allonlinenovel Chapter 375 A Step-by-Step Thrill (9)
Chapter 375 A Step-by-Step Thrill (9)
But this also made everyone in the hall break out in a cold sweat, because one was an old man, while the other was a young man in his prime.
However, the young man's imposing presence actually suppressed Kangxi's, which was quite alarming.
Those inside the hall were already wondering if they would have a chance to give their last words. Having seen the emperor in such a disheveled state, they feared they were all doomed.
After a long pause, Kangxi's expression darkened, and he withdrew his imperial aura. "Truly, heroes emerge from among the young!"
"You flatter me!" Xi Xuan said without any politeness.
Not wanting to cause himself any trouble, Emperor Kangxi said some polite words and then went to the banquet with everyone.
The crowd erupted in another round of cheers for the Emperor, but the brother and sister standing in the middle drew particular attention. Kangxi felt a pang of anxiety and looked at Wangyou.
It was assumed that the siblings should respect Xi Xuan, but the woman standing beside Xi Xuan was in no way inferior. Moreover, judging from her expression, it was clear that Xi Xuan was the one who yielded to his sister in everything.
Kangxi was no longer interested in watching. The Xie family really were a force to be reckoned with when they finally appeared!
Emperor Kangxi beckoned everyone to stand up, and then said, "Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, so everyone should relax and enjoy themselves."
However, it was obvious that no one was taking those words seriously except for Wangyou, Xixuan, and Ruoxi. Ruoxi was standing far away, so no one heard her soft chuckle. Moreover, seeing everyone's serious expressions, Ruoxi quickly lowered her head.
The weather in August was already a bit chilly, and the food served was inedible. No wonder the group of people kept drinking, only occasionally eating some fruit from the table.
But I don't even want to talk about the fruit on the table; it was just there to appease people. The only edible things at the whole banquet were probably the pastries and a few crabs.
"Sister, would you like some crab?"
"Have something to eat. I swear, I'll never attend this kind of awful banquet again. It's pure torture!" Wangyou took a piece of pastry and ate it bit by bit.
Xi Xuan had someone fetch water to wash his hands before he started peeling crabs for Wangyou. All the peeled crab meat went into Wangyou's stomach. Occasionally, when she thought of her younger brother, Wangyou would also give him a bite.
This greatly surprised the people who were secretly observing the two. Peeling crabs for a woman in public was unheard of. Although some people might occasionally do this at home to please their wives, it was absolutely impossible to do it in public.
"Young Master Xie, Wangyou, let me offer you a drink!" The simple-minded Tenth Prince ran over and said.
"Thank you, Tenth Prince. I'll drink this wine on behalf of my sister." Xi Xuan knew this man was simple-minded, but letting his sister drink was absolutely out of the question.
"I'm so sorry, I forgot that Wangyou can't drink alcohol. I'll punish myself with a cup." The Tenth Prince suddenly remembered this and apologized repeatedly.
"It's alright."
After the toast, the Tenth Prince left quickly. Wangyou, bored, watched the song and dance performance, which was passable but not bad.
Then, Wangyou and Ruoxi got together and started discussing which dancer was prettier.
"If this were in modern times, each of them would be a dance master on their own. It really is a matter of timing and fate!" Ruoxi whispered to Wangyou.
"What do you think if I spent a lot of money to poach them to work for the Embroidered Uniform Pavilion?" Wangyou suddenly had a whimsical idea.
"Forget Worries, that's a bit difficult. These dancers are carefully trained by the Imperial Household Department."
"Then forget it. Recruiting people from the common people isn't out of the question." Wangyou immediately abandoned the idea after thinking about having to deal with the emperor.
"By the way, Ruoxi, try to avoid being selected in the future. This palace is not a place for humans."
"what happened?"
Do you know why so many children in the palace die young?
"why?"
"Because a lot of harmful substances were applied when the palace walls were built, these substances make it difficult for women to conceive, and the mortality rate of children born from such substances also increases. Most importantly, the Forbidden City is full of resentment. Countless women have died here. Staying here for a long time will drive anyone crazy or depressed," Wangyou said sincerely.
"I'm going to participate in the talent show, but I don't know if I'll be eliminated." Ruoxi said, somewhat disappointed.
"If you don't want to enter the palace, I can find a way to make you fail the selection, don't worry."
"Really? Sister Wangyou, thank you!" Ruoxi was overjoyed to hear Wangyou's words.
Who would willingly choose to be a caged sparrow when they could be a free bird outside the palace?
The singing and dancing gradually stopped, and Wangyou and Ruoxi had almost finished their snacks.
"Your Majesty, look at the Tenth Prince, it's about time he got married."
"Yes."
"Your Majesty, in my opinion, Princess Mingyu from the Guo Luoluo family is quite good."
“The daughter of the Guoluo family is a good match for the Tenth Prince,” Kangxi said, and then called the Tenth Prince up.
When the Tenth Prince heard that he was to marry a princess, and that the princess would be Mingyu, he looked as if the sky had fallen.
"Father, I am still young and do not want to get married so early," the Tenth Prince said anxiously.
"He's tall and strong, is he still a child?!"
"Your Majesty...Father, may I first establish a secondary consort?"
"Is it too much of a disservice for you to have a princess from the Guoluo family as your wife?"
"That won't do either. She almost killed someone. I don't want someone who could kill me at any moment as my wife!" The Tenth Prince blurted out in his anxiety.
Kangxi fell silent, his fierce eyes fixed on the Tenth Prince, who immediately knelt on the ground with a thud, for Kangxi's gaze was truly terrifying.
Emperor Kangxi could not possibly be unaware of what was happening outside the palace. The marriage decree he bestowed today must have been prepared long ago. However, his own son's public defiance of him and the revelation of the truth were tantamount to a severe slap in the face to the Guo Luoluo family.
Thinking of the culprit who caused all this, Kangxi glared fiercely at Ruoxi, only to meet a pair of smiling eyes. Overwhelmed by her imposing aura, Kangxi was once again defeated.
After suffering two setbacks in a row, Emperor Kangxi was in a bad mood.
Distracted like this, Emperor Kangxi could not proceed with the marriage decree. Princess Mingyu was so ashamed and indignant that she wanted to die. Originally, the parties involved did not care about this matter, but Emperor Kangxi insisted on decreeing the marriage, and the person he was decreed to marry was the Tenth Prince, a hothead. This hothead did not like Mingyu, and in the heat of the moment, he naturally blurted it out.
Since things are already in chaos, Wangyou doesn't mind adding fuel to the fire.
"Your Majesty, may I ask for a favor?" Wangyou stood up and said with a smile.
"What is it?" The atmosphere was heavy, but Wangyou broke the silence and gave Kangxi a way out.
"My younger sister, Ma'ertai Ruoxi, won't be participating in next year's talent show." Wangyou's words weren't meant to defuse the situation; they were more like adding fuel to the fire.
"The selection of Manchu children for imperial concubine selection is a rule established by our ancestors," Kangxi said, suppressing his anger.
“Rules are rigid, but people are flexible. Besides, you’re already quite old. You certainly wouldn’t choose young and pretty girls to let them wither away in vain, would you? That would be a terrible thing.” Wangyou’s little mouth kept going, and then another group of people knelt down on the ground.
"presumptuous!"