The Phoenix Arises

Chapter 29.1: Curtains Rise on the Welcoming Banquet

The banquet then officially commenced.

Seated immediately just below Duanmu Xue and Huangfu Che on the left was Duanmu Xi with Xuanyuan Mo, Duanmu Xian with Situ Rui while immediately down the right were Duanmu Shuang, Duanmu Fei with He Mi Xiu, then Duanmu Qing with Si Yun Han.

Up upon the platform, everyone was seated in pairs, with only Duanmu Shuang looking conspicuous sitting there on her own.

Duanmu Shuang’s primary spouse Qin Zhuo Ying had passed away early and there were only several concubines back in the manor, without a single consort. It was not because she still loved Qin Zhuo very much, but because she was smitten with Huangfu Che, and had no interest in other men. So she had only brought Duanmu Qing and Si Yun Han to come attend the banquet with her.

Duanmu Qing raised her eyes and looked at Duanmu Xi with an almost imperceptible smile on the opposite side.

[She still managed to come back after everything. This piece of useless trash must have been born under a lucky star. But what a pity. The girl cannot be allowed to live long.]

Si Yun Han who was seated beside Duanmu Qing was also sneaking glances at Duanmu Xi.

[Having not seen her for more than a year, she has become so beautiful her looks could bring ruin onto cities and wreck a country. Her pair of violet eyes had also grown more alluring and seductive, the aura that emanated from her entire being causing people to not dare to look at her directly.

But the girl who had become even more beautiful did not like him like she had in the past anymore. The banquet had already gone on for so long but she had not even given him a single glance, all her attention only focused on that incredibly good looking man beside her.

“Snowy, have some of this. It’s quite good.”

Duanmu Xi would intermittently pick food for Xuanyuan Mo and the two of them would look at each other and smile, their heads at times lowered in soft whispers, causing all the men and women below to watch them with endless envy.

Even officials from both the civil and military sides were staring dazedly at the two of them.

Seeing the way the Her Highness the Crown Princess was treating the young man, it was thought that the position of the Crown Princess’ Royal Consort would undoubtedly be going to that young man.

When that thought came to mind, many of the senior officials’ faces became greatly disappointed.

They had originally thought that with Great General Si’s eldest son decreed to wed Heir Qing, they would finally have a chance to be linked in marriage with the Crown Princess. Who would have known that it was all just wishful thinking.

Seeing the two people on the opposite side being so loving, Si Yun Han’s eyes filled up with jealousy and envy.

Noticing that Si Yun Han kept glancing across to the opposite side, the corners of Duanmu Qing’s mouth curled up into a scornful smile and she lifted her eyes to look.

In the instant that she saw Xuanyuan Mo, Duanmu Qing fell into a stunned daze.

[To think that a man with such flawless beauty could actually exist under the Heavens…..]

[No wonder Duanmu Xi had not even bothered to give Si Yun Han a single glance all night. Compared to that flawlessly handsome man, there was absolutely nothing worth looking at on Si Yun Han. If that was her in Duanmu Xi’s shoes, she would not bother to look at Si Yun Han at all as well.

On this side, Duanmu Xi who was just picking up more food for Xuanyuan Mo suddenly knitted up her brows.

“What’s wrong?”

Noticing Duanmu Xi’s unusual expression, Xuanyuan Mo asked in a soft voice.

Duanmu Xi shook her head gently and then turned to gaze icily straight at Duanmu Qing.