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Chapter 215: Chapter 215: If you want to drink, you can find the Seal Keeper!
General Zhan Lan knew clearly that Emperor Xuanwu’s banquet was merely a pretext, designed to gather all the unmarried nobles in the palace, seeking a Prince Consort for his daughter.
Furthermore, there would certainly be daughters of noble families present too, merely to conceal his true intention of choosing a son-in-law.
"Miss, today you should drink more medicine to get better quicker. In such a palace banquet, drinking alcohol is inevitable," a servant advised.
In the palace, consuming alcohol was essential during a banquet.
Zhan Lan nodded, "Hmm, rest assured."
As the lanterns began to light up, the palace dazzled, its halls layered upon each other in splendor.
The high ceilings of the halls were intricately carved with lifelike birds and beasts.
When Zhan Lan arrived at Xihua Palace, most guests were already seated.
She was dressed in a red brocade gown, draped in a white fur cloak, with slight makeup on her face and her hair simply tied up, adorned with a tassel gold hairpin that shimmered with each step she took.
As she entered the main hall, almost everyone’s gaze turned towards her.
After all, today was officially a farewell for Zhan Lan, Xiao Chen, and Huang Gun.
The noble sons had long heard of Zhan Lan’s renown, and now, in Ding’an City, she became a highly sought-after unmarried woman.
Because marrying her would mean marrying a future female Great General, significantly bolstering their family’s strength.
"General Zhan Lan’s demeanor is truly fine. Although her hairpin is decorated with tassels, it does not sway heavily, as if she has been trained in court etiquette," someone remarked.
"Indeed, she is noble and elegant, yet reveals a semblance of martial spirit. Truly beautiful!"
Amidst the murmur of the crowd, Mu Yan entered, wearing a black and gold robe, cinched at the waist with a wide belt adorned with auspicious clouds, and a high-quality ink jade hanging from it.
His black hair was casually tied with a silver ribbon, a few strands messily blown in front of his forehead by the wind, mingling with the ribbon, giving him a breezy look.
His entrance quieted the entire hall, every gaze intently focused on him.
Mu Yan was led by the chief eunuch to sit directly opposite Zhan Lan.
Their eyes met as Zhan Lan looked towards Mu Yan, who then lowered his eyes to his wine cup.
Their seats facing each other made this exchange of glances inevitable.
Mu Yan’s outfit today was less imposing than usual, giving him a more youthful appearance.
Especially since he was not wearing a formal headpiece, adding a touch of casualness and freedom.
In that moment of eye contact, Zhan Lan’s heartbeat suddenly quickened. What was happening to her?
Bai Chen sat next to Mu Yan, leaning over to converse with him.
Soon after, the two princes arrived.
The elder princess, dressed in a dazzling golden peony dress and draped in a red fur cloak, also arrived in the hall.
She sat in the highest place, looking down at Zhan Lan, hiding her dislike.
The elder princess seemingly glanced casually at Zhan Lan. Though Zhan Lan was indeed beautiful, in her eyes, she was a scheming villainess.
Not far from the elder princess, Zhan Xuerou sat, dressed in exquisite attire.
Her health had improved a lot, finally allowing her to attend the palace banquet.
And due to her good private relationship with the elder princess, her seat was situated very prominently, right next to Bai Chen.
Emperor Xuanwu scanned the hall, delivering some grandiose remarks. Zhan Lan let these words go in one ear and out the other, essentially hearing none of it.
Emperor Xuanwu’s hypocrisy is something Si Jun mastered well. Having heard it too much in my previous life, this life finds it grating and nauseating, my body instinctively rejects it.
Emperor Xuanwu announced the start of the banquet, midway through it, Emperor Xuanwu and the Empress left in succession.
While they were present, most people remained restrained; their departure was to facilitate the environment for the princess to choose a consort.
General Zhan Lan did not touch her wine glass, yet, she soon sensed something amiss as one person after another approached her to offer toasts.
Her intuition told her there was definitely deception involved.
With peripheral vision, she swiftly scanned the hall and noticed the princess’s smile at the corner of her lips and the unmistakable pride in Zhan Xuerou’s eyes.
Their intent was to deliberately intoxicate her to cause her disgrace in front of the assembly!
Although General Zhan Lan had taken anti-intoxication medicine beforehand, she could not withstand such relentless attempts by so many.
Only when Bai Lu stood before General Zhan Lan, he smiled and said, "General Zhan Lan, a toast to you!"
General Zhan Lan lifted her eyelids to look at him; his smile was very insincere, and his wine glass only half full.
Bai Lu put down his glass and personally poured a full one for General Zhan Lan, the wine cascading down the side, filling it up.
General Zhan Lan coughed behind a hand and declined, "I am not feeling well today, I shall not drink."
Bai Lu pouted and said, "Miss Zhan, are you not giving me face?"
"I’ll drink on behalf of Miss Zhan!" Xiao Chen, seated next to General Zhan Lan, picked up his own glass and downed it in one gulp.
Bai Lu frowned at Xiao Chen, momentarily stunned; this man was incredibly handsome, too beautiful.
Huang Gun laughed and offered, "I can drink with you too, young lady!"
Bai Lu rolled her eyes at Huang Gun, clearly discerning his licentious nature.
Seeing Bai Lu foiled, Zhan Xuerou promptly walked over to General Zhan Lan with a glass, saying, "Sister Lan’er, I toast to you, wishing you a smooth journey!"
General Zhan Lan, seeing Zhan Xuerou’s even more insincere smile, felt truly disgusted.
General Zhan Lan covered her mouth and coughed softly, saying, "I cannot drink."
Zhan Xuerou persisted, "Sister Lan’er, you are heading to the border, and who knows when you’ll return. Won’t you have one drink with your sister?"
General Zhan Lan looked at her coldly and refused, "I don’t want to."
Zhan Xuerou’s expression turned foul as more and more nobles and gentlemen came to toast General Zhan Lan.
In front of so many, General Zhan Lan gave her no face at all.
Seeing Zhan Xuerou being "bullied" by General Zhan Lan, the princess stood up and approached her, commanding in a tone befitting her status, "Miss Zhan, you must not be rude at a palace banquet. If I ask you to drink, you shall drink!"
The princess’s tone was aggressively compelling.
General Zhan Lan stood up, neither servile nor overbearing, and intentionally swayed slightly, "Thank you for your kindness, Princess. I will honor everyone with this last cup, but I can drink no more after this, I... am drunk."
If it came down to it, she thought, she would feign drunkenness and collapse. If pushed further, she would lace their drinks with a sedative to last till dawn, though that was a last resort.
With a hand adorned in glittering golden armor, the princess pressed down on General Zhan Lan’s hand as she lifted her cup, "How can one cup suffice? Miss Zhan, are you denying this palace face?"
In her heart, General Zhan Lan cursed the princess’s ancestors for eighteen generations, ready to pretend to faint.
Unexpectedly, a strong, well-defined hand snatched General Zhan Lan’s wine glass and drained it in one go.
The man put down the glass, his voice oppressive, "If you desire to drink, seek none other than the Seal Keeper! I am in a good mood today, I can accompany you in drinking till dawn!"
