Ten days later, the Yanwang Palace contains the Yuan Palace. The new king's birthday banquet is about to begin.

lived to be twenty-five years old, and this was the first time Nie Xingyi had a birthday in Hanyuan Palace. Hanyuan Palace, the first main hall of Yanwang Palace, is a place to hold important pilgrimages or receive foreign envoys, and it is never easy to use on weekdays.

The main hall is eleven rooms wide and four rooms deep, and is located on a three-story white jade inlaid gold platform. In front of the hall, it is divided into Xiangluan, Qifeng two pavilions, the two sides are the two floors of Qilin and Hongning, and between the hall, the pavilion and the floor are connected by the Lantai high corridor, supplemented by the dragon tail road and spirals upward, forming a grand "concave" character shape. The silhouette is undulating and magnificent, and it is a well-known palace in Kyushu. When the prince of Ningguo sent an envoy to Yan State, he once praised his courage as "born like the sun, like in Xiaohan".

It wasn't until he set foot in the Hanyuan Hall that Nie Xingyi really felt that he was the king of a country. The sense of openness that overlooks everything is unfallible, which makes him feel that people are small and everything is under control.

The envoys of Ningguo had arrived in Jingzhou City three days ago, and today it was called the New King's Birthday Banquet, but it was also the first time that Nie Xingyi received foreign envoys after he ascended the throne. Such occasions should be attended in public and private, otherwise, it will hurt the national body.

Therefore, when Wei Nong appeared in Hanyuan Palace, Nie Xingyi was really relieved.

"I'm still worried that you won't be here tonight." When the two of them sat down in the Danqi of Hanyuan Hall, Nie Xingyi said in a low voice.

Wei Nong smiled coldly: "The queen mother drugged the concubine, and the concubine didn't want to come." ”

"Drugged?" Nie Xingyi looked at her in surprise: "What medicine?" ”

Wei Nong seemed to have heard a joke, and was slightly mocking: "The concubine accidentally 'got into the Gu', and the queen mother gave her the 'antidote to the Gu miracle', can the concubine not eat it?" ”

The sentence "concubine" alone made Nie Xingyi feel harsh, and he couldn't help frowning: "Whether you believe it or not, this medicine is not what I meant." After a pause, he said, "It's good if it can make you stop for a few days." ”

He smiled slightly, as if he didn't care.

Nie Xingyi's anger immediately jumped up, and he was about to speak again, when he saw the voice of the eunuch outside the Hanyuan Palace. Immediately, Jinghou Nie Xingji led a group of Ningguo envoys into the hall.

On this trip to Yan Kingdom, Ning Guo did not send royal relatives, the reason was that the prince of Ning Guo was seriously ill, and the people in the court were panicked, and the two brothers of the prince were staring at the position of the prince, and no one wanted to leave at this juncture.

Because of this, the current situation in Ningguo is very critical, but due to the etiquette of diplomatic relations, the new king of Yan State must succeed to the throne, and he must also take the opportunity to explore the future relationship between the two countries. So, King Ning sent Shen Jue, a doctor of Zijin Guanglu, as a congratulatory envoy to Yan Kingdom.

Ten days ago, Nie Xingyi was slightly scratched on his left cheek and broke his face, so he has not privately summoned courtiers these days, and only sits on the Danqi far away in the early court every day to cover the scars on his face.

This time, he saw that Ning Guo was not a member of the royal family, and it happened that Nie Xingji's position as a "Tiance General" was vacated, so he handed over this errand that was not salty or light. Even the dust washing banquet the night before yesterday was entertained by Nie Xingji.

He thought to himself that it was a brilliant decision. It is important to know that there has always been an unwritten agreement on diplomatic relations between the two countries, which can be summed up in four words - "mutual equal status". When the prince of Ningguo visited Yan more than 20 years ago, his father Nie Yang was also the prince of Yan, and the prince came forward to receive the prince, and his status was equal.

And this time, Ning Guolai's envoys did not have relatives, they were all courtiers, and it stands to reason that Yan Guo should send important ministers to entertain them. But he just wanted Nie Xingji, the marquis, to come forward, and the meaning of disparagement was self-evident. But who would dare to say that it is inappropriate? On the contrary, they will feel that he is the new monarch who ascends the throne and attaches more importance to the diplomatic relations between the two countries. Even if there is any speculation, no one dares to say it easily.

This vague humiliation, Nie Xingji had to suffer, which made him feel very happy.

Thinking of this, Nie Xingyi couldn't help but snicker. Seeing that Ning Guo and his party of more than a dozen people had entered the Hanyuan Palace, he subconsciously raised his hand and stroked the left side of his face, once again confirming that the scar had scabbed, and then put on a somewhat decent smile and looked at the envoys of Ning Guo who were gradually approaching.

"The courtiers have seen the king and the queen." Nie Xingji took the lead in saluting, pointed to the envoy of the Ning Kingdom next to him, and introduced: "Master Shen Jue Shen, the doctor of the purple gold Guanglu of the Ning Kingdom, came with the delegation to congratulate the king on his birthday. ”

"Shen Jue has seen the king, and he has seen the queen." Among the envoys, a man who was not confused stood in a green shirt, and he opened his mouth to greet him without humility or arrogance.

Nie Xingyi also smiled politely: "Lord Shen and all the envoys have worked hard all the way, and they are really tired, so I can't help but go!" ”

Shen Jue returned the salute and held a gilded red gift list: "This is a little care, may the king be blessed with heaven and longevity." ”

As soon as these words were spoken, a eunuch in the palace had already quickly accepted the gift list and respectfully presented it to Nie Xingyi.

Nie Xingyi glanced at it quickly, very satisfied with Ning Guo's congratulatory gift, and said with a smile: "Your country is too polite!" Adults, please take a seat! ”

Nie Xingji also stretched out his hand to invite, and the envoys took their seats and sat down in turn. Nie Xingyi said a few toasts, which was nothing more than a friendship with Ning Guoxiu, and a few polite words to Shen Jue, and everyone took the opportunity to raise their glasses and drink them all.

This side of the box has just finished drinking a cup, and the singers and dancers in the other side have already entered, dancing with the sound of Lang Lang Ying. Rouge incense powder, beads dazzling, in an instant, the hall is full of red sleeves and hands, Cui Tian neon clothes, Yingying around.

It was Nie Xingyi's twenty-fifth birthday banquet, and in addition to the people of the Ning Kingdom, the royal family of the Yan Kingdom and the important ministers of the Ministry were all present. Of course, these "important ministers" are all Nie Xingyi's people.

And on the throne of the clan, it is headed by the eldest princess Nie Zhiying and Hou Duhao; Nie Xingcai, the princess of Jincheng, was absent because she was pregnant, and lied to the outside that she was sick; In addition, only Nie Xingji, the marquis and general of Tiance, was left. Since the first king disposed of several siblings during his lifetime, the Yan clan has become more and more sparse.

Nie Xingyi looked at the few members of the clan, and suddenly remembered the king of Chu, and the slightly angry assassination. He suddenly felt a little empathetic, thinking that the flourishing Chu royal family died overnight, and it was unbearable for anyone!

Thinking of this, Nie Xingyi couldn't help but look at Wei Nong on the right, but found that she was staring at someone in the banquet. That gaze ...... Written full of doubts and feelings?

Nie Xingyi followed her gaze, his gaze fell on the banquet of the envoys of Ning State, observed for a moment, and found that she was looking at Shen Jue in the first seat. And Shen Jue seemed to be smiling and Yan Yan pushed the cup to change the lamp, but in fact, he also glanced at the Danqi from time to time.

Nie Xingyi felt a little puzzled, so he took advantage of the singing and dancing to ask Wei Nong in a low voice: "Do you know Shen Jue?" ”

Wei Nong was stunned when he heard this, and denied it without looking back: "I don't know." As she spoke, she withdrew her gaze from Shen Jue, but unconsciously glanced at Nie Xingji.

Coincidentally, Nie Xingji was also looking at her, his eyes were blank, but he seemed to have some kind of emotion hidden in his eyes. And this emotion has no scruples and is not hidden.

The eyes of the two were glued together, and naturally fell into Nie Xingyi's eyes. He couldn't help but be very annoyed, and he couldn't say much about the scene of the birthday banquet, so he had to warn Wei Nong in a low voice: "Then what are you looking at?" ”

Wei Nong finally turned his head to look at him, and then looked at the hall singing and dancing, and did not speak again.

Nie Xingyi felt that she was a little absent-minded, as if she had lost her soul, and even Fang Cai's cynicism was gone. To say that she was poisoned? It's not quite like that. Why, exactly?

As he was thinking about it, he remembered a faint voice in his ears again: "Please let Concubine Rong go outside the hall to breathe." ”

Hearing this, Nie Xingyi's first reaction was to go to see Nie Xingji, and saw that he was drinking warmly with the envoys of Ningguo, without the slightest intention of getting up and leaving the table, so he replied to Wei Nong: "You go, don't delay too long." ”

Wei Nong didn't say anything more, got up and saluted and walked down the Danqi, leaving through the back door of Hanyuan Palace.

In the hall, singing and dancing are flourishing, the wine is strong, Shen Jue, as the head of the envoys of Ningguo, has to be poured a few glasses, and he can't even say that he can't drink alcohol, and he only got out of the banquet for a while. The night breeze in the small garden behind Hanyuan Hall carried the slightest coolness in the winter moon, which made him sober up and dispersed the smell of wine.

The woman in the gorgeous dress in front of her stood with her back to him, as if she was deliberately waiting for him, and as if she was reminiscing about the past. Shen Jue was silent for a moment before he stepped forward and saluted Wei Nong, "Princess, I haven't seen you for a long time." ”

Wei Nong slowly turned around and looked at Shen Jue who was Luotuo, his eyes full of sadness: "After the state of Chu was broken, I always thought that you were killed by mistake by the Yan army. Unexpectedly, you changed your identity and switched to Ningguo. ”

"It's Shen who is ashamed of the king and His Royal Highness the Prince." Shen Jue sighed and didn't explain his situation more.

Wei Nong didn't ask much, and reminisced: "It's been five and a half years in a blink of an eye, and even Nie Xingyi hasn't recognized you." ”

Five and a half years ago, Shen Jue, the golden purple Guanglu doctor of Ningguo, was still another identity - the prince of Chu State, the prince of Chu State, and also the courtship envoy of Chu State, who once came to Yan State to marry the crown prince Chu Li.

For a moment, both of them seemed to be immersed in memories. Five and a half years ago, Shen Jue's past of coming to ask for marriage is vivid, but the person who really married her is no longer there.

Whenever I think of Chu Li, I have to think of Nie Xingji. He sighed slightly and asked, "Did Nie Xingji recognize you?" ”

"Recognized." Shen Jue replied very bluntly: "But it's just a recognition, and Jinghou didn't mention it much." ”

"Of course he won't mention it more." Wei Yin smiled faintly: "If it arouses your feelings for your homeland, how can you spare him?" ”

Shen Jue's eyebrows frowned, but he said frankly: "Shen is now an envoy of Ningguo, so he naturally puts the interests of Ningguo first. In his position, he is in power, and he is loyal to the king, and anything that provokes disputes in Ning Yan, Shen will not do it. ”