?

  The Taiyin Hall was getting more and more lively, as the sons of various aristocratic families entered one after another. Emperor Chen also stepped into the hall under the support of eunuchs and palace ladies.

  The real reason is that she was personally selected by Your Majesty, and it was the first time that Wang Ye, Zhang Gui, Zhang Wei, and others from humble families were selected to stand in this hall for the envoys of Qi and Zhou to choose. At that time, Wang Ye used her wit to win the favor of Emperor Chen, which also led to her current status.

  It can be said that for Wang Yan, whether it was Zhang Qi or Gao Changgong, they were all familiar people. That one banquet, after all, was three years ago, and at that time Zhang Qi was unremarkable, she really didn't believe that in just three years, how could an ordinary woman become a stunning beauty? Humph, it's just the world exaggerating again!

  Upon hearing the empress's doubts, the young and elegant Emperor Chen also chuckled and said: "I don't believe it either." He slowly continued: "I have met this Zhang several times, I would not want to believe that I let a Wang Zhaojun slip away."

  Amidst the laughter, Emperor Chen had already entered the palace. As everyone bowed in unison, he slightly nodded his head and walked to the main throne to take a seat.

  Just as they sat down, a sharp voice of an eunuch came over, "Qī—Lán Líng Wáng has arrived!" "Madam Zhang, wife of Lán Líng Wáng, has arrived!"

  A sharp and clear voice tore through the night sky. The originally noisy and boisterous Taiyin Temple suddenly fell silent.

  Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Everyone turned their heads at the same time and stared intently towards the entrance of the grand hall.

  In an extreme quietness, a tall and handsome young man with a bright and clear complexion like moonlight walked in, exuding elegance and majesty.

  Suddenly saw this young man. The crowd of people suddenly widened their eyes. Unconsciously, they thought at the same time: Isn't it the world's three countries, Lanyang unmatched? Such a demeanor. Even if it was Pan An in the past, it wouldn't be better than this, right?

  In the silence of the crowd, the young man stopped in his tracks and looked back.

  A girl in a pale yellow dress walked in with a gentle and elegant gait.

  As soon as the girl entered, everyone felt that the light in front of them was even more magnificent and resplendent. The originally bright Taiyin Hall had become several degrees brighter!

  The girl in front of her, with eyebrows and eyes like a painting, had a wisp of misty light flowing in her eyes that was both joyful and resentful. Her cherry lips and jade nose were all beautiful. But what stunned everyone was not her facial features, but the aura that enveloped her entire body.

  Like a misty West Lake. Like a moonlit shadow, like watching the sunset by the sea, so magnificent and resplendent, so pure and charming, this is her elegant demeanor. She has already grasped the essence of creation!

  Moreover, outside this boundless radiance, the girl's exposed neck, wrists, slender waist and legs all give people a feeling of being as if boneless and seductive?

  The girl stepped into the hall, her eyes scanning the crowd before turning to look at the one she loved.

  It was just a glance, but the men in the hall suddenly felt an inexplicable pang of envy and jealousy.

  Is this Zhang Shi's Ai Gui? Indeed, she is stunningly beautiful.

  In the quiet of the night, the King of Lanling felt the overly passionate gaze from the crowd, and slightly furrowed his brow, thinking to himself: These people of Chen are also too lustful.

  He took a step forward, tightly holding Zhang Yi's hand, and walked towards Emperor Chen.

  Upon arriving at the palace, he bowed to Emperor Chen and respectfully called out: "The Prince of Lanling of Qi has arrived to pay his respects to Your Imperial Majesty." "Gao Zhangshi pays his respects to Your Imperial Majesty."

  As soon as the two voices fell, Chen Di stood up and chuckled: "Get up quickly." After the two finished their courtesy, his gaze involuntarily turned to the stunningly beautiful Zhang Qi. He suddenly sighed: "Speaking of which, I am still the matchmaker for you two. Think back to when King Lanling first set eyes on this young lady from the Zhang family. It was also after that rejection that I felt uneasy in my heart and used the excuse of sending her on a diplomatic mission to send Zhang Qi back to the hands of the Duke."

  At this point, seeing Langling Wang's gaze towards himself became more respectful, it was clear that he had acknowledged his feelings. Emperor Chen couldn't help but chuckle and say: "It's just that I never expected that the Zhang Shi of yesteryear would be so stunningly beautiful, truly making me ashamed!"

  His voice had in it a sense of sorrow, loss, or even relief that he himself was not aware of.

  As an ambitious and wise monarch who wholeheartedly wants to make the country prosperous, perhaps it's a blessing in disguise to have missed out on such a beauty?

  Chen Di let out a sigh and, seeing that the surroundings were still quiet, burst into laughter and said: "The beauty already has an owner, so you gentlemen don't need to be infatuated anymore. Come on, come on, let's drink, let's drink."

  Your Majesty spoke, and everyone naturally listened; then laughter gradually rose in the hall.

  When Langling Wang and his wife fell down, Chen Yu and Zhang Shierlang also arrived.

  As Zhang Erlang entered, the crowd burst into laughter. From time to time, someone pointed at Zhang Gui sitting in front and said something to Zhang Erlang with a smile.

  Among these laughs, Zhang Shi'erlang took a glance at Huang Gong beside him and saw the other nodding his head. He then stepped forward towards Zhang Qi and Langling Wang.

  Zhang Qi had just sat down when she heard a voice calling out: "A Qi..."

  Zhang Qi raised her eyes.

  As she raised her eyes, she met Zhang Shi'erlang's stunned face. Three years had passed, and this pampered young master of the Zhang family looked much more haggard, with three deep furrows on his forehead, clearly indicating that his days were not going well either.

  Zhang Qi slowly stood up, looked at him, bowed her head and said: "Father."

  "Ah." Zhang Shi-er Lang's eyes lit up, he took a step forward and reached out to support Zhang Qi, "Child, your father has been thinking for years..." He couldn't continue speaking. But Zhang Qi quietly retreated half a step back, avoiding his supporting hand.

  Zhang Qi looked at Zhang Shi'erlang and said with downcast eyes: "Father, why must you speak falsely? Have you never thought of me?"

  *

  As soon as the words came out, Zhang Shi'er's face turned pale and white, he stuttered for a while before saying in a low voice: "Ah Gui, you look so much like your mother... back then, she was also very beautiful," He looked at Zhang Gui with a somewhat dazed gaze, "At that time when I first met her, she was very charming and likable, she..."

  "Don't mention my mother!" Zhang Qi suddenly raised her head, she quietly looked at Zhang Shi'er Lang and coldly said: "She was the most beautiful. In your eyes, she's just a low-born woman! She pleased you the most, and you can also abandon her without hesitation, so... Don't mention my mother in front of me!"

  Once again, Zhang Erlang's face turned blue and white with rage.

  Zhang Qi took a deep breath and looked around. Seeing that many people were staring over here, she said in a low voice: "Father, you'd better go back."

  But he came to see Zhang Qi this time, with a task in mind. How could he go back like that? After a pause, Zhang Shi'er said, "Ah Qi, I want to have a word with the King of Lanling...". Just as he was saying this, his sleeve was lightly tugged by someone, and Huang Gong's voice came from behind him. "Twelfth Lang, I think the King of Lanling is busy at the moment, why not put it off till another day?"

  "Alright, let's talk about it another day, another day."

  Zhang Erlang hastily responded. He followed Huang Gong out for over a dozen steps before Huang Gong suddenly stopped in his tracks, turned around and scolded in a low voice: "What's wrong with you? You have such a beautiful daughter, yet you treat her like an enemy?" Huang Gong glared at him with anger, shaking his head and saying: "Did you see the Emperor's gaze just now? Even someone as heartless as the Emperor was moved by your daughter. A daughter like that can be used to great effect, equivalent to a hundred thousand strong army. But you, you're completely useless! First, you didn't even know she was so stunningly beautiful, and second, you never built any relationship with her. You truly are incompetent!"

  On one side, Zhang Shierlang hung his head and took the blame, while on the other side, Zhang Qi pursed her lips, looking a bit downcast.

  Seeing her unhappy, Langling Wang grasped her hand and called out softly: "A Gui..."

  She had only called out two words when Zhang Gui suddenly turned his head back, she glared at him, her voice low and hoarse as she scolded: "Don't call me, you're not a good person either!" She sniffled, holding back the tears that were welling up in her eyes, and choked out: "You're also a bastard, a complete bastard!"

  Feeling her surging emotions, Lang Ling Wang hastily stretched out his hand and wrapped her in his arms. Holding her close, he buried her face in his chest, and Lang Ling Wang ignored the envious glances cast from all around, lowered his head and gently kissed Zhang Qi's raven hair, saying in a low, husky voice: "But I've changed... Ah Qi, I've really changed." His voice was tinged with a hint of grievance.

  Zhang Qi knew she couldn't lose her composure, at least not in this situation. So, she took a deep breath, trying to shift her attention away from thinking about Zhang Shier Lang and the idiot who was holding her.

  After a while, she said in a low voice: "Let me go." Her voice was calm.

  The King of Lanling let go of his hand, and Zhang Gui sat up straight, smoothed out his hair, lowered his head again to focus on the floor, staring at his toes.

  Tonight's banquet is just for the two of us to welcome and entertain the King of Lanling. After Emperor Chen said a few words, dignitaries came over from time to time to offer him wine. The King of Lanling stood up, drank a few cups amidst the crowd's cheers, and was then dragged by someone to another side to continue drinking.

  The surroundings seemed a bit clearer, and Zhang Qi took out her handkerchief and quietly dabbed at the corners of her eyes.

  Just then, a voice called out: "A Qi."

  Zhang Qi raised her head and glanced at the newcomer, then lowered her eyes again. "It's Chen Ou," she said with a hint of indifference in her tone, feeling uneasy in her heart.

  Chen Ou stepped forward, gazing at her dazedly and stuttering: "Ah Kui, I...I'm very happy to see you." Suddenly, he asked again: "Is Gao Zhanggong treating you well?" He said seriously: "If he's not treating you well, Ah Kui, just tell me. I'll do whatever it takes, even if it means giving up everything, to take you away from him!"

  It sounds like there's something between them. Zhang Qi raised her eyes and said quietly: "He's very good to me."

  "But you cried just now, he made you cry, he must have been bad to you. Ah Qi, don't lie to me!" Chen Ou said this, his voice was already a bit excited. He stared at Zhang Qi eagerly, wanting to get the truth from her mouth that Lang Ling Wang was actually bad to her.

  In his eager anticipation, Zhang Qi slowly said: "He treats me like a treasure, never having a second heart." Glancing at Chen Yun, Zhang Qi suddenly asked: "Chen Lang, how many concubines have you taken in, and how many women are there in your mansion?"

  As soon as these words came out, Chen Ou was stunned on the spot. Looking at his expression, Zhang Qi didn't understand what was going on? She furrowed her brow and said faintly: "I'm tired."