Chapter 311: After the Banquet Is the Time of Death
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Bah!
Su Ying realized that Xiao Jin was becoming more and more shameless.
“I sent away the fellow sent by the Empress just now.”
“It’s good that you sent him away.”
“She won’t send anyone else?”
“The day after tomorrow, the palace will hold a reception banquet to welcome the Nan State’s peace talk delegation.”
Before the banquet had taken place, the Empress would not come to cause trouble for Su Ying for the time being.
“Are the people from the Nan State here?”
“Mm-hmm. They arrived two days ago. The Emperor arranged for Xiao Jue to receive them.”
Su Ying was uninterested. She wanted to tell Xiao Jin that she would return to the northern wilderness after she had taken everything back and settled all the personnel down in this place.
However, when she recalled Xiao Jin’s violent reaction when she brought up the matter of leaving previously, she decided to tell him when everything was almost done.
When Su Ying came back to her senses, she realized that Xiao Jin was leaning against her as he sat beside her. The two of them were so close that she could feel his breath on her neck.
Su Ying frowned slightly and wanted to get up, but Xiao Jin grabbed her hand. “What were you thinking about just now?”
Su Ying’s eyes flickered slightly. “I was wondering what we would be eating tonight.”
Xiao Jin gave a soft snort. “Su Ying, did anyone tell you that your eyes wander when you lie?”
Su Ying rarely lied, so she really didn’t know.
“Why are you leaning so close?” Su Ying pushed him away.
“Your body is warm.” Xiao Jin wasn’t angry at being pushed away. He even continued to lean forward shamelessly.
“Do you need me to look for someone to warm you up?”
Xiao Jin replied solemnly, “You can do it.”
“Get lost.”
In the Imperial Palace, the palace servant who had gone to deliver the message to Prince Qi’s Manor quickly returned to the Empress’s palace.
“Your Imperial Highness, the people in Prince Qi’s Manor said that the Princess Consort is sick and she is fearful of passing her illness to Your Imperial Highness. They say she will enter the palace to pay her respects to Your Imperial Highness after she is well.”
The Empress’s face turned purple with rage. Just barely a few hours ago, that woman was using a whip to hit her daughter. It had only been a few hours and that woman had fallen ill? This was clearly an excuse she cooked up for not wanting to enter the palace!
“Go. Send the Imperial Physician to take a look at her. 1 want to see what illness she has.”
“Yes, Your Imperial Highness.”
The palace servant had just turned around to leave when a shrill voice making an announcement was heard coming from outside the hall.
“His Majesty has arrived!”
The Empress stood up upon hearing that voice. She tidied up her impeccable hairdo and went out to give her welcome.
“Greetings, Your Majesty.”
Emperor Kangze walked into the inner hall and gestured for the Empress to rise. “I heard you mention the Imperial Physician just now. Is it because there is a change in Xi’er’s condition?”
Emperor Kangze had already known about this incident when Princess Zhaoxi was carried back to the palace, but he had been busy and could only come over now.
The Empress’s eyes turned red-rimmed. “I have already gotten someone to treat the Princess’s wounds. Your Majesty, you should have seen those wounds, They were so horrific. Half of her body was swollen.”
Emperor Kangze frowned. “Was it Su Ying who beat her up?”
The Empress nodded. “Just now, I sent someone to summon her into the palace to inquire about the incident. To my surprise, she said she was not feeling well. A few hours ago, she was hitting people, yet now, she is not feeling well. Therefore, 1 gave instructions to send the Imperial Physician to check on her and see what is going on.”
Emperor Kangze knew that the Empress was downright incensed. He was furious as well. This Su Ying was simply too arrogant. Was she planning to beat up all the aristocratic and noble families?
“Don’t be anxious. After we hold the reception banquet for the Nan State the day after tomorrow, I will personally ask her to come into the palace to be questioned. I will definitely give Xi’er an answer,” Emperor Kangze said.
The Empress was relieved to hear Emperor Kangze say that. With the Emperor’s intervention, the consequences would be much more serious than the Empress’s intervention.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Su Ying, after the banquet, it would be time for you to die!
The reception banquet was held at the Sky Terrace Pavilion in the Imperial Palace. In order to show off the might of the Chu State, Emperor Kangze invited all the civil and military officials in the capital. As long as they were officials of the seventh-grade rank and above, they could attend. There were so many guests that the area outside the Imperial Palace was parked full of carriages.
Xiao Jin carried the two children and got down from the horse carriage with Su Ying.
The ministers who came to attend the banquet in the palace entered via the west gate, while the Imperial Family and nobles entered via another entrance. There would be fewer people at this entrance.
As soon as Su Ying entered the Imperial Palace, she felt a strong gaze on her. She raised her head suddenly and met Little Madam Jiang’s eyes which were filled with hatred. She didn’t manage to withdraw her hate-filled gaze in time.
Little Madam Jiang wasn’t expecting Su Ying to suddenly turn around and was stunned.
Su Ying merely curled the corners of her lips into a mocking smile before withdrawing her gaze. She was clearly not taking Little Madam Jiang seriously.
Little Madam Jiang became angrier after she came back to her senses.
This slut still dared to provoke her! She had to teach Su Ying a lesson today!
The Sky Terrace Pavilion was located at a high location in the palace and was specially built for holding banquets. The entire Sky Terrace Pavilion could accommodate up to a thousand people, and the layout inside was quite special.
After entering the hall, there was a circular open space. The seats were arranged around the two sides, like a circular stage. The seats in the back row were higher than the seats in the front row so that the line of sight of the back row would not be affected.
The palace maids led Xiao Jin and his group to their seats.
Due to Su Ying’s notoriety, even if some guests wanted to get close to Xiao Jin, they were still fearful of Su Ying.
Su Ying couldn’t wait to be left alone.
“Yingying, it really is you.”
Su Ying had just sat down when someone walked over.
This person had an oval pretty face and delicate facial features. Her curvaceous figure was also accentuated by a long dress and a belt tied at the waist. She was a beauty at a glance.
Li Qinlan, the third daughter of Marquis Changan, was the only good friend “she” had in the past.
Su Ying nodded her head lightly. She didn’t respond much, nor could she be bothered to respond.
Li Qinlan wasn’t annoyed by Su Ying’s attitude. She curtsied in front of Xiao Jin. “Greetings, Your Highness.”
Xiao Jin nodded indifferently and looked away.
A hint of disappointment flashed across Li Qinlan’s eyes. She straightened up and returned to Su Ying. “Yingying, it’s been a long time. I suddenly fell ill and didn’t get to see you at the last banquet. It was such a pity.”
Su Ying raised her eyelids. “You were the one who sent me the invitation?”
Li Qinlan nodded. “Yes. 1 wanted to use that opportunity to have a good chat with you. Who would have expected… But fortunately, we meet again today. Yingying, how was your time away from the capital? Even though you’ve always been unwilling, His Highness and you are husband and wife, and you two should share honor and disgrace together. Don’t be angry with His Highness anymore.”
Xiao Jin raised his eyebrows slightly and glanced at Li Qinlan.
Li Qinlan noticed Xiao Jin’s gaze and lowered her head shyly.
“Have you said enough?”
Li Qinlan was astounded and looked at Su Ying’s icy eyes in astonishment.
“Yingying…”
“Get lost.”
Li Qinlan choked and looked helplessly at Xiao Jin, seemingly hoping that he would speak up for her. However, Xiao Jin had already lowered his eyes to pour tea for Su Ying. He did not even cast a glance in her direction.
Li Qinlan bit her lips. “Yingying, 1 know you have become distant from me, but it’s okay. When I’m free, 1’11 go look for you and we can have fun. When that time comes, don’t lock the door and not let me in, okay?”
Su Ying put down the teacup. “Do you see the tea in the cup?”
Li Qinlan lowered her head with a baffled look. “What’s wrong with the tea?”
The moment Li Qinlan lowered her head, the remaining half cup of tea splashed onto her face. Li Qinlan was so frightened that she cried out softly. “Yingying, you…”
Xiao Jin held Su Ying’s hand and said in a voice exuding iciness, “You don’t know how to get lost?”