Chapter 310: Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet (4) (2/2)
How could this be?
Long Tianqing finally felt regret for acting so impulsively! Without the support of these influential officials, how was he supposed to compete against the crown prince and other imperial sons? What would he use to fight for the throne?!
Currently, Emperor Tianhui’s face was completely black! The power and connections held by these officials, as well as the departments they controlled, were all critical sections of his government, especially the Prime Minister of the Left. This wasn’t just a fatal blow to the second imperial son, but a strong force that kept him in check as well! Long Feiye’s methods were simply mocking him outright with utter humiliation! He glared at the man, who happened to be looking his way. The two brothers silently measured each other up as the hall fell silent, too nervous to speak.
Even so, more people stood up to make their toasts. Official Jing7 of the third rank8, Marquis Pingbei, the Rong family of Luo City, and the Feng family of Ze City, etc., all followed one after the other to stand up at their seats and offer a toast without giving any presents. All this, despite the fact that their gifts were sitting prominently at their tables! None of them would dare provoke the imperial clan on their own, but Long Feiye had given them the courage! The empress dowager’s face shifted between shades of white and sickly green, looking utterly ghastly. She clearly saw the presents these guests had brought upon entering the hall, but now she wasn’t getting a single one. She didn’t even hear much of their toasts or congratulations, so caught up in her thoughts. A perfectly good birthday banquet had been made into a joke by Long Feiye.
This was simply a coup d’état!
Emperor Tianhui was so enraged that his chest was heaving. Even though there were many high-ranking officials who stood up in opposition to the Duke of Qin to toast and present their gifts, even though he and the empress dowager had much more influential officials on their side, he still couldn’t pacify his fury. After all, imperial power didn’t tolerate such provocation. Tonight, he’d counted a total of 27 officials who’d directly provoked him. It was a disgrace to his name and a fearsome counter in Long Feiye’s hands. Long Feiye had used reality to prove that he had the skills and strength to oppose his authority.
The birthday banquet was still going on, and people were still presenting their gifts, but it didn’t matter who gave what anymore. Emperor Tianhui stared at Long Feiye from beginning to end, deeply regretting the fact that he hadn’t killed the man when he was younger. After all, he was already 20 years old when this little brother of his was still in swaddling clothes. If he had the foresight back then, he could’ve stopped the late emperor and his special decree of amnesty to the Duke of Qin.
And yet, Long Feiye was as steady as Mt. Tai despite making such large waves. He wore a quiet expression as if he was simply an observer from above, coldly seeing through every person present. Currently, he was looking with interest at Great General Mu, who had just finished giving a present to the empress dowager. He had given a very common gift that wouldn’t offend anyone nor curry any favors. It was obvious that he’d chosen a middling path. Han Yunxi sat silently by Long Feiye’s side, finally realizing how she’d underestimated the man. Actually, he probably could have gotten himself out of house arrest back then without her help, either. She even foolishly brought up the idea of using the Medicine Fan to exchange for favors. Really, how stupid!
She stared at his side profile and discovered for the first time that she couldn’t get enough of his looks. Even looking at the side of his face was enough to make her heart pound. Finally, as the nobility and officials finished giving their gifts, it was time for the foreign guests to take their turn. These guests had long heard of Tianning’s Duke of Qin and his mighty reputation, but this was their first time seeing his capabilities in person. Indeed, it was just like the rumors said. He wasn’t someone to provoke!
Chu Qingge’s line of sight had never left Long Feiye, her cold face hiding her flaming heart. She always knew that this man was like some god, fierce and strong. But after witnessing his strength first hand, she felt like submitting to his feet right then and there.
“Big bro, let’s not give any presents either,” she murmured. Her brother had been angry at her even since he rescued her from the restaurant that day. He’d criticized her for stirring up trouble in Tianning’s capital city, but she only felt wronged and stopped talking to him altogether. Today, she finally gave in to the urge to speak.
“That’s not for us to decide,” Chu Tianyin said mildly. Though he’d been amazed by Long Feiye as well, his focus was still on Han Yunxi. That considering gaze seemed to be searching for something on her body.
At this moment, someone near their table stood up. It was Mu Linger, who was here…to represent the entirety of Medicine City.
1. Zhao Ziling (赵子陵) – Zhao is a surname, Zi is a noun suffix that sometimes means “son,” and Ling is “hill/mound, tomb/mausoleum.”
2. Li Xiuyi (李修一) – Li is a surname that also means “plum,” Xiu means “to cultivate/embellish/decorate,” and Yi means “one.”
3. Junior Mentor (少傅) – a title award to only the most eminent officials based on their great achievements and merit in the government. Part of the 三孤 sangu, or Three Solitaries, which was irregularly used throughout Chinese history as the official name for 3 posts in the topmost echelons of the government, the other two being Junior Preceptor 少师 shaoshi and Junior Guardian 少保 shaobao.
4. Lin Botong (林伯桐) – Lin is a surname that means “forest/woods/grove,” Bo is typically a word used to indicate the eldest son, Tong is “paulownia,” also known as the phoenix tree.
5. Grand Academician (大学士) – a position tasked with the job of tutoring the heir apparent to the throne as well as assisting the emperor with his paperwork, including recommending imperial action on memorials and preparing edicts. They worked primarily with the inner court and were considered equals to Prime Ministers/Grand Chancellors.
6. Ouyang Ming (欧阳鸣) – Ouyang is a two-character surname, Ming means the cry of birds or animals.
7. Jing (靖) – “peaceful, quiet, tranquil.”
8. Third rank (国公) – guogong is his official rank, also known as the Duke of State, which ranks in the top third of the nine official ranks in the Chinese imperial government. He was mentioned a few times in previous chapters, specifically as one of the carriages that accompanied Grand Concubine Yi, Han Yunxi, and Murong Wanru on the way to the Spring Hunt before they were ambushed by assassins.