Chapter 39: Toasting

Shen Yuling’s eyes suddenly lit up.

An idea struck her.

Since Liu Zhaoyi had taken the initiative to provoke her, she wouldn’t blame her for digging a pit for her.

“Your Highness, Your Majesty, though my father could not personally visit Qianjing to celebrate Your Majesty’s birthday, his heart has been filled with anticipation for this momentous occasion.”

Shen Yuling spoke calmly, her voice clear and audible throughout the hall.

“My father is a warrior, but my mother is a talented woman from the Ye family.”

“My father once recounted numerous tales of his battles alongside Your Majesty, and my mother, moved by these stories, has specially composed a poem for Your Majesty’s birthday.”

“I will present it to Your Majesty today as a birthday gift.”

“Since I am representing my father, this first cup of wine should be offered to Your Majesty on his behalf.”

Shen Yuling’s gaze was sincere as she looked at Quan Minghe.

Quan Minghe had not expected this woman, who usually only fawned over him, to be so eloquent, skillfully erasing the disrespect of Shen Yuan’s absence from the birthday celebration in just a few words.

“Your Majesty, may I personally present the wine to you, as a testament to my father’s respect for Your Majesty?”

Liu Zhaoyi’s expression tightened instantly.

She almost stood up from her seat directly, but she managed to suppress it.

Just as she was about to open her mouth and refuse Shen Yuling’s suggestion, she heard Quan Minghe turn to Shen Yuling and say in a deep voice, “Bring it over.”

With these words, Shen Yuling walked towards the Emperor step by step.

At this moment, Liu Zhaoyi’s heart had already risen to her throat.

No, the Emperor absolutely cannot drink this wine!

Liu Zhaoyi’s hand gripped the armrest of her chair tightly.

She wished with all her might that Shen Yuling would trip and spill the wine as she climbed the steps.

But Shen Yuling did not oblige.

She watched helplessly as Shen Yuling approached step by step, then extended the wine cup towards the Emperor.

At that moment, Quan Minghe spoke again.

“Since it is a toast to the Great Protector, I shall pour the wine.”

Li Ming, standing beside him, immediately poured a cup of wine and handed it to Shen Yuling.

Shen Yuling had not anticipated Quan Minghe’s willingness to participate and readily accepted.

Once she handed this cup to Quan Minghe, she wouldn’t have to worry about Liu Zhaoyi drugging her second cup.

After all, if she truly laced the wine with poison, then when both the Prince’s wife and the Emperor exhibited the same symptoms, people would immediately suspect Liu Zhaoyi’s wine.

Shen Yuling held the wine cup with both hands, her posture dignified, her expression solemn and respectful.

Her current demeanor was strikingly similar to her father’s.

Shen Yuling slightly tilted her head, looking directly at Quan Minghe.

Her voice was clear and resonant as she recited the toast.

“The Qian Dynasty begins, a great emperor, a name etched in history. Looking up, he expands the frontiers, his talent dominates the world; he pacifies the nation and quells chaos, his ambition soars to the heavens.

Emperor Yuan appears, leading brave warriors, his grand ambition begins to shine.

The heavens and earth shift, the tumultuous waves subside, and a grand vision unfolds. Admire the magnificent palace, towering and majestic; a world of embroidered mountains and rivers, a thousand delicate charms.

Who can compare, even amidst changing winds and clouds, the imperial splendor shines brightly.

He reforms and innovates, implementing policies that bring prosperity to all industries and trade. He achieves great achievements in governance, attracting capable talents; his military achievements, the fires of war are extinguished.

After a thousand years, remembering the founding emperor of the Qian Dynasty, his name will forever be etched in history.”

After reciting the toast, Shen Yuling deliberately lowered her voice.

She said loudly, “I toast to Your Majesty!”

As soon as she finished speaking, the entire banquet fell silent.

Everyone was immersed in the grand panorama depicted by the toast, unable to recover for a while.

Quan Minghe listened silently, the astonishment in his eyes clear and unmasked.

“Hahahahahaha…”

After a moment.

Quan Minghe suddenly burst into laughter, a sound filled with boldness and exhilaration.

“What a fine line, ‘The Great Emperor Yuan appears, leading brave warriors, his grand ambition begins to shine.'”

He laughed and praised, his eyes filled with admiration.

“What a fine line, ‘Who can compare, even amidst changing winds and clouds, the imperial splendor shines brightly.'”

He repeated it, his words expressing his appreciation for the toast.

After speaking, Quan Minghe stood up, his figure tall and straight like a pine tree, exuding the majestic aura of an emperor.

“But I must toast to ‘After a thousand years, remembering the founding emperor of the Qian Dynasty, his name will forever be etched in history.'”

Quan Minghe’s voice carried an irrepressible ambition.

He had not expected to hear such a toast today, not only encapsulating all his accomplishments from the past half of his life but also the praise and commentary, every phrase resonating with him, stirring his blood and heart.

Which emperor did not desire eternal renown?

With that, Quan Minghe raised his head and drank the wine in one gulp.

Seeing Quan Minghe’s action, Shen Yuling did not hesitate to finish her own wine as well, her movements swift and decisive.

Fortunately, she had touched Quan Minghe’s heart with her praise.

At the banquet, any official who could understand the deep meaning of this toast was stunned.

The Great Protector truly had married a wonderful wife!

As expected of a woman from the Lingxi Ye family, she was indeed exceptionally talented.

Not just anyone could compose such a toast.

Since Quan Minghe had risen, everyone else hurriedly did the same, raising their cups in unison and toasting Quan Minghe.

They simultaneously exclaimed, “After a thousand years, remembering the founding emperor of the Qian Dynasty, his name will forever be etched in history!”

Liu Zhaoyi could only rise with the rest.

But her face was now pale, and her body trembled slightly.

She silently regretted her actions.

She had not expected Shen Yuling to so easily deflect her schemes and even win the Emperor’s favor.

What a blunder!

Everyone returned to their seats.

Shen Yuling leisurely raised her cup towards Liu Zhaoyi, toasting her.

She noticed the unconcealed displeasure on Liu Zhaoyi’s face.

Her guess was right; the wine that Liu Zhaoyi had offered was indeed laced with something.

In the original host’s life, when Liu Zhaoyi had acted so despicably, she had been more cautious, not pushing the original host to her death.

Now, Liu Zhaoyi was trying to humiliate her in public like this.

It must have been because Liu Jingyi was enraged by her.

Unfortunately, Shen Yuling never fought an unprepared battle!

That toast had been written on the spur of the moment.

Before coming to Qianjing, Shen Yuling had used the remnants of the original host’s memories to study the important figures in the capital.

Only Feng Moheng was significantly different from her expectations.

He had gone from being a scumbag to a possessive, deranged person.

As for Liu Zhaoyi.

She would deal with her properly once she officially entered the palace, settling this score.

Consider today’s encounter as a “welcome gift” for her.

Let her face the great god, Quan Minghe.

While Quan Minghe didn’t concern himself with harem matters, his attitude would be completely different if he were the one being targeted or implicated.