Chapter 89 - The Imperial Banquet (1)
Chapter 89 – The Imperial Banquet (1)
Four days later
"Elder sister, they're so cute."
Li Rui smiled at Li Chen's words.
"Father gave them to Rui. Chenchen do you want to touch them?"
The little boy nodded his head vigorously eager to touch the rabbit's soft fur.
Just as Li Rui was about to hand the rabbit to Li Chen, she heard Li Na asking her
"Elder sister didn't go to the Imperial Palace today?"
Li Rui's hand paused for a small moment and then she answered with a small smile
"Princess is unwell."
That's what her father had told him to say if anyone asked her.
"Young Miss, we should leave now. It's lunchtime."
Li Zhan immediately said when she saw that Li Rui was again thinking about the Princess.
.
.
.
Inside the dining room, the maids cleared the table after the family of four had finished their lunch. General Li didn't let anyone leave after lunch.
He waved his hand to dismiss the maids and then announced.
"The Emperor has announced that there will be a banquet in the Imperial Palace two days later. Every person from the noble families had to attend the banquet."
"Banquet now? For what?"
Yi Jie asked with a confused face.
General Li just shrugged and said
"His Majesty's wishes, only he knows."
He then glanced at Li Rui who was silent.
"Yi Jie, Why don't we, the family of four, go somewhere after this banquet?"
Yi Jie was surprised to hear it from her husband. He only talked about these matters when her daughter wanted to go somewhere.
"Where?" She asked her husband curiously.
General Li stood up and picked his daughter. Raising her chin he smiled and said
"Wherever Rui wish to go."
Li Rui smiled but the smile didn't reach her eyes and General Li's smile disappeared when he saw this.
He had thought that Rui would forget everything in a few days but now it seems like that it was not that easy.
————-
Two days passed soon and the Imperial City was again lively because of the ongoing preparation for the Imperial banquet.
In the evening, the three households of the Li Clan attended the Imperial banquet.
Sitting with Li Na and Li Caihong, Li Rui glanced around the large hall when her eyes finally found the person she was looking for.
She smiled but not for long when she saw the two girls sitting beside Princess Wenling.
Princess Wenling was laughing with them.
She forced a smile again when she saw that Princess was looking at her. However, the Princess turned her eyes away coldly.
The eunuch announced the arrival of the Emperor and the banquet started.
The dancers presented a beautiful dance.
After they finished, the Emperor said
"In the last banquet, Zhen had seen the skills of Imperial Prince and Princess. This time Zhen wants them to compete with the noble families' sons and daughters."
According to the Emperor's wish, the Imperial Prince and the noble family's sons presented different skills.
The young children showed remarkable skills and pleased the Emperor.
Just before her turn, Princess Wenling smiled widely. Because of what happened in the last banquet, this time she had already made preparations.
She glanced at the nanny who was standing behind her and said in a low voice.
"All thanks to the nanny that this Princess will not have to face humiliation today."
The nanny smiled humbly and said
"What is Princess saying? Our Princess is exceptional. The last time was just bad luck. This time this servant knows that only Princess will win the competition."
"Yes, Princess is very talented."
"No one can win against the Princess."
The two girls sitting beside Zhao Wenling said to please the Princess. All of this made Princess Wenling smile confidently.
She looked towards Li Rui who was talking to Li Chen.
'Yes, No one can win against me. Not even you Rui.'
Very confidently, Princess Wenling completed the poem she had prepared. She felt proud when she heard the claps and praised of the ministers and her father.
When she went back to her seat, the nanny and the two girls by her side praised her.
Princess Wenling was confident that she will win the competition.
Since Li Rui was the youngest amongst the girls of the noble families, her turn came last.
During her turn, she only recited a poem that her father had just taught her the day before.
It was not a long poem but when she finished the banquet hall was unusually silent.
A moment later, the clap sounded and it was the Emperor, Zhao Wang Lei himself who was clapping. The minister and the others hurriedly followed the emperor.
"Li Rui, who taught you this poem?"
The Emperor asked Li Rui.
Li Rui's gaze went towards her father who was smiling at her.
"Father."
"Good, Zhen is pleased to hear that. Only the Li Clan people can have so much love for the soldiers and battlefield. "
The poem recited by Li Rui was about the wars, soldiers, and battlefield.
The ministers looked at each other. Just two days before, General Li had threatened the Emperor to leave Xin but the Emperor still favors General Li.
They also said praising words for Li Rui.
"Zhen announces Li Rui as the winner of this completion. Rewards."
Sitting in her seat, Princess Wenling was filled with rage. She got up from her seat furiously and exited the banquet hall.
Just as she was crossing the entrance, she heard the two maids talking to each other.
"This time also, Young Miss Li won. His Majesty praised her greatly."
"Competing with Imperial Princesses and then winning the competition, Young Miss Li will surely become the most talented lady of Xin in the future."
The vase placed beside the maids was suddenly kicked down and they raised their head in horror.
"She will not. It will be this Princess. She is nothing…"
"Princess, calm down."
The nanny held the Princess and asked the two maids to leave.
After a few moments, when princess Wenling had finally calmed down the nanny suddenly spoke.
"This servant apologizes if Princess doesn't like my words but the maids said nothing wrong."
When the Princess glared at her, the nanny didn't cower in fear instead she continued
"If the things continued this way then Miss Li will surely cross the Princess one day.
However, it can be stopped if Princess allows this servant."