Chapter 455 Behind the Scenes

That evening, when Zhaohua was having dinner with the children in the palace, the Imperial Household Department hurriedly delivered the prince's court robes.

"Your Majesty, I am here to bring you the Crown Prince's court robes."

Zhao Hua nodded, "Thank you for your help."

Xiao Fuzi took the court robe and spread it out in front of Zhaohua.

It was a bright yellow robe, with a pattern of dragons soaring over the sea embroidered all over it, and a yellow belt inlaid with warm Hetian jade tied around the waist. At the hem, silver thread was embroidered with lake blue, three strands twisted into one, to create rolling waves, imitating the waves on the sea. It was also embellished with expensive flowing stones and crystals, looking extremely noble.

I heard the visitor laugh flatteringly:

"This court dress was made by 126 palace maids from the Imperial Household Department and the Embroidery Workshop over three days without sleep. Although time was tight, we dared not be careless at all."

Zhao Hua smiled faintly and said, "You are so thoughtful. Go down with Eunuch Fu to ask for a reward."

"Thank you, Queen!"

The man nodded in agreement, looking extremely happy, and followed Xiao Fuzi downstairs.

At that time, the two children at the dinner table showed completely different attitudes towards the prince's court dress.

Cheng Yu didn't even look at it the whole time, he just focused on eating his meal.

Although he said he was going to eat, the child didn't even pick up any vegetables and just ate the white rice.

As soon as Ruoxin presented the court dress, his eyes were drawn to it and he couldn't take his eyes away.

Seeing the palace maid leave, she put down her chopsticks, wiped her hands, trotted to Zhaohua's side, stroked her court dress, and said:

"It's so beautiful~ It looks just like my father's dragon robe~"

Zhaohua smiled and said, "Mother has also made you a new set of clothes. I'll ask Aunt Yunshan to take you downstairs to try them on later."

"Great!" Ruo Xintian nodded with a smile, "Mother has made so many new clothes for me that I can't wear them all. Even Sister Jinyue often says she envies me!"

When she heard that she had new clothes to wear, Ruoxin lost interest in eating and kept asking Yunshan to take her to try on the clothes first.

Seeing that the child was in high spirits, Zhaohua smiled and promised Yunshan to take her there first.

When I turned to look at Cheng Yu, I saw that the rice in his bowl was almost gone, but he still hadn't touched a single bite of the food, so I asked with concern:

"What's wrong, Yu'er?"

Cheng Yu swallowed the rice in his mouth and said gloomily:

"Mother...I'm a little scared."

"Are you afraid of going to court tomorrow?"

The child nodded vigorously, "I am nervous to face so many ministers."

Zhao Hua held the child in his arms and said in a gentle voice, "Good child, don't be afraid. Tomorrow, your mother will be with you. Just treat it as going to the Shangshufang for classes as usual. Listen to what they say. Answer if you can, and ignore if you can't."

She half-coaxed Chengyu into changing into his court robes to see if they fit him well.

After changing into court clothes, Cheng Yu looked like a little adult, even his childishness was gone.

But he still said with a gloomy face: "Mother, I don't like this dress..."

The child raised his sleeves and shook them, saying gloomily, "This dress is so heavy, it feels like a mountain hanging over my son."

Zhao Hua smiled without saying anything, and just gently stroked the child's hair.

Cheng Yu may not understand now that the court robes he wears today are nothing compared to the burden of his country and family that will be on his shoulders in the future.

The next day,

At dawn, Zhaohua brought Chengyu into Chaoyang Palace.

The Crown Prince is the regent and cannot sit on the Dragon Throne.

Only a lower deputy seat was added next to the dragon throne for Cheng Yu to hold court.

As for Zhaohua, as a woman, she could not appear in the court.

Therefore, a new curtain was added behind the dragon throne, and she had to sit behind the curtain to listen to the court officials' discussions.

After the mother and son sat down one after another, Zhaohua could vaguely see through the curtain that Chengyu was very scared.

He sat on the vice-chairman's seat with his head hung, not even daring to look up at the crowd of court officials in the hall.

And behind this layer of veil, Zhao Hua could only see the vague shadows standing stiffly in the hall.

Suddenly, I heard Xiao Yinzi drawl out, "Go to court~"

All the court officials shouted in unison:

"Your Highness the Crown Prince wishes you the best of health, and Your Majesty the Queen wishes you the best of health."

The noisy voices made Cheng Yu feel a little nervous.

He took a deep breath to calm himself down, thinking about what Zhaohua had said last night.

After the court officials bowed and paid their respects, he would stand up and raise his hand, allowing them to stand up.

So the little fellow bravely stood up and said:

"My dear ministers... stand up... huh?"

Unexpectedly, the position of the vice-chairman was too high, and Cheng Yu was so nervous that he didn't see the road clearly. Before he could finish his words, he stumbled and slid down the stairs, falling on his back in front of the court officials.

The crown prince made a fool of himself, and naturally the court officials who were watching the fun couldn't help but laugh.

Hearing the sneering sounds, Cheng Yu felt even more ashamed and afraid, and was so embarrassed that he didn't know what to do.

He struggled to get up, but because of the pain in his knees, he couldn't stand up for a long time.

At this time,

The court officials were surprised to see the curtain behind the dragon throne being opened. Zhao Hua walked out from behind the curtain with a calm expression and walked towards Cheng Yu step by step.

There was an uproar in the hall, but Zhao Hua ignored them and just helped Cheng Yu up, patted the dust off his knees, and said gently:

"Don't be afraid, son. You have done very well."

Suddenly someone spoke up:

"As a woman, it is against the rules for the Queen to rule behind the scenes. How dare you appear in the court now?"

Hearing this, Zhao Hua glanced back at him.

Just now, she saw this man laughing the most happily behind the curtain. Now she glanced at the imperial sceptre in his hand, and after learning his name, she raised her eyebrows and said:

"Were you laughing just now?"

"This... I have no intention of mocking the Crown Prince, Your Majesty, please don't..."

"Lord Liu sneered at the Crown Prince and disrespected the Emperor's grace. Drag him out immediately and give him thirty strokes of the cane as a warning to others."

The guards received the order and immediately surrounded Lord Liu, and heard him shout:

"The queen is a member of the harem, how can she punish an official of the previous dynasty?!"

Zhao Hua said sternly, "The Emperor has personally allowed me to assist the Crown Prince in governing the country. If you disrespect the Crown Prince, you are disrespecting the Emperor. The laws of the Qi Dynasty stipulate that those who disrespect the Emperor's grace will be punished with fifty strokes of the cane. I only gave you thirty strokes, which is already giving you face! If you don't accept it, you can tell the Emperor. But before that, you have to finish taking the cane first! Drag it away!"

What Zhaohua said was indeed stipulated in the laws of the Qi Dynasty. Seeing her overbearing attitude, how could others dare to plead for mercy? They could only watch Master Liu being dragged away.

Then, after Zhao Hua helped Cheng Yu sit upright and put him back on the passenger seat, she asked in a cold voice:

"My Lords, do you want to continue laughing?"

The court officials said in unison: "We dare not!"

Zhao Hua turned around silently, and after returning to the seat behind the curtain, he said in a dignified manner:

"Since you don't dare, then if you have something to report, then report it. If not, then leave the court!"