As night falls, countless red lanterns with the word "Shou" in the palace light up instantly.
The majestic palace is illuminated brilliantly.
Today is a big banquet, where hundreds of officials will be given seats.
Chen Chaoci was the first to step into the hall, and the Queen and Concubine Chen helped the Empress Dowager into the hall.
When the Emperor and His Majesty the Queen Mother entered the table, all the officials and their female relatives knelt down and knelt down and bowed: "I wish the Queen Mother a long life."
After the ceremony, everyone took their seats.
The ones in the front seats on the left are the Wei delegation, followed by the uncle, the prime minister and other important officials. On the right are the royal family members, headed by Chen Chaobai, followed by Princess Zhaohua, Princess Nanjun and Song Ran.
Concubine Chen's mother's family held a prominent position in the DPRK, so her seat was naturally at the back. Liu Yunqi came alone and sat with some other ministers.
Song Ran noticed that there was an old friend sitting behind him, the former Tanhua Lang, a sixth-grade compiler named Le Heng.
The table was filled with fine wine and delicacies, and the dancing girls and songstress Feng Geluan danced in the palace.
While everyone was drinking wine, Wei Yu stood up and walked to the center of the hall holding her wine glass.
"On behalf of His Majesty the Emperor Wei of the State of Wei, I wish the Empress Dowager Chen a long and prosperous life, and wish that Chen and Wei will always have good relations with each other." After saying this, Wei Yu drank the wine in her hand.
Chen Chao resigned with great joy, raised his glass and stood up, inviting all his beloved ladies to return the favor.
"The State of Chen is very happy today, and I also want to ask His Majesty the Emperor Chen for a happy event." Wei Yu looked at Song Ran with a smile on her face. Wandering between Song Ran and Zhaohua, finally staying on Zhaohua.
"The Prime Minister of our country has stated to His Majesty Emperor Chen the purpose of our visit this time. In addition to congratulating the Queen Mother on her birthday, we also want to propose marriage to Princess Zhaohua to Chen Guo on behalf of the second emperor brother."
snap——
As soon as these words came out, Zhaohua was stunned. The unsatisfied hand trembled and dropped the chopsticks to the ground. She couldn't hold it in any longer, and just as she was about to stand up, Chen Chaobai pushed her back to her seat.
She turned around and looked at Song Ran helplessly, her eyes seemed to be covered with a layer of mist, and her face looked sincere.
Song Ran was separated from her by the county princess, and she could only look at her with pity. The princess seemed to notice something strange. She glanced sideways, stretched out her hand, and patted Zhaohua's hand gently to express comfort.
Wei Yu's words were intended to force marriage.
She told Chen Guo that only by sending Zhaohua to Wei Guo could the diplomatic relations between the two countries be stabilized and the friendly relations between the two countries further maintained.
But obviously Chen Chaoci has not yet decided whether to send Zhaohua to Wei.
He hesitated, not knowing whether he was reluctant to leave Zhaohua or had other plans.
"Third princess, don't be anxious. The Prime Minister of your country has handed over the birth date of the second prince to the Ministry of Rites. I have ordered the Ministry of Rites to start related matters as soon as possible."
This move is obviously a delaying measure. The incident happened suddenly and he needed to think twice before making a decision.
Song Ran only felt that she had harmed Zhaohua. After all, Wei Yu's target was her from the beginning.
When the two countries make peace, why can't it be Chen Chaobai and Wei Yu? His Highness King Xuan married the third princess of the Wei Kingdom. Wouldn't it benefit both countries with one stone?
Isn't this the best of both worlds for her and Zhaohua?
Song Ran was very surprised by her own thoughts. She wanted to talk to Liu Yunqi quickly to discuss whether this method was feasible.
Chen Chaobai noticed something was wrong with Song Ran. His eyes were rolling in his sockets, and the corner of his mouth was actually smiling. He thought to himself that Zhaohua would have no choice but to go to Wei State to get married, and she could still laugh.
This girl must have had some bad idea.
At the same time, Song Ran felt a fiery gaze cast towards her. She saw Mu Ling through Wei Yu.
Mu Ling looked straight at her. Others thought he was looking at Wei Yu, but Song Ran knew he was looking at her.
Because Wei Yu was blocking the front, Song Ran looked over without any worries.
This was the first time she looked at Mu Ling face to face since he arrived in Chen Country.
When the two eyes met, Song Ran was still confused and felt that her heartbeat was about to stop.
Song Ran told herself again and again that since she decided to let go, she should never leave any feelings behind.
However, Song Ran knew that she was hopeless. As soon as she met Mu Ling and saw this face, all the walls in her heart collapsed instantly.
This was why she didn't want to see him before leaving Nanjun. She was afraid that seeing it would shake her determination.
Liu Yunqi was in the diagonal direction of Song Ran, and he had a panoramic view of everything. The wine glass in your hand will be crushed if you apply more force.
All three men were looking at her. She only notices the people she wants to notice.
The dinner was not dampened by this incident. Chen Chaoci was informal and had a drink with everyone. Everyone was a little tipsy by the end.
Although it is already September, the weather is still very hot. Coupled with the influence of alcohol, Song Ran felt even more stuffy.
The princess of the county had helped the empress dowager back to Changning Palace to rest, and Zhaohua also left the table early because of his depression.
Song Ran looked at the other people around her. They were all complimenting each other to socialize. She was bored and simply took the wine and went outside the palace.
The moon is white and the wind is clear, and I feel much better.
She sat comfortably on a chair in the gallery, sipping wine into her mouth.
"Your Majesty, greetings."
Song Ran turned her head and saw Le Heng.
She put down the wine bottle in her hand and nodded to him.
"My princess and Tanhua Lang have not seen each other for many years." Song Ran smiled faintly.
She was surprised that Leheng, who had always been indifferent, actually took the initiative to say hello to him tonight.
She had only met him two or three times in the past. Except for the first meeting, the other two times were all at the calligraphy of the former prince.
Could it be that he knew about his engagement with King Xuan and came here specifically to please him, hoping to find a way out for himself in the future?
"Princess has a good memory, and she actually knows this official. The false reputation of Tanhua Lang is a thing of the past, and I am now a sixth-grade editor." His eyes were dark, and he stood beside Song Ran respectfully.
"Sixth Grade Compilation." Song Ran's eyes were blurred and she muttered again, "Master Le, I regret it."
"Although my old friend passed away, I never regretted my acquaintance with you." Le Heng looked at Song Ran with firm eyes, and it didn't sound like he was just talking.
Neither of them called their old friend by his first name, but they both knew it.
The moonlight shone down on Liu Yunqi's body, and he walked towards them slowly.
She saw Chen Chaobai again, half-hidden in the bright light of the palace lantern, at the entrance of the hall, followed by Wei Yu.
She just sneaked out to get some air, but why did everyone come out?
Aren't they all here to look for her?
How could she be so virtuous as to allow all the nobles to work hard and search for her personally?
"I'm afraid I won't be able to enjoy the wine today." She said coldly, her eyebrows raised involuntarily, and a trace of ridicule flashed in her eyes.
Leheng turned around and followed Song Ran's gaze to see Liu Yunqi and Chen Chaobai.
He bowed to them from a distance.
The two stopped talking about the topic.
Song Ran took the wine bottle, stood up and walked towards them.
He walked up to Liu Yunqi and glanced sideways at him.
She didn't know if Liu Yunqi understood what she meant, but she would indeed have to go to Liu Mansion again tomorrow.
He also followed Song Ran back to the entrance of the palace.
"Why are you all coming out to get some fresh air?" Song Ran said with a hint of smile and a hint of sarcasm.
She glanced at Wei Yu, then at Chen Chaobai, and laughed meaningfully.
"What does the princess mean?" Wei Yu frowned.
"What does the second prince of your country look like? I have never seen it, so I don't know whether he is worthy of Zhaohua. But -"
"But what?" The person who answered was Chen Chaobai, with a bit of anger on his face.
Song Ran took advantage of the wine and spoke out her thoughts like crazy: "But the third princess and His Highness Prince Xuan are quite a match. Anyway, if the two countries want to make peace, why don't you two——"
"Ahem." Liu Yunqi pulled Song Ran over, "Princess Princess, you drank too much."
Song Ran saw Liu Yunqi pulling her hand, and then she smiled bitterly, raised her hand and shook it at Chen Chaobai, "Brother Qi, be careful when you turn around, His Highness King Xuan will impeach you a few words in the emperor's ear."
Liu Yunqi's face suddenly fell in embarrassment. Why did Song Ran bite everyone he saw today?
Seeing Chen Chaobai's gloomy and unhappy face, Song Ran struggled to put Liu Yunqi's hand away and burst into laughter.
"My princess is just joking and wishing you a happy birthday. Why should you take it seriously?"
She wanted to kill Wei Yu's spirit, and also wanted to remind Chen Chaobai intentionally or unintentionally.
In fact, Wei Yu is also a good choice. If he pursues his own ambitions, he should refer to the advice given by Song Ran. Wei Yu left the entire Wei Kingdom behind her, and she had more real power than she, a small princess in Nan County.
Chen Chaobai understood Song Ran's tricks very well. She just wanted to get out of her engagement with him.
But she just didn't want to believe that he wanted to marry her not just because of Nanjun's military power.
Wei Yu grabbed Song Ran's arm. After hearing Song Ran's provocative words, murderous intent already appeared in her eyes.
Her hands grasped tighter and tighter, and her fingernails almost dug into Song Ran's flesh through the tulle of her clothes.
The four eyes were locked in a stalemate, and the piercing eyes were staring at each other. In the electric light, the atmosphere reached freezing point.
"Third Princess."
Mu Ling saw that Wei Yu seemed to be making things difficult for Song Ran, and he wanted to come over to stop him, but he was surrounded by the toasting crowd.
The queen also saw the movement here, turned her head and said a few words to Chen Chaoci, who also looked in the direction the queen pointed.
"Third Princess." This voice came from Liu Yunqi.
Wei Yu, who had calmed down, let go of her hand. Song Ran shook her shoulders and straightened her sleeves with a smile.
I hadn't felt the pain in my arm just now, but now the pain surged in.
This woman was so ruthless, Song Ran made a mental note of it.
Wei Yu and Song Ran stared at each other again, neither of them willing to be outdone, hum——
One walked back into the hall, and the other turned around and walked out again.
Chen Chaobai told the young father-in-law beside him to follow Song Ran.
Song Ran is probably too bold tonight because of the drunkenness, and she doesn't know what she will pick up at this time.
Song Ran walked back to Zhaohua's bedroom alone.
She asked the young father-in-law who was following her to go back and talk to Chen Chaobai. She would stay here today. If the princess of the county came to see her, let Chen Chaobai inform her.
When Song Ran entered Zhifu Palace, the maids seemed to be looking forward to a savior.
Zhaohua sat dumbfounded in front of the bronze mirror, combing his black hair in bunches.
Song Ran sat next to her and hugged her from the side.
If possible, two miserable people who are suffering from the same disease should not be born into an emperor's family in the next life.
