Jian Zhaoxing

Chapter 467 Dancing Girl
After all, this was a meeting with envoys from the Great Liang Dynasty. If he came out looking sickly, it would only damage the reputation of the Great Sheng.

Lin Zhiqing's gaze did not linger on the emperor; instead, she looked at the empress beside her.

The empress was not the dignified and elegant woman Lin Zhiqing had imagined. She looked very young, not much older than herself.

If Consort Rong was a mature woman with considerable charm, then the Empress was more like a young girl who had secretly put on adult clothes—too naive.

Lu Huai had previously said that this empress was a successor empress, and that she had not had an easy life.

It's no wonder there's always a faint sadness in her eyes, Lin Zhiqing pursed her lips.

The emperor and the late empress were deeply in love, and the marriage of the new empress was a way to silence the court.

This new empress is the only daughter of a deceased duke. Her family has long since fallen apart and poses no threat to the crown prince born to the late empress.

This was also an important reason why the emperor chose her.

Thinking about all this, Lin Zhiqing couldn't help but feel a little sentimental.

It's such a pity that such a young girl in the prime of her life was trapped in the deep palace.

Lin Zhiqing sighed softly and looked at the Crown Prince not far away.

To be honest, the first time Lin Zhiqing saw the Crown Prince, she felt that the Crown Prince's majesty was even greater than that of the Emperor.

He had regular features and deep-set eyes, so much so that even Lin Zhiqing couldn't discern much about him.

If one had to say, he was indeed a very standard heir to the throne.

The moment this thought crossed Lin Zhiqing's mind, she saw the Crown Prince tilt his head slightly.

She quickly looked away, but out of the corner of her eye she still caught the Crown Prince looking in her direction.

So perceptive?
Lin Zhiqing casually picked up a piece of pastry and handed it to Lin Yangyang, concealing her earlier gaze.

She was slightly surprised because she used some techniques when observing others to make sure they wouldn't notice.

But the fact that the Crown Prince could perceive it shows that he was extremely perceptive.

I was careless... Lin Zhiqing felt the Crown Prince's gaze linger on her for a long time, and gently raised her head.

If she didn't look up, it would be too deliberate.

Then, her eyes met those of the Crown Prince.

Lin Zhiqing opened her mouth slightly, feigning surprise, then smiled awkwardly.

In her imagination, seeing her so affected, the Crown Prince's gaze should have moved away from her face without any mercy.

This is true.

Lin Zhiqing breathed a sigh of relief.

She looked up at a young man sitting not far from the Crown Prince.

The young man was dressed in Daliang clothing and looked very thin.

He always greets others with a smile if they talk to him.

But as he spoke, his chin was slightly raised, his fingers tapped rhythmically on the table, and he yawned every now and then.

This attitude doesn't seem like someone coming to pay homage; it seems more like someone coming to cause trouble.

Lin Zhiqing frowned slightly.

The matter of the collusion between Daliang and the Zhenyuan Marquis's Mansion has already reached the ears of the emperor, yet the people of Daliang are not at all guilty?
She frowned in thought, feeling that there was something wrong with today's palace banquet.

But she couldn't figure out what the problem was for a moment, so she glanced around casually and then looked away.

After several rounds of drinks, the sound of camel bells suddenly rang out in the hall.

Then, several scantily clad dancers walked away to the beat.

Their skirts were adorned with jewels, and when they twirled, they resembled blooming peonies, their golden flowers on their heads were dazzling.

"These people from Daliang have no shame at all, coming up dressed like this."

"Why bother arguing with a bunch of lowlifes? Look at their sly ways, they're all worthless."

"Indeed, the people of Dasheng are simple and honest. Why should we bother with a bunch of barbarians?"

Listening to the discussion among the women around her, Lin Zhiqing frowned slightly.

While some people from Daliang may be hateful, not everyone has the right to choose how they want to live.

Especially women.

Even in the open-minded Liang Dynasty, these dancers were nothing more than puppets in the hands of those in power.

Everyone's situation is similar; it's impossible to say who is more noble than whom.

Lin Zhiqing had no interest in participating in their discussion and looked at Lu Huai.

Lu Huai was talking to Lin Shi'an beside him, his eyes not falling on the dancers at all, nor did he notice Lin Zhiqing's gaze.

Lin Zhiqing curled her lips into a smile, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw Eunuch Wang, who was serving the Emperor, move to the Crown Prince's side and whisper in his ear.

The prince's expression changed slightly.

Lu Nanyue, sitting next to him, whispered, "Perhaps the Emperor is not feeling well."

Sure enough, a moment later, the Emperor left his seat with the support of the Empress. The Crown Prince stood up and reassured everyone: "Father still has important matters to attend to. Please continue the banquet."

The people below didn't react much; clearly, this kind of situation often happened at previous banquets, and everyone had become used to it.

Lin Zhiqing frowned, her gaze following the Emperor's departing figure.

His steps were unsteady, and his breathing was slightly rapid; he certainly looked like someone who had been bedridden for a long time.

The Empress supported the Emperor throughout, her face showing no particular expression.

"Xiao Qing'er, what are you looking at?" Lu Nanyue tugged at Lin Zhiqing's sleeve.

Lin Zhiqing shook her head: "It's nothing."

She felt something was off, but...

"Your Highness, our Great Liang has shown such sincerity. Your Great Sheng is vast in territory; shouldn't you show your sincerity in return?" The Great Liang envoy stood up and addressed the Crown Prince.

The tone was not very respectful, which made many ministers frown.

The crown prince's expression remained unchanged: "Oh? What does this mean?"

The envoy smiled:
"I had heard that the women of Dasheng were all as capable as men, but now that I see them, they are all just wooden beauties, which is quite boring."

Upon hearing this, the women began to whisper among themselves, not daring to discuss it loudly.

Upon seeing this, the envoy smiled knowingly.

"I have brought the best dancers from Daliang with me this time. Your Highness, why don't you let the noble ladies of Dasheng perform as well?"

"I'm already tired of your dancers."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of everyone in the hall changed.

This envoy's comparison of the noble ladies of Da Sheng to dancers clearly shows his disrespect for the women of Da Sheng and the practices of Da Sheng.

The Imperial Censor was the first to stand up: "This is outrageous! Your country claims to be a great power, yet you make things difficult for women in Dasheng. Do you have even the slightest bit of gentlemanly conduct?"

The Liang envoy calmly replied:

"This gentleman is exaggerating. He merely wanted to admire the elegance of the noble ladies of Dasheng. How does that disqualify him from being a gentleman?"

"Are you all afraid? Afraid of losing to the dancers and losing face?"

"Sir, you seem to have far too little faith in the women of Dasheng."

His tone was full of belittling and contempt.

Lin Zhiqing turned to look at the women's seats and found that the women around him were all glaring angrily, but dared not stand up and speak.

She slowly got up, but before she could stand up completely, a soft and charming voice rang out.

"His Royal Highness."

All eyes turned to Consort Rong.

Consort Rong smiled and said, "Since the Liang envoy is so interested, I do have someone to recommend."