Chapter 18: The Cold and Arrogant Master is Actually a Great Enemy
Shao Quan had recently helped Xiao Jin complete an assignment and had just been promoted to a third-rank official.
Officials below the second rank were generally not allowed to attend court banquets.
But today's banquet is of great significance.
Xiao Jin intended to tell everyone that he valued the recovered Princess Nan'an very much, so he specially issued an edict that all officials above the fifth rank in Shengdu could bring their families into the palace for the banquet.
It has the same effect as a general amnesty.
Shao Quan had no family, so he had to attend the banquet alone.
Because the wound on his back had burst again, he did not ride a horse, but asked the butler to arrange a carriage to take him to the palace gate.
After he finished speaking, Shao Quan discovered that the butler seemed to be hesitant to speak.
"Is something wrong?"
The butler frowned, shook his head and said nothing.
What he was thinking was, Miss Xiaohong had just left for a short time, but the adults went to the palace for a banquet. Wasn’t that too heartless?
Even if His Majesty has an order, I can still refuse it with the excuse of the arrow wound.
Yes, the housekeeper was misled by what Shao Quan said that day.
I thought Shi Li had accidentally offended a noble in the palace and had been secretly sentenced to death, and I have been sad for her for several days.
Shao Quan didn't know that the butler was thinking so much, but he felt a little uneasy in his heart.
Before going out, she tidied her clothes very carefully, replaced the jade crown that tied her hair with a new one, and even lingered in front of the bronze mirror for a long time, fearing that there was something wrong with her body.
Finally... we meet again.
Are you going to meet Shao Quan?
It was still early. Shi Li sat in front of the dressing table, fiddling with the coral bracelet on her hand, feeling inexplicably nervous.
When the hour was almost up, a palace servant's loud voice suddenly came from outside, announcing:
Xiao Jin is here.
Shi Li immediately stood up and went out to greet him, and saw Xiao Jin walking towards her with a look of surprise on his face.
"My sister looks really good today!" Xiao Jin praised her generously, with a smile on his red lips. "Come with me."
Did he come here specially to pick her up?
Shi Li blinked and suddenly felt touched.
During the few days since she entered the palace, Xiao Jin came to see her almost every day, and he never came empty-handed.
Apart from anything else, ever since she said that she liked black inkstones that day, there are now more than ten inkstones in the warehouse.
In addition to the Wu inkstone, there are also several precious Duan inkstones and Qing inkstones.
Xiao Jin wanted to give her the best things in the world.
Non-vegetation, ruthless Practice makes perfect?
Shi Li gradually became more friendly with Xiao Jin. She noticed that there were dark circles under his eyes and could not help but ask with concern, "Did my brother stay up late again yesterday reviewing the memorials?"
"Imperial sister..." At this moment, Xiao Jin did not have the cold and gloomy look he showed in front of others. Instead, there was a hint of helplessness between his beautiful eyebrows.
Seeing Shi Li frowning in disapproval, he immediately assured her, "I will definitely go to bed before three o'clock in the morning from now on."
"Three is too late," Shi Li shook her head, looking a bit arrogant, "Two."
It was also the first time that Xiao Jin was eaten so hard by someone, but when he looked at Shi Li, his eyes were still gentle and loving. "Okay, it will be the second update, I will listen to you, my sister."
The brother and sister walked towards the palace where the banquet was held while talking intimately.
The palace servants who followed him followed quietly behind him, not daring to disturb him.
When they were almost there, Xiao Jin suddenly stopped, turned around and looked at Shi Li carefully, and said to her softly: "The Queen Mother is ill and will not come today."
After saying this, his face became somewhat gloomy again.
Whether the Empress Dowager is really unwell or just pretending to be unwell, you can find out by just asking the imperial physician.
She was just jealous that the imperial concubine had taken away her favor and didn't want to give Shi Li face.
Xiao Jin didn't care about the Queen Mother, but he didn't want Shi Li to suffer any grievances.
If that doesn't work, he'll think of another way...
But the next second, Shi Li made him give up the idea.
She looked around to make sure there were no one nearby, then lowered her voice and said in a relaxed tone, "That's just right, it saves you from getting upset and me from feeling embarrassed."
After saying that, she winked at Xiao Jin mischievously.
Inside and outside the palace, who doesn't know that the Empress Dowager and the Emperor are only harmonious on the surface, but in fact they hate each other?
Shi Li didn't need the Queen Mother to give her face. It was enough to have Xiao Jin's care.
"You..." Xiao Jin was immediately amused by her little expression and reached out to touch her head.
"Don't, or you'll mess up the bun I worked so hard to comb." Shi Li quickly hid back, looking scared.
Xiao Jin then smiled even more happily, his tone full of doting, "Okay, okay, I won't touch you, let's go! Let everyone get to know our honorable Princess Nan'an!"
The ministers and their families who were invited into the palace naturally did not dare to arrive later than the emperor and the princess, and sat in their respective seats early and in an orderly manner.
When they heard the eunuch announce that the emperor and the princess had arrived, they all stood up and kowtowed to pay their respects.
Shi Li followed Xiao Jin and saw a sea of people as soon as she walked in. But as if she had telepathy, she accurately found Shao Quan among the crowd.
Just as when I first saw her, she was as graceful as a fairy tree, with extraordinary grace and elegance. The only difference was that her jaw was a little thinner than before.
He was also looking at her, their eyes meeting each other through the sea of people.
Shi Li felt her eyes inexplicably sore, and she hastily lowered her head and followed Xiao Jin to the seat of honor.
"Everyone, get up! My little sister is back! I'm so happy!"
Xiao Jin asked Shi Li to sit next to him with a smile, then glanced at the people below.
The leader was Prime Minister Zhao, who had served in the court for many years.
Prime Minister Zhao was a middle-aged man with fair complexion and beautiful beard, which was in line with the aesthetic of this dynasty.
But he went to the banquet alone today, as he heard that his wife had been bedridden for a long time.
Xiao Jin treated his subjects well and asked a few questions with concern.
Prime Minister Zhao answered modestly and respectfully.
Harmony between the ruler and his subjects.
Shi Li was sitting below, and although she was absent-minded, it was the first time that she felt so clearly that Xiao Jin was an emperor who ruled the world.
His smile now was completely different from the one when he was alone with her. Although it was joyful, it also revealed a majesty that made people dare not breathe loudly.
Shi Li was a little nervous and subconsciously looked at Shao Quan who was sitting at the end.
He is also looking at her.
But as soon as Shi Li's gaze turned towards him, he lowered his head.
From a distance, Shi Li couldn't see the specific expression on his face.
Shi Li reluctantly withdrew her gaze and sat dignifiedly in the honorable seat.
After they arrived, banquet dishes were served like water.
Everyone in the palace, from the chief steward to a random maid who cleans the palace, can see how much Xiao Jin values Shi Li.
So today's banquet was prepared with great care.
The dishes are exquisite and the music is melodious and moving.
The guests at the banquet also noticed that Xiao Jin was really happy today. He usually didn't drink much, but today he had several drinks.
Li didn't pay attention at first, but later she found out and advised him to stop.
"Okay, I won't drink anymore." Xiao Jin didn't care that everyone was sitting down. As soon as Shi Li said that, he really put down his glass.
The emperor's every move must be carefully studied by his subjects.
The seemingly honest ministers below had actually noticed the interaction between the brother and sister a long time ago, and their respect for the eldest princess Shi Li increased even more.
Only Prime Minister Zhao showed no strange expression and had a gentle smile.
Shao Quan, who was sitting at the end, naturally noticed this scene. He was relieved at first, but then felt a little sad.
Halfway through the banquet, guests began to leave one after another. After all, people have three urgent needs.
Shi Li sat steadily at the head, maintaining his demeanor very well.
She looked down from time to time and suddenly found that Shao Quan's seat was empty and no one was there.
Sometimes the human body reacts faster than the brain. Before Shi Li could figure out what to do, she had already stood up.