Chapter 36: The Queen Arrives

  Above the heights, the Moon Emperor gazed at the Blood King who was approaching with large strides, his heart racing. For twenty whole years, he had not seen him once, yet he knew how much he missed him, but couldn't see him.

  The words I wanted to say were stuck in my throat, and a thousand words didn't know where to start. In the end, it turned into a wry smile hidden between my lips. When the sound came out, it became a lukewarm courtesy, "Since the Blood King has arrived, the welcoming banquet will begin."

  Under the mask, no one can decipher Baili Chunyuan's expression, only to see his eyes clear and pure, like a child who is not familiar with the world. His rose-colored lips have an enticing shallow smile, and his beautifully lined chin makes people imagine him fluttering, wanting to take off his mask without hesitation, to catch a glimpse of his heavenly appearance.

  "I, your son, have seen the Emperor, wishing the Emperor good health and our country prosperity." Baili Chunxuan bowed his head slightly, nodded slightly, and paid respects. His voice was like a stroke of the zither strings, playing a beautiful melody that captivated people's hearts.

  Shen Qing and Qin Jin knelt beside Baili Chenyuan, performing the grand ceremony of the Moon Emperor. Their knees only kneeled to the Blood King, but now that the situation was still uncertain, they couldn't afford to be presumptuous.

  "Heh heh, relax, today is the Blood King's welcoming banquet, all of you can be more at ease." The Moon Emperor hid his own thoughts, but his gaze couldn't completely move away from Baili Chenxiang. He didn't know why he and Ning'er's child had to wear a mask when meeting him, he just wanted to know if their child looked like his Ning'er. Looking at Baili Chenxiang's chin was just like seeing his Ning'er.

  "Thanks, Father Emperor." Under the jade mask, Baili Chenyuan's eyebrows furrowed slightly. A person who had abandoned his father looked at him with such eyes, didn't he feel disgusted?

  The people in the palace, he didn't like any of them, they all had to pay a terrible price for his mother's death.

  Tall and straight, Baili Qingyun led Shen Qing and Qin Jin to the prepared seats. As for the four brothers he had never met before, he only gave a slight smile, very calm and composed.

  The Empress Dowager Xiao tightly pinched her own thigh, she knew that the Emperor's heart was reluctant to part with the Blood King, and that he had only sent him away back then in order to preserve his life.

  Such eyes, how could they be looking at a child they detest?

  She had not finished speaking when she was interrupted by the emperor's calm voice. The moon emperor waved his sleeve with a pair of dragons fighting for pearls and said, "Lin Ai Qie, I remember that your daughter is good at dancing, let her come out and dance to celebrate."

  Twenty years have passed, and Ning Er's children are already of marriageable age. If the Blood King finds someone he likes today, the Moon Emperor will stop at nothing to make this marriage happen.

  "Yes, Your Majesty." The Minister of the Ministry of Revenue stepped forward a few steps, bowing his body and saying with a frightened tone, why did he have a bad premonition, as if something was going to happen.

  They say the emperor's will is hard to predict. If it were another prince's banquet, he would be eager for his daughter to make a good impression. But thinking of the Blood King, it's no wonder he's worried. What if the Emperor suddenly decides to marry off his daughter to the Blood King? His carefully nurtured daughter would be ruined, and so would his own career.

  Lin Pei Huan wore a pink dress, took small steps from her seat, followed the little palace maid to change into dance clothes, and was very pleased in her heart. If she could make the Shadow King take a liking to her, that would be like flying up to the branch to become a phoenix.

  "Miss, aren't we late? If...if...if..." Hua'er grasped her hair and bit her lip, hesitating. The young master had reminded Miss to enter the palace early, and looking at the weather outside the carriage, the banquet had already begun. What if they were punished by the Emperor?

  "Hua'er, don't you think making a dramatic entrance is interesting?" Cold Zifei slightly raised an eyebrow, pursed her lips, and with her pale as scallion-like jade hand, played with an exquisite dagger. The fine sunlight filtering through the car curtains reflected off the dagger, flashing a dazzling cold light.

  Hua'er stopped what she was doing, staring intently at Leng Ziyue. After a moment, she lowered her head again. No matter what Leng Ziyue did, Hua'er would follow closely behind her, never leaving her side.

  "Miss, Huah will never leave you." She could feel that Miss was different from before, but she just liked the current Miss who was like a queen. Just looking at her made her feel safe.

  Leng Xueyu's expression didn't change, the carriage stopped at the palace gate, after paying, she led Hua'er to walk towards the guard wearing silver armor.

  This imperial banquet was nothing but a trap for her. Whether she arrived early or late, they would wait for her, and perhaps even want to get rid of her quickly.

  "Your Majesty, I think the sword dance of Chen Jiaojiao, the daughter of the Minister of War, is quite good. She should be rewarded." The Empress Dowager smiled and looked at the Moon Emperor beside her.

  So many years have passed, if that thing hadn't happened, her son would still be obedient to her, it's just that now it's too late to say anything.

  "Lord Liu, reward." The Moon Emperor waved his hand and said loudly.

  "Thank you, Your Majesty." Chen Jiaojiao was overwhelmed with favor and bowed her head softly to express her gratitude.

  "Your Majesty, I've just returned to the capital and as soon as I entered the palace, I heard that the fourth daughter of the Zhong Jun Hou's family plays the zither exceptionally well. May I request her to play a piece for everyone?" He was an old minister who had served two dynasties and was also a trusted confidant of the Empress Dowager. Yuan Lang would only speak up if he had received instructions to do so.

  As soon as this was said, all the officials looked at Zhong Jun Hou Leng Zheng together, and couldn't help but think of the last palace feast, where Leng Ziyue's song "Ten-Faced Ambush" had almost scared them to death.

  "Leng Ai Qing..." Moon Emperor glanced at Yuan Lang with a subtle expression, and as soon as he opened his mouth, he got a response.

  All I heard was that delicate and gentle female voice, like a clear spring in the mountains, carrying a refreshing air, making the listener feel extremely comfortable.

  "Sorry, I'm late." Without seeing her, only hearing her voice, one couldn't help but imagine her stunning appearance, with a gentle and elegant gait, she slowly approached.

  That fiery red dress set off her creamy skin, making it even more tender and snowy white. The beautiful lines of her neck were incredibly sexy, with the collarbone slightly exposed. Her face, which seemed to be smiling but not quite, had a hint of detachment and aloofness, making one feel distant and elusive, yet all the more wanting to get close.

  The fiery red skirt had golden silk threads that outlined clusters of hellish flowers like blood, with a high waist and a wide hem that trailed on the ground, emitting a subtle fragrance. The ice blue crystal hairpin seemed to be flashing with dazzling brilliance, exuding an air of mystery.

  The Moon Emperor looked at the cold and detached person, listening to her words, saying sorry, but he didn't see any sign of apology from her, as if she was late, it was a matter of course.

  Her bright and colorful eyes were clear and spirited, Cold Xue stood outside the Hui Xiang Pavilion with her hands behind her back, scanning over the Empress Dowager's face that was suppressing anger, and smiled lightly.

  Her arrival means a formal falling out with the Empress Dowager, and it's no longer important to avoid offending her.

  "How dare you! You see the Emperor and don't even pay your respects. How did you teach your daughter, Zhenbei?" The Empress Dowager slapped her hand on the table, enraged.

  Kneeling down on the ground with a chill, lowering his head, stretching out his hand to pull Qing Ziyue down, who would have thought...

  "You say bow and you'll bow, isn't that very humiliating? Hmm." The gentle and delicate voice suddenly turned cold and clear, like the icy winter month, the fiery red skirt fluttered lightly in the wind, and Cold Ziyue's eyes swept over the Empress Dowager with a chilly smile.

  That gaze that looks down on the world with an arrogant and domineering expression, slightly reckless and overbearing, with a hint of evil charm and unyielding spirit, accompanied by a few words of playful teasing, is so irresistible and nobly inviolable.

  She is like a queen high above, every word and deed, making people unconsciously want to follow.