Lin Xihe stood to the side, a polite smile on her face.
At this moment, Xiao Yugan's gaze fell on Ji Zhuo, while Mu Ruoyan's eyes were staring directly at her without any attempt to hide it.
Lin Xihe lowered her eyes, avoiding his gaze, but felt a faint unease in her heart.
"You two should get married sooner rather than later. Look at you, so useless." Xiao Yugan's tone was teasing, as if he regarded Ji Zhuo as his beloved nephew.
Then, he changed the subject and said with a smile, "I remember you've been to Sichuan, and His Majesty in the North also said you've been there, insisting that the people there like to eat vinegar. Tell me, what do the people of Sichuan actually like to eat?"
Lin Xihe felt helpless. It was clearly just a casual chat between Xiao Yugan and Mu Ruoyan, yet they insisted on calling Ji Zhuo back to answer. The question was obvious, and everyone knew the answer, but those in power always liked to use such seemingly insignificant questions to test or embarrass others.
Ji Zhuo naturally understood Xiao Yugan and Mu Ruoyan's intentions, but he still respectfully cupped his hands, preparing to reply, "Your Majesty..."
Xiao Yugan chuckled and interrupted him: "Tell my good brother that he can't tell the difference."
Upon hearing this, Ji Zhuo had no choice but to bow to Mu Ruoyan again, saying, "Reporting to Your Majesty of the Northern Border..."
However, before he could finish speaking, Mu Ruoyan suddenly raised his voice, his tone tinged with coldness: "Brother, do you ministers always stand when you speak? I don't receive this treatment in the Northern Territory."
Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly froze.
Xiao Yugan's expression changed slightly.
From yesterday to today, Mu Ruoyan has been behaving gently and politely. Why is she suddenly picking a fight now?
There is no fixed rule about standing or kneeling when replying, and Ji Zhuo's attitude was respectful, so there was nothing wrong with it.
Xiao Yugan wondered to himself, could Mu Ruoyan's actions be a sign of dissatisfaction with him?
However, the situation in the Western Regions is tense and war could break out at any time. He must maintain peace with the Northern Border, otherwise the Great Hao will face a predicament of being attacked from both sides. The ministers in the hall also knew that it was not advisable to antagonize the Northern Border at this time.
Only Ji Zhuo knew that Mu Ruoyan's actions were merely an attempt to make things difficult for him.
However, given Mu Ruoyan's status as a foreign emperor, whether Ji Zhuo should kneel or not remains to be decided by Xiao Yugan.
Ji Zhuo looked up at Xiao Yugan, his eyes questioning.
Xiao Yugan immediately smiled and said, "Brother, you're just like at home here. There's no need to stand on ceremony."
Upon hearing this, Ji Zhuo did not hesitate. He lifted his robe, knelt down, and replied again.
Mu Ruoyan was, after all, the Emperor of the Northern Territory, and his kneeling was not unjust. However, at this moment, his heart was filled with shame and helplessness. His Xi'er was right beside him, and this man who had forcibly taken her from his hands forced him to kneel and submit, powerless to resist.
Seeing Ji Zhuo kneel down, Lin Xihe knelt down with him without hesitation.
She exchanged a glance with Ji Zhuo, a faint smile playing on her lips, silently comforting him.
Lin Xihe bowed gracefully and kowtowed respectfully to Mu Ruoyan, her tone gentle yet firm: "Your Majesty of the Northern Border, Ji Zhuo and I are husband and wife. I also have some knowledge of Sichuan, so I will speak on behalf of my future husband. If I am wrong, Your Majesty should just take it as a joke and have some amusement."
From the moment Lin Xihe knelt down, Mu Ruoyan's expression became terrifyingly gloomy, but in front of others, he ultimately restrained himself somewhat.
Xiao Yugan, however, revealed a hint of appreciation. Ji Zhuo was, after all, his most trusted minister, and he felt somewhat humiliated by such an act.
But Lin Xihe's words cleverly turned the situation around, making it seem like it was just a lighthearted conversation between her and Mu Ruoyan.
Xiao Yu chuckled and waved his hand, saying, "It's nothing. If you and Changqing hadn't been delayed a few days ago, you would already be husband and wife. Since Xihe knows as well, then let's talk about it."
Ji Zhuo gently tugged at Lin Xihe's hand, his heart filled with worry.
He knew that Lin Xihe had never been to Sichuan, but she stood up for him without hesitation.
Ji Zhuo was afraid that if she couldn't answer, she would be in danger.
Lin Xihe sensed Ji Zhuo's worry, gently squeezed his hand back, then released it. She calmly turned to Mu Ruoyan and respectfully replied, "The Sichuan and Chongqing region is characterized by towering peaks, interwoven fields, and abundant mulberry and hemp, where the people are prosperous. The cuisine of the people of Sichuan and Chongqing is unique, with a fondness for spicy food. Using chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns as the soul, the dishes they cook are bright red with oil and have a lingering numbing sensation, leaving a lasting impression."
At this moment, Mu Ruoyan's anger was almost impossible to suppress.
Others might not be able to tell, but Lin Xihe knew him all too well.
The way he stared at her, if the two of them were alone, he probably would have pounced on her the next moment, or even wanted to strangle her.
But why did he have to make things difficult for Ji Zhuo?
Does His Majesty the Northern Kingdom enjoy sour foods?
Lin Xihe feigned innocence and continued, "Eating a moderate amount of vinegar can stimulate the appetite and aid digestion, as well as promote blood circulation, making the body feel more comfortable. However, there are also many downsides. Eating too much can damage the stomach, and the teeth may become sensitive. If you're holding in anger and constantly eating vinegar, it can easily damage your liver, and you're also prone to getting stuck on trivial matters, creating many unnecessary troubles." Her tone was light, as if she were merely discussing food, but the deeper meaning behind her words was directed at Mu Ruoyan.
Upon seeing this, Xiao Yugan immediately interrupted, feigning helplessness: "Hey, Xihe, don't talk nonsense!"
Then, he turned to Mu Ruoyan, his tone tinged with apology: "Brother, women are often ignorant, please don't hold it against her."
He secretly gloated. If Mu Ruoyan really argued with a young woman, that would truly be a loss of manners. But if he really wanted to argue, Xiao Yugan wouldn't mind taking the opportunity to punish Lin Xihe, since he wouldn't lose out anyway.
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