Chapter 199 Lingxi Banquet

When the queen heard the voice, she looked over sharply.

It turned out that Qi Wanyin was just about to bring some tea to chat with the Queen, but just as she reached the door, she heard the Queen's words about finding a husband for her, and she was instantly stunned as if struck by lightning.

The tray in his hand began to tremble so much that he couldn't hold it steady. The tea instantly spilled out and fell directly to the ground with a "bang".

Qi Wanyin suddenly woke up and realized that she had lost her composure.

She knelt down and admitted her fault like a lost soul, and said with a trembling voice: "Aunt, please forgive me. Wanyin's hand just slipped."

She lowered her head and her body couldn't stop shaking. She didn't know whether it was because the teacup fell to the ground or because she heard the news about Zhao Lang.

The queen frowned and looked at her, sighing helplessly.

She naturally knew what Wanyin was thinking, but since the prince had already clearly refused, the queen could not force the prince to marry her.

The queen only cares about her own son, and it is impossible for her to destroy her relationship with her son for the sake of a niece.

"Get up, it's okay."

"Thank you, aunt."

Qi Wanyin stood up, trying hard to suppress the fear in her heart. She clenched the corners of her clothes tightly with both hands, and her knuckles turned white from the force.

When Princess Minghui saw Qi Wanyin's distraught look, she couldn't help but smile, her eyes full of happiness and joy.

Doesn't she want to marry the emperor?

Oh, fools talk in dreams.

"Mother, why don't you just hold this banquet to recruit a husband for Miss Qi and put my marriage on hold for later."

Princess Minghui had a smug smile on her face. She glanced at Qi Wanyin with contempt and said in a coquettish voice.

The queen knew that the two of them were not on good terms, but it was just a minor quarrel, so she didn't care.

However, as the queen, it was legitimate for her to hold a banquet for the princess in the palace, but it was against the rules to hold a banquet for Qi Wanyin. Her identity was indeed somewhat embarrassing.

"Nonsense, you are a princess, and this banquet in the palace can only be for you."

After rejecting Princess Minghui, the Queen turned and looked at Qi Wanyin.

"Wanyin, at this banquet, I will also announce to all the invited noble families that you are a daughter of the Qi family and officially enter the Qi family tree. By the way, I will also choose a husband for you at the banquet."

The queen looked serious and her tone left no room for doubt.

When Qi Wanyin heard that her aunt was really going to choose a husband for her, her face turned pale and she staggered to the Queen and knelt down.

"Aunt, Wanyin likes my cousin the Crown Prince. Even if I have to be his concubine, Wanyin wants to enter the East Palace. I beg you to grant my wish."

Qi Wanyin grabbed the hem of the Queen's skirt with both hands, her voice was filled with tears, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"Wanyin, your father has returned from the frontier. From now on, you will be a proper daughter of the Qi family, and your status will be noble. If you marry into a family of lower status, you can still be the mistress of the household. Why do you have to enter the Eastern Palace?"

The queen looked at Qi Wanyin's humble and pitiful appearance, leaned over slightly, and patted Qi Wanyin's shoulder gently with pity in her eyes.

She knew her son's temper. If he really didn't like her, he would suffer after entering the East Palace.

"Aunt, I..."

Seeing that she was about to continue speaking, the queen interrupted her.

"It was the Crown Prince's idea to let me choose a husband for you. If the Crown Prince doesn't want to marry you, I can do nothing about it."

Qi Wanyin's eyes suddenly widened, her pupils dilated, and she looked at the Queen in disbelief.

Cousin...why?

"Yes, Wanyin will follow my aunt's instructions."

Qi Wanyin lowered her head, tears finally burst out, and fell to the ground drop by drop.

Is she so annoying?

When she first entered the palace, her cousin was the only one who did not mock her. He would even teach them a lesson when other princesses and princes insulted her.

So she has always regarded her cousin as her only salvation in the palace. She wants to marry into the Eastern Palace and have a sense of belonging in the capital.

It turned out that she was just being sentimental.

The capital city has never been able to accommodate her. Her foreign blood makes everyone dislike her and stay away from her.

Who will be attracted to her at this banquet?

It's just to serve as a foil for the princess.

After chatting with the two of them for a few words, the queen lost interest and both of them seemed absent-minded.

The queen leaned back on the couch, holding her forehead with her hand, "I am tired, you can leave now."

"Yes, your son, Wanyin, will take your leave."

Princess Minghui and Qi Wanyin spoke in unison, then bowed and slowly left the palace.

Qi Wanyin's steps were weak and light, as if she were a walking corpse, while Princess Minghui had a smug look on her face. Although Young Master Yan was not present at the banquet, her mother did not say that she must choose a prince consort for her from the banquet.

However, Qi Wanyin's distraught state made Princess Minghui feel comfortable.

As soon as she left the hall, Princess Minghui immediately raised her chin and acted arrogantly.

She glanced at Qi Wanyin with contempt and a mocking smile.

"Qi Wanyin, you should put those thoughts aside. How could the emperor like you? You still want to enter the Eastern Palace, haha."

She raised her eyebrows high in protest to Qi Wanyin.

"After some time, you can choose a suitable bastard at the banquet that your mother will hold for me and marry me."

Princess Minghui emphasized the word "this palace" when she spoke, which naturally meant that Qi Wanyin was not even qualified to hold a banquet in the imperial palace.

After saying that, he walked past Qi Wanyin, even bumped into her slightly, and went back to his own palace.

Qi Wanyin looked at Princess Minghui's back, clenched her hands into fists, and dug her nails deeply into her palms, but she seemed to feel no pain.

She kept asking herself what she had done wrong to make them hate her so much.

Half a month later.

The Queen held a Lingxi Banquet and invited the nobles and ladies of the capital to attend.

When the news came out, the whole capital was in an uproar.

After all, it is not common for the Empress to hold palace banquets for external guests.

The Queen did not make it clear to the public that the purpose was to recruit a husband for the princess. Only those families with inside information got some vague rumors.

However, Ye Yaqin was excited to hear that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would also attend the Lingxi Banquet and began to prepare carefully.

She tried on gorgeous clothes again and again in front of the mirror, picked out the most dazzling jewelry, and strived for perfection in every detail.

This was the first banquet that the prince attended. When the young ladies at the Lingxi banquet heard the news, they felt as if they were facing a formidable enemy, and they all dressed up to their heart's content.

Ye Yaqin naturally had to leave an impression in front of the prince.

Su Jingyao came here with her brother today.

Originally, Su Jingyao thought that her brother would not come back so early. It was really a coincidence. Could it be that her brother and Qi Wanyin had some kind of fate?

Su Jingyao didn't want her brother to be mixed up with Qi Wanyin for the rest of his life.

Although Qi Wanyin hasn't done anything excessive yet, her personality is somewhat extreme due to her childhood experiences.

Su Jingyao didn't sympathize with her, but she didn't look at her with malice either.

Everyone has their own pain in life. If Qi Wanyin can't get out of it, maybe her life will be no different from her previous life.

Qi Wanyin has stayed in the capital all her life. If her brother and Qi Wanyin were entangled with each other, she didn't know whether her brother could help Qi Wanyin to be reborn or Qi Wanyin would drag her brother into the abyss.

That's why Su Jingyao didn't want her brother to see Qi Wanyin again.

But I didn’t expect that my brother came back from studying abroad two days ago.

After Qi Wanyin, his previous life's daughter, died, his brother met her previous life's sister-in-law during the Flower Festival a year later, and the two got together.

In this life, her sister-in-law is younger than her, only ten years old...

But so many things have happened in this life, and everyone's direction seems to have changed a lot.

Su Jingyao could only let things take their course.

"Yaoyao, you are wearing a light purple brocade waist skirt today, which is so lively and beautiful!"

As soon as Chu Yinxue saw Su Jingyao coming to the banquet, she couldn't wait to walk over, her eyes shining, and praised her directly.

Su Jingyao knew that she was praising her because she wanted her to praise back, so she did not hesitate to do so and pondered for a moment.

He smiled and praised, "Yinxue is also very beautiful today. Her face is as beautiful as a fresh crabapple. She is as gorgeous as a flower fairy."

When Su Jingyao praised her, the tone of her words was inflected, sounding very naughty.

Chu Yinxue raised her eyebrows and smiled with satisfaction, she was truly bright and charming.

She liked Yaoyao praising her. Every time she praised her, it was different and especially beautiful, making her heart feel as sweet as if she had eaten honey.

Afterwards, Chu Yinxue's gaze fell on Su Jingxuan who was behind Su Jingyao.

Su Jingxuan was dressed in a blue brocade robe, with a handsome face and a gentle smile on his face, giving people a feeling of being bathed in spring breeze.

A barely perceptible shyness flashed across Chu Yinxue's face, and after briefly staring at him, she quickly lowered her eyes.

Seeing this, Su Jingyao smiled and introduced her: "This is my brother, Su Jingxuan."

Chu Yinxue suppressed the inexplicable nervousness in her heart and said softly, "Mr. Su."

"Ms. Chu." Su Jingxuan nodded politely.

Su Jingyao felt a little strange when she saw Chu Yinxue, who seemed to be different from the carefree person in the past.

Then he carefully observed her expression without making any noise.

Her eyes were evasive and her cheeks were slightly red.

Could it be that Chu Yinxue has fallen for her brother?

Forget it. She doesn't like to be a matchmaker. She should not get involved in other people's love affairs. Just let nature take its course. Let nature take its course...

Soon, the banquet officially began as the queen brought the princess and Qi Wanyin.

The Queen glanced at everyone and made it clear at the banquet that she hoped Princess Minghui could choose a husband from among the many outstanding young men today.

Although many powerful families in the capital do not like to be the princess's consort, some men also hope to marry the princess and make their family prosperous overnight.

Princess Minghui sat in her seat, glancing at the men who came today with boredom, her eyes full of disinterest, and fiddling with the wine glass in her hand without interest.

Not long after, the Queen announced that Qi Wanyin had entered the Qi family tree and officially became a daughter of the Qi family.

After hearing this, Su Jingxuan turned his gaze to Qi Wanyin, his eyes filled with complex emotions, including relief and emotion, because at least she had a place to stay in the capital.

Su Jingxuan hopes that she can get what she wants.

He had stayed in the palace for several months and knew Qi Wanyin, so he had some understanding of her.

Qi Wanyin was very cautious, and every move and every word she made was filled with care.

She lived a very miserable life, as if fate had strangled her by the throat and she could not escape.

But she has more self-esteem than others, and she is both inferior and sensitive.

Su Jingxuan was not a person who judged achievements by their status. Despite being oppressed by the princesses and princes in the palace, Qi Wanyin still worked hard to study and try to please the empress. He admired her tenacity.

When he left the palace, Su Jingxuan was still young, and he didn't feel that he liked Qi Wanyin at all, but he did feel pity and sympathy in his heart.

Maybe Su Jingxuan wanted to return the kindness Qi Wanyin showed him, or maybe deep down in his heart, Su Jingxuan longed to be a savior and pull this woman who was trapped in darkness into the light?

Later, when he found out that she liked the prince, Su Jingxuan suddenly realized that only the prince could pull her into the light.

Halfway through the banquet, Chu Yinxue turned around but couldn't find Su Jingyao!

It was obvious that Yaoyao was always inseparable from her at every banquet in the past, but today she was gone!

Chu Yinxue left the banquet and prepared to go outside to look for her. She didn't know where she went, but she found Qi Wanyin and Master Su walking side by side.

I heard from Yaoyao that the Queen is also going to help Qi Wanyin choose a husband at this banquet. Could it be that Qi Wanyin has fallen in love with Master Su?

Chu Yinxue felt a little hurt and at a loss.

For some reason, she wanted to find out what was going on and what the relationship between the two was. Chu Yinxue bit her lip and followed.