After the delicate and soft-spoken wife gave up, the aloof and powerful minister embraced her and sh

Wen Jiayue clenched her fists tightly, her fingertips turning white from the force, her nails almost digging into her flesh.

In an instant, the image of Li Zhilan with a cruel smile on his lips, throwing the dead Zhaozhao to her, flashed through her mind.

This scene overlaps with Li Zhilan's beaming entrance into the hall.

She liked flamboyant colors, and still wore an incomparably luxurious red dress, unaware of how much blood it was stained with.

Wen Jiayue tried her best to control her emotions, and when she reached her limit, her body trembled slightly.

She took a deep breath; she couldn't lose her composure, she had to at least maintain a calm facade.

Li Zhilan slowly entered Jinfu Palace.

As she passed by, Wen Jiayue lowered her eyes, avoiding eye contact, worried about revealing the deepest hatred hidden in her heart.

Li Zhilan stood in the center of the hall and spoke with a smile.

"I accidentally fell asleep before entering the palace. I never imagined that this sleep would make me so late. I hope His Majesty won't be angry with me?"

Although she spoke words of apology, her expression remained indifferent.

As the emperor's trusted and relied-upon elder sister, she naturally had nothing to fear.

The emperor quickly said, "Of course I won't blame you, my elder sister. Please sit down."

Li Zhilan's position was right next to the emperor, in the most conspicuous spot.

She gracefully took her seat, and everyone in the hall except the emperor stood up.

Wen Jiayue slowly rose and followed the others in bowing.

"Long live the Princess! Long live the Princess!"

The sounds in the hall were deafening, but Wen Jiayue remained silent with her head down.

She was afraid that if she made a sound, she would completely destroy the calm she had managed to build up.

Fortunately, there were many people, so it wouldn't make a difference if she were the only one to wish Li Zhilan a long life.

She was sitting far away, so no one would notice.

"Please rise, everyone. Today is the New Year's Eve banquet, there is no need to be so formal."

Li Zhilan's clear voice came through.

Wen Jiayue sat down again with the others, slowly exhaled, and glanced at the people around her without making a sound.

The old lady didn't even look at her. The lady on the right was coaxing the child, while Shen Fuhan and Shen Fuyou in front never turned around.

No one noticed the turmoil raging in her heart.

Wen Jiayue secretly cheered herself up, thinking that she had already done a great job.

She thought that she would be unable to hide her hatred when she saw Li Zhilan, but she didn't expect to appear relatively calm.

The singing and dancing continued, the ministers toasted each other, and the women chatted amongst themselves.

Wen Jiayue drank a cup of tea, calming the fire burning in her heart.

I put down the teacup, but my palms were aching slightly.

She frowned and opened her hand, revealing four crescent-shaped wounds on her palm, with a little blood on her fingertips.

She was stunned. Had he used so much force?

Wen Jiayue casually wiped the blood off her fingernails.

But how do you explain this injury?

She paused for a moment, then thought it wouldn't matter; as long as she didn't stick her hand out, no one would notice.

She was only grateful that she had the strength to kill Li Zhilan in her past life; otherwise, if she had waited until this life, she would have rushed up without hesitation.

The New Year's Eve banquet proceeded smoothly for half of the year, just like in the previous one. People began to walk around the palace, offering toasts to the emperor or elders.

Shen Fuyou couldn't stay still any longer and asked in a low voice, "Big brother, can I go play at Wang Er's place for a while?"

He pointed in the direction of his friend, and Shen Fuhan looked over and nodded slightly.

He turned around and said the same thing to his grandmother and sister-in-law.

The old lady frowned and said, "Can't you just sit still?"

“My older brother has already agreed.” Shen Fuyou made a face. “Sister-in-law, I’m going now.”

Wen Jiayue had already heard this, and upon hearing it, she nodded and offered a word of advice.

"Don't drink too much alcohol."

Aside from being summoned by the Emperor and taking walks in the Imperial Garden, today is almost no different from my previous life.

But at this time in her previous life, Shen Fuyou had already died, yet today she appeared at the palace banquet.

She didn't want Shen Fuyou to become that variable.

Shen Fuyou assured her, "Don't worry, sister-in-law, I know what I'm doing in this situation."

He quickly slipped away.

Shen Fuhan drank the wine in his cup in one gulp.

A eunuch approached and whispered, "Lord Shen, the Emperor summons you."

He nodded, got up, and left.

The emperor was slightly tipsy, but still conscious. Upon seeing him, he smiled and said, "Minister Shen."

Before Shen Fuhan could speak, Li Zhilan opened her mouth with a smile.

"I just saw Lord Shen drinking alone, so I took the liberty of having His Majesty invite you over. I hope I haven't disturbed you?"

"No."

"That's good."

Li Zhilan had a palace maid pour two cups of wine, and then personally handed one to him.

"Lord Shen, could you possibly grant me this favor?"

Shen Fuhan paused for a moment, then took it.

Li Zhilan smiled and said, "Lord Shen is a pillar of the nation. Next year, the Great Zhou will still rely on Lord Shen. I hope that Lord Shen and I will drink this cup to the fullest."

Shen Fuhan drank it all in one gulp.

Li Zhilan slowly finished his drink, toying with the wine cup, and looked in Wen Jiayue's direction.

She asked casually, "Why didn't Lord Shen bring his wife along to offer a toast? It's as if you've neglected her."

Shen Fuhan said calmly, "My wife is timid and dares not meet Your Majesty."

“Is that so?” Li Zhilan sighed softly. “She was sitting there all alone, looking really pitiful.”

Shen Fuhan frowned, but didn't look in that direction at all, and ordered the palace maid to pour wine.

"This cup is offered to you by your humble servant."

Li Zhilan's red lips curved slightly, and her slender hand, painted with bright red nail polish, reached out, but instead of picking up the wine, it rested on the back of his hand.

Just as their fingertips were about to touch, Shen Fuhan immediately dodged.

He asked coldly, "What does the Eldest Princess mean by this?"

Li Zhilan didn't feel embarrassed at all, and smiled nonchalantly.

"I was mistaken for someone else, please forgive me, Lord Shen."

"It seems you're already drunk."

Shen Fuhan put down his wine cup, a hint of anger on his face.

"Your Highness, please rest well. I will return now."

Li Zhilan said lazily, "Go ahead."

Looking at his slender and upright back, a hint of interest appeared in her eyes.

What's the point of a man who comes to you for free? It's definitely the kind of man who's the most challenging.

If I could conquer him, it would be more satisfying than taming a few wild horses.

Shen Fuhan returned to his seat and sat down.

The old lady hurriedly asked, "Fuhan, what do the Emperor and the Princess want with you?"

"It's nothing, just a toast."

Wen Jiayue glanced at his expression; it was calm and indifferent, revealing nothing at all.

But nothing happened in my past life, so it shouldn't matter.

But just now she felt that Li Zhilan glanced in her direction a few times, she wondered if it was just her imagination.

As he was pondering this, someone came to toast Shen Fuhan; they seemed to be officials from the Dali Temple as well.

She listened half-heartedly and ate a piece of mung bean cake.

The tension subsided, and her stomach began to rumble; she was getting hungry.

Just as she was about to eat the second piece, the old lady suddenly spoke up.

"Lord Zhao, do you know how Fu Han got the handprint on his face?"