AWB Chapter 268 Your subject wishes to marry the eldest princess
Chapter 268 Your subject wishes to marry the eldest princess
The eldest princess also saw the queen and her entourage and quickened her pace to walk over.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
Yingying bowed, and only then did the eldest princess turn her gaze to Su Mowan, saying softly, "Why did you bring people here, Third Brother? Isn't this a bit too much of a journey?"
Murong Jing's attitude towards the eldest princess was indifferent: "The Empress Dowager said she wanted to see someone, so I had no choice but to come."
"..."
The scapegoat, the queen, insisted that she had never said that!
However, she couldn't undermine her son. So the Empress agreed to Murong Jing's suggestion, and then said that the banquet was about to begin, and they should go over there first and talk about it later.
The eldest princess nodded in agreement, and after the empress and Murong Jing walked ahead, she walked alongside Su Mowan and the seventh princess.
Su Mowan wanted to take a closer look at the eldest princess's hands, but unfortunately the eldest princess was wearing palace attire and had tucked her hands under the wide sleeves.
The eldest princess occasionally glanced at Su Mowan's profile. Although Su Mowan noticed, she couldn't confront her, so she pretended not to know and chatted with the seventh princess occasionally along the way.
Jingyang Palace is not far from Jingtai Hall. It took about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea to walk there before we arrived at the hall.
Palace maids and eunuchs were seen coming and going busily.
It's getting dark early lately. Even though it's only around six o'clock, the sun has already disappeared, and the sky is a hazy gray.
Night is about to fall.
When the Empress and the Prince of Qin arrived, the palace maids and eunuchs knelt on the ground. Only after the group entered the hall did those kneeling outside dare to rise and continue their work.
The main hall was very spacious and the lights were already on. Two rows of seats had been set up on the left and right sides, with some fruits on them. Most of the people had already arrived.
At the very top were the positions of Emperor Mo Yao and the Empress, below them were several elderly ministers, presumably veteran figures, none of whom Su Mo Wan recognized.
The officials knelt and bowed again. After the Empress ascended the throne, Emperor Moyao said in a loud voice, "My beloved ministers, rise!"
Su Mowan followed Murong Jing to sit on the other side.
This time, most ministers did not bring their families; only those who had been granted official titles were allowed to enter the palace. Therefore, at a glance, there were not many women.
Su Mowan looked up and saw the King of Chu and his wife opposite her.
Su Huayue happened to look over as well, her eyes meeting Su Mowan's. Her gaze swept over Su Mowan with an appraising air.
Just when Su Mowan thought she was about to give Su Huayue a cold laugh or a disdainful look, Su Huayue actually turned her head away indifferently.
This is strange.
Su Mowan glanced at Su Huayue. Today, Su Huayue was dressed very formally and her makeup was very heavy, with the shadows at the corners of her eyes almost reaching her temples.
Suddenly, Murong Jin's gaze fell upon her. Su Mowan noticed this, and casually looked away. She then deliberately said something to Murong Jing, who reached out and took her hand.
This scene, witnessed by the King of Chu, evoked mixed feelings of relief and bitterness; it was a truly complex mix.
Su Huayue noticed that something was wrong with the person next to her, turned her head and asked what was wrong. Murong Jin looked away, lowered his eyes, and said that it was nothing.
Seeing this, Su Huayue could only see a look of deep sadness.
Su Huayue's feelings were very complicated. She originally thought she had snatched a good marriage, but the Prince of Chu was very cold to her, and Consort Xiao also disliked her.
She couldn't understand it. Compared to Su Mowan, she wasn't inferior in any way, and her status was even higher.
If it's because the King of Chu had feelings for Su Mowan that he disliked her, that's understandable. But why did Consort Xiao dislike her?
This puzzled Su Huayue greatly.
When Su Huayue saw Murong Jing holding Su Mowan's hand and asking her something in a low voice, she found his demeanor incredibly gentle.
Thus, Su Huayue's previously calm heart was filled with boundless resentment.
Why is Su Mowan favored by both the King of Qin and the King of Chu? Why does Su Mowan always seem to have all the good things happen to her?!
The more Su Huayue thought about it, the darker her eyes became. Her fingers clenched tightly under her sleeves. Noticing that Murong Jin seemed to be in a low mood, a calculating glint flashed in Su Huayue's eyes.
Su Mowan told Murong Jing that her hands were a little cold, but unexpectedly, Murong Jing grabbed her hand in front of so many people and held it in his warm palm.
Sensing that some eyes were looking their way, Su Mowan gently struggled, but couldn't break free, so she whispered, "What kind of behavior is this, pulling and tugging in public? Didn't you say that?"
Murong Jing remained unmoved, still tightly clenching his cool hand, his gaze fixed straight ahead.
"I don't remember."
"..."
This is the ultimate level of shamelessness!
While Su Mowan was struggling with Murong Jing, she was unaware that two people in the middle of the seating area were staring at her.
As the newly appointed martial arts champion, Shangguan Qingqi's seat was opposite that of Tang Minzhi, the newly appointed civil service champion.
Unfortunately, both top scholars were looking at Su Mowan at that moment. One was more direct, the other more subtle.
When Su Mowan first appeared, Shangguan Qingqi almost didn't recognize her. After staring at her for a few moments, he finally dared to confirm that the woman who gracefully walked past him was indeed the always 'unkempt' Su Mowan!
When a woman finally realizes she needs to dress up, there's only one possibility: she's trying to seduce a man!
Needless to say, Su Mowan is definitely going to seduce the King of Qin!
Seeing the two of them flirting and pulling at each other in full view of everyone, Shangguan Qingqi felt quite uncomfortable.
I feel a little wronged.
That woman, Su Mowan, might be wearing the rouge he gave her on her face, trying to seduce other men.
What's this called again? Making wedding clothes for someone else!
Shangguan Qingqi was depressed.
From the time he saw Su Mowan again after several years, to the time he sent her a box of rouge, until just now, he had never seen Su Mowan dress up even slightly.
I didn't even notice this outfit on me right away.
Even if you don't need to see it immediately, seeing it a second time is fine!
Shangguan Qingqi glared at Su Mowan with great dissatisfaction. Seeing that the latter was oblivious, Shangguan Qingqi could only drink a cup in frustration.
Tang Minzhi was also secretly observing Su Mowan, his gaze filled with a conflicted and complicated expression.
Tang Minzhi found that wherever Su Mowan was, his gaze would involuntarily drift over, even though he knew it shouldn't be and was inappropriate, he couldn't control himself.
At the same time, he also noticed something strange: the two men, Mo Gongzi and Su Mowan, seemed to be the same person to him.
He believed he wasn't the type to fall for every girl he met, and besides, Young Master Mo was a man, yet he still felt a liking for him.
The more I thought about it, the more something seemed off. The two people were very similar, and they gave me the same feeling. I just wanted to get close to them for no reason.
Until I saw Su Mowan's figure following the Empress in, and her profile, the feeling in that instant was like a sudden awakening.
Although it seemed unbelievable, Tang Minzhi believed that her guess was undoubtedly correct.
The image of Young Master Mo's face overlapped with that of Su Mowan in his mind, and Tang Minzhi's feelings for Su Mowan became even clearer and deeper.
When Tang Minzhi inadvertently saw the pear blossom hairpin in Su Mowan's hair, a complex mix of emotions welled up in her heart, a bittersweet feeling.
But upon seeing their hands clasped together, he felt a pang of sadness and disappointment.
Sitting next to him, Xue Ting gently nudged his shoulder and whispered, "Hey, can't you be a little more dignified? She's already married. And this is the Murong family's territory. Aren't you afraid that if the Prince of Qin gets angry, he'll strip you of your title of top scholar if you keep staring at her like that?"
Xue Ting was just joking, but Tang Minzhi said seriously, "The Prince of Qin is not that kind of person."
Xue Ting raised an eyebrow. Someone actually spoke well of their love rival?
So he raised an eyebrow and whispered in Tang Minzhi's ear, "That's not necessarily true. You've read so many books, haven't you ever heard the saying, 'A man would be furious for a woman's sake?' This is someone else's woman. No man would be happy to be stared at like that!"
Tang Minzhi pushed Xue Ting away slightly and was about to speak when he heard the chief eunuch shout in a high-pitched voice, "Silence!"
The ministers who had been whispering and greeting each other fell silent, and the scene became quiet for a moment.
Emperor Mo Yao laughed heartily twice, congratulating the new candidates with a strong voice, and especially praising Shangguan Qingqi and Tang Minzhi.
Just as the two were expressing their gratitude and about to sit down, Emperor Moyao changed the subject, saying, "My eldest princess says she wants to choose a consort. Do either of you have a preference for her?"
The ministers were taken aback by Emperor Moyao's words. Did this mean that the eldest princess's husband would be chosen from Shangguan Qingqi and Tang Minzhi?
Upon hearing this, the Seventh Princess didn't know whether to be happy or unhappy.
Logically speaking, she should be happy that Shangguan Qingqi was able to sever ties with her, but the thought that her eldest sister not only liked the same person as her, but also had the same marriage prospect made her feel suffocated!
Su Mowan was also surprised.
Emperor Moyao's question was extremely unfair. What did he mean by "Which of you two has taken a liking to the eldest princess?"
There's simply no way to answer that!
Who would dare to say they don't like the eldest princess? Isn't that a blatant expression of disdain for the eldest princess?
Su Mowan knew that Tang Minzhi wouldn't say such a thing, but Shangguan Qingqi was a different story.
Thinking of this, Su Mowan turned her gaze to the eldest princess, who had a gentle smile on her face and exuded a dignified and elegant temperament.
Emperor Mo Yao's words seemed to have no effect on her whatsoever.
The entire hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Shangguan Qingqi and Tang Minzhi exchanged a glance, seeing surprise and helplessness in each other's eyes.
Just as Shangguan Qingqi was about to go all out and drag Su Mobai into it, a steady voice rang out from another corner of the hall.
"Your Majesty, I have long admired the eldest princess. If the eldest princess is willing, I would like to ask for her hand in marriage."