Chapter 472 The Eve of the Lunar New Year

"Minister Lin," Emperor Wenyuan said softly to Prime Minister Lin beside him, "General Li has not appeared for a long time. Do you know the reason? I am very worried about him."

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Lin was slightly taken aback, then replied in a low voice, "Your Majesty, although I have heard some rumors, I have not yet received any definite news. However, given General Li's loyalty and bravery, he would surely report to the court immediately if there were any urgent matters. His absence this time may be due to some hidden reason."

Emperor Wenyuan nodded, but his brows betrayed his worry.

Just then, an attendant outside the hall reported: "General Li, Princess Changning, and Physician Meng are requesting an audience outside the hall."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Wenyuan's eyes flashed with joy, and he quickly said, "Please come in!"

A moment later, General Li, Princess Changning, and Physician Meng entered the main hall, all three looking travel-worn.

"Your Majesty, we pay our respects!" the three said in unison.

Emperor Wenyuan looked at the three men, who seemed a little uneasy, and a knowing glint in his eyes. He said slowly, "Please take your seats. There's no need to be so formal. I know very well that you are all busy with the affairs of the country. It is a great honor that we can gather here today."

After saying this, he waved his hand lightly, and the eunuch beside him immediately understood and arranged the chairs neatly, and the three of them sat down in turn.

When Prince An saw Meng Zhelan appear, his heart finally settled. Having not seen her for some time, he longed to rush forward and embrace her immediately, but the timing was wrong.

Meng Zhelan looked at him, and the two smiled at each other.

The palace banquet officially began, and one by one, the carefully prepared delicacies were served, their aroma filling the air and making everyone's mouths water.

Emperor Wenyuan raised his wine cup, looked around, and said loudly: "Today I have specially set up this banquet, firstly to celebrate the peace and tranquility of our country's borders, where our soldiers have built an iron wall with their flesh and blood to protect our land; secondly, to commend the diligence and achievements of my beloved ministers over the past year. Your wisdom and hard work are my blessing and the people's good fortune."

After speaking, he gently raised his cup, the wine inside as clear and bright as amber, reflecting the dazzling lights in the hall, making him appear even more noble and extraordinary.

Upon seeing this, the courtiers all rose, holding wine cups, and said in unison, "Your Majesty is wise! May our Great Jing Kingdom be prosperous and peaceful! Long live Your Majesty!"

With each blessing, the atmosphere of the palace banquet reached its climax.

The musicians played melodious tunes at just the right time, the sounds of strings and bamboo instruments lingering in the air, weaving together with the gentle breeze and moonlight outside the hall to create a series of harmonious and beautiful scenes.

To avoid any mishaps at the palace banquet, Emperor Wenyuan specifically ordered the Imperial Guards to maintain strict vigilance and instructed Qi Yu to keep a close watch on the banquet to prevent any disturbances.

But, barring any unforeseen circumstances, something unexpected will happen.

Halfway through the banquet, the Third Princess, slightly tipsy, walked into the hall and knelt down. "Your subject humbly requests Your Majesty to grant General Li and your subject a marriage!"

These words shocked everyone present, and the hall fell into a deathly silence. Even the melodious music seemed to freeze at that moment.

Emperor Wenyuan's face showed surprise, and his gaze turned to the kneeling Third Princess below, his expression complex and unreadable.

The ministers looked at each other, some secretly speculating, while others showed surprise.

"Ningyue, this matter concerns your life's most important event, how can you be so hasty?" Emperor Wenyuan's voice was calm, yet it carried a hint of authority, as he tried to calm the princess down.

The eldest princess looked up, her eyes shining with determination and deep affection: "Father, your mind is made up. General Li is brave and fearless, and loyal to the country. I admire him very much."

Princess Ningyue, the third princess, is seventeen years old and was born to the Empress.

Although she was well past the age of marriage, she had always been extremely picky and no man could catch her eye. However, as a noble princess, she naturally had the right to do so.

To everyone's surprise, the Third Princess was so direct, asking His Majesty to grant her a marriage in front of everyone. The hall fell silent instantly, even the sound of breathing seemed to become faint.

Li Xi, sitting at the lower end, gave a barely perceptible cold laugh but remained silent.

Emperor Wenyuan remained silent for a moment. If Li Xiruo were truly a man, then he would indeed be an exceptionally good match.

Seeing the emperor's pale face, the empress quickly gestured for the palace maids to help the princess up. "Ningyue, let's discuss this later. Please get up. Kneeling for too long is not good for your health."

The Queen was trying to ease the tension in this way.

Princess Ningyue stubbornly shook her head, insisting on kneeling on the ground, unwilling to back down in the slightest: "Father, I did not act on impulse. General Li's character and talent are evident to everyone in the court and the country."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Wenyuan frowned deeply.

The Empress listened with trepidation, knowing that Emperor Wenyuan valued the royal family's etiquette and reputation highly, and fearing that Ningyue's words might offend the Emperor.

He quickly stepped forward and gently advised, "Ningyue, your father is right. This matter should not be handled rashly. Perhaps you could first get to know General Li as a friend, learn more about him, and then make a decision."

The third princess shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes, but she held them back: "Mother, my mind is made up."

The unmarried noble ladies in the hall all wore expectant expressions, hoping that the emperor would refuse the third princess's request.

After all, in Kyoto, General Li was the most sought-after husband.

Not only was he exceptionally skilled in martial arts, but he also made outstanding contributions to the country in numerous battles. What was even more remarkable was his gentle and kind nature; he was considerate to his subordinates and showed great kindness to the people, never displaying the slightest arrogance or extravagance.

Such a man is naturally the ideal match that many young women dream of.

General Du felt that the Third Princess and Li Xi were a perfect match. The two cooperated well in the encirclement and suppression of the Red Shirt Army and the Red Lotus Sect, and he greatly admired Li Xi.

However, even as the Empress's brother, he couldn't very well speak up for the princess at this moment. The Emperor clearly didn't approve of the marriage, and he couldn't be the one to take the lead.

"Your Majesty, this humble subject must accuse General Li of deceiving the emperor!" The speaker was Xie Jun, the eldest son of Marquis Anning.

These words caused an uproar in the hall, and everyone's eyes were focused on Xie Jun.

The Emperor frowned, his voice tinged with coldness: "Oh? What makes you say that? Explain in detail."

Xie Jun took a deep breath, as if making a decision: "Your Majesty, General Li is a woman. She disguised herself as a man and deceived Your Majesty, which is extremely disrespectful to Your Majesty and the court. I personally witnessed her talking to Doctor Meng about her true gender."

These words shocked the entire hall, and discussions erupted.

Even General Du looked incredulous, his gaze involuntarily turning to Li Xi, trying to find a flaw in her face.

But Li Xi remained calm and her eyes were firm, as if Xie Jun's words had nothing to do with her.

Sitting next to her, Meng Zhelan was terrified. They hadn't discussed such things outside, so why would this person suddenly bring it up? Her heart was pounding, and her palms were sweating profusely.

Upon hearing this, the emperor's expression shifted between light and dark. He tapped lightly on the armrest of his dragon throne, making a "tap-tap" sound that was particularly jarring in the silent hall.