Chapter 91

Chapter 91: Kill Him (3)

As soon as these words were spoken, all eyes immediately focused on Lan Ze. In their minds, Lan Ze, who was once a lowly prince and now just a regent of a vassal state, could not erase the fact that he was once as lowly as a palace slave. Seeing Lan Ze today, many couldn't resist the urge to belittle and humiliate him, and no one opposed these sentiments.

Leng Jiu glanced at the minister and slowly put down her wine glass, but she didn't speak. Today's Lan Ze didn't need her protection.

Lan Ze remained unfazed by the man’s words, his expression unchanged. He was about to speak when Princess Lan Xiang suddenly stood up. Leng Jiu clearly saw the coldness and anger in her eyes, which she quickly suppressed with a graceful smile, "Although Lan Xiang's skills on the zither are not as good as my brother's, I wish to play a piece on his behalf to entertain everyone. May the Emperor grant his permission?"

Emperor Long Yi was not bothered by Lan Xiang’s intervention. A beauty's request naturally wouldn't be denied, "I have long heard of Princess Lan Xiang’s talents. Today, I am eager to witness them myself!"

Princess Lan Xiang lowered her gaze, "Lan Xiang shall humbly perform."

As the dancers retreated like a receding tide, leaving the center clear, a seven-stringed zither was placed there. Lan Xiang walked gracefully to it, sat down elegantly, and raised her hands. Her slender, jade-like fingers and pale wrists adorned with bracelets shone translucently, captivating some of the onlookers.

Her fingers gently plucked the strings, and the sound of the zither floated out, ethereal and smooth. Her skills were commendable, the piece played flawlessly without any signs of rustiness. But... Leng Jiu squinted slightly, thinking the piece seemed a bit somber. Her gaze shifted to Lan Ze, noticing a hint of helplessness in his eyes as he watched Lan Xiang.

As the piece concluded, Lan Xiang rose gracefully, "Lan Xiang's skills are modest. I hope the Emperor will not find them wanting."

Emperor Long Yi, far from finding fault, applauded and looked at her with admiration, "Princess Lan Xiang's skills are on par with the Regent. How can you speak of them being modest?"

He clapped and looked at the wine in front of him, smiling, "Eunuch Qu! Bring the wine!"

Eunuch Qu immediately brought a cup of wine and approached Princess Lan Xiang.

Lan Xiang looked at Emperor Long Yi, took the cup, and everyone watched intently, curious to see how she would drink. Would she lift her veil? Lan Xiang knew their curiosity. She raised her sleeve to cover her face, and when she lowered her hand, the cup was empty, but her veil remained firmly in place. She returned the cup to the tray, "Thank you for the Emperor’s fine wine."

The inability to see the beauty's true face left some feeling regretful, but there was nothing they could do.

The banquet continued, with Emperor Long Yi occasionally chatting with Lan Ze and asking about interesting things in the Snow Country. Hua Yuxuan also occasionally spoke to Lan Xiang. Below, the ministers mingled harmoniously, cups and chopsticks clinking.

Leng Jiu sat on the high platform, silent, quietly drinking and eating, as if everything around her was unrelated to her. Indeed, it was unrelated. Her gaze swept over the crowd, noticing Long Yue Li Mei enjoying her drinks with a mischievous smile, seemingly lost in thought.

Leng Jiu looked towards Gong Yu, noticing he was also watching her. His eyes held suppressed longing and complexity. She smiled slightly, gestured towards the outside, and then rose to leave.

Gong Yu Wei was initially startled by Leng Jiu's gesture, then slightly excited, his face flushing. Although he had accepted that Xiao Jiu was the Empress Dowager, the idea of a private meeting with her still caused some inner resistance. However, the desire to see her overwhelmed his reluctance, and he quietly rose to leave.

After three rounds of drinks, the banquet was in full swing, with many ministers frequently visiting the restroom. Thus, nobody paid much attention to the departure of the Prime Minister.

Leng Jiu sat down in a small garden not far from the banquet, leaning against a stone pillar. She closed her eyes, letting the breeze dissipate the slight buzz from the wine.

Zi Yu and Du Heng stood guard on either side. It wasn't long before Gong Yu Wei arrived, and after exchanging a glance with each other, they continued their watch.

Gong Yu Wei approached and saw Leng Jiu with her eyes closed. Up close, he realized how breathtakingly beautiful she was, beyond what words could describe. Her serene, eyes-closed demeanor unexpectedly stirred his heart. He was tempted to touch her fair, beautiful face but ultimately refrained. Just then, Leng Jiu opened her eyes, her captivating gaze fixed directly on him.

"You're here!"

Gong Yu Wei, feeling like a peeping tom caught in the act, quickly averted his gaze, unable to look at her, "Empress Dowager!"

Leng Jiu narrowed her eyes, "That doesn't seem like the right address for you, does it?"

Under Leng Jiu's gaze, Gong Yu Wei corrected himself, "Xiao Jiu!"

Leng Jiu raised her hand to grasp his, pulling him to sit beside her, and leaned her head on his shoulder.

Gong Yu Wei stiffened as she touched his hand, sitting down in a daze. He only snapped back to reality when he felt the weight on his shoulder, feeling tense and awkward, "Xiao Jiu! This isn't proper!"

"What's improper about it?" Leng Jiu held his hand, sounding a bit muffled, "I just had quite a bit of wine. Let me lean on you for a while!"

Gong Yu Wei wanted to move away, but hearing her slightly weary voice, his heart softened. The feeling of her gentle palm wrapped around his hand, their skin touching, made his heart race, and he found himself unwilling to let go.

Time seemed to stand still in that moment, an indescribable mix of bliss and torment.

Not far from the banquet, the occasional glimpse of maidservants passing by in the corridor was visible. Gong Yu Wei was tense all over, fearing that being seen with Xiao Jiu could ruin her reputation. But as if to prove the adage 'what you fear most will come upon you,' a drunken minister staggered toward them. Gong Yu Wei was so startled that he jerked back, causing both of them to fall. Fortunately, they landed on the soft grass, avoiding injury.

After their fall, the minister staggered away, changing his course back towards the banquet. Gong Yu Wei let out a huge sigh of relief. Coming back to his senses, he found Leng Jiu lying on his chest, her eyes shining brightly in the dark night as she looked at him.

Gong Yu Wei, unaccustomed to such closeness, gently pushed Leng Jiu, "Xiao Jiu, could you please get up?"

Leng Jiu, noticing Gong Yu Wei’s blush that not even the darkness could hide, couldn’t help but feel delighted. She teased him, "Big Brother, you make me want to bite you!"

Gong Yu Wei froze, at a loss for words. Leng Jiu leaned in and did bite him, not on the cheek, but on his lips!

Boom! Gong Yu Wei felt as if something exploded near his ear, leaving him in utter disarray, unable to react. The unique fragrance of Leng Jiu filled his nostrils, causing his heart to beat faster with every breath, until he was almost breathless!