tallest building

Chapter 240 The reception banquet

Ying Tong whispered, "Isn't this the one I met on the street the other day..."

That's right, the two children that the King of the Fields was leading were the barbarian girl and her brother that they had met on the street a few days ago.

Gong Chang'an still remembered the girl's name—Zhuolahan.

"It seems they arrived in the capital long ago. Why did they say they only arrived today?" Ying Bai frowned slightly.

At this moment, Zhuolahan naturally saw Gong Chang'an, and his joy was evident.

But she still patiently followed her father to greet the Emperor and others before running to Gong Chang'an and hugging him tightly, saying, "It's wonderful! I never expected to see you here!"

Although everyone around her said that Gong Chang'an was a child prodigy that day, she grew up on the frontier and didn't know what the Sanjing Academy was, thinking it was just a place to study.

She had planned to find Gong Chang'an after entering the palace to see the emperor, but she didn't expect to see him as soon as she entered the palace.

Apart from a few insiders, everyone was quite surprised.

"Father, this is the Bazan I told you about!" Zhuolahan excitedly pulled Gong Chang'an and dragged her to the front of the King of Fenye. "He saved me that day, and I want to marry him when I grow up!"

"Hey! Didn't your father tell you? You're still young, don't keep talking about getting married." King Fenye frowned. "I'll thank him properly, but marriage is something that should be decided by the elders!"

After he finished speaking, he realized that he should explain to everyone, so he smiled and said, "My two children have never been to the capital before. Like eaglets eager to fly to the mountaintop, they brought a few attendants and rode at full speed, arriving in the capital a few days earlier than us."

My daughter is very naughty and got into an argument with someone on the street. Three teenagers helped her, and this child was one of them.

“The other two are over here too.” Zhuolahan pointed to Ying Tong and Ying Bai. “Who are they?”

"Your Highness, these two are the Crown Prince of Zhao and the Crown Prince of Chu," the Master of Ceremonies introduced.

"Ah, so it's the two princes! Truly, heroes emerge from among the young." King Fenye laughed heartily, "What a wonderful coincidence!"

He took the opportunity to jokingly observe Ying Tong and Ying Bai, secretly comparing them in his mind.

"The prince from the north has an extraordinary bearing, and the princess from the north is full of vigor. They are truly a pair of fine children," the emperor said with a smile. "I didn't know that the children had such an interesting story between them. This makes them even more harmonious."

"Your Majesty is absolutely right. I think the children certainly don't like being restrained, so why don't we let them play together on the side while we adults catch up?" the Empress said. "We haven't seen the Prince and the Princess for many years, so we naturally have a lot to say to each other."

"The Empress's suggestion is very appropriate, so let's do it that way! Tell the servants to do their best and not to neglect our distinguished guest." The Emperor nodded.

At this moment, King Zhao and King Chu, among others, were also present. King Zhao and Queen Zhao exchanged a glance, and King Chu and Queen Chu also exchanged a look.

"Duanmin, you must have had a long and arduous journey?" The Emperor looked at Princess Duanmin with concern.

"The journey home is pleasant no matter which way I go, and not tiring at all. It's just that after not seeing you for several years, my brother has been working hard for the country, and his temples have turned white. I am no longer young either..." Duanmin's tone was gentle, with a hint of tears in her eyes.

"The princess's elegance remains undiminished; she is still a graceful and noble imperial flower!" the empress said with a smile.

Princess Duanmin simply smiled and did not respond.

In fact, everyone in the palace knew that Princess Duanmin and the Empress did not have a good relationship, but they just didn't openly confront each other.

Princess Duanmin already had someone she loved, Bu Yuegui, the leader of the Imperial Guards. The two were on the verge of marriage when Consort Shen's affair occurred.

Princess Duanmin certainly did not believe that Bu Yuegui and Shen Fu were having an affair; all of this was a smear campaign fabricated by the Dong family to eliminate dissidents.

Just as she was filled with grief and indignation, the Empress's younger brother, Dong Siye, actually wanted to become her husband.

In a fit of anger, the princess offered to marry the King of Fenye, who had come for a peace treaty, thus escaping the entanglement of the Dong family. Although eight or nine years had passed, the hatred in the princess's heart had never subsided in the slightest.

The Queen naturally noticed the princess's emotions, but she didn't care.

She, Dong Xiangning, is Dong Yannian's eldest daughter. How could a princess who was married off to a distant land do anything to her?

Thinking of this, she straightened her back even more and a smug smile appeared on her lips.

There are many people in the world who hate her, but who can do anything about the Dong family?

Inside the magnificent palace, light music and dancing filled the air, and toasts were exchanged.

The eldest princess raised her wine cup: "Duanmin, I knew you were returning to the capital today, so I specially prepared pear blossom white wine for you. Back then, you would feel choked when you drank this, coughing as you drank. I wonder if you've improved your alcohol tolerance now?"

Princess Duanmin smiled and downed the wine in her hand in one gulp: "Aunt, the wine in the borderlands is even stronger than this, but I can no longer get drunk."

On countless nights when the north wind howled, she stayed alone in the yurt, drowning her sorrows in alcohol.

At first, I could stay in a daze for a few days, but gradually, the time spent in a daze became shorter and shorter.

In the end, the wine was drunk like cold water; it caused headaches and vomiting, but the mind remained clear.

The princess's eyes darkened. Back then, he and Ying Wuchou loved to stay by her side like two little followers.

Many years have passed, and all three of them have become disillusioned, none of them living happily.

As for the children, their table was set up in a side hall, but who was eating and drinking properly?

Zhuolahan clung to Gong Chang'an, while her brother Yuchao tried to quiet her down.

The Crown Prince of Zhao wanted to compete with Yu Chao in archery and horsemanship, while the Crown Prince of Chu wanted to inquire about the customs of the grasslands from them.

The Ninth Princess was bored out of her mind, sitting there with her eyes closed and her mind at ease.

Finally, Gong Chang'an was forced into a corner and suggested taking a stroll in the Imperial Garden.

Everyone then got up and headed towards the Imperial Garden.

The Mid-Autumn Festival had already passed, and many flowers had withered, but many plants and trees still showed a unique charm.

Beneath a maple tree stood a beautiful woman in a light red dress.

Everyone was amazed when they saw it.

"Do you have fairies here?" Zhuolahan asked, his voice unconsciously lowering.

"Whose daughter is this? I've never seen her before," Ying Tong murmured, somewhat dazed.

"Sister Sang Er!" Gong Chang'an broke free from Zhuolahan's hand and ran over to hug the person.

Sang Er was also surprised. She had come to the palace with the eldest princess and did not need her to serve her, so she came to the Imperial Garden for a stroll.

I thought everyone was attending a banquet in the front hall, but I never expected that Gong Chang'an and the others would all come here.

He quickly greeted everyone.