Chapter 32 The Empress Dowager's Birthday Banquet 2
In that thrilling confrontation just now, Xie Sangning displayed not only her stunning beauty, but also her composure and ability to turn the tide of events with ease when facing royal pressure!
This is absolutely stunning!
If my prince's wife were her, it wouldn't be so bad!
Pei Yi prided himself on being a romantic and had seen countless beauties, but he had never met anyone like Xie Sangning!
Dangerous yet alluring.
His heart was pounding like a drum.
Such a woman...
If only I could pluck this thorny rose, bring it under my control, tame its unruliness, and make it bloom only for me...
How delightful that would be!
More importantly, she is Xie Zhenting's only daughter!
If I could marry her... the throne would be within my grasp.
Pei Yi's fingers tightened unconsciously around the wine glass, his eyes darkening: If she were to become his prince's consort...
It doesn't seem like it's impossible?
As for Sister Liu, we should talk to her nicely and agree that she can enter the family on the same day.
Whether Xie Sangning would agree was not even on his mind; he believed there was no possibility of refusal!
Just like Sister Liu, she loves herself to the core.
Once the thought arose, it could no longer be suppressed.
Pei Yi felt his blood boiling, and his gaze toward Xie Sangning was filled with undisguised greed and determination.
The banquet continued as usual, and Liu Shi was gazing at Pei Yi with deep affection, as if he were the only one in her eyes and heart.
Pei Yi could naturally feel her burning gaze.
The thought that he would not only have the understanding and gentle Liu Meimei by his side in the future, but also the beautiful and wealthy Xie Sangning as his virtuous wife made him feel like he was floating on air.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but glance at Xie Sangning again.
That one glance sent alarm bells ringing in Liu Shi's heart.
Well, this scoundrel has something on his mind.
Just as I expected.
Liu Shi's gaze quickly swept over the other princes, memorizing their appearances.
Who says a woman can only hang herself on one tree?
At the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, only the Empress Dowager could eat at the head table, while the others could only sit below and wait for the Empress Dowager to finish tasting the eighty-one dishes. During this time, many daughters of officials would display their talents, hoping to attract the attention of the princes.
Currently, none of the princes have a princess consort, including the eldest prince who is now twenty-five years old.
Not long ago, the Emperor finally gave the word that it was time to start arranging marriages for the princes, and the concubines who already had children finally breathed a sigh of relief.
All the princes were popular, except for the Ninth Prince, Pei Zhi, who was the least popular. His dissolute lifestyle was well-known, and even though he had one of the most handsome faces in Jinling, it couldn't change people's opinions of him.
Even Liu Shi looked down on him.
Others may be faking their extravagance, but his extravagance is genuine.
His daily routine consisted of walking his cats and dogs, playing with crickets, and listening to operas.
Sometimes, when the mood strikes, he'll invite his friends to play Cuju (ancient Chinese football) and gamble with valuable items.
The Emperor gets a headache just looking at him, but the Empress is quite pleased. This good-for-nothing is out of the running early, eliminating one rival for the throne and saving the Emperor a lot of trouble!
Right now, everyone else is sitting upright watching the performance, but Pei Zhi is lounging in a large chair, holding a wine cup in his hand, and squinting.
His face was exceptionally handsome, arguably the most handsome man in Jinling City. Unfortunately, given his dissolute and纨绔 (wan ku, meaning spoiled and dissolute) behavior, he was considered a death sentence by the daughters of officials who wanted to marry into wealth and power.
What good is it if it looks good!
Pei Zhi's name was given by Emperor Pei himself. Emperor Pei believed that he was a true dragon, and dragons have nine sons. Since the birth of Pei Zhi, the ninth son, the emperor no longer agreed to anyone having any more children.
They feared that this would break his dragon's nine sons and his dragon destiny.
Therefore, the name of the Ninth Prince, Zhi, means that the line for princes ends here. Pei Zhi is the youngest in the palace and has the least hope of ascending to that position.
No one supported him, not even his mother, Consort Shu.
It wasn't that Consort Shu didn't love her child, but rather that she believed Pei Zhi shouldn't strive for that high position; she just wanted her son to grow up smoothly.
However, Consort Shu cared about choosing a prince's consort. Her unruly son needed a consort who could keep him in check. No matter how dissolute he was, he couldn't lose face as a prince.
The Empress had already decided on Xie Sangning, and Consort Shu had also seen her, but she simply couldn't bear to think about it.
Consort Shu looked at her good-for-nothing son and felt extremely worried. She wished she could twist the handkerchief in her hand into a pretzel.
She does want to find a good match for her son! But who would want to jump into this fire pit?
Consort Shu couldn't help but glance at Xie Sangning.
Oh dear, if only this woman could become my daughter-in-law…
Consort Shu quickly suppressed this crazy thought and kept chanting Amitabha Buddha in her heart.
How much does her son Pei Zhi actually amount to?
If their ancestral graves could truly emit auspicious smoke, causing Xie Sangning to be blinded and fall for Pei Zhi…
Her ancestors must have lined up and kowtowed in all directions until their foreheads were bruised to beg for this great blessing, right?
——
At the banquet, everyone took turns showcasing their talents, each eager to demonstrate their abilities.
Xie Sangning thought this matter had nothing to do with her, but she didn't expect the Emperor to mention her.
"I have heard that Xie Qing's beloved daughter, raised in Xihan for ten years, has grown into a woman of exceptional talent and beauty. Today, at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, why don't Miss Xie step forward and show off her charm? It would be good for the fine young men of Jinling to open their eyes and witness the unique charm nurtured by the land and water of Xihan."
These words made Xie Sangning feel physically nauseous.
To make her perform like an entertainer to please others?
But when the emperor speaks, one dares not refuse.
"Your Majesty, the Western Regions are barren and impoverished. I have never studied music, chess, calligraphy, or painting. Given Your Majesty's authority, it is better to conceal my shortcomings than to make a fool of myself. I hope Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager will forgive my ignorance and for not daring to offend Your Majesty's eyes."
At the previous flower-viewing banquet, Xie Sangning's poem was kept secret by Pei Mingyue, who dared not let her father, the Emperor, know about it.
This has made things more convenient for Xie Sangning.
A hint of disappointment flashed in the Emperor's eyes, but he quickly smiled and said, "Your mother was famous in Jinling for her beauty and talent. You should inherit your mother's reputation. Now that you've reached marriageable age, do you have a betrothal?"
Xie Sangning curtsied and said, "My father and brother have been guarding the border for ten years, separated from their family. I worry about them day and night, unable to eat or sleep... Now I only hope that my father and brother will return home safely soon. As for my marriage..."
Two glistening tears rolled down her cheeks.
"My heart is in turmoil right now. I only wish to be by your side and bring some comfort from the pain of our ten years of separation... I will not make any plans for marriage at this time."
Before he could finish speaking, he choked up and could not speak. His longing for his father and brothers was so sincere and touching that it moved all who heard it.
The emperor's smile faded slightly, and a hint of displeasure and an indescribable meaning appeared in his eyes.
"I can understand that. Your mother was my childhood friend. If she met a man she liked, she could ask me to grant her a marriage at any time. You do look eight or nine parts like your mother, which makes me feel a little sentimental..."
These words surprised Xie Sangning. His mother actually had a relationship with the Emperor?
Upon hearing this, the empress on the high platform visibly turned pale.
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