A concubine? You're more like a joke. I'd rather send you to your death.

Seeing that everyone had stood up, Bai Luoluo reluctantly stood up as well.

"...Greetings to the First Prince, Second Prince, and Third Prince!"

They all bowed and paid their respects.

"Please, everyone, no need for formalities, please be seated."

The eldest prince, Gu Yanmo, spoke in a gentle tone.

The people in the main hall sat down one by one. Gu Yanjin saw that Liu Yulan looked aggrieved and thought that she had been bullied.

"Lan'er, what's wrong with you?"

With affection in her eyes, Liu Yulan looked at Gu Yanjin and said in a sweet voice, "This humble woman has come to apologize for offending Miss Bai."

Bai Luoluo didn't even glance at Gu Yanjin, quietly listening to the two adulterers put on their act.

Upon hearing this, Gu Yanjin frowned and glanced at Bai Luoluo, only to find that she wasn't even looking at him.

In the past, whenever he appeared, Bai Luoluo would immediately step forward to pay her respects, always with a shy and delicate demeanor.

Although he looked disgusting, it did not stop her from admiring him.

Why is Bai Luoluo acting like this now, not even willing to look at him?

Is she playing hard to get, trying to get his attention?

"I don't understand what Miss Bai means by this. Why are you bullying Miss Liu?"

Gu Yanjin looked at her, his eyes concealing a hidden anger.

"Rumors say that the Third Prince is brave and wise, but it turns out that it was all an illusion. I was sitting here perfectly fine, when did I ever bully Miss Liu?"

Bai Luoluo did not get up to reply, but stared coldly at Gu Yanjin.

That piece of trash deserves to be the male lead, he's blind.

Gu Yanjin paused, not expecting Bai Luoluo to publicly ridicule him for being stupid.

"Miss Bai, are you not afraid of being punished by the Third Prince for saying such a rebellious thing?"

Liu Yulan's face darkened.

"Even if the Emperor were here today, I dare say it."

I don't know you well, why should I pretend to apologize?

I find it disgusting.

The Third Prince questioned me without asking any questions; was he trying to extract a confession through torture?

As Bai Luoluo spoke, she glanced at everyone in the hall.

She was disgusted by the filthy imperial power and everything here.

At this moment, Gu Yanjin and Liu Yulan were speechless after being rebuked.

After all, Bai Luoluo's words made perfect sense.

Bai Qianqian stood up and bowed slightly to Gu Yanjin. "Your Highness, please understand that my elder sister's personality has changed drastically since she was injured. I hope Your Highness will forgive her for any offense she may have caused."

"So it turns out the injury hasn't fully healed. In that case, let the imperial physician take another look after the banquet."

Gu Yanjin wasn't stupid. With so many people watching, even if he couldn't swallow his anger, it was absolutely impossible to punish Bai Luoluo for such disrespect right now. Instead, he should take advantage of Bai Qianqian's words and go with the flow.

"There's no need for the Third Prince to worry about this; I am perfectly fine."

Bai Luoluo dared to say that because she was certain that Gu Yanjin wouldn't dare to question her; the Emperor was now in charge.

"you........."

Gu Yanjin was furious and strode to his seat.

Seeing that things had come to this, Liu Yulan was extremely embarrassed and took small, quick steps back to her seat.

"Eldest sister, don't cause trouble."

Bai Qianqian said in a low voice.

"If I were killed, wouldn't you become the legitimate daughter?" Bai Luoluo raised an eyebrow and smiled. "No matter when or where, please remember that I am the legitimate daughter. Stop spouting nonsense in front of me. If you dare to say another word, I don't mind slapping you here."

The warning made Bai Qianqian behave much better immediately.

She didn't want to be beaten in front of so many people, but her hatred was surging wildly.

"The Fifth Prince has arrived."

At this moment, the eunuch shouted.

Upon hearing this, everyone stood up and bowed slightly to the man in black who had entered.

Bai Luoluo was very curious about the Fifth Prince, Gu Yanchi, and she raised her eyes slightly to examine him.

He was dressed in a black python robe with a jade pendant hanging at his waist. He was quite tall and wore a mask that obscured his face. However, his eyes were as deep as the ocean, unfathomable. He possessed an extraordinary aura and exuded a chilling presence.

As expected of the villain in the book, his demeanor is very fitting.

Unfortunately, her face was ruined, and Bai Luoluo looked regretful.

"You don't have to be polite."

Gu Yanchi's tone was slightly cold.

The voice made Bai Luoluo frown slightly; it seemed somewhat familiar.

Gu Yanchi sat down in his seat, and the atmosphere in the hall instantly became tense. The crowd that had been chattering just moments before fell silent.

Rumor has it that this fifth prince is a ruthless killer, a god of death in the army.

Before long, the Prime Minister and some ministers walked in.

Looking at the Hanlin Academician, Bai Luoluo felt a surge of sadness welling up in her heart.

The grandfather in the book died in the main hall for the sake of the original owner of the body, which shocked her when she read the book.

At the time, I thought that this grandfather really loved the original owner, and it was really not worth dying for such a love-struck person.

The Hanlin Academician glanced around and, upon seeing his beloved granddaughter, his eyes filled with joy.

After his beloved daughter died, this granddaughter became distant and estranged from him.

Sometimes, just seeing her from afar is enough. As long as she is healthy and happy, nothing else matters.

At this moment, Bai Luoluo cursed the original owner in her heart for being blind and foolish, reaping the consequences of her own actions, and for dying unjustly.

At this moment, the Emperor and Empress arrived together.

Everyone stood up and knelt down to pay their respects.

"Greetings to the Emperor and the Empress."

Bai Luoluo was immediately unhappy. Her legs were straight and upright, and now she had to kneel down to the paper doll. She felt it was too unfair.

However, under the emperor's authority, she had no choice but to kneel.

"All of you, rise. This is a palace banquet. Please sit down, my dear ministers."

The Emperor and Empress sat in the main seats and addressed the kneeling crowd below.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, the Queen."

Everyone stood up and sat down.

The palace banquet officially began, and many palace maids and eunuchs started serving dishes, with a full range of delicious food.

Bai Luoluo sized up the emperor on the dragon throne.

In the original book, he was strangled to death by Gu Yanjin.

The empress, who was the mother of the nation, sat by and watched without offering any intervention.

Looking at the two of them now, treating each other with the utmost respect, it's actually quite ironic.

The empress wore a phoenix crown, which glittered with gold. She looked to be in her thirties or forties, with fair skin, clearly well-maintained.

She has a gentle and dignified appearance and an elegant demeanor, but her eyes reveal ruthlessness and ambition.

The book doesn't describe the emperor much, only that his lifelong love was Consort Yun, who was the one he sought in his life. The two had a son, Gu Yanchi.

However, there is very little description of Consort Yun; it is only said that Consort Yun was banished to the Cold Palace and died in depression.

If Consort Yun hadn't been confined to the Cold Palace back then, she would surely be the Empress now.

The emperor is so handsome, no wonder his sons are all good-looking, each one a heartthrob. The genes are truly amazing.

At this moment, the emperor glanced at Eunuch Yuan beside him.

"Fifth Prince, step forward to receive the imperial decree." Eunuch Yuan held a bright yellow imperial decree with dragon patterns in his hand.

Gu Yanchi stood up, walked to the center of the hall, and knelt down on both knees.

"By the providence of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims,

The Fifth Prince, Gu Yanchi, is a brave and skilled warrior who has repeatedly achieved great feats.

He defeated the Canglang Kingdom, achieving outstanding military exploits for his country and people.

I am very pleased and hereby bestow upon you the title of "King" and the honorary title of "Xiling." This is my decree!

When Eunuch Yuan finished reading the imperial edict in a loud voice, the hall erupted in chaos, with everyone displaying different expressions.