Chapter 1009: Chapter 735: Virtuous (2)
The atmosphere suddenly became overwhelmingly lively.
How could this happen? How could this happen!
Yu Mingyue gritted her teeth, tightly clenched her fist, her nails digging deep into her palm, the piercing pain making her feel even more frustrated.
However, she still couldn’t understand—she clearly had victory in her grasp, she would be officially appointed Crown Princess Consort tonight, yet Yu Wenquan gave up because of a few words; these people were originally unrefined ancient characters who should be concerned with the three obediences and four virtues, any minor mistakes by a woman should be reprimanded, even drowned in a pig cage, these were things she had witnessed before, why is it completely different now?
Did she make a mistake?
But how could she possibly have made a mistake?
The more she thought about it, the more distressed she became, the same question seemed to transform into countless thorns binding her, making it hard to breathe, nearly causing her to collapse. Fortunately, her seat was towards the back, closest to the hall’s entrance, she remembered Yu Wenqian had mentioned before that the palace banquet had loose rules, if drunk or unwell, one could step outside for fresh air, as long as not called by the Emperor, so she stood up and walked out.
At this moment, Yu Wenqian, seated in front, also noticed this scene, he furrowed his brow and a trace of unease appeared on his face, instinctively wanting to stand.
But before he could move, he heard Yu Wenquan say, "Qian’er, accompany me for a drink."
Yu Wenqian immediately looked up, saw Yu Wenquan raising his glass to him, he dared not delay, hurriedly stood up to pick up his cup, the two drank together; after he drank, before he could sit down, a few Ministers toasted him, so he had to respond one by one.
Looking back, Yu Mingyue was no longer at the door.
The atmosphere in the hall grew more lively, drums and music sounded together, dancing girls moved to the center of the hall, dancing gracefully to the music, in the air not only waving those jade-like slender arms, multi-colored hems and ribbons, also filled with a faint aroma of wine.
In such an atmosphere, Shang Ruyi’s face grew redder.
Her capacity for alcohol was not bad, but perhaps due to exhaustion, although all the Ministers who came to toast were handled by Yu Wenye alone, the few cups she drank at the start of the banquet now caused a rush of alcohol to cloud her mind, she gradually felt intoxicated, coupled with palace maids constantly serving oily fish and meat dishes, making her feel stifled, seated with furrowed brow saying nothing.
After another drink, Yu Wenye looked at her: "What’s wrong?"
Shang Ruyi raised her eyes pitifully: "Uncomfortable."
Seeing her like this, Yu Wenye felt a pang of heartache, then found it funny, pursed his lips said: "Then what to do? Tonight our Father is happy, you cannot leave early."
Of course Shang Ruyi knew as one of the main protagonists of this celebration banquet, she absolutely couldn’t leave early, so she glanced around, softly said: "I want to step outside for fresh air, disperse the alcohol, if Father asks, please cover for me."
Yu Wenye nodded but said again: "Don’t want me to accompany you?"
Shang Ruyi immediately shook her head: "That won’t do, what if others ask you to drink?"
Yu Wenye laughed: "You just leave me here to be forced to drink?"
Shang Ruyi also chuckled but didn’t chat further, since her chest grew increasingly tight, vaguely wanting to vomit, she waved a hand rising, seizing the opportunity as the palace maids approached to refill their cups, turned and walked out.
Once out of the hall, a cool breeze struck her, Shang Ruyi took a deep breath, immediately feeling the stale air in her chest dissipate with the wind.
Her whole body felt much better.
She exhaled deeply, didn’t concern herself with Yu Wenye inside the hall, slowly walked forward under the palace lanterns and the still bright moonlight.
Though she had moved into the Imperial Palace for some time, and toured the Inner Court with Shen Wuzheng and Pei Xingyuan, but after Bai Fu Hall, she wasn’t very familiar with the surroundings, walked for a while, saw a tall palace gate ahead, inside and outside planted with vigorous pines and cypresses, under moonlight an unusual sense of majesty emanated, and Shang Ruyi suddenly remembered this gate was Chengqing Gate, beyond it was Chengqing Hall.
Now renamed Chengqian Hall, Yu Wenqian’s residence.
Shang Ruyi immediately stopped and prepared to walk back.
At this moment, a cold laugh came from among the shadows, such familiar and arrogant voice made her heart jump, looking back, sure enough Yu Mingyue’s slender figure slowly emerged from under a tree.
In the moonlight, her gaze colder than the moon, with undisguised anger, glaring fiercely at Shang Ruyi.
Shang Ruyi never considered herself narrow-minded, but Yu Mingyue’s explicit hostility and disrespect towards her still made her somewhat angry. She said coldly: "Lord Yu, I am still Princess Qin, you see me yet do not kneel or salute, what is this attitude showing?"
"..."
"Do you still see any hierarchy of respect?"
Hearing these words, Yu Mingyue seemed angrier, laughed coldly with disdain and contempt apparent, said: "You think I really fear you? I fear you... not because of you, nor because of your position as Princess Qin, without these, you are nothing."
"..."
"On the contrary, I look down on you."
"...!"
Shang Ruyi’s heart suddenly flared with anger.
She naturally knew she and Yu Mingyue, from their first "meeting," were sworn enemies, walking to this point, especially just now with Yu Mingyue targeting her in Bai Fu Hall, if not for her eloquent lips, she might already be disgraced, with an uncertain future, so they both wished to stab the other several times, but Yu Mingyue was far too disrespectful, lacked basic human respect.
However, more so, she wanted to maintain her dignity and poise as Princess Qin.
So she smiled faintly: "What makes you look down on me, speak it, I’ll hear."
Yu Mingyue sneered: "You, married to a man, yet help him take concubines, urge him to rest with other women. Do you know how disgraceful that is for a woman? Yet said you are virtuous—"
