As the Emperor, every word and action can release various signals.
At this moment, the Empress deliberately ignored the actions of the Shen family, which appeared particularly striking in the eyes of the guests at Jing Garden.
The reasons were self-evident, and everyone was aware of them.
The recent rivalry between the Shen family and Zhao Douan had long been an unspoken "secret," and now, the Empress's presence clearly seemed to be about restoring the "Imperial Consort's" face.
Zhao Douan was well aware of this, yet he did not purposely target them but rather tried to minimize his presence at this banquet.
As a minister, one should know to restrain one's sharp edges in the presence of the monarch.
Under his gaze, after Prince Jing took his seat, he smiled and chatted with the Empress, catching up on family matters, merely asking about each other's recent situations.
