"These are not edible; they are very sharp. This afternoon, a few little eunuchs didn''t believe it and insisted on trying. Now they are hiding in their rooms, each with a bleeding mouth."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It''s not good to appear at such a festive pce banquet with injuries on your face. It would offend the nobles, and you could lose your life.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Xiao Xuanzi nodded: "Then I''ll leave now. I''ll tell the Empresster."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Tell her what?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Of course, that Chief Steward Gao cooperated fully and found the hardest crabs to eat among thousands.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Lord Jiang..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Xiao Xuanzi walked into the smoke-filled "battlefield" with a smile, seemingly unaware of Lady Pei''s anger, and ced four tes of peeled crab meat in front of Jiang Xinyan, Jiang Junze, Jiang Yunxia, and Jiang Yuncai.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"The Emperor said this year''s crab meat is particrly plump and asked me to bring an extra serving for the young masters and mistresses to enjoy."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Yuncai swallowed and whispered in her sister''s ear, "Really? I just ate a few more bites, and the Emperor noticed? The Emperor dotes on Cousin Yue too much!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The Emperor didn''t notice what they liked to eat.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It was clearly because he favored Cousin Yue that he wanted to take care of her family.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
No one present... no one would have thought that this crab meat was not a reward from the Emperor but just Jiang Xinyue bluffing.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Would the rewarded person dare to ask the Emperor, "Did you really give me crab meat?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Lady Pei''s face turned pale. She looked at the Xuanwu Emperor at the head of the table, only to see his eyes always ncing at Concubine Zhen. Concubine Zhen''s eyes... why were they always staring at her?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She felt a moment of guilt, fearing that Concubine Zhen would cause her trouble.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Is it just for us, or do others have it too?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Yankun, feeling a bit like Lin Daiyu, said sarcastically, "Does Miss Pei not have any?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
A woman in her thirties being called "Miss Pei" so righteously made Lady Pei almost die of shame and anger.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Every "Miss Pei" reminded everyone present of how she immediately divorced Prime Minister Song and returned to the Pei family with her dowry when something happened in the Song family.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Yes, she didn''t leave a penny for Prime Minister Song, disregarding his life and death, and directly ran away with the money.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Xiao Xuanzi looked at Lady Pei, the corners of his mouth rising: "How could Miss Pei be left out? The Emperor couldn''t attend Minister Pei of the Privy Council''s sixtieth birthday and felt regretful, so he asked me to bring two crabs for Miss Pei."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Lady Pei''s face lit up with joy, feeling proud: "My father is the Minister of the Privy Council, a close minister to the Emperor. How could the Emperor forget me? You all..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Miss Pei, please—"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Xiao Xuanzi lifted the lid of the silver te, revealing two steamed crabs inside.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
When the eunuch said two crabs, he really meant two whole crabs.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Two whole crabs, shells and all.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
How could one eat this?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
In a wealthy family, who eats crabs like this?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Only those unrefined fishermen would gnaw and spit, which is very inelegant and quite embarrassing.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Lady Pei looked at the tes of the younger generation of the two families. Their tes were filled with peeled crab meat, stacked like little mountains, even thoughtfully drizzled with vinegar, which the little ones quickly devoured.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Pfft!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Yankunughed unceremoniously: "Sorry, Miss Pei, I usually don''tugh unless I can''t help it."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Afterughing, he coughed twice: "Miss Pei, please eat! Don''t waste the Emperor''s kindness. You must appreciate this imperial favor!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Lady Pei''s face turned green and white, her smile uglier than crying: "Eunuch, can I... can I eat itter?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She wanted her maid to handle itter so she wouldn''t beughed at.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"That won''t do."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Xiao Xuanzi''s face darkened: "I have to report back to the Emperor. How can I answer if the Emperor asks how the crab meat tasted and if you enjoyed it?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Not eating would be ungrateful, rejecting the Emperor''s kindness, which could cost her head.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Lady Pei had no choice but to pick up a crab. But after looking at it for a long time, she didn''t know where to start.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She had only seen crabs turned into a bowl of crab meat after being served, never a whole crab like this.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But the eunuch was clearly impatient, looking at her with displeasure. She could only bite into the hard shell with humiliation, her eyes red.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Crunch!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Ah!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Who knew what kind of crab this was, with wavy edges on the shell and sharp little spikes on each bump.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Lady Pei''s mouth was pricked by the spikes, causing her to cry out in pain, but her voice was drowned out by the music and dance in the hall.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Xinyue was amused by her ungraceful appearance,ughing with her maids, Magpie and Frost.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The Xuanwu Emperor had been unhappy tonight until he saw this smile.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But now, seeing Concubine Zhen''s rxed and joyful smile infected him, making him unconsciously smile too.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
In his eyes, everything lost its color. The area around Concubine Zhen was a blur, only she was clearly imprinted in his eyes, vibrant and beautiful.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The surrounding noise disappeared in an instant, and even Concubine Zhen''s every move became slow motion, reying in his mind over and over.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She was so beautiful, so cute.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Not because of her appearance, but because the Xuanwu Emperor felt she was genuinely beautiful inside, making him want to get closer, indulge her, and give her the best of everything.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He was doomed!<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He was falling for Concubine Zhen''s smile!<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Wasn''t it just a piece of clothing?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
If she gave it to the Empress, so be it!<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Maybe she didn''t like the pattern!<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He would make her a new one next time.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Empress Zhu, sitting beside him, felt the Emperor''s sudden happiness most directly.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She turned to look, and the Xuanwu Emperor withdrew his gaze from Concubine Zhen without a trace, looking puzzled at Empress Zhu: "What''s wrong? Does the Empress have something to say?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Empress Zhu smiled and shook her head: "Your Majesty, I was too impulsive the other day, not considering your dignity. Now that the old year is about to pass, let''s leave all the unpleasantness in the old year and move into the new year together, shall we?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Fenyun was right. Even if not for herself, she had to think more for the Fifth Prince.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The Xuanwu Emperor held her hand: "I''m d the Empress thinks this way. This is the meaning of the New Year''s banquet."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The ministers were also very pleased to see the Emperor and Empress in harmony. It seemed that the rumors of discord between the Emperor and Empress were false.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
If they were at odds, how could they wear such matching clothes representing love?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Look at the flowers on the Empress''s dress, clinging to the vines on the Emperor''s robe, clearly showing great thought.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Xinyue watched the Emperor and Empress, also smiling.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But her smile was much more meaningful.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Sometimes, the more estranged a couple is, the more they will deliberately show affection in public.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0