Clouds think of clothes, flowers think of appearance, spring breeze blows the threshold, dew is thick.
If not for the group of jade mountains to see, will meet under the moon to Yaotai.
When he saw Empress Zhangsun, this famous poem automatically popped up in Kong Yan's mind, followed by some words: Her skin was smooth, her eyes were like autumn waters, her red lips were like pearly whites, and her makeup was light and heavy…
Her appearance was just like her name, flawless!
Zhangsun Wugou could be called the descendant of a thousand years!
When he looked at Li Shimin again, Kong Sheng felt a sense of regret.
To be fair, Li Shimin was indeed a heroic and extraordinary man. He had the aura of an emperor. No one dared to say that he was not worthy of Empress Zhangsun.
But now that Li Shiming had a beer belly, Kong Yan despised him.
"This commoner Kong Yan greets Your Majesty and the Empress.”Kong Yan cupped his hands and bowed. He added,"I had a fight with someone a few hours ago and injured my legs. I'm unable to perform a grand ceremony. I hope Your Majesty can forgive me."”
Li Shi Min's face darkened.
"It's fine. Come forward a little.”Empress Zhangsun spoke in a clear and pleasant voice, which made Kong Yan feel good about her.
All the ministers in the hall watched quietly. Kong Yingda wiped his cold sweat silently. Kong Yan's words had given him a fright.
As an official, it was natural for him to kneel when he saw the Emperor and Empress, especially in such a formal occasion.
He didn't expect his nephew to not kneel!
Crown Prince Li Chengqian's face grew darker and darker, and his gaze as he stared at Kong Yan was as dark as water.
Because of Kong Yan, the prince's attendant, Zhangsun Jiaqing, was dismissed.
Although this did not have any substantial impact on Li Chengqian, he did not protect Zhangsun Jiaqing, which still made many people in the Zhangsun Clan unhappy.
The Yue King Li Tai's small eyes narrowed into a line, and he couldn't help but think of the scene at the capital governor's residence the day before.
He remembered that Kong Yan did not bow to the Crown Prince at that time.
The King of Shu, Li Tai, sighed secretly. Although he was very close to Li Shiming, he had no right to speak in front of Empress Zhangsun.
After all, he was fundamentally different from Li Chengqian and Li Tai!
Princess Changle Le didn't think there was anything wrong with Kong Yan not kneeling down. Instead, she was curious who Kong Yan had fought with and what the result was.
Inevitably, she recalled the time when her arms were grabbed by Kong Yan. Her pretty face turned red and she spat softly, making Princess Gao Yang, who was beside her, feel baffled.
Kong Yan stepped forward, his eyes sweeping across the crowd, paying attention to the expressions of the eunuchs on both sides to determine where he should go before stopping.
After stepping up two steps, he came before Li Shiming and Empress Zhangsun. He could only see the two of them.
"Why are you walking up here?"”
Li Shi Min said sinisterly,"You're not being polite."”
Cold sweat dripped down from Kong Yan's forehead. He wondered if Li Shiming would charge him with the crime of assassination.
"Hehe ~" Empress Zhangsun covered her mouth and chuckled. Her eyes were curved as she sized up Kong Yan, who was just inches away from her.
"Not bad, you are a handsome young man.”Empress Zhangsun nodded and smiled.
Kong Yan took a step back and rubbed his nose awkwardly. Looking at Empress Zhangsun's smile, he said modestly,"The goddess is more beautiful.
"Hiss…"
All the officials in the hall gasped. Kong Yingda knelt down and almost fainted from anger.
Was the empress someone who could be teased?
"Impudent!" Li Chengqian stood up and glared at Kong Yan."You…you dare?”
Li Tai's expression was also quite dark.
Kong Yan frowned, he was a little surprised when he saw Li Shiming's dark face.
Did I say something wrong?
Kong Yan looked at Empress Zhangsun and said hesitantly,""Did I say something wrong?"
Empress Zhangsun coughed lightly. Her cheeks were pale red, but her eyes were full of smiles."You can leave first."
Kong Yan was a little confused. He nodded and turned to look at the hall, frowning again.
The entire hall was filled with people, so how could there be any empty seats?
"Why are you still standing here?" Li Shi Min said with a dark face.
Kong Yan turned around and asked,""May I know your location?"
Li Shi Min paused for a moment, his face twitching as he looked around the hall.
There were really no empty seats.
Three days before the birthday banquet, everyone's position had been confirmed. The internal affairs eunuch in charge of this matter did not know what Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun thought of Kong Yan.
"Don't you like to stand?”Li Shimin snorted,"Just stand there."”
"Where?" Kong Yan sighed.
"Puchi…" Princess Changle couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Empress Zhangsun also covered her face and chuckled. She ordered,""Hurry up and grant me the throne."
"Yes."
Soon, two eunuchs moved a short table and a velvet cushion into the hall.
"Where…where should I put it?"
The two eunuchs glanced at the main hall, then turned to Li Shiming and Empress Zhangsun.
"Let's go there." Li Shiming pointed at an empty space on the left side of the stairs.
After Kong Yan sat down, a few palace maids brought him wine cups, a wine flask, and a small tea table. There were some sweets and melon seeds on the table, which was no different from the other people's low tables.
This was a snack before the banquet began.
At this moment, Kong Yan was the closest to Empress Zhangsun. Below him were the princesses.
After glancing at the princesses, Kong Yan's gaze shifted to Empress Zhangsun.
Next was the stage of sending the congratulatory gifts.
The first to stand up was naturally the crown prince of the Great Tang, Li Chengqian.
"Your son wishes mother a long life.”Li Chengqian stood in front of the steps and knelt down to bow. He smiled and said,"Your son's congratulatory gift for Mother is a golden phoenix made by a skilled craftsman in the palace. It is inlaid with thirty-two luminous pearls of the North Sea. It symbolizes the auspicious golden phoenix. Mother will always be as dazzling as this pearl.”
As he spoke, two eunuchs carried out his congratulatory gift from the side door.
A golden phoenix that was half the height of a man spread its wings and flew high into the sky. Thirty-two fist-sized luminous pearls were embedded on its crown, shining extremely brightly.
Kong Yan's expression turned strange.
"Isn't this too much of a coincidence?" Kong Yan complained in his heart.
"Could it be that Li Erlang, that silly fellow, deliberately did this after he found out about the gift the Crown Prince prepared…" Kong Yan shook his head after some thought. He felt that it was unlikely.
"It should be a coincidence." Kong Yan sighed.
Li Shi Min looked at it and nodded,"The golden material is dense and shiny, the knife technique is exquisite and delicate, and the carvings are lifelike. These thirty-two Night-Luminescent Pearls are completely transparent without any impurities. They can be said to be one in a thousand.”
Hearing Li Shiming's praise, Li Chengqian's face lit up. He looked at Empress Zhangsun, seemingly hoping to receive his praise as well.
Empress Zhangsun frowned and asked,""It must have cost a lot, right?"
Li Chengqian's expression stiffened slightly as he whispered,""Not much."
"This is your birthday banquet, and Chengqian did it to make you happy."”
"Yes." Empress Zhangsun grunted and looked at Li Chengqian with a gentle expression. She said,"All the congratulatory gifts this Queen received will be used in the disaster area. This is not only your filial piety to this Queen, but also your kindness to the disaster victims."”
Li Chengqian nodded and walked back to his seat in disappointment.
Li Shiming noticed Kong Yan was sizing up the Golden Phoenix and asked curiously,""Brat, what do you think of this gift from the Crown Prince?”
The others were all attracted by Li Shiming's words. They all looked at Kong Yan, wanting to hear his opinion.
"I dare not say." Kong Yan hesitated.”
Li Chengqian's face revealed a hint of disdain. If it wasn't for his Imperial Father and Imperial Mother being in front of him, he would have long mocked them.
"Is there anything you don't dare to say?" Li Shi Min laughed.
"Don't be afraid, just say it." Empress Zhangsun encouraged.
"Sigh." Kong Yan sighed and said,"Then I'll just say it."”
"This golden phoenix is too small and doesn't match the Empress 'temperament!”
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。