Dianxia Qingcheng

 “Pei-Gege…” he expended a great deal of effort to shout.

 Pei Zheng snorted coldly and let go.

 Qi Changyi lowered his head at once.
He quickly reached out and wiped away the tears that dripped on his robe. 

 The anger in Zhao Litang's eyes on the opposite side was about to explode.
Pei Zheng hooked the corner of his lips in satisfaction, and patted Qi Changyi's black and neat hair.

 “Your Royal Highness, please take your seat as soon as possible.
The Emperor will be here soon.
If he sees you sitting so close to This Minister, I'm afraid he will think too much of it.”

 Just as he was talking, the gentle voice of the eunuch supervisor Zhang Ying sounded in an accented tone, “The Emperor arrived, the Empress is here.”

 Qi Changyi was so frightened that he quickly stood up, and returned to his position.
As a Prince who was not favored and had a very weak sense of existence, he was arranged in a lonely corner far away from his heart.

 Everyone in the hall knelt orderly on the ground and bowed their heads in the most respectful courtesy.

 Qi Changyi knelt down at the moment when the Emperor stepped in.
His knee hardly hit the ground, but he could only endure the severe pain, lie down and salute.

 “All my Dear Officials (1) You may rise.” 

 The Emperor that is over fifty years old said in a warm and generous voice.

 The banquet officially started at that time.
The Emperor asked about the situation on the southwestern border.
Zhao Litang stood up and walked to the centre of the Main Hall and knelt down on one knee.

 “Reporting to the Emperor.
Not long ago the barbarian tribes from the southwest launched a large-scale attack for the third time.
Although they have been repelled by our army, this is not a long-term solution.
This Official thinks that we should take the initiative to attack and wipe them out in one fell swoop, so as to avoid future troubles.”

 As soon as the voice fell, and before the Emperor spoken, a sound of the voice from one of the seats followed.

 “General Zhao really have a big mouth, annihilate them in one fell swoop?” Pei Zheng said coldly, walked to the Main Hall, stood in front of Zhao Litang, and looked at him with arrogance.
(2)

 “General Zhao, do you know how many barbarians there are? Don't tell me you want to kill them all?” 

***

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Notes:

(1)爱卿 aiqing

'here:

– term used by the Emperor for his subjects/officials/courtiers/ministers

(2)居高临下 (idiom) 

• to live high and look down

• to overlook

• to tower above

• to occupy the high ground

• fig.
arrogance based on one's social position