Chapter 311: Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet (5) (1/2)

Chapter 311: Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet (5)

Technically speaking, Mu Linger didn’t have the qualifications to represent Medicine City this time. Because she’d disappeared halfway to Medical City last time, everyone had been waiting for her to show up again. She never did show up in Medical City and even forced its people to search for her everywhere. Leaving aside the Wang and Xie Clans, there were many voices of dissent coming from her own Mu Clan as well.

For Tianning’s Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet this time, the three main clans of Medicine City had come to an agreement to let the strong Mu Clan represent them again as a delegate of the city. Mu Yingdong had been so unhappy after his row with Han Yunxi that he didn’t want to see either her or her husband. Originally, the plan was to have the Mu Clan eldest son Mu Chaoran[1 Mu Chaoran (沐超然) – Chaoran means “aloof, detached.”] be the representative, but Mu Linger had insisted on having a chance to go, and wouldn’t even leave the capital city because of it. In the end, Mu Yingdong came to a compromise. It wasn’t appropriate for a little girl to act as delegate for Medicine City at banquet for the entire nation, but everyone had heard of her genius pharmacy skills in Cloud Realm Continent. At the very least, that reputation could give her ample grounds to attend the gathering.

Mu Yingdong personally handed the prepared present into Mu Linger’s hands, telling her to keep it safe. She was also supposed to say a few extra words of congratulations at the banquet. This gift had been agreed on by all three great clans of Medicine City, a life-saving pill that came from their own Medicine Forest. Even though it was called a pill, it hadn’t been created through burning and refining. Instead, it had been picked from the tree it was growing from. A single tree would only produce one pill every 30 years. In an emergency, a pill like this could preserve the heart and vitality of its user, thus grabbing valuable time for a doctor to treat the patient. Medicine City had prepared such a hefty gift, first and foremost to express their goodwill and give themselves face. For the Mu Clan, it was a chance to get on friendly terms with Tianning as well. Although Mu Yingdong had a secret alliance with Jun Yixie, he still wanted to on friendly relations with Emperor Tianhui, at least on the surface. He’d favored Emperor Tianhui even more after Han Yunxi and Long Feiye had made him suffer losses.

When the empress dowager saw Mu Linger stand up, her pent-up discontent and flustered heart finally gave way to a spark of vitality. She knew that Medicine City was on fairly good terms with Tianning, and that their present would definitely be exceptional. Foreign guests always maintained a moderate stance and gave them gifts as usual. They would never interfere with Tianning’s domestic disputes. This was especially true for a complicated power like Medicine City. A single delegate had no way to decide on the city’s stance. The empress dowager was confident that Mu Linger would give her a big present. Finally, she felt a sense of anticipation.

Emperor Tianhui had regained his confidence as well. He didn’t believe that Long Feiye was capable of drawing foreign powers to his side as well! He wanted Long Feiye to know that he was the true master of Tianning. The foreign guests would only recognize him! A few of them had already offered up large gifts, but their strength couldn’t be compared to Medicine City. Now that their representative had stood up, he was planning to show off in front of Long Feiye. See there, Mu Linger hadn’t even identified herself before Emperor Tianhui was already opening his mouth.

“This must be the Mu Clan’s famous genius pharmacist, Miss Linger?”

Any other representative would be floored by his favor, but Mu Linger’s expression remained calm. “Precisely.”

“Why didn’t the head of the Mu Clan accompany you?” Emperor Tianhui long knew thatMu Yingdong wasn’t coming, but he asked her on purpose just so Long Feiye could hear, too. Medicine City had ample power. They were just any ordinary ally!

“My father wasn’t feeling well, so I’m here to represent him,” Mu Linger said, before adding on hastily, “And to represent Medicine City.”

Chu Qingge felt unwell all over at these words. She couldn’t even sit comfortably, and her hands balled into fists beneath the table. Still, she couldn’t help but admit that her status wasn’t comparable to that damned girl. Did big brother save her without revealing himself at the restaurant because he didn’t want to offend Medicine City? She’d asked him multiple times, but only got eyerolls in return. Chu Qingge next looked at Han Yunxi, wondering what her relation with Mu Linger could be. Han Yunxi and Mu Linger didn’t seem to be on good terms, but the woman had obviously saved the girl on that day. All she saw was Han Yunxi quietly observing Mu Linger, her flickering gaze deep and complicated. Beside her, Long Feiye didn’t seem to care a whit.

“Give Zhen’s regards to your father for his health,” Emperor Tianhui said seriously.

“Alright,” Mu Linger nodded, before turning towards the empress dowager. The empress dowager was all smiles, while flowers had long blossomed in her heart. She was trying to guess what kind of present Medicine City had prepared for her sake. It’d have to be some sort of medicine, but she couldn’t fathom the type. Actually, everyone else was guessing as well. Medicine City had always provided exceptional gifts. Under the gazes of everyone present, Mu Linger stepped out from her seat and walked forward. When she passed by Han Yunxi, she purposely glanced at her from the corner of her eye. Han Yunxi allowed her to provoke her without a single change in expression.

Mu Linger reached the empress dowager and gave a bow that was neither haughty nor humble. “Mu Linger greets Tianning’s empress dowager!”

“Rise, rise!” the empress dowager was hard-pressed to hide her excitement, her face as pleasant as a spring breeze.

Mu Linger made another bow, one more formal and grand this time. “Linger represents the Mu Clan and Medicine City to congratulate Tianning’s empress dowager. May your life be as long and flourishing as the sun and moon, as eternally youthful as the pine and crane. May happiness be your constant companion and boundless blessings find you in your old age. May your lips part often in smiles, and the bonds of your family remain eternally unbroken!”

She spoke her words loudly, each word reverberating through the quiet audience hall. Emperor Tianhui and the empress dowager were both extremely satisfied with her speech.

“Good, good, good! This child, she speaks such sweet words!” the empress dowager was smiling broadly as she looked towards Emperor Tianhui, who nodded to show his approval.

“Esteemed Empress Dowager praises wrongly,” Mu Linger said humbly.

“See there, she’s even being modest,” the empress dowager said with a smile. “Hurry and rise.”

Mu Linger straightened up, then…then turned to walk back to her seat before sitting down. And then…and then that was it!

She didn’t give a present!

What was Medicine City thinking?!

The empress dowager’s smile had turned completely stiff, her eyes staring blankly forward as her expression turned terrifying. This had happened completely out of the blue. Everyone else exchanged glances in the silence as the atmosphere turned strange.