Chapter 473: Chapter 473: Countering Mu Yan
Cui Ying panicked, “Princess, I was wrong. Please don’t kill me. I’m telling the truth!”
Zhan Lan nodded, “Hmm, Lady Cui is so obedient. How could I bear to let you die!”
Cui Ying’s face turned pale as she knelt at Zhan Lan’s feet, begging desperately, “Princess, I was wrong!”
Zhan Lan curled a smile and gently patted Cui Ying’s cheek, “Don’t be afraid. It’s just a slow-acting poison. If you keep your mouth shut, naturally I will give you the antidote.”
Upon hearing the word poison, Cui Ying collapsed to the ground.
Suddenly, Zhan Lan noticed someone eavesdropping outside the door. She sat on the chair and said softly, “Stop crying, take off your clothes and make some noise. Make it seem that I’m quite remarkable so that everyone next door can hear!”
Faced with such shameless demands from Zhan Lan, Cui Ying rose from the ground with tears and walked to the bed to start shaking it.
Zhan Lan watched her performance with an amused smile.
“Lady Cui, do you always greet guests with this dead face?” Zhan Lan frowned at her.
Cui Ying knew Zhan Lan was humiliating her. She wiped her tears off her face and uttered a sound of shame.
The brothel owner, hearing the commotion outside the door, left satisfied—it’s rare to find a new money maker; gotta keep her around!
Zhan Lan gazed at Cui Ying with a malicious pleasure but had no time to play anymore. Seeing the person outside leave, she donned her hat and walked swiftly out the door.
The eavesdropping brothel owner saw the young master leave the room within ten minutes, rushed over flatteringly, and said with a smile, “Oh, young master, not having enough fun? Leaving so soon?”
Zhan Lan waved her hand and lowered her voice, leaving four words, “Terrible skills.”
The brothel owner’s face turned livid, she quickly walked to Cui Ying’s room and kicked the door open with a bang.
Seeing Cui Ying disheveled, as if severely humiliated, lying on the bed crying.
The brothel owner angrily said, “You little wench, how did you handle the customer? Such a big money tree, you angered away. You deserve a beating!”
She took a hairpin and stabbed towards Cui Ying’s waist, Cui Ying screamed miserably and said in fear, “I won’t dare anymore!”
In anger, the brothel owner left a sentence, “No supper tonight!”
After the brothel owner left, Cui Ying lay on the bed crying uncontrollably. She hated Zhan Lan deeply but was powerless before her, she could only resign to her fate.
…
After being beaten at Jiao Fangsi, Si Yao was brought back to the hostel by her confidant, who invited a doctor for her.
She sat in front of the bronze mirror, seeing her cheek bruised, her body covered with bruises of various colors.
Si Yao angrily hammered the nanmu table and gritted her teeth, “Ye Xiuhan! Zhan Lan! You will die a horrible death!”
She initially went to catch them in the act but ended up being “caught” by others.
It must be Ye Xiuhan and Zhan Lan conspiring against her!
“Madam, please don’t be angry, drink this herbal medicine!” Xiao Lian, the maid, brought the freshly brewed medicine.
“Get out!” Si Yao said expressionlessly.
After Xiao Lian left humbly, Si Yao called her traveling confidant again.
“In two days, I will be leaving. You send this letter to Marquis Lin Yuan.”
“Yes, Madam.” The confidant carefully hid the letter and quietly left the hostel.
…
As the envoys were about to depart, Emperor Qingwu hosted a farewell banquet in the palace.
The envoys from Western Rong did not appear; the banquet was attended only by Beiyue and Eastern Wei envoys.
Emperor Qingwu returned appropriate gifts to Beiyue and Eastern Wei and secretly sent the same gifts to the envoys from Western Rong.
After the banquet dispersed, Si Yuzhang respectfully said to Emperor Qingwu, “Your Majesty, since Princess Si Yao rarely returns, would it be possible to host a family banquet for her as a farewell?”
Emperor Qingwu was very pleased with Si Yuzhang’s reverence, especially with his humble demeanor.
His eyes darkened, considering a thought, if he wanted to balance Mu Yan, he might use this Imperial Uncle.
He came up with an idea; tonight at the family banquet, he would bestow favors upon Marquis Lin Yuan, granting him the title of king!
Given that Si Yuzhang could not have children, he would be easy to control.
Maybe Si Yuzhang, grateful for the favor, might help him to restrain Mu Yan—why not?
Emperor Qingwu smiled and said, “Princess Si Yao rarely returns, who knows when we will meet again. Alright, I will consent to Imperial Uncle’s plan, and let Imperial Uncle handle everything.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!” Si Yuzhang bowed.
The royal family banquet was of high standard, set on the royal yacht within the palace.
Zhan Lan, Mu Yan, Prince Xian and his wife, Prince Qi, and Si Yuzhang arrived; Si Yao, as the main guest, attended with a veil.
On the majestic yacht, the songstresses danced gracefully with their soft bodies.
Si Yun, looking at the dishes on each table, raised his wine glass and said, “Tonight, I’m hosting this family banquet. First, to bid farewell to the Princess, and secondly, I have an announcement to make.”
Si Yun’s gaze fell on Mu Yan as he smiled, “My two Imperial Uncles are my left and right arms, but the Regent King is overworked. I have decided to confer the title Prince Huai upon Imperial Uncle Si Yuzhang to share the Regent King’s burdens!”
Si Yuzhang’s eyes brightened instantly, realizing Emperor Qingwu wanted to use him to balance Mu Yan.
“Your Majesty’s grace is immensely generous!” Si Yuzhang praised Emperor Qingwu.
Si Yuzhang was overjoyed inside but dared not celebrate too early before seeing the imperial edict.
Mu Yan smiled without saying anything.
Zhan Lan’s hair was tousled by the wind from the lake as she looked at the table full of delicacies, thinking of the feast’s underlying intentions—everyone truly harbored their own motives.
Prince Xian glanced at Si Yuzhang; it seemed the future court would be more intriguing, but could Si Yuzhang compete with Mu Yan?
Prince Qi lowered his gaze to drink, seemingly unsurprised by Emperor Qingwu’s decision.
Emperor Qingwu looked at Si Yao’s veiled face and asked, “What happened to your face? Why are you wearing a veil?”
Si Yao managed a bitter smile and replied, “Your Majesty, I accidentally fell and bruised my face; I fear it would offend your majesty’s visage.”
Emperor Qingwu intended to announce Si Yuzhang’s appointment under the pretext of Princess Si Yao’s farewell.
So he merely offered symbolic comfort, “You must be more careful, do not injure your phoenix body. I shall send an Imperial Physician to examine you.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Si Yao bowed her head.
“General Ye will have the task of escorting back journey,” Emperor Qingwu said, looking towards Ye Xiuhan seated not far from Si Yao.
Ye Xiuhan nodded lightly.
Mu Yan glanced at Ye Xiuhan; since it was a family banquet, why did Si Yun invite Ye Xiuhan? There must be a catch.
Si Yun did not initially invite Ye Xiuhan, but Si Yuzhang mentioned that as the Beiyue Empress, the Beiyue General had the duty to protect her.
In case anything dangerous happened in Nanjin, it wouldn’t be their responsibility.
In the end, this so-called family banquet was merely a false social obligation, so Si Yun agreed.