Chapter 16: My Wife 16: Sudden Change at the Banquet
Chen Chensheng never cared about what Chen Meng was doing. He originally thought that this concubine sister was spoiled and domineering, but not vicious and cruel. If love tortured him, he would not be unable to bear it. Simply, he could not do anything to change her fate at the moment.
What he was willing to endure were only things that he felt were not a big deal and that he did not want to bother with.
But he could not have anticipated that in the extreme malice as thick as ink created by resentment and jealousy, the originally half-white and half-black soul could fall into the dark abyss in an instant.
The banquet to receive the envoys was held in the Imperial Banquet Hall of the palace. The hall was spacious and bright, with dragon and phoenix candlesticks shining brightly. All the civil and military officials in the court came with their families to participate. It was a grand and solemn event that attracted everyone's attention.
Civil and military officials were arranged on the left and right, extending from the inside to the outside along the long table according to their official rank.
Although Lu Huai intended to promote him on this trip, according to ancestral rules, he would discuss the matter after inviting the envoy, and currently his original rank would be maintained.
Since they were both Hanlin scholars, with only a half-rank difference in official rank and similar age, Lu Huai and Cheng Ruochen were arranged to sit together again, while Pei Yu was seated slightly higher up on the opposite side as a military officer.
Unlike his usual plain demeanor, Lu Zhuangyuan attracted the attention of his colleagues.
Although they often teased Lu Huai about how he looked like a fairy and how he could be hanging out with a bunch of mortals like them, they also knew that no visitor from heaven would dress so simply every day.
With a little embellishment today, he truly resembled the Immortal Lord in the Clouds, a celestial figure, compassionate and pure. All that came to their minds were lines of praise, but they hesitated to speak for fear of sounding sour and embarrassing themselves, or even embarrassing the top scholar.
This time, Cheng Ruochen came to greet him with his arm around his shoulder, and Lu Huai responded with a natural smile. Tanhua glanced diagonally across with some malicious intent, as if the evil concubine who brought disaster to the country and the people was provoking the queen, but he didn't see the angry look he expected to see.
Little did he know that Pei Yu had received Lu Huai's stamp of approval, and knew in his heart that he was Yan Jin's best friend.
Even though his sunburn was still pounding and he was very annoyed by Tanhua's tea-smelling behavior, his wandering heart was able to prioritize more clearly after finding a place to stay.
The most urgent task should be to pay attention to the movements of Wu Heng's gang, rather than dealing with shameless people like him.
Seeing all the ministers gathered together, it was very lively. The young emperor sat upright on the golden throne, with a hearty smile on his handsome face, looking like a dignified, majestic, and broad-minded wise monarch.
At this time, Wu Heng and Qiao Qi performed a half-salute with a bold gesture, folding their right arms over their shoulders and kneeling on their left knees. This strange etiquette surprised the younger officials and their families, and they began to whisper among themselves.
But for other races, this is the highest courtesy besides respecting gods.
Therefore, even though they usually performed the most submissive kowtow, no one present complained. Fearing that the emperor would be displeased, the elders quickly calmed the restless younger generations, restoring peace to the scene.
Seeing that everything was under control, Chu Yuanting nodded with a smile. He did not shortsightedly embarrass them by deliberately doing something to make them kneel and not let them get up. Instead, he asked them to stand up normally and moved on to the next step.
The two men were very well-behaved and polite. After standing up, they asked their subordinates to bring the heavy tribute, and they looked very honest.
In addition to the exotic attire and Wu Heng's handsome appearance which was completely different from that of the Central Plains people, which made everyone feel a little awkward.
The two men came from a powerful country like Northern Huns, but they were not as arrogant and contemptuous as the envoys from small countries with a little wealth in the west. Instead, they made the ministers feel respected as the subjects of the suzerain for the first time in a long time, and they had a rare good impression of them.
Chu Yuanting was also very generous, as if the less-than-pleasant exchange in the afternoon was just an inadvertent episode. Not only did he not harbor any resentment, he even toasted Wu Heng and Qiao Qi from a distance, and drank it all in one gulp out of respect.
However, despite the seemingly peaceful and harmonious banquet hall, there were undercurrents.
After parting with Lu Huai, Pei Yu specially sent someone to track down Wu Heng's Han-looking subordinates. Later, his men tracked them down at the banquet. When he asked his men where He Sule was, he found that he had disappeared.
He took advantage of the time when Wu Heng sent his subordinates to bring tribute and Qiao Qi announced the names of the items to ask this subordinate to look around the banquet hall. Unexpectedly, the subordinate, who had a very good ability in recognizing people, was shocked and said that the person was not there.
Pei Yu cursed inwardly, thinking this was a bad omen. The Northern Xiongnu prince and the envoy seemed to be doing nothing, but his men were the sharpest weapons in their hands. If Lu Huai hadn't seen through their ill intentions, he would have let them cover up the truth.
As his thoughts raced, he suddenly recalled a piece of information Pei Zhi had given him when he'd discussed the matter with his father before the banquet: Mr. Mi, the owner of the Beijing Jade Merchants, might be from Wu Heng's mother's clan. He hurriedly left the scene with his men and headed towards the possible connection...
On this side, Lu Huai let Cheng Ruochen pester him, listening to him talk about the interesting things when he was a child doing business with his family. He ate silently on the spot while giving the other party the feedback he wanted.
When someone came to toast him, he would stand up politely to greet them. The compliments from the other person made him feel a little embarrassed.
But he kept a careful eye on his friend on the opposite side, and when he saw him leave the table with a serious expression, his heart sank.
But he didn't have time to think about the key point, because he suddenly heard a female voice calling him, and the voice was trembling with anxiety.
He turned around in confusion and saw a palace maid whom he had never seen before.
She knew she was overstepping her bounds, but when she saw the gentle and doubtful look on the face of the person in front of her, she changed her timid attitude and quickly said that Chen Chensheng seemed to be in trouble and wanted to find him.
Lu Huai thanked her and rushed to the side hall she mentioned. He left so quickly that Cheng Ruochen couldn't ask him what happened even if he wanted to.
He was only thinking about where Shen San was and whether she was safe. He had no time to plan and act as usual, nor did he have time to think about how the Dayong Palace, this most secure fortress, could give rise to a situation that put his beloved in danger...
Shen Chensheng in the side hall was in a really miserable state at this moment.
Chen Meng didn't know what was wrong with her today. In the past, she only dared to make things difficult for him, her "eldest sister", in the Duke's Mansion. Outside, apart from being not so friendly, there was nothing wrong with her.
She suddenly started to attack at the banquet and openly expressed her dissatisfaction with him to her group of young ladies who also sneered at him under her leadership. When she got excited, she even splashed wine on his dress in a show of force.
Looking at the wine she poured on him, the wet water marks spread on the sky blue hem, sticky and outlining the lines of the side of his legs.
Although he was not a woman, he did not care about the clothes fitting him well.
To the people of Dayong, a woman getting wet was considered extremely inappropriate. Many people whispered about how he was still standing there, how embarrassing it was, and so on, but they didn't mention what Chen Meng had just done.
He felt a little disappointed. He should be the same as them in their eyes, so why didn't he try to empathize with others' situations and instead just criticize them?
If he was really a delicate girl, how would he feel being bullied and humiliated like this?
I also mocked myself in my heart, why did I judge others as a judge? What's more, the "injury" was still on myself. I had already tasted the warmth and coldness of human nature, so I shouldn't ask for justice anymore.
Well, a little impatience can ruin a big plan. Even if he doesn't want to argue with Shen Meng, he still has to respond appropriately according to the young lady's request, and it has been like this since he was a child.
Moreover, the wet feeling further penetrated into my inner body, and it was indeed very cold. I really had to change my clothes.
The kind maid beside him led him to the side hall. He tugged at his skirt uncomfortably, but he didn't notice that Chen Meng behind him had a numb and unnatural expression when he poured the wine just now, and now the corners of his mouth were almost bent to the side of his ear.
The side hall was closed, and the darkness inside was like a beast choosing its prey. Shen Chensheng lit a candlestick given to her by the maid and slowly reached inside.
Finally, he saw a light red dress and was about to approach it, but suddenly he noticed some strange movement beside him. He became alert and quickly dodged.
He heard someone groaning in the darkness, and he was horrified. He shone the candlelight on the dark shadow, but he saw a thin man who had missed his move and was grimacing in pain.
When he noticed Chen Chensheng, his eyes, which were cloudy due to his constant indulgence in wine and sex, showed a greedy and covetous look. "Beauty, you can't escape." His face, which could barely be considered handsome, now looked distorted and wretched because of his expression.
Chen Chensheng didn't know who this was, but he hated men who had such thoughts about him, so when he saw such a disgusting person, he just wanted to kill him or stay away from him, and he would never get close to him.
Looking at the hand he extended to him, he ran out of the hall with a chill, but then he was shocked and said, "Oh no!" His legs went limp and he lost his strength.
"It's useless, it's all useless. Do you think that maid is really helping you? There are a lot of good things in that candle." Bai Xianming did not seem to be as stupid as the rumors said. Instead, he looked confident of winning and approached the prey that was about to be confiscated.
As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Chensheng felt a surge of heat surge through his body. Seeing that disgusting dandy getting closer and closer, he was filled with shame, anger and despair. He used all his strength to pick up the candlestick and smash it on his head.
Bai Xianming, who had not expected that the man in front of him had the strength of an adult man and himself was as weak as a piece of paper, fell down without even a scream, with blood slowly flowing down his forehead.
Shen Chensheng, feeling weak and uncomfortable, stumbled out the door, startling the round-faced maid who was passing by to deliver food.
"Go...go find Lu Huai," he said to the strange maid, his beautiful and enchanting face full of pleading.
The blue dress was messy and dirty due to the dust from tripping on the ground, and the lapels were mottled with tears from enduring. The maidservant was moved by the embarrassed and pitiful posture of the beauty in front of her.
Although the head maid had warned them not to interfere in the complicated affairs of the nobles, as they could lose their lives if they made a mistake, this young lady was about to encounter something bad, and she couldn't bear to watch her die.
"Miss, please stay here. I will go find him right away."
He had originally thought Shen Meng was just a minor offender, but he hadn't expected her to be so vicious and intent on killing him. He had always reminded himself not to be like his mother, misjudging people and letting others deceive him, but now he had nearly fallen for it.
But Ningshuang and Ningbi weren't by his side, and Liu Xi, the only person he could consider familiar with, had been deliberately sent away. He prided himself on being in control of everyone, disdaining to please everyone, but now he was completely helpless. The only lifeline that surfaced in his heart was Lu Huai, who had given him such complicated feelings. If anyone really had to touch him, he would rather it was him...
But even if he got out, we still didn't know whether the person inside was dead or alive. If he was to be buried with the dead regardless of whether he was dead or alive, it would be better for him to die immediately.
Chen Chensheng was almost losing consciousness. He gasped and laughed miserably, his hands tightly holding the door frame, but his body was still about to slide down.
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Next chapter!! Wait for me! Absolutely wonderful!
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