The smile in Li Shengxuan's eyes faded a little, but Zhuge Yu still looked calm and calm, "Everyone from the Xiahou family is here, His Majesty's mind should be decided."
His words, neither light nor serious, were like a sharp stone, piercing the peace in Li Shengxuan's heart and causing ripples.
"Zhuge Yu, what do you think of Fang Zilan?"
Zhuge Yu didn't answer but asked, "What do you think, Your Majesty?"
Li Shengxuan's expression remained unchanged, but his eyebrows relaxed a bit, "I think it's good."
Zhuge Yu remained calm on his face, but he was panicking for no reason in his heart, "Your Majesty is saying..."
"The flowers and trees in the palace are growing well this year, better than in previous years." Li Shengxuan interrupted Zhuge Yu's unfinished words, and his calm look made him feel more at ease.
He remembered his grandfather saying that their emperor, who was good at the battlefield, had passed between life and death countless times. An inch more deadly and an inch less useless. No one knew how to handle the word propriety better than him.
Xiahou Zhang, who was standing by, approached Li Shengxuan and whispered: "Your Majesty, the Queen and the Xiahou family have arrived."
Li Shengxuan raised his eyes to look at the person walking towards them, and nodded to indicate that he understood.
When the Queen and the Xiahou family came closer, the people who were talking softly stopped in unison, and their eyes focused on a few people.
Fang Zilan was no exception, looking at the visitor intently.
The woman walking among the crowd was wearing a cyan colored riding outfit, and the cloak of the same color made her a bit petite, and she looked very stylish and spirited every step of the way. Her sword-shaped eyebrows and starry eyes reveal an indescribable heroic spirit. She is not a beauty in the traditional sense, but she carries an indescribable chilling temperament. People can't help but want to take a few more glances, but they are suppressed by the power of her body. Looking directly at something means that it can only be seen from a distance.
Fang Zilan thought to herself that with such an aura, it must be Xiahou Yunzhao.
Next to Xiahou Yunzhao is a man in white clothes on the left side. He looks to be about the same age as her. Although he is past middle age, his facial features are still extremely delicate and good-looking. His unsmiling and proud appearance is like an immortal who walked out of a painting. Seriously. The noble person is Xie Chen himself.
The man behind Xiahou Yunzhao on the right is wearing the same riding attire as she is. He is ready for battle and has the unique killing spirit of a marcher. He is the current head of the Xiahou family - Xiahou Mingxun.
Xiahou's family met Li Shengxuan one by one. Their conversation and behavior were neither warm nor distant, showing indescribable decency and restraint.
Fang Zilan observed secretly and felt strange. It stands to reason that the Xiahou family is Li Shengxuan's mother's family, and they should be more affectionate than others. But for some reason, she always feels that there is a sense of incompatibility between the Xiahou family and everyone present, and she vaguely feels that there is something incompatible with them. The harmony seems more deliberate.
After everyone talked for a while, Queen Fang Ziqin came to invite everyone to the banquet.
The palace banquet is held in Wanfu Palace, which is closest to the Imperial Garden. It is a place in the palace used to entertain distinguished courtiers.
Not long after Li Shengxuan ascended the throne, Fang Zilan went there when he was walking around the palace to familiarize himself with the terrain. The Wanfu Palace was not big, but it was decorated very delicately.
She once heard the old man in the palace say that Wanfu Palace was originally built by Emperor Tai'an for Concubine Jade. Many of the furnishings and ornaments inside were made according to the customs of Baiyue. After Concubine Jade passed away, it was left unused.
It was not until Emperor Ningshun came to the throne that the Wanfu Palace was renovated according to the style of Dajing. All the original Baiyue decorations were removed, and it became a place specially used for banquets.
However, when Fang Zilan followed everyone in, before she could see the scene in the palace clearly, she saw everyone standing at the entrance of the palace.
She raised her eyes and saw that even though it was autumn and winter, she could see that the hall was covered with straw mats, intertwined flowers and vines, and colorful brocade screens, just like the decoration style of Baiyue.
No wonder everyone was stunned on the spot. She looked around with understanding. Except for Li Shengxuan, Fang Ziqin, Zhuge Yu and Xia Houzhang, who didn't react at all, the rest of them had faces full of astonishment.
Xiahou Yunzhao glanced at it and said calmly: "Your Majesty still remembers Concubine Yu when she was in Wanfu Palace, so she is interested." After saying this, she walked in without ceremony.
Qiu Shui next to Fang Ziqin was very discerning and hurried forward to lead several people from the Xiahou family to sit down.
The others looked at each other and followed Xiahou's family into Wanfu Palace.
Everyone sat down one after another. Fang Zilan sat under Li Qiyou, next to Zhuge Yu, and opposite to the Xiahou family.
Xiahou Yunzhao sat in the first seat on the left opposite Li Qiyou, while Xie Chen and Xiahou Mingxun faced Fang Zilan and Zhuge Yu respectively.
This arrangement of seats made Fang Zilan a little curious. She couldn't help but look at Zhuge Yu quietly and said softly: "Isn't Xiahou Mingxun the head of the Xiahou family? Why are you sitting at the end?"
Zhuge Yu didn't reply to her, but quietly reminded her to pay attention. Only then did she realize that Xiahou Yunzhao's eyes had fallen on her at some point, causing her to sit upright involuntarily, still looking indifferent as usual. .
It was still early and there was still some time before the formal banquet.
Li Shengxuan sat on the main seat, and Fang Ziqin sat next to him. One of them talked with the Xiahou family about the people's livelihood in the southeast, and the other gently asked the maid of the palace to add tea and water.
The emperor and empress cooperated with each other, and they were loving partners with perfect understanding.
Fang Zilan sat down, eating tea and snacks without saying a word, but she knew that Xiahou Yunzhao had never taken his eyes away from her.
Sure enough, before Li Shengxuan and Xiahou Yunzhao exchanged a few words, Fang Zilan heard Xiahou Yunzhao turn the conversation to her, "This must be Mr. Fang, right? Hearing is better than seeing. I watched Mr. Fang compare the rumors. The hit is less harsh and more steady."
Fang Zilan smiled slightly and said: "Although I haven't heard it with my own ears, I think that what can reach General Xiahou's ears is probably the same. I am just a rough man, and it is commonplace to be ruthless and ruthless on the battlefield. But today In front of His Majesty the General, if you are confused and afraid of losing etiquette, it is better to be more cautious."
"This is the first time I've seen such a sharp-tongued rough man." Xiahou Yunzhao also had a smile on his face. Fang Zilan couldn't tell the difference and didn't dare to answer rashly, but she saw the look in Xie Chen's eyes opposite Xiahou Yunzhao. With a faint smile, Xiahou Yunzhao glared at him, and then he calmed down and returned to his usual cold appearance.
She noticed their little moves and thought that these two people were more lively than the rumors said.
Li Qiyou turned his head to look at Fang Zilan and said with approval: "Master Fang has done a great job in guarding the northern border. He is no less generous than General Xiahou."
As soon as he said this, Fang Zilan felt cold sweat break out from behind. Comparing her with Xiahou Yunzhao, she couldn't stand this kind of entertainment.
