"Father, you shouldn't eat too much of this cake. It's quite rich. Just try a little, we'll have a proper meal later." Leng Ruo Li reminded him helplessly.
"Don't worry, Li'er. Just cut your father another small piece. I won't eat any more after this one," the Emperor pleaded playfully.
"Alright!"
With that, Leng Ruo Li reluctantly cut the Emperor another small piece of cake.
Then, Leng Ruo Li handed the cake over to the palace attendants to distribute to everyone present.
As Leng Ruo Li introduced the cake to everyone, several pairs of eyes were fixed on her. While everyone else's attention was on the cake, theirs was on Leng Ruo Li.
From the moment Ming Jiu Xiao entered the Chaoyang Hall and sat down, his gaze had not left Leng Ruo Li.
This girl, Leng Ruo Li, had not only grown taller in just a few months, but she had also become even more beautiful than before.
He hadn't seen her since they parted ways in the Peach Blossom Forest. Later, he heard that this girl had gone out with Jun Mo Han and his entourage. He then sent Lin Feng to inquire about her whereabouts. To his surprise, he learned that she had gone to help Jun Mo Han find an antidote for the wolf poison.
At that moment, Ming Jiu Xiao truly envied Jun Mo Han for having a woman who cared for him so deeply. At the same time, he secretly arranged for people to track them, but his men were eventually shaken off by Jun Mo Han and his group.
As for Xie Yi Chuan, whenever he saw Leng Ruo Li, he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity towards her.
When he looked at her clear and bright almond eyes, and heard her crisp and melodious voice, his mind would conjure up an image of a chubby, exquisitely carved, soft little doll, who would often hug his leg, tilt her small head up, and affectionately call him "Ge Ge, Ge Ge, Ge Ge..."
But whenever he tried to get a clearer look at the little girl's face, she would be enveloped by a white mist, obscuring her features, and then she would gradually disappear from his sight.
Among the princes present, except for Prince Qing who was in a foul mood, everyone else was envious of Jun Mo Han for marrying a smart and capable consort. Even Prince Ning, who was usually indifferent, felt a different kind of affection when he looked at Leng Ruo Li's every gesture and smile. Later, Prince Ning gazed at the small piece of cake the palace maid had served him, and a handsome curve suddenly appeared at the corner of his lips.
However, the person in the room who hated Leng Ruo Li for stealing the spotlight the most was Qin Xi Xue. The intricate embroidery of a hundred longevity symbols she had stayed up all night to finish was overshadowed by the cake made by Leng Ruo Li. How could she not be angry?
Later, she didn't eat the small piece of cake the palace maids had served her, while others were still craving more.
As a result, after everyone finished their cake, a group of people began asking the palace maids if there was any extra cake and requested another small piece. Unfortunately, there were too many people attending the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet that evening, and the six-tiered cake was completely distributed in one round.
At this moment, the Emperor overheard the discussions below and immediately asked, "How was the taste of the cake made by Consort Leng tonight?"
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty and Empress Dowager. The cake made by Consort Leng was truly delicious," everyone present stood up and thanked the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.
"Haha, it can't get any better than this. We will now begin serving the dishes. The Empress Dowager's birthday banquet begins!" the Emperor said with a hearty laugh.
Following this, the Leng King couple and everyone else returned to their seats. Palace maids and eunuchs, carrying dishes, began entering from both sides of the hall, distributing them to each table. It took the palace staff about the time it takes an incense stick to burn to serve all the dishes.
"Tonight is the first birthday banquet since the Empress Dowager recovered. Everyone eat and drink as you please. I hope everyone enjoys themselves," the Emperor declared. As the Emperor's words fell, everyone poured a cup of wine and raised their cups to toast the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.
"Wishing Your Majesty and Empress Dowager longevity and prosperity!" everyone shouted in unison.
The Emperor and the Empress Dowager also had palace maids pour them a cup of wine and returned the toast to the officials and their families in the hall, after which the mother and son drank it down in one gulp.
"Let's begin eating!" the Emperor and Empress Dowager said in unison.
Immediately, everyone picked up their chopsticks, started eating, and chatting. Some officials with close relationships toasted each other and talked.
Just then, Jun Mo Han placed a piece of fish and a piece of pork rib into Leng Ruo Li's bowl. This action was seen by Qin Xi Xue, who had been watching Jun Mo Han intently. She was so furious that her teeth were grinding audibly.
Leng Ruo Li, why did this little slut receive such favor from the Cold King?
She, Qin Xi Xue, was no less outstanding, so why couldn't she even get a proper glance from Jun Mo Han?
The more Qin Xi Xue thought about it, the angrier she became.
At this moment, a glint flashed in her sinister eyes, and she thought of a way to disgust Leng Ruo Li.
Thus, she poured herself a cup of wine and walked towards Jun Mo Han with a smiling face.
"Your Highness the Cold King, Little Xue would like to offer you a toast tonight to thank you for saving my life at Qingxin Lake all those years ago." Qin Xi Xue deliberately and coyly mentioned Jun Mo Han having saved her in the past, right in front of Leng Ruo Li.
"Miss Qin, if it had been someone else that year, this King would have saved them as well. That matter has long since passed, and you need not keep it in your heart," Jun Mo Han replied in a calm tone.
"Your Highness the Cold King, then you are also my savior. For years, I've wanted to thank Your Highness in person many times, but you always pushed me off with excuses about being busy. Tonight, I'm taking this opportunity to offer you a toast to express my gratitude for what happened back then." As she spoke, Qin Xi Xue slowly moved closer to Jun Mo Han, attempting to brush her ample bosom against him.
Unexpectedly, just as she was about to get close, Jun Mo Han swiftly picked up Leng Ruo Li and dodged Qin Xi Xue. Qin Xi Xue lost her balance and fell directly to the ground with a "bang." The wine in her cup also spilled onto the floor, leaving Qin Xi Xue stunned.
The Cold King actually dodged her touch and made her fall to the ground in front of so many people.
Hearing the sound, the previously lively hall suddenly fell silent. All eyes turned towards the source of the noise. After a moment, whispers erupted among the crowd.
Although the majority of people hadn't noticed what was happening at the Cold King couple's table earlier, seeing Qin Xi Xue lying on the ground, they all understood what had occurred.
Madam Qin quickly stood up, walked to the Cold King couple's table, and helped Qin Xi Xue up.
"Your Highness the Cold King, Consort Leng, my daughter has been rude. Please do not take offense," Madam Qin said awkwardly. Her daughter was good in every way, except that she was stubbornly fixated on the Cold King. It seemed that after returning home, she would have to quickly discuss Xiao Xue's marriage with Prime Minister Qin. Her Xiao Xue was the legitimate eldest daughter, and neither she nor Prime Minister Qin would allow Xiao Xue to be a secondary consort to the Cold King; she could only be the primary consort if she were to marry. However, Leng Ruo Li was the daughter of Leng Jin Yu, and her status and position were no less than that of her Xiao Xue. It was impossible for Xiao Xue to dislodge Leng Ruo Li from the position of primary consort. Furthermore, given the Cold King's current affection for Leng Ruo Li, it was impossible for her Xiao Xue to become the Cold King's primary consort. Therefore, Xiao Xue could only marry another prince as a primary consort, and she needed to make Xiao Xue give up on the Cold King.