Jun Wuyuan left as if coaxing a child, leaving Ban Chun carrying the cup of bayberry thirst-quenching drink into the palace. She found Ling Shan hiding on the soft couch, covering her face with a silk handkerchief.
Although she hadn't been in the palace just now and didn't know the ins and outs of the matter, she could still guess a thing or two.
She couldn't help but feel a deep sense of emotion. Who could have thought that the cold, ruthless emperor who never blinked an eye when killing people would one day take a woman to heart?
As someone who served steadily in front of the emperor and had earned a bit of trust, Ban Chun knew better than anyone how extraordinary this special treatment was.
Even though Ban Chun had long known about the emperor's special feelings for the empress, she was still shocked by even more special treatment after getting closer to the empress.
Being a high-ranking maid in front of the emperor was nothing.
Maybe if she stayed by the empress's side, she would have a brighter future ahead.
A burning ambition suddenly welled up in Ban Chun's heart. She felt as if she was filled with boundless energy.
Approaching the soft couch, Ban Chun was overjoyed. Her voice softened involuntarily as she coaxed gently,
"Your Majesty, it's hot. Come out and get some fresh air. If you stay in here any longer, you might get heatstroke. Let this servant serve you the bayberry thirst-quenching drink, shall we?"
Hearing such a tone again, Ling Shan's face under the silk handkerchief flushed with heat.
Thinking of the tyrant who had done something naughty and then left after a bit of coaxing, Ling Shan gritted her teeth in anger. She wished she could chase after him and take a few more bites.
It would be best to leave a prominent and ambiguous hickey on his majestic and cold face. Then see how he...
The angrier Ling Shan got, the more her nose blew, making the silk handkerchief puff up, fall, and puff up again.
Ban Chun was stunned by this sight. She almost burst out laughing.
Your Majesty, she... was so cute!
Ling Shan stiffened. Only then did she realize what a stupid thing she had done in her anger.
It was all that malicious Jun Wuyuan's fault!
Ling Shan calmly lifted the silk handkerchief and sat up. Her charming face was indeed blushing, looking extremely attractive.
Ban Chun was determined to become the head maid of a certain palace. How could she be so blind?
"Your Majesty, look. This bayberry thirst-quenching drink is sweet, cold, and refreshing. It's the perfect drink to relieve the summer heat. Would you like to have a taste?"
Ling Shan nodded seriously.
Ban Chun suppressed her laughter and never mentioned what had just happened. She served Ling Shan a cup of the cold and delicious bayberry thirst-quenching drink.
Even she herself got to have a cup thanks to Ling Shan. Her eyes sparkled with delight.
After drinking the cool drink, the anger in Ling Shan's heart subsided a bit. But she still felt a bit uneasy. So she took Ban Chun to the small kitchen.
—
As the sun was setting, the sky in a corner of the Yuhua Palace gradually turned into a magnificent display of rosy clouds.
In the Sifang Hall, when Jun Wuyuan arrived, everyone was already there.
The first person below was, of course, the Prince Su, an old prince of the royal family and the host of today's banquet. There were also a few other old princes.
Next was the lame Prince Qi, Jun Wuhan, the disfigured Prince Yue, Jun Wujun, and the Prince Jing, Jun Wuhao, among others.
A neat chorus of greetings rang out. Jun Wuyuan scanned the crowd. His eyes were cold as he walked to the upper seat and waved his hand for them to rise.
After everyone was seated, his peach blossom eyes, which should have been full of tenderness, were now cold and indifferent as they swept across his so-called "brothers" and landed on the Prince Su.
"Uncle Royal, do you have any happy news to share with me and the others? If I'm not mistaken, the wine at this banquet is the pear blossom white that you've been treasuring?"
The wrinkled face of the Prince Su broke into a smile. He didn't act like an elder at all.
He replied respectfully, "Your Majesty is wise and valiant. Not long ago, a baby boy was born into my family. This old subject has finally become a grandfather. I was so overjoyed that I couldn't contain myself. I hope Your Majesty will bless my grandson. I also wish Your Majesty an early birth of a prince. Please forgive this old subject for his audacity."
Jun Wuyuan's fingers paused. His mind couldn't help but wander.
A prince.
This old fox, the Prince Su, wasn't afraid that he would fly into a rage because of the "miscarried" child. He was so blatant in celebrating this happy event.
But then again, the old Prince Su had lost two of his legitimate sons during the power struggle in the previous emperor's reign. He had finally raised his youngest son, but although his seniority was high, his age wasn't much older than the princes of Jun Wuyuan's generation.
Moreover, the heir of the Prince Su's Mansion had been in poor health since childhood. After years of careful nurturing, the heir's wife had finally given birth to a baby boy. It was only natural that the old Prince Su was overjoyed to have a grandson at his age.
"Uncle Royal has dedicated his life to the Great Yan Dynasty. Such a happy event deserves a grand celebration."
Jun Wuyuan graciously raised his wine cup. "When the young heir turns one month old, I will personally issue an edict to confer a title on him!"
Such an honor from the emperor meant that as long as the Prince Su's Mansion behaved themselves and remained loyal to the emperor, their status and honor would continue in the future.
The old Prince Su was so touched that tears welled up in his eyes. He almost hugged the emperor and drank three cups of wine.
However, having survived the brutal power struggle in the previous emperor's reign and now in charge of the affairs of the royal family, this old fox, the Prince Su, was obviously quite good at gauging the emperor's intentions.
After raising his wine cup and expressing his gratitude, he subtly shifted the conversation to the emperor's favorite consort.
Between the lines, he implied that if the consort were to be promoted in the future, the Prince Su's Mansion would be willing to serve the emperor wholeheartedly.
Only then did Jun Wuyuan's cold expression soften a bit. He took another sip of wine with approval in his eyes.
After the emperor and the Prince Su had "shared the joy of the monarch and his subject," the other princes raised their wine cups one by one to offer their congratulations.
The old Prince Su was truly happy today. The atmosphere in the hall soon became lively. Even the Empress Dowager, upon hearing the good news, sent a gift and a troupe of dancers.
Halfway through the banquet, the old Prince Su was already drunk, his face flushed.
The music and dancing filled the air. The wine made people bolder. Even Jun Wuhao and the others, who usually feared Jun Wuyuan, stepped forward to offer a few cups of wine.
The charming dancers, dressed in revealing clothes, stretched their bodies gracefully. Their waists were soft, and their eyes were alluring.
Apart from the few old princes in the hall, the other princes and even the emperor were men of high status and power whom these dancers rarely had the chance to meet.
If they could really charm a nobleman with their dancing and gain his favor, they would be like a sparrow turning into a phoenix.
They would no longer be the lowly dancers who were bullied by everyone. Instead, they could become noble ladies. That would be a great thing.
Among these noblemen, the handsome and powerful emperor naturally received the most flirtatious glances from the dancers.
Unfortunately, the emperor sat high above. His eyes were cold and expressionless.
After a dance, the dancers had almost twisted their waists off, but they didn't even get a single glance from the emperor.
However, Jun Wuhao, who had drunk too much, and Jun Wujun, whose face was disfigured, had their eyes glinting with lust as they stared at the dancers from time to time.