Mu Yunhan, in a split second, changed his face and reached out his hand, and knocked at Mu Yunjin's head.
"Cheeky."
Mu Yunjin smiled.
"They say that Sixth Younger brother's wife and Xiong zhang's (term of respect like calling elder brother) relationship is good. Apparently, it is not a lie."
Not knowing when he has walked over, Chu Qing is now beside Mu Yunjin and Mu Yunhan, his eyes contain a ruminating smile.
Mu Yunjin usually disliked Chu Qing. Now, listening to Chu Qing's cynical voice, she is unwilling to pay attention to Chu Qing so she simply smiled.
"Third Prince, Fifth Princess, and Eight Prince's relationship are also not bad."
"Sixth brother's wife and Sixth Younger brother has been married for a month now. How could we still be regarded as outsiders. You should say Third Brother Fifth Sister and Eighth Brother."
Chu Qing replied.
Mu Yunjin pulled the corners of her mouth but she did not speak. Afterwards, along with Mu Yunhan they went towards the banquet table and ignored Chu Qing.
Chu Qing looked at Mu Yunjin's back view, his eyes flashed a trace of interest.
Just as they are seated, a commotion is heard in the banquet doorway. Mu Yunjin lifted her eyes to look and saw Chu Qingqiang and Chu Qingyuan coming in together.
When Chu Qingyuan saw Mu Yunjin, she ran towards Mu Yunjin and smiled.
"Sixth Sister-in-law, long time no see."
Mu Yunjin saw Chu Qingyuan's face and gave a light laugh while nodding her head towards Chu Qingyuan.
"Xiao Jiu, why are you always so unruly."
Behind her comes Chu Qingqiang's cold and ridiculing voice. Chu Qingqiang walked slowly behind Chu Qingyuan and in a cold manner and slight loathing, looked at Mu Yunjin. Then, she glanced towards Mu Yunhan sitting beside Mu Yunjin and was slightly stumped for words.
"Greeting the two princesses."
Mu Yunhan stood up and made his salutations towards the two. Chu Qingqiang looked at Mu Yunhan with a trace of admiration. Then she nodded towards Mu Yunhan.
"You are Major General Mu?"
"Precisely."
Mu Yunhan faintly replied. Chu Qingqiang slightly pursed her lip, and stroked her cheek, appearing to swoon. Soon after, she took a seat at the side. Mu Yunjin followed Chu Qingqiang with her eyes, she saw Chu Qingyuan seat on another seat then she looked at Mu Yunhan again. She slightly raised an eyebrow and whispered to Mu Yunhan in a low voice.
"Too bad, you like to attract a rotten peach blossom."
When Mu Yunhan heard what was said, he scooped a quick look towards Mu Yunjin.
……
Not long after, Xi Ming Emperor and the Empress came to the banquet hall together. Zheng Taihou and Qin Taifei each took a seat at Xi Ming Emperor and Empress, not yielding at all.
Earlier at the Imperial Garden, Mu Yunjin had a row with Li Fei and Wan Fei. As it turns out, they sat directly in front of Mu Yunjin's seat.
After giving the ceremony, everyone sat down.
Xi Ming Emperor sat at the host seat on top of the Palace Hall, he looked around and his line of sight fell on Mu Yunjin's seat.
"Where is Li'er?"
"Li'er is occupied with something, and cannot come."
Afraid the Mu Yunjin will be confronted by Xi Ming Emperor, Qin Taifei awkwardly rushed to answer on behalf of Mu Yunjin.
Hearing it, Xi Ming Emperor nodded.
Then, Xi Ming Emperor again looked at Mu Yunjin and picked up his wine cup.
"Yunjin, during your and Li'er's wedding day Zhen (Imperial "I") is preoccupied with the affairs of the nation and had no time to go. Today, Zhen offers you this cup."
Hearing Xi Ming Emperor's voice, Mu Yunjin stared blankly before taking her wine cup with both hands. She got up and went forward.
"Thank you, Em... Emperor Father, Yunjin is overwhelmed by your favor."
Xi Ming Emperor nodded towards Mu Yunjin and waved his hand.
"Sit down, today, everyone is family. There is no need to stand on ceremony."
Seeing that the Xi Ming Emperor did not make things difficult for her, Mu Yunjin slightly relaxed. She clearly remembered that the Emperor originally made a supreme effort to oppose this marriage. It is only that calling Emperor Father and Empress Mother out loud is really awkward.
After the banquet had begun, Mu Yunjin absent-mindedly ate the food on the table. From time to time, out of the corners of her eyes she watches Chu Qingqiang. She found that from the start to now, Chu Qingqiang had looked at Mu Yunhan almost five times already.
Mu Yunjin dismissed her thoughts, drinking some tea she gloomily sighed. To think that if this woman becomes her sister-in-law, in the future the sky of the Xiang fu will be overturned.
"Aiyo, today is a fine time, aijia still wants to properly offer Li'er and Yunjin, this young newly weds a toast. Unexpectedly, Li'er did not attend."
Within the Palace Hall, Zheng Taihou suddenly exclaimed aloud to let everyone present hear her clearly.
When the words fell, Zheng Taihou suddenly faced Mu Yunjin and cast a smile.
"Yunjin, you and Li'er had just got married. Aijia is under the impression that you will come to offer a cup of tea to aijia at the Feng Ming Palace. I can't wait for you the whole day."
"Your congratulatory gift has also been prepared but was not able to deliver it to you. Today is an opportune moment to meet you, Aijia will have it brought out."
At the side, Yang Momo held a small box and went forward to Mu Yunjin and opened the small brocade box in front of Mu Yunjin.
"This is a tribute offering from Bei Ming Country, a chain of moonstone pearl. It is extremely precious, wearing it is surely fitting."
Zhen Taihou smiled.
Mu Yunjin shot a glance at the moonstone pearl necklace's quality. She is even more curious about Zheng Taihou, purposely showing off.
At this moment, Li Fei exclaimed in admiration.
"This pearl chain is really dazzling, Taihou niangniang sincerely loves Liu huangzifei dearly."
"Since Liu huangzifei had not yet done the tea ceremony to Zheng Taihou niangniang, it would be better to take advantage of today to make up for it.
If not, you should not gratuitously accept the gift, right?"
Li Fei laughed.
Mu Yunjin bit her lip, her eyes deep in thought as she swept her eyes towards Li Fei.
Spreading out the bedding for a long time, it turns out this is the trick that is waiting for her.
Li Fei retaliated to Mu Yunjin with a smile. Soon after, she looked towards the Xi Ming Emperor and coquettishly opened her mouth.
"Your Majesty, you say yes or no? Such etiquette shouldn't be missed right?"
Xi Ming Emperor nodded. His Highness looked at Mu Yunjin.
"Since that is the case, then we will do the tea offering ceremony."
Hearing this, Qin Taifei's complexion slightly changed but she could not refute the situation. She can't help but inwardly curse Zheng Taihou that cheap person. Soon after, with tender eyes, she looked at Mu Yunjin filled with distress.
Mu Yunjin is the first to be overwhelmed, but inside this palace hall practically everyone in Xi Yuan country plays a critical role. She cannot rashly offend.
It seems like Zheng Taihou, this woman, making her give salutation is to make her suffer her pent up grievances?
"Someone, come and prepare some tea."
Li Fei tauntingly said as she looked at Mu Yunjin in front of her. Her eyes smeared with a victorious look.
A moment later, a palace maid came carrying a tray with a cup of tea.
Mu Yunhan cast a glance at Mu Yunjin and saw her wringed eyebrows. With a low, edged voice he said:
"Endure it."
Hearing it, Mu Yunjin faintly nodded. Just as she is preparing to get up, a sound arose from outside the door together with a notification from the palace eunuch.
"Liu huangzi has arrived."
Afterward, they saw a purple figure slowly entered the doors. His eyes are dark as ink, his whole body exudes a clear brilliance like water tossing of billows.
With a glimpse of Chu Li's silhouette, Mu Yunjin is indescribably relieved. After paying his respects to Xi Ming Emperor and the Empress, Chu Li shot a glance around him before walking towards Mu Yunjin and sat down beside her. In the process, his line of sight barely stayed in Mu Yunjin for a moment. Mu Yunjin sat in her place, completely aware of the purple figure beside her. She felt a slight chilliness and trembled a bit.
Just as Chu Li sat down, Li Fei's sneering voice is heard again.
"Liu huangzifei, since the ceremony is paused, the tea is almost cold, you should quickly prepare to offer the tea."
Hearing Li Fei's voice, Chu Li coldly looked at Mu Yunjin, then at the pearl on the table. Then, with a cold eyes, he looked at Li fei in front of them.
"To whom is the tea for?"
Chu Li's voice is cold and displeased.
Li Fei is scared by the chilly gaze, and did not dare to look at Chu Li. Soon, she smiled as she explained and looked towards the Taihou.
"Liu huangzifei had already accepted to do the tea offering ceremony to Zheng Taihou. Liu huangzifei should comply to make up for the previous missed tea ceremony."
"Oh."
Chu Li faintly replied.
Hearing his 'oh', Mu Yunjin's heart slightly fell. She casted a sidelong glance towards Chu Li, this ……
Just as she was preparing to think about an action, Chu Li's crisp and clear voice sounded again.
"Since that is the case, the ceremony, we'll go back."
(TL: I think he is pertaining to repeating the wedding ceremony.)
Everyone is surprised.
Even Mu Yunjin is startled as she digests Chu Li's words. Mu Yunjin grinned, wishing to give Chu Li a thumbs up.
It is now quiet inside the hall, Qin Taifei suddenly gave a pfft laughing sound. Everyone followed the sound and by the time they looked at her, she immediately composed herself and waved her hand.
"Its nothing, aijia, aijia merely thought of something funny."
Being directly rejected by Chu Li and getting laughed at by Qin Taifei, Zheng Taihou is embarrassed and her heart is filled with piled-up anger, wanting to flare up but cannot.
Li Fei, in response, smiled once more.
"Liu huangzi likes to joke, this congratulatory gift is already given out. To put it away again is ominous."
"The tea offering ceremony is also a rule passed by the ancestors. It is a symbol of auspiciousness. Liu huangzifei offering tea today will also let us draw a lively image."
When Chu Li heard, his face broke into a smile.
"Li Fei, since you feel strongly about this tea offering ceremony, then you go and offer the tea."
When his words fell, Chu Li raised his hand and waved. The pearl that is originally on Mu Yunjin's table, together with the brocade box suddenly soared and flew on top of Li Fei's table.
Li Fei's complexion turned white.
Xi Ming Emperor saw all this and helplessly looked at Chu Li.
"Li'er, don't be rude."
"Emperor Son, Li'er, this temper. Today is a family feast, and the children are here. You must not confuse it as a tea offering ceremony. Besides, aijia already drank Yunjin's offered tea. It is auspicious enough."
Qin Taifei spoke in a consoling voice.
Hearing this, the empress who was silent from the beginning, agreed.
"That is right. Originally, Li 'er wasn't here, so today's banquet felt somewhat spoiled when lacking. This time, it can be considered as having a reunion."
Hearing the empress say 'having a reunion', Xi Ming Emperor's complexion turned a bit better.
As for the matter of offering tea, Chu Li has overturned it.
Mu Yunjin saw that no one has spoken about the matter of tea ceremony, she relaxed. Then she turned her head and looked at Chu Li whom she had not seen for a month. Chu Li, this person, seems a bit cold again. It may be assumed that whatever happened in this one month, he is not happy.
As she was thinking, Shen Momo approached Mu Yunjin and leaned over to whisper.
"Huangzifei, quickly pour His Highness some wine."
Mu Yunjin looked distracted, and noticed that from when Chu Li entered the door, no one has poured him a wine. Thus, she pursed her lips, picked up the wine pot from the table, and reached out her hands towards Chu Li's table and filled his wine cup. Just as she put down the wine pot, Shen Momo once again pulled Mu Yunjin to whisper.
"Give His Highness some dishes…."
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