Chapter 308: Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet (2) (1/2)

Chapter 308: Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet (2)

The empress dowager had long known that Emperor Tianhui was going to cause trouble for the Duke of Qin during the banquet, and she supported his choice. But the banquet had just started. If he kept up like this, how was she supposed to celebrate? She was still looking forward to getting her presents! Moreover, if Emperor Tianhui was this stubborn to begin with, it made him seem impatient. That was behavior unfitting of a sovereign.

“Emperor, six jugs of wine is quite enough. Have His Highness Duke of Qin rest for awhile. If Grand Concubine Yi saw, she’d feel distressed by the sight.” The empress dowager’s benevolent expression might even trick people into thinking she actually doted on Long Feiye.

Emperor Tianhui calmed down enough to realize his lack of bearing and gave a laugh. “Muhou, you’re being biased. Erchen never said that the Duke of Qin had to keep drinking. Punishing him with six jugs of wine…Zhen has more in store than that!”

Emperor Tianhui intentionally mentioned ‘more in store than that.’ If six jugs of wine weren’t enough to make Long Feiye drunk, he had plenty of other ruthless tricks in store for him later. He could make a fool of him at his leisure! This time, Emperor Tianhui wasn’t here to celebrate the empress dowager’s birthday, but to take the chance in front of Tianning’s assembled powers and Western Zhou’s crown prince to thoroughly crush Long Feiye beneath him. He wanted everyone in the world to know that no one could afford to provoke the imperial might of Tianning. Even if he was Long Feiye, he’d have to submit himself to his rule all the same. Long Feiye’s show of strength against Eunuch Xue was only wishful thinking of authority on his part!

Long Feiye allowed the empress dowager and Emperor Tianhui to play their parts without saying a word. Very soon, his expression resumed its usual iciness as he sat down. Seeing this, the empress dowager wished to say a few more words when she stopped herself. It was obviously Long Feiye who had been penalized, but their side didn’t feel gratified at all. Instead, it felt like they’d stuck their burning faces against his icy behind. The empress dowager shot Emperor Tianhui a look. No matter what, Emperor Tianhui had to find a way to get back at Long Feiye. She wasn’t planning to let him off! He could act as he liked for now, but they’ll stomp his arrogance soon enough!

Though Long Feiye hadn’t gotten drunk, Han Yunxi was still worried. She secretly observed him for a while until she was sure he was alright. She couldn’t help but wonder just how good his alcohol tolerance was. Had he ever gotten drunk in this lifetime before? What was he like when he was drunk?

After the song of congratulations finished, the solemn music changed to a jubilant melody as female singers and dancers took to the hall. Immediately, the surroundings grew lively. This marked the official start of the birthday banquet. Naturally, the emperor would be the first to offer his gift. The empress dowager was most expectant for her son’s present. Right now, she was sitting with a rare, genuine smile. The next moment, a eunuch entered with a round object in his arms covered by a large red cloth. What could it be? It didn’t seem like something simply.

The empress dowager couldn’t resist a laugh. “Emperor, are you presenting me with a riddle? What is this item?”

Emperor Tianhui took off the cloth himself and said, “Muhou, this was personally found by erchen to amuse you, may you live long and happily in good health!”

As it turned out, the eunuch was holding none other than a small Persian cat with mystical blue eyes and fur as white as snow. There was nothing rare about the animal in Han Yunxi’s eyes, but it was considered a rare and exotic animal in Cloud Realm Continent. The eunuch carried over the kitten, causing many of the people present to marvel and acclaim the sight. Here was the perfect chance to flatter Emperor Tianhui while getting on the empress dowager’s good side. See there, Western Zhou’s Crown Prince Duanmu Baiye had already opened his mouth to speak.

“I’ve heard that this creature comes from across the seas. Nobody’s been able to ask for one except for Emperor Tianhui.”

Magistrate Xu from the Ministry of Appointments was quick to chime in, “Isn’t that so? Apparently, the Northern Li emperor once posted a huge reward in gold for one of these creatures so he could gift it to the empress to cheer her up. Despite this, no one could provide it.”

“The emperor’s filial conduct is a model to all the people in Tianning!” piped up the people from the Ministry of Rites.

“Esteemed Empress Dowager, it’s your fortune to have the emperor be so filial. More than that, it’s the great blessing of our Tianning people as well!” Marquis Pingnan added on to the flattery.

… …

If Han Yunxi had listened closely to these praises, she might have broken into a cold laugh. Currently, she was preoccupied with keeping Lil Thing in her sleeve so it wouldn’t poke its head out. What was this little creature doing by acting up in such a public setting? Though there was no change in Han Yunxi’s expression, her hand kept stuffing and re-stuffing Lil Thing in her sleeve. In the end, she had no choice but to reach her hand towards Long Feiye, thus exposing her sleeve to him too. Immediately, Lil Thing stopped moving.

Long Feiye’s basically Lil Thing’s natural enemy!

Lil Thing curled up miserably in Han Yunxi’s sleeve. It’d finally caught a whiff of a real cat and wanted to steal a peek, but why was its master so mean? Fine, it’ll just remember this place and come back another day to steal the cat for itself!

The empress dowager picked up the Persian cat, extremely taken with the creature. She placed it in her lap and gently stroked its fur as she repeated again and again, “Emperor, you’ve taken cares! Taken cares!”

She’d wanted something like this for a long time, but she’d never been able to find one. She was about to give up entirely until the emperor found one for her.

“Excellent, excellent!” the empress dowager’s mood improved vastly. Her first gift had been a big surprise, so now she was anticipating the rest even more. Even though she could have anything she wanted as an empress dowager, she still reveled in presents and surprises. Of course, the gifts had to be to her taste, first. She wasn’t someone who accepted every single present, even at her own birthday banquet.

Between all the flattering voices, Qinwang Rong rose to his feet. “Esteemed Empress Dowager, chendi1 wishes for great health to your phoenix body. May your happiness be as boundless as the eastern seas.”

“Qinrang Rong, quickly rise!” the empress dowager personally helped him up. Qinwang Rong was a good brother to the former emperor. Because the Duke of Qin’s birth status had fallen into question, he had to pick the side of the emperor in the end. Despite this, the empress dowager wished for him to support the crown prince as well.