Prince Rui, don't spoil your adopted daughter too much: she will eventually get married

Chapter 268 Celebrating Birthday at Yaochi

Zhai Yun was stunned to see the jade pendant, a symbol of Prince Rui's status, hanging from her waist, and dared not say a word.

Many civil and military officials brought their families to the banquet. As soon as Zhai Yun entered, she felt a venomous gaze. After helping the Empress Dowager to sit down, Zhai Yun followed the direction of the gaze and saw Consort Tian.

Sitting next to her was Marquis Lu. Ever since Consort Tian's divorce, the relationship between the Lu family and the Prince Rui's family had not been good. Marquis Lu had already gone so far as to beg Feng Chenyi, but Feng Chenyi remained unmoved, which made Marquis Lu very angry.

The people looking at Zhai Yun with eyes that seemed to want to tear her to pieces were not only Lu Tian'er, but also the Empress.

It wasn't a good idea for Zhai Yun to just stand behind the Empress Dowager, so she asked for permission to leave and, after receiving permission, walked towards Feng Chenyi's position.

To avoid attracting attention, Zhai Yun deliberately went around from the back to a place where only guards were on duty. Suddenly, someone grabbed Zhai Yun and slapped her across the face.

Lu Tian'er's slap was intercepted by Zhai Yun. Looking at the jade pendant at Zhai Yun's waist with resentment, she cursed, "You scoundrel, you dare to wear the prince's jade pendant? Take it off for me!"

Seeing how much she cared about the jade pendant, Zhai Yun forcefully shook off her hand and reminded her, "Miss Lu is meddling too much. You have no relation to the Prince anymore, so you should change how you address him."

When Consort Tian was in the Prince's residence, Zhai Yun used honorifics to coax her. Now that they are divorced, Zhai Yun no longer cares about such things.

Lu Tian'er was furious. "Xia Lanyan reminded me before that the person I should be wary of was not her but you, but I didn't understand then. Zhai Yun, don't be too smug!"

After speaking, the Sweet Consort's eyes gained confidence. She slowly stroked her belly and boasted, "I am pregnant with the Prince's child. Soon you will be kneeling at my feet again."

Zhai Yun looked at her smug expression with surprise, then her eyes moved to her lower abdomen. A sense of sorrow rose in her heart. Feng Chenyi had never touched her. Her fake pregnancy would only damage her reputation.

If she doesn't pursue the matter now, the rumors will eventually pass. But if she uses this method to return to Prince Rui's mansion, and her fake pregnancy is exposed, she will lose even more face.

Consort Tian had no idea of ​​the seriousness of the matter and only thought that Zhai Yun was scared. "If you kneel down now and obediently hand over the jade pendant with both hands, I will consider sparing your dog's life after I return to the manor."

“It’s not too late for you to turn back now,” Zhai Yun advised.

Sweet Consort laughed even more arrogantly. "Haha," she said, her eyes flashing with resentment. She slapped Zhai Yun again, but this time it wasn't Zhai Yun who caught the slap; it was Feng Chenyi who rushed over.

Consort Tian stared wide-eyed at Feng Chenyi, who had suddenly appeared. "Your Highness, how is this possible...?" She wanted to ask the prince how he had arrived, as she hadn't even seen how Prince Rui had suddenly appeared.

Feng Chenyi coldly released Lu Tian'er's hand, his eyes devoid of any emotion as he looked at her. This gaze stung Lu Tian'er, causing her to take two steps back in fright, her words filled with disbelief: "Your Highness?"

It is said that even a day as husband and wife brings a hundred days of kindness. Before, Prince Rui did not look at her like this. He was so indifferent that it was as if the person he was with was not the one in front of him.

At this moment, Lu Tian'er was unaware that the passionate Prince Rui, with whom she had shared intimate moments, was merely a figment of her imagination.

Feng Chenyi didn't say a word, and pulled Zhai Yun away. Tianfei stood there, stunned, recalling incredulously the sweet and loving Prince Rui with whom she had shared a deep affection. She couldn't understand how someone could suddenly be so heartless.

Back at the banquet, Zhai Yun sat down next to Feng Chenyi. Many people came forward to present gifts, and on the stage was a dance carefully choreographed by the music troupe.

The Crown Prince and Crown Princess presented a jade Buddha statue made of the finest Hetian jade. Zhai Yun heard the Crown Prince offer his blessing: "Wishing the Empress Dowager boundless happiness and longevity."

Most of the gifts given by the ministers were jade ruyi, jadeite, pearls and the like. Zhai Yun was not interested in the gifts given by others. She was just curious about what gift her brother Yi had prepared. When it was her brother Yi's turn, he took out a painting box from beside him.

He glanced at Zhai Yun and walked out. Zhai Yun followed him out and reached out to help him when he opened the painting.

The moment the painting was unfurled, everyone was stunned. It was a painting of fairies from the Jade Pool celebrating a birthday. The colors of the painting were distinct, and the fairies were holding fresh, tender peaches, all of them lifelike.

"Who...who created this masterpiece?" a minister exclaimed.

The Empress Dowager's gaze fell upon the painting, as if she were there herself, enjoying the birthday celebrations of the immortals. No Empress Dowager could be more blessed than this.

Feng Chenyi bowed and said slowly, "I wish the Empress Dowager a long and healthy life."

The Empress Dowager smiled with delight, and like everyone else, she asked with curiosity, "Who painted this incredibly lifelike picture?"

"Your Majesty, this was painted by your grandson himself. The style is clumsy, but it is a token of my affection. I hope Your Majesty will accept it with a smile."

Feng Chenyi's voice wasn't loud, but everyone who heard it was shocked. Some ministers who appreciated his talent couldn't sit still and went to the painting to examine it closely. The fairies in the painting were all beautiful and graceful, and the Jade Pool was filled with ethereal beauty, making for an extraordinary scene.

They asked again, uncertainly, "Prince Rui, did you really paint this?"

Such a vivid and lifelike painting could not have been created without considerable skill, and the scenery depicted in it could not have been painted without firsthand observation.

The Crown Prince was astonished the moment he saw the painting. He stood up and exclaimed, "I never imagined that my brother's painting skills had reached such a level. My brother is truly a hidden talent!"

The phrase "deeply hidden and unassuming" seems to have another meaning.

Feng Chenyi put the painting away, placed it in the painting box, and handed it to Su Jin, who had come to receive the birthday gift. Zhai Yun only knew that Feng Chenyi painted and that he painted quite well, but she never expected that Feng Chenyi's paintings could shock everyone in the court!

On the stage, a cloud of white smoke billowed out. The crowd, who had just finished viewing the painting of the Jade Pool celebrating birthdays, superimposed the fairyland in the painting with what was before their eyes, and eagerly awaited the appearance of the fairy.

A woman dressed in a five-colored dress emerged gracefully. The five colors of her dress resembled auspicious clouds, and with a light veil covering her face, she looked like a fairy celebrating a birthday in a painting.

Her figure was as supple as water, and every movement was exceptionally graceful. A wide belt cinched her waist in her colorful dress, revealing a slender, snake-like waist that made everyone hold their breath.

White smoke swirled around the stage, and a colorful ribbon descended from the sky. The woman grasped the ribbon, and with a gentle touch, she soared into the air. At that moment, the girl in the colorful dress truly looked like a fairy flying in the sky.

She strolled, danced, and flew freely in mid-air, her colorful dress fluttering gracefully in the wind, as vibrant as she herself.

Zhai Yun was mesmerized; she had never seen anyone dance with such grace and beauty, as if a fairy had descended to earth.