Senior brother is so awesome!

The following is the main text of the novel "{?$article_title?}" ({?$jieqi_title?}) provided by {?$jieqi_sitename?}. Please enjoy! The flower hall was filled with guests. Officials of similar rank sat together without prior arrangement. Those who had reached the third rank or above were all seasoned veterans of the officialdom. On the surface, they chatted very congenially. The wives of officials were also adept at social maneuvering. The waiters serving the dishes moved about nimbly. For a time, the flower hall was quite lively.

The person in charge of entertaining these ladies was still Rouyu, who managed the backyard of the Prince's mansion. She was dressed in a light red silk dress, which looked festive but not too over the top. Although the ladies knew that she was just a concubine, they all respected her very much. After all, in the Regent's mansion, which was full of beauties, there was only one concubine, so her status was naturally different.

Just as the flower hall was filled with guests, in the study, Zhong Zhichen stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the bright moon hanging on the treetops. His brows were slightly furrowed, and his gloomy eyes revealed a hint of ruthlessness. Behind him, a man in black stood with his hands at his sides and his head always down, silently observing, almost imperceptible to others.

After a long while, Zhong Zhichen, ignoring the commotion coming from the flower hall, slowly turned around, wrote a few words on the desk and handed them to the man in black. His expression had never been so serious. "Give the letter to Nangong Xu. The plan remains the same."

The deep yet indifferent voice carried the silence of death. The man in black hurriedly stepped forward respectfully to receive it, clasped his hands in a salute, and disappeared gracefully from the window. The entire process was completely silent; not even the tender leaves of the newly sprouted tree outside the window trembled in the slightest.

He was alone in the study. Sitting in the armchair, he gently took a silk handkerchief from his robes, held it to his nose, and inhaled deeply, as if it carried the most intoxicating fragrance in the world. When he opened his eyes again, a thoughtful, cold smile appeared on his face. "Cicada, for you, your senior brother would do anything..."

A breeze blew in through the window, lifting a corner of a silk handkerchief, on which was embroidered a crooked "cicada" character.

Recalling the light footsteps, he carefully placed the silk handkerchief in his bosom. Just then, a servant reported, "Your Highness, the Emperor has arrived with the Crown Prince. They are currently in the flower hall."

The image of that distinguished old man with gray hair but shrewd eyes appeared before my eyes, his thin lips curving into a narrow smile. What is the purpose of your visit today, you old rascal?

The people in the flower hall were surprised that the Emperor would grace the Regent's birthday banquet with his presence. They all knelt down and shouted "Long live the Emperor!" Only when everyone knelt down did the seventy-year-old man standing tall at the entrance of the flower hall become more prominent.

He wore a silver-gray robe with a belt adorned with a large piece of crystal jade around his waist. His gray hair was covered with a golden crown. The years had left their marks of hardship on his face. Perhaps years of worry had made him look very old. However, his bright eyes showed no signs of the cloudiness of a seventy-year-old man. He exuded the majesty of a person in a high position.

Seeing everyone kneeling, he seemed to enjoy it immensely, raising his head to breathe in the air. The aroma of the food seemed to be the most wonderful fragrance in the world. Once, when he first came to power, the entire Xuanyuan Kingdom belonged to him, and everyone he met treated him with the utmost respect and awe, as if he were a god. But since Zhong Zhichen ascended the throne, everything had quietly undergone earth-shattering changes. Power slipped away from his hands little by little, and by the time he became aware of it, he only had 30% of the power left. The only tragic thing was everything in the palace and the empty title of emperor.

He hated it, but he was powerless, because he held military power in the Xuanyuan Kingdom, and 80% of the officials of the third rank and above were his cronies. They were so well hidden that they could turn against him overnight in a coup! The remaining 20% ​​of officials wanted to protect the emperor, but they were powerless to do so and could only compromise.

Fortunately, all Zhong Zhichen wanted was power; he still held the throne, so it wasn't a disgrace to the Pei family name.

Just then, a handsome man in a dark purple robe embroidered with flying dragons and soaring clouds came in with his hands behind his back. His handsome and cold face curled up slightly as he walked in, and he clasped his hands and said, "It is truly an honor that Your Majesty has graced my humble abode amidst your busy schedule."

He is always different. Everyone bows down to him, but he only needs to offer a meaningless cupped-hand salute. Even his so-called "busy schedule" is full of irony. Now he is truly a puppet emperor, spending his days playing with his concubines in the harem. What political affairs does he have to deal with?

Despite his inner rage at wanting to kill the handsome man before him, he maintained a calm and humble demeanor, saying, "It is only right that I come to celebrate Zhi Chen's 28th birthday. Without you, the Xuanyuan Kingdom would not be as prosperous and flourishing as it is today."

His words were spoken in a grand and dignified manner, making everyone who heard them believe that the emperor truly relied on him. However, Zhong Zhichen himself knew how many people this kind-faced old man had sent to take his life, and there was also the catastrophe more than twenty years ago... Concealing his cold and terrifying gaze, when he raised his head, he still maintained the harmonious image of the emperor and his subject, "Your Majesty is too kind to this humble subject."

Behind the Emperor were Crown Prince Pei Yulin, Prince Chu, and Prince Chu's heir Pei Yunhao. After exchanging greetings, they led the Emperor to sit at the front table. The people sitting around the table were the Left and Right Chancellors and several members of the royal family.

Zhong Zhichen searched through the crowd several times but couldn't find the little girl. Rouyu was busy taking care of her. So, while everyone was chatting, he called her over and asked, "Where is the princess?"

Being so close to the man she loved most, the scent that had haunted her dreams so many times, almost made her head spin. A faint blush rose to her fair cheeks, and she replied softly, "The princess said she wanted to give you a surprise, and told you not to rush to find her. She will come out when the time comes." Suppressing the discomfort and jealousy in her heart, she replied with a warm smile.

He raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, a hint of anticipation creeping in. He nodded, dismissing her, and allowed the banquet to continue.

A large empty space was left in the middle of the flower hall where people sat. The sound of string and wind instruments began, and dancers in revealing dresses filed in. Zhong Zhichen frowned. There had never been dancers in the manor before. This… Upon closer inspection, he recognized some familiar faces. Although he didn’t go to the backyard often, it didn’t mean that those women with their own agendas were frequently loitering around him. He had actually spotted familiar faces. This dance was the work of those women in the backyard.

They were already scantily clad, their fair skin gleaming in the sunlight, each one alluring and seductive, much to the delight of the unsuspecting officials (search the book title on Baidu + Haitian Chinese for the fastest updates). It was a pity for the officials' wives, who were furious but could say nothing, forced to swallow their anger.

He didn't care. Holding his wine glass, he looked at the clear liquid inside, as if there were peerless beauties inside. If they weren't his, he wouldn't care. These women were too foolish. If he were an ordinary person, how would he feel if he saw his concubines dancing in front of guests in revealing clothes?

After watching with interest for a while, the Emperor turned to Zhong Zhichen and said, "Zhichen is not young anymore. Should I bestow a daughter upon you in marriage?"

Zhong Zhichen tilted his head back with a flourish, downed the wine in his cup, and then said in a very unrestrained manner, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty, but unfortunately I already have a princess."

Like a thunderclap from a clear sky, everyone at the table stared wide-eyed in disbelief at the seemingly relaxed Regent. How could this extremely cold-hearted man suddenly have a wife? What kind of beauties hadn't he seen over the years? What kind of stunning woman could possibly be holding his hand?

A glint flashed in the Emperor's eyes, and a conspiracy was forming in his mind. But a moment later, he turned his head and looked surprised. "When will Zhichen get married? Why didn't you tell me? I could have prepared some small gifts."

He raised his head, laughing freely, "Your Majesty should keep it for yourself. I have whatever I want."

These words were extremely disrespectful, yet no one present dared to utter a word of dissent. Only the Emperor, his old face somewhat embarrassed, gave an awkward laugh and covered up the matter with practiced ease, indicating that this was not the first time he had encountered such a situation.

With beautiful women adding to the merriment, the atmosphere quickly became lively. He kept glancing towards the door, but couldn't see her. He frowned, his grip on the wine glass tightening as he considered the worst-case scenario. His gaze fell on Rouyu, who was chatting with the Princess of Chu, and his eyes suddenly turned cold. His aura unconsciously radiated deathly stillness. Anyone who let Chan'er leave his side again, he would surely tear that person to pieces!

The music was nearing its climax, rapid and melodious, while the alluring dancers began to spin rapidly. Suddenly, a deafening drumbeat rang out—no, a military drum! The deep, resonant sound filled everyone's ears. At that moment, the dancers arched their backs sharply, throwing long, thin red silk ribbons into the air!

Suddenly, a woman dressed in fiery red and veiled appeared among the dancers! Everyone was shocked at when she had appeared. Some stared at the dancers in the arena without blinking, as if she were a fairy who had descended from the sky and appeared before them like a wisp of green smoke.

She wore bright red lantern pants and a tight-fitting red silk top embroidered with intricate patterns. Her bright eyes shimmered with a watery light, and seemed to sparkle with life in every blink. A red flower adorned her dark eyebrows, and her hair was styled in a flying fairy bun, revealing her long, snow-white neck. The contrast between white and red was perfectly showcased on her.

The sound of silk and bamboo instruments rose slowly, as if a fairy had quietly appeared in the forest, gently swaying her waist and the ribbon in her hand. Her slender waist was exposed with a beautiful curve, and what was most breathtaking was the half-bead embedded in her round and delicate navel, which shone with a bright light and appeared faintly when she danced, which was extremely charming!

Everyone froze, their gazes involuntarily following the woman in the center of the room, as if she were a fairy descended from heaven. Although her face was veiled, her stunning beauty could still be glimpsed beneath.

However, amidst the stunned silence, two people remained unfazed. One was Zhong Zhichen, his face a mask of mixed emotions—joy and anger—while the other was Pei Yunhao, the Crown Prince of Chu. His large, round eyes gazed intently at the veiled woman's face, lost in thought. She was too familiar; it was as if he had seen her countless times in his dreams. Though her eyes had been carefully painted, they couldn't conceal the innocence of her youth.

---Aside---

It's too late, too late, there's not enough time left.