Chapter 1245: YeXi Unexpected (2/2)

“All of you, rise and return to your seats!” Long Feiye said coldly.

When the empressa and crown prince got up, all the officials thanked the emperor for his grace before doing as they were told. Long Feiye picked up his bowl, which only had a mouthful of soup, and smiled. “This is the tastiest soup Zhen has drank since taking the throne.”

He finished it in one gulp and declared, “My beloved subjects, have a taste yourselves!”

Those with chicken soup stood up to drain the contents, while those without stood up to join them with awkward expressions. Once the soup was done, everyone assumed that Long Feiye would go back to questioning the courtiers who remained seated, but he didn’t. The incident seemed to pass by just like that, leaving everyone completely in disbelief.

Baili Yuanlong and Xiao An couldn’t believe that the emperor and empress would let them off so lightly. Baili Lixiang suddenly remembered something and gave a sharp look to a eunuch standing on the sidelines. He nodded and quickly scurried off.

But as soon as he reached the door, Xu Donglin stopped him.

“Where are you going in such a rush?” Xu Donglin asked.

“This servant...this servant needs the restroom,” the eunuch was shaking so much that his teeth chattered.

“As it happens, I need to go too. Let’s go together,” Xu Donglin said.

The eunuch’s panic was written all over his face, so all he could do was join Xu Donglin in the bathroom before coming out.

“Do you have anything else to take care of?” Xu Donglin asked.

“N-n-nothing else,” the eunuch shook his head.

“Then go back and serve the guests. Esteemed empress already did a headcount, so anyone who slips away in the middle of the banquet will suffer a severe punishment!” Xu Donglin warned. The eunuch all but half ran, half stumbled his way back into the hall.

Time was needed for news of the palace to spread outside via word of mouth. The truth of the birthday banquet’s “wasteful extravagance” had already been exposed, but the people outside were still ignorant of the facts! This very eunuch had just helped Baili Lixiang spread a different piece of news beforehand to the scholars leading the riots. Heaven knows what they were doing now!

Once inside the hall, the eunuch wanted to signal Baili Lixiang somehow, but she never looked his way. Meanwhile, the entire hall was completely silent as they waited for the crown prince to start his one-year-old raffle game.[1] The wide table before him was covered in all sorts objects for a total of 66 unique items. There were various stamps, books of the classics, brushes, ink, paper, inkstone, abacus, coins, accounting books, foodstuffs, toys, etc. Rui’er was currently standing in front of the table to study the selection.

Everyone knew the crown prince was a child prodigy. Even if he wasn’t, the empress would train him well to grab the stamp before he turned one.[2] Thus, the crowd wasn’t too concerned with his pick. They were still pondering over the previous events. All of the courtiers who remained seated was wondering how the emperor would deal with them, while Baili Yuanlong and Xiao An’s faction were still fearful of consequences from Han Yunxi.

What started out as a simple banquet had turned into a night of horrors and hunger that exhausted the guests both physically and mentally!

And yet, Han Yunxi, Long Feiye, and Gu Qishao were all watching little Rui’er with bated breath. Han Yunxi hadn’t instructed Rui’er to pick anything specifically, while Long Feiye had simply told him to pick what he liked. If Rui’er didn’t liked stamps or refused the throne in the future, he would let his child have his freedom. After all, Han Yunxi was still young enough to bear him more brothers.

They held high expectations because they really had no idea what Rui’er would choose. Moreover…

Han Yunxi and Long Feiye had made a bet as well as Gu Qishao with Gu Beiyue. Tang Li and Ning Jing had their guesses too!

Under the hall full of trepidation and unease, the courtiers with their hearts hanging in the air might be in a very interesting mood indeed if they could read the minds of their superiors right now.

Just what would Rui’er choose?

2. Remember, the symbol of authority for an emperor is the jade seal, literally a giant stamp made of jade. For the crown prince to choose a stamp would mean he might be destined to rule the throne as his father’s future successor.