Shocking! Five men are in love with the same woman!

At this moment, Yun Xiyan asked with barely concealed excitement, "Your Highness, may I have dinner with you?"

Lingyan replied generously, "Of course, the Crown Princess and Prince Li can come along too, as well as the Fifth Prince of Dongling, and..."

Chu Xiyao's heart was pounding.

Will she invite him?

Ling Yan paused deliberately, then looked at Chu Xiyao.

She noticed he was staring intently at her, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Lingyan did not disappoint him, and finally said, "And the Ninth Prince of Western Chu."

Upon hearing this, Chu Xiyao felt an indescribable joy welling up inside him, as if a thousand fireworks were blooming in his heart at the same time.

Does her inviting him prove that she's not angry with him anymore?

The others were also anxious when they heard about the list of invitees from Princess Rui.

Several envoys then asked, "Princess Rui, what about us?"

"Really? Why should we treat them differently?"

"Yes, they are all foreign envoys, why are we left out?"

Lingyan laughed when she heard these words.

That smile held an endless chill.

Then she spoke slowly, her voice soft yet piercing like a cold, sharp blade: "What? Can't I even decide what's in my own life? Don't you know why I didn't invite you? I only invite people I like. You, I don't like."

As soon as he finished speaking, the faces of these people turned ashen.

She rejected him so directly and bluntly in public.

Their faces turned pale and then red, burning with anger, on the verge of exploding.

But thinking about the time I've spent with her these past few days, I understand her personality, her actions, and her unbridled boldness.

He swallowed his dissatisfaction and anger, and finally chose to silently turn around and leave this awkward and embarrassing place without looking back.

Lingyan didn't care about this at all.

They were simply not worth taking seriously.

Her gaze then turned to the princes present, her voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority: "As for you, except for the Ninth Prince, please return to your respective quarters."

The eldest prince, the second prince, the seventh prince, and the eighth prince looked at each other, none of them daring to refute, and all left.

They are now terrified of her and dare not go against her at all.

It's a pity the Fourth Prince isn't here.

Hearing that the Fourth Prince's wife was about to give birth, he wanted to be with her during the delivery.

So even though the autumn hunt was a good opportunity for him to showcase himself to Emperor Jingzhao and the others, he gave it up.

This was truly rare for men in ancient times, especially princes.

After the princes left, the scions of those noble families also immediately fled.

Then several officials also immediately ran away.

Are you kidding me? Princess Rui doesn't even give the princes face, so who do they think they are?

Rather than waiting for her to speak, it's better to be sensible and leave on your own initiative, thus preserving some dignity.

In the end, only He Jingchuan and Lu Yanqing remained.

However, apart from a few who knew the truth, everyone else thought the two were just shameless and wouldn't leave, and didn't think much of it.

At this moment, the three princesses, Xie Zhiyi, and Jiang Muxue were summoned by Lingyan's men.

Of course, there's also the Seventh Princess's husband, Meng Huai'an.

Now everyone is here.

Everyone then gathered together to enjoy a delicious dinner.

Before starting the meal, Lingyan instructed someone to send a plate of roasted meat to Emperor Jingzhao and the Empress.

She's so thoughtful.

How could we miss such a wonderful opportunity to show our filial piety?

At this moment, everyone sat together, and the atmosphere was very joyful and warm.

The Ninth Princess took a big bite of rabbit meat, her eyes shining, and said, "Sister-in-law is amazing! Even your cooking skills are so proficient!"

The Eighth Princess nodded vigorously, saying, "It's so delicious! I've never eaten anything so delicious before."

Lingyan laughed and said, "As princesses, what delicious food haven't you eaten? Don't exaggerate like that."

The Seventh Princess replied with a smile, "I assure you that what the Eighth and Ninth Princesses said is true; it is indeed very delicious."

Meng Huai'an chimed in, "The princess is right."

Lingyan smiled as she watched the scene of the wife and husband working together in harmony.

Judging from their way of getting along and the way they look at each other, it's clear that they are living a very sweet and happy life.

I'm really happy for the Seventh Princess.

Then look at Jiang Muxue, who is standing silently to the side, quietly and politely eating her vegetarian dishes in small bites.

She sighed softly.

Jiang Muxue was not usually so reserved or silent when she was with them.

But today, because He Jingchuan was present, she was clearly making a great effort to make herself as perfect as possible.

At this moment, Yun Shao suggested with a smile, "Such delicious food deserves fine wine. I have specially prepared the most famous Zhuyeqing wine from Xuan Yue Kingdom for everyone to enjoy."

After she finished speaking, the maids behind her deftly brought over several jars of wine, and the aroma of the wine instantly filled the air, making people's mouths water.

Seeing their expectant eyes, Yun Shao smiled and introduced to everyone: "This Zhuyeqing is a treasure of our Xuan Yue. It is famous for its unique brewing process and mellow taste. Please take a closer look."

Upon hearing this, everyone eagerly and gently twisted open the seal of the wine jar. The clear aroma of the wine instantly filled the entire space, making people feel refreshed and relaxed.

Afterwards, everyone raised their glasses to their lips and savored them.

Lingyan parted her lips slightly and took a small sip.

The wine glided across the tip of the tongue, carrying an unexpected smoothness and sweetness, without the slightest bit of spiciness.

Instead, it's like a gentle breeze in spring, caressing the heart and making one involuntarily intoxicated by it.

She couldn't help but drink two more cups, until she had drunk three cups in total.

Xiao Muyao's gentle voice rang in her ears, filled with doting and concern: "Yan'er, fine wine is good, but you must not overindulge or you will get drunk, or you will have a headache when you wake up tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Lingyan obediently stopped.

He Jingchuan, Lu Yanqing, and Chu Xiyao were all relieved.

At this moment, Xie Zhiyi stood to the side, gently swirling the wine in her hand and exclaiming, "This wine truly lives up to its reputation. It is indeed the best wine in Xuan Yue Kingdom, with a lingering sweetness that leaves one wanting more."

All three from Xuan Yue Kingdom shared in the honor.

Yun Wanshuang smiled and praised, "This wine was even made by the Crown Princess!"

Yun Xiyan nodded in agreement, "Yes, yes, my cousin is amazing!"

Upon hearing this, Lingyan smiled and exclaimed, "I really didn't expect that the Crown Princess would be so talented in governing the country, and even in such an elegant matter as brewing wine. It's truly admirable."

Upon hearing this, Yun Shao smiled modestly and replied, "If you like, I will have a few more jars sent to your residence."

Lingyan immediately thanked her, saying, "Thank you, Your Highness. I will accept your thanks without being too polite."

At this moment, the Fifth Prince of Dongling also mustered up his courage and asked with a hint of shyness, "Your Highness, may I also have the honor of obtaining a few jars? The taste of this wine is truly unforgettable."

Upon hearing this, Yun Shao smiled generously and said, "Of course, it would be my honor if the Fifth Prince liked it."

Upon hearing this, the Fifth Prince's face lit up with a bright smile, and he thanked him repeatedly.

By this time, everyone had eaten about half their fill, and the atmosphere became even more lively amidst laughter and chatter.

Lingyan also noticed something very subtle.

Xie Zhiyi sat with the Ninth Prince tonight, and during the time, Xie Zhiyi accidentally brushed against the Ninth Prince's wine cup with her sleeve.

Xie Zhiyi immediately apologized in a panic.

The Ninth Prince smiled magnanimously and said it was nothing.

But this is not the point.

The key is the atmosphere between the two.

There's a hint of ambiguity.

Xie Zhiyi blushed afterwards.

The Ninth Prince also felt somewhat uncomfortable.

Looks like there's something going on between these two!

Ling Yan then smiled but didn't say anything.

Let them take their own course as they see fit.

Then everyone ate and chatted, covering everything from poetry and songs to everyday gossip, from beautiful scenery to life ideals.

The stars twinkled in the night sky, complementing the crowd and seemingly listening to their joy.

Finally, someone started singing a cheerful song, and everyone joined in.

The sounds of singing, laughter, and the sizzling of grilled meat mingled together, creating a beautiful scene that filled the outdoor night with warmth and happiness.

………………

The next morning.

The autumn hunt then officially began.

Emperor Jingzhao began his speech outside the camp: "Today the sky is high and the air is crisp, making it an ideal time for hunting. Today, I and all of you have gathered here to hold this autumn hunting ceremony."

The autumn hunt is a tradition of our dynasty, intended to test the strength of our army and hone the skills and courage of our soldiers.

Thinking back to our ancestors, they conquered the world through horsemanship and archery, dominating the battlefield with awe-inspiring power.

Although the world is at peace now, we must not forget our roots and should inherit and carry forward this martial spirit.

This hunting ground is vast and boundless, full of hidden talents, waiting for us to show our skills.

I hope that you will all display your unique talents, strive to be the best, and demonstrate the might and power of our dynasty.

However, there are rules to hunting; one must follow the rules, not kill the innocent indiscriminately, nor harm harmony for the sake of merit.

Furthermore, today, envoys from various countries have gathered here, hoping to take advantage of this grand event to enhance mutual understanding and trust among nations, build bridges of friendship, and safeguard global stability and prosperity.

Now, let's unleash our full potential, gallop freely, and share the joy of this autumn hunt!