It was the time of Xu (7 - 9 p.m.).
The emperor and the empress made their separate entrances.
All the court officials knelt down to greet them. "Your Majesty, Your Highness the Empress!"
The Emperor of Chu, dressed in bright yellow, smiled and waved his hand. "Be excused!"
His gaze swept over the crowd and briefly lingered on Ning Yuwang and Yan Zhao.
The Emperor of Chu raised his wine cup. "Today is the Empress's birthday. I invite all of you to celebrate with us!"
If one didn't know the Emperor of Chu well, they might really think that he and the Empress of Chu were deeply in love.
The Empress of Chu seemed to have spotted Ning Yuwang, who was unharmed. She took a couple of more glances without showing any emotion.
However, she was shocked and puzzled in her heart. Hadn't the emperor succeeded?
She took a glance at the Emperor of Chu, but his face was calm and gentle, showing no signs of anything unusual.
There was a cold glint in her eyes. She didn't know whether she should be angry or relieved.
No one knew the true thoughts of the emperor and the empress. Yan Zhao and Ning Yuwang didn't even want to try to fathom their malicious intentions.
Yan Zhao lowered his eyes and coughed softly. He didn't raise his cup in response.
To outsiders, they secretly sighed that he was too arrogant.
The Emperor of Chu seemed to have noticed but said nothing.
This was because all of Yan Zhao's "special privileges" had been silently approved by him.
He allowed Yan Zhao to gain a bad reputation, to act willfully, and even to "offend his superiors."
The Emperor of Chu was tolerating and waiting.
He was waiting for enough people to lose their patience with Yan Zhao. By then, he wouldn't have to do it himself.
The Emperor of Chu had a hidden agenda. Who could resist the temptation of what Yan Zhao had?
His gaze lingered on Ning Yuwang's face again, full of desire.
Ning Yuwang was like a gorgeous peony, attracting his greedy eyes.
It was a pity that he hadn't touched her today.
Ning Yuwang frowned. She hated being coveted!
When Chu Heye showed improper intentions, she used her magic to scare him.
But now, her spiritual power was depleted. Although she hated the emperor's gaze, she had to endure it!
She was so angry that she couldn't hold it back!
"Crunch!"
With a slight squeeze of her fingers, the wine cup in Ning Yuwang's hand shattered into pieces.
"Wangwang!"
Yan Zhao carefully wiped the palm of Ning Yuwang's hand, afraid that the broken porcelain might hurt her.
Seeing that her palm was fair and soft without a single scratch, he felt relieved.
His eyelashes fluttered slightly, and he took Ning Yuwang's hand. "Be good. Don't be angry!"
Perhaps the faint fragrance on Yan Zhao's body dispelled Ning Yuwang's anxiety. She held Yan Zhao's hand back and murmured, "I don't want to see him!"
Yan Zhao smiled softly. "Then in the future, my wife can just stay at home pretending to be ill with me."
As they whispered, Song Yiran was helped into the venue by two little palace maids.
Her eyes were red, and she knelt down shyly. "Your Highness the Empress, I wish you boundless happiness."
She usually referred to herself as "a humble maiden," but at this moment, she changed it to "your humble servant."
If she hadn't received the emperor's permission, how could she have been so bold?
Looking at her graceful figure, half leaning on the palace maid, the Empress of Chu immediately saw that she had been favored by the emperor.
Seeing the Emperor of Chu nodding meaningfully, the Empress of Chu smiled. "She's really a charming girl!"
The eunuch He Fulin also announced the imperial edict in time. "Song Yiran, the daughter of Minister Song, is gentle and kind. She is hereby granted the title of Fifth - Rank Lady Liangyi!"
Suddenly, Song Yiran and her father, Minister Song, became the focus of everyone!
Minister Song was originally angry that Song Yiran had disappeared after entering the palace. But after hearing the imperial edict, he immediately knelt down proudly. "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Song Yiran also thanked the emperor coquettishly.
The Emperor of Chu waved at her with a big smile. "Come and sit next to me."
Song Yiran went over excitedly.
She didn't even consider that the emperor only called her and ignored Concubine An, who had always been favored.
Everyone in the palace knew that at banquets, the emperor's side was always occupied by the empress and Concubine An.
Today, Concubine An had been outshone by a mere Lady Liangyi. How could she not be jealous and resentful!
"Slut!"
There was a cold glint in Concubine An's eyes. She had dressed up specially for this birthday banquet of the empress, hoping to outshine everyone.
Unexpectedly, she didn't even get a chance to show off!
Seeing the emperor putting his arm around Song Yiran's slender waist and whispering in her ear, while the latter pretended to fall into the emperor's arms with a giggle.
Concubine An was unhappy. "Your Majesty, I'm not feeling well. I'll take my leave first!"
Without waiting for the emperor's response, she led her servants away in a huff.
In the past, the emperor would have pampered her. But today, with a charming girl in his arms, he naturally had no time to care about her.
"Continue."
The Changxin Palace was only briefly quiet. As the emperor's voice fell, it became lively again.
People were toasting and chatting.
Some people took the opportunity to present treasures. "I present a picture of a thousand - year - old birthday to wish Your Highness the Empress a long and happy life!"
The Empress of Chu was all smiles. She accepted the gift and gave a reward.
After Chu Heye presented his gift, he looked up and saw Yan Zhao and Ning Yuwang showing their affection for each other as if no one else was around.
He took a big gulp of fruit wine and then looked at his cousin An Xingzhi. But the latter hadn't even glanced at him since the banquet started.
He was unhappy and his tone lost some of its usual calmness. "Didn't Yan prepare a gift?"
Since the start of the banquet, Yan Zhao hadn't shown his gift.
Even if he had prepared something, it must be something shabby.
Yan Zhao didn't respond to him. The cold - faced twins behind him said in unison, "The Marquis of De presents a gift for Your Highness the Empress!"
Ever since they entered the palace, A Da and A Er had been holding something in their hands.
Even when there was chaos just now, they never put down what they were holding. It must be something precious!
Everyone was very curious and looked up to see what was covered under the black cloth.
"Yan Zhao is useless. He just lives off his family fortune and can't afford to give Your Highness the Empress a grand gift. He spent all his money on marrying Wangwang, so he doesn't have any extra money. Therefore, he made two lanterns with his own hands!"
Yan Zhao bowed at the right time. "I hope Your Highness the Empress will like them."
As soon as he finished speaking, A Da and A Er lifted the black cloth at the same time. There were a pair of blood - red lanterns!
The Empress of Chu's smile froze slightly. She had just received some news.
She heard that Yan Zhao had killed Concubines Li and Lin in his mansion.
Coincidentally, both of them had been sent to his mansion in her name.
Since the two blood - red lanterns were uncovered, there had been a faint smell of blood in the air.
How were the lanterns made?
She didn't need to think carefully to know.
Everyone present was shocked and didn't dare to say a word!
There was a fool, like Prime Minister He, the grandfather of He Mengchang.
He seemed to have drunk too much fruit wine. His eyes were hazy and drunk. "I've long heard that the Marquis of Yan likes to make human - skin lanterns with his own hands. I didn't expect to see them with my own eyes today! Hahaha!"
He was just joking, thinking that someone would laugh with him.
But no one responded to him.
Even those close to him were constantly hinting at him to shut up. Prime Minister He widened his eyes. "Could these really be a pair of human - skin lanterns!"
Was Yan Zhao really that bold!
Cold sweat broke out on the forehead of the prime minister's wife. She immediately covered his mouth. "Your Highness the Empress, please forgive my husband. He likes to talk nonsense when he's drunk!"
The Empress of Chu took the opportunity to warn. "Prime Minister He should drink less and talk less nonsense in the future!"
"Yes!"
Only then did the prime minister's wife get up and lead Prime Minister He aside to sober up.
At this moment, A Da moved. He took out a fire starter from his pocket and lit the wicks in the two lanterns.
By the light of the fire, one could see that there were beautiful paintings on the sides of the lanterns.
On the left was a picture of Chang'e flying to the moon, and on the right was a picture of a beauty washing in water.
If one didn't understand the meaning, they were indeed a pair of beautiful lanterns!
The Empress of Chu's face looked strange. The faces of the two beauties in the paintings were exactly the same as those of Concubines Li and Lin!
Yan Zhao was afraid that she wouldn't understand!