Chapter 913: Chapter 913 State Banquet (4)
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Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Soon, the hall was filled to the brim, with seats on both sides.
King Ning walked in with the Western Continent diplomatic envoys when everyone was almost seated.
After a while, the son of King An walked in with Northern Continent diplomatic envoys.
After they sat down, Eunuch Qian jogged in and shouted, “The Emperor has arrived. The Grand Empress Dowager and Empress have arrived. The Eldest Princess and the Eldest Prince have arrived.”
Everyone, including the envoys from both sides, immediately stood up and bowed. “Long live our Emperor. Long live the Grand Empress Dowager, the Empress, the Eldest Princess, and the Eldest Prince. Long live the Emperor. Long live the Emperor.”
“Everyone, please rise and take your seats.” The Emperor sat down after he responded.
After everyone sat down, the Emperor said, “There are two purposes for this state banquet. One is to welcome the diplomatic envoys from the Northern and Western continents. The other is to confer the t.i.tle of Consort.
“Everyone understands the specifics, so I won’t go into detail here.”
After saying that, he looked at Eunuch Qian. Eunuch Qian understood and took out a gift list. “This time, the Northern Continent has presented a gift list. One hundred pounds of potato seeds and furs…”
After reading the list of gifts, he read another list of return gifts for the Northern Continent.
Finally, he shouted, “Princess Zhi Shan, please come forward to receive the t.i.tle.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhi Shan walked in in a peach-colored palace robe. “Long live our Emperor. Long live our Emperor.”
“By the will of the heavens, the Emperor has issued an edict saying: Princess Zhi Shan of the Northern Continent is beautiful, elegant, quiet, gentle, cautious, and deeply comforting to my heart.
“I will confer upon you the t.i.tle of Concubine Zhuang.”
After saying that, he handed the imperial edict to her.
“Thank you, Emperor. Long live our Emperor.” Zhi Shan received the imperial edict with both hands and bowed.
“In the future, I’ll grant you special permission to perform the Northern Continent’s salutations.” The Emperor looked at her awkward bow.
“Thank you, my Emperor.” Zhi Shan sat down on the seat that belonged to her, which was below the Empress.
Zhou Ying sized her up. She looked solemn now that she had changed into the Great Ming’s clothes and was no longer that noisy and rowdy girl.
After that, Eunuch Qian read out the Western Continent’s gift list again, followed by the trade they agreed upon.
Although everyone was curious as to why Princess Jiarou didn’t make a marriage alliance, seeing that neither the Western Continent’s envoy nor the Emperor mentioned this matter, no one said anything more.
Following that, Eunuch Qian took out another imperial edict and said, “By Heaven’s will, the Emperor’s edict says: The daughter of the Left a.s.sistant Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, He Jiahui. She is intelligent, agile, dignified, polite, and wise. I shall immediately confer on you the t.i.tle of Concubine Li!”
He Jiahui was stunned. After she returned to her senses, she immediately went forward to receive the edict and sat down below Concubine Zhuang.
Next were the four imperial edicts from the Emperor to bestow marriage on the descendants of the royal family.
However, the last one was to be the wife of King Ning. She was also the one with the lowest social background, the daughter of a fourth-grade official.
It was King Ning’s choice. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been placed last.
Although the people from the Chu family found it hard to believe that the Emperor had chosen the unremarkable He Jiahui as his concubine, they did not dare to say anything.
After all, although their daughters did not enter the palace, her marriage was not bad. Moreover, she was a wife rather than a concubine.
Next, there were some dance performances.
After the banquet began, Gu Wanning left once the diplomatic envoys from the Northern and Western Continents finished toasting.
Zhou Ying spread her divine sense and sent her back into the palace before withdrawing it.
After the banquet ended, the Western Continent diplomatic envoys finally heaved a sigh of relief. However, they heard the news of Princess Jiarou’s death when they returned.
Bai Yang’s heart skipped a beat, and he immediately ran into her room to check. Princess Jiarou was already dead, and she had committed suicide by poison.
He looked at the person who was guarding her.. “What’s going on? Where did the poison in her hand come from?”