Chapter 168: Imperial Banquet
Inside the resplendent and magnificent palace,
A songstress dressed in a white dancing costume sang and led the dance in the center. Her voice, like an oriole emerging from a valley, was as refreshing as a spring breeze.
A group of dancers, like beautiful butterflies, danced gracefully around her. Their slender waists, delicate and boneless arms moved rhythmically, their long sleeves fluttering, and their jade ornaments jingling.
The ministers on both sides watched intently.
Xingqing had never seen a songstress dance before, so she couldn’t help but watch attentively.
Of course, the most important thing was that her older sister was sitting beside her. Xingqing felt relaxed and naturally had the mood to enjoy the song and dance performance.
With her older sister around, she felt like she didn’t have to think at all!
Today’s imperial banquet was a welcome banquet for the Zhao Kingdom envoy delegation.
Because this year’s youth formation master competition broke through the limitations of many years and seven people were able to participate in the Four Kingdoms Youth Formation Master Competition next year, the emperor specially granted permission and invited these formation masters to the palace to attend the imperial banquet.
Naturally, Xingnong also received an invitation due to Chu Tiankuo’s favoritism. She was invited to the imperial banquet as “Master Shen” and was allowed to wear a face mask.
Young and promising formation masters are highly respected in all countries. Moreover, “Master Shen” broke the three great formations within a stick of incense, so it was not surprising that she was invited to the imperial banquet and received special treatment.
Xingnong, under Chu Tiankuo’s arrangement, sat at the seat below Xingqing.
Seeing Xingqing watching with great interest and without any worries, Xingnong smiled slightly: It’s good.
Princess Changle had seen these songs and dances many times and was not interested. She couldn’t help but glance at the Zhao Kingdom Heir Apparent across from her. The Zhao Kingdom Heir Apparent’s attention was not on the songstress; his gaze was fixed on their row.
Princess Changle was startled and quickly withdrew her gaze.
She turned her head and saw Xingqing watching the performance attentively, quiet and dignified. She secretly breathed a sigh of relief!
That’s good, just keep it this way!
Tonight, she had specially helped her dress up. The clothes were made of the finest materials, and the hairpins on her head were also her most treasured possessions.
Dressed up like this, Princess Changle had to admit that Xingqing’s beauty was the most outstanding among their princesses and princesses consort.
Since the Zhao Kingdom Heir Apparent came this time to choose a wife for the Zhao Kingdom emperor, he would definitely choose the most beautiful one.
Xingqing sensed the person beside her sighing in relief. Her heart stirred, and she began to pick up the pastries on the table and eat them.
Crumbs from the pastries fell down, staining the clothes on her chest!
Princess Changle: “. . .”
She subconsciously glanced in the direction of the Zhao Kingdom Heir Apparent. Seeing that he hadn’t looked over yet, she quickly reminded Xingqing in a low voice, “Sister, eat the pastries more gracefully. The crumbs have fallen all over your clothes.”
Xingqing looked down at her clothes when she heard this. “Oh.”
She responded casually, then reached out and patted her clothes nonchalantly, continuing to eat.
This time, she ate carefully, taking small bites, and no more crumbs fell.
Princess Changle breathed a sigh of relief. Let’s just leave it at that!
She hoped she wouldn’t eat anymore after finishing this piece!
She couldn’t help but look at the Zhao Kingdom Heir Apparent again.
Tonight, she had to pay close attention to the actions of the Zhao Kingdom Heir Apparent and Xingqing.
The Zhao Kingdom Heir Apparent had seen these songs and dances many times since he was a child and was not interested. His gaze fell on the seats of the princesses and princesses consort across from him.
This time, he was on an imperial mission from the Zhao Kingdom Emperor to Chu Kingdom. The purpose was naturally to discuss matters of tribute and marriage alliance.
✿✿✿
The Zhao Kingdom Emperor missed the women of Chu Kingdom again!
Although the Zhao Kingdom Emperor was over seventy years old, he was still vigorous and held a selection of consorts every year. He particularly loved delicate and graceful women.
This was because the Zhao Kingdom Emperor was the most rugged-looking among the Four Kingdoms’ rulers. His face was fleshy, and the princesses he sired all resembled him, with sturdy builds and robust appearances, making it difficult to distinguish their gender.
Therefore, in his younger days, he was privately ridiculed by the rulers of the Three Kingdoms, especially by the previous Chu Kingdom Emperor!
There was no helping it. The previous Chu Kingdom Emperor was suave and elegant, and his imperial consorts were all beauties of national renown. None of his sons or daughters were unattractive; each was a dragon or phoenix among humans. He privately mocked the Zhao Kingdom princesses for being burly and more masculine than men.
The Zhao Kingdom Emperor, being petty, held a grudge. This was also the reason why he favored seeking Chu Kingdom princesses for marriage alliances.
When it came to the most delicate and graceful women among the Four Kingdoms, Chu Kingdom was unrivaled. The Zhao Kingdom’s imperial harem had several Chu Kingdom consorts, all of whom were as delicate as flowers and possessed breathtaking beauty.
The Eldest Princess of Chu Kingdom was even more of a stunning beauty, universally recognized as the most beautiful woman in the Four Kingdoms!
It was a pity that she had not yet borne a son or daughter for the emperor.
Both the Eldest Princess and Second Princess of Chu Kingdom had entered marriage alliances. The Third Princess was deceased. The Fourth Princess was only thirteen years old （Chu Kingdom used actual age, while Zhao Kingdom used nominal age）, meaning she was fourteen by Zhao Kingdom’s reckoning. The fourteen-year-old Fourth Princess had a pretty and lovely appearance, with the beginnings of breathtaking beauty. However, her face had not yet fully matured; her cheeks and jawline were still rounded, retaining a childlike chubbiness. Her height was also not impressive, quite different from girls of the same age in Zhao Kingdom. Fourteen-year-old girls in Zhao Kingdom, if they developed well, already looked almost like women.
His gaze swept past the Fourth Princess, then the Fifth Princess, finally landing on Prince Ding’s only daughter, Princess Kangyu. He shook his head inwardly. Beautiful, yes, a delicate beauty that evokes pity, but alas, a sickly beauty. Born with a heart ailment. If she were chosen for the marriage alliance, she might perish before even reaching Zhao Kingdom!
His gaze then flitted over the faces of several other princesses. One had beautiful features, but a black mole on her nose—the Emperor wouldn’t like that. Another’s skin was too dark; while most Zhao women had darker complexions, the Emperor desired someone fair and beautiful. And yet another was a bit too plump. Was he raising pigs?
None of them would do!
His gaze landed on Princess Changle.
This one…
The Heir Apparent of Zhao Kingdom recalled the scene at Welcome Guest Restaurant that day.
Chu Tiankuo seemed to treat her rather specially?
Princess Changle lowered her head, feeling a bit nervous. She glanced at Xingqing from the corner of her eye.
Seeing her still nibbling on snacks, she felt secretly reassured.
She herself wasn’t as pretty as Xingqing. The Heir Apparent of Zhao Kingdom shouldn’t take a fancy to her. After all, she knew the Zhao Kingdom Emperor liked beautiful women!
The Heir Apparent of Zhao Kingdom glanced at Xingqing again.
Shen Xingnong discreetly observed the Heir Apparent of Zhao Kingdom. At this moment, she picked up the tea bowl on the table and took a sip of tea.
Xingqing saw Shen Xingnong’s action from the corner of her eye, and an idea sparked in her mind.
Just then, she had finished a snack and her mouth felt a bit dry. She also picked up the tea bowl and took a large gulp, then pretended to choke!
Spraying a bit of tea, she picked up a handkerchief to wipe her mouth, then pressed it to her nose, pretending to blow out the tea that had gone up her nose!
Princess Changle: “!!!!!”
The Heir Apparent of Zhao Kingdom happened to look over, remembering the scene he had witnessed at the restaurant.
Disgusting!
His gaze quickly shifted to the next person, landing directly on Shen Xingnong’s smiling fox eyes beneath her face mask!
