Rebirth of the Phoenix Princess novel Chapter 897

The banquet was set in the afternoon in the Taiji Palace. Luo Qingyan and Yun Shang entered the Taiji Palace, the Emperor and the Empress hadn't arrived yet. Yun Shang looked around, only to find that many officials in the hall were completely strangers.

Yun Shang's eyes froze for a moment, and she realized that probably after the death of Su Qi, Xia Huanyu, together with Luo Qingyan, had had a cleanup in the court. Since she was not in the court, she didn't have a deep feeling.

As there were a lot of new officials, their family members were also unfamiliar to Yun Shang. She noticed that many of them were secretly looking at her, so she also glanced at those young women at the table. But she found that they were actually looking at Luo Qingyan beside her.

Yun Shang curled up her lips into a smile.

"What are you looking at? Why are you smiling so happily?" Luo Qingyan turned around and saw Yun Shang smiling. He followed her gaze, but saw nothing. So he asked softly.

Hearing this, Yun Shang lowered her eyes slightly with a smile on her face, "Your Highness, you are thirty years old now, but you are still charming. I'm afraid that most of the women in the hall have been attracted by Your Highness though you are just sitting here and doing nothing Since Your Highness is so popular, I'm surely proud as your wife."

Hearing this, Luo Qingyan couldn't help laughing. He raised his hand for a pear, carefully peeled it and handed it to Yun Shang.

Yun Shang raised her eyebrows and took it over. She didn't know what Luo Qingyan meant. While she was guessing, Luo Qingyan said, "You are wrong, my lady. If you keep smiling like this, I'm afraid that there are many men in the hall who secretly covet you. I've just made Liu Yinfeng into my camp. If there are more, I can't stand it. You'd better focus on eating the pear and spare these new officials. Otherwise, they might be suppressed by me without knowing the reason. I'm sure you don't want them to feel that the officialdom is dark because of your husbands."

Hearing this, Yun Shang didn't know whether to cry or to laugh. She raised her eyes and glared at Luo Qingyan, but eating up the pear in her hand quietly.

"His Majesty and Her Majesty are here." Liu Wenan's voice came from outside the hall.

The people in the hall immediately stood up and knelt down. The sound of clothes swaying on the ground could be heard. The people in the hall hurriedly bowed, "Good day, Your Majesties. May good fortune shine on you always."

After a long time, Xia Huanyu's voice came from above. His voice echoed in the quiet Taiji Palace without any emotion. "Arise."

"Thank you, Your Majesties." After expressing their thanks, everyone stood up and sat down in their own seats.

Xia Huanyu's eyes swept over the crowd, and then he quietly withdrew his gaze. After a moment of silence, he raised his voice and said, "Today we gather together to celebrate the talents we selected through the Imperial Examination. It's is just a Palace banquet, not a state banquet. You don't have to be too restrained. Let's start." Hearing this, Liu Wenan raised his head and said loudly, "The banquet begins."

The maids-in-waiting came in one after another, serving all kind of fruits and cakes. After pouring wine for the guests, they stepped aside. As the music played, a group of dancers entered the Hall and danced nimbly.

Looking up at the dancers in the hall, Yun Shang's lips curled up. She had thought that the concubines in the Palace had given up fighting for the Emperor's favor, but she found that she was wrong. Among the 20-odd dancers, three or four who were well-dressed were familiar to her. It was really wonderful.

Yun Shang looked at Xia Huanyu, who was sitting on the throne, and found that he hardly took a glance at the dancing girls in the hall. He had been whispering to Empress Hua, but the latter was watching the performance with great interest and nodding from time to time to show that she was listening.

Yun Shang withdrew her gaze and looked at the man who had been looking at the wine in the glass in front of him. The corners of her mouth slightly quirked up, and she was a little relieved. No matter how outstanding the girls were, they couldn't attractive the one who had no feeling for them.

Luo Qingyan seemed to have noticed Yun Shang's gaze. He raised his head and smiled gently at Yun Shang. He pulled Yun Shang's hand down the table. Yun Shang turned her head and heard Luo Qingyan's lower voice. "Shang'er, look, I didn't touch the table, but there have been waves in the glass of wine."

".." Yun Shang looked up at Luo Qingyan helplessly.

"Your Highness, it's because of the music. It's too loud, and the dancers are dancing. The table is shaking, so there is ripples in the wine." Luo Qingyan looked at Luo Qingyan with burning eyes, all smiles on his face.

Yun Shang felt her face burning. She lowered her head and let out a soft sigh. This man was really attractive.

After the first performance ended, Yun Shang suddenly heard Xia Huanyu say, "I've heard that the sister of Zhuangyuan, Du Houjun, is famous for her talent and beauty in the Deer City. Most people in the Deer City are good at singing and dancing. I'm wondering if you could show us?"

Hearing this, Yun Shang looked up. Xia Huanyu's intention was too obvious. Just as Yun Shang had thought, Xia Huanyu ordered all the officials to bring their families with them in order to select some ladies for Luo Qingyan from the families of those officials who he thought would be useful to Luo Qingyan and let them become Luo Qingyan's supporters through marriages.

Xia Huanyu was kind-hearted, and he did this all for Luo Qingyan. But Ning Yun Shang would never agree if he wanted to marry anyone into the Crown Prince's mansion.

A woman with outstanding appearance stood up. The pale pinkish gray long dress highlighted her grace.

"This lady looks gentle and elegant. What's her name?" Empress Hua suddenly asked with a smile.