Duke Jing's younger sister

Shen Li glanced at him and quickly raised her foot to step on the tip of his boot. Luo Cheng seemed to be prepared and jumped back two steps to avoid her sneak attack. He suddenly smiled.

"A gentleman should talk, not fight. It's not good to always try to sneak attack!"

Shen Li hit him with a leaf, "I'm not a gentleman! If you dare to talk nonsense again next time, I will change to a stone and hit you until you have a bump!"

"Yes, yes, yes..." Luo Cheng stopped when he saw that things were going well, and bowed, "Miss Shen San, please forgive me for my mistakes this time, okay?"

"The Emperor has arrived——"

"The Queen has arrived——"

Following two sharp shouts, the bright yellow imperial and empress procession came into view. Emperor Hongyang and the empress walked side by side under the dragon flag.

Behind Emperor Hongyang followed several officials wearing official robes and holding important positions.

Shen Beiqi walked in the queue, wearing a crimson purple official robe. His figure was as white as jade, dignified and beautiful, and he was particularly eye-catching among the older court officials.

Countless glances, some of respect and some of admiration, were cast in his direction, but he acted as if he heard nothing, his face remained calm, and his steps did not show any sign of panic.

When he noticed the two familiar figures in the garden, he paused slightly and looked at her from afar with a meaningful look.

Standing among the flowers, the two men hurriedly restrained their expressions and stood with everyone else in the open space in the middle of the imperial garden, shouting "Long live the emperor!"

Emperor Hongyang waved his hand and ordered everyone to stand up and sit down.

The emperor and empress had arrived, so the banquet was about to begin. The empress sat on the right side of Emperor Hongyang, wearing a Ming Dynasty golden silk phoenix robe, a nine-tailed phoenix crown on her head, and tassels hanging on her shoulders. When she turned her head and looked around, the tassels swayed in the wind, like a phoenix in all its glory.

Concubine Zhao sat on the left side of Emperor Hongyang. Because she was pregnant, she was specially asked to sit on a higher chair. Emperor Hongyang looked at her round belly, and his slightly sharp eyebrows softened a little.

Compared with the "great achievements" of the previous emperor who had six sons and seven daughters, Emperor Hongyang's family is indeed a little thin. Now he is nearly fifty years old and has only three sons and one daughter.

Although there is no need to worry about inheritance, the royal family has always valued having many children. Unfortunately, since the queen gave birth to the fourth princess, there has been no new baby in the palace for more than ten years.

The position of the food table is based on official position and family status. Men sit on the left, and the more they are valued by Emperor Hongyang, the closer the food table is to the front.

The same is true for female family members. The higher the official position of their father or brother, the higher their position will be.

Shen Beiqi holds a high position of power, second only to the three princes and his grandfather, Taifu Yang.

Shen Li and Shen Zhiyan were sitting behind Yang, in a position very close to the front, so they could easily see the emperor's face and the genuine smile on his face when he asked about Concubine Zhao's well-being.

Come to think of it, Emperor Hongyang is already old, but he still has a son in his old age. Who wouldn't be happy?

In the palace, mothers have always been honored by their sons. If Concubine Zhao can give birth to another prince, her position will be more stable and she will have more bargaining chips than the queen.

In addition, Emperor Hongyang had been very obedient to her in recent months, which inevitably made her arrogant. When she looked at the Queen, she seemed quite disapproving. When she stood up to salute, she didn't even bend her legs, and just nodded slightly.

Today happens to be the fifteenth day of the lunar month. A full moon hangs high in the sky. Although the sky is dark, the imperial garden is brightly lit.

As the sound of stringed instruments awoke, dancers in emerald green gauze dresses twirled and fluttered around the banquet like forest elves, their sleeves fluttering and their bodies graceful and elegant.

Suddenly, the sound of stringed instruments flowing like a stream became rapid, like a spring breeze blowing on your face, extremely cheerful.

A girl in a red gauze skirt was biting a fiery red peony in her mouth. She stepped lightly from the sidelines into the center of the dancers, her skirt fluttering in the wind. The green dancers all became green leaves, setting off this delicate and bright peony.

The light reflected on the girl's cheek, Shen Li took a closer look and found that this 'peony flower' was actually the fourth princess Xiao Wushuang?

After Xiao Wushuang came on stage, the priority of the dancers seemed to change. The focus was no longer on the emperor and empress sitting at the top, but instead shifted to the young man wearing a crimson purple official robe and with a jade-like face sitting below the table.

She was seen dancing gracefully, her waist swaying slightly, her eyes and brows full of affection, wanting to present her most charming appearance to her lover.

Watch fireflies among the flowers and beauty under the moon.

Xiao Wushuang's appearance was not particularly outstanding, but at this moment the moonlight and the lights were shining brightly against each other, and she was wearing a red dress, standing among the emerald green of the stage.

At this moment, she was like a blooming bright red peony, shining brilliantly in the moonlight, making her originally 50% appearance appear 80% beautiful.

The rhythm became more and more brisk, and as the dance drew to an end, Xiao Wushuang spread her arms and spun around like a flower fairy under the moon. Her layers of skirt fluttered like the soft petals of a peony.

When the music stopped, Xiao Wushuang did not leave the stage with the dancer. She slowly approached Shen Beiqi, held the peony flower in her mouth in her palm, and handed it directly to him.

Shen Li subconsciously clenched the wine glass in her hand, and Han Yunning's usually steady expression became a little stiff.

The whole audience fell silent, and everyone was impressed by the fourth princess's boldness in openly expressing her love in public.

On the other hand, I feel miserable for Shen Beiqi. Having attracted such a plague god, I'm afraid his life will be difficult in the future!

Shen Beiqi glanced at her indifferently and continued drinking, as if he didn't see her.

Xiao Wushuang's arms froze in the air. Even though she felt a little embarrassed, she still stubbornly waited for him to take the peony in his hand.

Seeing that the situation was at a stalemate, Concubine Zhao burst into laughter and said softly,

"Could it be that the Fourth Princess has taken a liking to my nephew? Unfortunately, the Fourth Princess is too young, and my nephew has always been very picky. I guess he is not destined to be with the Fourth Princess."

These words were addressed to Xiao Wushuang, but Concubine Zhao's gaze was always on the Queen.

Although the queen was a little annoyed by her daughter's mischief, she also understood the principle of "disciplining a child behind closed doors" and could only smile and say,

"Sister, you are joking. Wushuang is still young, how can she understand what is good or bad? It's just a flower. Wushuang is just giving it as a gift to her most respected brother. What's wrong with that?"

The queen looked sharply as she glanced at the fourth princess below her. She wondered how she could have given birth to such a fool!

The Queen had already told Xiao Wushuang many times that there was no possibility for her and Shen Beiqi, but she still refused to give in and insisted on getting close to him.

What is her basis? Isn't it the emperor's favor towards her?

No matter how much the emperor dotes on her, can her love surpass his world?

The Fourth Princess is the Crown Prince's biological sister. The Crown Prince already has Lin Zewen by his side to help him plan for the future. If there is another Shen Beiqi, I'm afraid the Emperor will feel like a sword is hanging over his head day and night, and he won't be able to sleep or eat well!

The Queen has said this, and if Shen Beiqi doesn't respond now, it would seem that he is ungrateful.

He raised his eyes calmly and took the peony from the Fourth Princess with a normal expression, "Thank you, Fourth Princess."