Chapter 284: The Palace Banquet
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“I’m up.”
When Bai Shuang heard the reply, she pushed open the door and walked in. Aunt Zhao followed right behind her, holding the palace robe Su Ying was going to wear today.
Su Ying looked at the nearly ten layers of palace clothing, and the veins on her forehead throbbed. “If 1 skip wearing a few layers, no one would be able to tell, would they?”
Aunt Zhao said with a smile, “Your Highness, you can’t do that. If you so much as wear one layer less, people will be able to tell.”
Su Ying deliberately puffed out her belly, and Aunt Zhao felt helpless when she tried to bind her waist.
“When the other mistresses and young ladies are binding their waists, they always suck in their tummies with all their might. Yet Your Highness is the opposite. You can’t wait to blow your stomach open.”
Su Ying said, “Do it according to this size, or else I can forget about taking even a sip of water.”
Aunt Zhao knew Su Ying’s temperament. She was afraid that if she bind her waist too tightly, it would annoy her. Then if she changed her mind and decided she didn’t want to attend the banquet anymore, things would become troublesome. Thus, Aunt Zhao had no choice but to loosen Su Ying’s waist sash a little more.
“Where’s Xiao Jin?”
“His Highness woke up early in the morning to practice martial arts, but he should have already tidied up and be on his way here now.”
As soon as Aunt Zhao finished speaking, Su Ying saw Xiao Jin walk in.
He was dressed in a black ministerial robe, which made his facial features look even more icy and standoffish and his dark eyes deep and profound.
Fortunately, there was a white jade belt at his waist acting as an ornament, which slightly reduced the air of iciness air on his face.
His facial features were extremely well-defined, and his chiseled jaw was perfect in its proportions. Even though Su Ying had seen this face countless times, she still couldn’t help sighing when she looked at him again. This rascal was really good-looking.
Xiao Jin walked into the room and was stunned when he laid eyes on Su Ying.
She was wearing a moon-white, wide-sleeved dress with a light-colored sash that wrapped around her slim waist that didn’t even fill his arm. Even though Su Ying had tried her best to bulge her belly, Xiao Jin still found her waist as slender as ever.
Her skin reflected her fair complexion, and her hair piled up high was adorned with a red gemstone. It complemented perfectly the blooming red flowers on her dress, making her appear icy yet dazzlingly flamboyant. Such a contradictory look was unexpectedly stunning.
Xiao Jin was mesmerized for a moment.
Their gazes collided in the air, producing a strange burst of chemistry.
“Mother, Father, we are ready.”
The appearance of the two little ones broke the short silent reverie.
Xiao Jin returned to his senses and held the hands of the two children. “Let’s go.”
Su Ying nodded slightly, and the family of four boarded the horse carriage and headed for the palace gates.
Emperor Kangze was very happy that the Chu State had once again defeated the Nan State. He invited all the officials of the fifth grade and above to attend the banquet. As there were many people, the banquet was held in the open air by the Heavenly Lake.
Xiao Jin and his group had just arrived outside the Heavenly Lake when the sharp voice of the eunuch rang out.
“Prince Qi and Princess Consort Qi have arrived.”
As soon as that announcement was made, everyone’s gaze fell on Su Ying and Xiao Jin.
They were also the two people that the aristocratic families and nobles talked about the most over the past two days.
They were not surprised that Xiao Jin had been summoned back and that he had made outstanding war contributions.
What they were surprised by was why Xiao Jin had brought Su Ying back.
Everyone knew about those foolish deeds Su Ying had committed back then. Wasn’t Xiao Jin humiliating himself by bringing her back?
Just as everyone was feeling puzzled, they seemed to understand when they saw Xiao Jin and Su Ying walk in.
Xiao Jin’s distinguished appearance full of vigor and imposing bearing made everyone feel that anyone standing beside him would look inferior.
However, when they looked at Su Ying, their earlier thoughts miraculously changed again. This was because Su Ying did not appear inferior to Xiao Jin at all when she stood by his side.
It was rare to find a woman with such a powerful aura who could stand beside the god of massacre so calmly. In fact, her aura was not overwhelmed by Xiao Jin’s at all.
Xiao Jue’s eyes narrowed as he watched Su Ying walk in. He had imagined the scene of meeting Su Ying again countless times, but it was never like this. His eyes were almost popping out from staring at her.
Su Ying, whom he had met outside the border, was dressed in dark clothes back then, and her eyes were filled with an indelible hostility.
In contrast, the Su Ying in front of him was dressed resplendently, and her face was filled with a proud and sharp aura as if she did not care about all the people in the garden at all.
Who gave her such arrogance?
The family of four was not afraid of everyone’s gazes at all. They just went happily to their seats and sat down.
The two little ones held Su Ying and Xiao Jin’s hands the entire time. The gazes and stares from the other guests still made them nervous and uneasy.
Su Ying could sense that the children weren’t feeling comfortable so she squeezed their tiny hands reassuringly and said gently, “Don’t be afraid. Mother and your father are here.”
“Mother, why are they all looking at us?” Ling did not understand.
“Because we look good.”
“I don’t like it,” Ling responded.
Su Ying didn’t like it either, so she turned and glared at the gawkers.
When the eyes of the crowd met Su Ying’s sinister gaze, they felt their skin go numb.
Who would have thought that the gentle and virtuous-looking Princess Consort Qi would turn into a ferocious murderous demon in the next second?
When Su Ying’s eyes swept over these people who were staring, they withdrew their gazes meekly.
“Why are you so fierce?” Xiao Jin peeled an orange and divided it into three portions, placing them in the hands of the mother and two children.
Su Ying ate her share of the orange in one bite, totally uninhibited by the dignity and reservation that a princess consort should have. “We’re not monkeys.”
Su Ying felt a strong gaze locking onto her. She raised her head and her gaze met Xiao Jue’s eyes.
Xiao Jue was stunned for a moment before he saw Su Ying giving him the middle finger.
Xiao Jue didn’t know what her gesture meant, but he could tell from Su Ying’s eyes that she wasn’t complimenting him!
“Yan’er, Yan’er?” Little Madam Jiang called out several times but found that Su Yuyan did not respond.
She frowned slightly and nudged her daughter gently.
Su Yuyan came back to her senses and looked at Little Madam Jiang blankly. “Pay attention to your manners.”
Su Yuyan subconsciously sat up straight.
Little Madam Jiang followed Su Yuyan’s gaze and saw Su Ying leisurely eating the snacks on the table without any manners.
She picked up the teacup and took a sip, covering the scornful smile on her lips. Su Yuyan was saying how much this idiot had changed. How different was she from before in her current form?
Su Yuyan took the opportunity to look at Xiao Jin again while drinking tea.
She had never known that a man’s aura could be so powerful. Why didn’t she think that Prince Qi was good-looking before?
As she looked at Su Ying again, she saw that Su Ying was still as vulgar as ever. The mere thought of Su Ying snatching her bracelet made her extremely furious.
However, Su Ying would soon have her comeuppance.
“The Emperor has arrived. The Empress has arrived…”
Everyone stood up and bowed.
Su Ying only sensed a pair of black boots pass by her, and not long after that, she heard Emperor Kangze’s cheerful voice from above.
“Everybody may rise.”
All the guests returned to their seats.
Emperor Kangze’s gaze quickly swept past Xiao Jin and his group before he smiled and said, “Today we are having a celebratory feast. We are celebrating the Chu State defeating the Nan State once again and the fact that the Nan State surrendered voluntarily. This is the credit of all our Chu State’s generals.”
After he said that, Emperor Kangze paused. “Lian Shen.”
Lian Shen stood up in front of Emperor Kangze. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You are the commander-in-chief of this expedition and have led our Chu State’s army to accomplish many military achievements. I am very gratified. And also General Yong Wu. All of you have made great contributions to our Chu State.”
Emperor Kangze happily rewarded the two of them. After the two of them stepped back, Emperor Kangze’s gaze turned to Xiao Jin. “Xiao Jin..”