Tang Dynasty Hidden Guards

Hou Mochen was utterly humiliated. Pointing at Xue Wei's face, he launched into a tirade, "What are you, a mere charioteer? You should take a good look at yourself! Do you even deserve Yuan Min? You're only fit to lick prostitutes!"

Without saying a word, Xue Wei punched Hou Mochenying hard in the face. Hou Mochenying was caught off guard and stumbled to the ground, causing chaos all around.

One of them pointed at Xue Wei and shouted, "He dares to lay a hand on me! Beat this son of a bitch!"

As soon as he finished speaking, someone slapped him hard across the face. Everyone turned around and were stunned to see Princess Taiping standing in front of them, followed by a large group of palace guards.

Li Lingyue's face was ashen. "Who are you calling a son of a bitch?"

The man was so frightened that he fell to his knees with a thud, frantically slapping himself across the face. "I'm just a foul-mouthed person, I only said it when it felt like it, I never meant to disrespect the princess in the slightest, please spare my life, princess!"

Li Lingyue was too lazy to pay attention to such insignificant people. She stepped forward, grabbed Yuan Min's hand, and shouted, "Now I'm telling you all, Yuan Min is my daughter-in-law. Anyone who dares to make a move on her will have their entire family wiped out. I, Princess Taiping, mean what I say. Now get out of here!"

Everyone was so frightened that they stumbled and ran away. Even Hou Mochengying got up and didn't dare to utter a sound. She scrambled away as fast as she could.

Li Lingyue stepped forward, sighed, and said, "Go back to your seats. Someone will be coming to find you soon."

Xue Wei nodded silently. He had experienced the power of authority firsthand. Those who didn't take him seriously were terrified when Princess Taiping showed up. That was the power of authority!

Without saying a word, Xue Wei took Yuan Min's hand and returned to the banquet area.

........

As soon as the two sat down, a high-ranking official hurried over with several subordinates, bowed and clasped his hands, saying, "I am Doulu Qinshuang, Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. My subordinates made a mistake when arranging the seats and got the Yuan Dongzhu's seat wrong. I have come to apologize and ask Commander Xue and Yuan Dongzhu to come with me to the first-class area."

Xue Wei said calmly, "The list has already been finalized. Would there be any mistake in arranging the seating according to the list? Or do you think that merchants are not qualified to sit in the first-class VIP area and have made unauthorized adjustments?"

"I am not clear about the specifics either. I promise that I will investigate this matter thoroughly when I get back and will not tolerate it. However, the mistake has already been made, and I apologize to both of you again. Please allow us to correct our mistake."

Doulu Qinshuang was also a member of the Guanlong aristocracy. Yuan Shi knew him and had called him Uncle Dou since childhood. She had to give him face, so she tugged at Xue Wei and said, "Let's not make things difficult for Uncle Doulu."

When Xue Wei heard her call him Uncle Doulu, he knew they knew each other, so he stood up and said, "Alright! I won't make things difficult for Minister Doulu."

Doulu Qin was overjoyed and quickly waved his hand, "Thank you for your generosity, niece. Please, both of you!"

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Yuan Min put the golden crown into her bag, then took Xue Wei's arm and followed Doulu Qinshuang toward the first-class VIP area, where whispers immediately arose.

Yuan Min lowered her voice and laughed at Xue Wei, "You were so pretentious just now. He's a high-ranking official of the third rank, and he apologized to you. You still didn't give him face."

Xue Wei said in a serious tone, "Who told them to wrong you? Even if the Jade Emperor came, I wouldn't give him any face!"

Yuan Min felt a sweet warmth in her heart, gently pinched Xue Wei's arm, and whispered, "I know, you're so clever!"

After a pause, Yuan Min chuckled softly, "However, the relationships in the court are complex. Even if you've forgotten many things, it doesn't mean they didn't exist."

"Really? For example, what is my relationship with this Doulu Temple Minister?"

"Of course it concerns you; he's your brother-in-law's grandfather!"

Xue Wei was stunned; he had no idea he actually had two younger sisters.

Yuan Min smiled slightly, pursed her lips, and tugged at him, "Let's go! I'll tell you slowly later."

As soon as the two entered the guest area, they saw a middle-aged man dressed in elegant clothes smiling at them, but Xue Wei did not know who he was.

Yuan Min knew Xue Wei didn't recognize him, so she quickly whispered a reminder, "He is His Highness the Crown Prince!"

Xue Wei was startled and quickly stepped forward to bow, saying, "Nephew greets Uncle!"

Li Xian had only just learned of his wife's foolishness, and he was quite alarmed. He was afraid that his mother would find out about this, so he apologized to Xue Wei, saying, "It was wrong of Uncle to adjust Yuan Min's seating arrangement. Uncle apologizes to you."

Xue Wei was taken aback. What did this have to do with the Crown Prince?

"Uncle, what's going on?"

"It was your cousin Li Guo'er who instigated your mother. Your mother, being overly protective of her daughter, instructed her brother, Wei Wen, the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, to arbitrarily change Miss Yuan's seating arrangement. Your aunt was in the wrong, and I apologize to you on her behalf."

Xue Wei then learned the whole story. It turned out that Li Guo'er was the one causing all the trouble. He quickly said, "It's nothing. We're all family. Uncle, there's no need to be so polite."

"Alas! I didn't know that Yuanmin's position was specially approved by the Emperor. If she finds out, we... dear nephew, please forgive us and don't mention this matter in front of the Emperor."

So that's how it is. This crown prince is truly living a life of trepidation!

"I understand, I promise I won't mention it again."

Li Xian patted Xue Wei on the shoulder, turned and left. Xue Wei walked over to Yuan Min and said, "Let's go inside!"

Yuan Min took his arm and asked softly, "What's wrong?"

"I'll tell you about it later, let's just consider this over and not mention it again!"

The two entered the first-class VIP area, which was laid out similarly to the adjacent second-class VIP area, with rows of tables, but with far fewer people; including their families, there were fewer than two hundred people.

"Wei'er, Amin, come sit here with me!"

Princess Taiping, Li Lingyue, smiled and waved to them. They had just parted ways, but at this moment, Li Lingyue acted as if nothing had happened.

Li Lingyue sat at the first table on the left. Her table was very long, and next to her was her husband, Wu Youji. Although they lived separately, they were still husband and wife in name, and they had to be together on this occasion.

Beside Wu Youji were his two sons with Li Lingyue, Wu Chongmin and Wu Chongxing. Both sons were only about ten years old, but like their father, they ignored Xue Wei and Yuan Min.

Wu Youji ignored Xue Wei because of Wu Liankun's matter. Although the case was eventually dropped, Wu Youji was convinced that Xue Wei was behind it.

Xue Wei didn't think much of it. He had Yuan Min sit next to his mother, while he sat on the side.

In reality, Li Lingyue and Wu Youji were quite far apart, at least two people's distance apart. They were practically strangers and neither wanted to pretend anymore.

Li Lingyue whispered, "The Crown Prince already apologized to you, so let's not mention this again and don't let the Emperor know."

Yuan Min was completely confused, so she could only nod and say, "I understand!"

Palace maids served them tableware and food, music played, and a dozen dancers danced gracefully in the open space in the middle.

At this moment, a eunuch hurried over and whispered a few words to the birthday celebrant, Li Dan. Li Dan nodded, stood up, and waved his hand to stop the music and dancers. He then announced loudly, "I just received an imperial edict that the Emperor is unwell and will not be coming tonight. Please enjoy yourselves. The Emperor said that you may toast freely."

Hearing that the emperor wouldn't be coming, everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief. With the emperor present, the banquet wouldn't have been so comfortable.

The music and dancing continued, and the atmosphere at the banquet became noticeably more lively, with soft laughter and chatter filling the air as people began to stand up and offer toasts.

At this moment, Yuan Min whispered something to Li Lingyue, who nodded and said, "Thank you for reminding me, I forgot."

She stood up and said, "Awei, you two come with me to toast your two uncles."

"What did you say to your mother?" Xue Wei asked in a low voice.

Yuan Min smiled faintly and said, "I was saying that you didn't even recognize your own uncle just now."

"Thank you!" Xue Wei replied with a wry smile.

Helpless, he and Yuan Min got up and followed his mother, Li Lingyue, to the main table.