Chapter 28 : The Hongmen Banquet

Zhou’s tricks always worked. Song Jinzhuo immediately softened his expression and gently held her hand to coax her.

Zhou also knew when to stop. She smiled again and began coaxing Song Jinzhuo in return.

Seeing this, Song Ying secretly marveled at how amazing it was.

As the saying goes, the trick doesn’t need to be new, old tricks when used well, still work wonders.

Most of the seats were already filled, except for those of the general, the emperor, and the regent.

Naturally, the big shots always arrived last.

The attendant announced loudly, “The General has arrived—”

Following behind Huo Leiming were two young men not Huo Zhen, but they bore some resemblance to Huo Leiming and were likely Huo Zhen’s younger brothers.

Soon after, the young emperor and the queen mother entered the hall, and Song Ying knelt with the rest of the crowd to pay respects.

They all shouted, “Long live the Emperor!” and only rose to their feet when the emperor said, “All ministers, rise.”

Only the Regent, Yue Shaozhi, had yet to arrive.

The emperor asked, “Has Uncle not arrived yet?”

The chief eunuch beside the emperor, Jili, replied, “Your Majesty, the Regent has entered the palace and is on his way.”

Song Ying kept her head down, feeling a bit uncomfortable from the many deliberate glances directed at her.

Half a cup of tea later…

“The Prince Regent and the Princess Regent have arrived—”

Everyone stood up to greet them, except the emperor and Queen Mother.

Once the Yue Shaozhi couple had taken their seats, the others also returned to theirs.

Throughout the banquet, Song Ying focused only on eating. She didn’t care what was being said in court and silently counted the time in her head.

Usually, after three rounds of drinks, the banquet would be nearly over.

Faer, kneeling quietly beside Song Ying, tugged at her sleeve and motioned for her to look toward the front left.

Wen Jun was raising a wine cup at her, clearly wanting a drink in return.

Since Song Ying couldn’t drink alcohol, she simply finished the tea in her cup and showed him the empty bottom.

She thought that would be the end of it.

But before she could take more than a few bites, Wen Jun walked toward her with a wine jug in hand.

Fortunately, a singing and dancing performance had just started, and most people’s attention was focused on the stage.

Without hesitation, Wen Jun sat down beside Song Ying. “Song Ying, this is boring. I drink wine, and you drink tea?”

Song Ying looked at her father but saw Zhou leaning against him lazily. It looked like neither of them noticed what was happening.

Song Ying knew her father had seen it but this time, he was pretending to be blind.

There was no choice. She would have to deal with it herself.

Song Ying said to Wen Jun, “I can’t drink. I hope the young marquis will understand.”

Wen Jun didn’t care and poured wine directly into her teacup. “Fine, then I’ll drink it. Do what you want.”

When Song Ying didn’t move, Wen Jun leaned closer and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, “If you don’t drink, I’ll force you. Do you think your cold-hearted father will help you? Or that Yue Shaozhi will step in?”

Faer’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. How could this man get so close to her young lady?!

Song Ying looked over to Wen Jun’s original seat but he was nowhere to be seen.

Wen Jun knew who she was looking for. “My father left ages ago. He’s cuddling up with his lovely wife right now. Song Ying, drink.”

Song Ying could only pick up the wine-filled cup. “You said I could do whatever I want with it?”

Wen Jun: “Of course.”

Song Ying took a sip. “Is that enough?”

Wen Jun: “That’s too casual. Drink more.”

Song Ying’s expression turned serious. “Wen Jun, today is General Huo’s celebration banquet. Maybe you should know when to stop.”

Wen Jun sneered. “Oh? You still think you’re a princess? Scolding me in public?”

Song Ying: “I wouldn’t dare.”

Wen Jun still wore a smile, but it had grown cold. “Hurry up, or I’ll force you to drink it.”

Song Ying picked up the cup again and secretly glanced at the Queen Mother on the stage, who happened to be looking right at her.

Song Ying had an idea.

She placed the teacup in Wen Jun’s hand, then gently rested her hands on his shoulders and gave him the most charming smile she could muster.

“Wen Jun,” she said sweetly, “you forced me to do this.”

Wen Jun raised his eyebrows halfway and suddenly felt his shoulders tighten, he was grabbed by Song Ying and fell right toward Zhou…

“Ahhhh!!”

Song Ying stood beside Faer, shouting in disbelief, “Young Marquis Wen, how could you do this to my mother!”

Her voice echoed through the hall. The music abruptly stopped, and everyone stared at the scene: Wen Jun, Zhou soaked with wine, and Song Jinzhuo, who looked furious.

“What’s going on?”

“Looks like the young marquis is flirting with the marquis’s wife?”

Song Ying quickly helped Zhou up and moved away from the still-dazed Wen Jun.

“Mother, are you alright?” She looked at Wen Jun indignantly. “Young Marquis, I know you lost your mother at a young age and have a longing in your heart to make up for that, but you can’t covet someone else’s mother this is truly immoral!”

Zhou was terrified by Song Ying’s accusation. She shrank into Song Jinzhuo’s arms and said tearfully, “My lord, I’m frightened…”

Song Ying wiped the wine off Zhou’s body. “Don’t be scared, mother. It was the young marquis who insisted on toasting you. I tried to stop him. In the midst of our argument, he spilled the wine on you. He said… he just wanted to get your attention.”

Her words grew increasingly outrageous, and Song Jinzhuo shouted, “Enough!”

Song Ying replied, “Alright.”

Wen Jun slowly stood up, tossed the wine aside, looked at Song Ying with a smile laced with fury, and gritted out “Good, good, very good.”

Faer was trembling, she could sense Wen Jun’s growing rage.

‘Wuwuwu’, Miss, even though I said I’d protect you… I really don’t dare anymore when it’s like this… what should we do?

Just then, the Queen Mother’s voice rang out. “What’s going on down there?”

Song Ying’s loud voice had practically reached every corner of the hall. Now that the Queen Mother had spoken, accountability was unavoidable.

Yue Shaozhi initially didn’t want to get involved, but Song Ruoer, sitting beside him, was already responding.

“Replying to the Queen Mother, it was the young marquis who spilled wine on my mother.”

The Queen Mother glanced first at Yue Shaozhi, then at Song Ying and the others nearby.

“Someone, escort Madam Marquis to change her clothes. As for Wen Jun—”

Wen Jun, knowing when to yield, immediately bowed. “It was my fault. I apologize to the madam and the marquis.”

The Queen Mother said coldly, “Today is a celebration for the general. It’s inappropriate for you to cause such a scene, Wen Jun. Guards, take him out and give him—”

“Wait.” Huo Leiming raised his hand to stop her. “Queen Mother, it’s fine. Young people drink too much sometimes. I understand. But the young marquis should not remain in the palace any longer.”

Just like that, Wen Jun was escorted out of the hall.

Zhou, accompanied by Song Jinzhuo, went to change clothes.

Song Ying finally let out a sigh of relief, that was dangerously close.

The Queen Mother spoke again, this time to Yue Shaozhi: “Prince Regent, Miss Song Ying was invited by me. Since you’ve already divorced her and she no longer has anything to do with you, I trust you won’t mind?”

Yue Shaozhi replied flatly, “It is as the Queen Mother wishes. I have no objections.”

The Queen Mother nodded in satisfaction. “Song Ying, come here quickly and let me take a good look at you. I haven’t seen you in so long, I’ve missed you.”

When the Queen Mother had first sent the invitation, Song Ying already had a sense that this would be the true focal point of the banquet.

With everyone watching, Song Ying could only step forward and say, “Greetings, Queen Mother.”

“No need to be so formal. Come, sit here.”

The seat was arranged directly opposite Yue Shaozhi. Song Ying felt very uncomfortable not because of Yue Shaozhi, but because she had suddenly become the center of attention.

This was most likely… a Hongmen Banquet (a trap disguised as a banquet).