dognovel Chapter 195 Li Youran's domineering response
Chapter 195 Li Youran's domineering response
The emperor and the empress came hand in hand, and Song Nanyao followed behind. He spotted Li Youran's family with sharp eyes and winked at Li Youran.
After the Emperor, Empress and Crown Prince took their seats, all the civil and military officials below and their families began to kowtow again.
"Stand up! Today is New Year's Eve, there's no need to be restrained!" The emperor waved his hand and said generously.
Li Youran looked at the emperor sitting on the high throne. He was wearing a dragon robe embroidered with gold thread and dragons. The robe was embroidered with nine lifelike dragon patterns. On his head he wore a crown inlaid with sparkling gems. His majestic and domineering voice reached everyone's ears.
The queen next to him was wearing beautiful clothes, a noble headdress on her head, a little makeup on her face, willow-shaped eyebrows, and a dignified and majestic queen.
Song Nanyao sat opposite Li Youran, just in time to see Li Youran's family.
Civil and military officials as well as their families all stood up to express their gratitude.
Li Youran stood up and sat back in his seat.
Following the emperor's order, a group of dancers in brightly colored clothes filed in and began to dance in the center of the hall. Their graceful movements and graceful postures were like blooming flowers, which made people intoxicated.
Then, the daughters of various official families came on stage one after another, showing their talents. Some were good at playing the piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, while others were good at dancing and singing. Everyone tried their best to show their best side.
Li Youran watched with great interest and couldn't help but sigh in his heart at how talented these women were.
Just then, a young and beautiful woman came out. She looked to be about eighteen or nineteen years old, with a delicate face and wearing a purple gauze dress, like a fairy descending to earth.
She walked to the guzheng and sat down. Her delicate hands gently plucked the strings and beautiful music began to play.
She looked up at the emperor from time to time, with a charming light in her eyes.
Li Youran was puzzled and thought to himself, "Why is this woman always staring at the emperor? Does she have any special intentions?"
The more she thought about it, the more she felt something was wrong, but she also thought that maybe she was just being too suspicious.
After all, this woman might simply have wanted to sing a song for the emperor.
When the song ended, the emperor smiled with satisfaction and praised: "You played very well, I like it very much. Come, give me a generous reward!"
Hearing this, the woman showed a look of joy, thanked him and returned to her original position.
However, just when Li Youran thought he was worrying too much, he suddenly heard someone whispering, "How come Princess Ruixiang and her family are sitting in the seats closest to the emperor and the queen? Their rank is not even as good as that of a first-rank official!"
This sentence attracted the attention of everyone present, and everyone whispered to each other.
The Emperor and Empress both frowned when they heard this. The seats closest to the Emperor and Empress were on both sides of them. One seat was where the Crown Prince sat, and the other was where the Li family sat.
"Who said that just now? Stand up!" The emperor lowered his voice with some anger.
Su Ningke wanted to stand up, but was stopped by Su Tingyao.
"Do you want to die? Talking about Princess Ruixiang in such an occasion!" Su Tingyao said angrily in a low voice.
"Sister, you are afraid, but I am not!" Su Ningke looked proud.
Pingyang Hou was about to blame his daughter, but unexpectedly Su Ningke raised his hand and said, "It's me!"
Everyone present focused their attention on the source of the sound.
Li Youran and his family all looked in the direction of the voice to see who it was.
Li Youran saw that the person who stood up was Su Tingyao's sister Su Ningke.
She is really not afraid of death! She said this in front of the emperor.
"Oh? Why do you say that Princess Ruixiang and her family cannot sit in that position? Tell me your reason!" The emperor looked at the people below with interest.
Su Ningke stepped forward, pointed at Li Youran, and said, "Your Majesty, I think this is inappropriate because their rank is not high enough to sit in this position. It should be reserved for first-rank officials!"
"Princess Ruixiang, do you have anything to say?" The emperor pushed the difficult question to Li Youran first.
Song Nanyao was getting a little anxious. Just as he was about to speak, he was frightened by Li Youran's look.
Li Youran walked to the front, saluted to the emperor, and said in a neither humble nor arrogant manner: "This princess thinks we should sit in this seat!"
Her tone was firm and confident, causing everyone present to look at her with awe.
"If nothing else, this princess saved the crown prince, the emperor and the queen, brought out high-yield rice seeds, and helped the Southern Xiang Kingdom capture three cities. This princess has contributed to all of this, so why can't I sit in this position?"
Her words were so powerful that no one could refute them.
Su Ningke widened her eyes, unable to believe that Li Youran would say such a thing.
"Then...then your family..." Su Ningke was a little at a loss when she saw Li Youran's family next to her.
"My elder brother is now a juren. Although he is not qualified yet, he is my elder brother and I believe he will become the top scholar!
Although my second brother is a businessman, he has opened shops all over Qizhou, but he hasn't been around long enough to open other places...
My third brother was the General Dingyuan. He had killed enemies together with General Yun and General Tang. It could be said that he could easily defeat ten enemies at once.
My parents, grandparents, they are the ones who gave birth to me and raised me. On the eve of the war, the villagers of Lijia Village gathered so much food, and my family got the majority...
Why can't I sit here? Who can sit here? Besides, this is arranged by the emperor! Are you questioning the emperor's decision?"
Li Youran finished speaking in an orderly manner, looking at everyone present neither humbly nor arrogantly, his eyes firm and confident.
She knew that what she said was not only an explanation to the emperor, but also an explanation to everyone.
After all, before the banquet officially started, many people were already whispering in private, expressing dissatisfaction and doubts.
Su Ning looked at Li Youran in disbelief, his heart full of confusion and surprise.
She originally thought that Li Youran was just an ordinary farm girl, but she didn't expect that her family had made so many contributions.
She had been in the mansion for a long time, and she didn't believe that Li Youran could accomplish so many great things! Because everyone was saying that she was a "little goddess", and she didn't believe it!
At this moment, she felt a little overwhelmed and didn't know how to respond.
The emperor listened quietly to Li Youran's statement, feeling an inexplicable admiration in his heart.
He realized that everything Li Youran's family did for Nanxiang Kingdom was out of loyalty and dedication to the country and the people.
They had no selfish motives and only wanted to make Nanxiang Kingdom stronger.
"Did you hear that?! The reason why I let them sit in the front row is because their family's contribution is so great. I am very grateful..." The emperor said with emotion, his eyes revealing admiration for Li Youran's family.
At this time, the entire palace fell into silence, and everyone looked at the emperor, with thoughtful gleams in their eyes.
They began to understand that Li Youran's family's status was not accidental, but was won through real efforts.
"They are all working for Nanxiang Kingdom and considering Nanxiang Kingdom." The emperor added with a hint of firmness in his tone.
These words seemed to sound a wake-up call to the people present, reminding them to follow Li Youran's family's example and contribute to the country's prosperity and development.