Chapter 9: 009宴会

The Grand Empress Dowager's words caused Yan Ruyu's expression to change, but she still bit her lip, left Bai Yuchen's embrace, and sat silently in a seat to the side.

Her eyes, however, were filled with grievance as she looked at Bai Yuchen. Xiahou Shangle sat quietly in her rightful seat, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Bai Yuchen looked at the two of them. The Grand Empress Dowager did not speak; she kept her head down, incessantly stirring the tea leaves in her cup with the lid. It was only after a long silence that she spoke slowly.

"This teacup and its lid must never be mismatched. One must not underestimate this lid; even if they look identical, there will still be a gap when placed together. A cup and its original lid are always best together. Wouldn't you agree, Ruyu?"

Yan Ruyu froze. She understood in her heart that the Grand Empress Dowager was using the teacup and lid as a warning: Bai Yuchen and Xiahou Shangle were the original matched pair, and no matter how much favor she enjoyed, she was merely a concubine!

"The Grand Empress Dowager is right. This teacup and lid truly cannot be mismatched!"

As she spoke, an awkward smile appeared on her face. Originally, Yan Ruyu had hoped Bai Yuchen would sit with her, but now that the Grand Empress Dowager had said such a thing, she estimated the Emperor would no longer sit by her side.

"Grandmother, that isn't quite right. Sometimes, a teacup and its lid don't necessarily have to fit perfectly. A slight gap helps the tea cool down faster, making it more comfortable to drink!"

Bai Yuchen sat down beside Yan Ruyu and took her hand under the table. A charming smile appeared on his face. Upon meeting his gaze, Yan Ruyu's face flushed red, and she lowered her head bashfully.

In truth, she and Bai Yuchen were not very close. Although her father had previously mentioned sending her into the palace to be a concubine, he had never given his consent. She never expected that on the third day after Bai Yuchen was crowned Emperor, an imperial decree would descend, allowing her to enter the palace as a concubine.

It wasn't that Yan Ruyu was unmoved; any woman would find it impossible to refuse an emperor who ruled the world, especially when that emperor was a young, capable, and incomparably handsome man.

She had fallen for him from the very first moment she saw him. Even though she knew he did not love her as much as he appeared to, as long as she could see his gentle and doting smile, Yan Ruyu would not hesitate to pay any price!

"Chen'er..."

"Grandmother, Le'er can sit with you!"

Xiahou Shangle sat beside the Grand Empress Dowager, a light smile on her exquisite face. She merely cast a fleeting glance at Bai Yuchen and the bashful Yan Ruyu before never looking at them again.

"Le'er is indeed the one who understands my heart best!"

The Grand Empress Dowager took Xiahou Shangle's hand and patted it gently. Bai Yuchen's other hand gripped the armrest tightly, an indescribable look flashing through his eyes before vanishing in an instant. He turned and whispered something into Yan Ruyu's ear, causing her face to overflow with a happy smile.

"Grandmother, Xuan'er is late. I hope Grandmother will forgive me!"

Amidst the conversation, a youth of about eighteen years old knelt in the Cining Palace. Xiahou Shangle looked up quietly, and a smile immediately appeared on the Grand Empress Dowager's face.

"Get up quickly. This is merely a family meal among us; what crime could there be?"

Bai Yuxuan rose and, seeing Bai Yuchen, performed another bow.

"This subject greets Imperial Brother!"

"No need for formalities. Sit!"

The Seventh Prince, Bai Yuxuan, had once been his greatest rival for the throne. It was only when he thought Bai Yuxuan was about to ascend that the Grand Empress Dowager produced his father's deathbed edict, allowing him to take the throne smoothly.

Over the years, Bai Yuxuan had remained a major threat to his heart. He knew that Bai Yuxuan still held military power over two hundred thousand troops; should he harbor any rebellious intent, even if he could not take the throne, he could still heavily wound the empire Bai Yuchen had just stabilized.

Fortunately, Bai Yuxuan had always lived in Cangzhou and lacked the fanaticism for the throne he once possessed. But even so, Bai Yuchen could not afford to be careless!

"This must be Princess Yuefeng of the Mu Dynasty. This subject offers his respects!"

The Seventh Prince, Bai Yuxuan, held the title of Yi, and was thus known as Prince Yi. Upon seeing Xiahou Shangle, he bowed.

"Seventh Brother is too polite!"

Xiahou Shangle gave a light laugh and spoke softly. Bai Yuchen merely let out a cold snort, and Yan Ruyu's expression also soured. Although she was not the Empress, she was a Noble Consort; yet, in this harem, aside from the Empress, Bai Yuxuan treated her as if she were invisible. This made the ever-proud Yan Ruyu feel quite displeased!

"Moyuan, tell the Imperial Kitchen to serve the dishes!"

Moyuan acknowledged the command and withdrew. A moment later, Moyuan returned with palace maids to begin serving the dishes continuously. Under the lead of the Grand Empress Dowager, this family gathering, masquerading as a banquet, officially began.

"Yu'er, come try a drunken phoenix claw; it is a specialty of the imperial chefs!"

"Your Majesty, I cannot hold my liquor well. If I were to get drunk..."

"If Yu'er gets drunk, I shall carry you back!"

Xiahou Shangle remained completely unmoved by the saccharine display between Bai Yuchen and Yan Ruyu, merely picking up some vegetables and eating slowly. Watching the three of them, Bai Yuxuan understood instantly: the Empress was not favored; the one favored was Yan Ruyu, the daughter of the Yan family!

However, watching Bai Yuchen's affection and attentiveness, Bai Yuxuan felt it did not stem from the heart; the affectation was far too obvious. He did not call it out, merely lowering his head to drink his wine with a smile.

Even though no one spoke up, and even though Bai Yuchen and Yan Ruyu continued their display of affection, someone eventually could not stand it. The Grand Empress Dowager slammed her golden chopsticks onto the table with force.

"Go back!"

Yan Ruyu's hand jerked, and her chopsticks fell to the floor, her face filled with terror. Bai Yuchen curled his lips into a smile.

"Grandmother, why must you be angry? If you cannot stand seeing your grandson and Yu'er, then we shall simply leave!"

Reaching out to stop Yan Ruyu, Bai Yuchen stood up to leave, casting a deep look at Xiahou Shangle. She was still sitting there quietly, completely unmoved by his and Yan Ruyu's actions.

Was he truly so contemptible in her heart that she wouldn't even bother to show anger toward him?

This thought made Bai Yuchen even angrier. He walked straight toward Xiahou Shangle with his arm around Yan Ruyu and suddenly reached out to grab her chin.

"You are a princess, but you are not the woman I want. See? Yu'er is the one I desire!"

"Your Majesty, you are drunk!"

Xiahou Shangle calmly brushed Bai Yuchen's hand away. Looking at the gloating Yan Ruyu, she merely let out a cold laugh.

"Noble Consort Yu, the Emperor is drunk. Will you not assist him to rest?"

Bai Yuchen let out several loud, cold laughs and left the Cining Palace with Yan Ruyu in his arms. The Grand Empress Dowager's face turned pale with rage, her lips trembling. It took a long time before she could speak.

"Excessive! Excessive, truly too excessive!"

"Grandmother, please do not be angry. The Emperor is merely drunk and speaking nonsense; Le'er will not take it to heart!"

The Grand Empress Dowager took Xiahou Shangle's hand and let out a long sigh.

"It is truly unfair to you. This Chen'er truly becomes more senseless as he grows older!"