172 THE EMPRESS'S BANQUE

Xiao Jun and Qianru returned to the palace when the sun had almost set with a box of jadeite Budha as the gift for the Empress.

"Are you tired?" Xiao Jun asked with concerned when Jinse was doing Qianru's hair. "We can come a little bit late if you want to take a rest first."

Qianru chuckled with Xiao Jun suggestion. Of course she wouldn't do that, it would consider as impolite act to be late on occasion like this.

"I am fine Jun." Qianru caressed Xiao Jun's upper arm reassuringly. "I had had enough sleep in our way back."

Because there was nothing she could do during their way back to the palace, so she just slept away and now she didn't feel sleepy at all.

Xiao Jun smiled at her and didn't try to persuade her again.

After Jinse had done with her hair, the young maidservant helped Qianru to wear her dress.

Qianru was wearing red dress with phoenix embroidered behind the back and its wings adorned along the dress' sleeves.

She looked so beautiful and elegant, added that to the happiness that she always felt since the moment of her pregnancy. It was simply amazing.

Even as a woman Jinse envied her mistress with the natural beauty that she has. Not many woman, even if they were from highborn family, who could pull out the aura from the dress as this kind of dress could make the one who wore it gave an exaggerated impression.

But, it wasn't the case with Qianru, she could make the dress complemented her feature perfectly as if this dress was made for her.

"You are so beautiful Princess Xiao." Jinse said mesmerizingly, circling Qianru with sparkling eyes.

"Thank you." Qianru said bashfully. She looked at herself in the mirror and felt satisfied with her appearance.

"Oh, this servant forgot something." Jinse dashed away and returned in the next second, she was holding a black belt with blue jadeite in front of it, the purpose of this belt was to accomplish the dress that Qianru was wearing. "Here is the belt, please raise your arms princess, Jinse will help you to tie it."

Seeing the belt, there was a concern in Qianru's eyes before she shook her head. "No. I will not wearing the belt, just let it be." As Qianru said this, subconsciously she caressed her stomach.

She was afraid the belt would hurt their baby. This was her first pregnancy and was away from home, moreover Xiao Jun wanted to keep her pregnancy as a secret with the reason of her safety.

He didn't want to attract unnecessary issue during his absent when he left Qianru alone to look for the Elders.

Hence there was not an elderly woman that she could ask during this period of time, all she knew was to keep her baby safe by consuming healthy food and avoided to tire herself out. Xiao Jun really helped her with this.

Jinse smiled brightly when she saw her Princess shy smile, she also felt happy for her.

"Baby…" Jinse bent down so she was in the same level with Qianru's stomach. "You will be the happiest child in the world as your mother and father really love you." She said softly.

The smile on Qianru's lips blossom, she always thought of Jinse as her own family, a sister. "Thank you Jinse." She was truly grateful for having Jinse by her side, especially right now.

It took another minute for Qianru to get ready and out of her room.

Meanwhile, Xiao Jun was dealing with the hooligan, who he had brought from this afternoon, in the other room while waiting for Qianru.

The man looked even more pitiful after someone had cleaned up his wound as almost half of his face, arms and legs were covered with white bandage that some part of it smeared with gushing blood.

The moment Xiao Jun arrived, two guards who were guarding outside opened the door for him to enter.

Liu Wei, who was in charge for the man, was approaching him hastily and paid his respect before he reported what he had got from the man.

"He described the man that he saw who said he was the Crown Prince Mo Qin Yi's trusted aide. But, this servant thinks he didn't describe the Crown Prince's right hand person correctly." Liu Wei then proceeded to give Xiao Jun every detail of information that he managed to retrieve from the man.

The way he describe the person, the more Xiao Jun was sure, someone had been playing a trick to confront him and Mo Qin Yi.

Their relationship had never been good as the promiscuous crown prince had kept hinting on Qianru since the moment they arrived at the palace.

However, to provoke both of them, hoping Xiao Jun would fight with Mo Qin Yi and satisfied whoever behind all of this was a wishful think of that person.

Xiao Jun would eventually deal with Mo Qin Yi, but not in the terms of someone else game. He would play his own scheme to beat him.

"Keep him here and don't let anyone know about his existence." Xiao Jun said, staring emotionlessly at the man who were curling his body on the floor, at the corner of the room.

"Yes, Master." Liu Wei replied solemnly.

A moment later they heard Jinse's voice, asking about Xiao Jun's whereabouts to the guards outside, apparently Qianru had done with her preparation and ready to go.

Xiao Jun walked toward the door and emerged from inside the room.

"Prince Xiao Jun." Jinse lowered her head and looked at her own shoes when she spoke. "Princess Qianru has done with her dress and ready to attend the banquet. Right now the Princess is waiting inside the room." She was still didn't dare to look at her Master straight, Xiao Jun was too scary for a young girl like her, even though he was very handsome.

"Hmm." Xiao Jun hummed and walked past Jinse and the guards toward the other room where Qianru was waiting for him.

He opened the door and found his beautiful wife was sitting on the edge of the bed, mesmerizingly.

Xiao Jun was wearing a black dress with golden dragon stitched at the back of his robe, it complimented Qianru's dress perfectly.

Both of them simply like a pair made from heaven.

"Are you ready?" Xiao Jun stretched out his hand to help Qianru stand up.

"Yes." The woman smiled dazzlingly.

*** 

The moment Qianru and Xiao Jun arrived, the dinner was about to serve. They were neither early nor late for this, as Xiao Jun had predicted the time of their arrival, he didn't want to waste his time to talk nonsense things with the other officer or princes from Rockstone Kingdom and Zodasian Kingdom.

There were many short tables, which had reserved for the significant guest with the Emperor and Empress would sit at the end of the tables in the same way. These tables would require the guest to sit on the comfortable pillow, cross leg.

It would be fine for men, but it quiet troublesome for women, especially for someone who didn't have this kind of tradition in their country, like Qianru, because in the Azura they would sit on the chair.

It would be troublesome for her because she would sit on her own legs during the event and it would last for hours. How she could endure this?

Xiao Jun's eyes darkened when he saw they used this arrangement. He had specifically said to the Emperor Mo Qian Yuan to not use this arrangement, but now this was what he got.

"Jun…" Qianru tugged Xiao Jun sleeves nervously, she wouldn't last for more than two minutes before her legs started to getting numb. "I can't sit like that." She whispered.

Their seat was at the row of the Emperor's side with red color equipment rested on their table, this color was symbolized Azura's flag.

"You can sit the way I do." Xiao Jun held Qianru's hand, which was holding his as he took off his outer robe, leaving him with his inner robe.

"But…" Qianru protested was cut with the maidservant's voice that informed that they had arrived at their designated seat.

"Prince Xiao Jun, Princess Xiao. This is your seat." She opened her hands as a gestured of invitation as she curved her body to bow politely. "We will serve you in a minute." She said before left with the other two maidservants to bring some wine.

Xiao Jun helped Qianru to sit down. "Just sit the way you feel comfortable." He said. "Cross your legs." He added.

"But, it will not be polite." Qianru looked around nervously.

Both Rockstone and Zodasian have this same tradition, but Azura has not, thus Qianru wouldn't be able to do it.

When Qianru's eyes were wandering at people around her, she caught a glimpse of Lin Yiren, who was sitting comfortably on her legs and Zhao Tianqi, as the crown princess of the Rockstone Kingdom, it was only natural if she sat beside Mo Qin Yi, who was sitting at the right side of the Emperor.

Meanwhile, Qianru and Xiao Jun was having a seat next to Prince Mo Xuan Fei, he didn't look well, actually he was a bit pale.

"Just cross your legs." Xiao Jun whispered to her ears and helped her to sit down.

Qianru didn't have another choice as she sat with cross legs, she knew her limit and didn't want to endanger the baby, thus she sat the way Xiao Jun told her.

The moment she crossed her legs Xiao Jun draped his outer robe on her lap. He was afraid that the pillow beneath her wasn't warm enough that was why he did that.

Before Xiao Jun sat beside her, he talked to Feng Jin, his guard who he brought with him, actually it supposed to be Liu Wei who came, but he was currently guarding the attacker from this afternoon.

After Feng Jin received Xiao Jun's order he walked away from the banquet swiftly.

Qianru's legs weren't visible from tables in front of her, but the table beside her could see it easily. It was Mo Xuan Fei, who was sitting beside Xiao Jun and glanced at her curiously, but then decided to not say anything and someone from Zodasian's Kingdom at her right side.

Xiao Jun took Qianru's arm in his and warmed them up.

Not long after that Xiao Jun and Qianru's drink and food come plate by plate, filled their table to the brim with delicious aroma.

Because Qianru couldn't take wine, she drank a cup of tea instead.

The banquet was going smoothly after the Empress came and greeted all the guests with the Emperor. She uttered a boring speech about how she appreciated her guests' presence tonight.

The event continued with many performances, beautiful dancing and an amazing acrobatics atop of horses. There was nothing peculiar about this party.Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click www.webnovel.com for visiting.

Afterward was the time for all the guests to offer their gifts.

According to the rule in Rockstone Kingdom, Xiao Jun needed to go up and gave his gifts in front of the Empress's table and announced the item that he was gifted.