Emperor Zhu Zhengxi of Great Yan saw nothing wrong with Chen Lie's reaction.
"Good. Take a seat!"
Zhu Zhengxi said to Zhu Jingxi, "Jing Xi, you and our young friend Chen Lie both attend Starry Sky University, and you'll be going to Blue Star together. Share a table with him."
After answering "Yes," Zhu Jingxi invited Chen Lie to sit down, then took the seat beside him.
Just then, another voice rang out.
"Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!"
A regal woman who appeared to be in her thirties entered the Hall of Preserving Harmony, attended by palace maids. Wearing a phoenix crown and embroidered robes, she was the empress of the Great Yan Dynasty.
"Your Majesty!"
The empress approached the emperor's seat and bowed slightly.
"You're here, Empress? Take your seat," Emperor Zhu Zhengxi said.
The empress sat in the seat beside his.
Once everyone was seated, Zhu Luoying, her hair styled in two buns, suddenly stepped before Emperor Zhu Zhengxi's seat and pointed at Chen Lie to complain.
"Imperial Uncle, Imperial Aunt, that man in strange clothes started eating before the banquet even began! He took the dragon's head from the 'Jade Dragon Crossing the River.' That's blatant disrespect! When I did the same thing at a palace banquet last year, Father and Mother confined me for five days!
"I told Imperial Sister Jing Xi about it, but she defended him and even scolded me!"
"Luoying, you've gone too far!"
Zhu Jingxi slapped the table, anger showing on her face.
"Imperial Uncle, Imperial Aunt, see? Imperial Sister's doing it again!"
At Zhu Luoying's accusation, the emperor's expression turned grave. He glanced at the empress.
The empress immediately looked toward Chen Lie. "Jing Xi, is this our young friend Chen Lie, the candidate for Blue Star Administrator said to