The arrogant imperial concubine arrives, the favorite of the regent

Chapter 1371 Breaking with the Emperor, the Night King Disobeys the Imperial Decree

This time, no one stepped forward to cause trouble, and the talent show at the banquet proceeded relatively harmoniously.

You Luoyan went up and played a piece on the guqin, which drew cheers from the crowd.

Bai Yanshuang went on stage and performed a sword dance, displaying both strength and flexibility, which impressed the young men.

"Why does Miss Bai seem to have changed a lot? She has become more elegant and poised, looking both sharp and capable yet retaining a graceful and serene demeanor."

Yun Mujiu glanced amusedly at a seat behind her and, sure enough, saw that Meng Ninglang's expression wasn't quite pleasant. She chuckled to herself.

Ye Xiaohan caught the kitten chuckling, and his sword-like eyebrows arched slightly upwards.

Yun Mujiu caught a glimpse of Ye Xiaohan out of the corner of her eye, turned around, and shook Ye Xiaohan's large hand. Their gazes met with a resolute expression.

No matter what happens, they will stand together.

Before the farewell banquet, the court received a military report from the western border, indicating that the situation at the front was not favorable for Zhong Yue. However, at such a critical juncture, Emperor Haolian and the court still insisted on holding a palace banquet as scheduled.

Ye Xiaohan and Yun Mujiu knew very well that it was very strange, but also quite interesting, that the imperial court was holding a large-scale palace banquet at this critical juncture…

During the intermission of the talent show, guests freely moved around among the various rows of seats.

Some of Ye Xiaohan's subordinates came over to serve him tea, while many civil and military officials were secretly observing Prince Ye from afar.

The powerful clans and officials, led by the Right Chancellor, felt a mix of regret and resentment. Prince Ye was clearly the best choice to go to the battlefield, but now, due to the Emperor's selfish desires, he couldn't directly go to the front lines to defend the country. It seemed Zhongyue was about to lose its war god prince, a tremendous loss for its people.

Yun Mujiu met Madam Qiu, who asked about Tao Tao's condition. Yun Mujiu smiled and replied that Tao Tao was doing well and that she would bring Tao Tao out to play again next time.

Last time, Tao Tao wanted to attend the moonlit banquet, and she asked Madam Qiu to look after her. But this time, she couldn't let Tao Tao come, because this banquet was no ordinary event, fraught with danger…

Afterwards, Yun Mujiu went to see the Duke of Ju and took out the nano-ceramic knife that she had promised to give him at the Moonlit Banquet.

The Duke of Ju was overjoyed, but ultimately restrained his overwhelming emotions and humbly accepted the gift. He'd better keep this wonderful item to himself; he couldn't let others be envious!

Yun Mujiu glanced over and caught the expressions of the Bei Han group. Bei Manji's face was quite unpleasant. Yun Mujiu smiled and ignored it, not caring what the Bei Han people were thinking.

Who told the Northern Han people to think they could ride roughshod over her, Ye Xiaohan, and even the Zhongyue Dynasty just because they wield an ice sword? She'd better give them a good slap in the face...

The performance on stage had come to a temporary end, and then palace maids brought in a new batch of fruits and dishes.

The Emperor and Empress gave a speech, briefly commenting on the young ladies and gentlemen who had come to the stage that day. They also exchanged some pleasantries with the ministers, which were nothing more than official words of blessing Zhongyue with friendly and harmonious relations with Nantai and Beihan, and praying for Zhongyue's country to be prosperous and peaceful.

The Emperor and Empress also arranged marriages for several young ladies and gentlemen who were mutually interested in each other, and the Empress also bestowed titles and rewards upon a group of outstanding individuals.

Yun Mujiu stood calmly below the stage, using a small dagger to peel a large, pink peach, vaguely carving out the shape of a rabbit's head.

"Xiao Han." A majestic voice came from the high platform.

The Emperor stopped the formal announcement and instead brought up Ye Xiaohan.

"Your subject is here," Ye Xiaohan replied calmly.

Everyone's hearts jumped, a sense of foreboding creeping over them!

"I remember you're almost twenty-five this year, aren't you?" The Emperor said with a concerned smile.

"Yes. It'll be in a few months," Ye Xiaohan said.

The Emperor smiled slightly and said earnestly, "You are Zhongyue's regent, a man of extraordinary status, a key member of the royal family, and a role model for princes, princesses, and noble families."

"Now, for the first time, your household has a mistress living there, and you and Princess Ye have been happily married for quite some time. However..." The Emperor paused, quickly glancing at Yun Mujiu, and then said, "Promoting the royal family is of paramount importance, and I have noticed that you have not made any progress for a long time."

Ye Xiaohan said nothing, only glancing at the Emperor, who was constantly building up to his intentions, with a faint look. For a moment, the Emperor felt uneasy, sensing that his strangely intelligent younger brother seemed to have already seen through his inner thoughts.

At this moment, the crowd displayed a variety of expressions. Some were bewildered and unaware of the deeper meaning behind the conversation between the emperor and the prince.

Some people were extremely curious and speculated as to why the emperor brought up the matter of royal offspring.

Some people looked solemn, as if they had thought of something deeper. The Emperor had mentioned this topic to the Night King during a previous morning court session, but the Night King had firmly and unequivocally refused.

The Emperor coughed lightly and said solemnly, "In order to stabilize the court and expand the royal bloodline, I have decided to bestow upon you several concubines and maids."

After she finished speaking, the room fell silent. In that instant, Yun Mujiu paused in the small knife in her hand, then put down the dagger and the peach.

Everyone fell silent, not daring to utter a sound. The princes and princesses all changed their expressions and looked at the Night King and his wife.

The man in the magnificent purple robe curled his lips slightly, his expression icy cold.

"Your Majesty, as I stated in court before, I will only ever acknowledge Yun Mujiu as my wife. I will have no other woman in my life..."

"Ha, what a fine 'one couple for life'!" The Emperor immediately changed his expression, his face hardening with sternness and coldness. "This matter concerns the face and future of the royal family, and cannot tolerate the slightest sentimentality."

Today, he has betrothed Ye Xiaohan to a marriage that Ye Xiaohan has no choice but to accept!

Everyone was shocked, and most of the civil and military officials gasped in unison.

Is Your Majesty deliberately humiliating and making things difficult for the Night King?!

Is the Night King so audacious as to defy the imperial decree and openly break with the Emperor?!

Ye Xiaohan coldly said, "I have never cared about having offspring. What I have chosen is my wife."

Everyone else, get out of here!

"Furthermore, the Princess Consort has only recently entered the palace, and she was previously harmed by villains and is now in poor health. I am so busy taking care of her that I would never want her to conceive a child while she is ill!"

Your Majesty, are you out of your mind? Are you so selfish as to meddle in other people's business and cause trouble for a married couple?

"Moreover, the princess possesses a noble heart, opening numerous medicine shops to help the world and save people. How could she be confined by ordinary, sordid worldly conditions!"

His Mu Jiu was the most special; his Mu Jiu could do whatever she wanted. And his Mu Jiu was such a kind, tolerant, and generous person—how dare they presume to criticize Mu Jiu over such a trivial matter as "offspring"!

His Highness the Night King's series of retorts stunned everyone present, and the Emperor's expression changed repeatedly.

How dare Ye Xiaohan defy the king of a nation for the sake of a mere woman? Does Ye Xiaohan have a death wish?

How could a supreme regent be so deeply in love with a woman? He really didn't know what his usually intelligent younger brother was thinking!