273 Turtle

Translator: Atlas Studios

Editor: Atlas Studios

There was no Empress today. Chu Yi’s biological mother was the Emperor’s first wife, but she had died of illness 10 years ago. After that, the Emperor never remarried. Now, the position of Empress was empty.

Ever since he ascended the throne, the ministers had written several times to invite him to crown a new Empress. However, they were all rejected.

Therefore, everyone originally thought that this year’s banquet would be canceled. Unexpectedly, Empress Dowager Yuan suddenly summoned the girls into the palace in the afternoon. Immediately after, the Emperor also ordered people to send an oral decree to various residences to summon some young masters of the right age to the palace to attend the banquet.

Gu Yanfei, Wei Jiaoniang, and Lu Qin chose the seats closest to the musician and sat down. After the musician finished playing the song, the storyteller beside her knocked on the wood and began to shake his head as he started to read.

Gu Yanfei split her heart into two. Half of her listened to the book, while the other half listened to Wei Jiaoniang. “This banquet has been held for more than 40 years. It’s held every year. I thought this year would be an exception.”

“Actually, this banquet was originally held by Emperor Taizu to show the princesses their potential husbands.”

“Emperor Taizu said that his princess isn’t afraid that she won’t be able to get married. Whoever is willing to come can come. He said that this is called a blind date. Both men and women have to like each other first before they know if this marriage will succeed.”

“It’s said that back then, the Eldest Princess Chang Ning thought that the banquet wasn’t lively enough, so she called a group of her peers over. Emperor Taizu also felt that it was quite lively for everyone to go on blind dates like this, so this custom was maintained year after year.”

Lu Qin peeled the pine nuts and sighed. “Emperor Taizu has always had all kinds of strange ideas. He’s really an interesting person!”

At the side, the storyteller was talking about an anecdote of Emperor Taizu.

He started from when Emperor Taizu was young. He said that Emperor Taizu was mischievous when he was young. When he was 16 years old, he fell down the col and hit his head. After being unconscious for three days and three nights, he woke up and became a new person.

Speaking of which, Emperor Taizu started as a small constable. In just three years, he became the leader and established some prestige in the town.

Speaking of the chaos in the world at that time, the auspicious sign of a black dragon descending appeared above Emperor Taizu’s residence. After that, his status rose up…

Originally, these stories were familiar. However, today, many people had more or less heard that another “True Dragon phenomenon” had appeared in the capital. Now that they heard this anecdote, some people couldn’t help but reveal meaningful expressions.

There were also people like Lu Qin who had entered the palace early and had never heard of it. When they saw Wei Jiaoniang winking at them, they leaned over excitedly and whispered to them, “What’s wrong?”

Wei Jiaoniang put her arm around Lu Qin’s shoulder and pulled her closer again. She whispered into her ear.

Lu Qin’s eyes widened, and her pupils bloomed with an unusually bright light. Shock and curiosity were blatantly written on her face.

“Is it really a dragon?” Lu Qin asked in a low voice.

“…” The corners of Wei Jiaoniang’s eyes twitched. She couldn’t be bothered to answer such a silly question.

The storyteller at the side had already spoken eloquently about the black dragon lingering above Emperor Taizu’s head. It’ kowtowed three times in a row and roared three times before floating away.

At that time, everyone in the town saw the black dragon appear and kneel down. The scene was very spectacular.

Speaking of Emperor Taizu’s heroic aspirations…

Lu Qin naturally understood Wei Jiaoniang’s disdain and couldn’t be bothered with her. She ran excitedly to find the other girls she was familiar with to chat with them and ask if they had heard that a true dragon had appeared in the capital today.

With her help, it wasn’t long before there was a rustling commotion around them.

This matter was really unbelievable. Some believed it, some half believed it, and some looked at each other noncommittally.

The pleasure boat gradually became noisy, and the discussion grew until there was a flurry of light footsteps outside, punctuated by the sound of silver bell-like laughter.

“This year’s banquet is held on this pleasure boat.”

“It’s much more fun than in the palace.”

‘You’re right.”

More than ten noble ladies surrounded Princess Changqing of Prince Jing’s Manor and walked over leisurely. All of them were beaming with joy and chatting happily.

Some girls went forward to greet Changqing and the others. Some girls sat where they were and nodded with a smile. Others were only concerned with talking to others and pretended not to see them.

As these noble ladies arrived, the scene became even more lively. At a glance, the upper and lower floors were filled with young men and women in their prime.

Chang Qing glanced around, and her gaze landed on Gu Yunrong, who was smiling not far away. She smiled sweetly. “Yunrong.”

Chang Qing quickly went up and pulled Gu Yunrong away from Yu Chaoyun and the others.

“I was just looking for you.” Chang Qing intimately took Gu Yunrong’s arm and walked towards the seat in front of her. She whispered into her ear with a smile, “Am I going to call you Imperior Aunt soon?

Chang Qing was the legitimate daughter of Prince Jing and had been a frequent guest in the palace since she was young, so she was also well-informed. As soon as she entered the palace, she heard that the Empress Dowager planned to set a wedding date for Kang Wang and Gu Yunrong after this year.

Kang Wang and Prince Jing were of the same generation. When Gu Yunrong becomes Princess Consort Kang, Chang Qing would become her junior.

Speaking of her wedding date with Kang Wang, the corners of Gu Yunrong’s lips curled up.

A sparkling light happened to sprinkle on her beautiful face, outlining her gentle and exquisite outline. Specks of golden light flowed in her pupils, making her look charming.

Gu Yunrong’s expression was a little gentle and charming, but she was not embarrassed. She said generously, “Chang Qing, I’m still me. You can call me whatever you used to call me.”

Even if she married Kang Wang, she wouldn’t blindly rely on him. She was Gu Yunrong first, and his wife second.

Chang Qing liked Gu Yunrong’s straightforward personality. She chuckled and whispered in her ear, “1 wouldn’t dare.’

‘Uncle Kang Wang… I can’t afford to provoke him.”

Anyone could see Kang Wang’s feelings for Gu Yunrong.

Gu Yunrong pursed her lips with a smile. The dimples on her lips deepened, and her smile was sweet.

As soon as they sat down, they heard a eunuch standing guard outside report in a sharp voice,

‘The Emperor has arrived!” ‘The Empress Dowager has arrived!”

‘The Eldest Prince has arrived!”

The Emperor and Empress Dowager Yuan walked side by side in a bright yellow dragon robe. Behind them were Kang Wang, Chu You, the Eldest Prince, Chu Yi, and a few other princes and princesses. The team was majestic, and there was a little girl in pink who was about ten years old. She was sitting in a wheelchair and was pushed in by the palace servants.

She was wearing a pink dress with a hundred butterflies, revealing her thin and small frame. She had an oval face, fair skin, and a cherry mouth. Her hair was combed into cute double buns.

The current Emperor only had a son and a daughter. This was the only princess in the palace now, and her name was An Le.

Everyone stood up and bowed. As they bowed, they secretly looked at the Eldest Prince, Chu Yi.

Chu Yi had just returned to the capital for a few months and lived in seclusion. At least half of the people present had never seen him. Their gazes were inevitably curious and scrutinizing.

Some people sized up the Eldest Prince and Kang Wang, weighing them in their hearts.

Thinking about the “True Dragon Phenomenon” today, this banquet clearly revealed something unusual..

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