TFSRITA Chapter 85

But now, this group of people was staring at the scars on his face as if they thought he hadn’t already lost enough face.

“Shut up!” Ji Yezhen casually threw a piece of fruit at the person still talking, hitting the mark perfectly!

The official covered his head, looking bewildered at the emperor. “But Your Majesty…”

“Take him away!” Ji Yezhen said coldly.

Jiang Wende immediately got to work without hesitation.

Well, who didn’t know that the imperial concubine was the emperor’s Achilles’ heel? Being beaten to this extent without a word spoke volumes!

Fools!

Others still wanted to say something, but they heard Ji Yezhen say, “I’m not dead yet, so you ministers needn’t worry. Today is my birthday, and I do not wish to see bloodshed, but if you insist, I can accommodate.”

Minister Ran and the others looked indignant; however, under such a threat, they fell silent and returned to their seats obediently.

Throughout the entire ordeal, Yan Qing maintained a cold expression, saying nothing while they talked.

Although she was involved in politics, she had hoped the ministers would retaliate. Who knew that after more than half a year, these useless officials hadn’t managed to pull her down?

She didn’t attend court and didn’t bother waking up at four in the morning, so she was unaware of the political tug-of-war or what Ji Yezhen had done to suppress the opposition against her.

Yan Qing only felt that these ministers were even more useless than she had imagined.

At that moment, seeing their anger directed at Ji Yezhen, she glanced at his visibly bruised face and felt she had found another point to infuriate them further.

Oblivious to everything, Ji Yezhen was pleased as he watched the other ministers settle down after he dealt with one of them, nodding and saying, “Let’s begin.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Jiang Wende nodded and began to preside over the banquet according to the procedure.

Generally, only the empress and the princes, along with a few high-ranking officials, were qualified to present birthday gifts to the emperor.

At the banquet, they started with gifts and congratulatory words, followed by a meal and performances. The process was quite simple.

…

After suffering a loss at the last banquet, Minister Ran had been implementing a frugal policy. Not only did he save himself, but his entire family did as well, making sure everyone knew he wasn’t embezzling or accepting bribes.

At this moment, while others presented various novelty items, he gifted a box symbolizing an abundant harvest, filled with wheat, rice, and other grains, and solemnly praised Emperor Chen’s governance.

Ji Yezhen had little interest in such things. Did he seem like someone who enjoyed flattery?

It would have been nice if Yan Qing had said a few words.

The empress quietly sat there, with no one pointing out Yan Qing’s mistakes. After Minister Ran finished speaking and was about to take his leave, he suddenly asked meaningfully, “Your Majesty, the imperial concubine is deeply affectionate towards you. May I ask what gift she has given you for your birthday?”

“Nothing…” Yan Qing was about to respond.

However, Ji Yezhen interrupted her, saying, “I’ve already received my birthday gift. As for what it is…” He looked at Minister Ran with disdain, “You’re not qualified to know.”

Minister Ran’s face paled slightly. He looked deeply at Yan Qing, then at Ji Yezhen, clasped his hands in a bow, and slowly withdrew.

In that moment of furrowing his brows, Ji Yezhen saw the glint of murderous intent in Ran’s eyes. His expression turned serious as he waved Jiang Wende over and whispered a few words.

Jiang Wende immediately took his leave, while the banquet continued.

Yan Qing sat in her seat, listening to everyone discussing animatedly while she quietly ate her meal.

“Your Highness, is there anything else you would like to eat?” Old Madam Qian asked.

Yan Qing shook her head, looking at the variety of dishes before her. “This is enough.”

Old Madam Qian nodded and continued serving the dishes.

Her master was easy to serve, but her boldness toward the emperor worried the palace maids of Lingyun Palace. They feared that one day the emperor might genuinely become angry and lash out at the empress, even though up to now, Ji Yezhen had tolerated her, no matter how much she acted.

Old Madam Qian watched the beautiful and fair side profile of the woman before her and sighed, wondering how long the emperor’s boundless affection could last.

…

Nearby, a palace maid was diligently pouring her wine, but Yan Qing didn’t like drinking and hadn’t touched it. Instead, she sipped on the warm fruit juice prepared by Old Madam Qian.

Xu Jin sat further back, staring at the woman almost parallel to the emperor. Her radiance was so bright it made her eyes ache, yet after watching for a while, she noticed that this woman hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol. Anxiety flooded her heart as she unconsciously glanced at Yuan Xiu.

Had their plan, which had taken so much effort to concoct, failed just like that?

The imperial concubine never interacted with others, and they hadn’t realized that Yan Qing didn’t drink!

Yuan Xiu gave her a reassuring look and then lowered her head to eat her meal.

The food served to the empress, the emperor, and others had been tested for poison, so the poison they had received was said to take time before it would manifest.

Yuan Xiu’s confidence boosted Xu Jin’s spirits.

At that moment, Minister Ran, who had repeatedly encountered setbacks with Ji Yezhen, stood up when everyone had almost finished speaking and raised his wine glass. “Your Majesty, the prosperity of Da Qian is thanks to you and the imperial concubine. On behalf of the citizens of Da Qian, I raise my glass to you, Your Majesty, and the imperial concubine!”

With that, he boldly downed the fiery liquor in one gulp.

Yan Qing furrowed her brows, hesitating. Just then, many officials stood up together to raise their glasses in a toast.

Ji Yezhen had had enough of the opposition, and hearing recognition of Yan Qing’s efforts for the first time, though he knew there was something amiss, he still felt satisfied in his heart and raised his glass in agreement.

Yan Qing caught sight of the Prime Minister also raising his glass, so she took the cup of untouched wine and drank.

“Whew—” This was the first time she had done something so clearly on the edge of life and death, and Xu Jin had been on edge. Only after seeing Yan Qing drink did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.