Marrying the Crown Prince

Zhou Zhou stayed at the imperial palace with Li Zixi for two whole days. When her eyes were no longer sore and swollen and had regained their former brightness, the palace banquet began.

This banquet was not the usual matchmaking banquet, but Emperor Chenze's banquet for King Su and Cao Du of Qixi Kingdom, as well as a group of envoys. Many ministers and their families attended the banquet.

Li Zixi was also sharpening his knife, ready to pounce on the pigs and sheep, determined to show the small country of Qixi what the magnanimity of a great power was.

Of course, he wasn't the only one with this idea; almost all the ministers of Chen Kingdom shared this view.

Li Zixi pulled Zhou Zhou along, putting whatever expensive things she could find on her head, saying, "Don't the people of Qixi like to wear silver? Let's wear gold and show them what real splendor is."

As she spoke, a hair crown was placed on her head. Zhou Zhou immediately felt the pressure and quickly used one hand to hold it up while using the other hand to stop Li Zixi from adding anything more to her head. "This crown is nice, but a banquet will last for an hour. By then, I won't be able to keep my neck and head."

Li Zixi looked at the hair ornament; the flowers on it were all made of gold, and it was also decorated with many gold tassels. When the sunlight shone on it, it seemed as if a holy light was shining on her head. But Zhou Zhou didn't want it?!

"Is it really not going to work?" She was still very conflicted.

“It really won’t work.” Zhou Zhou said firmly and confidently, “Get me something lighter.”

Although it's described as lightweight, it still involves wearing hairpins and hair ornaments, and adding two hairpins with dangling ornaments, all to emphasize wealth and status.

Fortunately, once the makeup was applied, her originally elegant face instantly became sharp, revealing an aggressive and glamorous beauty.

Li Zixi was mesmerized. She hugged Zhou Zhou and used her rouge to draw flowers on her forehead. "My goodness, if I were a man, I would definitely marry a woman like you."

Zhou Zhou smiled, her smile captivating all who beheld her.

It was almost time, so Li Zixi and Zhou Zhou set off for the banquet venue.

The banquet hadn't officially started yet, but people were gradually arriving, with only a few leaders remaining. After all, as big shots, they were the last to appear.

Li Zixi pulled Zhou Zhou to sit in her princess seat. As a first-rank princess, although she had not yet undergone the investiture ceremony, her seat was very close to the front.

Previously, the princesses were not officially titled and were ranked by age, but now Li Zixi and Li Zixiao have switched places.

Based on past experience, Li Zixi was bound to show off to Li Zixiao, and this time was no exception.

Li Zixiao resisted the urge to roll her eyes, but still retorted, "You like to sit on high places, do you want me to make a memorial tablet and put it on the offering table, to enshrine you high up?"

Li Zixi slammed her hand on the table and said, "Watch your mouth."

Li Zixiao scoffed, "I did rinse my mouth. I'm afraid you're the one with the unclean mouth, aren't you?"

"Believe me or not, I'll tear your mouth apart?"

"Come here, do you think I'm afraid of you?"

Just as a fight was about to break out, Zhou Zhou, who was caught between the two, suddenly stood up.

The two of them froze and looked at her.

She put on a sweet smile and said, "I'm thirsty, let me pour you a glass of fruit wine."

After saying that, Zhou Zhou got up and took the fruit wine from the table, pouring a glass for each of the two princesses.

The two princesses' anger subsided considerably after being interrupted by her. Although their faces were still sour, they were no longer on the verge of a fight.

Li Zixi downed a glass of fruit wine in one gulp. It was sweet and sour, with a low alcohol content and a smooth, refreshing taste, which made her relax.

“Zhouzhou, you didn’t even help me just now,” Li Zixi put down her cup and took Zhou Zhou’s hand with a pitiful expression. “I couldn’t even win an argument with her.”

Indeed, she could never win an argument with Li Zixiao, but in a fight, Li Zixi would win almost every time.

and so……

"You should do what you are good at, instead of trying to compete with others in what they are good at by doing something you are not good at."

Zhou Zhou's words were so tongue-twisting that it took Li Zixi a while to catch her breath. She asked, puzzled, "You mean, if something like this happens again, don't argue, just fight?"

Zhou Zhou: "..."

Who told you to interpret it that way?

Before the matter could be clarified, eunuchs were already chanting loudly that day—

"The Emperor has arrived——"

"The Queen has arrived——"

Everyone, including the king and envoys of Qixi, stood up and bowed.

The people of Chen Kingdom performed a kowtow, saying, "Your subject/son/daughter pays respects to Your Majesty, long live the Emperor!"

The people of Qixi performed their unique form of worship—kneeling on one knee, placing their right hand over their heart, and bowing deeply, saying, "Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty the Emperor, long live Your Majesty!"

"Rise, all of you, and take your seats." After Emperor Chenze led Empress Chu to the high seats, he quietly reprimanded everyone around him. Seeing that they were all respectful, he then said with satisfaction, "King Qixi, please sit down as well."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the dancers entered, followed by the musicians who appeared beside the procession carrying their instruments. With the clear and melodious sounds, the dancers gracefully danced, like butterflies fluttering in the air.

The dancer's graceful movements immediately attracted many eyes. After the dance ended, Emperor Chenze, as always, waved his hand generously, "Good, reward me!"

The dancers and musicians bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

After a short while, Su and Cao suddenly spoke up, "Da Chen's musicians are good, but the dancers are just average."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a hot-tempered military officer slammed his fist on the table, demanding, "What do you mean by that?"

Su and Cao both thought about it carefully and felt that they really couldn't say it that way. "It's my opinion that it's appropriate. Actually, the musicians here aren't that great either."

Li Zixi leaned against Zhou Zhou and muttered under her breath, "Why is he so mean?"

“Maybe it’s because of you.” Zhou Zhou replied without thinking, and immediately met Li Zixi’s fierce eyes.

The argument between Su and Cao had ended. At his signal, the woman next to him removed her veil, revealing her alluring face.

Unlike the ethereal beauty of the dancers from Chen Kingdom, the dancers from Qixi Kingdom are charming and alluring, their movements like seductive enchantresses.

Zhou Zhou's brow twitched, and Li Zixi's lips unconsciously turned down.

After the dance ended, the dancer bowed deeply and said, "This humble girl, Atimula, greets Emperor Chen."

"Hmph, so this is the kind of trash they are?" Someone immediately jumped out to refute Su and Cao. Of course, they were indeed engrossed in watching, but that didn't stop them from targeting them.

Su and Cao were visiting Chen Kingdom for the first time. They had thought they would unite as one, but they didn't expect them to be so shameless. They were stunned - So the person who almost drooled just now wasn't you?