Green pines and cypresses, rock gardens and strange rocks, flower beds and bonsai, were dotted amongst the glorious pavilions.

The grand venue where talented people and beauties gathered was the most beautiful and youthful scenery in the capital.

“Wow, so many people, ah,” Liu Zhenqing exclaimed. As the ‘protagonist’ of today’s spring outing party, Liu Zhenqing walked into the venue gracefully.

Second Cousin: “Right, ah, so many people waiting to watch your misfortune!”

The two of them had finally figured it out. This was indeed a Hongmen Banquet. Starting from the gate, they had been caught in a trap.

Liu Zhenqing, on the other hand, acted like a dead pig that was not afraid of boiling water. “No matter how many people there are, even if the First Princess favors her cousin, there is no reason to bully people in front of such distinguished children. She still wants to save face.”

Having said this, Liu Zenqing suddenly froze for a split second, then asked quickly: “How has the First Princess treated the Liu family these years?”

The Second Cousin scoffed coldly: “She is also a person of the Imperial family, so she naturally looks down on us merchants and has never communicated with us.”

Liu Zhenqing narrowed his eyes slightly. Since they were Imperial merchants, how could there be no contact between them and the Imperial family, whom they already did business with? They would have to dislike them to the point that they didn’t even care about their own interests.

It seemed that today, there were not only new grudges, but also old ones. The First Princess was not of a mind with General Huo.

Liu Zhenqing clicked his tongue twice. Was that girl still so petty just because he had offended her many years ago? Even the Liu family was collateral damage in this grudge?

The two people gave him instructions as soon as they sat down, as if they sensed that he would definitely cause trouble.

Liu Zhenqing was very innocent. Was he the type of person who took the initiative to cause trouble?

The gazes around him continued to come, and it was obvious that everyone had re-familiarized themselves with Liu Zhenqing again because of what had happened at the door, but also understood that he likely wouldn’t be able to leave here safely today.

After sitting for a while, everyone stood up one after another. Liu Zhenqing followed along and lowered his head toward the corner behind the main seat. Soon, a group of people came out in a grandiose manner.

Liu Zhenqing recognized the woman walking in the middle at a glance. She wore her hair in a bun with some of it loose like clouds, a large piece of gold with precious pearls holding it in place. Wearing a gold huadian and a woven silk dress, she was exceedingly luxurious. Although she was nearly forty years old, her face looked as if she were in her twenties, but in terms of temperament, she was dignified and graceful, not unrestrained.

This person was none other than the First Princess, Yuan Yuying. To be precise, she was the first person of his own generation that Liu Zhenqing had seen.

However, there was also a young woman among the retinue who was dressed as nicely as the First Princess. Judging from the clothes on her body…..she must be a princess who had not yet left the palace.

Liu Zhenqing did the mental calculations. There was only one princess of the new emperor’s generation who was still alive, and that was the Eighth Princess.

In his memory, she was the girl with two pigtails who fell flat on her face when there were no obstacles around, a silly little girl who shook when she looked at him. Now she was so beautiful and charming. Not bad, not bad…..

It seemed that no one had expected to see the new emperor’s sister. They couldn’t help being surprised, but after a moment, they repeatedly stole glances at Liu Zhenqing. Not only would he not be able to leave safely, but it was impossible to predict whether he would live or die.

“Liu Xiaozhu, you are truly unlucky! No one can save you now!”

Liu Zhenqing, who was lamenting the transformation of this woman, looked questioningly at the two people who were whispering harshly in his ears.

“This unruly princess has already threatened that she will marry no one other than General Huo.”

“The Eighth Princess hates it most when others compete with her for Huo Fenglie, regardless of their gender. She couldn’t leave the palace before, and could only summon some women outside the palace who were interested in Huo Fenglie to warn them, but she couldn’t deal with you. But now that you’ve encountered each other directly, it’s every man for himself. Don’t embarrass us.”

Liu Zhenqing: ? ? ?

The First Princess took the Eighth Princess to the main seat, had everyone sit down, and announced the start of the spring outing banquet. Between drinking tea and reciting poetry, the First Princess got straight to the point. “Young Master Liu Xiaozhu is here.”

Liu Zhenqing grinned and stepped forward to salute: “This one greets Her Royal Highness the First Princess and Her Royal Highness the Eighth Princess.”

After his salute, Liu Zhenqing was left kneeling, with no call for him to rise.

“Raise your head and let me have a look.”

Liu Zhenqing looked up and saw the First Princess squint her eyes for a long moment. She suddenly frowned as if she had seen something distasteful, then showed a familiar expression and rolled her eyes.

The corners of Liu Zhenqing’s mouth twitched. He recalled that back then, this girl hated him the most, for nothing else but that he was better-looking than the First Princess. Her marriage partner at that time refused to marry the First Princess, saying that he fell in love with Liu Zhenqing at first sight and would not marry anyone but him. He even pointed at the two of them and compared them to one another, saying: “It is difficult to tell whether beautiful people are male or female without braids, but you are ugly and can’t be distinguished between human and animal.” The furious First Princess fainted on the spot, and Liu Zhenqing’s reputation as being handsome and beautiful spread everywhere.

And the First Princess had a grudge against him. Even when the political marriage failed and she returned to Great Zhou, the First Princess would definitely roll her eyes upon seeing him, which almost made Liu Zhenqing worry that if she continued to roll her eyes, she wouldn’t be able to roll them back. But now…..why had she still rolled her eyes?

“Sure enough, he has an…..unpleasant face.” The First Princess scoffed coldly, and the people present immediately became excited to watch the show.

Liu Zhenqing gave an immediate and shameless apology: “It is this one’s fault for not having a better face. It is better to allow this one to resign, lest he be an eyesore and ruin Your Highness’s enjoyment.”

The First Princess inexplicably felt that this method of shutting her up was very familiar, but she did not accept the trick, and continued to mock: “You are so eloquent, no wonder my cousin also ran into you. His brain is broken, but you are quick-witted.”

“Not so, not so, Your Highness is too complimentary.” Liu Zhenqing continued to smile shamelessly.

“Am I praising you?” The First Princess said coldly.

“Is Your Highness scolding me?” Liu Zhenqing asked innocently.

“You……”

Everyone felt suffocated watching Liu Zhenqing feign stupidity. Rong Shiming to the side gave Liu Zhenqing a fierce look.

Then the Eighth Princess opened her mouth loftily, “He is truly shameless and brazen. Auntie, don’t talk nonsense to him. He spoke improperly and showed contempt for Imperial authority, just slap him! Someone give him thirty slaps!”

Everyone present sucked in a breath as soon as these words came out. Was this meant to break a person’s mouth?

Upon hearing this, Rong Shiming held his head up high. And the face of the First Princess on the side was also relaxed. She knew that as an elder, she couldn’t take direct action and would be easily criticized for shielding her cousin, but the Eighth Princess had no such restrictions.

Although Liu Zhenqing had already mentally prepared himself, that didn’t mean he would simply surrender. He looked at the Eighth Princess, whose look of arrogance was even worse than that of the First Princess. It made her whole person lose its air of nobility, leaving only a sense of foolish pride. And he had just thought that she hadn’t grown uglier as she grew up……

“Daring to ask Your Highness, when did this one speak improperly and show contempt for Imperial authority? If we’re speaking of contempt for Imperial authority, then what happened at the front gate…..”

“Liu Xiaozhu, whatever Her Highness says is what it is. If you dare to refute, you are showing contempt for Imperial authority!” Rong Shiming said anxiously.

“I may have lost my memory, but I am no fool. There is no such provision in the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty. I hope that Her Highness will also make herself clear, so that this one will remember the lesson and correct himself in the future,” Liu Zhenqing said.

The Eighth Princess said in a stern voice, “Then I ask you, did you tell people that if they want to get married, they should marry General Huo?!”

Liu Zhenqing had thought of a hundred excuses, but hadn’t expected the Eighth Princess to so straightforwardly expose the scheme in her heart. He was caught off guard for a moment.

“Uh…..yes.”

“Hmph! Who do you think you are, that you can arrange General Huo’s affairs at will? Word of this has spread through the streets and alleys for others to set their minds on General Huo. Is he someone who just anyone can dream of marrying? You, shameless man, pestered General Huo, showed your affection in public, provoked trouble, and dared to say such rude things. Is this not speaking improperly? Regarding General Huo’s marriage, even my Imperial Brother says that we should respect his thoughts. You showed contempt for Imperial authority by making General Huo the topic of everyone’s conversations! Being slapped can be regarded as me showing mercy. If you dare to quibble, I will have your tongue pulled out!”

At this time, a person had already approached with the board used for beatings.

Everyone around felt that the silenced Liu Zhenqing would not be able to escape this disaster.

Suddenly, a clear voice sounded, “Your Highness, I feel that these remarks are more praise than ridicule. It is said that General Huo was also on the scene that day and was not angry, so it cannot be considered a crime.”

How dare anyone speak for him?

Liu Zhenqing was somewhat taken aback. He glanced at the speaker and saw that he was a young man in white, and…..there was something familiar in his features.

Everyone looked at the man in surprise and immediately realized, wasn’t this Huo Fenglie’s good brother?

But the Eighth Princess did not give him face, and declared arbitrarily: “If I say it’s a crime, then it’s a crime! Beat him!”

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Chapter Sixteen << Table of Contents >> Chapter Eighteen