Chapter 30 If I call her name, will she dare to answer?
Just as the emperor was about to speak, the empress said, "Let's not wait any longer, let's begin the banquet."
Qin Jinzhi looked at the empty seat opposite her and couldn't help but sneer.
As the banquet began, the palace maids who were serving the food brought in the dishes one after another.
Just then, a middle-aged man dressed in a red brocade robe stood up and walked into the main hall.
"Your Majesty, today is a celebration banquet for our victorious soldiers. However, the food and wine are rather monotonous. How about we have the women of each family perform some entertainment?"
The emperor nodded approvingly after hearing this, "What the young man Shen says is true. May I ask who you recommend?"
The relationship between a ruler and his ministers is not a pleasant one.
This man was Shen Huan, the grandson of the Duke of Shen and the nephew of Consort Shen.
He looked at Qin Jinzhi with ill intent. "I've heard that Princess Jinzhi is proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Today is a celebration for your family's victory. As the only granddaughter of the Prince of Zhenbei, you wouldn't refuse to perform for these soldiers, would you?"
Just now, Qin Jinzhi actually dared to mock his aunt's status in the main hall.
He will never let her go!
Qin Jinzhi is arrogant and domineering, ignorant and incompetent. He dared to embarrass his aunt, so he'll show these peasants what Qin Jinzhi really is.
Upon hearing Shen Huan's words, many soldiers' expressions changed.
These nobles in the court have always looked down on soldiers who fight in battles.
Shen Huan's words just now were full of contempt.
He even dared to ask Princess Jinzhi to perform.
Qin Jinzhi, eating a lychee that Feiyan had peeled for her, raised one eyelid to look at him and asked, "Who are you?"
Shen Huan immediately said with a dark face, "You don't recognize me! Consort Shen is my aunt!"
Qin Jinzhi looked at him with disdain, then at Consort Shen, and said, "Consort Shen, you are quite beautiful, how come your relatives are so ugly?"
Shen Huan immediately flew into a rage, "Qin Jinzhi, what did you say!"
"What are you yelling about!"
A burly man behind Qin Ye suddenly slammed his hand on the table and stood up.
Pointing at Shen Huan's nose, he said, "What kind of Tom, Dick, or Harry dares to be so insolent in front of our Zhenbei Prince's Mansion's young princess?"
This man is Tu You, one of Qin Ye's four most valiant generals!
Shen Huan was immediately terrified by the menacing aura emanating from him.
Despite his fear, he said, "If you dare to disrespect me, I'll have my uncle punish you!"
"Huan'er!"
Duke Shen slowly stood up. "No fooling around at the palace banquet."
He then turned to His Majesty and said, “Your Majesty, you know Huan’er’s temperament. He has been unruly and lacks manners since childhood. Please forgive him.”
Just then, the Empress spoke up coldly, "I have never had such a nephew before. I wonder where this Shen family lad's uncle comes from?"
Qin Jinzhi casually spat out the lychee seed from her mouth. "Your grandmother is asking you a question. Are you her nephew?"
The former empress would never openly embarrass the Shen family, but today she showed them no respect whatsoever.
Shen Huan straightened his neck and said, "My aunt is Consort Shen, so naturally I'll speak on her behalf!"
Qin Jinzhi laughed as if she had heard the funniest joke in the world, pointing at his face and bursting into laughter.
She tilted her head and looked at Consort Shen, saying, "Consort, your relatives are not only ugly, but they also have big faces!"
Shen Huan was enraged by Qin Jinzhi's laughter, "You're not allowed to laugh!"
After laughing for a while, Qin Jinzhi looked at the Duke of Shen, whose expression had become somewhat displeased, and said, "The problem with people is that they lack self-awareness. Ask Consort Shen if I call her Imperial Grandmother, would she dare to accept it?"
Empress, the emperor's first wife, the mother of the nation.
The emperor could only appoint a new empress if the empress died.
If she dares to agree, then she is cursing the Queen Mother to die.
Each official submitted a memorial impeaching her, and she couldn't even keep her position as a concubine.
Consort Shen's face flushed red and then darkened. She gritted her teeth and said, "Princess, you just like to joke. You've been raised by my sister since you were little. How could I dare to steal your credit? Huan'er was just speaking without thinking. Please don't take offense, sister."
"Huan'er, why aren't you apologizing to the Empress and the Princess!"
Consort Shen glanced at Duke Shen; this boy was spoiled rotten by his family.
It's one thing for him to flaunt his status as the emperor's uncle in private.
How dare they cause trouble in front of His Majesty!
Shen Huan cried out, "Auntie!"
Consort Shen gave him a cold look, and Shen Huan suppressed his resentment and kept quiet.
"Apologize to Her Majesty the Empress, apologize to the Princess."
Qin Jinzhi raised an eyebrow. “Why just talk about apologizing? Kneel down and kowtow three times to me and my grandmother, and then my grandmother and I will mercifully forgive you.”
Shen Huan was furious and said, "Don't push your luck! If you want me to kowtow, you'd better be alive to receive it."
The Empress snorted coldly, "Under the whole world, there is no gift that I cannot accept. Since you have said you are apologizing, then do as Jinzhi said and kowtow."
Qin Jinzhi gave the Empress an approving look, then looked at Shen Huan and said, "This princess is tough and can handle it."
Consort Shen immediately said, "Your Majesty! Look what my sister is doing! Why is she picking on a junior?"
The Emperor dared not look at the Empress, but said, "The Empress is right. The Empress can accept the apology from a junior like Shen Huan. Jinzhi is a princess, and according to the rules, Shen Huan should have paid his respects. Since he said it, he should do it. Consort Shen, today is a victory celebration banquet for our soldiers. You should know the bigger picture!"
Consort Shen was so angry that her eyes almost popped out. What was the Emperor talking about rules at this time? When had Qin Jinzhi ever followed any rules?
I never bowed to her when I saw her!
What do you mean by being sensible? You just want to tell her that today is a victory celebration for the Zhenbei Army, and we can't offend the Zhenbei King!
The emperor clearly did not want to get involved in the quarrel between the empress and the imperial concubine, and only wanted to settle things peacefully.
Upon hearing this, Shen Huan was so angry he almost fainted. With so many people around, how could he possibly get along in the capital if he kowtowed to Qin Jinzhi?
But Qin Jinzhi had an annoying look on her face, saying, "Hurry up, everyone's looking at you."
Shen Huan looked to Consort Shen for help.
The latter gave him a gloomy look.
Shen Huan, breathing heavily, knelt before the Empress and kowtowed three times.
"Apologize to Her Majesty the Empress!"
He then turned to Qin Jinzhi and quickly kowtowed three times.
"Apologize to the princess!"
He got up and returned to his seat with a dark expression.
They clearly wanted to make that bastard Qin Jinzhi lose face in front of all the soldiers.
I never expected that he would lose face so badly!
The Duke of Shen, standing to the side, also had a face as black as charcoal.
The Empress is showing such disrespect to the Shen family, who is nothing more than the daughter of a stable boy!
They dare to push their luck!
But Qin Jinzhi seemed oblivious to the situation and continued to laugh.
Consort Shen gritted her teeth, suppressing her anger, and said, "Is Sister satisfied?"
The Empress said calmly, "I will not stoop to the level of a junior. Consort Shen should also give her a warning. If others hear her speaking so recklessly again, she might cause a great disaster."
Consort Shen said softly, "Sister is right. When Huan'er returns to the manor, I will definitely ask Father to teach him more. However, His Majesty also approved of Huan'er's suggestion. I wonder what talent Princess Jinzhi has prepared."
The emperor also looked at Qin Jinzhi with a hint of schadenfreude, wanting to see what talents this mischievous monkey might have.
Qin Jinzhi was speechless at the emperor's gaze; at his age, he was still watching the spectacle.
She calmly stood up, and even drank the rest of her wine before walking to the center of the hall.
Give me a sword!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com