The Slender Waist-Chapter 343 - 241 Graceful
Cuiyu Traveling Palace.
The banquet was set in the Grand Hall. Li Sangruo sat at the head of the table. Ministers from Central Capital along with local officials of Xinzhou knelt on both sides according to their official ranks, each exchanging courtesies and stating their affairs.
Having been invited by the Empress Dowager, the ministers had all bathed and changed their clothes, arriving early, not daring to keep the Empress Dowager waiting...
However, there were two places to the left and below the Empress Dowager that remained empty—the time had come, and the occupants had not arrived.
One was General Pei, and the other was the Crown Prince of Yunchuan.
Chunyu Yan was of a stubborn and unruly character, always doing as he pleased, while Pei Jue had significant merit overshadowing his sovereign and had been increasingly at odds with the Imperial Court. That day at the docks, he even publicly disrespected the Empress Dowager...
This behavior was indeed worth investigating.
Despite only being two empty seats, it was more than just a matter of tardiness. In the undercurrents of the stormy Imperial Court dynamics, two vacant places were enough to spark endless speculation in people’s minds...
A quarter of an hour passed.
Then half an hour passed...
The ministers gradually grew restless and agitated.
Li Sangruo smiled and said, "Let the banquet begin. The Great General and the Crown Prince of Yunchuan must have been delayed by some urgent matters. Being away from the court, there is no need for my officials to adhere so strictly to etiquette. Keep me company with some conversation while we eat and drink and wait for their arrival..."
Having said that, she glanced at Fang Fucai.
Fang Fucai, upon receiving the signal, called out in a shrill voice:
"Bring out the dishes!"
Servant girls with well-applied makeup came out in succession, carrying dishes through the hall.
Li Sangruo picked up her cup, faced the ministers, and with a slight lift, her voice and demeanor were very intimate and amiable.
"With this cup, I wish for tomorrow’s negotiations to be fruitful, and also to thank my esteemed officials for supporting me in the regency over the years, for upholding the national affairs, and for bolstering the well-being of the state."
All the ministers rose and bowed in salute to Li Sangruo.
"We thank Your Highness!"
"With His Majesty young and I being a woman, it is fortunate to have such devoted officials governing for the people and serving the court. This has allowed Dajin to be harmonious and prosperous. Once the negotiations are concluded, I shall return to the capital and duly recognize and reward your contributions..."
"To share the concerns of His Majesty is our duty. We cannot accept such grand gratitude from Your Highness."
At the banquet, they spoke grand words of mutual respect and harmony between monarch and ministers. Although everyone was familiar with the routine and spoke with flushed faces, passionately as if willing to lay down their lives, what thoughts lay hidden in everyone’s hearts were unknown to all.
As the wine touched her throat, Li Sangruo’s gaze once more swept over the empty table.
Nearly half an hour had passed...
And he still had not arrived.
"Fang Fucai," she said with a smile, motioning to him.
Fang Fucai approached, bending down and leaning close, "Your Highness..."
A hint of coldness flashed in Li Sangruo’s eyes, "Send someone to see what is going on with the Great General."
Fang Fucai was also puzzled. On such a day, regardless of any dissatisfaction Pei Jue had with Her Highness, he should not have been absent...
All he could think of was that the General must have been delayed by some matter...
"I will send someone to inquire immediately."
He quietly withdrew, unnoticed by the others.
Only Wei Zheng looked up, his gaze sweeping across Pei Jue’s table just like Li Sangruo’s had, then lowered his eyes to drink alone.
From start to finish today, Li Sangruo had not paid him any heed.
Wei Zheng understood in his heart that his actions had angered Her Highness the Empress Dowager.
He was somewhat bewildered, especially after learning that the "miscarriage" was just a ruse concocted in haste by Pang Gui with Feng Yun’s aid. He was also annoyed and scared.
Having impulsively offended the Empress Dowager, what should he do from now on?
But after that moment of frantic panic passed, he felt relieved...
He did not wish to become the second Song Shou’an.
To die was not the worst outcome; what was truly terrible was to die without honor, bringing shame upon one’s family...
He had a child now.
If his child knew that he was a man who flattered the Empress Dowager, a petty official who could only secure his position in the court by pleasing with his body, where would his dignity be?
So, what he feared was not being ignored by Li Sangruo, but rather, that Li Sangruo might summon him to her bedchamber again...
What excuse would he find next time?
As the wine deepened his sorrows, he suddenly missed Luo Yue.
She was full of clever tricks; if she were by his side, she could offer him some advice...
"Your Highness, Your Highness..."
Fang Fucai rushed in, his face slick with an ingratiating smile as he approached.
"The Great General has arrived, has arrived."
Li Sangruo’s hand tightened on her cup, barely maintaining her composure as she looked down towards the main entrance of the hall.
Soon enough, the tall figure of a man came around the screen and strode into the room. His wide robe swayed slightly, and he wore a thick cape, seemingly damp with night dew. As soon as he entered, the hall fell silent, the atmosphere turning cold and tense, and the laughter ceased.
"Your humble servant has arrived late; I ask for Your Highness’s punishment," said Pei Jue, bowing slightly towards Li Sangruo in the middle of the hall.
