When Zhao Ling put down the teacup, Yan Xing noticed Zhao Ling tapping the rim of a teacup. He couldn't help but think of the lady he met back in the Lan City. As Yan Xing was contemplating, the Emperor arrived at the Banquet.
"Greetings Your Majesty"
Everyone present in the banquet hall got up from their respective seats and bowed toward the Emperor. Yan Xing was no exception. The Emperor raised his hand gesturing to get up, "You may rise"
After taking a seat, the Emperor said, "As you are all aware of it, this banquet is arranged especially for the General of Black Eagle Cavalry who been at the Southwest border fighting the enemy. While we were living a peaceful life in the capital, General Xiao and his men had to endure numerous hardships for the empire".
Lifting a cup of wine, the Emperor continued, "Here, this cup of wine for the General of Black Eagle Cavalry and his men"
The Emperor downed the cup in one go, followed by everyone present in the hall. Xiao Shan stood and bowed towards the Emperor, "Your humble servant is simply doing his job, Your Majesty overpraises me".
The Emperor nodded his head in satisfaction, "Still, the Black Eagle Cavalry had done a meritorious job this time. The Khusafs wouldn't dare to make a move anytime soon now that they had suffered an utter defeat"
Xiao Shan listened to the Emperor's words, and he couldn't help but sneer inwardly, the Emperor had not said even a single word for Yan Xing until now. He was either praising the Black Eagle Cavalry in general or him.
It was not only Xiao Shan who was thinking of it. Everyone else in the hall had the same thing going inside their heads.
"Young Miss looks like the Emperor is intentionally avoiding the Fifth Prince", whispered He Qing.
Zhao Ling tilted her head and nodded, "I know"
Zhao Ling look around the hall and her gaze passed by Yan Xing too. She didn't stop her gaze at Yan Xing, her gaze swept by everyone casually. Then she turned towards He Qing again and said, "if he is the one who investigated me, we should be cautious of him".
"Don't worry, Young Miss, I have already reached out to our men this evening. By tomorrow we will get the news", He Qing replied.
Unlike everyone who was paying attention to the Emperor's words, Yan Xing's attention was on Zhao Ling from the moment she entered. He was taking note of Zhao Ling's every action. Even though Zhao Ling's didn't do anything out of the ordinary, Yan Xing was still paying close attention to her.
"Your Highness, did you find out anything?", asked Gu Jingsheng, who was seated behind.
Yan Xing smirked and instead questioned back, "what about you?"
"Your Highness, forgive me if had I missed out on anything, but so far, I haven't noticed anything strange with the Second Miss Zhao", answered Gu Jingsheng.
"You missed out on something", said Yan Xing.
Gu Jingsheng frowned. He hadn't noticed anything. He was always paying attention to Zhao Ling from the moment she entered the banquet hall. Gu Jingsheng glanced at Yan Xing expecting an explanation from the latter. But Gu Jingsheng was doomed to be disappointed.
"Think about it yourself for now. I will tell you later after the banquet", said Yan Xing with a smile as he noticed the disappointed expression plastered on Gu Jingsheng's face.
As they were discussing it, the Emperor had ended with his praises about the Black Eagle Cavalry. Xiao Shan faked a smile and said, "Your Majesty, it's not my efforts alone, but the efforts put forth by the deputy generals, captains, and every single person from the Black Eagle Cavalry cannot be overlooked too. Especially the Fifth Prince who had shown great talent in leading the troops"
The Emperor was expressionless at the mention of Prince Yan Xing. He turned his gaze towards Yan Xing and said, "Xing'er, you had done a good job too. All these years following your uncle at the Southwest border didn't go in vain"
Yan Xing got up and bowed, "Imperial Father overpraises me. All I did was help shoulder the burdens of the Imperial Father with my mediocre talent that isn't worth mentioning"
The Emperor laughed, "Good, Good, you are indeed my son. Everyone, tonight don't hold yourself back, eat and drink to your fullest"
Xiao Shan, who was now seated couldn't help but rolled his eyes inwardly.
One after the other, the palace maids came in, and different dishes were served, and many officials went up to General Xiao to toss a drink and congratulate him on the victory against the Khusaf's. Yan Xing was ignored, everyone can tell that his status as a Prince was nothing but a hollow one.
Noticing that, Zhao Ling couldn't help but feel sympathetic towards Yan Xing because, she knows how it feels to be left out, to be ignored, and unfavored. She had been going through the same thing.
"My beloved Subject, today, apart from welcoming the General of Black Eagle Cavalry back to the capital, I have an important announcement to make", said the Emperor.
Immediately after the Emperor said that many people perked up their ears. The Emperor turned his attention towards Yan Xing. "Xing'er, you have been at the border since you were sixteen and now in a blink of an eye you are already twenty-five. Those of your age had already started a family of their own. I know of your condition and though you won't be able to have a descendant of your own, as a father, I feel that I should at least find you a companion. So, after considering it, I have chosen a maiden for you"
The banquet hall was in pin-drop silence. Some who had been expecting this didn't have much reaction, but almost everyone had their eyes wide open and some had their mouths gaped.
'The Emperor wants to bestow a marriage to an impotent Prince', almost everyone had the same thought.
The Emperor motioned to Eunuch wang who was standing at the side. Eunuch Wang came near the Emperor, holding an Imperial Edict.
"I request the Fifth Prince and Second Miss Zhao to come forward and accept the decree"
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