The Eldest Princess's demeanor was too composed; Su Wanyan couldn't discern whether she had genuinely recovered or was merely under Xiao Chensheng's drug control.
She looked around, but didn't see Xiao Chensheng. Was he so unconcerned as to leave the Eldest Princess alone at a banquet?
While pondering, she sensed a gaze falling upon her.
Su Wanyan glanced over; it was the Seventeenth Princess of Donghai, Feng Yao.
The princess was smiling, raising her cup in a toast to Su Wanyan, giving off the impression of old friends reunited.
Su Wanyan lowered her gaze, calming herself, and approached Yu Nanqing, performing a bow: "Greetings to Your Majesty, Your Majesty's blessings upon us."
Emperor Yuanhe waved his hand: "Quickly, dispense with formalities. Why are you so late? The banquet has been underway for some time; quickly, take your seat."
Su Wanyan performed another bow: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Yu Nanqing gently supported Su Wanyan's hand, helping her settle into their seat at Prince Gong's Residence, before sitting down himself.
Emperor Yuanhe seemed to be in a good mood, smiling at Su Wanyan: "Third Brother's Wife, these are envoys from Donghai. Third Imperial Brother is quite familiar with them, but you haven't met them yet, have you? Take this opportunity to get acquainted."
Su Wanyan looked over, but before she could speak, Feng Yao rose, bowing to Emperor Yuanhe and smiling: "Your Majesty, you've mistaken. I met the Princess Consort Gong a few days ago at the Lake Heart Boat. I wonder if Her Highness still remembers me."
"Oh?" Emperor Yuanhe was curious: "You've met?"
Su Wanyan then smiled: "When I first met Princess Fengyao, she only said she was traveling with her father for business."
Emperor Yuanhe was again curious: "Is that so?"
Feng Lingxiao interjected: "Ah, this younger sister of mine has been mischievous since childhood. She promised to obey me in Great Jin, she swore it when we left, but as soon as we arrived in Great Jin, she went wild! It has given me many gray hairs."
He gave Su Wanyan a brilliant smile: "Please don't mind my sister, Princess Consort Gong."
Feng Yao raised her wine cup, toasting Su Wanyan: "It was wrong of me not to be truthful with Your Highness. I shall punish myself with a cup."
Having said that, she boldly drank it down in one gulp before returning to her seat.
Su Wanyan smiled: "I didn't say it was wrong of you, Princess. I never drink alcohol. You've already drunk your wine so quickly; you've put me in a difficult position."
Feng Yao seemed to find something amusing: "Your Highness never drinks alcohol?"
She asked with a smile: "Then, Your Highness and the Prince did not drink the nuptial wine on your wedding night?"
With those words, the initially boisterous Great Hall instantly fell silent.
Though the ministers were drunk, they could still sense the underlying tension in the air, having spent so long immersed in courtly politics.
"..." Su Wanyan stared directly at Feng Yao.
Everyone knew about her relationship with Yu Nanqing. She didn't believe Feng Yao's words were without sarcastic intent.
But why would she use this to satirize her and Yu Nanqing?
Was it because she disagreed with Yu Nanqing?
It made sense, as Donghai and Great Jin have had longstanding grievances.
Yu Nanqing's expression darkened as he watched Feng Yao.
"We didn't," Su Wanyan readily admitted, smiling at Yu Nanqing: "You weren't well at the time; it wasn't suitable for you to drink."
Upon meeting Su Wanyan's gaze, Yu Nanqing's expression softened.
Before he could speak, Feng Yao's voice rang out again: "So, the marriage between Prince Gong and Princess Consort Gong is essentially invalid, isn't it? I heard that Great Jin weddings are elaborate. Aside from the Three Letters and Six Rites, the Eight-Sedan Chair, there's also the worship of Heaven and Earth, and the ancestors; so, the Prince and Your Highness..."
"Yao Yao!" Feng Lingxiao called to her: "That's a private matter between Prince Gong and Princess Consort Gong. Don't be so impolite."
Feng Yao showed no fear, laughing: "I'm just so fascinated by Great Jin's customs, and I've hit it off with the Princess Consort, so I asked in detail. The Princess Consort wouldn't be so petty as to object to this, would she?"
Because the origins of Su Wanyan and Yu Nanqing's marriage were not glorious, even if the ministers present disliked Donghai's insinuations, they couldn't say this marriage was bestowed by Emperor Yuanhe.
Otherwise, they would truly be slapping their own faces.
As Feng Yao spoke, Yu Nanqing's face grew increasingly dark.
Conversely, Su Wanyan remained calm, suddenly asking: "Did the Seventeenth Princess come to Great Jin for a marriage alliance?"
With these words, Feng Yao's body stiffened, her smile freezing on her face.
Even Feng Lingxiao's brows furrowed, his gaze fixed on Su Wanyan, his earlier casual demeanor gone.
Huh?
Su Wanyan raised an eyebrow. Could it be... she guessed correctly?
Why else would her expression change so drastically?
"Hmm?" Just as she was pondering, Emperor Yuanhe spoke, looking at Feng Lingxiao in confusion: "Does Donghai intend this?"
Although he didn't get along with Yu Nanqing, the current guests were from Donghai. In front of a foreign power, Great Jin's reputation was paramount.
He could tolerate losing face at home, but losing face to a foreign nation was utterly unacceptable.
Therefore, if Su Wanyan could steer the conversation away, he would naturally be pleased.
The other ministers felt likewise, taking advantage of their inebriation to ramble: "Oh dear, the Donghai's formal letter didn't mention sending a princess for a marriage alliance. Second Prince, what's the meaning of this?"
"Now, now, Lord Dong, what are you saying? A marriage alliance between Donghai and Great Jin is only natural. It's just that there aren't currently any princes of marriageable age."
"Then, which of our princes has Donghai taken a liking to?" a minister directly asked.
Feng Yao panicked, quickly saying: "This princess came to Great Jin with the Second Prince to experience Great Jin's customs. Father King never mentioned a marriage alliance before our departure."
She looked at Su Wanyan: "Princess Consort Gong, do not speak falsely here. Otherwise, it will damage the reputation of the Donghai Imperial Family, a crime that you cannot bear!"
"Oh." Su Wanyan responded calmly: "I was so interested in your interest in my marriage to the Prince, I thought you were preparing for your own marriage. If you were preparing for your marriage, the Seventeenth Princess should be staying in Donghai awaiting marriage. Yet you’ve traveled all the way to Great Jin, so I thought..."
There would be something wrong if there was nothing.
At this point, Su Wanyan laughed: "Nevermind, it's fine if it wasn't the case. Why is the Seventeenth Princess reacting so strongly? Whether it damages the Donghai Imperial Family's reputation depends on the Seventeenth Princess's conduct. If you speak words that cause misunderstandings, how can you blame others? Don't do to others what you don't want done to yourself, right? You are a princess, a role model for all. You should understand my words."
"You!" Feng Yao was speechless. How had it turned out to be her fault?
"Heh." Feng Lingxiao chuckled, looking at Yu Nanqing: "Prince Gong, your wife is quite clever."
Su Wanyan's gaze shot back at him; her expression was far from amicable.
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