Returning to the capital only at the end of the year, it wasn’t long before the New Year’s Eve palace banquet arrived.
This was Xie Wanqing’s first New Year after returning to the capital, and also her first appearance as the Empress at a palace banquet.
The grand occasion was foreseeable.
Officials of the fourth rank and above with their families, members of the imperial clan, and those with hereditary noble titles, almost all attended.
Even the closely watched Duke Pei Mansion sent representatives.
As everyone knows, Duke Pei Mansion was the Empress’s previous family, and Heir Pei was the Empress’s former husband.
In the capital, countless secret bets had been placed.
Bets on whether the Emperor would find a pretext to make Duke Pei Mansion disappear.
In fact, with their Majesty’s penchant for killing, a pretext might not even be needed.
What if it’s a blood relative?
Killed then.
However, unexpectedly, their Majesty did make a move, but only against the first branch of the Pei family, charging them with colluding with foreign enemies, eradicating all the bloodline left by Lord’s direct brother.
The Empress’s true former family remained untouched.
Even at such a grand occasion today, Duke Pei Mansion attended.
Does this mean, Your Majesty... bears no grudges?
That doesn’t quite fit his usual demeanor.
Below, thoughts varied, as Xie Wanqing sat shoulder to shoulder with Lu Ziyuan at the top.
She also saw the people from Duke Pei Mansion.
Princess Duan Yang, Duke Pei, and Pei Yuqing... all came.
After four years, seeing Pei Yuqing again, Xie Wanqing’s gaze subtly calmed, trying her best to appear indifferent.
Yet, her wrist was gently held.
The man beside her, clad in a dark dragon robe, turned his head and gave her a chilling smile, "Don’t look around, Wanwan, I’m not very broad-minded."
Xie Wanqing: "..."
She lifted the hand not held, poured him a cup of wine, and said irritably, "The belly of a chancellor can accommodate a ship, you are the king, don’t be so petty."
Lu Ziyuan smiled without speaking, took the cup, and drank it all.
Xie Wanqing poured again, "Alright, stop being jealous."
"Don’t you know by now, I like you, like you the most, like only you."
She smoothly flattered him, finally easing the emperor’s chilling aura.
The palace maids and eunuchs stood behind them with lowered heads, hearing this often, they had long switched from shock to numbness.
Throughout the palace banquet, Xie Wanqing acted very naturally, neither intentionally avoiding Duke Pei Mansion, nor showing excessive friendliness.
As if, she had never been Mrs. Pei, nor shared a past with the heir of Pei Family.
Pei Yuqing also maintained his composure, not glancing up once.
In the eyes of the crowd, these two had moved on from each other.
After several rounds of wine, Lu Ziyuan seemed slightly inebriated, resting his chin on his hand, he turned to the girl beside him and suddenly said, "How about arranging a marriage for him?"
Both understood who this "him" referred to.
Xie Wanqing’s hand, pouring wine, paused slightly, looking up at him.
Lu Ziyuan did not evade.
Their gazes met, perhaps just for a moment, or a few breaths later.
Xie Wanqing first looked away, put down the wine pot, and said lightly, "If you want to do it, do it, no need to ask me."
The slightly cold tone made Lu Ziyuan feel a sudden, dull ache in his chest.
In his mind, suddenly echoed those cold words she said when Pei Yuqing first intervened between them.
She said that the old man was cleaner than him, more handsome than him.
That was exactly her preference.
So, even the old man being eleven years older, she gladly agreed to marry him.
Lu Ziyuan took a deep breath, lifted the wine cup, drank heavily, and put it down with force.