Jiang Xingyan suddenly stood up, her gaze blazing as she locked eyes with Shangguan Luoyue.
This was going too far!
It was one thing to try and recruit Huo Ci as a consort, but how dare she set her sights on Brother Yun?
“The National Preceptor still needs to discuss confidential military matters with me. This is absolutely not the time to be considering personal affairs.”
Yun Chunfeng set down his cup and chopsticks, sat up straight, and replied slowly and deliberately:
“General Huo is absolutely right.
As long as the northern threat to our Western Zhou is not eliminated, I will not marry.
Most importantly, I already have a woman in my heart. I should maintain my purity for her and cannot have my will diverted.
I’m afraid I must disappoint Princess Huaiwan.”
He took a sip of tea, eyeing Shangguan Luoyue, who sat diagonally across from him, with a less than friendly look.
“Besides, Princess Huaiwan’s visit to our Western Zhou this time wasn’t originally for seeking a husband, was it?”
Shangguan Luoyue lowered her eyes to glance at Yun Chunfeng, then shot a look at Huo Ci, whose fists were clenched tight. She couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
Instead of explaining herself immediately, she stood before Xiao Ao and the Empress and paid her respects with a courteous bow.
Then she turned to face the civil and military officials, executing a deep bow: “My earlier remark was rash. I apologize to everyone.”
The officials exchanged bewildered glances, unable to fathom what this princess was up to.
Shangguan Luoyue chuckled lightly and returned to her mat, downing a large cup of wine in one go.
“This cup is a punishment for my thoughtlessness, for speaking frivolously before His Majesty of Western Zhou and causing everyone to be on edge.
My original intention was to lighten the stiff atmosphere, but it backfired.
This is truly my fault!
I will punish myself with three more cups.”
Watching her pour and drink by herself, the same thought surfaced in the minds of all the officials simultaneously: Is she crazy?
What about the hundred strokes Xin Zhui was being beaten with?
Was that the punishment for taking a joke seriously?
This Great Xia princess had an incredibly capricious personality!
But then they thought of that doting father, King Hanshan, and no one dared raise any objection.
It was said that when Princess Huaiwan was young, she was extremely fond of lychees.
King Hanshan not only had a special canal dug, but also developed a boat that could travel a thousand miles a day, just to deliver the freshest lychees to Princess Huaiwan.
No matter how eccentric her nature might be, King Hanshan would undoubtedly say with perfect justification: I spoiled her. Got a problem with that?
Among those seated, only Jiang Xingyan, Yun Chunfeng, and the two princes were secretly amazed.
Shangguan Luoyue’s speech was a mix of truth and falsehood, making her impossible to read.
When the situation favored her, she took what she wanted.
When it turned against her, she claimed it was all a joke.
If you took her seriously, she would mock you for being pedantic and dull.
If you ignored her, she could charge you with the crime of negligence.
She advanced and retreated with ease, making her truly difficult to handle.
However, Jiang Xingyan didn’t believe for a second that Shangguan Luoyue hadn’t been genuinely interested in “Huo Ci” and Yun Chunfeng.
No matter how deeply a person hid things, there were always details that revealed their true thoughts.
After being rejected by Brother Yun, her fingers had tightened, her nails nearly digging into her palm. How could that be indifference?
Besides, if it was just a joke, why didn’t she pick Minister of Rites Liu? Why didn’t she pick Commander Fan?
Why did she have to pick the two with the most outstanding looks? Who was she trying to fool?
“Oh? Haha, Princess Huaiwan is truly remarkable, even managing to deceive me.
All my civil and military officials of Western Zhou, not one could see through the princess’s playful game – utterly foolish, and for no reason collecting the generous salaries I pay them.
Starting today, all officials will have their salaries reduced by twenty percent. Only when you have earned merit will they be gradually restored.”
Xiao Ao’s smile didn’t reach his eyes as he put an end to the matter.
All the civil and military officials thought: Why are we the ones getting hurt?
We didn’t do anything!
The only one who dared to offer frank advice, Xin Zhui, was still outside being beaten.
Shangguan Luoyue could feel countless resentful glares piercing her from all directions.
But she didn’t care in the slightest.
Once she left, these resentments would naturally backfire onto Xiao Ao himself.
Seeing that the atmosphere had eased, Su Sheng flicked his duster:
“Music, resume! Dancers, continue!”
The musicians played their new zithers with intense concentration, daring not to make the slightest mistake.
One by one, the officials toasted Shangguan Luoyue.
She refused no one, downing over ten cups in a row without showing any signs of drunkenness.
Xiao Ao praised her repeatedly, his face beaming, chatting and laughing heartily, all trace of the earlier tense, confrontational atmosphere gone.
After several rounds of drinks and numerous dishes, the mood loosened up.
A group of dancers with slender, supple waists and lithe figures opened the next segment, stepping to cheerful drumbeats and performing an exhilarating plate-drum dance.
It combined both the heroic vigor of boldness and the soft allure of enchantment.
Everyone’s eyes were fixed on the performers.
Cheers of appreciation rang out endlessly.
Even Shangguan Luoyue watched intently for a while.
Xiao Ao was brimming with smug satisfaction.
The scene was one of lively festivity.
Plop.
No one noticed a young eunuch refilling wine, as he passed by Jiang Xingyan, drop a rolled-up piece of paper right in the center of her low table.
Jiang Xingyan was just exchanging glances with Yun Chunfeng, who sat not far opposite her. From the corner of her eye, she sensed something flash past. When she focused on it, she saw it was a note.
She didn’t pick it up immediately. Lifting her head, she looked around left and right, but didn’t spot anyone behaving strangely.
At least five or six eunuchs and palace maids had served her wine and food just now; there was no way to trace who it was.
She had no choice but to slip the note into her sleeve and, when no one was watching, slowly opened it.
“Meet after the welcoming banquet behind the rockery at the northeast corner of the Imperial Garden.
If you fail to show up, you will bear the consequences yourself.”
The handwriting was identical to that on the dart message she had received at the military camp during the day.