Chapter 45: The Emperor’s Birthday

Before Rou’er could finish, Qi Chen helped her get to her feet and put an arm around her waist. “I hereby announce Rou’er as my new concubine,” he said to the fuming Wei Lanying. “If anyone dares to hurt her, I’ll have them killed. And I meant”

“You are only my concubine,” Qi Chen said coldly, disregarding their marriage entirely. He collected the paper and ink on the desk and left. He had things to discuss with his mother, so he arranged for a visit to the palace.

Once he arrived at the palace Consort Zhen lived in, he saw the consort playing with some sparrows. She cut a relaxed picture. He approached her and greeted her. “This son is here to visit mother.”

Consort Zhen put down the bailey in her hand. She didn’t expect Qi Chen to visit so suddenly. “What is Royal Son here for today?”

“There’s something I’d like to discuss with mother.”

Consort Zhen sat down on the divan, waiting for Qi Chen to speak.

“I had a discussion with brother Feng today. He mentioned the princess of Southern Mu. He said that if I can win over her heart and have her support me in becoming the emperor, I’ll have a higher chance of succeeding.”

Consort Zhen gave the plan some thoughts. It seemed viable. Even though Qi Chen was now the crown prince, the emperor’s heart remained unpredictable. It was always a possibility that he may take away Qi Chen’s title one day. If Qi Chen had something else to depend on, it’d help him greatly in his pursuit of the throne.

She pushed aside her own biases against Jun Huang and nodded to herself. It could work. But still, a hint of worry remained in her heart. “It’s said that the princess of Southern Mu is difficult and stubborn. Will you be able to handle her?”

“Do not worry, mother. I have a plan.”

On the emperor’s birthday, the other two countries naturally had to send delegates to Northern Qi to attend the celebration. Southern Mu sent Nan Jihan

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, their first prince, and Nan Guyue, their beloved princess. The two went straight into the palace to attend the banquet.

Qi Chen gave Nan Guyue a double take when he saw her. He didn’t expect the snobbish Nan Guyue to be so beautiful. It seemed that there was a reason for her difficult personality. He was even more determined to marry her now.

Qi Chen’s gift pleased the emperor greatly, who praised him in front of everyone. Qi Chen pulled his lips into a open smile, but he kept his eyes on Nan Guyue. He gazed at her so openly that Nan Guyue noticed him immediately and threw him a glare.

When it was time for toasting, Nan Guyue approached Qi Chen with a winecup. Qi Chen was pleasantly surprised. Before he could smile at her, however, she splashed the wine all over his silk robe and black hair.

Everyone was stunned silent. They didn’t know what Nan Guyue meant by doing this. Seeing that his sister had made a scene, Nan Jihan quickly got to his feet and cupped his hands. “Please forgive us, Your Royal Highness. My sister did not mean to offend you.”

Qi Chen waved his hand and took the handkerchief one of the servants gave him. He wiped away the wine on his face and smiled. “It’s fine.”

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Nan Guyue lashed out with her hands on her hips. ”You kept staring at me. Do you really think Southern Mu is such easy prey? To think the crown prince of Northern Qi can be so lecherous!”

For the sake of the relation between the two countries, the emperor frowned but didn’t say anything. Nan Jihan, however, went pale immediately and forced Nan Guyue to kneel down with him.

“Your Majesty, my sister doesn’t know what to say and what not to say. Please forgive her. She really didn’t mean the prince any harm.”

Qi Chen could see that the emperor was offended, so he got up to bow at him. “Please forgive her, Royal Father. I was curious because Princess Nan Guyue was said to be as beautiful as the goddess Chang’e

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, so I looked at her a little longer than I probably should have. It is I that have offended her, and the princess is right to teach me a lesson.”

As stubborn as Nan Guyue was, she still knew to back down when it really mattered. She lowered her head and dared not to rouse any more trouble. The emperor didn’t condemn her further.