After the bell rang, the members of the royal family took their seats.
However, the seat of honor for the members of the royal family was still empty.
“Who is this? How dare they be late?” Tang Miaoling looked around curiously.
She sat in the row behind Ning Wanyin.
When Xiao Guizi saw that it was his master’s cousin asking the question, he immediately lowered his voice and reminded her, “This is His Highness Prince Yu’s seat.”
Ning Wanyin recognized the absent person at a glance.
The person who can sit in the seat of honor is the one with the highest seniority in the royal family.
The former Crown Prince is the eldest son of the Empress, Prince Ying is the second son, Prince Yu is the third son, the current Emperor is the fourth son, and Prince Fu is the fifth son. These princes are close in age.
The sixth prince, Prince Yihe, and others below him are all under twenty and have not yet reached adulthood.
Three years after the Emperor ascended the throne, Ning Wanyin had specifically investigated the backgrounds of these princes.
Prince Yu was a member of the Crown Prince’s faction, while Prince Fu was a member of Prince Ying’s faction. In comparison, the current Emperor was a compromise between the two dukes.
Bang!
The bell tolled nine times.
The eunuch announced, “The Emperor has arrived! The Empress Dowager has arrived!”
Helian Qi attended the event together with Empress Dowager Xue.
Everyone rose and bowed, “Greetings to Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor! Greetings to the Empress Dowager! May the Empress Dowager enjoy a long and peaceful life!”
“Rise.” Helian Qi sat down in the main seat.
As everyone stood up and took their seats, the empty seats became particularly noticeable.
Just then…
A young man in brocade robes adorned with four-clawed pythons entered the main hall and bowed to the Emperor and Empress Dowager, saying: “Your Majesty and Empress Dowager, this Prince pays his respects! Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, a night for family reunion. Thinking of my elder brother, Crown Prince Kangren, I drank a few too many cups and became intoxicated. When I woke up, I was already late for the banquet. I beg Your Majesty and Empress Dowager to punish me!”
This person was none other than Prince Yu.
The hall was completely silent.
Did you get drunk and miss the appointed time?
You were clearly late on purpose to embarrass the Emperor.
Moreover, he deliberately mentioned the former Crown Prince.
Empress Dowager Xue said with a look of satisfaction, “You miss your elder brother, and you are respectful and loving towards your younger brother. What crime have you committed? Please return to your seat.”
“Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness!” Prince Yu lifted his robes, stood up, and returned to his seat.
Helian Qi didn’t have a chance to say a word before Empress Dowager Xue and Prince Yu had already put on a show of force, giving him a taste of his own medicine.
It was on the day of his first grand banquet for his clansmen.
“When the Eldest Brother was still alive, he had the best relationship with Prince Yu. Prince Yu has reminded me of him. Tomorrow, I will ask Prince Yu to go to the imperial mausoleum to guard the tomb of Crown Prince Kangren for three months, to comfort the brotherly affection.” Helian Qi said slowly with a friendly expression.
The smile on Prince Yu’s face instantly froze.
“There’s no need to go to such lengths…” Empress Dowager Xue chimed in.
Helian Qi looked at Empress Dowager Xue, saying, “Does Your Majesty find it too troublesome to make a round trip in just three months?”
Did you think three months wasn’t enough?
The Emperor left room for maneuver.
Three months was not a long time; the Xue family could accept it, and it wouldn’t cause a major conflict with the Emperor.
If this continued, both sides would suffer losses.
“The Emperor’s arrangements are excellent.” Empress Dowager Xue said, swallowing her words back.
Prince Yu was displeased, but he didn’t show it on his face. He stood up and said, “I obey the decree!”
After this exchange, the banquet began.
After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere was lively, with clinking glasses, singing and dancing, and pleasant music.
Prince Yu suddenly raised his voice and asked, “Who prepared today’s palace banquet?”
“By His Majesty’s grace, I am hosting the palace banquet tonight.” Shu Fei did not expect him to ask such a question.
Prince Yu glanced at Shu Fei and sneered, “No wonder it was handled so poorly, it turns out it was you who arranged it.”
“Brother Yu, why do you say that? Your Majesty, I think this palace banquet is excellent in every way.” Prince Fu said, trying to smooth things over.
“This wine is no good. I dislike sweet wine the most—” Prince Yu casually swept his hand away, knocking over the wine cup in front of him.
He said, “When my royal palace hosts banquets, the Princess Consort prepares wine according to the guests’ preferences, ensuring everyone’s enjoyment. But Shu Fei can’t even prepare wine properly…”
“But this Prince can’t blame Shu Fei for that. After all, Shu Fei comes from a humble background and has never seen a grand occasion. If you let Shu Fei host a palace banquet, wouldn’t that just be a case of someone who’s not qualified enough to do the job?”
“I urge Your Majesty to appoint a noblewoman as empress as soon as possible, so as to prevent someone unworthy of the position from disgracing the royal family.”
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Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152