Chapter 467: Prince of Anxi, there should be a flower festival in a few days, right

Xu Zifeng was drinking, when he suddenly found the Prince of Anxi, Li Ji, opposite him stand up abruptly, an expression of disbelief on his face.

He turned his head in confusion, and the wine cup in his hand nearly fell.

He saw a handsome young master holding a jade-boned folding fan walking over leisurely.

The man wore a moon-white brocade robe, with an ancient jade pendant hanging at his waist; as he walked, his sleeves fluttered, as if an immortal had descended to the world.

His eyebrows were like distant mountains, his eyes like stars, a faint smile playing on his lips, and his whole person radiated a noble bearing that one dared not look at directly.

"Your Maj—" Li Ji was about to speak when he was stopped by the man's gaze.

"Li Chen of the Wanbao Chamber of Commerce, greetings to everyone." The newcomer lightly shook his folding fan, his voice clear.

The entire courtyard instantly fell silent; the officials present looked at each other, then suddenly realized.

His Majesty was traveling incognito!

Although they couldn't perform the grand salute, everyone still straightened their backs unconsciously, their attitude respectful to the point of being stiff.

Li Meng's eyes lit up instantly, as if stars had fallen into them.

She ran to Li Chen's side in two or three steps, completely losing her earlier restraint, and charmingly grabbed his sleeve: "Little Brother, why did you come?"

Li Meng attending this banquet was also something Ma Hei had gone to notify the Wanbao Chamber of Commerce about, so it naturally reached Li Chen's ears.

Li Chen patted her head dotingly: "I came after finishing things at home."

He lowered his voice and continued: "How is it? You weren't bullied by these officials, were you?"

Li Meng shook her head hurriedly and leaned close to his ear nervously: "They are all big officials; Little Brother, you should be careful with your words..."

Perhaps in Li Meng's eyes, Liu Hao and Wu Qi were big officials in the capital she couldn't usually contact, so she was very careful with her words.

What she didn't know was that Liu Hao and Wu Qi were only big officials in the eyes of ordinary people, but beside Li Chen, their positions really weren't worth mentioning.

Li Chen nodded: "Understood, officials also reason, right?"

This sentence was well said; whoever dared not reason in front of Li Chen would be in trouble.

Seeing their intimate appearance, everyone present understood roughly: so Li Meng was the Emperor's woman. It was fortunate they hadn't done anything extra just now, so as not to be unable to step down.

Everyone looked at the only "insider," Ma Hei; Ma Hei nodded, confirming the relationship between Li Chen and Li Meng, and they roughly knew what to do.

Xu Zifeng saw Li Chen and Li Meng chatting and stepped forward: "Young Master Li, your arrival truly makes the place shine. Please, take the main seat!"

Saying this, he was about to give up his seat.

With Li Chen here, how could he dare to take the main seat?

Li Chen waved his hand: "No need for formalities; I'll just sit next to Miss Li."

After Li Chen took his seat, the banquet guests noticed that the Prince of Anxi, who usually held a high status, was now standing respectfully to the side; Wu Qi and Liu Hao didn't even dare to breathe loudly; and those Gu cultivators from the Southern Frontier, although they didn't know the situation, saw Ma Hei standing straight and followed suit.

Only after Li Chen nodded did these people take their seats one by one.

"Greetings, Young Master Li." Li Ji spoke first, his tone respectful to an extreme: "I didn't expect you to know Miss Li."

Li Ji was still a blood relative of the Imperial Clan, so speaking to Li Chen was more natural than others.

Li Chen looked at Li Meng meaningfully: "Yes, I have a great affinity with her."

This made Li Meng blush; she knew what Li Chen meant.

At this time, Li Chen raised his glass to Li Ji: "I toast the Prince of Anxi."

Hearing Li Chen say this, Li Ji, who had just sat down, stood up immediately, shouting: "How dare I, how dare I? I am just an ordinary May Tian Ce citizen."

The words sounded very exaggerated; the Prince of Anxi was an orthodox Prince, yet he said he was an ordinary citizen?

But as long as one knew Li Chen's true identity, one understood that the Prince of Anxi really didn't dare to put on airs in front of him. Li Meng felt a bit strange—why was this Prince of Anxi so kind and courteous, completely different from before?

Could it be that people in the Imperial Capital were only this easy to talk to among themselves?

The atmosphere of the banquet became subtle.

Although everyone was clinking glasses and chatting on the surface, everyone's attention was unconsciously focused on Li Chen.

Whenever His Majesty raised his glass, seven or eight people would stand up at the same time; whenever His Majesty wanted to talk about a topic, someone would definitely pick it up, not letting the topic go cold.

In professional terms, their heads could fall to the ground, but Li Chen's words couldn't fall to the ground.

Li Meng was visiting the Imperial Capital for the first time and didn't quite understand this atmosphere, still innocently sharing what she had seen and heard in the Imperial Capital with her sweetheart.

Li Meng excitedly pulled Li Chen's sleeve, her eyes bright: "Little Brother, I was scared to death the first time I rode the orbital train! That thing runs faster than the fastest Gu insect!"

She gestured and continued: "And the shops on the streets of the Imperial Capital—the patterns of jewelry sold are much more than in our Southern Frontier..."

She suddenly frowned with worry: "But our Southern Frontier's handicrafts are also very special; they should have a market in the Imperial Capital. It's just... I heard your Wanbao Chamber of Commerce's President Jiang is very strict. I'm clumsy with words; what if I say the wrong thing?"

Everyone present heard this, and their expressions became subtle.

Wasn't President Jiang the Emperor's Imperial Consort? Why did this conversation sound so strange?

Li Chen couldn't help but laugh, gently pinching Li Meng's cheek: "Don't worry, our President Jiang is the most reasonable and very gentle."

Jiang Rong was very strict in doing things, which was why she had built such a large chamber of commerce.

As long as Li Meng spoke well, Jiang Rong was actually reasonable.

Li Meng then smiled, suddenly remembering something: "By the way, Little Brother, didn't you say there's a flower festival in the Imperial Capital recently? I specifically asked when I came, and people said there isn't one?"

Hearing this, Li Chen turned his gaze to Li Ji: "Prince of Anxi, there should be a flower festival in a few days, right?"

Li Ji was stunned for a moment, then understood: "Yes, yes, yes!"

He tested cautiously: "Which day does Young Master Li think is suitable?"

How could Li Ji dare to say no? Wouldn't that be defying His Majesty?

If Li Chen said there was one, then there must be one!

Li Chen lightly shook his folding fan: "You are also forgetful; isn't the day after tomorrow the flower festival?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Li Ji slapped his forehead and immediately described it to Li Meng vividly.

"Miss Li might not know, but the day after tomorrow is the May Tian Ce Dynasty's annual Myriad Flower Assembly! This grand event has a history of over several hundred years; legend says it was established by the founding Emperor to celebrate the Empress's birthday..."

Li Meng listened intently, completely unaware of the twitching corners of the mouths of the officials around her.

What Myriad Flower Assembly—it was clearly His Majesty's temporary idea to hold it!

But these people knew Li Chen's meaning, so they naturally echoed him one after another.

"At that time, flowers will bloom all over the city, and there will be rare flowers and plants offered from all over..."

Li Ji spoke more and more enthusiastically, as if there really were such a traditional festival.

"Especially the 'Nine-Colored Peony' in the Imperial Garden, that is..."

Li Chen coughed lightly at the right time, and Li Ji stopped speaking immediately.

Li Meng turned to Li Chen excitedly: "So it really exists, Little Brother; you must take me to see it the day after tomorrow!"

Li Chen nodded dotingly: "Of course, not only will I take you to see it, but I will also make you a guest of honor at the flower festival."

Everyone present heard this and sighed inwardly:

His Majesty is going to hold a temporary Royal Flower Festival just to please a beauty!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 468 =====