It's all ruined, who cares about the chastity arch

As for Young Master Wu, he was a leader among the literati and scholars. Although he did not say it explicitly, his contempt for Zheng Chengyan, a rebellious son who was surrounded by rumors, was evident.

If it weren't for the fact that today's palace banquet was hosted by the emperor himself, and he needed to maintain the demeanor and decency of a scholar, he would probably have walked away long ago, unwilling to sit at the same table with a stain like Zheng Chengyan, so as not to tarnish his own reputation. He was even more worried about damaging his lifespan and reputation in the court.

Facing Master Wu's intentional or unintentional words, Zheng Chengyan's hand stopped in mid-air, trembling slightly. That was because after enduring the baptism of rumors for a long time, his character had quietly become tougher.

He pretended not to hear anything, and maintained the calmness of an aristocrat in his demeanor. He reached out for another glass of wine, and the overflowing golden liquid sparkled with an alluring luster under the light, and he drank it all in one gulp.

The spicy wine slid down his throat like a knife, causing his brows to frown. His eyes instantly became as cold as ice blades, shooting straight at the seemingly nonchalant Gu Linjun opposite him.

His hands were clenched into fists, veins bulging, and the anger and unwillingness in his heart could no longer be concealed.

There was a hint of subtle contempt in Gu Linjun's eyes. He glanced at Zheng Chengyan as if he were an ant, and then whispered an order to Qingya, the little palace maid beside him.

Qingya responded quickly, picked up a plate of juicy green water chestnuts with light movements, walked softly towards Zheng Chengyan, and gently placed the plate in front of him.

Zheng Chengyan's eyes were immediately attracted by the green color that symbolized vitality. The jealousy and anger that had been suppressed for so long were on the verge of exploding. His face was pale with a hint of gray, like fragile grass swaying in the wind, revealing a sense of desolation and loneliness.

Qingya's mouth drew up an intriguing smile, and her tone was gentle but witty: "Second Young Master Zheng, this is the 'Spring River Green' specially gifted by the prince. It may be a little bitter at first, but the aftertaste is slightly sour, just like the mixed feelings of life. The prince also specifically instructed that you must not be jealous and stir up unnecessary troubles."

She spoke softly, each word sounding like carefully selected pearls. The irony was self-evident, and it also revealed Gu Linjun's intentions.

Zheng Chengyan's body trembled slightly, and he lowered his head, suppressing his unhappiness, and responded in a cold and restrained voice: "Express my gratitude to the prince for me."

Qingya stepped back gracefully. At the same time, Madam Zheng noticed the gift of food from the Regent and misunderstood that her grandson had received special favor. She hurriedly whispered to the side, "Yan'er, you must cherish the gift from the prince and don't let this great grace down."

Zheng Chengyan's eyes were fixed on the plate of emerald green, and the tangled scene between Su Wanyu and Gu Linjun emerged in his mind. Although he quickly shook his head, trying to dispel these uninvited thoughts, because he knew very well that Su Wanyu was not a frivolous woman, but deep in his heart, the uncertainty about the future and the doubt about his own abilities made him feel panic, fearing that he would be unable to protect the one he loved.

He stared at the dish in deep thought for a long time, until the royal carriage rumbled in and the banquet officially began.

All the ministers stood up, respectfully and solemnly, and shouted in unison: "Greetings to Your Majesty, we wish Your Majesty a happy birthday, and pray that Your Majesty will be blessed with good fortune, enjoy eternal health, and live as long as the heaven and earth, for thousands of years."

Emperor Xuan, dressed in a yellow jade dragon robe, walked into the hall accompanied by Concubine Pei, who was dressed in shining gold, and the eldest princess, who was dressed in gorgeous clothes. His face was filled with genuine joy and he was in high spirits. His every move showed the majesty and friendliness of an emperor.

Most people thought that this was just because he was happy about his birthday, but little did they know that he was actually excited to meet his sister again after a long absence.

In order to keep an eye on the person he cared about - Su Wanyu, he also deliberately arranged the Zheng family to be close to him.

"Gentlemen, please stand up. Today I am hosting a grand banquet. You don't need to be restrained. Drink to your heart's content, sing and dance to entertain us, and share the joy of peace and prosperity!"

Emperor Xuan's hearty laughter echoed in the hall. As he finished speaking, he sat firmly on the dragon throne, which symbolized the pinnacle of power. Concubine Pei sat on the left, the eldest princess sat on the right, and the position of Queen was vacant, with no noble concubines accompanying her. Other concubines were not invited to attend due to their low status and seemed insignificant.

Mrs. Zheng caught this subtle opportunity and secretly rejoiced in her heart, thinking that this was a good chance to enhance the family's honor.

However, the Pei family would naturally not miss such an occasion to show off their own style.

Pei Qingzhi stood gently beside Yuan and Master Pei, shyly holding a silk handkerchief in her hand, occasionally secretly glancing at the emperor's demeanor, her cheeks flushed with the unique blush of a young girl, as if she was a lady from a noble family who was about to get married, with unspeakable emotions surging in her heart.

As the banquet music sounded, the dancers danced gracefully in their light gauze, the music became melodious, and the entire palace was immersed in singing and laughter. The atmosphere was full of joy and presented a scene of prosperity.

Su Wanyu bit the dried apricots lightly, and the tiny sounds echoed in the quiet air. Her eyebrows slightly raised, and her eyes were like gentle water waves, gently passing over Zheng Luoxi who was standing near her, creating circles of delicate ripples.

There was a faint smile at the corner of her mouth, like the soft breeze in spring blowing across the tender green willow branches, gentle and yet playful.

Although the sounds of stringed instruments in the palace were melodious and lingering, they always lacked the shock and resonance that directly struck the soul in worldly dramas.

The ministers gathered around and offered the most gorgeous words to the high and mighty Emperor Xuan and the dignified Concubine Pei. The voices of praise and flattery were intertwined, like an invisible competition.

The exquisite jade cups shone in everyone's hands, and each collision was the most pious respect and obedience of the ministers. The atmosphere of the banquet was pushed to one climax after another in the rounds of banquets. It seemed lively and extraordinary, but in fact it was full of hidden tricks.

However, beneath this apparent prosperity, there is an undercurrent quietly surging.

Madam Zheng finally couldn't hold back the calculations in her heart. She slowly stood up, her sleeves fluttering, and bowed to Emperor Xuan on the dragon throne. "Your Majesty, please allow me to be bold. A few months ago, I was fortunate enough to obtain a painting of spring breeze. I would like to use this treasure to present it to Your Majesty, and pray for the prosperity of our dynasty, and for Your Majesty's health and longevity."

After she finished speaking, she glanced slightly to the side at Zheng Luoxi who was standing beside her. Her eyes contained complex emotions, with both subtle hints and unfathomable meanings.

Zheng Luoxi maintained his usual humble attitude, lowered his eyes, and gently held up the beautifully framed scroll with both hands, his movements respectful and pious.

However, her sincerity did not foresee the subsequent changes.