vrcanaries Chapter 251 The unexpected person
Chapter 251 The unexpected person
Emperor Jing Zhao, wearing a dragon robe and a golden crown, slowly appeared at the door of the hall.
Behind him followed a group of concubines, palace maids and eunuchs.
Another set of etiquette procedures came up. In this era where people had to kneel at every turn, Qin Ruo had become a little numb.
After Emperor Jing Zhao sat down on the stage, he swept his gaze over everyone with the majesty of an emperor.
"My dear ministers, today's banquet is held because my sister has finally returned to the capital after years of recuperation. I am very happy. Secondly, it is to welcome Princess Ning'an to the capital for the first time. You don't have to be polite. Just enjoy yourself tonight."
After Emperor Jing Zhao finished speaking, a wave of compliments rang out in the hall.
Everyone glanced secretly at the seat next to the emperor where Concubine Zhao used to sit, and the calm-looking Concubine Shu had different thoughts in her mind for a moment.
The envoys are about to enter the capital, but the imperial concubine is under house arrest at this critical juncture. It seems that the court is about to become lively again.
After Emperor Jing Zhao spoke a few more words about the occasion, the palace people sang loudly, "The banquet is about to begin."
Inside the hall that was as bright as day, musicians played cheerful music, dancers danced gracefully, and fine wine and delicious food were served continuously.
After three rounds of drinking, Emperor Jing Zhao sat on the highest dragon throne, looking at the people below with a majestic and deep gaze.
He raised his hand towards Eunuch De who was behind him, and Eunuch De made a stop gesture to the musician who was playing.
The music stopped and the dancers in the audience retreated in an orderly manner.
Emperor Jing Zhao's eyes suddenly locked onto Qin Ruo, and then a smile appeared on his face.
"Where are the Qin family members? Come forward and let me take a good look."
Qin Ruo calmly put down the teacup, and she and Old Lady Qin and her grandchildren stood up one after another and walked to the center of the hall.
Just as the group was about to kneel down and pay their respects, they were stopped by Emperor Jing Zhao.
"Today is a palace banquet, so there is no need to stick to etiquette. Ning An, please come forward."
Qin Ruo stepped out of the line, took a few steps forward and bowed to Emperor Jingzhao.
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty. Ning An and the Qin family are grateful for your kindness. May Your Majesty be in good health. May Your Majesty be in good health and may the country be peaceful and prosperous."
"Hahaha, very good! Very good. Princess Ning'an is going to the capital with her family today. Thank you for the hard journey."
"It is said among the people that Princess Ning'an is intelligent and wise. Today I see that her reputation is well-deserved. Ning'an has made great contributions to the granary of Dasheng. The eldest son of the Qin family is the first in the court this year, and the second and third sons have jointly invented the rice hulling machine, which has brought innovation to the farming of Dasheng. I am very pleased..."
The people in the audience listened to the emperor's praise of the Qin family. It would be a lie to say that they were not envious of the Qin family's opportunities.
The Qin family is a family, and they all caught the emperor's eye?
The Sixth Prince kept his brows lowered the entire time, which managed to conceal the cold light in his eyes.
Qin Ruo stood quietly in the middle of the hall, her mind clear as a mirror.
This was just the appetizer. Emperor Jing Zhao had arranged all this in such a high-profile manner, how could he have done it just to ask me to come up and give him a few words of praise?
Qin Ruo lowered her head and replied respectfully, "Your Majesty is too kind. Ning An is grateful for your kindness. I don't deserve it. The Qin family is grateful for your grace and is willing to do our best for Dasheng."
"Good! All women in the world should be like the girls of the Qin family!" Emperor Jing Zhao nodded, and his eyes seemed to be very satisfied with Qin Ruohe's attitude and answer.
Emperor Huang Zhao asked a few more questions before letting Qin Ruo and his party return to their seats.
Old Mrs. Qin was completely unaware that in just a short while, her palms were full of sweat in this cold winter.
At this moment, the eunuch's voice suddenly rang out again outside the hall.
"First Prince, the Seventh Prince is here."
After hearing the eunuch's announcement, everyone's expressions instantly became complicated.
Even the Sixth Prince, who had been keeping his head down and keeping silent, suddenly raised his head and stared at the door.
The eldest prince is the former crown prince Si Yu. Ever since the palace coup, he has been under house arrest in a prince's mansion outside the imperial palace in Beijing for more than ten years and has not appeared in public.
At that time, Emperor Jing Zhao deposed the crown prince and took back power. He also exterminated the crown prince's mother's family and wife's family who were implicated, but only spared the life of the eldest prince Si Yu.
As for the seventh prince Si Cheng, he can be considered an outlier among the other princes.
After his mother, Concubine Xu, died, she was posthumously named Concubine Xu.
After the seventh prince came of age, he was allowed by Emperor Jing Zhao to live in the palace.
Due to his health condition, he basically never participated in any palace banquets, big or small.
Now, the two brothers, who seldom appear in public, suddenly appeared together at the palace banquet, which really makes people think too much.
As the eunuch's voice fell, a thin middle-aged man wearing purple-gold clothes, with a somewhat vicissitudes of life between his brows, slowly walked into the hall.
Behind him was a young man with handsome features but a slightly pale face sitting in a wheelchair.
When Qin Ruo saw the person in the wheelchair clearly, her pupils shrank slightly and she was shocked.
Qin Tiaotiao also had an expression as if he had seen a ghost.
He immediately cast a questioning look at Qin Ruo, but her attention was now entirely on the Seventh Prince Si Cheng, and she did not notice Qin Tiaotiao's gaze.
Even Mo Yue noticed Qin Ruo's abnormal reaction.
She moved closer to Qin Ruo and whispered, "Princess, is there something wrong?"
Qin Ruo came back to her senses and shook her head slightly at Mo Yue.
The eldest prince had already entered the center of the hall, and the palace servants pushed the seventh prince in a wheelchair and also walked forward.
"Your son, I pay my respects to your father." The eldest prince Si Yu knelt on the ground, and there seemed to be a hint of panic in his low voice.
"Get up, Yu'er, how come you have lost so much weight? It's so cold today and you are still wearing such thin clothes. Are the servants in the mansion not taking good care of you?" There was a hint of concern in Emperor Jing Zhao's voice, but a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Everyone in the mansion has done their best and has not been negligent. I am in good health." The eldest prince lowered his eyes, his attitude respectful and cautious.
All the ministers present sighed in their hearts as they looked at the former crown prince who was now a completely different person.
When Si Yu was still the crown prince, he was in his prime and full of vigor and vitality. But now he looks haggard, and the years have left heavy marks on him.
There is no trace of his former brilliance at all. Over the past ten years, the once most dazzling person has disappeared among the crowd.
Si Heng didn't even raise his eyelids, and poured himself a glass of wine. The arrival of the eldest prince and the seventh prince didn't seem to affect him at all.
"I remember that we received several high-quality furs as tribute last year, including a snow fox fur cloak. Go and ask someone to fetch it for Yu'er to keep him warm."
Eunuch De took the order and left. The emperor asked the eldest prince a few more questions and then gave him a seat.
Seeing the palace servants bring chairs and desks and place them only a few feet away from Emperor Jing Zhao, the Fourth Prince, the Fifth Prince, and the Sixth Prince all changed their expressions.
Even the seemingly peaceful Concubine Shu, who was sitting at the top, paused for a moment.
Qin Ruo's gaze always followed the figure of the Seventh Prince, with a look of scrutiny and confusion in her eyes.