CMWKSD -Chapter 247 The Banquet Begins

Ji Yiqing looked at his sleeve, then at Ji Chaomian.

Looked at the sleeve again, then back at Ji Chaomian.

Ji Chaomian rubbed his nose, a little embarrassed.

Ji Yiqing was truly on the verge of collapse, utterly speechless.

He shook the sleeve that had been torn to shreds, almost shoving it right up into Ji Chaomian’s face.

“I was just saying it casually! Just casually!”

“Is Jiu Yue really the kind of person who meddles in everything?”

“Would His Majesty bestow a marriage just for the younger sister of a minor judicial officer?”

“Big Brother, you go on and on every day saying my mind is full of Jiu Yue—why don’t you take a look at yourself and see what you look like right now?”

Ji Chaomian felt a complete sense of humiliation for the first time in his life.

Wasn’t he just anxious earlier?

Now that he thought about it carefully, he knew those things were simply impossible.

Was Jiu Yue the kind of person who would get involved in this sort of matter?

No.

And His Majesty certainly wouldn’t grant a marriage just because she was the sister of a judicial officer who happened to have some ability in handling cases.

His Majesty wasn’t someone who forced things on people.

Wasn’t it just that…He hadn’t thought it through in the moment?

Ji Chaomian forced out a smile.

Ji Yiqing snorted coldly.

With an extremely smug flick of his sleeve, he said, “I hope that girl was already married long ago.”

Serve you right. Serve you right. Serve you right!!!

Then Ji Yiqing turned around and walked off, shaking his tattered sleeve.

At first, Ji Chaomian still felt a bit embarrassed.

But the moment he heard Ji Yiqing’s words—

He lifted his foot, pulled off his shoe, and hurled it fiercely at Ji Yiqing.

That damn little brother!

With a loud bang, it struck the back of Ji Yiqing’s head squarely.

Ji Chaomian’s eyes went wide—he… he hadn’t expected to actually hit him.

Ji Yiqing clutched his head and turned around in shock. “B-Big Brother…”

Ji Chaomian rubbed his fingers together. His aim was actually that good?

He coughed lightly twice. “I said I’d sew it up for you.”

Ji Yiqing was certain that when Ji Chaomian threw that shoe at him just now, that was absolutely not what he’d been thinking.

“Then couldn’t you have just called me?! You threw your stinky shoe at me! You actually threw your stinky shoe at me!”

“My shoe isn’t stinky! And my feet aren’t stinky either!”

Those were not things you could just say carelessly.

What if word got out and other people heard it? That would be terrible!

Ji Yiqing was so indignant and huffy that he was practically about to jump onto Ji Chaomian.

This was no longer his kind and respectable big brother.

“Is that the point?! Is that the point?! Shouldn’t the point be that you actually threw your shoe at me?!”

Ji Chaomian took two steps forward, grabbed Ji Yiqing’s torn sleeve, and dragged him toward his own courtyard.

He really couldn’t let this guy keep talking.

Ever since spending so much time with Jiu Yue, the verbal damage output was off the charts—he really couldn’t handle it.

But what needed to be said still had to be said.

Now that the Ji household had so many servants and seamstresses, why would he ever need to mend clothes himself?

And who would still wear patched clothing anyway?

But this was an official uniform—who would prepare ten or eight spare sets for no reason?

The court only issued one.

Ji Chaomian held an embroidery needle in his hand, Ji Yiqing’s official robe in the other.

Ji Yiqing, dressed only in his inner garments, stood there shivering.

Yet he dared not voice his anger.

Ji Chaomian’s expression had grown somewhat gloomy.

He was scared, okay?

But—if you stripped off my official robe, at least give me an outer garment to wear!

Ji Chaomian finished stitching Ji Yiqing’s clothes in just a few quick movements.

Ji Yiqing sniffed, hurriedly took it, and pulled it back on.

He was just terribly unlucky.

He never should have tried to win with words.

While sewing his clothes, Ji Chaomian even had one foot braced against the wall.

Not only blocking him into a corner, but also lecturing him at the same time:

“She can’t possibly be married.”

Yes, yes, yes—Ji Yiqing was truly speechless.

Not married, then not married.

Just wait—there’ll be plenty of times when you’ll be begging me!!!

……

On the day of the state banquet…

Envoys from multiple nations gathered together.

Officials below the fifth rank didn’t even qualify to attend.

As such, Ji Yiqing attended in the capacity of Jiu Yue’s husband—

That is, as the Prince Consort.

This was Jiu Yue’s second time wearing that court dress weighing more than ten jin.

Add to that the full head of pearls and jade—

It truly felt cumbersome.

Her head clinked and clattered with all kinds of jewelry befitting a princess.

Jiu Yue felt like a large display stand.

Every single item on her body was elegant, luxurious, and priceless.

All of it had been bestowed by Fengyuan Emperor.

Such heavy, tangible favor.

Jiu Yue felt like her neck was being pressed down into her chest.

Ji Yiqing supported the unsteady Jiu Yue as they took their seats.

Directly opposite them was the Crown Prince’s position.

Jiu Yue glared at the Crown Prince, cheeks puffed out.

Why didn’t men’s court attire have so many things on it?

That said, Jiu Yue was already strikingly beautiful by nature.

With this makeup, calling her devastatingly beautiful—capable of toppling cities—would not be an exaggeration.

Several officials who had previously worked with Jiu Yue couldn’t help but look at her.

It was hard to associate her with that bloodthirsty female demon who wielded a long spear and killed without blinking.

One by one, the envoys from various nations stepped forward to present their tributes.

Rare and exotic treasures were carried in, one after another.

Their sincerity was evident.

The Northern Barbarian envoy delegation appeared last.

Zhuo Mu and his siblings—four in total—performed the Northern Barbarian rites toward Fengyuan Emperor and the Empress seated above.

Jiu Yue swept her gaze lightly across them.

Below, Zhuo Ya’s body trembled faintly as she pressed her lips tightly together.

Zhuo Ya immediately clutched her wrist.

Jiu Yue had said she would look at her sincerity today.

As for how that sincerity was supposed to be shown—

Zhuo Ya had wracked her brains over it for a long time.

Cups clinked, music layered upon music…

The dancers’ movements were dazzling and exquisite.

Palace maids stepped forward to refill the wine.

Fengyuan Emperor raised his cup, and the envoys hurried to follow suit.

Jiu Yue had just lifted her wine cup to her lips—

Before she could drink it,

She caught an aroma that should not have been there.

Jiu Yue let out a cold laugh.

At moments like this, the advantage of wide court sleeves became apparent.

Ji Yiqing turned his head and saw Jiu Yue drinking with her sleeve covering her mouth.

He frowned slightly.

After all, when had Jiu Yue ever been this… refined when drinking?

Wasn’t she always the type to just lift the cup and drink it straight down?

But then he saw Jiu Yue’s wrist turn gently.

All the wine spilled into her sleeve.

Ji Yiqing discreetly glanced at the palace maid who had just poured the wine.

Jiu Yue squeezed Ji Yiqing’s hand. “Want to go out and get some air?”

Ji Yiqing had only heard Eagle One briefly mention Zhou Fang’s plan that day.

Now it seemed that the palace maid pouring wine for Jiu Yue was their inside contact.

Sure enough—

The moment Jiu Yue and Ji Yiqing rose from their seats,

Zhou Fang and Zhuo Mu also found excuses and left the banquet.

Fengyuan Emperor glanced toward the shadows.

Eagle One immediately followed.

Soon after, Jiang Xunan followed as well.

When the two reached the outer area,

They saw Jiu Yue and Ji Yiqing waiting beneath the shadows.

They hurried over. “Your Highness, Prince Consort…”

Jiu Yue raised her hand. “Wait a moment.”

They waited for two breaths.

From the distance, someone came stumbling toward them.

Zhuo Ya, with a veil covering her head.

Hidden in the darkness, she was completely unrecognizable.

Seeing Jiu Yue, Ji Yiqing, and the others, she acted as if she hadn’t seen them at all.

Flustered, she rushed back into the banquet hall.

Zhuo Ya burst in suddenly, then quickly forced herself to calm down.

Zhuo Zhuo glanced at her but didn’t pay much attention.

He was still waiting for Zhuo Mu’s signal.

But as more and more time passed,

Zhuo Ya grew increasingly uneasy.

Her constant looking around made it obvious that something was wrong.

Several envoys at the banquet began frequently glancing toward Zhuo Ya.

Especially since Zhuo Mu still hadn’t returned.

Eagle One signaled toward the shadows.

Several people wearing golden eagle masks immediately leapt down.

“Was it handled cleanly?”

Eagle Three Three nodded.

Beneath the artificial rockery behind them, several corpses were piled together.

There were eunuchs and palace maids—there were even two or three guards among them.

Jiu Yue waved her hand in front of her nose.

“Such an auspicious day—don’t disturb the peace of our guests from afar. Drag them outside the city to the mass grave.”

“Yes.”

Jiu Yue was actually quite curious.

She wondered what kind of surprise Zhuo Ya had prepared for her.

She turned to look at Eagle Three Three and said with a smile,

“San-san…”

Eagle Three Three shuddered violently.

Though their physiques, heights, and even clothing were identical,

Jiu Yue had never once mistaken any of the Eagle Guards.

Now, seeing Jiu Yue’s smiling expression—

Eagle Three Three truly had a psychological shadow.