Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 80

“Hit me.”

Xiao Lianyu’s eyes were filled with tears. She raised her slightly trembling hand and slapped him again without any politeness. The sound was louder than the one before.

Xiao Lianyu breathed deeply, held back her tears, and said tremblingly, “You have committed a grave sin tonight; you must be punished severely!”

Su Huai’an raised his hand to wipe away the blood from the corner of his mouth and softly said, “How would you punish me, Your Highness? I accept it.”

“Step away from me first,” Xiao Lianyu said, her breath still filled with his scent, causing her to wipe her mouth.

Su Huai’an watched her disgusted actions and took a step back.

The room fell silent.

As he swallowed dryly, Xiao Lianyu spoke, “Lord Huai, how about we make a deal?”

“What do you want? Power, fame, and status are all within my grasp. But don’t even bother to ask about things aside from those,” she looked up and earnestly said, “If you agree, from now on, the title of the Princess Consort will be yours. And if you ever wish to marry and have children, Changning is also willing to write a divorce letter with you.”

The night was dark, and the man’s breathing was heavy.

She continued, “Another thing, please rest assured, regardless of how many rumors circulate in the capital, I will have no connection with the traitors of the Su family in this lifetime. I have no interest in meddling in court affairs; I only wish to be with one person for the rest of my life and grow old together. Lord Huai, I really, truly love Fu Xun. We’ve been together for years, and my heart has long accommodated no one else.”

To grow old together.

Su Huai’an stood frozen, feeling like his heart was being torn apart.

Words that were on the tip of his tongue when he arrived, words that had filled his mind, should be spoken now.

Xiao Lianyu noticed the emotion in his eyes and saw tears forming in the corners of his eyes. As tears formed in her own eyes, she softly said, “I’ll fulfill your wish. I hope you will, too.”

Su Huai’an remained silent for a long time, then hesitated before raising his hand to wipe her tears away with his fingertip. “Don’t cry, I will,” he said.

***

Continuous drizzles veiled the land for several days, casting a serene, blue hue without a single cloud in the sky as the Mongol envoy arrived at Mount Li.

Officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Honglu Temple were busy preparing for a banquet.

The banquet was set in the main hall of the Changning Palace, known as the Yucheng Hall.

The Changning Palace was nestled amidst the surrounding mountains, offering breathtaking scenery. There were numerous pavilions and water pavilions, artificial hills and stone tablets dotting the landscape. A natural mountain spring was a sight to behold, especially at night when the clear spring flowed gently, shrouded in mist, creating an otherworldly ambiance.

As the whips cracked to signal the banquet’s start, the melodies of pipa and drums filled the air. Several dozen female dancers entered the hall with graceful steps. Leading the group was a young lady dressed in red, her slender waist partially revealed, her beauty stunning. Her eyes were enchanting as she swayed, and the ornaments on her wrist jingled. After a dance, she lifted her veil.

The second Mongol prince, Jida, rose and applauded.

The lady in red performed a Han-style greeting toward Xiao Yu and said, “Princess Baoyin greets Your Majesty.”

People suddenly realized that this was Princess Baoyin from Mongolia. Just by the name, one could tell how much the Mongol Khan cherished her, as “Baoyin” in Mongolian meant “blessing.”

Xiao Yu gazed at Jida and calmly remarked, “Princess Baoyin’s dance is truly exceptional.”

Having received praise, Princess Baoyin gazed at Xiao Yuhang and slowly said, “If Your Majesty likes it, Baoyin is willing to dance once more for Your Majesty.” Although not as refined as Li Yuan’s, her Han language was understandable and had a charming accent.

Their eyes met, and Xiao Yu smiled, saying, “Please be seated.”

An emperor’s smile had a special meaning. The concubines who accompanied him couldn’t help but feel a hint of jealousy, especially Xu Lanyi, who initially believed that the girls from the Mongol tribe should have a rugged appearance with red cheeks. She didn’t expect one of them to be so breathtakingly beautiful.

Her bright eyes and pearly teeth, her tall, slender figure and delicate waist made her even more alluring. She looked like a young lady from an affluent family who had never experienced the hardships of life.

After Princess Baoyin took her seat, she unabashedly examined the concubines of the Great Zhou’s emperor.

She looked at the various beauties in front of her, each with their own unique charm, and she restrained a smirk.

Princess Baoyin had always been strong-willed and competitive. If the women of the Great Zhou were all ordinary, she would have found it uninteresting. After a moment, her gaze fell on Qin Ling, where she also noticed Xiao Yun. She had long inquired about the Great Zhou harem. This lady was a fifth-rank official’s daughter who had been honored as the “Zhaoyi.” The child she was feeding was left behind by the former empress.

Qin Ling, however, didn’t acknowledge her presence as she was busy feeding the young prince.

Xiao Yun continued to eat, his cheeks puffed.

Qin Ling wiped the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief and then offered him water.

Xiao Yu discreetly glanced at them.

A while later, the banquet included Yuzhen wine from the Honglu Temple. The Mongols were known for their love of alcohol and could hold their liquor even after drinking a thousand cups. When they were in high spirits, Jida began discussing the grassland scenery with the emperor.

While the initial purpose of the banquet was to discuss state affairs, Jida’s attitude made it clear that the intention was to strengthen the relationship between the two nations.

As the conversation grew lively, the wine flowed freely, and Princess Baoyin watched the emperor’s throat move as he drank, a hint of amusement in her eyes.

Women from their tribe were naturally drawn to strength and admired talented and heroic individuals. She wouldn’t have willingly agreed to this marriage proposal if not for the Great Zhou’s emperor’s fame from the Battle of Mihe River. Now, seeing him enjoy his drinks, she appreciated him even more.

When the Honglu Temple brought the second batch of wine, Princess Baoyin shook her cup and suddenly sighed, “The Yuzhen wine of the Great Zhou Dynasty is even more intoxicating than mare’s milk wine. It’s so delicious. If I return to Mongolia, I will yearn for it daily.”

The meaning behind her words couldn’t be clearer, as if she were waiting for the emperor to speak so that she could be his tonight.

Xiao Yu’s eyes carried a hint of amusement, and he turned to look at her, his thin lips curling. “Does the princess like it?”

Mongolian women were typically passionate and unrestrained, and the princess wasn’t immune to being affected by the tone of the person before her. Princess Baoyin bit her lower lip, restraining herself, then nodded, speaking softly, “I like it very much.”

In the atmosphere that followed, sparks seemed to crack in the air.

The countenances of the concubines that hadn’t been taken for long, Shuyi He and Shuyi Xu, immediately darkened. Everyone could see that the emperor had made his intentions clear. Even Consort Xue and Consort Liu couldn’t help but steal a couple of glances at the emperor.

Was he really going to take a concubine? In the palace, the news would spread far and wide.

Apart from others, even Qin Ling, upon hearing the ambiguous tone in his voice, couldn’t help but raise her gaze. She suppressed her inner sigh as she looked into those burning, candid eyes. Sigh, right, he could feign both love and desire in those eyes. No one could escape his calculations.

However, as if he could hear Qin Ling’s silent curses, Xiao Yu’s temples began to throb. It was clear he had exceeded his limit. His unusual boldness today was not due to his interactions with Jida.

Xiao Yu turned and instructed, “Summon the Ministry of Rites official to me.”

Eunuch Sheng bowed and withdrew.

After a while, the Ministry of Rites official entered the hall leisurely and paid the proper respects, saying, “I bow before Your Majesty.”

Xiao Yu asked, “How much Yuzhen wine did the Ministry of Rites prepare?”

Hearing this question, the Ministry of Rites official’s expression changed slightly. Naturally, he had concealed this information from the emperor, so he had to reply, “For this ritual, I made extra preparations, a total of 4,700 barrels.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuhang nodded and said, “Excellent.”

The Ministry of Rites official discreetly swallowed his saliva. What had the emperor discovered?

However, to everyone’s surprise, Xiao Yu continued, “4,700 barrels, is that enough for the princess?”

He had a teasing tone in his voice. Princess Baoyin’s face immediately turned red, and her heart pounded faster than the drums in the hall.

How could the Great Zhou Emperor be so mischievous? His eyes clearly showed his desire, but he insisted on offering her wine. She wondered, “Is it him or his wine talking?”

Princess Baoyin, who was forthright, had never experienced the subtle dance of courtship between men and women. At that moment, her competitive instincts were ignited by his words. She rose, her slender waist bent, and said, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Xiao Yu looked at the Ministry of Rites official and ordered, “Send the wine to the camp at the foot of the mountain immediately.” Down the mountain, where the Mongol second prince’s army was stationed.

The Ministry of Rites official finally realized the situation at hand. After careful consideration, he hesitated but managed to say, “Your Majesty, what about the offering to Heaven tomorrow…”

Before he could finish, Xiao Yu’s gaze cooled, and he said, “Changmi wine.”

At times like this, challenging the emperor’s mood was akin to courting disaster. The Ministry of Rites official had no choice but to bow and respond, “I will do it right away.”

While the Mongol delegation had come for diplomatic purposes, there was no guarantee that the Great Zhou’s emperor didn’t have ulterior motives. Jida, fearing potential issues with the wine, pretended to be drunk and rose, signaling the end of the banquet. Xiao Yu sighed in relief.

When he entered the Dongli Palace, Xiao Yu leaned against Qin Ling. He felt as heavy as stone, and Qin Ling pushed him away, saying, “Your Majesty, don’t crush me.”

The drunken man exhaled against her ear and said, “Ah Ling, water.”