Shen Ying's figure moved lightly on the dance floor, her alluring eyes like silk threads, her sleeves flowing. As the music surged and climaxed, her movements continuously changed and stretched. When the song ended, a wave of enthusiastic applause erupted around her.
Zhong Li watched the woman panting as she kowtowed to the Emperor. Though she had no talent for rhythm, the appreciation of beauty was universal. She had to admit that Shen Ying danced beautifully, captivating even many princes and ministers with her performance.
"Good!" Lu Jingan exclaimed, offering Shen Ying his final affirmation.
Shen Nong was very pleased with Shen Ying's performance. With a wave of her hand, several women carrying gold and silver knelt sequentially behind Shen Ying.
Zhong Li knew this was the Empress's intention to bestow rewards.
"Your Majesty, what do you think of my niece?" Shen Nong asked Lu Jingan, looking at him.
Lu Jingan's smile widened as he looked at Shen Ying, saying again, "Good."
"Then... if that is the case, Your Majesty, my earlier proposal..."
"Lu Wuxie!" Lu Jingan patted Shen Nong's hand, signaling her to remain calm, then called out to Lu Wuxie, who was seated among the guests, "Come out."
Lu Wuxie, who was drinking, did not move when Lu Jingan called him. It was only after Lu Fengyang nudged him that he put down his wine cup and stood up.
"Come here." Lu Jingan beckoned Lu Wuxie.
Zhong Li watched Lu Jingan's intimate behavior towards Lu Wuxie. Recalling what Lu Jingan had said in the imperial court a few days prior, her gaze shifted to Lu Yuanfeng, who was conversing with others at the banquet. Suddenly, she felt something becoming increasingly clear.
Lu Wuxie walked to a spot a few steps away from Lu Jingan and slowly knelt down.
Lu Jingan then looked at Shen Ying and beckoned her as well.
Shen Ying's cheeks flushed, and she shyly knelt beside Lu Wuxie.
"Mo Cang, Shen Ying is the Empress's niece. The Shen family is small in number, with Shen Ying being the only junior. What do you think of her?" Lu Jingan asked.
"Not much." Lu Jingan, without even glancing at Shen Ying, coldly uttered these words.
Shen Ying, who had been smiling, saw her smile turn awkward upon hearing the man beside her speak.
For a moment, the otherwise lively banquet fell into a terrifying silence.
Shen Nong's lips curled. While trying to maintain the demeanor befitting a queen, she said, "Perhaps His Highness the Prince Consort has had too much to drink? Ying'er's Red Flutter Dance is unrivaled in the Southern Yue Kingdom."
"Is that so?" Lu Wuxie looked up at Shen Nong and said, "In Mo Cang's opinion, no matter how good the dance, it cannot catch my eye."
"You..." Shen Nong was provoked and gnashed her teeth in anger.
Seeing her reaction, Lu Jingan gently patted her arm and said, "Empress, Mo Cang has a wild nature. Some things need to be handled gradually."
With an excuse to step down, Shen Nong naturally curbed her impetuosity somewhat in public.
She sighed, her gaze sweeping across the banquet. Finally finding the person she was looking for, she said, "Young Minister Zhong, please come up."
Zhong Li was eating the vegetables in front of her, trying her best to ignore everything else. She never expected that the more she avoided it, the more things would move in a direction she did not wish.
She looked up at the Empress.
Shen Nong smiled and nodded at her.
Zhong Li slowly rose, putting down the wooden chopsticks in her hand.
"Li'er." Lan Heng, seeing the situation, could already guess what would happen next and couldn't help but call out to her, his face full of worry.
Zhong Li gave Lan Heng a look of reassurance and quickly walked to the center of the dance floor.
"Come forward a bit," Shen Nong said, pointing to a spot slightly behind Shen Ying, "Here."
Zhong Li looked at Shen Nong's lacquered fingertips. After a moment's thought, she walked to the designated spot.
Shen Nong seemed extremely pleased with her obedient behavior, nodding and saying, "A woman is more likable when she is obedient."
Zhong Li lowered her eyes, remaining silent.
Lu Wuxie clenched his fist hidden in his sleeve.
"Young Minister Zhong, there are some things I had intended to tell you privately. However, His Highness the Prince Consort is somewhat stubborn, which forces me to address these matters in public," Shen Nong said, her smile unbreakably rich, yet her tone like the winter wind in December, chilling people to the bone.
"Empress, please speak freely. I don't believe there is anything about me that warrants a private conversation," Zhong Li replied, her words firm and open.
Shen Nong chuckled lightly, "If that is the case, am I perhaps thinking too much?"
Zhong Li remained silent and simply bowed.
"I recall during the Consort Rong case, His Highness the Prince Consort personally admitted his affection for you. Is that true?" Shen Nong asked Zhong Li.
Zhong Li closed her eyes and bit her lip. She did not want to answer the Empress's question, but she knew that many eyes were watching. She had no right to refuse.
"True."
"And did he say he wished to marry you?" Shen Nong asked again.
Zhong Li's heart skipped a beat. She recalled a casual remark Lu Wuxie had made to her earlier. Did the so-called 'proposal' count?
After the Empress finished her question, the already silent surroundings became so quiet that even people's breathing could be heard.
Everyone was watching a show, a drama of two women vying for one man, a spectacle of how the fastest-rising woman in the court might fall into a ditch, be abandoned by royalty, and toyed with in the palm of their hands.
Just as Zhong Li did not know how to answer, Lu Wuxie suddenly responded, "This Prince Consort did say so."
As his words fell, Shen Nong narrowed her eyes, and Shen Ying's face turned green with anger.
"Hahaha!" Suddenly, a burst of hearty laughter rang out. All eyes turned to Lu Jingan. He coughed lightly, raised his wine cup, and drank it down, saying, "As expected of someone from my Lu family, to dare and to own up."
Shen Nong's face turned pale, and she seemed to be losing face. Zipei, who had returned to her side, tugged at her sleeve.
Shen Nong came to her senses and forced a smile that was more fake than could be imagined onto her face. "Since that is the case, and His Highness the Prince Consort admits it, then I naturally cannot say anything."
"Young Minister Zhong." She shifted her gaze to Zhong Li and said, "You should understand my intentions today, shouldn't you?"
Zhong Li remained silent. Whether she understood the Empress's intentions or not, did it have anything to do with her?
Seeing her not answer, Shen Nong felt a flicker of annoyance. She stopped pretending and said coldly, "Although you hold a fourth-rank position, your status in court, and indeed throughout the Southern Yue Kingdom, is rare. Moreover, as a woman, you are the first female official in the Southern Yue Kingdom to reach the fourth rank.
However... it is said that one should not forget their origins. If my memory serves me correctly, Young Minister Zhong was previously a coroner, wasn't she?"
Zhong Li nodded, "Replying to Your Majesty, I was, I am, and I will continue to be."
Shen Nong let out a dismissive chuckle upon hearing her reply, "It is said that among the three teachings and nine schools, coroners don't even count among the nine schools. In terms of origin, the difference between you and His Highness the Prince Consort is not a small one. Do you understand?"
"I understand," Zhong Li replied.
"The Lu family is of royal blood. They will surely marry noble ladies. Do you deny this?"
"I do not deny it," Zhong Li answered without hesitation.
At this moment, Shen Ying's lips involuntarily revealed a triumphant smile.
"Actually, I am not an unreasonable person. No matter what, I understand the principle of first come, first served. You might not be able to compare to E Huang and Nü Ying, but after Shen Ying marries into the Prince Xian's mansion, for you to become a concubine through the back door, I can agree. If possible, I can even send you..."
"Empress!" Zhong Li interrupted Shen Nong's monologue and looked up at her, saying, "Empress, you only heard His Highness the Prince Consort say he wishes to marry me. Did Your Majesty hear me say that I am willing to marry him?"
As soon as Zhong Li finished speaking, the banquet instantly became chaotic. All the princes and ministers wore expressions of astonishment. Only Lu Wuxie, kneeling on the ground, slowly closed his eyes, lost in his thoughts.