Chapter 303: 303
If audio player doesn't work, press Stop then Play button again
Kuian Xiaoli started reminiscing about her youth with a slightly warmer gaze as Shen Tianyu listened attentively while eating food from her table.
Kuian Xiaoli's brother had gotten heavily injured during one of the battles with Tianan's army and she quickly stepped up in his position to fight alongside the then Crown Prince Kuian Guoliang. She had actually passed her military exams with flying colors, before she entered the army so she was qualified to substitute for her brother, who had been sent back to recuperate, in the eyes of the laws. However, some of her family elders were opposed to having a first ever female General and tried to find faults. Her parents had stepped up in support of her and even scolded the clan elders for being selfish when the country was in danger. As a military family, their duty was, and forever will be, the well-being of the country and it's people. Once the elders had begrudgingly settled down at home, her father had went to court to affirm her new position. Kuian Xiaoli became the first ever female General in the history of Kuian kingdom and even saved Kuian Guoliang from a pinch several times. Their romance started on the battlefield and once Kuian Guoliang had ascended the throne and the war reached a stalemate, he sent betrothal gifts to the Rong family to marry Kuian Xiaoli.
"It did come as a surprise, you know? I mean, I totally understand why he would rather marry a woman from a civil official's family. They had more connections in politics and would help stabilize his rule. Our family held the Right-winged General position for decades but, in the end, we were a war family. We might have political connections, but we are more focused on physically protecting the country from outsiders rather than work on inner politics. The Imperial Court is a hard place to navigate. Even though we had feelings for each other, and we were essentially seeing each other, I never thought he would come to me for marriage first." Kuian Xiaoli lamented but her joyful smile couldn't be hidden even with a veil.
'Well, sure he could but the last person I met that did that... it didn't look like it ended well.' Shen Tianyu thought back to the last few days of brewing chaos when she had left Jing City, the capital of the Jing Qie empire on Xi Jing continent. Though Wen Ya didn't have quite a close relationship with the royal family, the late Empress was still her aunt. Having seen such an upsetting example of how that kind of relation would play out, Shen Tianyu was glad Emperor Kuian didn't take any other women into his harem. For Rong Jian's sake as well as her own, she didn't think she could handle that kind of constant palace intrigue.
"Eat." One simple word said with love, worry, and adoration was his reply to the Empress's words.
"Ah yes, must not let the food go to waste." Kuian Xiaoli who had experienced the battlefield was conscious of the difficulty to attain food, especially good food, even now.
After almost everyone had eaten their course of the meal, the dancers came out with musicians to please everyone's eyes as the audience finished off dessert or whatever food left on their plates that they could eat. There were a few bold dancers that kept giving the Emperor and the princes, even Rong Jian, seductive gazes. However the Empress acted as if she didn't see anything, probably a trust in the Emperor that had been cultivated from years of being together on and off the battlefield. As for Shen Tianyu, she just looked at them a moment longer than the rest, as if to memorize their faces while she ate the osmanthus cake in front of her.
'Well, giving glances isn't really a big deal but it's better to remember them in case they try something later on...' Shen Tianyu, in a good mood from the celebration and good food, thought to herself.
When that entertainment ended, all the officials and the four princes got up from their seat. Everyone congregated into little cliques as they chatted among themselves. The one trying to make a connection to climb higher would wander around greeting people in the circles. Low-ranking officials went up to the Crown Prince and the three Wangye to curry favor, with some introducing their children either as marriage prospects or future aids. Yes, even Zhu Wangye received a few of the former introductions despite being newly engaged. Qiao Wangye, thankfully, intercepted them before Rong Jian could physically kick them out of the banquet hall.
The Emperor went around to receive congratulations from his officials while his wife went around and did the same for the wives, consorts, concubines and daughters from other families that were attending.
Shen Tianyu, with wine goblet in head, tread towards where Yanmen Mengxiao, Wu Linghao and Bai Yaoxuan sat, right below the seats intended for the imperial family. A few girls were, flirting or chatting she wasn't sure, interacting with the always smiling Wu Linghao while Yanmen Mengxiao gave off a cold air of "don't approach me". Bai Yaoxuan just sat in between them as she quietly observed everything around her neither with overflowing interest nor complete indifference.
"Yaoyao, Memgmeng, how is the banquet?" Shen Tianyu called out to the two sitting closest to her. That nickname didn't quite fit with Yanmen Mengxiao's attitude but that's only in the current time.
"Congratulations, Zhu Wangfei." Yanmen Mengxiao greeted her with the new title in lieu of answering her question.
"It's okay. The food is good. I know this is an imperial banquet so it should be much more extravagant than those held by other people but I don't really have anything to compare this to." Bai Yaoxuan answered her question directly without greeting her.
'Well, nothing to compare with in this world, you mean. You certainly attended parties with me back in our old world more than a few times.' Shen Tianyu nodded at them both.
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Kuian Xiaoli started reminiscing about her youth with a slightly warmer gaze as Shen Tianyu listened attentively while eating food from her table.
Kuian Xiaoli's brother had gotten heavily injured during one of the battles with Tianan's army and she quickly stepped up in his position to fight alongside the then Crown Prince Kuian Guoliang. She had actually passed her military exams with flying colors, before she entered the army so she was qualified to substitute for her brother, who had been sent back to recuperate, in the eyes of the laws. However, some of her family elders were opposed to having a first ever female General and tried to find faults. Her parents had stepped up in support of her and even scolded the clan elders for being selfish when the country was in danger. As a military family, their duty was, and forever will be, the well-being of the country and it's people. Once the elders had begrudgingly settled down at home, her father had went to court to affirm her new position. Kuian Xiaoli became the first ever female General in the history of Kuian kingdom and even saved Kuian Guoliang from a pinch several times. Their romance started on the battlefield and once Kuian Guoliang had ascended the throne and the war reached a stalemate, he sent betrothal gifts to the Rong family to marry Kuian Xiaoli.
"It did come as a surprise, you know? I mean, I totally understand why he would rather marry a woman from a civil official's family. They had more connections in politics and would help stabilize his rule. Our family held the Right-winged General position for decades but, in the end, we were a war family. We might have political connections, but we are more focused on physically protecting the country from outsiders rather than work on inner politics. The Imperial Court is a hard place to navigate. Even though we had feelings for each other, and we were essentially seeing each other, I never thought he would come to me for marriage first." Kuian Xiaoli lamented but her joyful smile couldn't be hidden even with a veil.
'Well, sure he could but the last person I met that did that... it didn't look like it ended well.' Shen Tianyu thought back to the last few days of brewing chaos when she had left Jing City, the capital of the Jing Qie empire on Xi Jing continent. Though Wen Ya didn't have quite a close relationship with the royal family, the late Empress was still her aunt. Having seen such an upsetting example of how that kind of relation would play out, Shen Tianyu was glad Emperor Kuian didn't take any other women into his harem. For Rong Jian's sake as well as her own, she didn't think she could handle that kind of constant palace intrigue.
"Eat." One simple word said with love, worry, and adoration was his reply to the Empress's words.
"Ah yes, must not let the food go to waste." Kuian Xiaoli who had experienced the battlefield was conscious of the difficulty to attain food, especially good food, even now.
After almost everyone had eaten their course of the meal, the dancers came out with musicians to please everyone's eyes as the audience finished off dessert or whatever food left on their plates that they could eat. There were a few bold dancers that kept giving the Emperor and the princes, even Rong Jian, seductive gazes. However the Empress acted as if she didn't see anything, probably a trust in the Emperor that had been cultivated from years of being together on and off the battlefield. As for Shen Tianyu, she just looked at them a moment longer than the rest, as if to memorize their faces while she ate the osmanthus cake in front of her.
'Well, giving glances isn't really a big deal but it's better to remember them in case they try something later on...' Shen Tianyu, in a good mood from the celebration and good food, thought to herself.
When that entertainment ended, all the officials and the four princes got up from their seat. Everyone congregated into little cliques as they chatted among themselves. The one trying to make a connection to climb higher would wander around greeting people in the circles. Low-ranking officials went up to the Crown Prince and the three Wangye to curry favor, with some introducing their children either as marriage prospects or future aids. Yes, even Zhu Wangye received a few of the former introductions despite being newly engaged. Qiao Wangye, thankfully, intercepted them before Rong Jian could physically kick them out of the banquet hall.
The Emperor went around to receive congratulations from his officials while his wife went around and did the same for the wives, consorts, concubines and daughters from other families that were attending.
Shen Tianyu, with wine goblet in head, tread towards where Yanmen Mengxiao, Wu Linghao and Bai Yaoxuan sat, right below the seats intended for the imperial family. A few girls were, flirting or chatting she wasn't sure, interacting with the always smiling Wu Linghao while Yanmen Mengxiao gave off a cold air of "don't approach me". Bai Yaoxuan just sat in between them as she quietly observed everything around her neither with overflowing interest nor complete indifference.
"Yaoyao, Memgmeng, how is the banquet?" Shen Tianyu called out to the two sitting closest to her. That nickname didn't quite fit with Yanmen Mengxiao's attitude but that's only in the current time.
"Congratulations, Zhu Wangfei." Yanmen Mengxiao greeted her with the new title in lieu of answering her question.
"It's okay. The food is good. I know this is an imperial banquet so it should be much more extravagant than those held by other people but I don't really have anything to compare this to." Bai Yaoxuan answered her question directly without greeting her.
'Well, nothing to compare with in this world, you mean. You certainly attended parties with me back in our old world more than a few times.' Shen Tianyu nodded at them both.
Kuian Xiaoli started reminiscing about her youth with a slightly warmer gaze as Shen Tianyu listened attentively while eating food from her table.Kuian Xiaoli's brother had gotten heavily injured during one of the battles with Tianan's army and she quickly stepped up in his position to fight alongside the then Crown Prince Kuian Guoliang. She had actually passed her military exams with flying colors, before she entered the army so she was qualified to substitute for her brother, who had been sent back to recuperate, in the eyes of the laws. However, some of her family elders were opposed to having a first ever female General and tried to find faults. Her parents had stepped up in support of her and even scolded the clan elders for being selfish when the country was in danger. As a military family, their duty was, and forever will be, the well-being of the country and it's people. Once the elders had begrudgingly settled down at home, her father had went to court to affirm her new position. Kuian Xiaoli became the first ever female General in the history of Kuian kingdom and even saved Kuian Guoliang from a pinch several times. Their romance started on the battlefield and once Kuian Guoliang had ascended the throne and the war reached a stalemate, he sent betrothal gifts to the Rong family to marry Kuian Xiaoli."It did come as a surprise, you know? I mean, I totally understand why he would rather marry a woman from a civil official's family. They had more connections in politics and would help stabilize his rule. Our family held the Right-winged General position for decades but, in the end, we were a war family. We might have political connections, but we are more focused on physically protecting the country from outsiders rather than work on inner politics. The Imperial Court is a hard place to navigate. Even though we had feelings for each other, and we were essentially seeing each other, I never thought he would come to me for marriage first." Kuian Xiaoli lamented but her joyful smile couldn't be hidden even with a veil.'Well, sure he could but the last person I met that did that... it didn't look like it ended well.' Shen Tianyu thought back to the last few days of brewing chaos when she had left Jing City, the capital of the Jing Qie empire on Xi Jing continent. Though Wen Ya didn't have quite a close relationship with the royal family, the late Empress was still her aunt. Having seen such an upsetting example of how that kind of relation would play out, Shen Tianyu was glad Emperor Kuian didn't take any other women into his harem. For Rong Jian's sake as well as her own, she didn't think she could handle that kind of constant palace intrigue."Eat." One simple word said with love, worry, and adoration was his reply to the Empress's words."Ah yes, must not let the food go to waste." Kuian Xiaoli who had experienced the battlefield was conscious of the difficulty to attain food, especially good food, even now.After almost everyone had eaten their course of the meal, the dancers came out with musicians to please everyone's eyes as the audience finished off dessert or whatever food left on their plates that they could eat. There were a few bold dancers that kept giving the Emperor and the princes, even Rong Jian, seductive gazes. However the Empress acted as if she didn't see anything, probably a trust in the Emperor that had been cultivated from years of being together on and off the battlefield. As for Shen Tianyu, she just looked at them a moment longer than the rest, as if to memorize their faces while she ate the osmanthus cake in front of her.'Well, giving glances isn't really a big deal but it's better to remember them in case they try something later on...' Shen Tianyu, in a good mood from the celebration and good food, thought to herself.When that entertainment ended, all the officials and the four princes got up from their seat. Everyone congregated into little cliques as they chatted among themselves. The one trying to make a connection to climb higher would wander around greeting people in the circles. Low-ranking officials went up to the Crown Prince and the three Wangye to curry favor, with some introducing their children either as marriage prospects or future aids. Yes, even Zhu Wangye received a few of the former introductions despite being newly engaged. Qiao Wangye, thankfully, intercepted them before Rong Jian could physically kick them out of the banquet hall.The Emperor went around to receive congratulations from his officials while his wife went around and did the same for the wives, consorts, concubines and daughters from other families that were attending.Shen Tianyu, with wine goblet in head, tread towards where Yanmen Mengxiao, Wu Linghao and Bai Yaoxuan sat, right below the seats intended for the imperial family. A few girls were, flirting or chatting she wasn't sure, interacting with the always smiling Wu Linghao while Yanmen Mengxiao gave off a cold air of "don't approach me". Bai Yaoxuan just sat in between them as she quietly observed everything around her neither with overflowing interest nor complete indifference."Yaoyao, Memgmeng, how is the banquet?" Shen Tianyu called out to the two sitting closest to her. That nickname didn't quite fit with Yanmen Mengxiao's attitude but that's only in the current time."Congratulations, Zhu Wangfei." Yanmen Mengxiao greeted her with the new title in lieu of answering her question."It's okay. The food is good. I know this is an imperial banquet so it should be much more extravagant than those held by other people but I don't really have anything to compare this to." Bai Yaoxuan answered her question directly without greeting her. 'Well, nothing to compare with in this world, you mean. You certainly attended parties with me back in our old world more than a few times.' Shen Tianyu nodded at them both.
