In the face of Han Yunxi's cold interrogation, Baili Yuanlong revealed an innocent expression.
It had to be said that if it weren't for his eldest daughter's repeated instructions, he wouldn't be enduring at this time, much less putting on such a pitiful appearance.
He sighed helplessly, "Your Majesty, there's nothing special about this pearl. The avalanche in Northern Li has caused countless casualties, and the people of the Great Qin are suffering from hunger and cold. These days, the Old Man hasn't been able to sleep or eat. He's been constantly worried about the disaster in the north and the soldiers who came to help. I really don't have the time to prepare an elaborate gift for the Crown Prince. Although the gift is small, this old subject's heart is sincere. This old subject and Grand Tutor Gu are of one heart. We are both victims of the disaster in the north and pray for the Great Qin's people that the imperial family will pity us and wish for the Great Qin to be free of calamities. "
Not to mention Han Yunxi and Long Fei Ye, even those who weren't familiar with Baili Yuanlong were surprised by his words.
Baili Yuanlong's words were full of mockery!
First, he was mocking the empress for putting so much thought into preparing the Crown Prince's birthday celebration before the natural disaster. The empress clearly didn't care about the disaster in the north.
Second, he pulled Gu Beiyue to his side and forcefully misinterpreted Gu Beiyue's true intentions in giving the map. Pulling Gu Beiyue to his side was also a mockery of Han Yunxi. No matter what, Gu Beiyue was Han Yunxi's most trusted subordinate.
Third, he was forcing the Crown Prince to accept this small gift. If His Highness didn't accept it, that would be superficial. He only valued the gift's value and didn't understand its significance. Of course, the Crown Prince was still young and didn't understand anything. Baili Yuanlong's mockery of the Crown Prince was also a mockery of Han Yunxi, his mother.
In short, Baili Yuanlong's words were full of mockery and refined criticism of Han Yunxi.
At this moment, everyone was looking at Han Yunxi. They couldn't guess how the empress would react.
Her response to Baili Yuanlong's provocation would directly determine the attitudes of the other ministers.
Han Yunxi was silent for a long time. Her face gradually became gloomy.
The entire place was silent. No one made a sound.
At this moment, Long Fei Ye opened his mouth and said, "A great gift is a great gift! Crown Prince, aren't you going to accept Duke Zhen's gift? "
"Yes!"
Rui 'er's voice was childish, but his eyes were serious. He personally walked down to stand in front of Baili Yuanlong.
Baili Yuanlong was both surprised and delighted. He quickly knelt down and presented the gift with both hands.
At this time, all the ministers were beaming with joy! The emperor was indeed wise!
Since the emperor had already spoken, what were they afraid of? Of course, he had to be straightforward!
As a result, Duke Cheng Xiao An also stood up and presented a small gift. He spoke of the country's righteousness and concern for its people, similar to Baili Yuanlong's. While expressing her worries, she also mocked Han Yunxi.
The other two dukes also presented their gifts, but they weren't small or large. They didn't mock the empress, nor did they have any hidden meanings in their words. Instead, they congratulated her according to the rules.
After the four dukes, it was time for the first-rank officials. Only two of these first-rank officials presented their gifts according to the rules. The rest followed Baili Yuanlong's example and denounced the empress with sarcasm.
Han Yunxi sat motionless with an expressionless face. Seeing her sullen appearance, Baili Yuanlong finally felt the pent-up frustration in his heart dissipate. Xiao An's lips curled into a cold smile. He never cared whether Long Fei Ye was forced to slap the empress's face for the sake of the big picture, or whether he really couldn't stand the empress's first birthday banquet. He only knew that once there was an opening, it wouldn't be difficult to follow. If there was a first time, there would definitely be a second and third time!
After the gifts were presented, Han Yunxi's face was still sullen. She swept a glance at the table and reminded him unhappily, "Your Majesty, the dishes have all been served. Please eat. The dishes today were all personally prepared by chenqie. "
Baili Yuanlong was about to stand up when Baili Lixiang pulled him back. Baili Lixiang was still very cautious.
Long Fei Ye nodded, and Han Yunxi ordered the court ladies on the side to serve them.
Under everyone's gaze, the court ladies respectfully opened the largest porcelain pot on Long Fei Ye's table.
As soon as the lid was lifted, steam wafted out, accompanied by a sweet fragrance. This was a smell Long Fei Ye was very familiar with, the smell of old hen soup!
The court ladies carefully filled a bowl and placed it in front of Long Fei Ye before withdrawing.
"Your Majesty, this is a whole chicken soup made from three-year-old hens, mixed with hundred-year-old snow ginseng and many other precious herbs. It's been simmering since this morning. This soup contains the essence of both chicken and herbs. For this dish, you only drink the soup and don't eat the meat. "Han Yunxi introduced seriously, her mood much better.
Long Fei Ye looked down at the chicken soup in front of him with furrowed brows. He didn't move for a long time, as if thinking about something.
Everyone sighed in their hearts. A small pot of soup used a chicken and a lot of expensive herbs. Just this dish alone used more than a hundred old hens!
How much food would they consume if they were to finish the entire meal today? How much silver?
Everyone couldn't help but look at the steaming pot of soup in front of their tables. They really wanted to take a look. But His Highness hadn't moved yet, so they couldn't move.
At this moment, Baili Lixiang gave the latter's servant a look, then gave her father a light kick. It was finally time to make a move.
It wasn't a big deal to dislike the gifts for being too small.
However, such extravagance and waste was solid evidence that everyone could see for themselves.
Han Yunxi, even if His Majesty wants to protect you this time, he might not be able to!
Baili Yuanlong immediately stood up, walked out of his seat, and knelt down on both knees.
In an instant, the entire hall fell into a deathly silence.
"Baili Yuanlong, what are you doing?" Long Fei Ye spoke up.
"This old subject asks Your Majesty, Empress, and His Highness the Crown Prince to forgive this old subject!" Baili Yuanlong said loudly.
"What crime have you committed?" Long Fei Ye asked again.
"Today is the Crown Prince's first birthday, so it should be lively and festive. Esteemed Empress is holding a birthday banquet for the Crown Prince and inviting important officials for a joyous occasion. However, the commoners in the north haven't been able to eat their fill, and the soldiers who came to relieve the disaster are also starving. This old subject's heart is bitter, unable to enjoy such a feast! This old subject earnestly asks Your Majesty to allow this old subject to withdraw! "
Leave?
Everyone knew that Official Baili was going to denounce the empress, but they didn't expect that he wouldn't be as fierce and direct as before. Instead, he was begging the emperor to allow him to leave to express his anger.
This wasn't just expressing his anger, but also throwing the difficult problem to the emperor. To put it more bluntly, he was threatening the emperor!
He was threatening the emperor to make a choice on the spot: accept the empress' extravagance and waste and ignore the disaster victims, or accept his advice.
If the emperor allowed him to withdraw, then he would be condoning the empress's absurd actions in front of everyone. The emperor would definitely be implicated and lose the hearts of his subjects.
If the emperor didn't allow him to withdraw, then he would definitely argue with reason and force the emperor to punish the empress in order to appease the hearts of his subjects.
Han Yunxi sat quietly in the silence. Long Fei Ye was also very quiet as he looked at Baili Yuanlong.
"Your Majesty, please allow this old subject to withdraw!" Baili Yuanlong said again.
This time, several officials from the Baili camp all stood up and knelt with Baili Yuanlong, saying in unison, "Your Majesty, this subject is worried about the disaster victims in the north and has no heart to enjoy today's feast. We earnestly ask Your Majesty to allow this subject to withdraw!"
Long Fei Ye's brows furrowed at this.
To the side, Gu narrowed his eyes. He hadn't taken the Baili clan seriously before, but today was the first time he had seriously slapped Baili Yuanlong's face.
Gu Beiyue lowered his head and didn't say anything. At this time, many people were staring at him, waiting to see where he stood!
Baili Mingxiang, who was kneeling behind Baili Yuanlong, stole a glance at Xiao Dong. He was a bit anxious. They'd agreed to move together, but the Xiao family hadn't moved. What was the meaning of this?
Seeing that the emperor hadn't said anything, Baili Yuanlong knelt for the third time and begged, "Please allow this, Your Majesty!"
At this time, many of the upright and loyal officials also stood up and knelt behind Baili Yuanlong.
They hadn't been involved in the struggle between factions and had always supported the empress and crown prince. However, they were disappointed this time. Their actions weren't in line with Baili Yuanlong, but to make their stance clear.
The only reason they hadn't stood up immediately was because their ranks were lower and they didn't have much influence. Now that so many high-ranking officials had stood up, they naturally had to join in.
They didn't say much and kowtowed one after another. "Your Majesty, please allow this subject to withdraw!
At this time, Long Fei Ye looked at the motionless Xiao An. "Duke Ding, do you want to stay?"
Xiao An felt that this matter wasn't simple, but he couldn't find anything wrong. No matter how powerful Han Yunxi was, there were still times when she was muddle-headed and arrogant.
Xiao An hurriedly got up and walked to the center of the hall, kneeling next to Baili Yuanlong. "Your Majesty, please allow this old subject to withdraw!"
Seeing this, Xiao Dong and some of the Xiao family's henchmen also knelt.
In a short while, two-thirds of the several hundred people in the hall had knelt.
Long Fei Ye still didn't express his stance. He looked pensively at those who hadn't knelt.
Time slowly passed.
Everyone waited for Long Fei Ye's decision.
At this time, a eunuch hurriedly walked over and whispered in Long Fei Ye's ear, "Your Majesty, many commoners have gathered at the north and south gates. The leaders are all scholars, and they're denouncing Her Majesty the Empress!"
Long Fei Ye suddenly glared at him. "What did they say?"
The eunuch jumped in fright. His legs turned to jelly, and he fell to his knees with a plop.
"Speak!" Long Fei Ye said sternly.
"They said … they said that Her Majesty the Empress held a banquet for the crown prince's first birthday and was extravagant and wasteful, ignoring the disaster victims. No … no …" The eunuch was so scared that his tongue was tied. "She's not fit to be the empress … no, she's not fit to be the mother of the heir apparent."
"Extravagant and wasteful?" Long Fei Ye sneered. "Is there such a thing, Her Majesty?"
Wasn't this the truth in front of their eyes? Was there a need to ask? Everyone in the hall was alarmed and disappointed. The commoners were already making a fuss. Was the emperor still insisting on indulging the empress?
Han Yunxi exhaled and left the banquet. She pulled Rui 'er to kneel in front of Long Fei Ye. "Your Majesty, there's no such thing. Chenqie has been wrongly accused!
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