As the song ended, Du Yuheng's pupils dilated in shock.
Although Mu Zian's poem "Bamboo and Rock" cannot be considered a timeless masterpiece.
But it is most appropriate to use it now!
Not only did it perfectly answer his earlier question, "The tallest tree in the forest will be felled by the wind."
It also expresses her firm determination to never back down or follow the crowd.
Inside the main hall, the two locked eyes, even as loud singing rose all around them.
The two of them, however, acted as if they hadn't heard a thing.
For some reason, Du Yuheng felt a sense of fear when he looked at Mu Zian.
Because in Mu Zi'an's eyes, he saw a trace of vicissitude that did not belong to his age at all.
It was as if Mu Zi'an, sitting across from him, possessed a soul weathered by life's storms within his youthful body.
"The Seventh Princess of Zhao has arrived!"
"The Crown Prince of Fuyang of Zhao has arrived!"
A sharp, drawn-out voice from outside the door interrupted the exchange between the two.
Mu Zian and Du Yuheng turned to look in the direction of the palace gate.
Song Min and Prince Fuyang entered the main hall one after the other.
Following behind Song Min and the Prince of Fuyang were several young men dressed in Confucian robes.
Upon seeing this, Du Yuheng stood with his hands behind his back and then spoke.
"The Zhao state's arrival this time is not well-intentioned."
Mu Zian had already obtained some information from Mi Linglong and understood that Song Min was here to cause trouble.
Seeing that Mu Zian remained silent, Du Yuheng sighed deeply.
"Regardless of what you think, I do everything to make my Great Li better."
Du Yuheng continued speaking earnestly to Mu Zian.
"No matter what you achieve in the future, never forget that you are a citizen of our Great Li."
"When the ruler is worried, the minister toils; when the ruler is disgraced, the minister dies."
After saying this, Du Yuheng got up and left, returning to his seat, which symbolized the first position for civil officials.
Mu Zian, however, paid no heed to Du Yuheng's so-called robber theory.
They use the guise of serving the country and the people to do good deeds that benefit themselves and their families.
Whether it was intentional or not, Mu Zi'an was seated directly opposite Song Min's Zhao delegation.
Song Min sat upright in her seat, her gaze occasionally sweeping over Mu Zi'an.
Although Song Min had offended Mu Zi'an from the start, she had not been able to pay him a visit.
However, Song Min still had some interest in this newly appointed Duke of Zhenguo who had suddenly become famous throughout the land.
However, Mu Zian was drinking by himself, as if he didn't care about anything around him.
Sitting next to Song Min, Prince Fuyang watched Mu Zi'an drinking wine with an air of nonchalance and felt an intense resentment.
As one of the most powerful and influential figures in the Zhao state, when had he ever suffered such humiliation?
First, he was beaten up in the street, then he was jailed for two days, and as soon as he was released, he was beaten up again by Mu Zian and his men.
Not only that, they stripped him naked and extorted 100,000 taels of silver from him!
This is simply intolerable!
And now the time for him to get his revenge has finally come!
Prince Fuyang refused to believe that Mu Zi'an, a representative of the two countries with diplomatic relations, could still act so arrogantly within the grand hall.
At the very least, they can't make a move in front of their emperor!
With this thought in mind, Prince Fuyang turned to the Confucian scholars behind him and said.
Is everything ready?
Several Confucian scholars confidently replied upon hearing this.
"Please rest assured, Prince Fuyang, we will surely make Dali lose face today!"
Upon hearing this, Prince Fuyang couldn't help but smile.
"Good! If they truly suffocate these people, I will reward them handsomely when I return to Zhao!"
Several Confucian scholars bowed to Prince Fuyang with their hands clasped.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Prince Fuyang turned around and sat down, his smile widening.
At this moment, the look in his eyes as he looked at Mu Zi'an had a hint of mockery.
At the same time, the Second Prince Xiao Zi also arrived late.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
Xiao Xiuning bowed slightly to Xiao Zi.
Xiao Zi loathed his ninth sister to the extreme.
Just as Xiao Zi was about to ignore it, Chu Fu, who was following behind Xiao Zi, coughed lightly.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Zi reluctantly nodded to Xiao Xiuning.
After the two sat down, Xiao Zi expressed his dissatisfaction.
"Just a woman, do you think that just because you have the Emperor's favor you can be above me?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Fu cupped his hands and smiled.
"If His Highness the Second Prince wishes to ascend to the throne, he must be tolerant of others."
"Moreover, His Majesty intends to have the Duke of Zhenguo and the Ninth Princess get married after the New Year."
"If His Highness the Second Prince can be on good terms with His Highness the Ninth Princess, the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion will be a great support to you in the future."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Zi took another deep breath and said.
"I understand."
Upon hearing this, Chu Fu still wore a warm smile on his face.
He didn't seem to care whether Xiao Zi actually listened or not.
Thump~
As a bell rang, the officials took their seats.
"His Majesty has arrived!"
The eunuch Cao's high-pitched voice came from afar.
A series of bronze chimes rang out.
Xiao Yu, dressed in a black dragon robe, slowly emerged, surrounded by eunuchs and palace attendants.
At this moment, there was a woman dressed in a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe beside Xiao Yu.
As the saying goes: A nine-phoenix hairpin is adorned diagonally in her cloud-like hair, and bright pearls hang from her forehead, reflecting her fragrant cheeks. Her silk robes flutter as the cold wind rises, still carrying the sunlight of Zhaoyang Palace.
This woman is none other than Empress Shen Yunrong of the current Great Li Kingdom.
This empress's life was quite legendary.
It turns out that she was the eldest daughter of the Shen family, a powerful clan in Dali, and was also the Crown Princess appointed by the late emperor.
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