After Transmigration, I Snag a Stunning Bigwig as My Husband-Chapter 755 - 753 Banquet

Before Princess Jiuling could kneel and salute, the Emperor helped her up.

Since Princess Jiuling married Prince Jin of Nangang, it’s been fifteen years, and she’s only returned twice.

This is the third time.

Fifteen years.

Siblings born of the same mother have only met three times.

One is bound to Nanliang and cannot return.

The other is trapped on the Dragon Chair, finding it difficult to leave the palace.

Amidst today’s oppressive mood, seeing his Imperial Sister was an unexpected joy, and the Emperor’s heart was overjoyed.

Looking at Princess Jiuling, the Emperor’s eyes glistened with emotion, unable to speak for a long time.

The officials looked at one another.

They were genuinely shocked by this event.

The Nanliang army has besieged the city, forcing Daqi to uncover the truth behind the Beimo Cheng King’s assassination to pressure Beimo into paying money and supplying grain.

The fact that Nanliang lent troops to Beimo indicates their sinister intentions.

At such a time, Princess Jiuling, who married into Nanliang, actually returned?

This is truly bewildering.

How did she return?

If her return were legitimate, the court would have sent people to Nanliang to bring her back to the Capital.

After a brief stay, they would send her back to Nanliang.

This was the procedure the last two times.

Moreover, it was only after several envoys were sent by the Emperor to express his missing for his sister that the Emperor of Nanliang granted permission for Princess Jiuling to return to Daqi to visit her family.

From the time the Emperor wished to see his sister until he actually met her, it took at least a year.

The Empress Dowager, sitting on the Phoenix Chair, looked as joyful as she had been earlier, now looked grim.

Princess Jiuling wiped away her tears.

This hall hasn’t changed since she left her boudoir.

The tears blurred her vision, and she couldn’t see clearly.

After wiping away the tears, she realized she didn’t recognize most of the people there.

She turned to the young lady standing by her side and said, "Fuqing, quickly salute your uncle."

Fuqing.

She was the daughter Princess Jiuling adopted.

Prince Jin of Nangang cherished this daughter immensely.

Though born illegitimately, since she was acknowledged under Princess Jiuling’s name, she gained the status of being the legitimate child and was thus titled as a Commandery Princess.

She smiled sweetly, saluting the Emperor, "Fuqing salutes Imperial Uncle."

Previously, on her two returns to the Capital, Princess Jiuling did not bring Commandery Princess Fuqing with her.

This was the first time.

Although she wasn’t Princess Jiuling’s biological child, since she addressed the Emperor as Uncle,

the Emperor, being an uncle, had to grant a reward.

The Emperor gifted Commandery Princess Fuqing a Blood Jade Bracelet.

Princess Chengxian and Princess YiAn looked on with envy and jealousy.

Eunuch Fu quickly had a table brought over, placed directly opposite Princess Duanhui and closest to the Emperor.

The Emperor resumed his seat on the Dragon Chair.

Princess Jiuling, accompanied by Commandery Princess Fuqing, paid respects to the Empress Dowager.

Despite her displeasure, the Empress Dowager still wore a broad smile, saying, "Jiuling, though you married far away to Nanliang, you seem in even better spirits than Duanhui."

This comment was quite blind.

It was clear Princess Duanhui was in better spirits.

However, Princess Jiuling was not lacking either.

Princess Jiuling did not speak, and the Empress Dowager changed the topic, saying, "This matter of you returning to the Capital to visit family is such a significant event, but how come I had no inkling of it beforehand?"

"I hoped to surprise my Imperial Brother and the Empress Dowager, so I didn’t send anyone ahead to inform you. Jiuling was inconsiderate," Princess Jiuling said gently.

Just as the Empress Dowager was about to speak, the Emperor said, "Imperial Sister, this surprise is not small. You’ve come all the way from Nanliang, fatigued by the journey; please sit first."

Princess Jiuling curtsied, then sat down with her daughter, Commandery Princess Fuqing.

The Empress Dowager had no chance to ask unpleasant questions.

However, soon, she felt deeply vexed to her core.

This banquet was prepared to celebrate her daughter’s return to the Capital. It was supposed to be held yesterday, but the Emperor’s plans changed, so it had to be canceled.

The Empress Dowager thought that since the banquet couldn’t be held yesterday, perhaps it could be postponed a few days, only to find the Emperor had ordered a welcome banquet for the Eldest Princess.

Now it appears that the Eldest Princess worth celebrating isn’t her daughter, Princess Duanhui, but Princess Jiuling!

All the effort she expended to prepare the banquet was essentially making garments for another’s celebration!

The dishes were what Princess Jiuling liked.

The songs and dances were what Princess Jiuling liked.

It wasn’t just seemingly similar favorites but things any clear observer could tell were Princess Jiuling’s preferences.

The Prince suggested the Emperor hold a welcome banquet for Princess Duanhui today, and when Eunuch Fu was sent to give the instructions, the Prince instructed, "Replace Princess Duanhui’s preferences with Princess Jiuling’s."

At the time, Eunuch Fu did not think much of it.

He just felt that the Prince’s move was strong, not inferior to Marquis Dongxiang’s strategy.

The Empress Dowager prepared to welcome her daughter, but the event wasn’t planned according to her preferences; it was for Princess Jiuling.

It’s enough to anger the Empress Dowager to the point of throwing up blood.

The Emperor’s brooding mood also lightened a bit.

And then—

Eunuch Fu followed through with the plan.

Previously, Eunuch Fu had vacillated between the Empress Dowager and Marquis Dongxiang, trying not to offend either side.

From some point onward, he had become unwaveringly aligned with Marquis Dongxiang.

When giving instructions at the Imperial Kitchen, he took the steward aside and subtly hinted.

Eunuch Fu had earned the Emperor’s trust for so many years, showing how adept he was at handling situations.

As a eunuch, he had no need to curry favor with the Emperor by offending the Empress Dowager, as it wouldn’t be too difficult for the Empress Dowager to eliminate a eunuch.

To ensure a long life, loyalty to the Emperor was essential, but minding one’s own business was even more important.

The Imperial Kitchen Steward automatically took Eunuch Fu’s repeated instructions as a secret decree from the Emperor...

Recently, the Imperial Kitchen Steward had been getting close to Eunuch Fu, evidently stepping one foot off the Empress Dowager’s ship and onto Eunuch Fu’s.

After advising the Imperial Kitchen Steward, Eunuch Fu then sought those responsible for the songs and dances.

Eunuch Fu knew Princess Jiuling’s preferences, but others did not.

In fifteen years, the palace maids and eunuchs had mostly changed.

Only today were instructions given, and the Empress Dowager, immersed in the joy of her daughter’s return to the Capital, trusted the matter to her confidante, a concubine.

This trust resulted in a severe self-slap.

Her suppressed anger filled her heart, yet she had to maintain a smiling face as her daughter returned to the Capital. Being in poor health, did she have any reason left to stay?

This banquet pleased the Emperor greatly.

Princess Duanhui’s face took on a faint green hue.

Her glorious return to the Capital turned into a stepping stone for Princess Jiuling.

Where there was anger, there was equally emotion.

Princess Jiuling’s eyes flickered, deeply moved.

Su Jin sat quietly and watched the spectacle.

At this moment, a raspy voice announced, "The Heir of Prince Zhenbei has arrived!"

Su Jin, "....."

He’s here, so he’s here.

Does he need to make such a grand entrance?

Should she go out to greet him?

At the entrance of the grand hall, Xie Jingchen stepped in.

Sunlight shone on him, casting a faint halo.

Even Su Jin, accustomed to his strikingly handsome face, felt a pang in her heart.

If even Su Jin felt this way, what about others?

Many eyes were fixed on Xie Jingchen with admiration, jealousy, and affection...

But remembering who Xie Jingchen belonged to, each of them suppressed any inappropriate thoughts.

Desiring the Princess Consort Zhenbei seemed like a quick path to an early grave.

Xie Jingchen approached and saluted the Emperor.

The Emperor knew Xie Jingchen had been away from the Capital for a long time.

Actually, he also resented the Prince a little, letting his daughter remain in an empty room.

This isn’t even a war; such minor matters could be delegated to others.

But after what had happened at the banquet, the Emperor could probably guess why the Prince had sent Xie Jingchen away.

Especially since Commandery Princess Fuqing had called him, "Brother Chen."

Su Jin, "....."

She witnessed Commandery Princess Fuqing’s eyes following Xie Jingchen.

Until Xie Jingchen sat beside her, that gaze suddenly dimmed.

After Xie Jingchen settled in, Su Jin tilted her head and looked at him, saying, "Husband, your sister Fuqing called you, yet you didn’t respond."

"Here."

"....."

To the lower left, Prince NanAn sprayed tea.

He splattered it all over his father’s back.