The hall was brightly lit.
Sitting on the main seat right above was the eldest princess Nangong Huoyue, who was wearing a fiery red dress and had a dignified face.
On her left sat a middle-aged man wearing a pale golden python robe.
The middle-aged man was tall, with a fair face and no beard. He was handsome, gentle and had a warm smile on his face.
This person was none other than the Holy Envoy sent by Kyoto this time, Prince Nangong Yufeng of Southern Kingdom.
According to seniority, he is also the uncle of the eldest princess Nangong Huoyue.
But let alone a prince, even if he was a prince, given the eldest princess's current status and power, he could only sit below.
After all, the eldest princess is not only the ruler of the Fire Moon Kingdom, but also the general of Tiance of Dayan, and the elder sister of the Emperor of Dayan.
During the previous emperor's time, her status was already above that of all the kings.
At this time, the two were chatting about what had happened recently in Kyoto.
As for the other guests, even the Lord of Mo City, Jiang Jinnan, they could only stand below with their heads bowed and speak in a low voice.
The eldest lady of Chengguo Mansion, Wang, was dressed in luxurious clothes. She was slightly bent over, and greeted the guests entering the hall with a smile on her face.
When she saw Qin Wenzheng and his wife coming in, her eyes sparkled and she immediately greeted them warmly: "Master Qin, Sister Song, welcome, welcome."
Qin Wen Zheng just nodded politely.
Song Ruyue immediately smiled and said, "Sister Wang, congratulations, you really raised a good son. At such a young age, he has earned you the title of Consort. Alas, my sons are not as good as mine, none of them are useful."
Wang smiled and said modestly: "No, no, it's all because of the grace and love of the emperor. Changtian is just doing his duty."
Song Ruyue pursed her lips with a forced smile and said nothing more. She followed Qin Wenzhen into the hall to pay her respects to the Princess and the Prince of Southern Kingdom, with her fists clenched tightly in her sleeves.
The eldest princess just nodded indifferently and said nothing.
The Southern Kingdom Prince smiled gently and said, "Master Qin still looks young. When I went to Dragon Tiger Academy some time ago, I met your eldest son Qin Lang. That young man is very good. I heard from the teachers in the academy that he has now broken through to the late martial arts master level. He is really young and promising."
Qin Wen Zheng quickly thanked him and said a few humble words.
Song Ruyue's depression and frustration finally subsided a little.
The Southern Kingdom Prince smiled again and said, "Lord Qin, are you and your wife the only ones here today? I heard that your Qin family and Lord Luo's family are getting married. Last month, when I went to visit Uncle Jing, I heard him mention this matter. At the beginning, the marriage contract between your two children was witnessed by Uncle Jing, right?"
As soon as these words were spoken, not only did Qin Wen Zheng's expression change slightly, but Wang, who was standing beside him with her head bowed, also changed her expression.
Luo Yannian, who had just brought in a guest, also heard this and hurried forward to say respectfully, "Your Highness, I have already written a letter to inform Prince Jing of this matter, and Prince Jing is already aware of it."
"oh?"
Prince Nangong smiled upon hearing this and nodded, "That's good."
Seeing that the two families looked a little strange, he guessed that things might not be that simple, so he did not ask any more questions in front of so many guests.
Several waves of guests arrived one after another.
Song Ruyue went into the inner room and talked with other women, whispering about the fact that Wang was granted the title of Lady of Imperial Concubine, all of them with envy on their faces.
"Alas, his son has done well and has made it to the palace, becoming a favorite of the emperor. His future is limitless."
"And her second son, I heard he is the most likely candidate to be admitted to Dragon Tiger College in Mo City next year..."
"Look at the other person's two sons, and then look at my good-for-nothing son. I wish I could go back and beat them with a stick. Tell me, we are both human beings, with one head, one mouth, two arms and two legs, so why are the other person's two sons so good?"
"The Chengguo Mansion will surely prosper in the future. By then, I'm afraid our small Mo City won't be able to accommodate their huge Buddha statue."
"Ruyue, why don't you say anything? Are you feeling bad?"
"Hey, look at it calmly. We can't compete with them. If we can't compete with them in this generation, we will definitely not be able to compete with them in the next generation. Your Qin family and Chengguo Mansion are relatives and old friends. As long as you hold on to this thigh, your Qin Mansion will definitely regroup and rise to prominence in the future."
Song Ruyue had a wooden face and did not reply.
A woman suddenly remembered something: "By the way, Ruyue, I heard that your Qin Chuan will also participate in the Dragon Tiger College entrance examination next year?"
After these words were spoken, the other women looked at each other and understood.
It turns out that what they just talked about hurt this person.
One of the women quickly comforted her, "Ruyue, we were just talking casually. Next year, Dragon Tiger Academy will recruit students. With so many warriors participating, no one can be sure who will win. Your Qin Chuan works so hard, there must be hope for next year."
"Yes, yes, there is definitely hope. Chuan'er is such a hard-working kid, even if he doesn't pass the exam next year, he will still have a chance the year after."
The other women began to comfort her.
Song Ruyue forced a smile on her face.
At this time, all the guests outside had arrived.
The Prince of the Southern Kingdom stood up, took out the imperial edict and prepared to announce it.
In the hall, except for the eldest princess Nangong Huoyue who just stood up and bowed slightly, everyone else knelt on the ground.
When the women in the inner room heard this, their faces changed. They hurriedly stood up from their chairs, walked out quickly, and knelt on the ground in unison.
The guests outside the door also knelt down hurriedly.
The entire Chengguo Mansion immediately fell silent.
The Prince of the Southern Kingdom unfolded the imperial edict and began to read aloud the emperor's will.
The general idea is that Luo Changtian, the eldest son of Chengguo Mansion, performed his duties faithfully, killed assassins, and guarded the safety of the imperial palace, etc. The merits of Chengguo Mansion’s ancestors were mentioned, and in order to show favor and reward, Chengguo Mansion’s first lady Wang Yun was specially granted the title of Imperial Lady...
After the Prince of Southern Kingdom finished reading the imperial edict, he took the peacock crown specially made for his wife from the eunuch, walked up to Wang who was kneeling on the ground, and handed it to her.
Wang took it with trembling hands, and tears immediately filled her eyes. She touched her forehead to the ground and expressed gratitude with a trembling voice.
Luo Yannian also brought Luo Yu and other people from Chengguo Mansion to kneel down and kowtow to express their gratitude.
The Southern Kingdom Prince said in a gentle voice: "Madam, please put on the colorful crown. The emperor also gave you a peacock robe and a double phoenix robe. Tonight is your most glorious moment. You must wear these things to show the emperor's grace."
"Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful for your grace!"
Wang kowtowed again with trembling hands, holding the colorful crown in her hands, her whole body shaking with excitement.
The Southern Kingdom Prince said with a smile, "Now you are no longer a commoner, but a lady of honor. Madam, please get up quickly. The imperial decree has been read out. You don't have to kneel any more."
Wang was so excited that her whole body became weak and tears welled up in her eyes. For a moment, she couldn't even stand up.
Seeing this, Luo Yu hurriedly stood up, bowed, walked over, helped her up, then took the colorful crown from her hand and carefully helped her put it on her head.
The other women kneeling in the hall were all envious when they saw this scene.
Song Ruyue's eyes turned red, her lips trembled, she gritted her teeth, and tried to tell herself: I'm not envious, I'm not envious, I'm not envious at all...
"Madam, these are the xiayi and xiapi, please put them on too."
The Prince of the Southern Kingdom pointed at the plate in the eunuch's hand.
Wang bowed her head and thanked him again in a trembling voice.
Luo Yu bent down and took the Xiayi and Xiapi from the plate, helped her put them on, and said softly: "Mother, you are so beautiful today."
Wang's eyes suddenly became hot and her face was full of tears. She couldn't help but kneel down and kowtow to express her gratitude again.
The Southern Kingdom Prince quickly helped her up, and said to the others who were still kneeling on the ground: "Everyone, get up."
Everyone then stood up one after another.
Princess Nangong Huoyue glanced outside and said, "Lord Luo, can the dinner begin? I have something else tonight and need to go back early."
Luo Yannian hurriedly said respectfully: "Your Highness, please wait a moment, the dinner will begin soon."
He then quickly instructed the butler and servants to start serving wine and food, and personally arranged the seats for each guest.
The table in the middle of the hall was naturally where the eldest princess and the prince of the Southern Kingdom sat.
Sitting at this table were several nobles with titles.
Qin Wenzhen and his wife were also arranged to stay here.
The first lady, Madam Wang, wearing a colorful crown and a rosy robe, stood respectfully behind Nangong Huoyue, ready to pour wine for her personally.
The Southern Kingdom Prince at the side said with a smile: "Madam Luo is the protagonist today, how can she stand and pour the wine? Let the maid do it, Madam, please take a seat."
Just as Wang was about to decline, Luo Yu came over, took the wine pot from her hand, and said with a smile, "Mother, please sit down and have a few drinks with the Princess and the Prince. I will pour wine for you."
Wang looked at him tenderly and had to sit down next to the eldest princess, but she only dared to lower half of her buttocks, lowered her eyebrows and looked submissive, still maintaining a cautious and respectful look on her face.
Nangong Huoyue suddenly looked up at Qin Wenzheng and said, "By the way, Mr. Qin, your second lady, the most talented lady in Mo City, didn't come tonight?"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's eyes turned to Qin Wenzhen and his wife.
Wang, who should have been the focus of the night, suddenly twitched the muscles at the corners of her eyes and looked over.
Nangong Huoyue smiled and said, "Seventh Uncle usually loves to communicate with literati and scholars, and he also likes poetry the most. After coming to Mo City today, I heard about your second Miss Qin's amazing talent and praised her highly. I really want to meet her, right, Seventh Uncle?"
The Prince of the Southern Kingdom beside him said with a smile, "The poems written by Miss Qin Er are indeed amazing. I have seen them when I was browsing the files on the Song family's conspiracy in Kyoto. Today, when I came to Mo City, I heard about several other poems. I am really eager to see the style of the most talented woman in your mansion, Mo City."
Qin Wenzheng was a little embarrassed: "This... little girl..."
He turned his head and looked at Song Ruyue beside him, and whispered, "Why haven't Weimo and the others come yet?"
Song Ruyue was also anxious. Just as she was about to get up and go back to the mansion to call for help, Wang suddenly smiled and said, "Your Highness, the Prince of the County doesn't know that the second young lady of the Qin family is very weak. Once she catches a cold, she will cough non-stop and may even cough until she faints. It's a cold and windy night at this time, so I'm afraid it's inconvenient for her, so she didn't come."
The Prince of the Southern Kingdom frowned and said, "I see. In that case, Sir Qin, then there is no need to bother."
Wang said respectfully, "Your Highness, have you ever seen my son Changtian when you were in the palace? That child hasn't come back for two years, and he only writes once every six months. Sigh, as a mother..."
Before he finished speaking, a servant's voice suddenly came from outside the door: "Master, Madam, the second young lady of the Qin family and the son-in-law of the Qin family are here. Which table should we arrange them to?"
Without waiting for Luo Yannian to speak, Nangong Huoyue said, "Let them come in and sit here."
Luo Yannian immediately said in a deep voice: "Go quickly."
The servants withdrew immediately.
The muscles at the corners of Wang's eyes twitched and she stopped talking.
Luo Yu stood behind him, narrowed his eyes and looked outside the door.
Not long.
Miss Qin Er, wearing a snow-white fox fur coat, lowered her head slightly and walked in slowly with the support of Qiu'er.
Luo Qingzhou lowered his head and followed behind.
Song Ruyue stood up and went to support her daughter, and said to the two of them, "Go and greet the Princess and His Royal Highness the Prince."
Luo Qingzhou and Miss Qin Er immediately bowed their heads and paid homage to the two men.
Nangong Huoyue nodded slightly and said nothing.
The Prince of the Southern Kingdom stared at Miss Qin for a few seconds, and could not help but frown and sigh, "Sir Qin, your daughter is indeed a natural beauty, gentle and dignified, with a charming demeanor. It's a pity that her body is indeed a little weak."
Qin Wenzheng sighed and said, "This child has been like this since he was young. He has seen too many doctors and taken countless medicines, but there is no improvement."
Prince Nangong sighed again: "What a pity, what a pity, the little prince originally had a son, but he hasn't married yet..."
At this point, he noticed the young man behind him and asked, "Is your daughter married?"
He seemed to remember that when the servant came to report just now, he said that the second young lady of the Qin family and her husband had arrived. Could it be that this young man was the husband of the most talented woman in Mo City
Qin Wenzheng said: "Not yet."
Prince Nangong was stunned for a moment, and was about to speak, when Song Ruyue quickly added, "Your Highness, although we haven't gotten married yet, it will be soon. My daughter already has a lover, and we will probably get married next year."
As soon as these words came out, someone who was standing behind the mother and daughter looked up at her.
Wang suddenly smiled and said, "Sister Song, who is Wei Mo's sweetheart? Why don't you introduce her to His Royal Highness?"
Song Ruyue ignored her and pointed at someone behind her and said respectfully, "Your Highness, this is my son-in-law, the husband of my eldest daughter. Of course, he has another identity, he is the illegitimate son of Master Luo of Chengguo Mansion."
As soon as these words were spoken, Wang's face changed suddenly.
Prince Nangong showed a hint of surprise on his face. He looked at both parties carefully, and thought about the awkward attitudes of the two families when he mentioned the marriage before. He suddenly understood.
He smiled calmly and didn't ask any more questions. He said, "Sit down and eat first. Xiao Wang is a little hungry too."
Song Ruyue didn't dare say anything more. She helped her daughter walk to the table and sat down.
Qin Weimo was about to sit down when he quickly turned around and said, "Brother-in-law, come here quickly."
Just as Luo Qingzhou was about to walk over, Wang suddenly scolded him with a cold face: "Qingzhou, didn't we teach you the rules when we were in Chengguo Mansion? Now the Princess and His Royal Highness are here, how dare you, a bastard and a son-in-law, take a seat?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the hall suddenly fell silent.
Luo Qingzhou glanced at her, then at Luo Yu who was standing behind her, and continued to walk forward, standing behind Song Ruyue, and said in a neither humble nor arrogant manner: "Madam, Qingzhou did not say he wanted to sit down. Qingzhou stood here, pouring wine and tea for the father-in-law, mother-in-law and the second young lady. Isn't this allowed?"
Wang's face suddenly darkened: "How dare you be so stubborn?"
Luo Yu's face darkened and he said, "Qing Zhou! How do you talk to your mother? Don't you forget your identity?"
Song Ruyue suddenly stood up, looked at the two of them and said, "We already talked about Qingzhou's identity last time. He is now a member of our Qin family. He came here tonight to be a guest of your Chengguo Mansion, not to be scolded by you. Why, as a guest of your Chengguo Mansion, I can't even talk?"
Wang's eyes flashed with a fierce light, and she said, "Of course he can say something, but it depends on who he is talking to. He is just a bastard, of low status. Even if he is from your Qin Mansion, he is just a son-in-law. Today, the Princess and the Prince of the Southern Kingdom are sitting here. Ask him yourself, is he qualified to be so presumptuous here?"
Miss Qin Er suddenly spoke up, "Madam Wang, you said my brother-in-law was presumptuous. May I ask how he was presumptuous? First, he didn't sit down in front of the Princess and the Prince like you did. Second, he didn't scold them with a stern face like you didn't know etiquette in front of the Princess and the Prince like you did. Third, he didn't spit at the dishes and wine glasses in front of the Princess like you did. Madam Wang, who do you think is presumptuous, my brother-in-law or you?"
As soon as these words came out, Wang was so angry that she trembled all over, and the colorful crown on her head shook continuously. She could no longer hold back and gritted her teeth and said, "Second Miss Qin, you are the most talented woman in Mo City. I am not as eloquent as you. I am the elder, and I don't want to argue with you. I just want to ask you a few questions. What is his last name? Is he the son of my master? Did he marry into your Qin Mansion from my Chengguo Mansion
Miss Qin Er said calmly: "So what?"
Wang sneered, adjusted the colorful crown on her head, stood up, and said coldly: "If so, then I have the right to teach him a lesson today! He doesn't know the rules, has no upbringing, is unruly in front of me, and disobeys his elders! According to the family rules and laws, he should be punished!"
After she finished speaking, she suddenly glared at him and shouted, "Luo Qingzhou! Come here and kneel down!"
Everyone's eyes turned to the young man behind Song Ruyue and her daughter.
Luo Qingzhou looked at her somewhat ferocious face and remembered clearly that his mother also often heard such scolding.
“Kneel down!”
"Bitch! Can't you even make tea?"
"Country bumpkin! You are indeed an idiot from the mountains! Kneel down and admit your mistake!"
"Study? Your son wants to study too? He's a slave now and he'll be a slave forever! What? Do you still want to rely on your son to turn the tables and suppress me? You're dreaming!"
"Bitch! Whore! You seduced my master, and I will beat you and your son to death! Kneel down until dawn!"
"Kneel down! Kneel down! Kneel down..."
At this moment, Luo Qingzhou's mind kept echoing with these two vicious words, that ferocious and vicious face, and that thin and pitiful figure...
Seeing that he ignored his mother and that the princess and everyone else were watching, Luo Yu shouted angrily, "Luo Qingzhou! Come here, kneel down in front of my mother, and apologize!"
Luo Qingzhou slowly raised his head, looked at him, and suddenly said: "Luo Yu, do you think you are qualified to order me now?"
As soon as these words came out, Luo Yu's eyes suddenly shrank, and he opened his eyes wide and clenched his fists.
This was the first time he heard this lowly, timid, cowardly bastard call him by his name! It was also the first time he saw him being so disrespectful!
He was a little bit unbelievable.
At this moment, he suddenly had an illusion that the person in front of him suddenly looked a little strange.
"Little beast! Are you going to rebel against the heaven?"
Wang suddenly gritted her teeth and yelled angrily, and the colorful crown on her head and the shawl on her body began to tremble slightly.
Song Ruyue was about to stand up when a hand suddenly reached out from the side and grabbed her.
She was stunned for a moment, then turned around and saw that her daughter still looked calm, but two faint traces of blood-red color had appeared on her pale face without her noticing.
"I'm not against God."
At this time, Luo Qingzhou suddenly responded calmly, looking at the woman opposite with a sullen and somewhat ferocious face, and said word by word: "Madam, it's you, it's you, the Chengguo Mansion that is rebelling against the heaven."
Wang was about to yell in anger, but he continued calmly, "You, together with the Zhang and Wang families, colluded with the Song fugitives who committed treason and prepared to rebel. Now that the evidence is irrefutable, with witnesses and evidence, this should be rebellion against heaven, right?"
When these words were spoken, everyone at the table was shocked!
The Prince of the Southern Kingdom stood up from his seat, his face turning red with anger.