【The Divine Eagle Empire】(Unabridged Volume 2, Chapter 97)

Chapter 97 Birthday Banquet

"Oh, it's nothing, nothing, nothing."

Wu Tianjiao replied casually, absentmindedly. After a long pause, he wondered, "Is it really my cousin? Or am I seeing

things ?"

He remembered that he hadn't seen his aunt, Wu Saiying, and her daughter for four years. Had they gone to Qiankun Palace and

returned to the capital? If they had returned, why weren't they at the Jinyang Prince's Mansion? Wu Tianjiao trusted his eyes and

his senses. The familiar woman's figure should undoubtedly be his cousin, Ling Xiaofeng. His cousin's

image was deeply imprinted in his mind, unforgettable, haunting his dreams. He could recognize her at a glance and would never

mistake her. But... if that woman really was his cousin, Ling Xiaofeng, then where was his aunt, Wu Saiying?

When the group finally arrived at the East and West Imperial Rivers outside the Imperial City, it had become the center of celebration. The scene was magnificent, with endless

curtains and a grand display of women. Noble ladies and officials vied for attention.

Tonight's Empress Dowager's birthday celebration was being held at the Golden Eagle Tower on the opposite bank of the Imperial River.

Under the , the emerald-green Imperial River shimmered like countless scattered pearls, reflecting a golden glow.

The Golden Eagle Tower was exquisitely decorated, with nearly a hundred tables set up on its top floor for members of the Divine Eagle Empire's

royal family and high-ranking officials. The tower was already teeming with people, all dressed in their finest attire.

Since tonight was a time for the emperor to celebrate with his people, ordinary citizens could also watch the performances from across the Imperial

River . The banks of the river were packed with people, likely numbering in the tens of thousands.

The Golden Eagle Tower garden was already filled with civil and military officials, nobles, gentlemen, and

envoys from various countries, forming a continuous, bustling scene. The lush garden was illuminated by countless lights,

making it shine like a jewel. The open spaces within the garden were set up with banquet tables, and palace maids busily prepared

various fine wines and dishes.

The moment Princess Jingguo, Madam Fan, and Wu Tianjiao appeared, they immediately attracted the attention of most people.

Of course, most eyes were on Princess Jingguo and Madam Fan. Princess Jingguo was

a prominent figure in the empire; some even

compared , calling them the "Three Great Female Generals of the Continent," with Princess Jingguo ranked first. Even now, her unparalleled

beauty and charm continue to captivate. Wherever her gaze falls, everyone

is mesmerized .

As for Madam Fan, in her youth, she was breathtakingly beautiful, the most beautiful woman in the entire country. Now, decades after her marriage,

her beauty has not faded; instead, her captivating charm has gained a mature woman's allure, making her even more stunning.

Especially after her marriage, Madam Fan has maintained a low profile, staying at home most of the time, and it is rare for ordinary people to see her.

Although rumors circulated among the people that Lady Fan had an affair with Emperor Xuanhe, and many negative stories circulated, it did not diminish her reputation

for beauty; on the contrary, it added to her allure. Moreover, many of the imperial nobles present were her former suitors.

Now, seeing this peerless beauty again, how could they not be captivated and unable to control themselves?

For a time, men were mesmerized, women were envious, and their expressions varied.

People came forward to pay their respects, including some foreign envoys, and many others greeted Wu Tianjiao.

"Yuen Slave Jiao" was a rising star in the capital recently. Her defeat of the Grand Uncle Cao Wenrong was already widely

known, and she was hailed as a heroine. Coupled with her beautiful appearance and unparalleled charm, she naturally had many

reasons to befriend her.

In the group, Lady Fan walked at the front, Princess Jingguo followed behind her mother, and Wu Tianjiao and Yu Yilong,

as their important attendants, walked at the rear.

The other attendants, guards, and the thirty-six Heavenly Guards remained in the garden below the Golden Eagle Tower. Because

the Golden Eagle Tower was

off-limits . Of course, they were always greeted by special attendants.

Upon the arrival of Madam Fan and Princess Jingguo, close officials immediately came to pay their respects, and greetings

filled the air. Madam Fan, highly respected among the noble ladies, was surrounded by a lively

and bustling atmosphere.

The diverse array of women broadened Wu Tianjiao's horizons; many were aristocratic

women , but his old acquaintances and lovers marveled at the abundance of beauties in the capital. This was his first time attending such

a high-profile and luxurious event, and he was incredibly excited.

Suddenly, a hearty laugh rang out from ahead, followed by an elderly man in a blue brocade robe approaching

Princess and her entourage, accompanied by several attendants and a young couple. The man appeared to be about fifty years old

, tall and imposing, with a wide, hearty laugh that revealed his generous and forthright character. Behind him stood a

handsome young couple, the man and woman strikingly beautiful—a perfect pair.

The old man strode up to Princess Jingguo and her entourage, chuckling softly, "Your Highness is late, Third Princess. The First Prince

, the Prime Minister, and I have been waiting for quite some time."

He then bowed to Madam Fan.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Wu Tianjiao realized that this man was none other than

Lu Yan, the Grand Tutor and head of the Lu family, one of the four great families of the capital. The young couple behind him were his children, Lu Chong and Lu Qing.

It was Wu Tianjiao's first time meeting someone from the Lu family, and she couldn't help but glance at them several times. Grand Tutor Lu seemed to be an

impatient man; after only a few words, he led Princess Jingguo and her entourage to a group of royal nobles.

Wu Tianjiao looked up and saw that the leader was a middle-aged man in a brocade robe—the First Prince, Prince Fu.

After several days apart, Prince Fu's face was pale and haggard, appearing listless and weak.

Several warriors surrounded him, including Tang Aoran, the "Peerless Blade Master" whom Wu Tianjiao had met before, as

well as Wu Tianhu. A strikingly beautiful woman also accompanied Prince Fu. Wu Tianjiao thought,

"This is likely Prince Fu's consort."

Several ministers also surrounded Prince Fu. Wu Tianjiao recognized one: the Imperial Chancellor, Xiao Hongyuan.

Another was a man in his fifties, dressed in a blue python robe, with a solemn expression. Wu Tianjiao guessed this

was Liu Wensi, the Minister of Personnel. This man, in charge of the Ministry of Personnel, held great power and influence; indeed, he appeared to be a composed and shrewd

individual.

Princess Jingguo stepped forward and bowed to Prince Fu, saying, "Suhua greets the Eldest Brother!"

Madam Fan, Yu Yilong, and others also followed Princess Jingguo in bowing.

A smile appeared on Prince Fu's pale face as he said softly, "Third Princess and everyone else, no need for formalities! No need for formalities!"

After a few pleasantries, a commotion suddenly arose at the entrance. Prince Fu and the others looked over.

A handsome, spirited middle-aged man, surrounded by a group of ministers, strode into the building

. Prince Fu's expression darkened upon seeing him, and the smile that had appeared on his face when he saw Princess Jing and the others

stiffened.

It was none other than the Second Prince, Prince Jing. Wu Tianjiao looked up and saw that the Second Prince, Prince Jing,

walked with a powerful and imposing gait, exuding confidence and high spirits.

He was surrounded by a large group of people. To his left was an elderly man with white hair and a youthful face, around seventy years old,

wearing a tall hat, whose small eyes occasionally narrowed, making them appear even smaller.

Wu Tianjiao pondered for a while before realizing that this man was likely Grand Tutor Cao Zhihui,

the father of Empress Cao Tian'e and Eastern Palace Consort Cao Jin'e, and the elder brother of the Empress Dowager.

With two of the three palaces occupied by Cao family women, plus the Empress Dowager, they held absolute power in the harem. One could imagine the unimaginable extent of the Cao family's influence.

Thanks to their two favored daughters and the Empress Dowager's support, Grand Tutor Cao and his four sons were currently

extremely powerful in the empire.

Beside Grand Tutor Cao were his two sons, Cao Wenrong and Cao Wenfu. Cao Wenrong appeared composed,

his internal injuries seemingly healed. To his right was an elderly man around sixty years old, with a sharply defined face, but

his eyes were deeply sunken, giving him an odd appearance. Wu Tianjiao thought to himself,

"This must be Yao Bosheng, the Censor of the Military Police and Censorate!"

Next to him was a man with piercing eyes, about twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old, calmly surveying

everyone . He was none other than Bei Yunfei, Prince Jing's personal bodyguard. Also present was the old general Wang Bin, whom he had seen

before, but Lu Tong, the Commander of the Nine Gates, was nowhere to be seen. Presumably, it was the Empress Dowager's fortieth birthday, and on such a day, the capital could not afford any mishaps, hence

his absence.

Prince Jing, surrounded by ministers and his entourage, strode in, his face beaming with pride.

As soon as he entered the building, officials swarmed around him, vying to flatter and fawn upon him

, while noble sons flocked to fawn over him. Judging by the sheer scale of the spectacle, the First Prince was far inferior to him.

Prince Jing's eyes flickered, his gaze falling on Prince Fu's group. He paused for a moment, then led his entourage toward them

. Seeing this,

Princess Jingguo had no choice but to step forward and bow, saying, "Suhua greets Second Imperial Brother!"

Prince Jing nodded slightly and chuckled, saying, "No need for such formalities, Imperial Sister."

Then, he turned his gaze to Prince Fu and said kindly, "Your Majesty's complexion has been quite poor lately. Is

something wrong with your health?" Prince Fu hummed in agreement and said, "Your Majesty is too kind, I'm fine."

Prince Jing's face was full of concern as he said gently, "I see that Your Majesty's complexion is indeed not good. I hope you haven't fallen

ill. I have several very good imperial physicians in my residence. Should I have them come and examine Your Majesty?"

Prince Fu shook his head and said, "I... am truly fine. Thank you for your concern, Second Brother."

"That's good, that's good,"

Prince Jing nodded, his concern and worry evident in his words.

Wu Tianjiao already knew about Prince Jing and had a preconceived notion. Seeing his actions just now,

she couldn't help but admire him, thinking to herself, "Impressive, impressive, such a good actor. But on this continent,

only people like him can get by."

Meanwhile, the officials around Prince Jing were already praising the Second Prince's benevolence and filial piety, their praises ringing out endlessly. The

Second Prince, however, wore a humble expression, repeatedly saying he dared not accept such praise, and then warmly invited everyone to take their seats.

His every move showed he had complete control of the situation; he was truly remarkable. This left Prince Fu's side

feeling quite neglected.

The officials took their seats.

At the top of the building was the Empress Dowager's seat, which was then arranged on both sides.

Prince Fu, Prime Minister Xiao Hongyuan, Grand Tutor Lu Yan, Princess Jingguo, Lady Fan, and others sat on the left, while

Prince Jing, Grand Tutor Cao, Yao Sheng, Wang Bin, and others sat on the right. Other officials sat on the left and right

according .

It appears that the empire is divided into two factions: Prince Fu and Prince Jing. Judging from their momentum, Prince Fu's faction is far

inferior to Prince Jing's. However, Prince Fu's side has Wu Tianhu, whose influence is

undeniable. Even with Prince Jinyang, Wu Wudi, yet to declare his support for any particular prince, no

amount of support for Prince Jing can overcome Wu Wudi's single word. Everyone knows that the decision to inherit the throne rests not with Emperor Xuanhe,

nor with the Empress Dowager, nor with Grand Tutor Cao, Prime Minister Xiao, or Grand Preceptor Lu, but with

the Grand General who holds the empire's military power—Prince Jinyang, Wu Wudi. Only he can decide the future emperor.

However, Prince Fu's faction also includes Princess Jingguo, Fan Suhua, the continent's foremost female general, commander of the Imperial Eagle Legion, and a figure of

immense prestige. Prime Minister Xiao Hongyuan, Grand Preceptor Lu Yan, and Minister of Personnel Liu Wensi are also all highly influential figures.

Therefore, the strength of Prince Fu's faction should not be underestimated. Of course, this is only on the surface. As for who supports whom, the situation

is complex and probably no one really knows.

After the commotion subsided, everyone settled down and began whispering amongst themselves. Many people glanced

at "Yuen Slave Girl" standing behind Princess Jingguo, and the most discussed topic was

the battle between "Yuen Slave Girl" and the Grand Uncle Cao Wenrong that had taken place in the Imperial Square. Cao Wenrong and Cao Wenfu, on the other hand, stared fiercely at

"Yuen Slave Girl" as if they wanted to spit fire, gritting their teeth.

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【The Divine Eagle Empire】(Unabridged Volume 2, Chapter 97)

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