
"Thank you, Regent." The officials rose.
Xiao Yanchu walked up to Xiao Chenyi and bowed slightly, saying, "Your subject greets Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, and Empress."
Xiao Chenyi quickly raised his hand to help him up, saying, "Brother, there's no need for such formalities."
Xiao Yanchu turned around and sat down.
One pair of eyes in the crowd had been fixed on Xiao Yanchu ever since he entered the main hall, never looking away.
Brother Yanchu, Shuang'er has finally met you.
"Let the feast begin! Let the singing and dancing commence!"
As Li Yuansheng's voice rang out, music began, and the dancers entered the hall and began to dance.
The ministers toasted each other, wishing each other a happy new year, creating a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere.
During the banquet, many ministers toasted Xiao Yanchu, and he accepted all of them.
"Seventh brother, your elder sister and the imperial consort toast you, wishing you all the best." Xiao Yanchu raised his head and saw that it was Princess Xiao Fengming and the imperial consort Song Zijie.
Xiao Yanchu rarely stood up and raised her glass: "Thank you, Your Majesty. I also wish you all your dreams come true."
The eldest princess's eyes flickered slightly: "I take my seventh brother's good wishes to heart."
She does indeed have a major worry.
She had been married to the prince consort for many years but had not conceived. Although the prince consort did not say anything, his mother-in-law was somewhat dissatisfied, which was always a worry for her.
The princess secretly consulted many doctors, but no amount of medicine she took had any effect.
"Seventh brother, you look much thinner. Are you feeling unwell?" the eldest princess asked with concern.
"It's nothing. I probably caught a cold a while ago, but I'm all better now." Xiao Yanchu felt a warmth in her heart.
In this cold palace, besides her mother, only her elder sister would notice these things.
"That's good, Seventh Brother. I'm not trying to be mean, but you should marry a princess soon. It's good to have someone who understands you and takes care of you. It will put your mind at ease."
Xiao Yanchu smiled faintly: "Royal sister, when I meet someone I like, I will definitely marry him."
The eldest princess sighed softly: "You, you, how many people in this world can you find someone you truly love? Feelings can be cultivated. As long as the family background and character are good, feelings will naturally develop after marriage."
Even within the royal family, how many people can truly control their own marriages?
Thinking of this, the eldest princess glanced at her husband, who always wore a faint smile beside her.
The prince consort nodded slightly to Xiao Yanchong and drank the wine in his cup in one gulp.
At this moment, a beautiful young woman stepped forward, walked to the emperor and empress dowager, and knelt gracefully: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, on this auspicious occasion, I wish to offer a dance to wish the Great Chu Kingdom peace and prosperity, and that its land be forever secure and its state long-lasting."
The young girl wore a light pink, floor-length gauze dress with a hundred flowers, a silk shawl draped over her arm, and a peony flower tucked diagonally into her Uyghur-style hair bun, adorned with kingfisher feather hairpins. Her eyes shimmered like pools of spring water, captivating all who beheld her.
She is none other than Princess Fengxi, Wei Yinshuang, who is hailed as the most beautiful woman in the capital, the niece of Empress Dowager Wei, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Dingguo's family, and only sixteen years old.
"Shuang'er is so thoughtful." Empress Dowager Wei nodded with a smile.
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