The lights flickered outside Haiyan Hall, making it impossible to discern the identities of the approaching figures. 

But it was a matter of course that the only two people who would appear at such a time were Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian.

In the midst of profound silence, the two figures stepped over the high threshold and entered the hall. 

The warm light haloed them in a soft, gentle glow, clearly illuminating their forms and features.

Lord Ning-wang, dressed in black and gold embroidered robes, wore a tranquil expression and walked with an unhurried gait. His overall demeanor and air of authority were so imposing that no one dared to look him directly in the eye, and those present averted their gazes.

But in contrast, the young man at his side was tall and graceful, with long silver hair that cascaded over his shoulders and back, complementing the vibrant pink robes he wore in a way that created a stunningly beautiful sight. 

His clothes and hair seemed to shimmer with a soft, jade-like glow as he moved. Even the cranes embroidered over his chest seemed incredibly lifelike, as if they could spread their wings and soar away at any moment.

The young man possessed a flawlessly beautiful face, so stunningly handsome that it was almost unworldly.

Everyone’s gazes lingered on him unknowingly, and many people were left speechless. Even officials who saw Chu Jiubian nearly every day couldn’t hide the hint of astonishment in their eyes.

Many even recalled the day of the coronation ceremony, when the young man, clad in magnificent robes, seemed to fall from the heavens into the mortal world, appearing disheveled but aloof, making it difficult for anyone to approach him.

Possessing such grace and looks, he truly exhibited the bearing of an immortal being.

With Chu Jiubian’s identity as a true immortal, these people would no longer be able to praise their juniors for having “immortal-like grace.”

Chu Jiubian’s expression was cool and distant as his emotionless light-hued eyes swept over everyone present, from the officials to their female family members.

The officials all deftly hid their emotions. After that fleeting moment of astonishment, only expressions of respect remained on their faces.

But just as Chu Jiubian had anticipated, once the women’s attention strayed from his face, it became fixated on his robes and couldn’t be diverted. 

After being accustomed to seeing clothing in subdued colors, no woman would dislike such a beautiful pink hue.

Especially since this silk had been improved – its luster and drape were a notch above those of previous fabrics, and as the wearer’s movements reflected the light, it looked as if light and shadow was rippling across it.

Chu Jiubian’s professional work had also included shooting commercials and doing magazine photoshoots, so showcasing the advantages of the clothing and jewelry he was wearing was incredibly easy for him.

When he saw the undisguised admiration in the eyes of those women and young ladies, Chu Jiubian felt that if he were to produce a batch of silk identical to what he was wearing, it would be snatched up in no time at all.

And naturally, there were some among those officials who were especially fond of beautiful things, and took a few extra glances at his clothes.

The most conspicuous among them was Deputy Minister of Revenue Wang Pengyi, whose eyes were slightly glazed over.

Chu Jiubian looked away and walked with Qin Xiao to the uppermost platform.

The family members on the lowest platform remained silent, not daring to offer greetings as they stood on either side of the main hall. They lowered their eyes and assumed respectful postures as the two approached, not looking up. Chu Jiubian even had the illusion that they were students in a classroom, fearful of being called upon by the teacher.

It wasn’t until they reached the second level that the officials bowed and offered their respects.

“Greetings, Lord Ning-wang. Greetings, Grand Tutor.”

Chu Jiubian glanced around and found that they were all familiar faces.

At today’s palace banquet, everyone was in compliance with the dress code. For example, officials of the first rank had cranes embroidered on their clothing, and the robes of second and third-rank officials were embroidered with pheasants. Military officers from the Ministry of War also wore garments embroidered with various motifs such as qilins and lions.

None of them, however, were wearing their official robes. Their clothing was more colorful and varied than their official attire, making these old men look younger than they usually did.

Chu Jiubian’s gaze lingered on Minister of Revenue Xiao Huaiguan for an extra moment.

This old man loved to take advantage of his age. Previously, he had seemed to be in poor health, but he had been particularly spirited lately, and even his hunched back had straightened up a bit.

It certainly couldn’t be a final burst of energy before death.

A slight smile appeared on Chu Jiubian’s lips, but his eyes grew even colder.

If you’re willing to court disaster, then go right ahead.

The two of them walked past the collection of officials, offering them slight nods in greeting.

Chu Jiubian’s rank was actually equal to those of the six ministers, but the position of Grand Tutor was inherently independent of and superior to the Six Ministries. Furthermore, Chu Jiubian’s status as an “immortal” put him a step above the others.

Therefore, even if he acted more prestigious than Qin Xiao, no one would find it out of place.

The two of them reached the topmost platform.

There were only five seating arrangements here, each consisting of a low table and cushion, along with armrests.

Two seats were set up on the east and west sides, facing each other. The two seats on the west side belonged to the Empress Dowager and Jiannan-wang, while the two on the east side belonged to Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian.

Since the Empress Dowager was a woman and was unable to sit cross-legged, her seat was consequently equipped with a footrest.

On a slightly elevated platform in the center was the emperor’s seat, with a thick, soft cushion that Eunuch Hong had personally supervised the making of. The seating arrangement was tall and comfortable, ensuring that the young boy could reach everything on the table in front of him.

Chu Jiubian turned to face the audience, smoothly taking in their various expressions.

The hall had fallen silent from the moment they entered it, and even when they took their seats now, nobody spoke a word.

Before long, a eunuch would begin announcing their arrival in succession. The emperor and the empress dowager would enter together, and Jiannan-wang would naturally follow behind them.

Everyone immediately straightened their robes, lowered their eyes, and adopted a solemn and respectful demeanor.

Even the ministers of the Six Ministries showed great deference, ensuring that there was no possibility of someone detecting the slightest disrespect in their countenances.

Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao naturally wouldn’t do otherwise on this occasion, both of them willing to go to great lengths to give the child face.

Just outside the palace hall, Bai Lihong had encountered the empress dowager and Jiannan-wang. The two had been waiting for him before going in, and upon seeing him, they greeted him with both respect and warm affection.

With big, clear bright eyes, Bai Lihong stared intently at the two for a few seconds before smiling with pearly white teeth. “Rise,” he said, then took the lead and walked toward the main hall, Eunuch Hong following along naturally at his side.

Xiao Ruohan’s gaze lingered on the child’s back, and she maintained her affectionate smile.

The look in that child’s eyes just now seemed to see through everything, and she almost thought she was looking at that woman, Qin Feng.

Quite suddenly, she realized that Bai Lihong was no simple-minded fool.

This young emperor absolutely could not be allowed to continue growing in power! 

Bai Lihong quickly walked into Haiyan Hall on his short legs. The first thing he did was look up at the highest point, and only when he saw Jiujiu and Xiansheng did his tense body finally relax.

He was now in the mood to pay attention to the people around him.

However, he didn’t recognize any of these family members, so there really wasn’t any point in doing so.

Despite his eagerness to stand alongside the two of them, he remembered Xiansheng’s teachings and maintained his composure instead of breaking into a run.

Only when he reached the highest platform did the child’s steps slow down.

Chu Jiubian lowered his gaze and subconsciously smiled at the child as he walked past, his eyes carrying a hint of affection that even he was unaware of.

The young emperor sat on the highest seat, facing the palace gate.

“Present your greetings!” Eunuch Hong shouted loudly.

Qin Xiao led everyone to stand in several long, orderly lines in the middle of the hall, from highest status to lowest. 

“Wishing Your Majesty a long and prosperous life,” Qin Xiao recited, and everyone followed suit to repeat his words.

Bai Lihong remained seated, looking up at Qin Xiao.

Standing behind Jiujiu was the empress dowager, and behind them were Xiansheng and Jiannan-wang. Even farther behind them were the other officials.

As shouts of “long live the emperor!” subsided, Qin Xiao led everyone to kneel down and bow reverently.

The empress dowager was no exception. Although she was nominally Bai Lihong’s elder, there was a generational gap between them. According to the laws of Great Ning, only Bai Lihong’s actual parents, Emperor Yingzong and Qin Feng, were exempt from bowing to him.

As for everyone else, whether they were uncles, aunts, grandfathers, or grandmothers, they were all considered “subjects.”

Chu Jiubian alone did not kneel, but bowed deeply with clasped hands.

However, none of the court officials saw anything wrong with this; they even believed that if Chu Jiubian were to kneel before someone, that person’s life might be nearing its end.

Even the emperor didn’t deserve obeisance from a god, let alone anyone else.

“You may rise,” the child said.

“Thanking Your Majesty.” Qin Xiao rose to his feet, and the others followed suit.

Hong Fu said loudly: “You may be seated.”

There were over a hundred guests in the hall, and including all of the servants, the total came to several hundred people. Everyone moved in sync and made no noise other than the faint rustling of their clothes, indicating that they were all maintaining the utmost composure and etiquette.

Qin Xiao turned and paced to the seating area, then glanced to the side.

He watched as the young man lightly lifted the hem of his robes to take his seat, his wide sleeves tracing a beautiful arc through the air as his long hair swayed gently with his movements.

His voluminous robes spread out behind him as he sat, and his silver-white hair cascaded over the pink silk in a way that made it impossible to tell which was softer or more lustrous.

Chu Jiubian looked up at him and raised an eyebrow.

Qin Xiao gave him a faint smile and sat down as well with a straight, upright back.

Jiannan-wang Bai Lihai, dressed today in resplendent golden dragon robes that only princes of royal lineage were allowed to wear, sat down opposite Chu Jiubian with a wide aisle separating them.

He had spotted Chu Jiubian the instant he entered the hall.

It was the second time he had met this immortal being, and he found him even more stunning than the first time.

The first time had been during a morning court session; he’d been wearing official crimson-purple robes, his demeanor much more stern and imposing.

Today, the light pink robes he wore lended him a touch of softness and elegance, making his striking features and pale skin even more captivating.

And also…..more tempting.

Chu Jiubian sensed the attention upon him and looked up.

When Bai Lihai met his gaze, he lowered his eyes in embarrassment, his long lashes fluttering slightly as a blush spread across his face.

Like an innocent, naive youth, he appeared genuinely shy.

Chu Jiubian pursed his lips.

Such terrible acting.

Qin Xiao sent Bai Lihai a cool glance.

On the table in front of the young emperor was a small bronze wine vessel. Eunuch Hong sat down a little behind him and poured him a cup of fruit juice.

Chu Jiubian had squeezed it fresh just that afternoon, using white sugar he redeemed from the system, which he blended with crisp, sweet apples. The child absolutely loved it.

Bai Lihong raised his small wine cup, and Hong Fu shouted loudly: “Let the banquet begin!”

Eunuchs relayed this message down the ranks, and the massive bronze bell outside the palace was struck by two Imperial Guards.

Its reverberation filled the air.

At the first chime of the bell, everyone in the hall raised their cups almost simultaneously. After Bai Lihong tilted his head back and drank his juice, everyone followed suit to drain their own cups.

Upon tasting the wine, they were all inevitably surprised.

The taste was rich and fragrant, with a spicy kick that wasn’t hard on the throat, warming them all the way down to their stomachs.

Great Ning’s winemaking technology was still very stunted, and could even be described as primitive. The resulting wine not only had a low alcohol content, but had a cloudy consistency that earned it the commonly-used name of “cloudy wine.”

But the wine in these cups was vastly different.

These lords who were fond of drink instantly smelled the rich, savory aroma of the wine as soon as it was poured. And after tasting it, they nearly lost their composure enough to exclaim, “what a fine wine!” and barely managed to restrain themselves. 

Having tasted the sweetness of this wine, as soon as the servants refilled their cups, they immediately picked them up again to take a small sip, savoring the flavor.

This taste was simply divine, like a delicacy from the heavens!

At this thought, everyone subtly shifted their gazes upward toward that striking pink figure.

This wine, they suspected, had actually been brought down from the immortal realm.

They were fortunate enough to partake in the wine of immortals!

Among the highest-ranking officials seated close to the emperor, Minister of War Lu Youwei and Minister of Justice Qiu Heng were the biggest wine connoisseurs. 

Chu Jiubian glanced down at them, and couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly when he saw them eagerly take another sip with expressions of great enjoyment.

This was 15-year-old Maotai wine. It had cost him twenty points for ten bottles – far too good for the likes of them.

Wang Ziyuan usually preferred tea, finding wine to be somewhat cloyingly sweet and sour, and therefore not particularly pleasant to drink.

But this wine truly had an entirely different flavor.

It tasted a bit spicy on the front end, but the spiciness gradually faded, to be replaced by a rich, lingering flavor.

The more he tasted it, the more he liked it. He couldn’t help but look up at Chu Jiubian, who was seated in a place of honor, and ask: “Was this wine brewed by Lord Chu?”

Chu Jiubian asked back: “Do you find it to your liking?”

“This wine is truly delicious,” Lu Youwei said. “I wonder if it will be available for sale in the future?”

Qiu Heng’s heart stirred when he heard this, and he immediately said: “My Qiu family has already transported the fine salt to the border regions, and I expect the profits from it will soon return to the capital. If this wine can also be sold, our caravans can take it to regions beyond the northern border on our next journey. The Imperial Treasury will surely become even more abundant.”

Chu Jiubian couldn’t brew Maotai wine, but the Qiu family certainly set in stone the perception that “merchants value profit above all else.”

After the salt transport agreements were signed, the other three families all paid their deposits on time, but the Qiu family had dragged their feet. 

If not for the flooding in Hexi Prefecture and the Ministry of Revenue pressing the Qiu family for payment, they likely would have delayed even longer.

The deposit was indeed paid eventually, but during the flooding, the Qiu family had tried every means to embezzle from the disaster relief funds, forcing the Ministry of Revenue official Chao Shun to feign illness in order to avoid responsibility.

Even the deposit the Qiu family paid was incredibly stingy, and there was no telling what they would do about the huge dividends they were supposed to remit.

Therefore, Chu Jiubian’s willingness to bring out the Maotai wine today was not just for supporting Bai Lihong and giving him face, but to whet the Qiu family’s appetite.

With this highly-profitable wine as bait, the Qiu family would surely hand over the dividends from the fine salt in order to secure distribution rights.

Chu Jiubian didn’t know how to brew wine, nor could he spend the points to buy it – that would be highly impractical.

For that many Faith Points, he might as well just buy a huge cannon and blast anyone he didn’t like.

“Minister Qiu makes a valid point,” Chu Jiubian said softly. “If conditions permit, this wine could certainly be a profitable business.”

He didn’t give a definitive answer, only implying that whether or not it would be permitted was another matter entirely.

But to Qiu Heng and the others, those words sounded like, “I’ll sell if the price is right.”

The profit margin of alcohol was not much different than that of tea.

Therefore, everyone began to have their own ideas, and Qiu Heng naturally had his own plans in mind.

However, an Imperial banquet was no place to discuss business, so everyone tacitly refrained from continuing the topic.

It wasn’t just the men who were surprised; even the women curiously sampled the wine in their cups.

It was sweet and smooth, the subtle hint of alcohol complementing the rich, fruity taste.

This was better than any wine they had tasted before!

After she took a sip, Su Xi’er’s eyes lit up.

She instinctively wanted to share it with someone, but when she looked around, she could no longer find that lively person with whom she could joke and laugh.

The smile on her lips gradually faded.

Her throat felt dry, so she lifted her cup and drank it in one gulp.

Seeing this, Su-furen quickly covered her mouth and gave a light cough. When Su Xi’er looked over, she gently shook her head and whispered: “Don’t drink too much.”

With tears in her eyes, Su Xi’er gave her a reassuring smile and didn’t touch the wine cup again.

The banquet had commenced, and it was time for the dishes to be served.

From the beginning until now, the bell had rung nine times.

Palace servants filed in one after another as it chimed.

They served previously unseen dishes one after another, from stir-fried vegetables and meat, to braised meat and other dishes, and finally, a rich and flavorful chicken soup with various seasonings. 

Each dish emitted a rich aroma, and was absolute perfection in terms of appearance, smell, and taste.

In previous years, no one would truly eat their fill at Imperial banquets. The dishes were always served cold, and consisted of only a handful of familiar dishes that they usually ate at home.

Therefore, everyone ate only a few symbolic bites, and spent most of the time just sitting there or watching the excellent performances of the young ladies.

But at today’s banquet, not only were the dishes served piping hot, but they were also all dishes they had never seen before.

Those present couldn’t resist taking a bite.

The flavors made themselves known at first taste.

When their parched taste buds finally encountered a “timely rain,” they couldn’t help but indulge themselves and take one bite after another.

Chu Jiubian also hadn’t ordered anyone to make dry, plain steamed buns or flatbreads – instead, he had them cook fragrant rice.

Rice was already available, but people in the north still preferred to eat wheat-based foods, which were easier to eat when served with soup and other liquids.

But at present, the soft, fluffy rice was a much better accompaniment to the stir-fried dishes and braised meat.

The taste was divine!

With wine from the immortal realm and delicious food of the same origin, everyone felt as if they had added a couple more years to their lives.

And the thought that Qin Xiao and Bai Lihong might be able to eat this delicious food every day filled them with both ruefulness and jealousy.

Why had Chu Jiubian singled out these two individuals and remained indifferent to offers from other forces?

Was it all because of that so-called love tribulation?

Could that person not be replaced with someone else?

Or was it simply because it was Qin Xiao who greeted him the day he descended to the mortal world, and he latched onto him for that reason?

They could have caught him, ah. They could have caught him securely, and he wouldn’t have fallen like that!

Their minds were in turmoil, but that didn’t stop them from enjoying the celestial delicacies.

They were eating so quickly, taking one bite of rice and then one bite of the other dishes, that before they realized it, half of the food on the table was gone.

Su Xi’er was stunned when she touched her slightly rounded belly. She subconsciously glanced at the others and found that they had eaten as much as she had, and some were still eating, so she didn’t feel too self-conscious.

The other women had never eaten so much in one sitting, but seeing that everyone else was doing the same and that even the lords had finished nearly everything on their plates, they felt more at ease.

They then restrained themselves and put down their chopsticks, only to pick up their cups and take a drink of the sweet fruit wine. They couldn’t be happier.

But with the knowledge that drinking too much would lead to embarrassing behavior, they didn’t dare to drink excessively, and only took a few sips to wet their tongues before stopping.

Unexpectedly, the palace servants came back again bearing trays.

This time, they had brought dessert – a small piece of cream cake.

The servants conscientiously informed these noble ladies that the cake contained milk, and advised that those with an intolerance to it should eat less.

There had always been those with lactose intolerance, and the digestive systems of people in ancient times were indeed more delicate than those of modern people.

Therefore, even though all of the ingredients used, aside from the white sugar, were available in Great Ning, Chu Jiubian still instructed that everyone be informed about dietary restrictions.

When Bai Lihong saw that the cake had finally been brought out, his eyes immediately lit up with delight.

Chu Jiubian couldn’t possibly bake cakes for so many people himself, so he only made the first one, and Qin Xiao whipped the cream. After that, the rest was made by the kitchen staff in accordance with Chu Jiubian’s methods.

Much of the first cake had ended up in Bai Lihong’s little mouth, and he was so enamored with it that he wanted more after finishing it.

But Chu Jiubian was afraid he would damage his teeth, and hadn’t allowed him to eat more. Today was the second time the boy would be able to eat it.

The little cakes were delicious!

Bai Lihong had been waiting for this moment for a long time!

But he remembered Jiujiu and Xiansheng’s instructions and didn’t move restlessly. He sat perfectly still, lips pressed together, and swallowed several times.

Cake was served to everyone’s tables, including his, but while everyone else received a small slice, he received a whole round cake.

It was twice as big as everyone else’s!

Wow!

He smiled sweetly, showing his little teeth.

The child was easily satisfied, and immediately expressed his appreciation to Chu Jiubian. Although Xiansheng worried about him eating too many sweets and damaging his teeth, he still gave him candy or small cakes from time to time.

Chu Jiubian gave him a subtle wink, and as if he had received a signal, the little boy immediately picked up his chopsticks and dug in.

Chu Jiubian couldn’t help but smile, and subconsciously glanced at Qin Xiao.

Qin Xiao was also looking over at him.

“What are you looking at?” Chu Jiubian asked.

Qin Xiao just smiled.

People didn’t eat much at previous palace banquets, and could only entertain themselves by watching the performances.

The noble ladies sitting below had begun showcasing their performances earlier, but today, everyone was too busy eating to pay attention to them.

Xiao Ruohan gazed at the half-eaten cake and dishes on her table. Her expression was gentle, but the ruthlessness in her eyes below her lowered lashes could not be concealed.

So this was the source of the fragrant aromas that wafted through the palace every day. These were truly dishes fit for the heavens!

She prided herself on her extensive experience and unparalleled sophistication, but now, it all seemed like a joke.

She had never heard of these things before, let alone eaten them.

After wrestling down the resentment and anger in her heart, she raised her eyes to glance at Bai Lihong beside her. But when she followed the direction of the child’s gaze, she saw Chu Jiubian leaning over to speak to Qin Xiao. Whatever he said to him, that fearsome Qin Xiao actually smiled.

Chu Jiubian was truly worthy of being called an immortal; even his profile was perfectly beautiful – like a painting. He was even more beautiful than any of the women in the Xiao family.

Members of the Xiao family loved beautiful people, and many of the men in the family had a preference for other men. Xiao Ruohan had long known that her grandson Bai Lihai had a preference for men, but while he could like anyone he wanted, he could not like Chu Jiubian!

That was not just any ordinary person; he could use any situation to his advantage, turning it into a weapon to strike back at his enemies.

If Bai Lihai were to fall under Chu Jiubian’s control, the Xiao family would be plunged into their greatest crisis.

In Xiao Ruohan’s heart, Bai Lihai was naive and inexperienced. This made him even more susceptible to being deceived and taken advantage of, which only increased her worries.

It seemed she would really need to arrange a marriage for him soon.

The Xiao family had sent a letter the previous day asking her to arrange an engagement for Bai Lihai, and even suggested suitable candidates. However, she felt that the current political situation was too uncertain, and that there were more suitable choices for Jiannan-wang. Thus, she never made a decision about whether or not to get an Imperial decree issued for his marriage.

But now, it seemed she had no choice.

In fact, as a prince and a subject, Jiannan-wang’s marriage should be arranged by the emperor. But if Empress Dowager Xiao Ruohan were to bestow it in advance and make it public, the emperor would surely have to give her some face.

Otherwise, rumors of internal discord would, to some extent, damage the interests of the Imperial family.

The expression in Xiao Ruohan’s eyes was serene as she cast a subtle glance toward Minister of Personnel Xiao Huaiguan, who seemed to sense her gaze.

Their eyes met. Xiao Huaiguan set down his wine cup and looked in Bai Lihong’s direction, saying: “Your Majesty, today is the Mid-Autumn festival, a rare and precious day for family reunions. My granddaughter at home has some understanding of music; I wonder if she could be allowed to play a celebratory piece for Your Majesty?”

Bai Lihong knew how to handle this. Seeing that Jiujiu and Xiansheng had no objections, he said with a nod: “She is allowed.”

The palace servant who had been serving behind Xiao Huaiguan rose and quickly paced to the side of Old Madam Xiao, whispering to her the conversation that had taken place above.

Old Madam Zhao looked toward a girl sitting in a seat behind her – she was only in her early teens, beautiful and demure.

Under her grandmother’s gaze, she gracefully rose to her feet.

The maid behind her helped her up, then took a pipa that had been resting on a wooden stand behind them and handed it to Miss Xiao.

Although Miss Xiao was young, she revealed no stage fright at all as she walked to a spot near the second platform, pipa in hand. She performed a deferential bow, then offered a series of auspicious greetings.

The palace servants brought over a stool, and she sat down and began to play.

Chu Jiubian had met many child stars before, and was no stranger to children of talent.

It was just that he felt a little helpless, knowing that the purpose of her performance was to kickstart the process of finding a husband.

Marriage discussions would begin when a girl was around thirteen or fourteen, and by age sixteen or seventeen, they would be formally engaged. Families who doted upon their daughter might keep her at home for a couple more years.

However, children from commoner families would typically marry and start their own family by age fifteen or sixteen.

They would get pregnant and give birth that year or the following year, and have to raise a child while they were still practically children themselves. This could cause considerable harm to the body.

It was no wonder that people in this era didn’t live very long. A lack of diverse nutrients was one factor, but the more important factors were overwork and physical strain.

However, Chu Jiubian couldn’t just make a snap decision and declare that young people weren’t allowed to marry before the age of eighteen. He would have to proceed gradually, and focus on developing the Imperial Academy first.

The audience applauded when Miss Xiao finished her performance.

Then, girls came to the platform one after another to showcase their skills. Of the four traditional arts – playing the guqin, the game of go, calligraphy, and painting – only go could not be performed, and the others were all put on display.

Everyone wanted to show their best side, and they all performed exceptionally.

Before long, Chu Jiubian spotted a familiar-looking girl walking forward.

He remembered her. She was Su Xi’er, the daughter of Minister of Revenue Su Sheng.

At the previous auction, she had been tricked and kidnapped by Zhao Xi, the third daughter of then Deputy Minister of Personnel Zhao Qianhe. Qin Chaoyang had followed them, and managed to rescue her.

Third Miss Zhao had hanged herself the day after the incident, and since then, Chu Jiubian had heard no further news of Su Xi’er.

It wasn’t until the list of candidates in the capital who had registered for the Imperial Examinations arrived that Chu Jiubian encountered her name again.

Su Sheng must have powerful backing, most likely one of the seven vassal kings, which was why Chu Jiubian hadn’t wanted members of the Su family to participate in the Imperial Examinations in the first place.

But Su Sheng was a loyal official on the surface, and didn’t belong to any of the great families – plus, only his one daughter had applied.

There were already very few female applicants, and having one more would broaden the path for future women, so Chu Jiubian just had Qin Xiao turn a blind eye to it and didn’t restrict the girl from registering.

Su Xi’er performed a long-sleeve dance, accompanied by a maid playing the dizi.

To the melodious sound of the dizi, Su Xi’er, with a flick of her sleeves, began her graceful dance.

Her long hair was half-up and half-down, with a white jade hair ornament adorning her bun and  pearls dangling from a golden hairpin. She wore a long white dress, the hems and sleeves navy blue.

The layers of her skirts rippled and flowed with her movements, like a swaying, multi-petaled flower.

The sound of the dizi fluctuated in tempo, sometimes slow and sometimes fast, before finally fading away.

Su Xi’er completed her dance routine at this moment.

“Good!”

“So beautiful.”

“She truly lives up to her reputation as a female talent renowned throughout the capital!”

The people of Great Ning had no tradition of expressing their appreciation through applause, and instead did so verbally, with continuous encouragement and compliments.

Su Xi’er had just eaten a lot and was worried that her weight would be off during her leaps, but unexpectedly, the food had given her more energy, and her steps were effortless.

She lowered her eyes slightly and took a few steps forward, bowing to the nobility above as she said: “This daughter apologizes for her humble performance.”

Su Sheng loved his youngest daughter dearly, and felt both relief and pride.

Although the lords in attendance were often at odds with each other, they also maintained a facade of harmony, and for a time, everyone praised Su Xi’er’s talent.

Su Sheng also spoke repeatedly in a humble manner, saying that his daughter was still young and couldn’t compare to the daughters of other families.

He started to tell his daughter to go back and sit down afterward, but Empress Dowager Xiao Ruohan suddenly spoke up: “What these gentlemen say is true. This girl is very pleasing to my eyes; just the sight of her lifts my spirits.”

With a kind smile, she took off the jade bracelet she was wearing and handed it to the matron beside her: “Give this to the child to play with.”

The matron took the bracelet and walked down to Su Xi’er, where she held it out with both hands.

One could not refuse a gift from an elder, and in this particular situation, one could not disregard the empress dowager’s wishes.

So Su Xi’er could only accept it, thanking her somewhat nervously.

“Good child,” Xiao Ruohan said with a smile. “I understand that you are not yet betrothed, and I happen to have a good marriage prospect for you.”

She looked in Su Sheng’s direction and said, seemingly oblivious to his sullen expression: “Jiannan-wang is no longer young. His birth mother passed away long ago, and as his grandmother, I am the only one left to make decisions for him…..”

“This official is deeply humbled!” Disregarding etiquette, Su Sheng interrupted the empress dowager and rose to bow deeply in the center of the room. “My daughter is mischievous and ill-behaved; to have earned the empress dowager’s favor is already a great honor, and she should not aspire to anything more.”

Down below, Su Xi’er also understood the Empress Dowager’s intentions, and her face instantly paled. Her hand trembled slightly as she clutched the bracelet, her knuckles turning white.

Su Sheng’s refusal was exceedingly clear. It was practically the same as directly saying, “I don’t agree!”

However, Xiao Ruohan’s smile remained entirely unchanged. She continued as if unable to comprehend his words: “There is no need for Minister Su to be so modest. I believe that your daughter is gentle and virtuous, perfectly suited to being Jiannan-wang’s princess.”

When she finished speaking, the entire hall fell into a deathly silence.

---

Consider donating via Kofi here.

Chapter 54 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 56