224 Banquet for Princess Yue (1)

Fortunately, the others didn't know what Nan Luo was thinking of they would have scoffed at him.

"Do you not like it, Brother Long?" Nan Hua asked softly. If he didn't like it, she would think of something else to make for him. Did he prefer if she bought something for him for his birthday?

"I like it." Long Qian Xing looked at the bottle and swayed it a little. He could sense that the content was powder and not liquid. It seemed that he had to be careful so that he would not poison himself in the future.

"Mhm."

The others were looking at them and Nan Luo pulled Nan Hua lightly. "Hua'er, it's already late. Grandfather will be worried if we didn't return."

"Oh." Nan Hua nodded. "Brother Long, we'll go back first."

"I'll take you to the front."

"Mhm."

Even though Nan Luo was itching to pull Nan Hua away from this annoying man, he didn't dare to act excessively. If his twin sister was annoyed by him instead, it would be the most tragic outcome he could imagine.

The four of them go back to Nan Family Residence.

Song Chuan was still holding the book as he watched Long Qian Xing coming back. "I thought you didn't like poison. Your room is reeks of the smell of medicine."

It was not like Song Chuan wanted to actively investigate about Long Qian Xing. However, he couldn't help but hear it from General Long's concubines who had been living in this residence for a long time. It was an open secret that the Long Family Miss, well previous miss, was addicted to learning medicine.

It was to the point that she even used her younger brother as her test subject.

If not because Old Madam Long found out in time, there was high possibility that Long Qian Xing would have died a long time ago.

It was also because of the long term exposure to poison that Long Qian Xing had extremely high immunity towards most poison. At the same time, there were some types of poison within his blood that had to be controlled with medicine for certain interval of time or it would be fatal for him.

Because of that, Song Chuan thought that Long Qian Xing didn't like poison.

Long Qian Xing played with the bottle in his hand. He smiled faintly. "Since she told me to use it to my enemies, why should I reject her?"

Besides, the effect was merely paralysis.

It was not a life threatening poison like what he used to be fed with.

Looking at the bottle in his hand, he had the feeling that Nan Hua knew his condition and thus purposely picked a rather harmless type of poisons. However, he tossed the thought to the back of his mind.

What would a little girl know?

"Go back and study. After you pass the examination, I'll arrange a different residence for you."

Song Chuan nodded. "I understand."

…

Days passed.

What Old Madam Long told them came true. The invitation from the Imperial Palace was sent to Nan Family Residence, asking them all to come for the banquet prepared for Princess Yue.

Given the current custom, it was clear that Nan Hua would be placed in separate area from them.

"Grandfather, we can't reject it?" Nan Luo asked.

"It's Imperial order from Empress Dowager Mei."

Empress Dowager Mei, whose real name was Du Qiang Mei, was Emperor Yang Zhou's birth mother. She had low status and had suffered a lot because of this status of hers. However, her beauty was known to be extremely stunning that could even overthrow a nation.

Many said that she bewitched Emperor Xuan to be able to have his child.

Some others said that she was a temptress that would make anyone who saw her unable to look away.

Ever since Emperor Yang Zhou took the throne, Empress Dowager Mei had been visiting the court a few times. Even though her status was nothing more than an Empress Dowager, the power was still in her hand.

Neither Empress Dowager Yan nor Empress Dowager Hai could contend with her.

Not to mention, Empress Dowager Hai was sick that she couldn't go out of her bed.

Due to loneliness.

Or at least, that was what many people said.

"Why did she ask us to come?" Nan Luo was stunned.

Feng Ao Kuai passed a look at Nan Hua. "Hua'er is Young Commander Long's fiancée. Wouldn't it be like her to found out just what kind of person who would get married with him will be?"

Now, Nan Luo was stunned.

Nan Hua nodded. Long Qian Xing was on Emperor Yang Zhou's side and she would naturally have to follow him in the future. Empress Dowager Mei was simply using this chance to be able to see her because there were many activities that had been restricted due to war recently.

It was only because Princess Yue was about to be married away that the ministers agreed to hold a banquet for her.

"Does she had to do this?" Nan Luo was speechless.

"His Majesty is only 17 years old." Nan Hua looked at her older brother. "If she waits until he's turned adult, it'll be too late."

At this fact, Nan Luo had to stay silent.

He knew that.

But he didn't like it.

Just because Nan Hua was the fiancée of that annoying young man, she had to be pulled into this mess.

Thwack!

"Stop worrying about her. There are a lot of other people who would want to see the three of you make fun of yourselves. You're all my grandchildren, so a lot of people will target you." Old Master Nan glared. "Make sure you learn the etiquette properly."

"Yes, Grandfather."

The four of them had no choice but to change their schedule to make sure that they had properly learnt the etiquette. On the selected day, the four of them prepared thoroughly to make sure that they would not appear too badly in front of the Imperial Family members.

"Hua'er, if there's any problem, you have to alert us immediately, understand? The ladies are usually at the backyard while the males are in the main hall. As long as you can walk close enough, we'll know," Nan Luo warned Nan Hua solemnly.

Nan Hua looked at her twin brother. "Luo, make sure you don't mess up."

Nan Luo: "…"