Xiao Zhenhai smiled. Today, he was going to personally make a move and let her know what the three words' Xiao Zhenhai 'signified.
"Uncle, cousin …" Lian Shiya leisurely walked in front of Xiao Zhenhai and respectfully said with a nod.
Xiao Zhenhai looked at her and nodded. He revealed a satisfied expression and replied, "En." Finally, he gave her another look and asked, "Are you ready?"
"Yes." Lian Shiya understood tacitly.
"Master, the madame …" At this moment, the servant of the Lian Residence rushed in and said, "The people in front said it. The emperor, the emperor, along with esteemed empress Zhao and the princess have come."
What? The Emperor came?
Suddenly, everyone was shocked. The emperor had personally come to attend Lian Xiang's birthday banquet. It seemed that Lian Xiang's position in the imperial court would surpass the position of the Duke of Xiao!
He hurriedly said to his nephew, "Quickly, get ready. Go kneel at the gate and greet them."
Thus, he and his mother hurriedly returned to the inner room to change clothes. Her mother had changed into the official uniform of the first wife of the First-grade. With the support of Senior Servant Song and Huang Cen, she hurried to the entrance and knelt at the entrance with her sons, ready to greet them.
Lian Fu and Lian Ruyue, the legitimate children, kneeled at the back. All the officials in the banquet hall kneeled down to welcome them, while the princes and princesses went to the main entrance to welcome them one by one.
"The emperor has arrived!"
After about two quarters of an hour, a bright yellow carriage appeared before everyone's eyes. Ahead of them were the imperial guards led by the leader of the imperial palace, Jiang Keji. The emperor didn't want to be too high-profile, so he didn't have many people accompanying him.
Not long later, the curtains of the sedan chair were opened and Emperor Zhou Cheng, who was dressed in a purple robe with a narrow collar, walked out with a pleasant expression.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
Everyone was so angry that they knelt down and shouted loudly. At that moment, a loud voice resounded throughout the entire Prime Minister's Estate.
"Rise." Zhou Cheng Di raised his hand and said.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."
His eyes reddened, and he said gratefully, "Your Majesty, this humble subject is truly terrified. This humble subject loves you so dearly, but this humble subject can only report after my brain has been wiped clean."
"Even the prime minister has gone to great lengths to help the imperial court. It is only natural for us to come and celebrate your birthday. Hahaha." The emperor stepped forward and used one hand to help Lian Yanqing up before saying to his mother —
"Please rise, madame."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace." Even his mother's voice was trembling. This was the first time the emperor had personally come to celebrate his official's birthday. To the Lian family, this was an enormous honor.
Lian Ruyue lowered her head and raised her eyes to look. Although Zhou Chengdi was not an enlightened ruler, he was still very good at using the Emperor's Balancing Technique. He would be respectful when he needed to be so.
After that, Lian Zhaoyi and Princess Thirteen, Feng Ziyao, appeared in front of the crowd and were helped off the carriage by the mama.
What was astonishing was that Princess Eleven, Feng Lingyue, who had been sent into the palace after being crippled, soon appeared in the crowd's eyes. Her attire was much simpler than Princess Thirteen's.
"Make Yue'er …" Xiao He was stunned. Why had she come as well? He frowned slightly. Unimaginable and uncontrollable things would happen today, and he would personally take part in it. He did not want her to see his cruel side at all.
When Lian Fu saw Princess Eleven, he was surprised for a moment and then revealed a bright smile to her. When he saw that smile, she couldn't help but shiver and twist the handkerchief in her hand before turning her face away from him. Lian Meng was stunned for a moment before the smile froze on her face.
"Consecutive Techniques!" At this time, the emperor suddenly looked at Lian Fu in front of everyone and shouted out.
"Yi'er, hurry up and kneel before the Emperor!" When Lian Yanqing saw that Lian Yin was still in a daze, he hurriedly scolded him in a soft voice.
When Lian Meng came back to his senses, he bowed and said, "Lian Fu greets Your Majesty." This man was his real father, and perhaps, they would never recognize each other. Thinking of this, Lian Fang's fists secretly clenched inside his sleeves.
"Hahaha, get up. Minister Lian, this son of yours, in the future is going to be amazing." This caused Lian Yan Qing to be overjoyed, while Xiao Zhenhai's expression darkened. In the entire capital, his son was the most dazzling, and there was no one else, not to mention this wet behind the ears brat in front of him!
Lian Ru Yue and Feng Yunzheng couldn't help but look at each other as information that only they could understand flashed past their eyes.
After the Emperor sat down, the banquet officially began.
His mother had temporarily changed the subject of the opera to "The Feast of the Immortality of the Queen Mother" and "Mu Guiying, the Lord Marshal," to express her gratitude and loyalty to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.
Those delicate and pretty maidservants dressed in red satin dresses and azure stone skirts shuttled back and forth among the tables in an orderly manner. They served each dish one at a time, depending on each person's level and taste.
Everyone was talking and laughing merrily.
Lian Zhaoyi sat beside the emperor with a slight smile on his face. She seemed to still be that Imperial Concubine Su, who didn't lower herself to the point of being too condescending as she contentedly sat beside the emperor. The thirteenth princess was also as obedient as before.
Lian Ruyue indifferently looked at Lian Zhaoyi. A trace of ridicule leaked out of the corner of her eyes. Her patience far surpassed the Xiao family's previous Xiao family.
After he finished his chant, his gaze shifted to Princess Eleven. He saw her sitting next to his elder sister Lian Ruyue and talking to her. He then saw her talking to the maid next to her before she got up and left.
"Young master …" Noticing that his young master was distracted, 49 called out to him, but the technique had already left his seat and gone out.
Princess Eleven's state of mind was different from before. When she had been in the hall for a moment, she had actually felt breathless. She had come out to walk a few rounds before she was ready to go back.
"Princess!" However, just as she turned around, she saw an icy-blue figure. When she raised her eyes, she saw Lian Fu's paint-like face. She was stunned for a moment, then turned around and left.
"Ah, princess!" Lianfeng's slender legs moved as fast as he could, until he was right in front of her. "Why did you run the moment you saw me?" he asked.
Princess Eleven's face felt slightly hot. She turned her face away, but there was a trace of pride on her face. "I said that I won't see you again. Have you forgotten?"
"Puchi …" Lian Meng couldn't help but laugh.
Princess Eleven froze for a moment, then turned around and glared at the person in front of her with dissatisfaction. "What are you laughing at?"
"Sigh!" Lian Meng sighed. "What a childish person. I firmly remember the words you said when you were angry. Princess, I forgot about those words. Princess, we are still young, and we won't die. How could we never meet again?"