Seeing her calm expression, without any sign of refusal, her slender fingers holding a cup, drinking tea leisurely.

Tea spilled onto the corner of her lips, and she extended her soft pink tongue to lick the droplets into her mouth.

Following her movements, the young men from noble families touring the Imperial Garden across the way stared with wide eyes, shy and timid, their gazes all full of admiration.

Pei Yuanshao slammed his palm heavily on the red lacquered purple sandalwood table in front of him.

Using all his strength, the fruits and dishes on the table shook three feet high.

The arguing officials fell silent, seeing the Diqing’s displeased expression. Only then did they realize their lack of decorum before the throne. They quietly lowered their heads, not daring to speak further.

Pei Yuanshao swept his gaze over the crowd, curling his lips in a smile that didn’t reach his eyes: “Since you all are so fond of the Golden List Top Scholar Liu Changning, fighting over her before the imperial carriage, turning the imperial banquet into a squabbling marketplace. Since this woman is so good that you argue endlessly without coming to a conclusion, why don’t I suffer a bit and take her as a matrilocal husband? What do you all think of that?”

He smiled ambiguously, his gaze sweeping across the faces of the powerful officials at the banquet. His rounded fingertips absent-mindedly caressed the ornament hanging from the red whip at his waist.

This was a chain knot woven from red string, a “marriage token” that he had shamelessly begged from that person after a night of passion yesterday.

Although she had seemed impatient, saying she didn’t have one.

Early this morning, she had woven a chain knot on the handle of his red whip. She said it was called a panchangjie, and if he obediently waited for her return, she would tell him the meaning of this knot.

Pei Yuanshao caressed the panchangjie at his waist, his anger slightly abating.

His gaze moved to Jing Huan, the corner of his lips curling up even more: “This palace will take Top Scholar Liu as a matrilocal husband, what does the Zhen Lord think?”

Jing Huan was not wearing official robes today, but a light blue long robe with a straight collar, adding a touch of scholarly elegance.

He turned the jade thumb ring in his hand, the corner of his lips without a smile: “This humble official does not know. Your Highness and the various officials all want to marry Top Scholar Liu, but you need to ask for her opinion. It’s possible that this woman already has someone in her heart and is unwilling?”

After Jing Huan finished speaking, he turned his head slightly, glancing meaningfully at the main subject sitting calmly below, the corner of his lips curving up even more as he threatened: “Top Scholar Liu, do you think this king is right?”

The group of officials at the banquet lowered their heads, not daring to make a sound.

Originally intending to recruit sons-in-law before the list was posted, they never imagined that the two masters at the head table would have inscrutable thoughts about the marriage of this Golden List Top Scholar, opposing each other…

Seeing the situation was not right, the officials who had been arguing red-faced just moments ago now unanimously played the role of turtles hiding in their shells, eyes on their noses, noses on their hearts.

No matter how outstanding the Top Scholar was, if the Diqing and the Zhennan Wang wanted to intervene in this woman’s affairs, they couldn’t manage much.

For a moment, the Qionglin Banquet fell silent.

The surrounding gazes fell subtly on her. Liu Changning put down her teacup, stood up, and walked around the low table.

After bowing to the Empress, she lowered her head and replied: “Your Majesty’s insight is clear. Your Highness and the various officials are too kind, but Cangyun already married her husband Yuan three years ago. A wife of humble origins cannot be abandoned. My husband at home has worked hard for me, raising… raising children. Although he has a fiery temper and cannot tolerate three or four concubines in the rear courtyard, he is still a good husband. This humble official absolutely cannot marry the young men from Your Highness’s family or the families of the various officials.”

She lowered her head, her tone firm, her back straight as a ramrod, unyielding.

Jing Huan turned the jade thumb ring on his thumb, just about to speak.

However, Long Diqing on the opposite side suddenly flew into a rage. He threw the teacup in front of him at Liu Changning’s feet.

With gloomy eyes, he said: “Is Top Scholar Liu publicly disrespecting this palace and the faces of the various officials?”

She raised her eyes, a flash of amusement passing through them, and respectfully knelt down, saying: “This humble official would not dare!”

“You wouldn’t dare?” Pei Yuanshao stared at the whorl of hair on her head, his fingers twisting around the panchangjie. Squinting his eyes and holding back his anger, he said hatefully: “You dog, you dare to offend this palace in front of the throne, what wouldn’t you dare?

His eyes were like torches as he glanced at the silent powerful officials, smiling without humor: “What kind of top scholar are you? Full of book knowledge, but just a sour pedant who doesn’t understand the ways of officialdom. Offending the royal family in front of the throne, unworthy of great use. This palace will today strip you of…”

His voice was extremely slow, enunciating each word. Before he could finish his outburst, Jing Huan could no longer hold back. With a cold face, he coughed lightly: “Your Highness! Know when to stop! This king observes that Top Scholar Liu has deep feelings and righteous loyalty to her husband, which is touching. Her refusal of marriage in front of the throne is indeed understandable. If you punish her like this, using public office for private gain, you will lose the moral high ground!”

“Oh?” Pei Yuanshao’s expression remained unchanged as he smiled neither warmly nor coldly: “The Zhennan Wang is quite protective of this dog. But this palace is in a bad mood today. Top Scholar Liu has lost decorum in front of the throne today, and must be punished to learn a lesson. Fine, since the Wang has pleaded for her, she may escape the death penalty but cannot avoid punishment. I sentence Liu Changning to be demoted to Jiaozhou, not to be promoted back to an official position in the capital without political achievements…”

Meeting Jing Huan’s dark and forbidding expression that seemed about to interject, he said flatly: “This palace’s order to transfer a sixth-rank official position, does the Zhennan Wang also want to interfere?”

He paused, then chuckled: “These past two years, the Zhennan Wang has been tired from managing the court, almost forgetting the royal rules. This palace’s authority to transfer a small sixth-rank official was given by the late emperor. This is not a place for an outside king like you to interject.”

Jing Huan narrowed his eyes, grinding his teeth, and crushed the jade thumb ring in his hand.

“Your Highness speaks truly. This humble official… forgot the rules!”

Liu Changning raised her eyes and glanced imperceptibly at the red-robed man standing not far away, the corner of her lips curling slightly.

The surrounding court officials all looked at the Golden List Top Scholar with eyes that saw an unfortunate person, their feelings complex. Long Diqing’s sudden outburst at today’s Qionglin Banquet was clearly not truly wanting to make the Golden List Top Scholar Liu Cangyun a matrilocal husband, but using this woman to reprimand the Zhennan Wang.

How pitiful, a good commoner’s first, a three-yuan top scholar, became this bird that sticks its head out.

Such is the time, such is fate!

While the officials here lamented Liu Changning’s bad luck, they didn’t know that Long Diqing, who had just been wanting to devour her flesh and blood, secretly extended his soft pink tongue towards the unfortunate Liu Cangyun.

The pink tongue tip traced along the rim of the cup, extremely seductively licking a full circle, then he leaned back pretending nothing had happened.

Liu Changning narrowed her eyes, staring at his perky, plump buttocks, her gaze gradually darkening.

This man was very improper!