The Top Scholar's Wife in a Court Story 18
Xiao Mingting sat upright on the dragon throne, his black dragon robe accentuating his handsome, indifferent features.
Hidden behind the twelve beaded tassels of his imperial crown, his gaze swept past the clinking cups and clamor of the ministers, landing on Chen Yao, who sat near the end of the seating area.
What irked him most was the sight of her being so intimate with Shen Yunxiu, so much so that he wished he could rush over and tear them apart.
Thus, when the foreign envoy made his request, Xiao Mingting didn't even bother to retract his gaze. He simply uttered a single word in a flat tone: "Approved."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Wu Li Ji raised his arm with a beaming smile, then clapped lightly.
A melodious tune suddenly filled the air, unlike the usual instruments of Zhao. Besides the sound of strings and woodwinds, it incorporated a unique grassland instrument—the hujia, a nomad's reed flute.
The pitch was high and piercing, like a long wind sweeping through forests and fields, evoking the vastness of "the sky is blue, the wilderness is vast, the wind blows the grass low, revealing cattle and sheep."
With the dense rhythm of drums, a woman walked in gracefully, wearing a sheer, crimson long skirt and a half-draped red silk veil over her head.
She was adorned with intricate, ornate gold ornaments, her snow-white waist exposed, and silver bells tied to her ankles jingling crisply. Stepping to the melody, she touched the ground with her toes and twirled into a dance.
Like a rose burning brightly in the desert, her waist swayed gently, her body supple and alluring, twisting and writhing like a nimble serpent. Her dance was full of the fiery, lively spirit of foreign women.
Just as everyone was captivated by this exotic dance, unlike the usual performances, A Duoya suddenly spun around once more.
Then, following the music, she gracefully danced her way closer to Chen Yao's seat.
Shen Yunxiu seemed to sense something and looked up to see the foreign princess raise her wrist, shyly and seductively tossing a silk scarf in her direction.
A faint, rich fragrance of milk mixed with the scent of grass and trees wafted straight to the table. Before she could react, A Duoya spun again, and with a crisp jingle of bells, she lightly retreated to the center of the hall.
Indeed, these foreign women were bold in their actions!
The previously peaceful banquet erupted in low gasps, followed by murmurs of whispered discussions.
Chen Yao's peony-shaped pastries fell from her hands into the dish, and Shen Yunxiu stiffened in her seat, completely taken aback by this turn of events.
Yuan Fuju, on the other hand, was already livid, cursing A Duoya's audacity a hundred times over in his mind.
Then, everyone on the floor heard the third princess of the Helan tribe, named A Duoya, step forward after her dance.
She placed her hand on her shoulder in salute to the emperor seated above and said, "Your great nation is full of talented and outstanding men. A Duoya admires this, so I humbly request Your Majesty to bestow upon me a perfect marriage."
Clearly, the princess's intentions were obvious. Xiao Mingting's gaze landed precisely on Shen Yunxiu, who was frowning.
His tone was calm, directly calling it out: "Is the princess interested in my beloved Scholar Shen?"
"Indeed." A Duoya smiled openly. She even turned to Shen Yunxiu and boldly winked, speaking in a clear voice, "The envoy Wu Li Ji, who came with me this time, was supposed to be my fiancé. But he's too useless—he was left speechless by Shen Daren's rebuttal. I have always admired heroes, and so I naturally set my heart on him."
Wu Li Ji, seated in the envoy's area, stiffened and immediately hung his head in shame.
Her words caused shock throughout the hall.
To think that she would abandon her fiancé just because he lost to another man, and immediately take a liking to his conqueror—such words defying propriety were utterly unheard of.
The discussions grew louder, buzzing with whispers. Some elderly ministers grew so angry that their beards trembled, muttering indignantly, "Indeed, a barbaric small tribe—utterly without manners!"
Qu Zhujun, seated beside her grandmother, heard this and her eyes lit up. She leaned toward her grandmother and whispered, "I like her attitude—so straightforward and candid! It's just a pity she set her sights on someone else's husband."
And especially her dear friend's husband—that was even more unacceptable.
Her words were barely out before her grandmother, without changing her expression, secretly pinched her side. Qu Zhujun winced and immediately shut her mouth, letting out a quiet "ouch."
Shen Yunxiu's heart raced in panic, her mind in turmoil, but she dared not hesitate.
Without waiting for the emperor to speak, she immediately rose from her seat, adjusted her robes, and knelt directly on the ground, saying, "Thank you for your high regard, Princess. But I already have a wife married through proper rites, and I can only disappoint your kind intentions."
Xiao Mingting lowered his gaze to Shen Yunxiu kneeling in the hall, then instinctively glanced at Xie Chenyao, who was sitting in her seat, frowning with concern at her husband.
He withdrew his gaze and said expressionlessly, "Since the princess holds you in such high regard, my dear Shen, why not enjoy the pleasure of having both?"