After the gift-giving ceremony ended, Yun Beiye was also a little hungry.
Seeing that the appetizers and pastries on the table were almost gone, Zhao Zhongquan asked Yun Beiye in a low voice, and then shouted out loud.
The palace maids, dressed in orange-pink palace gowns, began serving dishes from trays.
The first dishes served were soups, mainly lamb's quarters tofu soup and golden flower vegetable and sliced meat soup.
Next came the cold dishes, all of which were unique to Nanyang. Shangguan Wanwan stared wide-eyed at the cold lotus root slices and garlic pork belly on the table.
She wanted to try the garlic-infused pork belly that looked delicious, and just as she was about to reach for it, the envoy beside her coughed. She then realized what was happening, withdrew her hand, and looked at Yun Beiye.
She would start eating only after Yun Beiye had started eating.
The palace maids then served hot dishes: water celery and potato strips, dandelion in meat sauce, amaranth with garlic, stir-fried fern with sliced meat, shredded purslane and double shreds, stir-fried beef tenderloin with dandelion, and purslane with dried fish.
Finally, there were dumplings, pastries, and drinks, including shepherd's purse and pork dumplings, snowflake cake, steamed sweet cheese, steamed chestnut flour cake with osmanthus sugar, peach blossom wine, and hibiscus osmanthus wine.
The young ladies and gentlemen entering the palace for the first time were very excited to taste the food prepared by the imperial kitchen, and the envoys from various countries who were visiting Nanyang for the first time were also eager to try these novel dishes.
...
Everyone was enjoying their meal when a shout suddenly rang out from the doorway.
"The King of Western Chu has arrived..."
The eunuch who announced the news at the gate trembled slightly; they all knew that this King of Western Chu was not someone Nanyang welcomed.
"The King of Western Chu, what brings him here?"
Upon hearing this announcement, Yun Beiye put down his chopsticks. The Empress Dowager and Empress Zhaoyuan were also startled.
Did Xi Jing time this perfectly, planning to steal Duo Duo away from her wedding?!
"Didn't we not give him an invitation?"
Zhao Zhongquan panicked as well: "Yes, Your Majesty, this old servant was very careful and absolutely did not send an invitation to Western Chu!"
What exactly happened?
Upon hearing that the King of Western Chu had arrived, Yun Duoduo, Sun Huohuo, Xiao Jinyu, and Xue Deyi all put down their wine cups and chopsticks and stared at the door.
Is Xi Jing, this crazy bastard, here to cause trouble?
Yun Duoduo had previously felt that Xi Jing was a bit too quiet. How could someone who was determined to achieve his goal give up so easily?
Sun Huohuo gripped the two axes under the table, Xiao Jinyu gripped the sword at his waist, and Xue Deyi gripped the red spear that was leaning against the pillar.
They all looked ready to fight at any moment.
"Imperial Guards! Xiao Jinyu! Xiao Xuheng!" Yun Beiye shouted angrily, looking at the Imperial Guards standing at the door.
"Your subject is here!"
"Keep the King of Western Chu outside the palace!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
With a wave of his hand, Xiao Jinyu immediately formed a line of imperial guards, blocking the entrance to Anqing Palace.
The civil officials and their families sitting in the hall panicked and began to think, but with Yun Beiye and the Empress Dowager still sitting upright, they could not make any rash moves.
All I could do was anxiously watch the doorway, keeping an eye on any movement there.
...
Xi Jing strode towards Anqing Palace. There was a long palace road from the palace gate to Anqing Palace.
Although they hadn't received an invitation, the people at the palace gates couldn't stop him at all.
With road signs along the way, they easily found the place.
Yun Duoduo never expected that the road sign she put up in the spirit of friendship and mutual assistance would backfire and cause her to suffer the consequences.
Upon arriving at the entrance of Anqing Palace, Xi Jing looked at the scene and smiled.
He shouted, "Emperor of Nanyang, what is the meaning of this?!"
"Is this how Nanyang treats its guests?!"
When Xiao Jinyu saw that Xi Jing was accompanied by only two people, who did not seem to know much about martial arts, he sent someone to inform Yun Beiye.
When Yun Beiye heard that Xi Jing had not brought a delegation or any troops, but only two attendants, he was slightly relieved.
Seeing that the group of armored men were still blocking his way, Xi Jing called out again, his tone much gentler than before: "Your Majesty, the Ninth Princess is coming of age, such an important event, why didn't you invite us from Western Chu?"
"Are you still going to stop me? I've come with gifts."
Yun Beiye listened to Xi Jing's words and glanced at Yun Duoduo.
Yun Duoduo nodded. Since Xi Jing hadn't brought a single soldier, he couldn't cause any big trouble on his own.
"Let him in."
As soon as Yunbei finished speaking, the imperial guards at the door dispersed to both sides.
Xi Jing gave him a knowing look and swaggered in with his hands behind his back.
Ren Lao and Ren Yuan followed behind Xi Jing, looking at the palace in Nanyang with curiosity.
The furnishings inside the palace were completely different from what they had imagined.
Is Nanyang really that poor? Are they still using candlesticks made of gold and silver?
There were no crystal chandeliers on the ceiling, and the tables and chairs were all made of wood?!
【In my Western Chu, everything is made of jade, warm in winter and cool in summer. It's so much more magnificent than this place!】
Thinking this, Ren Lao and Ren Yuan looked at the officials, palace maids, and eunuchs of Nanyang with pity.
...
Upon arriving at the palace, Xi Jing stared directly at Yun Bei Ye.
Since both of them were rulers of the same country, Xi Jing did not bow.
"Since the King of Western Chu has arrived, please have a seat."
Yun Beiye's face was devoid of any smile. Xi Jing had once kidnapped his daughter, demanding the city of Nanyang in exchange, and later forcibly demanded a marriage alliance. Naturally, he had no good feelings towards him.
He wanted to kick the man out, but he didn't want to cause a conflict at the banquet and spoil everyone's fun.
Moreover, since Xi Jing wasn't there to cause trouble, there was no need for him to kick him out and cause unpleasantness between the two countries.
Xi Jing ignored Yun Beiye's words and walked straight to Yun Duoduo's table. He bent down and asked her, "Little thing, how could your coming-of-age ceremony be complete without me?"
As he spoke, Xi Jing placed a box on Yun Duoduo's dining table.
"I'm giving you this little gift; I'm sure you'll like it."
Looking at that alluring face, Yun Duoduo stepped back, keeping a safe distance from him.
"Please, please sit down."
Yun Duoduo didn't want him to make a scene here, so she casually pointed to the extra space on the delegation's side.
"Oh? Little thing, since you've spoken, then I'll go and sit down first."
I'll come find you again in a bit.
【Oh? Don't come looking for me!】
Xi Jing reached out to touch Yun Duoduo's nose, but she dodged it by tilting her head.
Xi Jing walked to the delegation's table and glanced at it with a frown.
[That old emperor of Nanyang didn't even leave me a seat?]
[They really don't take me seriously!]
He chose a spot with a view of the clouds, nudged one of the envoys sitting there, and the envoy quickly stood up to make room for Xi Jing.
The Western Chu state was powerful, and they dared not clash with its king.
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