Chapter 216 All of the Demons and Monsters Appear at the Celebration Banquet

The Emperor had not planned on inviting women to the celebration banquet. But Wu Jieyu had acted coquettish with him and said, “Emperor, this consort wants to see that Mu Xiaojie. She’s so powerful that she’s not scared of the poisonous snakes in the swamps? This consort heard that there are all kinds of poisonous insects in the mountains and jungles. Why is a girl like her not afraid? This consort heard that her Shifu is a living immortal. This consort wants to ask her what an immortal looks like.”

The Empress had also said, “Yes, Emperor, this Empress is curious too. Not to mention, for Mu Xiaojie’s sake, we should invite women into the Palace. Although Mu Xiaojie is a soldier, she is female after all. It’s a bit inappropriate for her to sit with a group of officials.”

The Emperor was persuaded and went to Jingyang Palace. The Empress Dowager was also persuaded by Shangguan LingRan (Yi He): “Imperial grandmother, don’t you want to see what your granddaughter-in-law looks like now? Your grandson still needs you to suggest marrying You’er to me at the celebration banquet. Imperial grandmother, your grandson is nineteen years old already. At this age, other people already have children running around.”

The Empress Dowager’s heart couldn’t help but ache when she looked at her grandson’s lively appearance. She had never expected that her grandson’s affection for Zi You was so deep. When there was no news of Zi You for more than two years, he had been become even more unbridled and strange. He would shed all pretence of cordiality at the drop of a hat.

The Empress Dowager thought about the time when Zi You was seriously injured and taken away by an expert to be treated. Shangguan LingRan had gone drinking for ten days in a brothel and didn’t return to An Wang fu.

She had no choice and had given him two beautiful women. She also had someone tie up Shangguan LingRan and bring him back.

The result was that the two women turned into two corpses the next day.

After she had found out, she had asked him why. “Don’t you linger in the brothel all day for the women? I’m giving you beautiful women now, so why did you kill them?”

“Dirty!” Shangguan LingRan said one word and his face was terrifyingly cold. “An Wang Shizifei can only be You’er. Other people are unworthy. Also, grandson advises you not to tell the truth to imperial uncle or you can wait to collect my corpse.”

The Dowager Dowager thought of her grandson’s stubbornness and could only say to the Emperor, “It’s a celebration banquet, so it should be merry. Just summon the families of officials above fifth-rank into the Palace. Let those ladies in the boudoir see our female Commander.”

So, Wang Yiping entered the Palace for the first time that night for the celebration banquet. She was excited, resentful, and nervous.

She was excited because if hers and Yu Lanxuan’s plan could succeed tonight, the thorn in her eye would be removed.

She was resentful because she could enter the Palace for the first time because of her stepdaughter. She could enter the Palace because she was the heroine’s mother.

She was nervous because she didn’t know whether tonight’s plan would succeed. She was afraid that she would fail again. She really couldn’t withstand the blow of failure anymore.

At this time, Zi You and Shangguan LingRan were sitting in a horse carriage together. Shangguan LingRan looked carefully at her. “YouYou, why are you so good-looking?”

Zi You was really beautiful tonight. She was elegant in a purple silk coat embroidered with black mandara flowers in silver thread. The collar and cuffs were edged with silver. Her dress was light purple brocade inlaid with diamonds. The dress’s waist was sprinkled with gold and silver glitter. She had a purple gem gold filigree hairpin in her bun. A purple gem and gold dangling hairpin was combed into her bun on the back of her head. The hairpin jingled once she moved.

Her snow-like porcelain skin made her bright eyes twinkle charmingly. Her light makeup was shiny and supple. The most beautiful were her light purple and starry eyes. They were simply more dazzling than the purple gems on her head.

Shangguan LingRan was a little regretful. He was afraid that such a gorgeous Zi You would be even more coveted by the Emperor and his sons.

He had clearly seen that Wang Yiping’s jealousy and heatred when she saw Zi You and the shock that couldn’t be hidden in Mu YingRui’s eyes. He was really afraid that the lecherous Emperor would immediately try to marry Zi You.

Shangguan LingRan’s worries weren’t unfounded. Sure enough, as soon as Zi You stepped into the Palace, the noisy palace hall instantly became silent.

The light shone brilliantly on her jade-like face. The diamonds on her dress twinkled. Its purple hem swayed as she slowly walked. The blooming purple mandara flowers moved and swayed touchingly with each step.

She was like a fairy who had accidentally fallen into the mundane world. She was stained with the mundane world, but she was also aloof from it.

At this time, the Emperor, the Empress, the Empress Dowager, and Taizi weren’t here yet, but Second Wangzi and Third Wangzi were already here. They turned into fools when they saw Zi You.

Zi You bowed to them and they finally reacted. They stammered out, “Hurry…… Please rise!”

Zi You and Shangguan LingRan were then led to the table prepared for the General’s Manor to wait for the Emperor.

Someone soon came over to greet Old General Mu (Shangguan LingRan) and Mu YingYi.

Although these cunning officials felt that the wind was changing when Old General Mu and his son left for Nanjiang, they felt that the wind changed back when Old General Mu came back victorious.

So, they quickly came over to greet and ask after them. They also secretly looked at the legendary Mu Zi You, who was as beautiful as a fairy.

After a while, Taizi arrived with Taizifei and his two cefeis.

In order to highlight her status as Zhengfei, Taizifei wore a gold-edged bright red Palace outfit. She had on plum blossom makeup and a bright red and an eyecatching red plum blossom ornament.

On Taizifei’s right side, a woman wore a gliterring green and honey gold brocade dress. Her shoes were pink. Bracelets encircled her twists. A string of red was hung over her chest. A gold and jade hairpin was inserted in her bun. Six phoenix hairpins were on the back of her head. The phoenixes held pearls in their mouths. She emitted prestige.

But she saw Zi You and froze. Her jealous gaze flashed before she loked immensely proud of herself.

Liu Ruixue was on the left. This was the first time that Zi You had seen her since she married Taizi. Liu Ruixue had a large stomach and she was wearing a loose and luxurious emerald lotus phoenix-tailed dress. The hem was embroidered with gold thread and decorated with amethyst and emeralds, which flashed purple and golden light. A gold hairpin was on her head. Liu Ruixue seemed fresh, elegant, classy, and noble. Her smiles and actions were gentle and dignified. Her dark eyes glistened with luster.

It seemed that she was living well. Zi You nodded. Her attitude was very friendly and affectionate. “Paying respects to Taizi, Taizifei, Liu cefei, and Ke cefei.”

Zi You stood up and bowed. Before she finished speaking, Liu Ruixue grabbed her hands and said excitedly, “It’s great that you’re okay! I heard that you were injured. I was so worried and cried for a long time.”

“Xue’er is telling the truth.” Taizi smiled elegantly like usual. “She heard that you were seriously injured, so she couldn’t sleep well, which made me extremely worried.”

Taizi was smarter now. He knew that Zi You wouldn’t necessarily pay him any attention if he rashly went to bother her. So, he played the family card and used Liu Ruixue in a roundabout way to get close to her.

Zi You withdrew her hands from Liu Ruixue’s hands and faintly smiled. “Thank you for your concern, cefei. I will visit you when there’s time.”

Liu Ruixue felt her indifference and was a little sad.

But Zi You didn’t hesitate in the slightest as she bowed and turned to leave. She couldn’t be blamed for doing this. She absolutely could not give people the wrong impression that the General’s Manor was involved with Taizi in public.

In particular, Taizi was someone whom she wanted to kill. If Liu Ruixue knew that Zi You wanted to kill Taizi, would she still be close to her?

In the previous life, Liu Ruixue and the child both died during childbirth. Zi You was very conflicted now. Should she save her at that time or not?

Fortunately, the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, the Empress, and the consorts arrived very quickly, so Zi You wasn’t conflicted for very long.

The Empress was wearing a bright red and gold multicolored phoenix-tailed dress with gold piping on the wide sleeves. A jade brocade and leather belt with a gorgeous agate was around her waist. She wore a gold crown decorated with gems on her head. She had two sashes around the jade and leather belt. The large sash was blue and red with a gold phoenix and auspicious cloud pattern on it. It was also tied with a string of auspicious jade beads. She wore a glittering golden bangle on her wrist. There was a jade ring on her finger.

Zi You’s eyes were sharp and saw that the black ring had disappeared.

Zi You sneered. That Devil Ring recognized its master. The Empress had already dripped her blood on it. If she wanted to throw it away or let it recognize another master, then Darong Ka or someone with special abilities needed to lift the spell between her and the Devil Ring.

But Darong Ka obviously could not do this. She could, but she would not!

At this time, Zi You felt a jealous gaze on her. She looked up and saw a woman dressed in a pale green dress with a peacock train. She had a Duoma bun on her head and two locks of hair cutely hung on both sides of her cheeks. A gilt filigree and jade swaying hairpin with green tassels was in her loose bun. It swayed as she moved and she was full of flirtatious and romantic charm.

This was the currently favored Wu Jieyu. Although her facial features weren’t extremely beautiful, she had a voluptuous figure that others did not have.

The Emperor took his seat after everyone bowed and paid their respects.