"Xiao Nuo, you must not be rude to Lord Sha."

Zhou Chuan stopped Zhou Nuo and continued, "I praised the young prime minister as a 'Southern Spy Killer,' capable of destroying the Southern Zhou spy network; he's a truly capable person. The young prime minister also praised my brother and me as chivalrous heroes, thwarting Yang Qingzhi's conspiracy; we are great benefactors of the thirteen cities of Jingdong."

"That's it?"

"Then the young prime minister invited me to a brothel after the banquet. I told him I was not available. He asked me when would be a convenient time. I said I was never available to go to a brothel. And then... that was it."

Wen Hu smiled slightly, nodded, and said, "You are very good."

With that, Wen Hu turned and left, waving his hand behind Zhou Chuan's back.

Seeing Wen Hu return to the capital's official area, Zhou Nuo looked at Zhou Chuan in surprise and said, "Brother, when did you become so good at lying?"

Zhou Chuan sighed and said, "Who told me to have a brother-in-law who lies all the time? I don't know what's wrong with me, I just start lying and it comes out so naturally."

...

The next day.

In front of Yongshou Palace, nearly five thousand chairs were fully occupied, and the morning air was no longer fresh and pure, but filled with a strong smell of alcohol.

The emperor had a strict order: during the state banquet, anyone with a seat could leave if they couldn't finish their drinks in the evening, but no one could be absent during the day. After all, the program changed every day, and the people qualified to attend also changed daily; officials of the Great Jing Dynasty had to have a spirit of 'loyalty and dedication'!

This resulted in some people who drank very late last night still being drunk, and some who slept in Yongshou Palace didn't need to wash or bathe. They came out and continued drinking, and the smell of their bodies mixed with the smell of alcohol, making this state banquet particularly flavorful.

The state banquet began with singing, dancing, and lavish eating and drinking. After the first round of warm-up drinks, Emperor Yuan Xiu finally appeared.

Zhou Jinghuan, as if waiting for a rabbit to run into a tree stump, ran over as soon as he saw Yuan Xiu and shouted, "Emperor Jing! On behalf of Southern Zhou, I request that the Princess of Jing be married to the Second Prince of Southern Zhou!"

Yuan Xiu came out with a bright smile, but before he even sat down on the dragon throne, his face immediately darkened.

The officials were also confused, wondering what Zhou Jinghuan was trying to do.

After yesterday's uproar, couldn't this matter be discussed after the state banquet?

Why make everyone unhappy at a state banquet?

Just as the hardline officials were organizing a war of words against Zhou Jinghuan, a voice suddenly came over.

"Your Majesty, this is a joyous occasion! The Princess must marry, she must marry!!"

Everyone turned to look at the speaker, wondering who was being so ungrateful and spouting nonsense. But when they saw who it was, they were all stunned, their jaws dropping to the floor!

The speaker was none other than Zhao Cheng!