Everyone in the banquet hall looked at the Princess and the whispers started to get higher and higher with every passing second.
"Wenwen apologizes for making the late appearance, Father Emperor."
said the Princess as she bowed her head in front of the Emperor.
"How is Princess feeling now?"
The Emperor asked in a voice laced with concern clearly showing just how much he favored this daughter of his.
Sitting in her seat, Zhao Xiuming looked at this interaction with a bitter smile. She was also a princess but she had never been able to compare with Zhao Wenling in the Imperial Palace.
"This Imperial daughter is fine now with Father Emperor's blessing."
Princess Wenling replied in a soft voice with a soft and small smile across her lips.
However, the Emperor still looked a little worried. Seeing this, the Empress bit her lips with a smile and said
"Your Majesty, Princess Wenling had been so hard-working. Shouldn't Your Majesty reward the Princess?"
The Emperor had a thoughtful expression on his face as he pondered over the Empress' words. Princess Wenling lowered her head silently and Zhao Zhuang Chen shook her head as he saw his mother and sister going through the last phase of their plan.
His mother and sister had planned really well. However, they didn't know that it was Xi Ying on their opposite side this time. The scheming they did could work on a woman. On a man like Xi Ying, all this scheming would only result in more humiliation and shame on their side.
Even after knowing this, he could only sit on his seat silently and watch his mother and sister going towards their doom.
Because he had seen the real obsession in his sister's eyes for Xi Ying and he knew that his sister would not stop if he tried…and about his mother, she seems to have seen a new hope in Xi Ying which can help him in getting the throne.
Ha…Zhao Zhuang Chen sighed, suddenly coming to know that all the women he had by his side are foolish and harmful for him.
His mother, his sister, and now even his wangfei.
He came out of his trance when he heard his father's answer just like the one his mother wanted to hear.
"What Empress said is right."
Zhao Wang Lei smiled and looked towards his daughter as he continued
"What does Princess want? Zhen will try his best to complete Princess' demands."
In response to her father's words, the princess shyly shook her head and said
"The Imperial daughter wishes nothing except Father Emperor's blessings. Preparing for the celebration banquet was something this one had herself volunteered for, it is not something that this one should want a reward for."
The Emperor was more pleased by these sensible words. He nodded his head with a wide smile on his lips that showed his satisfaction as he said again and again
"Good daughter. That's how a princess should act. Wenwen has grown up to be a very sensible lady. Don't feel shy. We are your father as well. Tell Father Emperor whatever you want without any hesitation."
Princess Wenling finally raised her head abandoning her shyness for a few moments. She looked at the Emperor with a hesitant smile and then moved her eyes across the banquet hall.
For a moment, everyone's breath hitched in their throat.
In the large hall, they watched as Princess' eyes stopped and stayed at only one person for a few moments, and then she shyly moved her eyes away after glancing at the Emperor with an obvious intention shown in her eyes.
Some had already guessed what the princess was going to demand. And sure enough, the princess next words were
"Father Emperor, this imperial daughter has always liked Minister Xi with her whole heart. This daughter wishes to remain by his side for the rest of her life."
Even though it was expected, the banquet hall still went unusually silent after these words.
A show of their likeness towards the person they liked by a lady …it was something that was unacceptable and unseen in present times. However, still, people didn't find it shameful in Princess Wenling's case.
Some maiden even clenched their handkerchief watching this show with excitement present on their faces.
In their eyes, Princess Wenling was a bold and daring woman who deserved a great respect. She did nothing shameful by revealing her hearty thoughts towards the man she loved.
After all, she had waited for that man for so many years. If it was not for Li Rui, then Lord Xi and Princess would have been married by now.
On the other hand, unnoticed from everyone's eyes, Princess Wenling was standing with her head lowered. Her actions seemed to be showing her shyness to everyone but in the truth, she was controlling her fear and nervousness of being rejected in her eyes.
Her fists were clenched inside her sleeve.
She never told her mother about the conversation she had with Xi Ying. The conversation… where she saw his dislike towards herself.
She didn't have the courage to tell her mother about this.
Because if she did, her mother would also stop fighting for her. Just because she didn't, now they were going according to their plan.
This was what they had planned.
On the first day of the banquet, forwarding a hand of friendship in front of Li Rui. If Li Rui accepted it then she would become her friend in everyone's eyes but if she didn't, even then it would be her who be become big in everyone's eyes since she was the first one to come out and forget everything about fourteen years ago.
On the second day of the banquet, she was to sleep with Xi Ying and when everyone else would have found out …she would have used the same friendship to beg Li Rui and allow her in Xi Manor just by Xi Ying's side even if it was as a concubine.
By doing this, she would have become a victim in everyone's eyes and Li Rui a cruel person.
Even if Li Rui had refused her offer of friendship, the second incident would have increased more hatred in everyone's heart for Li Rui.
Then on the third day of the banquet, she would have used the same hatred of people and demanded the Emperor for a marriage decree between her and Xi Ying.
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