Chapter 1873: 1861: Attending the Banquet
Chapter 1873: Chapter 1861: Attending the Banquet
Wang Yongzhu was momentarily stunned. Seeing Song Chongjin’s nervous expression, she couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time. She stepped forward, cupped his face, and gave him a hard kiss before saying, “Don’t worry. With you and Mom here, I won’t leave! Even if I have to go, I’ll take you and Mom with me, okay?”
Although she was smiling, the seriousness in her tone made Song Chongjin realize she wasn’t joking, which relaxed him.
Holding Wang Yongzhu’s hand, the two shared an intimate moment before getting down to business.
Regarding Bi Zhu’s ambition, Song Chongjin merely smiled, “I wonder, what will Qi Le think when she finally realizes that the subordinate she trusted betrayed her?”
Wang Yongzhu thought for a moment, guessing that she probably wouldn’t care?
If Qi Le truly was the entity she knew, then everything she currently possessed, even if it made the world envious, was merely something she could casually discard.
Even Bi Zhu’s claim that Qi Le had begun to trust her was questionable in itself.
Does Qi Le truly trust her? Or is it that Qi Le’s “Soul Capturing Technique” is truly less effective on women? Is Bi Zhu’s identity genuinely undiscovered, or does everyone already know, just going along with it?
Or, was Bi Zhu’s existence already a part of a deal between the Emperor and Qi Le?
It’s hard to say! After all, didn’t the previous Emperor also have a secret deal with Qi Le back then?
But none of that matters now, it’s just a waiting game.
Soon, Bi Zhu’s sincerity would be evident.
Within two days, Batu came to inform them that the King of the Grasslands and Queen Ah Lan would host a banquet at the Royal Palace for the members of the mission the following day, urging them to be punctual.
He left behind a man and a woman to instruct the mission members on the etiquette and taboos for the palace banquet.
He specifically mentioned that the female official was a maid by Queen Ah Lan’s side, sent to help Madam Dingguo become familiar with the Grasslands Palace etiquette.
Wang Yongzhu intended to refuse but then thought since Qi Le sent someone over, there must be a reason; might as well see what this female official was up to.
Thus, she decided to keep the person and took her to the back.
The female official maintained a calm demeanor, explaining the rules and etiquette of attending the banquet in a methodical manner, even her voice maintained a steady tone.
Even though Wang Yongzhu’s demeanor was not exactly proper, merely lounging on the couch while nibbling on snacks and listening, the female official did not remind her or abandon her post.
She seemed somewhat lackadaisical. It was as if she was thinking, “I’ll do the explaining, listen if you want. If you’re embarrassed later, that’s your problem, not mine.”
Wang Yongzhu was perfectly calm, having tea and snacks served to the female official.
She said whenever she was thirsty, she’d have tea, and when she was hungry, there’d be snacks for her.
For the rest of the time, she went about her own business, letting the female official softly chant her instructions on the side.
The two of them managed an oddly harmonious coexistence.
The female official recited from morning till afternoon, only then ending the training.
Wang Yongzhu acknowledged her efforts with a generous gift of several gold melon seeds, having the female official escorted out.
This official’s day-long recital of so-called etiquette and rules might have been overly complex for others, but for Wang Yongzhu, it boiled down to two sentences: Speak less, eat more! Keep your mouth shut, move your legs!
In the evening, the couple discussed the so-called Grasslands etiquette they had learned, finding little difference.
At the banquet, speak as little as possible, avoid drinking if you can, nibble on some snacks if you must, and when the banquet ends, when everyone’s had a bit too much to drink, just join in the singing and dancing with a little hop and skip.
Nothing else was important! After all, they were Great Chu envoys, unless they planned to take down the King of the Grasslands, or the Grasslands were looking to go to war with Great Chu.
Otherwise, even if they were slightly impolite, or went a bit overboard, nobody would hold them accountable.
At worst, they could simply claim they were not familiar with Grasslands etiquette!
With this mindset, the couple went to sleep with perfect calm.
The next morning, the entire mission team changed into new attire, the men all wearing the official robes of Great Chu.
Wang Yongzhu also switched to an apricot red damask jacket and skirt, with her hair styled more elaborately than usual, adorned in the center with a Five Phoenixes Tassel Hairpin, exuding an extraordinary grandeur.
The hairpin, made of pure gold, featured lifelike phoenix tails with bright rubies inlaid on the tail feathers.
The beak of the phoenix held a luminous Ming Pearl, its iridescence shown vividly under the light.
This was a gift from the Empress, something dear to her, and it was said such treasures were extremely rare in the palace.
It was bestowed upon her by the Emperor when the Empress was initially conferred the title of Consort De.
It was said that other consorts had coveted this hairpin for a long time, pleading the Emperor for it, yet to no avail, indicating its immense value.
It was an ultimate headpiece that could easily outshine an entire set of ornaments, perfectly fitting for someone like Wang Yongzhu, who didn’t like a head full of jewels.
No matter the time or place, it could hold its own and make her the most dazzling one present.
Wang Yongzhu had never worn it formally until today, and when she stepped out, not only Song Chongjin but even members of the mission team were astounded.
Everyone was silent, except for Ninth Master Lee, who gave Wang Yongzhu a thumbs up.
The banquet was to start in the evening, but participants were expected to be at the palace by afternoon.
On their side, naturally, someone was leading the way, escorting them to the gates of the Royal Palace.
Along the way, they encountered numerous carriages or men riding tall horses, followed by an entourage of Grassland men.
These people were also headed to the banquet.
Seeing this group dressed in Great Chu official robes, naturally, many of them took a second glance, with some walking straight ahead while others harbored ill intentions, eager to provoke.
Fortunately, whether Batu predicted this or Bi Zhu intervened, as soon as these individuals approached, the guards escorting them took out tokens, whispered something, and those people retreated instantly upon seeing the tokens.
The closer to the palace they got, the more people gathered for the banquet, drawing in from all directions.
Some of the women arrived by carriage, others on horseback.
The women on horseback were dressed in lavish robes with outrageously bright and vivid colors. Their hair mostly tied with ribbons, forming braids, decorated intricately with colorful pearls, and jewels, adorned as they were, these were quite opulent.
Never mind the horses they rode, the saddles embedded with gold and silver jewels, their whips almost resplendent with gemstones.
The men were no less extravagant, draped in splendid robes, sporting large gold and silver earrings, gem-studded belts tied around their waists, with waist knives ornately decorated with tiny gems on cowhide.
Each of them appeared opulent, akin to a moving gemstone showcase.
Upon seeing the Great Chu officials, aside from their official attire, adorned with only a few jade thumb rings on their fingers or jade pendants and pouches hanging from their waists, they found these officials’ understated demeanor bewildering, looking at them with a sneering air as though they were country bumpkins.
The bold ones even loudly remarked, “Is Great Chu really so poor? Even their officials are this impoverished, just look at their clothes, tsk tsk…”
“No wonder they’re keen on establishing trade routes with us! They must be driven mad by poverty…”
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