Chen Xiao hadn't expected him to make such a joke at this moment, and couldn't help but burst out laughing.
The sudden sound shattered the harmonious atmosphere, and everyone's eyes immediately fell on Chen Xiao.
Xu Qian, who was always composed, looked worried because he hadn't heard Xu Ruyu's words. He hurriedly asked with concern, "Your Majesty, did you choke?"
Yuan Yin, who was chatting with Xu Feng and Xu Ruyan, heard Xu Qian ask this question and assumed that Chen Xiao had caused this by talking while eating. She quickly said, "Your Majesty, you can't be so careless. It's easy to hurt yourself by talking while eating."
Others also cast doubtful or concerned glances at them.
Chen Xiao immediately felt his face burning hot and was filled with remorse.
She was supposed to be an incomparably majestic emperor, whose every move concerned the face of the royal family, but now she had lost her composure in front of so many people, which made her feel that the majestic image she had painstakingly cultivated had completely collapsed at this moment.
Of course, this was all in her own opinion.
After all, to outsiders, she never seemed authoritative.
Chen Xiao was unaware of all this. His emotions were a tangled mess, including reproach for Xu Ruyu's teasing, shame for losing face in front of everyone, and regret for his inability to control himself.
A blush spread from her cheeks to her ears, even her delicate earlobes seemed to be tinged with a rosy glow.
Upon seeing this, a smile flashed in Xu Ruyu's peach-blossom eyes. She then stood up, her posture as upright as a pine tree.
He bowed slightly and said loudly to the crowd, "Please do not worry, everyone. It was my words that offended His Majesty, which is why His Majesty is in this state."
His voice was like a clear spring striking a stone, crisp and melodious, yet carrying a touch of sincerity, echoing in the vast banquet hall.
Upon hearing this, everyone suddenly understood.
Xu Qian stroked his non-existent beard, nodded slightly, and a hint of speechlessness appeared in his eyes.
Yuan Yin understood what was going on, and patted her chest lightly, pretending to scold, "So that's how it is. You scared me half to death. Lord Xu, you'd better be more careful in the future."
Everyone chimed in, and then Xi Xi, as if she didn't want the excitement to get out of control, said with a sigh, "Lord Xiao Yu and His Majesty have such a deep friendship. She is willing to take the blame for His Majesty's sake."
Zhao Siyuan was a straightforward and humorous person by nature. When she heard Yuanyin and Xixi speak up, she also joked, "Look at this scene, His Majesty and Minister Xu are truly a perfect couple. Even such a little episode is so sweet."
The others joined in the laughter, and the atmosphere in the banquet hall became lively again.
Hearing the three of them teasing each other, Chen Xiao felt a mixture of love and resentment towards them.
She stole a glance at Xu Ruyu and saw that he looked calm and composed, with a faint smile on his lips. His dashing appearance was like the most brilliant star in the night sky, which made Chen Xiao's heart skip a beat.
He thought to himself, "This guy is so handsome."
But the thought of everyone teasing them every time they heard him speak made Chen Xiao feel embarrassed and ashamed.
Her "hatred" wasn't real resentment, but rather the shy, petulant reproach of a young girl.
Chen Xiao has no memory of his past life. He has only been on the throne for a little over a month and is not very familiar with these formalities. In addition, he is also uneasy about interpersonal relationships.
At this banquet, not everyone was familiar with her, so she was constantly on edge, afraid of making a mistake and losing her dignity.
Moreover, she now knows that she and the male concubine are old friends. Even without past memories, some familiar memories flood back, making her feel more uncomfortable when facing Xu Ruyu.
These three reasons intertwined, like heavy threads binding her, leaving her somewhat bewildered and unsure of how to conduct herself in this lively banquet.
She felt her cheeks getting hotter and hotter, as if they could fry an egg on them, and she wished she could disappear into a crack in the ground.
Seeing this, Xu Ruyu gracefully bowed, sat down again, and slowly approached Chen Xiao, his deep, ink-black eyes filled with tenderness.
In a deep voice, barely audible to the two of them, he gently reassured them, "It's alright, Your Majesty, please don't worry."
He paused briefly, his gaze sweeping over everyone at the table, before continuing, "Princess Yuanyin has been playing with us in this imperial city since childhood. Our friendship is as deep as that of siblings. Every single one of our amusing stories is like a pearl embedded in our memories. She knows us inside and out, and she would never have any strange thoughts about such a trivial matter."
Xu Ruyu's lips curled up slightly, and a hint of warmth flashed in her eyes: "And there's Lord Zhao. She has known you for many years and knows your temperament better than anyone. In her eyes, you are like a child she has watched grow up. Today's events are just a small episode in her mind, like a ripple on a calm lake, fleeting and not worth her attention."
At this point, Xu Ruyu's hand unconsciously touched the Empress's sleeve, as if in silent comfort: "Besides, although my mother has never met you before, I often mention you to her. You don't know, every time my mother hears about your deeds, she praises you highly, and her affection for you is overflowing. She often says that if she has the opportunity to meet Her Majesty, she will definitely have a good chat with Her Majesty, as if she were her own child."
He then looked at Xu Feng and Ming Zhanhe at the table, his gaze carrying a hint of ease: "As for Madam Feng and Madam Ming, they are both people of strong character, not bound by trivial matters. They have seen many changes in the world, so how could they have any opinions about Your Majesty's little lapse in composure? In their eyes, this is just a bit of fun at the banquet, Your Majesty can rest assured."
Clearly, Xu Ruyu was incredibly perceptive. He was like a mirror that could see into the depths of Chen Xiao's soul, understanding clearly the complex, conflicted, and slightly shy true thoughts in Chen Xiao's heart.
However, he was an extremely intelligent man and knew that Chen Xiao was naturally thin-skinned and had a strong sense of pride, so he did not want others to easily see through his inner vulnerability.
So, he deliberately brought up Yuan Yin and Zhao Siyuan without making a sound, even though he knew that Chen Xiao wasn't bothered or worried about them at all.
In his words, the scene between Yuan Yin and them seemed to leap out at him, and the childhood fun he had with Chen Xiao was like a colorful painting slowly unfolding in Chen Xiao's mind.
He deliberately emphasized the deep affection between the princess and them, as if to tell Chen Xiao that Yuan Yin was one of their own and would not look at them differently because of this little incident.
When mentioning Zhao Siyuan, Xu Ruyu emphasized the extent to which Zhao Siyuan had been familiar with Chen Xiao for a long time.
It was an understanding that transcended time. Zhao Siyuan watched Chen Xiao grow from naive to mature, and in her eyes, Chen Xiao was like a younger family member. No matter what Chen Xiao did, she would only respond with tolerance and love.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
