The Green Team was unexpectedly the first to cross the finish line, which shocked everyone!
The previously most favored White Team and Red Team both fell, while the inconspicuous Green Team caught the chance and succeeded.
Lady Chu was so angry that her teeth itched, and she immediately pointed down and shouted loudly.
"Restart the race, restart! The White Team’s dragon boat must have been tampered with; otherwise, how could it capsize? A team capsized yet continues the race, the Green Team’s victory is unjust!"
She had behaved aggressively in the Northwest for a long time, and since coming to Shengjing City, she hadn’t learned her lesson.
Speaking in such an commanding manner to others.
It’s surprising that someone of such a small status would behave so recklessly; it’s like courting death!
Sure enough, Lin Guifei shouted angrily.
"Presumptuous, before Your Majesty and the Fourth Prince, do you dare to speak so arrogantly? Don’t forget your status!"
As soon as the word "arrogant" was spoken, Lady Chu was burning with anger.
Completely forgetting the occasion and her status.
Immediately retorted.
"Imperial Concubine, what a big display! Isn’t fairness allowed to be spoken? Over the past few years, it was always the Northwest’s dragon boat team that won the championship, and this year coincidentally, the boats capsized? There’s something suspicious and jealous behind this! I request Your Majesty to conduct a thorough investigation into this matter and give justice to our Northwest lads!"
She was indeed skilled at finding an excuse for herself to escape.
Lin Guifei pressed her lips and stared viciously at the kneeling Lady Chu; if they were in her Linzi Palace, she would definitely teach her a lesson.
But all the royal family members were present today, and her reputation for virtue needed to be maintained.
Therefore, she suppressed her temper and said.
"All the dragon boats were crafted by the Inner Court Department. Lady Chu’s slander suggests there are spies in the Inner Court Department? And don’t keep using ’your Northwest lads’, as if they’re not from Da Wei. Under heaven, it’s all imperial land, yet you speak of them as the Northwest’s. Perhaps you need to be thoroughly investigated to ensure you’re not the one with ulterior motives, raising such brazen-speaking individuals."
Lin Guifei didn’t intend to simply deal with Lady Chu.
Since she came from the Northwest, and her family was closely related to the Marquis of Northwest, there was naturally a need to implicate thoroughly.
After finishing her words, she looked at the composed Princess Consort Yi to see her reaction!
Princess Consort Yi glanced at Lin Guifei with a faint smile, then spoke toward the Emperor’s direction.
"Imperial Concubine speaks wisely, under heaven, is all imperial land. My Liu family has guarded the Northwest for Da Wei since the era of the founder. There have been one hundred and eighty-nine clan members who bled and wrapped their corpses in horse hide. If such a cost only brings suspicion and discontent from others, it might chill the hearts of the battlefield soldiers."
Seeing the Emperor silent, Princess Consort Yi walked up to Lady Chu and slapped her hard.
"Grandfather educated us at home, even if General Chu devotes himself solely to Your Majesty, you should seek someone to teach you proper conduct. Daring to retort against the Imperial Consort at such an occasion, are you seeking death? Hurry and apologize to the Imperial Consort!"
She knew how to defuse major issues into minor ones and minor ones into none.
Clearly, Lady Chu was provoked by Lin Guifei into behaving improperly, and was about to be punished, but was awakened by Princess Consort Yi’s slap.
Her right cheek swollen high, she had long feared Princess Consort Yi’s power and techniques, so she only dared to endure and not voice any more.
Facing Princess Consort Yi’s warning gaze, even unwillingly, she bowed to Lin Guifei.
"Please forgive me, it was the realgar wine I had that made me drunk and unclear, causing me to speak out against you."
Seeing this, Lin Guifei also breathed a sigh of relief, since she couldn’t press her further, she chose to forgive.
With a gracious smile, she said to the kneeling Lady Chu.
"Since Lady Chu drank too much, you’d better go back and rest early. Last time, I asked you to copy the Buddhist Scripture for me, which has not been delivered yet. Once you sober up, continue copying it; it will calm your mind."
Lady Chu never received an order to copy Buddhist Scriptures for Lin Guifei, wasn’t this just another form of house arrest?
Indignantly but helplessly.
Thankfully, the champion Green Team was waiting outside, requesting an audience with the Emperor, relieving her embarrassment.
Rising quietly and moving to the back, she dared not to speak recklessly again.
Compared to her defeat, Lin Wanyi was excited beyond words.
Elder brother, that was her elder brother!
The Green Team had her elder brother!
Earlier, she was just focused on making eye contact with him, not paying attention to which team he was in.
Now, seeing clearly, her eyes brimmed with tears, mouth pressed tightly, preventing herself from crying out in excitement.
The reason the Emperor invited the Fourth Prince today, everyone knew somewhat.
With the Green Team waiting outside, they naturally needed to be summoned.
"Summon the Green Team!"
Dong Yuzhong shouted, and the Green Team’s members entered respectfully from outside.
Over twenty people stood neatly in two rows, facing the Emperor, knelt, and offered their greetings!
"We see Your Majesty, may Your Majesty live for ten thousand years."
The voice was majestic, the atmosphere grand.
The Emperor glanced, and with rare amusement, said to the crowd below.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"Not bad, not bad. The Emperor has governed the state for years, and the nation is prosperous and peaceful. Even our family members and noble relatives have not been spoiled, each is steadfast, truly remarkable!"
The Fourth Prince praised precisely, making the Emperor laugh heartily.
Lin Guifei looked sideways, her expression filled with complexity.
"Today’s dragon boat race really opened my eyes, as well as those of my Fourth Imperial Uncle and everyone here. Calm and cooperative, the Green Team really did well. Who is the leader?"
A square-faced, stern man immediately stepped out.
Then knelt again before the Emperor and said.
"My father is the Vice Commander of the Imperial City Department, Feng Jichun. I currently serve as a Colonel in the Imperial Armor Army."
"Ah, a man under the Fourth Imperial Uncle’s command, no wonder you are so brave and resourceful!"
The Emperor’s praise made the Fourth Prince smile broadly, but the nearby Prince Zhan expressed discontent.
Glaring at the smug Fourth Prince, his heart was full of dissatisfaction.
It’s infuriating that when the late Emperor was on his deathbed, he didn’t designate the Fourth Prince as an Assistant Minister, even though the imperial family members always followed Prince Zhan Mansion’s lead.
Yet after the Emperor married, he gradually distanced himself from these Assistant Ministers and gravitated towards the Fourth Prince, who had been in the military camp for years.
If not for the Fourth Prince holding command of the Imperial Armor Army, he would have taken action against him long ago, how dare he stand here with pride!