AUBTN -Chapter 319 Mid-Autumn Imperial Banquet

Morning light had fully broken.

Inside the room, the two of them held each other tightly.

And outside the open door, behind a beaded curtain, a graceful figure stood silently, already bathed in tears.

Su Hewan had originally woken up early, her head still aching from last night’s hangover, recalling the absurd events at Wenxiang Tower.

Worried that Yu Qing might be punished by Lu Yan’s notoriously volatile temper, she had quietly slipped over to check on her while Shen Jue was away in the front courtyard dealing with official matters.

But she never imagined that the moment she arrived outside the door, she would hear the heartfelt confessions within.

Su Hewan covered her mouth tightly, refusing to make even the slightest sound, yet tears still streamed uncontrollably down her face.

She had always prided herself on being rational and calm, someone who saw through the intrigues of the court and the turning wheels of history.

In her eyes, Yu Qing had always been that loud, carefree, and heartless best friend.

She thought Yu Qing had adapted well—thought she truly treated this place as nothing more than a real-life immersive role-playing game, enjoying it to the fullest.

But at this very moment, hearing Yu Qing’s heartbreaking, hoarse cries, Su Hewan felt as if she had been struck awake.

So there was never any such thing as being truly carefree.

In this rigid, hierarchical ancient world where human lives were as insignificant as blades of grass, that modern girl who had once lived under the sun—just how much fear and lack of security had she been hiding?

Her exaggerated acting, her loud personality, her apparent indifference—all of it had been a protective shell to conceal her inner panic.

And so, when she heard Lu Yan’s seemingly careless words, that protective shell shattered instantly.

It triggered such an intense emotional collapse.

It’s me who didn’t understand her… it’s me who failed to take care of her… Su Hewan silently blamed herself.

At that moment, a faint, cool presence quietly enveloped her from behind.

Someone gently embraced her.

Su Hewan didn’t need to turn around; she already knew who it was.

Shen Jue lowered his head, his thin crimson lips brushing near her ear.

He had clearly heard everything inside as well.

At this moment, his eyes were filled with tenderness.

“So… they’ve made up?” he asked softly.

His voice was light, carrying an almost intoxicating quality in the quiet morning light.

His arm naturally wrapped around her waist, drawing her gently into his embrace, his chin resting lightly at the side of her neck.

His voice was low and husky, carrying an indistinct trace of coaxing affection:

“Then… can we call a truce as well, my lady?”

Su Hewan’s back stiffened slightly.

But she did not pull away.

Listening to Yu Qing finally releasing all her pent-up grievances inside the room, and Lu Yan’s desperate, humbled attempts to comfort her, Su Hewan slowly closed her eyes.

She took a deep breath, forcing back the tears in her eyes.

Yes… in this cannibalistic feudal world, if you meet someone willing to defy convention for you—even laying down their own cards—what else is there to be conflicted about?

Her thoughts flowed unreservedly into Shen Jue’s mind.

A smile spread across Shen Jue’s eyes.

He tightened his arms around her, burying his face deeper into the hollow of her neck.

“Wanwan,” he called her in a low voice.

“The schemes of the court—I will block them for you. You only need to be Su Hewan, the one who sees through history and calculates everything without error. As for security…”

Shen Jue placed something cold into her palm.

Su Hewan looked down.

It was the private seal of the Eastern Depot Chief Inspector.

“Take it. Thirty thousand agents of the Eastern Depot, along with my life, are all at your command, my lady.”

Su Hewan tightened her grip on the seal that represented immense authority, her heartbeat skipping slightly.

She turned around and met Shen Jue’s eyes—those deep, obsessive yet affectionate eyes—and softly said, “Alright, Shen Jue. We cease fire.”

Time passed quickly, and before long, it was Mid-Autumn Festival.

Inside the Taihe Palace, the hall was brightly lit!

The sounds of silk strings and flutes never ceased, while dancers in flowing sleeves moved gracefully—an image of prosperous grandeur.

However, the civil and military officials seated within the hall all sat upright and solemn, eyes lowered, even their breathing careful and restrained.

Because tonight was the first palace banquet after Prince Zhennan, Xiao Zhengnan, returned to the capital.

The young emperor sat on the dragon throne. Though still youthful, he already faintly carried the dignity of an emperor.

At the lower left of the throne sat Shen Jue, dressed in a python robe, his face delicately handsome yet somewhat cold and sinister.

At the lower right sat Lu Yan, wearing a dark gold flying-fish uniform, his aura sharp and intimidating.

Su Hewan and Yu Qing were also dressed in splendid attire, seated beside their respective husbands.

“Your Majesty, I, Xiao Zhengnan, offer you a toast!”

A hearty laugh broke the delicate balance in the hall.

Prince Zhennan Xiao Zhengnan raised his cup and strode into the center of the hall.

“However, I forgot—Your Majesty is still very young. Such strong liquor may harm your dragon body. Why not replace it with fruit wine instead?”

The moment those words were spoken, the lively atmosphere in the Taihe Palace instantly froze.

Even the sound of music seemed to be cut off by an invisible hand.

Everyone’s gaze focused on the dragon throne.

On the surface, it sounded like concern—but in truth, every word was mockery and provocation!

It was a blatant reminder to everyone present: the one sitting on that supreme throne was merely a child who could not even drink alcohol.

The young emperor’s face flushed red instantly, anger and humiliation igniting in his eyes.

He pressed his lips tightly together and suddenly reached out his small hand, intending to pick up the wine cup.

As if trying to prove he was not a child.

At that moment, a very soft laugh fell into the tense atmosphere.

“Heh.”

Shen Jue leaned lazily against his chair, his long fingers toying with a white jade wine cup.

He didn’t even lift his eyes, only cast a calming glance toward the young emperor.

The emperor’s outstretched hand froze mid-air.

Shen Jue spoke slowly, “Prince Zhennan guards the southern frontier and has worked hard. Such intentions are already rare.”

Then his tone shifted, his gaze turning sharp as he looked at Xiao Zhengnan.

“But it seems the prince has forgotten something. You are a subject; His Majesty is the sovereign. A minister offering respect to the ruler is etiquette, but whether the ruler drinks or not is a matter of grace.”

A cold smile curled at the corner of Shen Jue’s lips.

“What, if His Majesty refuses to drink today, does the prince intend to use your southern ten-thousand-strong military force to coerce him into drinking this cup?”

“You!” Xiao Zhengnan’s face instantly turned ashen.

Shen Jue’s words, seemingly casual, had escalated a petty dispute into matters of imperial authority and ministerial loyalty—

Even implying rebellion through military power!

The officials in the hall all lowered their heads, not daring to breathe loudly.

Immortal-level figures fighting—ordinary people suffer.

Xiao Zhengnan’s grip on the wine cup tightened, veins bulging, as he stared fixedly at Shen Jue.

In the end, he squeezed out a few words through clenched teeth:

“This minister spoke out of turn.”

He downed the wine in one gulp, then turned toward Shen Jue and Lu Yan, a faint, almost imperceptible trace of malice flashing in his eyes.

“It is this minister’s fault—may Your Majesty forgive me! Then this second cup of wine should be offered to the Imperial Chancellor who worries for the nation, and to His Highness the Prince who guards the capital!”