Faced with Regent Xiao Yuan's sudden and respectful salute, Xiao Che's face remained calm. He simply raised his hand slightly and said in a calm voice, "Uncle, you may rise. Today is a family banquet hosted by the Empress Dowager. There is no need to be bound by the formalities between ruler and subject."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Xiao Yuan straightened up, his smile becoming even more gentle, as if he were truly a loving elder.
Seeing this, the Empress Dowager immediately smiled and smoothed things over, saying, "The Emperor is right. We're all family, why so many formalities? Come on, everyone, take your seats, the food is getting cold."
As the Empress Dowager spoke, the tense atmosphere in the hall seemed to ease somewhat. Palace servants filed in, presenting one exquisite dish after another. A seemingly harmonious royal family banquet had officially begun.
Lin Wanwan sat down next to Xiao Che, her seat right next to him, facing the Regent. She picked up the silver chopsticks in front of her and quietly served Xiao Che food, keeping her eyes down and her mind at ease, perfectly portraying the image of a gentle and virtuous empress.
However, her peripheral vision never left the cunning and calculating man opposite her.
At the banquet, Regent Xiao Yuan's performance was nothing short of perfect.
He chatted and laughed, never mentioning a word about the bloody massacre by the Imperial Guards a few days earlier, as if the tense atmosphere and the disastrous retreat that night were just an insignificant dream.
Instead, he recalled many old stories, his tone filled with emotion and nostalgia.
"Speaking of which, I still remember how arduous it was for the late Emperor to conquer this land." He raised his wine cup, gazing at the sky as if toasting the unseen spirits of heroes. "Back then, I was young, following the late Emperor through countless battles, risking my life countless times. Once in Youzhou, when we were besieged by enemy forces and our supplies were cut off, the late Emperor gave me his last half-cake. He said, 'Brother Yuan, you are younger than me. You must live and watch over this beautiful land for your elder brother!'"
When he got emotional, his eyes reddened slightly and his voice became a little hoarse.
These words not only clarified his identity as a founding father of the nation, but also emphasized his life-or-death brotherhood with the late emperor, portraying him as a loyal and meritorious figure.
The Empress Dowager, seated in the main seat, also wiped her eyes with a silk handkerchief and sighed, "Yes, the past is too painful to recall. If it weren't for the assistance of Your Highness and the old ministers, the late Emperor's empire would not have been so stable."
Their coordinated performance was flawless.
Xiao Che listened quietly, tasting the food Lin Wanwan had put on his plate without any expression, as if they were talking about a story that had nothing to do with him.
Xiao Yuan put down his wine glass and cleverly steered the conversation back to Xiao Che.
"Fortunately, His Majesty has lived up to expectations." He looked at Xiao Che, his eyes filled with the satisfaction and affirmation of an elder. "When His Majesty ascended the throne, he was still young. It was I and a group of old ministers who personally helped you onto this dragon throne. Over the past few years, seeing His Majesty become increasingly wise and govern the Great Liang in an orderly manner, I... am deeply gratified!"
These words sound like praise for the emperor, but in reality, every sentence is a reminder to Xiao Che: Your throne was given to you by us! Your achievements today are inseparable from our "merits"!
Lin Wanwan lowered her eyes, a cold smile playing on her lips.
What a blatant distortion of the truth!
If she hadn't known how Xiao Che had painstakingly consolidated his imperial power under their control and obstruction over the past few years, she would almost have been moved by his sincere and heartfelt words.
The scene has finally reached its climax.
Regent Xiao Yuan picked up his wine cup again, and this time, he actually stood up. The gratified smile on his face was gradually replaced by a complex expression, tinged with self-reproach and sincerity.
He bowed deeply to Xiao Che and said in a heavy tone, "Your Majesty, I... am guilty."
Upon hearing this, even the Empress Dowager, who was playing along, showed a hint of surprise in her eyes.
Xiao Che finally put down his chopsticks, raised his eyes, looked at him calmly, and asked, "What crime has Uncle Wang committed?"
"My fault lies in my conservative thinking, and in... my excessive concern for the affairs of the state, which led to disagreements with Your Majesty on many political issues." Xiao Yuan's voice was filled with sincere repentance.
"Your Majesty is determined to reform and govern diligently, which is a blessing for the Great Liang and a boon for all the people. However, I am, after all, an old servant who followed the late Emperor in conquering the country, and my mind is filled with the old rules passed down by the late Emperor. I am always worried that Your Majesty's steps are too big and will shake the foundation of the country, which is why... which is why I have repeatedly argued with Your Majesty in court."
He sighed heavily, as if he was deeply annoyed by his own "stubbornness".
"But I swear to Heaven!" He suddenly raised his voice, his eyes fixed intently on Xiao Che, "Between Your Majesty and me, there is only a difference in our governing philosophies! My loyalty to the Great Liang, to Your Majesty, and to the Xiao family's empire is as clear as Heaven and Earth, as succinct as the sun and moon!"
After saying that, he turned around and looked at Lin Wanwan without even waiting for Xiao Che's reaction.
With an apologetic expression, he bowed slightly to Lin Wanwan.
"Your Majesty the Empress." His tone was gentle and sincere. "Previously, this old minister misunderstood Your Majesty. This old minister always thought that women interfering in politics was a path to chaos, and therefore I have offended and misunderstood Your Majesty in many ways. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."
"It wasn't until the matter of the Imperial Guards that this old minister suddenly realized the truth." He changed the subject, bringing up the events of that night, but cleverly attributing it to his own "awakening." "Only then did this old minister realize that Her Majesty the Empress is not only His Majesty's wise and capable assistant, but also a virtuous empress who can stabilize the harem and share His Majesty's burdens in times of crisis! With Her Majesty by your side, it is a blessing for His Majesty and also a blessing for our Great Liang!"
This performance was flawless and masterful!
He downplayed all his power grabs as "political disagreements" and explained all the targeting and suppression as misunderstandings of "conservative thinking." He even went so far as to belittle himself to elevate Lin Wanwan, portraying himself as a "loyal minister" who, although stubborn, could admit his mistakes and correct them, and remained utterly loyal.
His posture was so humble; his words were so sincere. If Lin Wanwan and Xiao Che hadn't already seen through his true colors, they probably would have been completely moved by his Oscar-worthy "confession of loyalty."
Lin Wanwan sneered inwardly, but on her face she perfectly showed a look of flattery and fear, and quickly stood up and said, "Uncle, you flatter me. I am unworthy of such praise."
As Xiao Che watched the spectacular one-man show unfold before him, a cold glint of mockery flashed deep in his eyes.
play?
Then I'll play along and give it my best.
I'll keep performing until you can't get off the stage anymore!
Xiao Yuan watched the Emperor and Empress's reactions with secret satisfaction. He knew that, regardless of whether they believed him or not, his words had at least mended all the rifts in their relationship. As long as they still cared about the "royal face," they would certainly not cause trouble at this moment.
What he needed was this buffer period.
The play is over; it's time to wrap it up.
For the last time, and most solemnly so, he raised his glass.
He looked at Xiao Che with an unprecedented solemnity and reverence, and said in a deep voice, almost in a vow-like tone:
"His Majesty!"
"Though I am foolish and dull, my heart remains unchanged."
"Regardless of our political views, and no matter how the political landscape changes..."
His gaze was fixed intently on Xiao Che's eyes, and every word he uttered was resounding and forceful!
"I will always be a subject of the Xiao family, and a subject of the King of Liang!"
"Your Majesty, please drink this cup to the brim! Let us, uncle and nephew, reconcile all past grievances!"
After saying this, he drank the wine in his glass in one gulp, then turned the empty glass upside down to show his sincerity.
At this moment, all eyes were focused on Xiao Che.
Should he drink this "reconciliation drink" or not?
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