After reading my mind, Daddy, why don't you smile?

"Why didn't mother take me to the celebration party?"

"His Highness said that the young lady is so young and follows the army day and night. She might get sick if she is too tired, so he asked me to take her back to the inn to rest."

Shangguan Qingyue thought about it, and lazily put his chin on Li Ma's shoulder, "Okay..."

Nanny Li hugged the little one tightly in her arms and walked into the inn with anxious steps.

Since they entered, hundreds of imperial guards surrounded the inn tightly and were ready for battle.

The stars are sparse and the moon is dark, and the sky is pitch black, like a black fog sinking to the earth, suffocating people's hearts.

There was a joyous scene at the banquet.

Zhao Ying was placed at the top, her cheeks slightly tipsy from drinking, and she looked as delicate as a spring peach. She had just come back from the battlefield, and the wind and sun had not faded her beauty, but instead made her look a bit cold and majestic. She had a dignified and graceful appearance to begin with, and now she looked even more stunning and could not be looked at directly.

Liang Su and Wen Ruhai were located on the left and right at the bottom, with the four clan leaders in the back row, and behind them were some smaller clans and generals.

The head of the Bai family held the wine glass, glanced at Zhao Ying secretly, smiled playfully, and had a frivolous look in his eyes.

The head of the Chen family at the side whispered, "Why, are you interested, brother?"

"I have seen many beauties in my life, but I have never met one as beautiful as Princess Da Chu." The head of the Bai family said with some regret in his tone.

Patriarch Chen smiled and said, "That's not difficult. Before she dies, I'll let you have a good time, right?"

Patriarch Bai glanced at Patriarch Chen with a smile, seeming to be very satisfied with his words.

"I offer a toast to the princess..."

"I, a humble commoner, would also like to offer a toast to the princess..."

Zhao Ying drank it all. Seeing that she was almost drunk, Liu Yi asked sternly, "Do you want to get the princess drunk?"

The crowd was noisy at first, but quieted down after hearing the voice. However, Zhao Ying yelled, "I'm not drunk. Who said I was drunk?"

"Keep drinking, we won't go home until we're drunk!"

"Come here, serve the wine!"

"Hahaha... Your Highness is truly a heroine! I admire you!"

Wen Ruhai asked evasively, "Why did Mr. Liu bother the princess?"

Liu Yi smiled, waved his hand and sat down.

Jars of unopened wine were brought up, and the attendants poured the wine one by one. Liang Su took a sniff, then picked up the wine cup, stood up and laughed, "Your Highness, this wine is Dali's aged Wanghaigui, a fine product of Bai's Winery. A jar of it is worth a thousand gold coins. Normally, I and others can't drink it. It's thanks to Your Highness's great blessing!"

Zhao Ying was very pleased with Liang Su's flattery. She sniffed it and then looked surprised, "This wine is really fragrant and sweet..." She looked at the head of the Bai family, "The head of the Bai family is thoughtful!"

The head of the Bai family stood up and responded, "It is a blessing for this wine that it has caught the eye of Your Highness. Since Your Highness likes it, I will present ten jars to Your Highness and send them to the capital."

"How can I do that?" Although she said that, Zhao Ying still happily agreed.

Not only did he agree, but he also asked the head of the Bai family to offer it immediately. The head of the Bai family was stunned for a moment, and then replied that the wine was all in the house. Zhao Ying waved her hand and said, "It's okay, I'll send someone to get it."

So, the attendants around the head of the Bai family took a few soldiers and went back to the Bai family to get some wine.

After the people left, the head of the Bai family had a slightly gloomy expression. Taking away his ten jars and hoping to return to the sea was like pulling teeth from a tiger's mouth. In Dali, everyone knew how petty and stingy their clan was.

Although they have money, they never spend it on unworthy people or things.

He said he would give Zhao Ying ten jars of wine, but it was just talk. They had no intention of letting Zhao Ying leave alive, so they would not take the wine away.

I didn't expect she couldn't wait that long.

The head of the Bai family felt like he was being scratched by a cat and was unhappy no matter where he was. He didn't expect that before they did anything, ten jars of wine had been taken away from him!

Then, something happened that made him even more devastated.

Zhao Ying tasted Wang Haigui and her eyes lit up. She exclaimed that it was delicious, and asked the Bai family for ten jars. She would take all ten jars away and drink all ten jars now!

The head of the Bai family felt a tightness in his chest when he heard this, and then he glanced at Liang Su unhappily. What a nosy guy, praising his wine?

At this banquet, it was Liu Yi who opened the door and asked him to take out two jars.

Even if Zhao Ying couldn't take away the ten jars, he would still lose twelve jars!

Everyone looked at the head of the Bai family with burning eyes and expectation. Liu Yi even shook his head at him, meaning that he should agree and endure!

Patriarch Bai cursed in his heart, "Pah! Do you think I don't know that you guys also want to take advantage of the opportunity to drink?"

Although he was full of complaints and reluctance, the head of the Bai family still agreed.

He has to consider the overall situation!

The head of the Bai family sat down, but could not wait any longer, and gave a look to the clan patriarch below him. The clan chief was still enjoying Wang Haigui with great relish, but he was startled and immediately became serious when he saw this.

He put down the wine cup, stood up, and knelt forward, "I pay my respects to Princess Chengqian!"

"Who are you?"

"I am Hong Tao, the head of the Hong family!"

"What's the matter with you?"

"I dare to take a look at the Emperor's decree to Your Highness to mobilize troops!"

As soon as the words fell, the whole place fell into silence.

Zhao Ying also sobered up a little and paused.

Liu Yi saw the panic that flashed across Zhao Ying's eyes and sneered in his heart.

"You are indeed very bold! It is ridiculous for a commoner to want to see the will of heaven!" Zhao Ying said with forced calmness.

Hong Taoai did not back down, and asked seriously, "Your Highness, have you ever heard of the rumors among the people?"

"I've been away on a campaign for two months, so how can I have the leisure to listen to rumors?"

"The princess came to Dali this time to get medicine for His Royal Highness Prince Ding. Why did an imperial decree suddenly appear? It's an imperial decree to mobilize troops. If it's an imperial decree, why didn't it issue it to His Royal Highness Prince Ding, but to the princess instead?"

"I also heard that the day before the princess left for the war, His Royal Highness Prince Ding and the princess parted unhappily, and then he resolutely left Dali alone..."

"So people are talking about it, saying that Her Royal Highness Princess mobilized troops for her own selfish reasons, disregarding the lives of soldiers and officers! I want to see the imperial edict for the good of the princess. Only the true edict can calm the people's discussion!"

"How outrageous! I had a narrow escape from death outside, and this group of unruly people are talking about me behind my back!" Zhao Ying slammed the table angrily.

The head of the Xiao family saw that Zhao Ying was a weak person with a guilty conscience.

He snorted coldly and said to Hong Tao, "That's right! How can you doubt the princess? The princess is the daughter of the emperor, the supreme dragon girl, how could she forge an imperial decree and mobilize troops privately!"

The head of the Bai family was surprised. "How could the people think so? Falsifying the imperial decree and privately mobilizing troops is a capital crime. Even Her Royal Highness the Princess cannot escape the punishment. You are so suspicious of the Princess, aren't you trying to wrongly accuse her to death?"

Wen Ruhai repeatedly assured, "The princess will never falsely pass on the imperial decree, you can rest assured!"

Just as Zhao Ying breathed a sigh of relief, she heard Liu Yi ask Wen Ruhai, "Lord Wen's tone is so confident, have you seen the imperial edict?"

Wen Ruhai was stunned for a moment, timidly glanced at Zhao Ying who was sitting above him, and shook his head for a while, "Although I didn't see it with my own eyes, I can guarantee that Your Highness would never forge an imperial decree!"

Hong Taoai said sternly, "Since you haven't seen it, how can you guarantee it? In my opinion, the best way is to take out the imperial edict and have a look. It will be enough to dispel all rumors!"

“This…” The four clan leaders looked at Zhao Ying.

Wen Ruhai's voice turned cold, "How dare you, Hong Tao, disobey the princess in public! Take him out and give him thirty strokes of the cane!"

Everyone was shocked, and other clans came forward to plead for mercy.

"Your Highness, please forgive me! Patriarch Hong is also thinking about your reputation. I hope Your Highness will show mercy!"

"Your Highness is unwilling to show the imperial edict to others. Could it be true as the rumors say..."

"Nonsense! How could I forge an imperial decree?"

"If it is the true imperial edict, why should I be afraid of showing it to others?" Hong Taoai said fearlessly.

Zhao Ying angrily threw the wine cup downstairs, "Take him away, take him away!"

"Your Highness!!!"

Everyone knelt in a mass, as if to put pressure on Zhao Ying. Hong Taoai became more and more rampant and sneered, "Your Highness can shut me up, but you can't shut up the people of Dali!"

"The prince is guilty of the same crime as the common people. Your Highness falsely conveyed the imperial edict, causing the tragic death of tens of thousands of Yunnan soldiers. Your Highness should apologize to the people and the emperor!"

Zhao Ying also sneered, "Who said that I can't stop the gossips? Liang Su! Pass the order! Anyone in Dali who dares to talk about me falsely passing on the imperial edict will be killed without mercy!"

However... Liang Su sat there, not moving.

Zhao Ying looked at Liang Su in surprise, and Liang Su slowly stood up and bowed, "I and tens of thousands of soldiers also have this doubt. I hope Your Highness will take out the imperial edict to resolve everyone's doubts and comfort the souls of the dead soldiers."

"You!" Zhao Ying fell into the chair, his face pale.

"You betrayed me..."

At this moment, Zhao Ying was like a skinny lamb, surrounded by malicious and cruel wolves.

Liu Bai, Xiao Chen and Wen Ruhai were all very worried.

Zhao Ying seemed to have calmed down a bit, and looked at Liu Yi, "Liu Yi, my southern expedition this time has benefited you, don't you want to say something?"

Liu Yi stiffened his neck and said sanctimoniously, "I am grateful for your kindness, but I did not force you to do this..."

Patriarch Chen seemed to be fair and said, "For now, Your Highness should take out the imperial edict!"

Zhao Ying's defense was broken, and he yelled, "You are the ones who helped me with the food and fodder. Do you think you will stay out of this when I am punished?"

The head of the Bai family chuckled and shook his folding fan. "Your Highness, what you said is wrong. First, ignorance is not a crime. We didn't know what Your Highness had done beforehand. Second,..." The head of the Bai family looked at Zhao Ying, a cold look flashed across his face. "I have heard of an unwritten rule in the Central Plains, that the law does not punish the masses."

"Master Wen, is this true?"