Li Qingmu keenly sensed the disdain in the eyes of the person next to him and turned to smile lightly, "Is your Excellency looking at because you have doubts about my words?"
Uh... if there are any doubts, it would be about the Emperor’s wise and divine words.
With so many people here, if he admits it, who knows who might undermine him behind his back.
The man awkwardly smiled, "What did Imperial Censor Li say? I deeply agree, that’s why I couldn’t help but take another look."
"Oh, is that so? Then I was overthinking it, my apologies."
Li Qingmu courteously clasped his hands in greeting to the official, and then left with his young wife, leaving the official with a constipated expression.
He sneaked a glance at the colleagues beside him, noticing their slightly strange expressions, and felt regretful in his heart, while also holding resentnt towards Li Qingmu.
Why must you expose the dissatisfaction in my heart?
Can’t we just mind our own business?
The man was extrely annoyed, but it was not the right mont to challenge Li Qingmu; otherwise, it would seem he truly harbored dissatisfaction towards the Emperor.
The official silently noted this down as a small black mark against Li Qingmu, then entered as well.
The Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet was held in her main palace, Taihe Palace. Many guests ca and presented their gifts. So were extravagant, while others were more modest, but at least none were shabby.
Empress Dowager Xue wore a splendidly embroidered garnt and a dazzling phoenix crown on her head, adorned with over a hundred gemstones, glittering with luxury!
According to tradition, the Emperor should have been present at the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet, but Qi Yun claid he caught a cold yesterday and didn’t attend.
This excuse gave so face.
Moreover, it was against protocol for the Empress Dowager to host a banquet for courtiers without the Emperor present, but Empress Dowager Xue did just that.
Hence, Qi Yun’s furious outburst that day.
This is overstepping, completely disregarding him as Emperor!
Taihe Palace was packed with people.
Today was Empress Dowager Xue’s sixtieth birthday. By this age, one typically shows signs of aging, but she maintained herself well, appearing just over forty.
This wasn’t about going to Da Xiangguo Temple for fasting and prayer; it was about enjoying life!
Long Yue and Li Qingmu, like others, offered a moderately priced gift and found seats in a less crowded area.
"What do you think Empress Dowager Xue’s purpose is in openly inviting the courtiers? Is it just to spend money and upset the Emperor?"
Long Yue whispered into Li Qingmu’s ear.
"Nothing is evident yet, let’s wait and see."
"Alright!"
While they were whispering, Xue Mingzhu, dressed in all her finery, ca to celebrate her sister’s birthday.
As she passed by, she inadvertently glanced at the corner and saw Long Yue. Her eyes narrowed slightly, flashing with coldness!
It’s her! The fool who splashed water on her face at Yangxin Residence?
Now it seems she’s not a fool at all, so she was pretending to disrupt her plans? Damn!
That lowlife!
Xue Mingzhu ground her silver tooth with hatred towards Long Yue, but it’s fine, since you’ve dared to attend the Empress Dowager’s banquet? Fine, don’t bla for taking revenge!
Xue Mingzhu’s lips curled into a cold smile as she elegantly walked toward the Empress Dowager.
"Wishing the Empress Dowager a happy birthday and a long life! I heard the Empress Dowager particularly likes lychees, so I specially transported two lychee trees from the Southern Ocean. Right now, it’s the perfect ti for the lychees to fruit."
As she spoke, she clapped softly, and imdiately four guards carried the lychee trees inside.
The lychee trees were concealed within large wooden boxes, covered with a layer of golden silk. Once the silk was lifted and the wooden boxes removed, the lychee trees were revealed.
The trees were over a person tall, lush and full, with plump, crimson lychees dangling temptingly.
Empress Dowager Xue was delighted, personally getting up to admire them.
"Wonderful, this is wonderful. You must have put in much effort, little sister?"
"Not much, just a bit of manpower and resources. As long as the Empress Dowager is happy!"
"Soone, place these two lychee trees in the inner chamber. No one is allowed near them."
Several eunuchs imdiately ca forward, secured the boxes, and carried the lychee trees away.
Long Yue glanced at the two lychee trees.
Li Qingmu leaned close, "Is there sothing wrong?"
"Pri Minister, the color of the lychees on these trees is too bright red; they should at least be darker red."
In the north, lychees are rare. Even if they exist, they require fast transportation, as they cannot be preserved for long.
One day and the color changes, two days and the fragrance changes, three days and the flavor changes; after three or four days, all color, fragrance, and taste are gone!
This describes how lychees are not easily preserved.
Most nobles and courtiers in Shengjing City are from the north, so they’re not familiar with lychees. They think lychees darken after picking, even turning black, but on the tree, they should be red.
No one noticed anything unusual, and if they did, they assud it was a particularly unique Southern Ocean variety.
But Jiangling County is in the south, with many lychee trees.
Li Qingmu grew up in the countryside and saw a neighbor plant a lychee tree. Truly, how could lychees be so vividly red?
This lychee tree must have a problem!
"Be careful, just don’t touch the lychee trees."
"Alright!"
In any case, the lychee trees were moved to the back, so it wouldn’t involve them.
The Empress Dowager’s banquet invited many people, so just eting the Empress Dowager and presenting gifts took considerable ti. By the ti it was ti to eat, it was already midday.
Unexpectedly, the seating was divided by gender!
Long Yue was seated with Pang Shuangyue.
Pang Shuangyue was evidently shocked to see her, first grinding her teeth before forcing a smile, "Sister."
She greeted and then picked up a bowl, filling it with hot soup.
"It’s rare to dine with my sister. I’m delighted. Let this bowl of soup be my toast to my sister."
With that, she handed the soup to Long Yue.
"Thank you!"
Long Yue smiled, reaching out to take it.
Just as Long Yue reached for the soup, Pang Shuangyue exclaid "oops" and spilled the bowl onto Long Yue.
But how could Long Yue fall for such a petty trick? With a flick of her finger, she hit the small indentation at the bowl’s base, flipping it, spilling it onto Pang Shuangyue instead.
"Ah—"
The scalding soup splashed over Pang Shuangyue’s fair hand, emitting a sizzling sound as she let out a chilling scream.
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