Chapter 641

The atmosphere in the field didn't change. Everyone still finished their words with a smile, and then it was quiet for a while. Some people looked at the upper seat, and some people looked at Yongji.

"The Prince has been in the capital for some time. It's a pity that the time was not right, and it was only today that we entered the palace to chat." Li Huang placed her gaze on Yongji and said to everyone, "The Sage often tells me that when he was young, he shed blood and killed enemies on the northern border, relying on bows and halberds with the Prince of Yan, sharing the same robe and horse. Both survived; I don't know how many times they saved each other's lives."

Li Huang's voice was gentle and slow, like the wind on a spring night: "In the stories of the previous dynasty, once the monarch and ministers separated, they were separated by thousands of miles, and they didn't see each other for years, often suspicious of each other. It's even more fearful that one sits high in the temple and the other holds soldiers outside, with different thoughts and thoughts, which is most likely to cause some misunderstandings. I don't live in the temple and don't understand things. Sometimes I worry about this and discuss it with the Sage, but the Sage just waves his hand to indicate that it is like hearing boring words."

"The monarch and ministers trusting each other like this is truly a blessing for the Great Tang. The family friendship of the previous generation can be continued to the next generation, which is what the elders most want to see. Now that Yongji, the Prince, has entered the capital, all Qilin children should get to know each other more. It is not only because this feeling is precious, but also for the stability of the Great Tang's future."

Everyone agreed one after another and toasted Yongji. Yongji gathered his skirt and stood up, saluting one by one. He was born tall and straight, and the nobility nurtured by the Prince's mansion stood out among the yellow robes.

"Many thanks, Her Highness the Empress. My father sent me to the capital, besides some affairs, especially exhorting me to be friendly with all the Highnesses. In the past few months, because of the same love for hunting, I played a lot with the Third Highness. I am a person from a remote place. Please take care of me more in the future." After speaking, he toasted all around and drank a full cup. It was thin and light spring wine, and it didn't make people drunk.

Li Huang looked at him with a satisfied expression, turned her head and smiled again: "However, these are all empty words. It won't be possible not to take care of each other in the future—in order to avoid estrangement between the two sides, and the younger generation is in their prime, the Sage and the Prince of Yan have agreed to repair the marriage of Qin and Jin. I think many of you already know."

Li Yujin smiled: "Red silk being pulled into the palace cart by cart... unless you are blind."

Consort Yuan also smiled: "It's rare to be lively once; everyone is discussing it."

"Does those few carts of red silk hinder you? You don't need to pull the cart either." Li Huang glared at him, "A royal marriage starts preparing when the girl is eight or nine years old, embroidering red clothes, pinching gold threads... You see that little bit of red silk is enough to do something? You don't worry about your sisters yourself, just talking here."

Li Yujin lowered his head and raised his cup.

Li Huang turned her head back and continued: "The children of the Great Tang have nothing to be coy about. There are only two daughters of the royal family who are of age, and they are both at the banquet now. Marriage always requires mutual joy. I don't know which one the Prince admires. Since it's a family banquet, you might as well say it first."

Yongji bowed and toasted, saying humbly: "Being able to be favored by a Qilin daughter is already Yongji's good fortune for three lives; how dare I have any choice? It's all up to the Empress to decide."

"The Prince respects the monarch with heavy etiquette; he is a good boy." Li Huang smiled twice, "However, it didn't mean for you to 'choose' either. It sounds like you can take whoever you like. You speak of your favorite first, and then I will ask the daughters' thoughts. We might not look up to you either."

Everyone at the table laughed.

Yongji lowered his head shyly, bowed again, and said warmly: "Yongji dare not have any offensive words toward the Qilin daughter, only hoping to be favored."

Li Youlong's expression was still very faint, looking at the untouched dishes on the table in a daze, seemingly wanting to look toward the west from time to time. Li Cannan sat properly at the table. The pride of the Great Tang Princess was still vivid, but her cheeks had already been dyed with a shallow blush. After Yongji said two sentences, her chin lifted slightly.

"Then let's see which one is willing to 'favor' you—hmm, just said the first four dishes were cold." Li Huang turned her head back, and a line of palace maids had already lined up behind her.

She lifted her hand to signal that this fifth dish be sent down, which was a steaming stew pot for each table.

"Camel hoof soup, the dish that has been simmered the longest today." Li Huang picked up the chopsticks and introduced, "It is taken from the front hoof of a tribute camel from the Western Regions, simmered with partridge and bamboo fungus. The red flowers on top are also from the Western Regions, which are quite warming. The so-called 'The peak of the purple camel comes out of the emerald pot, and the crystal plate walks with plain scales,' my fourth and fifth dishes are taken from this poem."

Yongji tasted a piece: "I haven't eaten such clear and soft hoof soup before. The ones made by the chef in the mansion are either heavy in taste or fishy."

"That's really not the chef's fault. The hoof of livestock is easy to store and smelly, so it's difficult to make into a meal. This dish is done well in the palace because the tribute camel is raised cleanly from a young age, specifically for these four hooves."

"So that's how it is."

Li Yujin ate two pieces and praised it highly. Li Chen held his sleeves and didn't know what he was thinking. Li Cannan picked up a piece of camel hoof with chopsticks very elegantly. This princess was indeed impeccable in etiquette, looking much more noble than Li Youlong.

Li Xizhou didn't move her chopsticks. Seeing Pei Ye looked at her in doubt. She pushed it away indifferently: "This is delicious; I'll give you both pots."

"Many thanks." Seeing Pei Ye felt the taste was quite good.

Everyone at the table put down their chopsticks after tasting a few bites. This round of dishes was considered tasted. Li Huang ate with very precise and clean movements, without getting any soup on her, but she still had it wiped by the palace maid before continuing: "Youlong, you have been with the Prince for the past two days and should be familiar with him. In your eyes, how is Young Master Yongji? Is there anything you are not used to?"

Li Youlong saluted slightly: "Reporting to Mother Empress, the Prince is humble and polite, has high-level insights, and is like a gentleman. This daughter has no dissatisfaction."

Li Huang nodded and said again: "Although it is so, friends and partners are different after all. If there is a marriage match, are you willing to be engaged to Young Master Yongji?"

"Reporting to Mother Empress, this daughter is willing."

Li Huang hooked her lips with satisfaction and looked toward the other side: "Cannan, you are my own child. I know that the child bears a heavy responsibility and left early, so I have kept you by my side in the palace for these years, reluctant to let you go. However, a girl should marry when she grows up. Since there is a good match today, I will also ask you, what do you think of Young Master Yongji?"

"This daughter, this daughter listens to Mother Empress's arrangements."

"I am in this position, naturally responsible for the marriage in the palace. However, since it is a family matter and it is a family banquet here, we might as well discuss it first." Li Huang said warmly, "After we have a statement, it will be fine to notify outsiders when we get engaged."

"I don't hide my thoughts in my heart. Because I feel the northern border is desolate and far away, and Youlong is a rare Qilin child in the Ming Palace, bearing true blood, I am really reluctant to let her stay away from the ancestral line. So I intend to point Cannan to this marriage contract." Li Huang said, "What do you all think?"

Li Youlong's eyelids drooped, and her hand playing with the soup spoon stopped.

At this time, the next line of palace maids walked into the banquet, and their footsteps and the movements of serving food were even lighter and softer. Between walking, they almost stepped on their toes.

This dish was three light red duck eggs, don't know what dyed them this color. The round top had been cut neatly, and the remaining shell was engraved with a few lines of ancient seal script. Looking inside, it was filled with orange-red and tender white, which were crab paste and bamboo shoot diced.

"I actually feel that Sixth Sister and Yongji are more compatible."

The atmosphere in the field was very quiet. Li Yujin looked up and swallowed a duck egg, staring at the residue he was stirring with chopsticks in front of him, and only after swallowing it into his mouth did he satisfy and put it aside: "The two of them are in black and white, and they are both reticent on weekdays, but they unexpectedly have had words to say when they were together these few days."

Li Huang tapped her finger lightly on the duck egg in front of her and smiled: "Is that so? What are they talking about?"

"Mother Empress is making things difficult for this daughter. Do you think this daughter would sneak behind them and listen?" Li Yujin said, "However, Sixth Sister is naturally cold, so going to the north should be to her liking; Eighth Sister likes prosperity, so it would be inappropriate for her to leave the Divine Capital instead."

He picked up another duck egg with chopsticks.

"That also makes sense." Li Huang tapped the eggshell and smiled, "However, I suddenly remembered one thing. It seems that after marriage, it might not be necessary to go to the northern border. There is also a Prince of Yan's mansion in the Divine Capital. Living there can avoid the pain of separation of family blood."

Li Yujin smiled: "That depends on whether Yongji is willing—clearly married a wife, and then had to be alone when returning to the northern border, that would be too miserable."

"You are the most heartless. He is miserable, and you don't miss your sister—and you don't know which side you are standing on." Li Huang smiled and scolded him.

Li Bijun sat obediently. She had long known not to interrupt when adults were talking. She lowered her head and ate half a duck egg, only feeling it was too fresh. She raised her head and handed it to her mother. Her mother took it with one hand and covered her mouth with the other hand without a trace.

Li Youlong lowered her head and pinched the spoon handle, suddenly tasting some fishy sweetness in her mouth, and subconsciously loosened her chin.

Yes, Seeing Pei Ye thought, everyone was listening to every word they said, and she lowered her gaze to the hand on her lap, which was trembling slightly, and she mobilized her True Qi to suppress it.

Will there be other opportunities? She thought silently.

No more.

Just this once.

No matter if you agree or not, I must take Meng'er away.

"Yes," Li Chen said earnestly at this time, "I will miss Sister Nan very much."

"... You have played well since you were young, Sister Nan must also miss you."

"So, this daughter also can't bear for Sister Nan to marry. Why don't we let Sixth Sister go for this marriage."

Li Cannan was stunned for a moment and looked at him blankly.

Li Huang frowned and scolded lightly: "Speaking childish words when you are this big, Youlong is also an elder sister, don't speak like this."

"Oh." Li Chen apologized and saluted Li Youlong.

Li Huang sighed and smiled: "Your advantage since you were young is that you are earnest, but you are always too earnest and can't make jokes."

She paused, her fingers still tapping the duck egg: "What you said, I have considered, but... Cannan will probably be angry with me if I say this—I am willing to have her go, not because I favor anyone, but because she saw Young Master Yongji once early on and liked him. Mother's selfishness always wants to achieve this beautiful thing."

As soon as these words came out, Seeing Pei Ye paused his eating movements and looked up at Li Cannan. Sure enough, he saw her face turn stiff and white.

"This daughter feels that Sister Nan doesn't like Young Master Yongji, and she hasn't been to the northern border either." Li Chen spoke slowly and quietly, "Sister Nan, you are just a bit vain. Better not go. If you really have to marry into the Prince of Yan's mansion, you will definitely regret it."

"Ah! If you say this, Eighth Sister will pull your ears fiercely!" Li Yujin laughed, "Although it's a family banquet, there are quite a few people!"

Li Chen didn't speak. Li Cannan forced a smile, her eyes looking straight at the empty space.

Li Huang smiled: "It's all family, it's nothing."

"However, there are indeed many troublesome things if Youlong is to marry out." She smiled and lowered her eyes to think, "Don't forget, Youlong is a true blood heir. First, Qilin Blood cannot leave the capital, which is a hurdle."

She raised her eyes and became more serious: "Second, going to the northern border is different from going elsewhere. Further north, it borders the desolate people. Although there has been a truce for many years, I live deep in the palace and know that the flames of war are always waiting to be ignited. Qilin Blood is the foundation of the country. Placing it on the border, I fear the country will have worries. You are all Qilin children; you should think more about this."

Li Youlong lowered her head and pinched the spoon handle, suddenly tasting some fishy sweetness in her mouth, and subconsciously loosened her chin.

Yes, Seeing Pei Ye thought, the Prince of Yan didn't know what he was going to do.

He wanted Qilin Blood, of course, he couldn't give it to him.

Seeing Pei Ye raised his eyes to look at the upper seat. Li Zhi was still sitting properly, like air or a tree. Li Yujin lowered his head and ate the third duck egg. Li Chen held his hands together, looking at Li Cannan beside him nervously.

Was this the situation Yongji anticipated? But it didn't seem enough to push anything. Li Huang had already said the words Qilin Blood.

And then he was stunned, turned his head, and the woman beside him said softly: "Let Youlong go to the northern border. Qilin children are not sheep chased by others, but should be pillars that make enemies dare not approach as soon as they appear. Youlong has high talent and a firm will. Let her be stationed in the north, just to be a pillar to resist the desolate people."

Li Huang's fingers paused, and the duck egg was tapped with a small crack.

She withdrew her fingers, gathered her sleeves, thought for a while, turned her head and smiled, signaling the seventh dish that had been lined up to be sent to the banquet.

"This dish is 'Cold Toad Soup.' The previous two dishes were thick and salty, and fishy and fresh, so let's have a light cold snack to soothe the throat." Li Huang smiled slightly and said warmly, "Since it's like this, let Youlong be the first for now. This daughter's true blood, I will report to the Sage and inform the five surnames to discuss and think of ways together. If there is a solution, naturally everyone will be happy; if Youlong's matter is difficult to achieve, it doesn't have to delay the marriage of the two families, and Cannan can still complete the marriage."