"Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live Your Majesty!"
Amidst the acclamations, a young maiden, clad in a resplendent imperial yellow dragon robe, slowly emerged.
Under the bright palace lanterns, the maiden's countenance was peerlessly pure and beautiful, her eyes, clear as water, shone with an extraordinary brilliance.
She stood there, her slender and tall figure like an unyielding statue, exuding an aura of supreme authority.
Everywhere her gaze fell, there were kneeling figures.
Of course, there was one exception.
Their eyes met.
His gaze carried a suppressive force, as if intent on crushing her regal power.
The maiden smiled faintly, withdrew her gaze, and parted her vermilion lips, "All my esteemed ministers, please rise." Her clear voice resonated through the great hall.
"Today is a family banquet, esteemed ministers need not be so reserved," the maiden added.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" everyone rose and took their seats.
The maiden sat down.
She looked to the side, seeing Xue Wenjie still standing, and said slowly, "Imperial Uncle, it is a family banquet today, please be seated!"
Xue Wenjie cast a glance at her, his gaze indifferent yet tinged with a hint of mockery.
She paid it no mind.
Consort Chao and Xue Zixuan arrived late!
"Your Majesty, Zixuan was feeling unwell, and has arrived late. We beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!" Consort Chao bowed to plead for pardon.
"What is wrong with Zixuan? Come, Zixuan, come to your Imperial Sister's side..."
Seeing Xue Zixuan glance up at her before quickly lowering his eyes again, Xue Zining sensed something was amiss.
"Zixuan, come here..."
Xue Zining called out again.
She saw Xue Zixuan hesitate for a moment before approaching her. She reached out and stroked his head, softly asking, "What is wrong, Zixuan?"
Whether it was an illusion or not, Xue Zining noticed Xue Zixuan's body trembling.
She reached out and lifted his chin, seeing a pair of wet eyes, like a startled fawn, so pitiful.
She froze, "Zixuan, you... what is wrong?"
Xue Zixuan trembled all over, "I... I am fine, Imperial... Imperial Sister, I am fine."
Consort Chao, looking at the trembling Xue Zixuan, frowned. With a pained expression, she stood up, attempting to pull him to her side.
Unexpectedly, Xue Zining had already drawn him to the seat beside her.
She took his hand, his fingers were ice-cold, so cold that she too could not help but frown.
"Zixuan, what is wrong? Tell Imperial Sister, Imperial Sister will seek justice for you."
Xue Zixuan shook his head, instead tightly gripping her hand, it was the first time he had held her hand with such force.
"Imperial Sister..."
"I am here."
"Imperial Sister..."
Xue Zining raised her eyebrows slightly, Xue Zixuan was clearly not himself today.
"It's so good to see you again, Imperial Sister!" Xue Zixuan looked up, his wet eyes filled with her reflection.
Not a single trace of impurity.
Utterly pure.
For some reason, her heart trembled slightly, and she reached out to embrace his shoulders.
"Imperial Sister will always be here..."
Music began to play, the palace lanterns in the hall dimmed, and accompanied by the clear ringing of bells, dancers in feathered robes emerged.
The dance they performed was the popular Feitian Dance of Huangze.
"Your Majesty, why are you not drinking?" Consort Chao, standing nearby, noticed Xue Zining not touching the dishes or the wine.
Xue Zining looked at Consort Chao and smiled, "I fear I might get drunk."
Consort Chao was slightly taken aback.
Xue Wenjie, standing beside them, rose and approached Xue Zining, bowing, "This subject toasts Your Majesty with a cup."
As he spoke, he looked up, his gaze carrying a suppressive force, as if to say, will you drink this cup?
The hall fell silent. Xue Zining smiled, raised her wine cup, and drank it all in one gulp, "I have already drunk."
Xue Wenjie frowned, unable to articulate his feelings.
He had expected Xue Zining to refuse, but refusal would have been fine too. This was his first toast, and it would be his last, her farewell drink.
"Your Majesty, A Yue toasts you with a cup of wine." Nangong Yue emerged from below.
Xue Zining looked up at Nangong Yue, her eyes clear and tinged with coldness.
For some reason, Nangong Yue felt a chill permeating her entire body.
It seeped into her limbs and bones, making her deeply uncomfortable.
"Very well!" Xue Zining did not refuse.
Nangong Yue watched as she drank the wine.
"A Yue, see, I drank it." Xue Zining inverted the wine cup on the table, not a drop of wine spilling out.
Nangong Yue was startled, and looked up to meet those unadulterated eyes, clear and icy.
She felt a pang of guilt.
"Who else wishes to toast me? I accept all toasts." Xue Zining stood up, a flush appearing on her beautiful, pure face.
"Imperial Sister, you have drunk enough," Xue Zixuan, beside her, tugged at her sleeve.
He saw Xue Zining lower her head, her gaze exceptionally alluring, looking at him with a hint of profound meaning.
He trembled all over.
"Your Majesty, this humble subject, with Feng Yu, toasts you with a cup of wine."
As the voice rang out, the hall fell so silent that one could hear a pin drop.
Two figures appeared at the entrance, one slender, one tall and well-built.
The woman was delicate and beautiful, the man extraordinarily handsome.
"Very well!" Xue Zining's gaze fell upon the man.
Feng Yu lowered his eyes, his thoughts hidden from everyone.
Xue Yunlan, with a cold smile playing on her lips, linked her arm through Feng Yu's and said, "Your Majesty, this humble subject toasts you with a cup."
Xue Zining glanced at Xue Yunlan, then sat back down, and said slowly, "Kneel and toast."
Xue Yunlan was stunned. In her daze, Feng Yu beside her had already knelt on the ground, "This humble subject toasts Your Majesty with a cup."
"Serve it," Xue Zining commanded.
Feng Yu took the wine cup from Xue Yunlan's hand, stepped forward, still bowing, and she took it.
Just as she was about to drink.
Xue Zixuan suddenly tugged at her sleeve and said, "Imperial Sister, you have drunk quite a bit, why not skip this one?"
Xue Zining looked down at him and asked, "Not drink?"
"Zixuan, how can you comment on the Emperor's actions? Be silent." Consort Chao rebuked him, then stepped forward to pull Xue Zixuan away.
As Xue Zixuan passed her, he suddenly said, "Imperial Sister, don't drink!"
Xue Zining looked at the wine in the cup, then at Feng Yu, and said slowly, "Feng Yu, do you wish for me to drink?"
Feng Yu trembled all over, he never raised his head, nor did he say a word.
"Feng Yu, this is your first toast to me, and I..."
She said softly, "I will drink."
Feng Yu trembled all over, he knelt on the ground, "Feng Yu thanks Your Majesty."
Watching Xue Zining drink the wine in her hand, Xue Yunlan's lips curved into a cold smile.
"Is there anyone else who wishes to toast me?" Xue Zining looked up, her eyes shining as brightly as the moon high in the sky.
No one stepped forward. She swayed as she stood up. Xue Yan, standing by her side, reached out to support her, but she pushed Xue Yan away, saying, "I am feeling dizzy, I wish to go out for a walk, you all continue."
Having said that, she refused Xue Yan's support and walked towards the exit of the hall.
Xue Wenjie glanced at Feng Yu, walked forward, and patted Feng Yu's shoulder, "You did very well."
Saying this, he also walked towards Xue Zining.
Xue Zixuan looked up at Xue Wenjie's retreating figure, a flicker of an unusual glint in his eyes, "Mother Consort, I am not feeling well, let us return as well."