strictlysupreme Chapter 205: Is he just clueless, or does he really not like Yao Yao?
Chapter 205: Is he just clueless, or does he really not like Yao Yao?
After being beaten in a mixed doubles match, Lu Lingguang behaved himself.
"I ask you, if someone wanted to marry Yaoyao, would you be unhappy?" Shen Chuyu decided to give her grandson one last chance.
A slight discomfort flashed through Lu Lingguang's mind, but before he could figure out why, his mouth reacted faster than his brain, blurting out, "Why would I be unhappy?"
Shen Chuyu stared at her grandson: "Fine. Then don't regret it later."
"What do I have to regret?" Lu Lingguang said, somewhat unsure of himself.
He changed the subject: "By the way, Grandmother, if you're going to find a partner for my little aunt in the future, I'll help you too. Only men understand men. We can't let anyone fool her."
"You don't need to worry about him, he's just a little guy who hasn't even grown his first hair yet." Lu Qingyun pinched his ear and chased him out.
Lu Lingguang retorted, "I haven't even grown my first hair yet, why are you asking me to find a wife?"
"Hey...you brat..." Lu Qingyun raised his foot to kick him, but he ran away very fast.
Lu Lingguang ran back to his own yard and suddenly realized what was happening.
Oh dear, the delicious food he brought back from the Yu family has ended up with his grandfather!
……
"Do you think this silly boy is just slow to understand, or does he really not like Yaoyao?" After chasing away his annoying grandson, Lu Qingyun looked at his wife with some worry.
"He's probably just clueless. Otherwise, why would he compare all his criteria for a wife to Yaoyao?" Shen Chuyu said with great experience.
“What you say makes sense, Madam.” Lu Qingyun nodded.
"Why don't we do something to provoke this kid and make him realize things quickly? Otherwise, once his coming-of-age ceremony is over, if we don't propose marriage, the Yu family will definitely think we broke our promise. What if they want to marry Yaoyao off to someone else?"
Shen Chuyu snorted: "Let him marry someone else, as long as he treats Yaoyao well. That silly boy, let him regret it."
Both families were thinking about the marriage between Lu Lingguang and Yu Ningyao, but the two people involved were completely unaware and slept soundly.
……
After returning to the palace, Pei Wuji waited for news from his subordinates.
Why did Yu Ningyao suddenly ask him to plot such a rebellious thing?
There must be a conspiracy behind this.
He consistently acted as if he had no interest in that position, deliberately hiding his true abilities.
Neither the eldest brother, nor the second brother, nor even the crown prince ever doubted him.
Why was Yu Ningyao able to give him so much accurate information?
Who is standing behind her?
The Lu family? Or perhaps the Marquis of Jing'an's mansion? Or maybe the Xie family, the marriage partner of the Yu family?
Pei Wuji guessed and guessed, but he still couldn't figure out who was behind Yu Ningyao.
After waiting for a day and a night, and with the birthday celebration for his father about to begin, Pei Wuji had no choice but to take a bath and change his clothes.
Today, in addition to members of the royal family, envoys from various countries will also be present; he cannot afford to embarrass Xiangguo.
After changing into a dark-colored robe with subtle patterns and a jade belt around his waist, Pei Wuji smiled at the bronze mirror.
That was his usual gentle and harmless smile.
"Greetings, Your Highness, Fourth Prince. Please follow me."
Upon seeing Pei Wuji, the palace maid immediately led him to his seat.
At a glance, besides the ministers, the eldest prince Pei Wuyou was already seated.
"Brother the Great Emperor."
Pei Wuji bowed to him respectfully.
"Fourth brother is here, please sit down." Pei Wuyou nodded to him.
He had barely sat down when the Second Prince Pei Wuju and the Crown Prince Pei Wuyang arrived.
"Eldest brother, you're here as early as ever. Are you afraid Father won't remember you?" Pei Wuju sneered at the eldest prince.
The two didn't get along when they were children, and they still do now that they're adults.
"If you can't speak properly, then shut your mouth. Today is Father Emperor's birthday banquet, and I don't want to argue with you." Pei Wuyou glanced at him indifferently.
Seeing that the two were about to start arguing again, Pei Wuyang stepped forward.
"There are outsiders here today, do you want to make a fool of yourselves?"
With just one look from him, the two men, even if they were unconvinced, could only shut their mouths.
Pei Wuji lowered his head and drank his tea, not getting involved in any disputes.
Their respective mothers are both alive, so if anything happens, they will naturally take care of things for them.
This will leave him alone and prevent him from making any rash moves.
Everyone drank their tea in silence.
The fifth prince arrived a little late. Seeing that the atmosphere among his elder brothers was not right, he quickly bowed and finally chose to sit next to his usually gentle fourth brother.
As for the sixth and seventh princes, they are still young and stay with their mothers.
The birthday banquet is about to begin.
Upon hearing that the ministers had brought their families into the palace, Pei Wuji subconsciously looked in the direction of the Yu family.
He frowned slightly when he didn't see Yu Ningyao.
Then it dawned on her: Yu Ningyao's father was only a sixth-rank official and was not qualified to attend the banquet.
Today's banquet is open to officials of the fourth rank and above, who may bring their families to attend.
He turned his head to look in the direction of the Lu family.
As expected, Yu Ningyao was sitting next to Old Madam Lu.
His frown deepened.
What exactly are the Lu and Yu families up to?
"The Yunchi Kingdom sent nine bushels of luminous pearls from the East Sea and a bolt of white tiger skin—" The shrill voice of the Directorate of Ceremonial pierced through the clouds, bringing Pei Wuji back to his senses.
"Greetings, Emperor Xiang." Yun Chubai bowed slightly.
"So you are Prince Yunchi?" Emperor Xiangwu squinted at the person before him.
In recent years, his health has deteriorated day by day, and he has become obsessed with seeking immortality and cultivating the golden elixir.
Only after taking the Golden Elixir did he feel better.
Now he can't even make out people's faces clearly anymore.
“Exactly.” Yun Chubai nodded.
"Thank you for your kindness." Emperor Xiangwu waved his hand and invited him to sit in the VIP seat.
After Yun Chubai took her seat, she looked directly in the direction of Old Madam Lu.
He had already investigated it.
The Lu family had few women, and the old lady of the Lu family did not like to attend various banquets. It was only after the old general Lu took Yu Ningyao as his apprentice that she would occasionally bring Yu Ningyao to accompany her to such occasions.
Yu Ningyao was completely unaware that someone was watching her. She was clearing her mind and waiting for the banquet to end.
She doesn't actually like attending these kinds of banquets.
They can't get enough to eat, and they also have to pay attention to their manners and etiquette, so as not to make any mistakes.
If it weren't for watching Yu Ruowei's performance today, she wouldn't have followed the old lady into the palace to suffer.
She wondered if the Crown Prince would lose control on the spot if Yu Ruowei said she wouldn't get married.
……
The other countries successively presented their congratulatory gifts, and the princes and princesses also sent out the gifts they had prepared.
With fine wine and delicacies prepared, accompanied by singing and dancing, the banquet was finally about to begin.
Yu Ningyao ate her food listlessly until it was announced that Yu Ruowei would be performing.
Yu Ningyao finally cheered up a bit.
Yu Ruowei walked up to the emperor and bowed deeply, drawing everyone's attention.
Especially Pei Wuyang, whose determined gaze was fixed on her like a snake flicking its tongue, made Yu Ruowei's skin crawl.
She gently bit her lower lip, met Yu Ningyao's encouraging gaze, and her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally calmed down a bit.
"Your Majesty, I wish to present the 'Ode to Nanshan' to celebrate Your Majesty's birthday and wish Your Majesty good health and the eternal stability of the empire."
After she finished bowing, she began to play.