Chapter 62: Yet It Seemed He Had Been Waiting for This Moment Since Birth

The guests at the banquet watched with mixed emotions, but from this night onward, none of them would dare look down on Gan Qiongying again.

The Regent’s gaze toward Gan Qiongying turned scrutinizing, even tinged with confusion, as if he wished to see through her face and uncover what scheme she was plotting.

Wen Xueling also watched Gan Qiongying, her eyes barely concealing the flames of jealousy and hatred.

She, the Regent, and even Zhongli Zhengzhen—who had been trying to get a response from Lihua—all wondered the same thing: why had Princess Duanrong, who had once recklessly caused trouble without a second thought, suddenly grown a brain.

Her composed handling of Wen Xueling tonight, coupled with the two birthday gifts that had touched Princess Hui’an’s heart, ensured that from now on, Princess Hui’an—a pivotal figure among the imperial clan—would never stand by and watch Princess Duanrong fall into distress.

Gan Qiongying was seated close to Princess Hui’an. Seeing the Princess in tears, she knelt and moved closer, smiling as she said, “Aunt, don’t get too emotional yet. Tonight, I’m merely borrowing flowers to offer to Buddha…”

“I’m truly ashamed for troubling your ‘golden tears,’” Gan Qiongying playfully reached out as if to catch the tears beneath Princess Hui’an’s face, only to have her hand slapped away with a sharp “smack.”

Princess Hui’an laughed through her tears, and Wumei immediately handed her a silk handkerchief.

Princess Hui’an’s voice was incredibly gentle, carrying a hint of a senior’s affectionate reproach toward a favored junior, but mostly warmth and closeness. She asked, “Then tell me, whose flowers are you borrowing?”

“To be honest, although I had the ideas for today’s birthday gifts, I lacked the means to realize them. It was all my Consort who found them for you, Aunt.”

Princess Hui’an was taken aback.

So were the other guests at the banquet. Such a perfect opportunity to secure a powerful patron, and she had to mention her lowly Consort?

Lihua nearly jumped to his feet in shock upon hearing this.

But Gan Qiongying continued with a smile, “Aunt, my husband is a man of unparalleled talent, unmatched in the world of business.”

“His merchant guild spans all of Nánzhào, and it took him only three days to locate Liaochen Jushi’s residence.”

“As for the Haidingqing… hehehe… it was originally discovered by a hunter, but money can make the devil turn the millstone, hahaha…”

She spoke so boldly and naturally that everyone followed her gaze toward Lihua’s seat.

His seat was far back—so far that, despite being a Consort, he was seated in the same row as the son of the Minister of Revenue, who held no official position.

It was clear that Princess Hui’an had little regard for this Consort.

Indeed, no one at the banquet thought highly of him. Since he had entered and taken his seat, aside from Zhongli Zhengzhen glancing his way, no one had spoken a word to him.

“Aunt, you haven’t met my Consort yet, have you? He is exceptionally handsome, refined and scholarly, gentle as water… and because he traveled extensively in his youth, he is incredibly knowledgeable. After the banquet, when there’s nothing else to do, I’ll have him tell you all about Liaochen Jushi’s current life in detail!”

Gan Qiongying praised Lihua as if it cost her nothing, genuinely believing that every other man present was trash, while Lihua alone was a celestial treasure.

After all, not a single one of them dared to step forward and claim they gave their wives two hundred thousand in pocket money every month.

It was truly pocket money. Gan Qiongying had once glanced at the monthly account books of Lihua’s operations, and the figures had nearly made her faint.

Even the national treasury couldn’t withstand such expenditures, but the God of Wealth could!

In youth, one should recognize the merits of a wealthy merchant, hugging a gold ingot with a gleeful laugh!

“Aunt, I should have brought my Consort to visit your residence when we married, but I fell ill at the time… Why not take advantage of today’s birthday celebration for me and my Consort to offer you a grand bow, making up for our earlier discourtesy!”

Princess Hui’an naturally had no objections, and even Wumei beside her revealed a faint smile.

Today’s birthday banquet had been turned by Gan Qiongying into a lively family feast, but the guests below could only watch, relegated to the background.

“Husband, come quickly!” Gan Qiongying stood up and walked straight toward Lihua.

Lihua’s ears were thoroughly red. At that moment, he was even grateful for his mask, which concealed the rush of blood to his head.

He was excited, nervous, and… afraid.

Leaning on the table, he rose stiffly. His numb legs caused him to stumble imperceptibly, but fortunately, San Jiu swiftly caught him.

Lihua’s heart raced wildly, his palms damp with sweat.

He wanted to blame Gan Qiongying for making him stand out in such a setting. He… couldn’t even walk steadily like a normal person to stand before Princess Hui’an.

Yet it felt as if he had been waiting for this moment since birth.

To be firmly chosen, proudly mentioned, extravagantly praised—as if he were some dusty pearl or treasure.

His eyes reddened slightly, but he didn’t want to cry; he only wanted to smile.

He straightened his back as Gan Qiongying reached him and took his arm.

“Come, let’s make up for our wedding ceremony with Aunt.”

She led him past the seats of the noble sons and grandsons, both of them looking straight ahead, their eyes only on each other.

Gan Qiongying supported Lihua’s arm, now so practiced that she could match his pace and stride more attentively than even Tianjiao.

They walked neither too fast nor too slowly until they reached the center of the banquet. There, like a couple bowing to heaven and earth, they knelt before Princess Hui’an and performed a grand bow. No one in the crowd could detect that the Consort had a lame foot, as rumored.

Because Lihua’s affected foot barely touched the ground, with all the weight on his left side supported by Gan Qiongying.

“Greetings, Grand Princess. May your years be as prosperous as this day, and your longevity everlasting.”

Lihua’s voice was somewhat tense, yet gentle and pleasant to the ear.

Gan Qiongying chimed in beside him, adding auspicious words: “I say the same!”

Princess Hui’an couldn’t help but laugh heartily. It had been a long time since she had been so delighted. In her joy, she ordered Wumei to reward Gan Qiongying and Lihua with many gifts on the spot, treating them as wedding presents.

Gan Qiongying grinned from ear to ear, eyeing the collected gifts. Anything bestowed by Princess Hui’an was sure to be among the finest of the finest.

She and Lihua kowtowed in gratitude. Having finally finished their spectacle and reaped a bountiful harvest, they withdrew together.

Gan Qiongying led the sweat-soaked Lihua back to their seats. At the fork between the men’s and women’s seating areas, she didn’t let go, only smiling at Lihua.

Lihua was frantic, signaling with his eyes for her to let go. To outsiders, it looked like a newlywed couple so eager to exchange flirtatious glances even in the middle of a banquet.

Princess Hui’an laughed and said, “Alright, let the Consort sit by your side. Hurry down now, don’t stand out here!”

Only then did Gan Qiongying give Princess Hui’an a playful smile and say, “Thank you, Aunt. The Consort is in poor health and has a delicate appetite. If I don’t keep an eye on him, he never eats properly. I’ll watch over him!”

Then she pulled Lihua along and sat back down at her table.

As soon as she sat down, she said to Wen Xueling, “Princess Xue’e, please move aside a bit. You’re too close to my table. It doesn’t bother me, but my husband can’t stand strong perfume.”

Wen Xueling, who was about to perform a dance, had indeed applied plenty of powder, making the scent overwhelming.

Wen Xueling felt like she could strangle Gan Qiongying on the spot.