As soon as these words came out, the whole room was in an uproar.

  It is well-known that the southern border is bitter and the Qiang people are getting stronger, repeatedly invading the territory. Therefore, no one can think that a young master from a noble family would volunteer to guard the southern border and make a solemn oath not to marry or have children until the Qiang people are defeated.

  I feel a mix of emotions and some inexplicable discomfort, and suddenly I recall that day at Jie Nan Shan Ju, where he told me not to worry, saying he would handle it himself, but I never expected it to be like this.

  He did not speak out of turn, and his words were reasonable and well-reasoned, leaving no room for criticism.

  In fact, when I was still in Mo Bei, I already knew that Yi wasn't a child who didn't understand anything, simple and naive. I understood him, he understood me, I got it, he got it too. It's just that he was born with a proud and upright personality, unwilling to pretend or engage in intrigue.

  He responded appropriately today, cleverly blocking the emperor's offer of marriage. In fact, even I wanted to applaud and praise him. If not for that, he volunteered to go to Mobei, gone for five years, so long.

  I saw my father's face unchanged, but his eyes slightly dimmed, while my mother smiled as usual, yet between her eyebrows and eyes, there was already a hint of sorrow, no matter how hard she tried to conceal it, some of which still uncontrollably revealed.

  How could I have known what was on their minds, how could they bear to let their youngest and most beloved child suffer in such a remote and turbulent place as southern Xinjiang for five whole years.

  "It's remote in Southern Xinjiang, with harsh weather and constant wars. This isn't a good job, have you thought it through?"

  After a long while, the emperor spoke again. He probably didn't expect Zhan to say that either. His tone was flat and emotionless, his eyes half-filled with sentiment and half-with an unreadable expression.

  Kneeling down to pay respects, he said in a serious tone: "As a man of the Southern Dynasty, I should dedicate my life to the country. What is there to fear about temporary hardships? My mind is made up, please grant me permission from Your Majesty!"

  The emperor gazed at him lightly for a moment before shifting his gaze to his father, opening his mouth to ask: "What does Chancellor Murong think about this matter?"

  His father Fu bowed and replied: "I will follow the wise decision of Your Majesty."

  His voice was calm and steady, his face downcast.

  Although I couldn't see his expression, I knew that he wouldn't be as calm as he seemed. As a father, he must have felt proud and helpless at the same time, and also reluctant to let his beloved child go on a distant journey.

  We all clearly know that this trip to the north has already been settled.

  "Very well, We shall grant it." Before long, the Emperor's voice was heard again in the Qinghe Hall: "Muyong Liu, listen to the imperial edict."

  "I am here!"

  "General Murong Wei, loyal to the monarch and loving the country, with excellent martial arts and good at war, is hereby appointed as 'Duke of Dingnan', sent to patrol the southern border, defend the frontier, stabilize the nation, and set out on a chosen day. By imperial order."

  "I have received your imperial edict and offer my thanks! Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor, may the Emperor live for ten thousand years!"

  In the midst of the clear and bright sound of gratitude, everything has become a foregone conclusion. My younger brother will spend the most precious five years of his life on this remote and turbulent land in the south border.

  I saw Princess Yi Yang's gaze quietly cast towards Nan Cheng Xi, her expression didn't change much, and the corners of her mouth still hung with a faint, seemingly mocking smile.

  But in her eyes, there was always a hint of uncertainty, as if she had some unspoken resentment and unwillingness. She slowly closed them, and when she opened them again, all emotions were hidden, and the smile on her face became even more flawless.

  His Majesty waved his hand slightly: "Prime Minister Murong and General Shang, both of you may rise and enter the hall."

  Father and Zong bowed their heads in gratitude before getting up and returning to their seats as instructed.

  They sat down, and then eunuchs and palace maids brought in boxes of food in a long line.

  "Four kinds of pastries: Golden Thread Cream Puff, Five-color Hand Copy, Crystal Plum Blossom Package, Auspicious Buddha's Hand Cream Puff. Four kinds of porridge: Hundred Flower Wisdom Porridge, Lotus Leaf Ink Fish Soup, Red Bean Porridge, Rare Black Rice Porridge. One kind of fruit: Seasonal Fruit Platter presented with Dragon and Phoenix Tender Sentiment."

  As soon as the fruit and vegetable dishes were served, it meant that the celebration banquet in Qinghe Hall had come to an end, and all that was left was to bid farewell with the presentation of the fragrant tea.

  I'm feeling a bit tired due to the incident with the inscription in the Proclamation Hall this afternoon, and also because of the fact that Ji is about to leave for the southern border. I just want to end this banquet as soon as possible so I don't have to pretend to be happy anymore.

  He involuntarily looked out towards the Qinghe Temple, and vaguely saw a dark figure in the distance coming this way, but he didn't know if it was someone bringing incense.

  Just as I was lost in thought, Nan Chengyao's body leaned against me diagonally, and I jumped in fright. I quickly turned my head down to look at him, and between his eyebrows and eyes, there was already a hint of intoxication that could be discerned at a glance. Although he was still smiling with his eyes open, it seemed like he couldn't maintain his balance well, so he leaned against me diagonally.

  It's just that it's nothing more than a situation that falls in other people's eyes.

  In the eyes of outsiders, he was already leaning entirely on me, but in fact, he hadn't shifted his body weight completely onto me. I wasn't struggling and didn't feel burdened.

  Although it was clear that he might be pretending to be drunk again, I didn't know what this time was for. In this situation, everyone was watching us, and we were in a high position on the jade stage, so every move naturally attracted attention from all sides. Even Empress Qing was smiling coyly, stretching out her slender fingers to draw the Emperor's gaze towards us. The Emperor smiled with a hint of fondness and some helplessness, shaking his head without saying anything.

  So I could only gently hold him and softly ask: "Your Highness, are you okay?"

  He seemed to have thought for half a day before understanding what I said, still smiling at me, not speaking, just shaking his head, with drunken eyes.

  But in the instant our eyes met, I distinctly saw a flash of clarity and sharpness deep within his dark, night-like pupils, which appeared and disappeared instantly.

  At this moment, the palace maid in formal attire held a golden plate and jade cup and walked slowly into the hall, while the eunuch from the imperial kitchen also spoke again in his sharp and drawn-out voice.

  "Farewell Xiangmao: Zhu Lan's grandeur, Yang He's spring green"

  Because today's qualified to enter the Qinghe Temple are mostly royal relatives and high-ranking officials, this heavenly family banquet has no difference in food and drink with the emperor, except for the beautiful people offering tea at the beginning of the banquet and the farewell incense tea at the end.

  At the beginning of the banquet, "Junshan Silver Needle" was presented to the emperor, while the rest of the seats were prepared with "Lion Peak Dragon Well".

  Nowadays, "Yanghe Spring Green" is placed on our tables, while "Zhu Lan Da Fang" is the farewell incense tea used by the emperor after each banquet.

  It should have been a smooth and uneventful process, just like every other time before. But unexpectedly, this time something unexpected happened.

  "Your Majesty, just now at noon in the Qingyang Palace when we were taking the pulse of peace, Imperial Physician Qing said that the new prescription he gave you today must avoid cold foods. I remember that this 'Zhu Lan Da Fang' contains 'accumulated snow grass'. Your dragon body is important, so it's better not to drink it. Why not give it to the crown prince instead? What does your Majesty think?"

  The Empress Dowager spoke in a soft and gentle voice to the Emperor, her words barely audible, but I was able to hear them because my seat next to Nan Chongyue was very close to the main throne.

  The emperor also smiled slightly and patted the back of Qing Guifei's hand: "It's rare for my beloved concubine to have a heart, always thinking of me at all times."

  The queen smiled with a hint of shyness, her autumnal waves rippling as she spoke in a soft and alluring tone: "Your Majesty, I am only thinking of you, what else could I possibly be thinking of? This is my duty, and also my true intention."

  The emperor's mood was even more pleasant upon hearing this, and he didn't say anything else to Empress Qing. He just held onto her soft hand without letting go, and his voice was filled with obvious delight: "Summon someone to deliver this 'Zhu Lan Da Fang' to the Third Imperial Son."

  As soon as he spoke, the people in the hall remained silent, but they couldn't hide their astonishment and the secret calculations that followed. A hidden undercurrent was formed in the Qinghe Hall, surging all around.

  "Zhu Lan Da Fang", originally a farewell incense for imperial use, even if the emperor had a taboo mouth, it should be rewarded to the imperial son, with the crown prince in front, no matter what, it shouldn't have been South Chengyao's turn.

  I understand that Your Majesty would do this, mostly because of the incident with the inscription at the Proclamation Hall a few hours ago. Firstly, he is already suspicious of the Crown Prince in his heart, so he will not reward him with the imperial tea again. Secondly, it is also a gesture for Nan Chengyao and Zhao Moe to see, as well as for those who know the inside story.

  The prince's complexion changed slightly, although he controlled it extremely well. In an instant, he recovered to his usual calm demeanor. However, his eyes had more or less been tainted with a gloomy emotion, and no matter how he tried to conceal it, it was impossible to hide completely.

  She slightly lowered her head, her expression extremely pale, unable to discern whether she was sad or happy. Her body, nearly seven months pregnant, already looked somewhat swollen, yet as a whole, she still appeared breathtakingly beautiful.

  A palace maid with a golden tray and jade cup walked gently in front of us, knelt down and saluted: "Please, Your Highnesses, accept the reward."

  Nan Chengyao still leaned against me, silent and motionless, with only a smile on his face, his drunken eyes blurry.

  I gently pushed him and said in a voice that was not loud but enough for the people around to hear, "Your Highness, the Emperor has granted you fragrant tea."

  He seemed to have made a great effort to understand what I was saying, slowly turned his head to look at the emperor, still smiling: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

  As he spoke, he reached out to pick up the jade cup, swaying back and forth as he brought it to his lips and drained it in one gulp. Then, with a slurred voice, he said: "Good wine..."

  The emperor couldn't help but burst out laughing at this way of drinking and the words that followed.

  The Empress Dowager covered her mouth and smiled, turning to the Emperor: "Your Majesty, as you can see, the Third Prince is already drunk beyond recognition. The Sixth and Tenth Princes also seem to have had too much to drink. Today's gathering in the palace's Yu Shun Hall has indeed been lively."

  "It's not that I've had too much to drink, but after blowing in the cold wind, my head will hurt again." The emperor smiled and said: "I think, let them rest in Yu Shun Hall for a night, and wait until dawn before returning to their respective residences."

  Yu Shun Palace is a residence specially arranged for the palace princes, now that His Majesty has spoken, Nan Chengyao will definitely be staying in the palace tonight.

  I understand this may be what he wants, but I have no idea why he's doing it.

  Being in the Forbidden City, every move is watched by thousands of eyes, and it's absolutely impossible to have the freedom like in the three princes' mansions. Or perhaps, he wants exactly this kind of attention from all.

  Just as he was thinking about it, he saw a few hints of fatigue on the emperor's face, as if he wanted to dismiss the banquet.

  However, Princess Yiyang stood up a step ahead and curtsied to the Emperor with a smile: "Father, I have practiced a song and dance with my companions to celebrate our military victory. I don't know if Father will grant me permission to perform it in the Qinghe Hall for the brave warriors, as a representative of all the imperial princesses' good wishes."

  The emperor, though unable to conceal his fatigue, still did not want to disappoint his beloved daughter, and so he smiled faintly and nodded.

  The Princess of Yi Yang smiled sweetly and immediately ordered her servant to bring the jade flute, standing still on the jade steps.

  The crown prince smiled and asked: "Jiū Mèi, you want to perform, why didn't I hear you mention it before?"

  Yiyang Princess smiled sweetly: "Crown Prince brother, it's because my sister wants to give you a surprise!"

  I don't know if I'm being overly sensitive, but every time she says this, I feel like her eyes are subtly drifting in the direction of Nan Xiangyao, with a hint of expectation and barely contained excitement.

  "Since Ninth Sister said it was a musical performance, why are you the only one holding a jade flute and playing solo?" The prince asked again.

  Yiyang Princess smiled and said: "Hehe, Prince Brother, just wait and see."

  As soon as she finished speaking, she didn't say anything more and directly put the jade flute to her lips and began to play.

  As the melody sounded, my heart sank uncontrollably. What she played was undoubtedly the "Surging Swan" tune, and it was clear that she had practiced hard.

  The prelude stopped, a figure in red attire appeared, like a light cloud emerging from the mountains. She came slowly out of the boundless night outside the Qinghe Hall, her waist slender, her tongue as sweet as an oriole's song, her sleeves fluttering, and her shadow dancing, chasing after the startled swans.

  I saw a slight change in Mother's expression on her face.

  The dancing figure was a slender woman with a veil covering her face, and she danced so quickly that her features could not be clearly seen; however, the beauty of her dance was already enough to make everyone marvel and surrender.

  Even though all the songs and dances at this celebration banquet were carefully selected by the prince, they are all excellent works. However, at this moment, in front of this exquisite dance, they can only be overshadowed.

  The last fold of her sleeve had barely fallen when the woman was already outside the gate of Qinghe Hall, just as she had been at the beginning, in the position where she had started dancing. Her initial charming appearance truly matched the phrase "the willow branches are weak with hanging hands, and the clouds seem to be born when the skirt is swayed."

  Then she slowly straightened up, just as a gentle breeze passed by, and the light gauze on her face fluttered down with the wind.

  She didn't hurry, but instead moved with gentle steps, slowly walking into the silent and deserted hall.

  The bright candlelight gradually illuminated her face, revealing a radiant and elegant appearance, with a subtle and delicate complexion that evoked my tender affection.

  She seemed to have come from the dense darkness behind her, which was so thick that it could not be dispersed.

  As if it were from someone's heart, a long-buried past event broke out.

  Mother's complexion changed suddenly, and I saw that Nan Chengyao's hand grasping the jade cup tightened slightly.

  ∞ Ink Pavilion ∞ No Pop-up Window ∞