The Crazy Emperor's Pampered Cousin

The Crown Prince, who was so decisive and ruthless in the court, whose mere glance could silence anyone, also had such tender and affectionate moments.

Princess Zhaorong and Minister Ning Ke were seated directly opposite the Crown Prince and his wife.

Although the Grand Princess is over fifty years old, she remains elegant and dignified, and one can still vaguely see the heroic spirit she once had on the battlefield.

Ning Ke's temples were slightly gray, and his face was gentle. However, the prestige he had accumulated over the years as the head of the central government and the most powerful official still made people afraid to look him in the eye.

The two looked at their granddaughter, who was still charming and lively after getting married, and smiled at each other, feeling much relieved.

"Don't worry," Ning Ke said softly, "that child Ayan values ​​Yuan Yuan more than his own life."

Yan, courtesy name of Crown Prince Xie Yanzhao

Grand Princess Zhaorong snorted lightly: "That's what he should do. I only have this one precious granddaughter. If he doesn't take good care of her, I will hold him accountable."

As they were speaking, the drawn-out chanting of the officials from the Court of State Ceremonial (鸿僪寺) pierced through the music in the hall:

"Announce—the envoys of all nations are here to pay their respects!"

Foreign envoys entered the hall in order.

The first to enter were the envoys from the Western Qi Kingdom. The head envoy was tall and imposing, with deep-set eyes like an eagle. He wore a snow-white fur robe with a wolf head totem embroidered in gold thread on his shoulder.

"Your Majesty the Emperor of the Celestial Empire," Turenda said, his right hand pressed to his chest, his voice booming.

"My king swears by the eternal snow and ice of the Kunlun Mountains that I offer one hundred Ferghana horses and ten chests of jade marrow, wishing Your Majesty a long and prosperous life!"

Emperor Chonghe smiled and nodded: "King of Western Qi is very kind. Please take a seat."

Following closely behind was a delegation from various Southeast Asian countries. Southeast Asia is a fragmented country with many nations, the largest of which was the Yuanxia Kingdom.

Their skin was dark brown, and their clothes were gorgeous and elaborate, adorned with pearls and coral. The tribute they offered consisted of chests full of ambergris, rhinoceros horn, ivory, and a red coral tree placed in a glass dome.

The coral, shaped like a phoenix spreading its wings, shimmered under the candlelight, eliciting a murmur of amazement from the people in the hall.

"May Your Majesty's empire be as vast and boundless as the South China Sea, and your blessings and longevity as brilliant and eternal as precious jewels." The envoy's Mandarin was heavily accented, yet his etiquette was impeccable.

The atmosphere inside the hall grew increasingly lively. At this moment, Princess Dangyu Tuoya of the Yuanxia Kingdom gracefully rose, walked into the hall, and gave a graceful bow.

"Your Majesty, your humble servant wishes to present a Yuanxia dance to add to the festivities of Your Majesty's birthday banquet and to wish Your Majesty a long and prosperous life."

Emperor Chonghe stroked his beard and smiled: "Granted."

When the music changes tune, Yu Tuoya should dance along with it.

She wore a colorful dress characteristic of the Yuan Dynasty, with silver bells adorning the hem. The bells jingled crisply as she twirled, and her exotic charm was refreshing.

The gold bracelets on her wrists clinked together, her waist was as supple as a willow, and her eyes glanced intentionally or unintentionally toward the direction of the Crown Prince's seat.

After the dance ended, applause erupted throughout the hall.

Emperor Chonghe was overjoyed: "The princess's dance was captivating. I hereby bestow upon her a bushel of pearls from the South China Sea and ten bolts of brocade."

Prince Yuanxia, ​​seated on the throne, smiled with satisfaction. This younger sister was actually quite useful.

He looked at Xie Yanzhao, the Crown Prince of Dazhao, to his right, his gaze deep and thoughtful.

Xie Yanzhao didn't even watch the dance; he calmly picked up his wine glass, showing no interest whatsoever.

He winked at his sister, and Yutoya then spoke.

Her voice was clear and melodious: "Your Majesty, I have long heard that your Crown Princess is known as the 'Pearl.' I wonder if we may have the honor of having her display her talents today, so that we may broaden our horizons?"

Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent.

Prince Yuanxia's satisfied smile froze on Chaoge's face as he keenly sensed that something was amiss.

Beside the throne, Grand Princess Zhaorong gently set down her wine cup, the porcelain clinking crisply against the table. Ning Ke's expression remained gentle, but his eyes had softened slightly.

The most honored guests slightly turned their heads, their gazes sweeping indifferently over Princess Yuanxia standing in the hall, as if they were looking at a child who didn't know any better.

In the eerie silence, Xie Yanzhao spoke.

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to every corner of the hall: "Want to see my Crown Princess perform?"

Xie Yanzhao slowly raised his eyes, his gaze like a cold, sharp blade, piercing directly at Yu Tuoya: "Are you worthy?"

Three words, each word like a hammer blow.

A single sentence left both Dangyutuoya and Dangyuchaoge stunned.

Since Emperor Chengyuan overthrew the previous dynasty and established the Great Zhao, the Central Plains have become increasingly powerful, with a particularly rapid rise in recent years. However, no one expected the Crown Prince to be so ruthless.

Grand Princess Zhaorong chuckled lightly: "In our Great Zhao, the Crown Princess is a woman of noble birth, the future Empress, not an actress or performer for people to watch and amuse themselves."

These words, though spoken lightly, are sharp and incisive.

In one sentence, Shen Tinghe's status was elevated while Princess Yuanxia was satirized.

This was a subtle but significant message to the Yuanxia people: their Crown Princess was not someone a princess from a small country could easily win over.

When Yutoya stood in the hall with her head bowed, her face calm, as if she were detached from the matter.

She didn't care about the humiliation; as long as she completed the task her brother had assigned her, her mother's life in the palace would be easier.

But Yu Chaoge's face darkened; he hadn't expected things to develop this way.

His original plan was to get involved with the Crown Princess, and ideally, to get his sister into the Crown Prince's favor.

He took a deep breath, about to speak to smooth things over, but Emperor Chonghe on the throne spoke first.

The emperor's voice remained gentle, "The customs of our two countries are different. The princess misspoke; it is nothing serious. Please take a seat and let the music play."

With a single, understated sentence, the whole affair was swept under the rug. The music resumed, and the dancers returned to the palace.

Grand Princess Zhaorong gently shook her head and whispered to her husband beside her, "No wonder my brother was worried when he left. His Majesty's nature is just too kind."

An emperor should employ both kindness and severity.

One must be both compassionate and ruthless, and even more ruthless than compassionate.

If the Yuan Xia people said something wrong, they should at least be made to apologize before being forgiven.

Now, without the other party saying a single conciliatory word, His Majesty has already offered a way out.

Over time, such behavior will inevitably lead neighboring smaller countries to look down on them.

Ning Ke patted his wife's hand, then looked at the Crown Prince and said meaningfully, "It's alright. The Crown Prince is here."

He will become a greater monarch than the late emperor.

Ning Ke didn't say it aloud, but the couple understood each other perfectly.

Shen Tinghe, who was at the center of the storm, seemed like an outsider at this moment.

Taking advantage of Xie Yanzhao's distraction, she quickly picked up her wine glass and drank it all in one gulp.

By the time Xie Yanzhao realized it, the wine had already gone down her throat.

"Yuan Yuan." Xie Yanzhao frowned.

Shen Tinghe blinked, a triumphant smile playing on her lips: "It's already in my stomach, so there's nothing I can do about it, brother."

Under the table, she mischievously tickled his palm.

Xie Yanzhao pinched her fingertips as if punishing her.

"It hurts~" Shen Tinghe cried out softly, her voice so sweet and gentle that only he could hear it.

"You're already crying out in pain before I've even used any force," Xie Yanzhao chuckled, but loosened his grip on her fingers. "Yuan Yuan is getting more and more delicate."

If it weren't for the fact that everyone was watching, he would have loved to hold her in his arms and give her a good "lesson".

She probably doesn't realize how captivating her eyes and slightly flushed cheeks are at this moment.

Xie Yanzhao moved his arm slightly, pulling her closer to him.

It was a possessive stance, clear and domineering, as if declaring to everyone...

This is his Crown Princess; no one else should even have the thought of coveting her.

The banquet continued, with music playing constantly and glasses clinking.

But after this incident, everyone knew perfectly well that the Crown Princess in the Eastern Palace was a taboo subject that His Highness could never touch.