Wei Wangqing discovered that Nan Xiangrong had also arrived. It seemed like he hadn't seen him in a long time, and he looked even darker-skinned.
Nan Xiangrong noticed the Sixth Princess's gaze and immediately looked at her.
"Such a sharp gaze," Wei Wangqing said, somewhat embarrassed, as he touched his nose.
Chen Zhiyan felt very uncomfortable. Was there something between the two of them that he didn't know about?
Why would Your Highness pay attention to the Lady of the County?
At this moment, the Empress finally appeared, followed by the Queen and the Fifth Prince.
It turns out that the Fifth Prince came with the Empress.
Everyone stood up and bowed.
The Fifth Prince glanced at Wang Fengyue and Chen Zhishao, a dark glint flashing in his eyes.
The Empress flicked her sleeve and said, "All of you, rise."
"Today is Lunar New Year's Eve, a day for staying up late to welcome the new year. I raise my glass here to wish all people under heaven freedom from the suffering of war and turmoil, and that everyone may have enough to eat and wear, and that every year may bring a bountiful harvest."
The ministers raised their cups together, and the emperor and his ministers drank them down in one gulp.
"The banquet begins," the eunuch announced.
A long line of palace men filed in and began to dance gracefully.
In an instant, the hall was filled with clinking glasses, singing, and dancing, a scene of decadent pleasure.
Wei Wangqing watched the performance but found it somewhat boring. The food on the table didn't suit her taste either, so she just casually looked around.
But it is precisely at times like these that I feel the most lonely. Even though I am in a crowd, I feel out of place with them.
Perhaps it's because she's not really from here.
Chen Zhiyan, who had been paying close attention to His Highness, felt a pang of heartache upon hearing this. His Highness did not belong here; she belonged to another place. Even if she did not like it, he still hoped that she could stay.
Isn't he being too selfish?
After several rounds of drinks, some ministers were already a little tipsy, but still in control. After all, who would be so disrespectful in front of the emperor, even on New Year's Eve?
But His Majesty spoke up again, "On this day of celebration with the people, I also have some news to announce to everyone."
After saying this, the eunuch gave a wink, and stepped forward, unfolding a bright yellow object in his hand. "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees that the Fourth Princess, Wei Qingye, is wise, virtuous, kind, and filial. She is hereby conferred the title of Crown Princess and honored as the Eastern Palace Princess. So be it."
This time, the officials were quite calm, probably because the Crown Princess had already been appointed twice, and there had to be a next one. There were only two adult princesses, the Fourth Princess and the Sixth Princess.
The sixth princess clearly disliked power and was not favored by His Majesty, so it was already a done deal to make the fourth princess the crown princess; all that was missing was an imperial edict.
Now it's all perfect, even the imperial edict is in order, making it all legitimate.
The fourth princess came out with a look of surprise and delight to receive the imperial decree and express her gratitude.
After issuing the decree, the Empress left, so as not to make the people feel uncomfortable while she was there.
In an instant, the only sound in the hall was congratulations to the Fourth Princess. A group of people surrounded the Fourth Princess with beaming smiles, even more so than before the banquet, as if it were their own child who had won the position of Crown Princess.
Is this why these people pursue fame and fortune? Wei Wangqing couldn't help but think.
Meanwhile, Chen Zhishao watched Wang Fengyue leave the banquet and quietly followed him.
The Fifth Prince's eyes flickered, and he exchanged a glance with the Empress.
Outside the palace.
"Sister Fengyue?"
Wang Fengyue, who was on his way to the restroom, suddenly turned around and asked, "Brother Shao?"
The two of them gazed at each other with deep affection, a look that seemed to last a lifetime.
The two had not seen each other for a long time. After all, one was an unmarried man, while the other was a woman who had married the fifth prince. They did not have many opportunities to meet.
Their first meeting was an unexpected incident on the street, a classic case of a hero rescuing a damsel in distress. Later, they began a secret affair, their relationship remaining entangled.
Because the Fifth Prince always kept a close eye on Wang Fengyue, the two had been secretly seeing each other. Wang Fengyue dared not propose marriage, for fear of causing the death of his beloved.
Fortunately, the beauty understood and agreed to have an affair with him in secret. This unknown feeling did give Wang Fengyue an unusual experience, so he couldn't forget Chen Zhishao.
This meeting was like a thunderbolt striking the earth, and once it happened, it was unstoppable.
After the two found a secluded spot and poured out their longing for each other, Chen Zhishao asked with a hint of bitterness, "Who was that beautiful woman you brought to the banquet?"
Wang Fengyue, however, was particularly pleased with the feeling of the beauty being jealous of him, and coaxed her, saying, "That was a concubine that the Fifth Prince arranged for me. I didn't want to offend him, so I brought her here. Don't worry, it was all just for show. My feelings for you are genuine."
"Really?" Chen Zhishao asked, her eyes filled with affection.
Wang Fengyue couldn't take it anymore and hugged the person tightly, saying, "It's real, more real than real gold."
"Don't believe me? Feel it." He said, grabbing Chen Zhishao's hand and pushing it towards her chest.
At this moment...
The lights came on instantly.
"What are you doing!"
The scene shifts back to the palace banquet.
Everyone continued to toast and drink, enjoying themselves immensely and creating a lively atmosphere.
The Fifth Prince suddenly asked, "Where has my wife gone? Why hasn't she come back for so long?"
The Queen laughed and said, "You silly child, you've been staying here with me all this time instead of going to keep your wife company. She's gone, why don't you hurry up and go look for her?"
"Yes, son, I'll go right away."
The Queen then said, "Lord Li, Lord Zhao, I would like to trouble you to come with my son. It is too dark, and I am a little worried about him going alone."
Some people already sensed something was amiss. Afraid of the dark? Who would really let the Fifth Prince go out alone? Wasn't there a whole bunch of servants with him? Besides, the people the Empress chose were notoriously gossipy!
Wei Wangqing also found it a bit strange, but she didn't intend to interfere, since it was none of her business anyway.
The group ostensibly searched for Wang Fengyue, but no one called out to him. Instead, they quietly headed in one direction, as if they already knew where he was.
The husbands all understood the situation perfectly well and said no more, simply following the Fifth Prince.
Suddenly, the group saw a woman embracing a man and doing something. The husbands immediately understood why the Queen had summoned them out, which was exactly what they were good at.
All it takes is a little publicity to win the favor of the emperor and empress; why not do it?
The Fifth Prince, seeing this, angrily shouted, "What are you doing!"
That shout was genuine, after all, he had experienced it firsthand.
It's really good that the husbands are still playing the role of the Fifth Prince.
Although they didn't know why the Fifth Prince, who clearly liked this Miss Wang so much, now seemed to want to ruin her, as officials, they all knew that they shouldn't ask questions they shouldn't ask, and shouldn't meddle in things they shouldn't meddle in; this was the way to protect their lives.
The husbands also busied themselves using their special skills.
"Hey, what are you doing? This is really indecent, really indecent!"
"Yes, this is in the palace... Oh, I'm too embarrassed to say it."
"I wonder whose young master this is. He's really corrupting social morals!"
Chen Zhishao's face turned deathly pale. When she realized this, she instinctively relied on the person beside her, grabbing Wang Fengyue's sleeve, "Sister Fengyue."
Wang Fengyue's face also turned extremely ugly. He had no time to pay attention to the beauty and looked at the leader.
It's him again!
Fifth Prince!
Why is he so persistent?
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