With a million soldiers, the empress begged me not to rebel

After Princess Mingyue returned to her own room.

Even the delicate makeup couldn't hide her slightly tired look.

Seeing this, the maid Xiao Cui hurried forward to help her remove her makeup and handed her a cup of hot tea.

"Princess, it seems that things are not going well for you with Lord Lu today?"

Xiao Cui asked cautiously.

Princess Mingyue took the teacup, took a sip, and sighed:

"Lu Yan...always keeps people at a distance, making it hard to understand him."

She put down the teacup and her eyes fell on the peach blossoms blooming outside the window.

"But I won't give up. Xiao Cui, help me prepare. I'm going to hold a banquet in Shannan Prefecture."

Xiao Cui was a little surprised:

"A party? So sudden? Who should be invited?"

Princess Mingyue smiled slightly, with a cunning glint in her eyes:

"Of course we have to invite the officials and celebrities of Shannan Prefecture, and... Lu Yan, he must come."

She paused and continued.

"I'm going to have the biggest party ever and I want everyone to know about it,"

"I, Princess Mingyue, not only possess a noble status, but also possess extraordinary talent and charm."

The whole afternoon was spent preparing for the banquet, from setting up the venue to preparing the dishes.

Princess Mingyue does everything herself, striving for perfection.

She specially ordered precious silk and flowers to be transported from Beixiang State to decorate the banquet venue beautifully.

In order to get Lu Yan's attention, she even specifically asked about his favorite dishes and music.

And incorporate it into the banquet menu and performance program.

Princess Mingyue is a shrewd planner who considers every detail carefully.

The reason was just to make Lu Yan smile.

That night, the official residence of Shannan Prefecture was brightly lit.

Hundreds of glazed palace lanterns hang high, illuminating the courtyard with exceptional splendor.

The dignitaries from the surrounding prefectures, dressed in gorgeous clothes, walked into the official residence in groups of three or five.

Most of the men were dressed in brocade robes, with jade pendants on their waists, chatting and laughing;

The ladies wore colorful silk skirts and their hairs were decorated with pearl hairpins, looking elegant and graceful.

They whispered to each other, talking about the recent changes in Shannan Prefecture and their anticipation for this grand event.

Lu Yan chose a navy blue robe, which was simple yet decent in style.

He stood quietly in the corner, carefully managing his behavior to avoid attracting unnecessary attention.

In such occasions, he always kept calm and observed, taking everything in.

Some officials who were skeptical of his reforms were gathered together and whispering under the influence of alcohol.

After hearing this, Lu Yan just smiled slightly and blended into the crowd quietly.

In the center of the banquet hall, there was a huge Persian carpet.

On the carpet, there were various exquisite snacks and fruits for the guests to enjoy.

The banquet reached its climax and melodious music sounded.

Princess Mingyue specially arranged an elaborate song and dance performance.

She was wearing a bright yellow dance dress and walked lightly into the stage under everyone's attention.

The dancers behind her were also dressed in colorful clothes and danced gracefully.

Their dancing is as smooth as water, graceful and beautiful, making people unable to look away.

Every look and every movement of Princess Mingyue is full of charm.

As if to attract everyone's attention to himself.

The music is sometimes soothing and sometimes passionate.

The graceful dance of the dancers brought the atmosphere of the banquet to a climax.

Princess Mingyue's eyes flashed, and she looked at Lu Yan from time to time, her heart full of anticipation.

Lu Yan sat at the table, quietly enjoying the magnificent performance.

The light shone into his deep eyes, and the dancing figures became more vivid under his gaze.

He watched with great interest, a smile of appreciation on his face.

However, Lu Yan always maintained a proper distance and did not give Princess Mingyue too much response.

When Princess Mingyue saw this, a hint of loss flashed across her eyes, but she was not depressed.

She knew that changing Lu Yan's attitude would take time, and she had always been a patient person.

She walked forward and asked Lu Yan gently:

"Master Lu, are you satisfied with tonight's arrangements?"

Lu Yan raised his eyebrows slightly, looked at her, and said with a hint of sarcasm,

"Princess Mingyue's arrangement is naturally brilliant, but I'm afraid it will take some hard work to win my attention."

Although these words seemed like a joke, they were a form of encouragement to Princess Mingyue.

She smiled, and an even stronger fighting spirit seemed to have ignited in her heart.

At this moment, the atmosphere of the banquet suddenly became subtle.

A wealthy businessman wearing a brocade robe and a jade belt, with a plump figure, suddenly walked up to Lu Yan.

His face was full of smiles, and he cupped his hands in a forced smile:

"Prefect Lu, I've long admired you."

"I heard that you have carried out a series of great undertakings in Shannan Prefecture, and today is a good opportunity to ask you for some advice."

As he spoke, he rubbed the jade ring on his thumb intentionally or unintentionally.

Although his words seemed respectful, his eyes revealed a hint of contempt for Lu Yan.

Lu Yan raised his eyes and calmly looked at the wealthy businessman from head to toe:

This man has a fair complexion and no beard, with a gleam in his eyes. One can tell at a glance that he is a veteran who has been immersed in the business world for many years.

He immediately revealed a meaningful smile and said in a relaxed tone:

"The word 'ask for advice' should be used for you, the wealthy businessman."

"After all, I am far inferior to you in terms of various strategies and business techniques."

He spoke slowly, but every word was sharp.

It seems that he effortlessly reveals the true meaning hidden behind the words.

The wealthy businessman was choked by the implication.

The smile on his face suddenly froze a little, and he looked a little embarrassed.

At the same time, he was also shocked by Lu Yan's neither humble nor arrogant attitude. He hesitated, not knowing how to respond.

Seeing this, Princess Mingyue rolled her eyes and broke the awkward atmosphere in time.

She raised her glass and said with a sweet smile:

"Boss Li, you're joking. Lord Lu is well-known for his integrity and dedication to the people."

"You are discussing business with him, isn't that just showing off your skills in front of an expert?"

As she resolved the situation with her wit, the atmosphere returned to its previous cheerful state.

The banquet is still going on with people drinking and chatting.

Princess Mingyue’s sweet laughter still echoed in Lu Yan’s ears.

This woman, is she a naive naiveté?

He had clearly hinted that he was no longer interested in her, yet he kept moving forward.

Lu Yan picked up the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp. The strong liquor went down his throat, but it couldn't quench the irritability in his heart.

He didn't come here to deal with these beautiful women or engage in any romantic affairs.

Making money and gaining power are his goals.

Just as I was thinking about it, a familiar figure came over.

It was Chen Qingwan. Lu Yan's eyes lit up. Finally, someone came who could talk about serious matters.

"Why, Princess Mingyue's hospitality still doesn't impress you, my Lord?"