Shen Qingfeng had never experienced such things before.
In his previous life, after causing a ruckus in the Shanhe Hall, Shen Qingfeng's health had deteriorated. Coupled with his mental exhaustion, he had been bedridden at home. It wasn't until Xia Chuli personally went to the Shen Mansion to pick him up and take him back to the Eastern Palace.
It was the same venue and the same attendees as now, but the difference was that his seat had changed.
On the New Year's Eve of the seventeenth year of the Qingfeng era in his previous life, he had walked into the Shanhe Hall shoulder - to - shoulder with Xia Chuli. At that time, being young and impulsive, he had only wanted to prove his love for Xia Chuli through his actions in front of all the civil and military officials and even the feudal lords. He had also made it clear that he would marry no one but Xia Chuli. He wanted the whole world to know about this, especially King Jie of Li Xia, so that they would know how deeply he loved the king's son. At that time, he had cared about nothing. He could ignore the ridicule of the world, turn a blind eye to the extremely disappointed looks of Shen Shiqiu and Shen Yu, and even trample his own moral character and righteousness, which had been praised by the world, into pieces... He could do anything as long as Xia Chuli still stood by his side.
However, in his previous life, King Jie had not deliberately arranged his seat next to Lu Yan's as he did in this life.
...Why?
Shen Qingfeng knelt on the ground with the others present and saluted King Jie. In Li Xia, the etiquette for saluting the royal family was extremely strict. Regardless of whether you were an official, a feudal lord, or a prince's heir, in formal occasions, everyone had to kneel on the ground. The arms should be placed on the ground in front of the knees, and then bend the body with the face almost touching one's own hands.
From this angle, Shen Qingfeng could only see the lower hem of King Jie's robe swaying back and forth as he walked not far away.
Shen Qingfeng frowned slightly.
Something seemed to be different from his previous life.
In this life, he had not continued to refuse the marriage, and his father had not used his power to coerce him. He had interacted with Lu Yan before the wedding and had not returned to the Eastern Palace with Xia Chuli.
Then, at the banquet, his seat was precisely between Lu Yan and Xia Chuli.
Someone couldn't hold back anymore.
Shen Qingfeng stared intently at the corner of King Jie's robe. He saw King Jie walking steadily from afar. Shen Qingfeng could clearly feel the imposing aura emanating from King Jie, the kingly aura formed over the years of being in a high position.
King Jie was getting closer.
Shen Qingfeng buried his head, waiting for King Jie to pass by him steadily. However, to his surprise, the hem of the robe in front of him suddenly stopped, and King Jie actually stopped in front of him!
Shen Qingfeng shuddered all over. Immediately, the imposing aura around him became even stronger. Cold sweat suddenly burst out from his pores, soaking his entire back.
In his previous life, Shen Qingfeng had known that King Jie was not a kind person. Since he ascended the throne, countless people had died in the bloody storms he had stirred up. It was no wonder his name contained the character "Jie" (which implies tyranny).
Shen Qingfeng could clearly feel two sharp gazes from King Jie wandering over his body, as if sizing him up. Then, the king lifted his leg again and continued walking forward as if nothing had happened.
The whole process lasted for only a moment, but Shen Qingfeng felt as if he had been fished out of the water, with his entire back soaked in cold sweat.
The king walked up to the dragon throne, waved his robe, and sat down steadily.
"All ministers, rise." King Jie's voice was deep and powerful. Although his voice was calm, it still carried an imposing aura that commanded respect.
"Long live King Jie! Long live! Long live!" Everyone stood up one after another. It seemed that the others had not noticed King Jie's momentary pause. After all, the pause was too short. If it hadn't been for Shen Qingfeng's constant observation of him and King Jie's deliberate stare at Shen Qingfeng, even Shen Qingfeng himself might not have noticed.
Shen Qingfeng saluted with the others. He bowed, took his seat, and drank the wine to start the banquet... He felt as if there were needles pricking his back all the time.
He was only an arm's length away from Lu Yan. On the other side, at another table, sat Xia Chuli with an uneasy look on his face.
Regarding such a delicate seating arrangement, Shen Qingfeng couldn't think of any other explanation except for one reason.
Suppress the Shen family, discard the Lu family, and depose Xia Chuli. This was what King Jie had in mind. So, whether in his previous life or this life, King Jie would make this move, watching them fight each other and then reaping the benefits, getting a so - called "legitimate" reason to suppress and depose.
In his previous life, Shen Qingfeng had fallen into the trap. Before King Jie could add fuel to the fire, he had already given King Jie a handle. In this life, Shen Qingfeng had remained calm, but King Jie had lost his patience.
The more he didn't resist, the more King Jie wanted to provoke him. Because only when he resisted could King Jie's move be considered successful.
So, he deliberately maintained a relationship with Lu Yan and tried his best to be as non - repulsive to Xia Chuli's closeness as he was in his previous life. All he wanted was for King Jie to think that his plan had succeeded. However, after all, Shen Qingfeng had lived a previous life. He had experienced too much. Countless sharp blades had pierced his heart, and his already shattered chest was too difficult to return to its previous innocent and green appearance.
A broken mirror is hard to piece back together, and spilled water is hard to retrieve. He, Shen Qingfeng, couldn't do it.
So, his subtle change had been noticed by King Jie.
Shen Qingfeng's hand holding the cup trembled slightly. His face was pale, and fine cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
At this moment, Shen Qingfeng clearly realized that if he wanted to protect the Shen family, his opponent was not Xia Chuli, who was now powerless and not a threat. The one who wanted the Shen family dead now was King Jie, the king of Li Xia.
When the king wants his subject to die, the subject has to die. Shen Qingfeng looked at the wine cup in his hand. In the trembling clear wine, his face as white as rice paper was reflected.
"Our Li Xia has been founded for more than a hundred years. The weather has been good, and the people have lived in harmony. During my seventeen - year reign, Li Xia has received envoys from all over the world and tributes from various states. I have invited all of you here today in the hope that we can celebrate the eternal prosperity of Li Xia together. On this auspicious day, I might as well arrange some happy events." King Jie's deep voice came from the high platform. Below the golden steps sat all the civil and military officials and feudal lords of the court.
Shen Qingfeng secretly clenched his fist in his sleeve.
In any case, he must deceive King Jie now. Otherwise, if King Jie noticed something was wrong, God knows what would happen.
Shen Qingfeng secretly glanced at Lu Yan sitting beside him. He saw that after hearing King Jie's words, Lu Yan's face was gloomy, his thin lips were tightly pursed, and the curve of his perfect jawbone became stiff because of his clenched back teeth. He frowned and stared blankly at some unknown place in front of him, as if waiting for the final verdict.
Shen Qingfeng felt a pang in his heart.
This was already the second time he had felt heartache because of Lu Yan.
For some reason, his already dry and cracked heart seemed to be reborn. It was always tugged by this person's expression.
Was it heartache?
No.
Shen Qingfeng thought that perhaps it was because he saw a different expression on Lu Yan's face from the one Xia Chuli had when facing him.
In his previous life, he had also been close to Xia Chuli. But he always felt that there was a veil between them. Although it was illusory, it always separated the two of them.
Lu Yan was different.
Passionate, expectant, and compassionate. He was more passionate and direct than Xia Chuli. Every time he looked at him, his eyes were so burning, just like the fire that had burned down the Bian Palace back then, as if it was going to burn his cold body to ashes.
Lu Yan, how on earth should I face you?
Shen Qingfeng slowly lowered his eyes. In his eyes, some strong emotions were slowly brewing.
Lu Yan, I'm sorry.
"As the saying goes, good things come in pairs. Here, I bestow a marriage on Crown Prince Xia Chuli and Qi Mengmeng of the Qi family, and on Marquis Dingbei Lu Yan and Shen Qingfeng of the Shen family. May all of you join hands with me to bring eternal prosperity to Li Xia!"
"Smack!"
The entire Shanhe Hall suddenly fell silent. You could hear a pin drop.
All the civil and military officials were shocked by the sound of the broken cup and didn't even dare to breathe. They all turned their heads to look at Shen Qingfeng sitting not far below the steps.
Shen Qingfeng remained in the position of dropping the cup. His face was pale, and his bright and dark eyes stared quietly at King Jie sitting on the dragon throne. For some reason, he seemed to see a hint of knowing smile on King Jie's gloomy face.