Chapter Thirty-Seven: A Banquet in the Imperial Garden, and Mutual Antipathy

"My Lord, can you really not take me with you tomorrow?"

Lying in bed, toying with Zhao Ang's hair, Jiang Qin spoke with a hint of resentment.

"The banquet will be attended by the Empress. What would be the point of bringing you?"

"Do you want me to slap the Emperor in the face? I have no desire to die so young."

Turning over to press Jiang Qin beneath him, Zhao Ang felt his appetite for the night was far from sated.

"Fine, but I..."

The rest of Jiang Qin's words were swallowed into his embrace. The nights of spring are short; anything else could wait until tomorrow.

"How many times has the Heir called for water today?"

Fu Gui asked the servant who was delivering the water. Upon seeing the servant hold up three fingers, Fu Gui’s eyes were filled with admiration. He truly was his master; after spending an entire afternoon at a brothel, he still possessed such vigor upon returning. He was, without question, the most powerful man in the world. As for those rumors about him having a penchant for men, Fu Gui did not believe a single word. How could the Heir, who was so formidable, ever set his eyes on a man?

Early the next morning, the Prince's mansion was already bustling with preparations.

"My Lord, what do you think of this belt?"

Fu Gui brought over a belt woven with gold thread.

"Too ostentatious. Bring the one with silver thread instead."

Zhao Ang pointed to another, while Jiang Qin helped him dress.

"As you command, My Lord."

Fu Gui retrieved the belt, and Jiang Qin fastened it for him. She reached out to straighten his collar, gazing at the man before her with a touch of obsession. With his upright posture and refined features, if Zhao Ang were a woman, he would surely be even more dazzling than she was.

"Alright, I am off."

Patting Jiang Qin on the head, Zhao Ang stepped out of the courtyard. Jiang Qin felt a lingering reluctance; she knew she had no standing to accompany Zhao Ang to the banquet. Thus, she could only suppress the longing in her heart and look at him with a smile.

"My Lord, do return early."

"Rest assured."

As Zhao Ang spoke, he dropped the sedan chair curtain. The old Prince stroked his beard as he watched.

"I never thought you’d have that girl Jiang so completely tamed. You scoundrel, you truly have the style I had in my younger years."

"Old man, you are still as robust as ever; how could I compare to you? You flatter me."

Zhao Ang was very modest. Besides, he didn't see what there was to compare. It was true that as people aged, inexplicable competitive urges tended to arise.

The sedan chair stopped at the palace gate. From there, the two had to walk to the Imperial Garden.

"Is that... Princess Zhaohua?"

They had not walked many steps before a familiar figure appeared. The old Prince hesitated, but Zhao Ang saw her clearly.

"Indeed, it is Princess Zhaohua."

With that, the two walked forward a few paces and bowed in unison to the Princess. Princess Zhaohua stopped as well, looking at Zhao Ang with a glimmer of hatred in her eyes.

"A mere beast, and you think you are worthy of exchanging greetings with this Princess?"

The old Prince did not care for these words. To insult Zhao Ang was, in effect, to insult him. Moreover, the Emperor had already agreed to marry Princess Zhaohua into the Zhennan Prince's mansion; he was, in a sense, practically her future father-in-law.

"If I am a beast, and the Princess is begging to marry me, does that not make you even lower than a beast?"

Zhao Ang naturally would not swallow this insult. Since the Emperor was using Princess Zhaohua to trade for military power, as long as he did not show contempt for the imperial authority, the Emperor would not blame him.

"You are shameless! Who is begging to marry you? I haven't even agreed to it yet!"

Princess Zhaohua was instantly flustered and hurriedly retorted.

The old Prince put on a stern face, feigning indignation.

"If that is the case, then I must ask His Majesty why he is playing games with this old minister. I am an old man, and I cannot bear to be toyed with like this. And to be insulted as a beast—what is the meaning of this?"

He flicked his sleeves and turned to leave. She was only a princess; if she lost face, so be it. Zhao Ang followed close behind, neither of them deigning to look at the Princess.

"Hey... Your Highness, come back!"

Princess Zhaohua was suddenly desperate. She knew that if this matter reached the Emperor's ears, it would inevitably cause an uproar. After all, she was merely the Emperor’s favorite daughter, not his only child.

"Your Highness, please stay! I apologize, is that not enough?"

Lifting her skirts to catch up, Princess Zhaohua gritted her teeth and lowered her head.

"What does your apology matter to me? I am determined to seek justice today!"

The old Prince remained implacable. Was it a joke to think that a man who had spent half his life on the battlefield could be bullied so easily?

"What has happened here?"

A majestic voice rang out, and everyone hurriedly knelt to offer their respects.

"Greetings to Your Majesty (Father Emperor). May Your Majesty live for ten thousand years!"

"Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress (Mother Empress). May Her Majesty live for a thousand years!"

"I have already said that there is no need for such grand formalities when you see me, Prince."

He hurriedly helped the old Prince up and looked at the others. "You may all rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Everyone rose, and the Emperor asked about what had just occurred. Seeing the old Prince about to speak, Princess Zhaohua gritted her teeth and knelt down.

"It was my own lack of decorum, Father Emperor. Please punish me."

"Hmm?"

The Emperor remained imposing. Princess Zhaohua briefly recounted the situation, then kowtowed heavily again, her tone filled with self-reproach.

"Rumors reached the palace yesterday that the Heir had developed a penchant for men. Seeing him today, I momentarily lost my composure and spoke out of turn. I meant no disrespect to the Prince of Zhennan; I ask for his forgiveness."

Indeed, there was a reason the Emperor favored Princess Zhaohua. On the surface, she was explaining her own mistake, but in reality, she was pulling Zhao Ang into the fray. If the old Prince insisted on blaming her, he would first have to contend with the scandal Zhao Ang had created. This move of retreating to advance was truly well-played.

"You were indeed in the wrong, but..." The Emperor looked at the old Prince with helplessness. "Prince, you should also discipline Zhao Ang. He is about to be married; to have such rumors circulating is truly improper. Don't you agree, Prince?"

"This old minister has failed to teach his son well."

Since it had come to this, it would be inappropriate for the old Prince to continue making a scene.

"In that case, let the Princess apologize to the Prince, and let the matter rest. How about that?"

Although the Emperor phrased it as a question, it was effectively an order, and the old Prince had no choice but to accept.

"I defer entirely to Your Majesty's judgment."

Princess Zhaohua apologized to the old Prince once more, and the matter was settled.

"It is getting late, and the Duke of Ding must be waiting. Let us proceed to the banquet together."

The Empress stepped forward to mediate, and everyone agreed. When the party arrived at the Imperial Garden, the Duke of Ding and Zhou Qi hurried to offer their respects.

"No need for such formality, please sit."

The Emperor took his place at the head of the table, smiling at the guests, while the Empress sat beside him. As for Princess Zhaohua, no matter how unwilling she was, she could only sit across from Zhao Ang.

"There have been frequent incidents in the capital recently, and you two seem to have developed some unpleasantness because of them. I have set this banquet today, firstly, to enjoy time with you both, and secondly, in the hope that you might set aside your differences. Since you both serve in the same court, it is best to work in unison to assist our Great Qian."

With that, the Emperor raised his glass. "I shall toast you both with this cup."