The sound of musical instruments lingered in the air. Dancers dressed in gorgeous costumes swayed their hips to the music, moving their beautiful bodies gracefully.
The Taiping Banquet was grand. Envoys from many vassal countries and foreign countries were seated at the banquet. They toasted each other and chatted merrily. Occasionally, some close friends would raise their cups from afar. It was a joyous and harmonious scene.
The Emperor and the Empress sat side by side at the head of the Linde Hall. Their robes were embroidered with golden dragons and phoenixes. Under the light of the lanterns, they seemed to have come to life.
"On behalf of the Emperor, I propose a toast to Your Majesty and the Empress. May our two countries be neighbors and friends for a thousand years."
Following the lead of the first envoy, the people below all became lively. They all toasted the Emperor and Empress, one after another.
"… May Your Majesty live forever. May Your Majesty live forever …"
"May our country prosper. May Your Majesty and the Empress live for a thousand years …"
The congratulatory words came out in different ways.
"Good, good, good. Thank you all for your kind intentions. I have received them. Let us drink together. "
Xue Pinggui was also very happy today. He raised his glass again and again and did not refuse anyone. Not long after, his face was flushed red and he was a little drunk. However, he was a martial artist and his alcohol tolerance was quite good, so there was no need to worry for the time being.
Si Yang took a sip of her wine glass. Her eyes swept over the people below without leaving a trace, and finally stopped on a familiar figure.
Li Yi's seat was neither high nor low. His status was awkward. Although Wangye addressed him nicely, it was just that. Everyone knew that the former Wangye, who was the current Emperor, wanted to show his benevolence and righteousness. That was why he kept Li Yi's life and title.
He was a prince now, but after his descendants inherited the title, he would be demoted level by level. In a few years, he would be completely defeated. He had to know his place in daily life, lest he accidentally angered his superiors and completely gave up on himself.
Today, he had changed into a black court robe, which made him look steady and dignified, adding a bit of dignity and grace. His every movement showed a faint noble aura. This was a person who was truly born in the royal family.
Due to his identity, there was no one around Li Yi to greet him. He sat alone and did not fit in with the bustling banquet. He looked quite desolate. Of course, he did not care about this at all. However, he, who did not seem to care about anything, could not help but look back after he felt someone staring at him for a long time.
He looked into a pair of clear eyes.
Si Yang lightly pursed her lips. The corners of her lips curved slightly. She raised her hand and raised her cup. Her eyes moved as she gently nodded at him.
Li Zhi's eyes narrowed and became more serene. He raised his cup and drank the wine in one gulp. After that, he filled his cup and stood up, speaking loudly to the seat of honor in the hall.
"Let me toast to Your Majesty and Empress.
”
Xue Pinggui was still on guard against Li Yi. After all, he was Wangye of the previous dynasty. If he had not interfered, after the previous emperor died, he would have been the one to ascend the throne. After he summoned him back to Chang 'an, he tested him a few times. Only then did he relax.
"My dear minister, please rise." Xue Pinggui thought of himself as a benevolent emperor. When he treated Li Yi, he stood up very politely.
Siyang also stood up with her cup. "Runan Of Gojoseon, please."
Li Meng's black eyes swept over Si Yang's body without leaving a trace.
Today, the Empress was wearing beautiful makeup. Although she did not look like she did in the past, it was more in line with her identity as the Empress. With the golden wings and phoenix crown on her body, she looked elegant and noble.
"Let me toast to you." Li Yi raised his cup and drank the wine.
Siyang blinked her eyes and her red lips curled up slightly.
"Baochuan." After they sat down again, Xue Pinggui held her hand and pointed proudly at the banquet below the stage. "This is my world. Now you and I sit side by side and enjoy the prosperity of the world."
Logically speaking, all of Xue Pinggui's harem should attend the Banquet of Peace. However, Xue Pinggui's son and daughter were sitting below, while Tuozan was nowhere to be seen. It was said that she was sick.
After the commotion in Yukun Palace the last time, she had calmed down.
This time, whether she was really sick or faking it, perhaps there was another reason.
"This world belongs to Your Majesty. I only have this status because of Your Majesty's favor."
Xue Pinggui was very pleased by Siyang's words. Yes, this world belonged to him. He had worked hard to fight for it. Only when he sat on the true throne did he know how good power was.
Thinking of this, Xue Pinggui's smile deepened. The wine cup in his hand did not stop.
The joyous singing and dancing, the celebratory laughter drifted out and floated through the entire palace. Even the harem could hear the joyous music.
Tuozan stood by the courtyard wall. After listening quietly for a while, she bit her red lips so hard that they almost bled.
"Princess, why do you have to do this?" Aya sighed. "You are the Imperial Consort. There should be a place for you at the banquet."
"What does this princess want that place for?" Tuozan suddenly turned around. Her eyes were almost spitting fire. She said angrily, "If you go, you will sit down there and watch Xue Pinggui and Wang Baochuan, the Emperor and Empress, be harmonious and affectionate. I will let all the envoys know that I, the great Western Liang Princesses, am below a country bumpkin."
At the end of her speech, Tuozan, who was angry and anxious, threw the thing she had been holding tightly in her hand.
That thing was thrown against the wall. There was a crisp sound of breaking. Aya looked over. A gold hairpin inlaid with white jade broke into two pieces and fell to the ground.
Aya recognized it. It was the token of love that Xue Pinggui gave to the princess.
Tuozan looked at it expressionlessly. Her shoulders sagged and she looked much weaker. After a while, she suddenly laughed mockingly and looked up at the sky.
"Xue Pinggui, you are heartless. Don't blame me for being unjust."
It was clearly a hot summer day, but it was so cold that it made people shiver.
Night.
"Baochuan … hiccup. Tonight, you will rest with me in the Sweet Dew Palace …"
Xue Pinggui, who had drunk too much at the banquet, half-hugged Siyang and said drunkenly after returning to the palace in the imperial carriage.
Siyang's expression did not change as she felt the person on top of her and the unpleasant smell of alcohol that was unbridled on her face. She easily broke free from his embrace.
"Sigh …" Xue Pinggui drank too much and his brain also slowed down. Although it was a little strange that the person in his arms disappeared, he only wanted to hold on to her. "Baochuan, are you okay …"
The people in the palace were quite perceptive. The palace maids and attendants had already retreated and considerately closed the palace door.
A slender arm supported the drunk emperor who could not walk steadily and slowly sat down on the golden dragon bed.
"This concubine will naturally listen to Your Majesty." A gentle voice said in his ear.
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