roccoschili Chapter 152: Can I be your wife?
Chapter 152: Can I be your wife?
When the emperor returns, a banquet will naturally be held.
After bathing and washing up, everyone gathered in the main hall when it was getting dark, drinking and watching dancing.
The emperor deliberately arranged Ling Lan in the first position at the lower left.
And Li Ce was right in the first position on the right, facing Ling Lan.
Ling Lan was still wearing the same white dress and shirt, without changing her clothes or taking off her veil.
This behavior has displeased many people.
The imperial concubine was one of them, but she was proud of her status and could not lose her temper in this situation, so she winked at her daughter-in-law.
Princess Ding sighed secretly.
She didn't want to get involved in these matters, but she had to obey her mother-in-law's orders.
Then, Princess Ding raised the wine cup and saluted Ling Lan from a distance.
"Fairy Ling has an elegant and graceful temperament. She is indeed different from ordinary people like us. I wonder if Fairy Ling would be willing to give me this glass of wine?"
Princess Ding had said so, so Ling Lan wouldn't refuse.
She lifted a corner of her veil and drank the wine in the jug.
Although it was only for a moment, many people on the opposite side saw her appearance.
Indeed, she is a rare and beautiful lady.
But it's not that beautiful that it can overwhelm the whole country.
At least, from beginning to end, Li Ce never looked at her.
Li Ce just took a bite of the newly served squab and found it tasted good, so he turned around and whispered to Jiang Wanyue.
"Have you tried this pigeon? It tastes good. I remember it was added with specially brewed goat cheese. It is more fragrant than the one in the East Palace."
Jiang Wanyue's eyes were full of smiles.
"I think it's delicious, but Your Highness should like the Huadiao Drunken Chicken more, right?"
The two of them were talking in low voices, as if they were oblivious to the people around them, and seemed particularly intimate.
Prince Liang looked across and then to the right and couldn't help laughing.
"I didn't expect that Third Brother liked Jiang Liang Di so much that he even brought a banquet over. No wonder everyone said that Jiang Liang Di was Third Brother's concubine."
Jiang Wanyue paused with her chopsticks and glanced in the direction of Prince Liang.
It is really inappropriate to say such things in such an occasion.
But Prince Liang has always been known for his eccentricity, so no one thought it was wrong for him to say so.
Li Ce didn't think much about it.
The moon rose high in the sky and the banquet came to an end.
The emperor was drunk and was helped back by the palace maids to rest.
As soon as the emperor left, Li Ce also stood up.
"I can't hold my liquor, so I'll take my leave now. Please drink slowly."
After saying this, he didn't care about other people's reactions and walked out of the hall with Jiang Wanyue.
Everyone looked over subconsciously.
Jiang Wanyue clearly felt that Ling Lan's gaze was different from that of others.
During the meal, she kept paying attention to the actions of Fairy Ling.
I have to say, she is indeed a little different.
It’s not about her clothes, but her expression and attitude.
It seems to be the same whether it is to the emperor or to others.
Only when he looked at Li Ce, there was a bit more curiosity.
Most normal people would be somewhat restrained when meeting the emperor, and even Jiang Wanyue was no exception.
After all, he was the emperor who held the power of life and death! The emperor who once made her entire Jiang family exile and suffer with just one sentence.
Having seen the power and terror of authority, one will feel awe in one's heart.
However, there was not the slightest reverence in the eyes of Fairy Ling.
Could she really be a fairy from heaven?
Jiang Wanyue frowned.
Li Ce noticed it and thought that she was unhappy because of what King Liang said earlier, so he pulled her hand.
"Lao Liu just said that. He didn't mean anything else. Don't take it seriously."
Jiang Wanyue pursed her lips and smiled.
"How could that be? I was just thinking that Fairy Ling behaves in an extraordinary manner. I think she must have some real skills, otherwise she wouldn't have won the emperor's favor."
Li Ce looked at him with disdain.
"She must have learned some strange and lewd techniques from somewhere to please the emperor. She is just a woman, so what if she is extraordinary?"
Li Ce has never looked down upon women, thinking that they are not strong enough and do not pose much of a threat.
Jiang Wanyue sighed softly.
"Your Highness, please do not underestimate women. I think Fairy Ling is not simple! Her eyes have been following you. Maybe she is coming for you."
Li Ce raised his eyebrows and suddenly laughed.
"Is Wan'er jealous?"
He leaned close to Jiang Wanyue's ear, held her hand, and whispered something.
Jiang Wanyue glared at him and pushed him away.
"Your Highness! Seriously!"
Li Ce laughed loudly, hugged her in his arms, and returned to the bedroom half-carrying her.
They were really tired that day, so they washed up and went to rest.
Jiang Wanyue had a dream.
In her dream, she was surrounded by a huge net and couldn't escape.
The more she tried to escape, the tighter the net became, until it finally entangled her tightly, making her unable to move. It even became difficult for her to breathe, as if a huge rock was pressing on her chest.
Wow!
Jiang Wanyue woke up from her dream with sweat all over her head.
Looking down, she felt a little helpless. She gently moved Li Ce's hands and feet away, turned to the other side, and continued to sleep.
The next day, Li Ce woke up early, put on his clothes and started practicing boxing in the open space in front of the hall.
After Jiang Wanyue finished washing up, the two had breakfast together. Then Li Ce changed into his prince's dragon robe and went to meet the emperor.
The matter of Li Zhu must have a result as soon as possible.
He arrived at the main hall and saw the emperor getting dressed, so he waited for a while outside.
Not long after, the emperor came out. Seeing that he had come early, he greeted him happily.
"Come and have dinner with me! I drank too much last night, and my stomach is empty. Drink two more bowls of porridge."
Li Ce sat down, looked at the refreshing lily porridge in front of him, and drank two sips casually.
The emperor didn't eat much.
He really had no appetite, unlike Li Ce who was already full.
Seeing the emperor put down his chopsticks, Li Ce finally found an opportunity to speak.
"Father, regarding my fourth brother..."
Unexpectedly, as soon as he started talking, the emperor showed his impatience and waved his hand.
"You can make the decision on these small matters yourself."
Li Ce was helpless.
"Father, how can this be considered a trivial matter? Besides, as the person involved in this matter, I should avoid being involved. How can I make the decision on my own?"
The emperor said without thinking.
"Then let him stay in the mansion and not go out, so that he won't cause trouble for you again."
This was similar to what Li Ce thought, so he didn't say anything else.
Once the emperor gave an order, someone would pass on the message and make arrangements, and the emperor didn't have to worry about it himself.
In fact, he didn't care about Li Zhu at all.
He had been thinking about other things.
After a brief silence, the emperor spoke again.
"What do you think of Fairy Ling yesterday?"
Li Ce considered his tone.
"Girls from the countryside lack some rules and etiquette, but if father likes it, it's nothing."
The emperor stroked his beard and said with a smile.
"This woman is different from ordinary ladies. She is not an ordinary person. How can these ordinary rules and etiquette restrain her?"
As he spoke, he turned his eyes to look at Li Ce, and his smile became kind.
"I have been thinking about it all night. Fairy Ling is someone of such status that ordinary people cannot possibly match her. How about marrying her?"
Li Ce suddenly raised his head, glanced at the emperor quickly, and then lowered his eyes again.
He was unsure of the emperor's true intention.
Make a country girl of unknown origin the Crown Princess?
Is the emperor afraid of me?
This question went around in his mind and quickly came back to him.
In an instant, Li Ce reacted.
He stood up quickly, took a step back, and knelt down.
"I am an unfilial son and I am afraid I cannot accept your kindness."
The emperor's smile faded.
"Well? Why not? You don't like her?"
The emperor's tone sounded no different from usual, but the "hmm" he uttered was prolonged, revealing a special meaning.
Li Ce lowered his head.
"From a selfish point of view, I already have a wife and concubine, a son and a daughter. Jiang and Zhu serve me well. I am very satisfied and don't want anything else."
These words were said directly and frankly, and were indeed what Li Ce really thought.
Now that the backyard of the East Palace is stable, for him, it is better to remain unchanged than to change.
The emperor narrowed his eyes.
"Since you are the prince, you cannot just speak and act according to your own will."
Li Ce kowtowed.
"I understand, but from the perspective of justice, I cannot accept this Fairy Ling."
"Why is this?"
Now the emperor really didn't understand.
Li Ce's mind worked quickly, searching for the information about Lingxian Sect that had been previously investigated.
At the same time, he replied.
"Father, you said yesterday that Fairy Ling was a fairy from the Heavenly Palace who was inspired by our Great Zhou to come down to earth in order to bring prosperity to our Great Zhou."
"Then this Fairy Ling is of such a noble status, the only one in the world, it is hard to find another one. If we let her become the Crown Princess, wouldn't it be a blasphemy?"
The emperor's expression gradually softened.
"I am glad that you think so. But don't worry, I have already asked the fairy, and she doesn't mind. Besides, she is a reincarnated body, and her body is still mortal! There is no blasphemy."
As he spoke, the emperor walked over to Li Ce and helped him up.
"Cer, I know you are worried that your father has been deceived. But Fairy Ling does have magical powers, and you will know when you see it."
Li Ce frowned, showing curiosity and confusion at the right time.
"Really? Did Father see it with his own eyes?"
The emperor nodded.
"Of course, Father saw with his own eyes that she made the budding flower bloom instantly. How could she do that if it wasn't magic?"
The emperor said this, a look of reminiscence on his face.
"You probably don't believe it because you haven't seen it. But when my father was young, he saw the real art of resurrection. In this world, there are not only mortals, but also true immortals!"