As Huangfu Shenglin spoke, he clapped his hands, and immediately people carried boxes into the main hall one after another.
Outside, eunuchs were announcing the betrothal gift list.
The officials, both civil and military, were all astonished by the sight of the endless stream of betrothal gifts.
"So many betrothal gifts, and all so precious! The Emperor of Southern Qi is truly generous!"
"Isn't that right? It's like they've brought the entire treasury of Southern Qi!"
"Giving such a large dowry shows that the Emperor of Southern Qi values our Princess quite a bit."
"Wasn't it said that His Highness was to be given to our Eldest Princess as her husband? Why is there a betrothal ceremony?"
"That's true. Could it be that he's planning to take Prince Jue back?"
The betrothal gifts, one load after another, were still being carried inside, and the announcement of the gift list outside never stopped.
Looking at the large amount of betrothal gifts, Xuanyuan Zhan was somewhat worried. He frowned and looked at Huangfu Shenglin, saying, "You know, Yao'er is our only daughter, and marrying her off to someone from Southern Qi is a very distant matter..."
As soon as Xuanyuan Zhan spoke, Huangfu Shenglin knew what he meant and quickly said, "The promise I made back then will not change. Jue'er can marry into either Dongchu or Xiliang. Whether you consider these things as betrothal gifts or dowry, they are all for Yao'er."
Huangfu Shenglin's words finally satisfied Xuanyuan Zhan. He looked at Huangfu Jue and Duanmu Yao with agreement: "The marriage between these two children was arranged when they were young. Now that they have developed feelings for each other, I will naturally not object to this marriage. However, when they will get married still needs to be discussed."
His Xing'er is only seventeen, why is she getting married so early?
Xuan Yuanzhan could never have imagined that Su Xuening was only seventeen years old when she married him.
Huangfu Shenglin frowned, somewhat unwilling to wait any longer.
He had waited twenty years, far too long. He was eager to see his grandson born and the white tiger mythical beast appear in the world.
Huangfu Jue stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Yao'er and I have already discussed this. We will get married when Yao'er is of marriageable age."
It must be said that Huangfu Jue is very considerate, and the wedding date he chose is exactly what Xuanyuan Zhan wanted: "Then let's set the wedding date for three years from now. I will have the Imperial Observatory choose a good day."
Now that Xiao Bao has ascended the throne, and Xiao Xingxing will be getting married in three years, he can spend those three years playing with Ning'er.
"Thank you, Master." Huangfu Jue immediately bowed in gratitude.
Although Huangfu Shenglin did not want to wait another three years, it seemed that there was no room for negotiation now.
After finishing discussing the important matters, Xuanyuan Zhan announced the start of the banquet.
As the emperor of Southern Qi and Huangfu Jue's biological father, Huangfu Shenglin was naturally to be treated as an honored guest.
On this day, Huangfu Shenglin drank a lot of wine in the main hall of Dongchu, toasting Xuanyuan Zhan and Su Xuening, Bai Fuya, Duanmu Junyu and Su Renzhong, Su Yun'an and his empress, his three masters, and even the juniors such as Xuanyuan Xi, Leng Xiyue, and Duanmu Yao, and everyone who had helped him take care of Huangfu Jue.
Huangfu Shenglin drank a lot of wine that day and was very humble.
After the grand banquet ended, Huangfu Shenglin was also drunk, and Huangfu Jue took him back to his palace.
Although he was sent from Southern Qi to Eastern Chu, his master and mistress treated him extremely well. They truly loved him as their own son. He also had his own palace in the Eastern Chu imperial palace, which was no less impressive than his palace in Southern Qi.
Worried that Huangfu Shenglin might do something to Huangfu Jue if he got drunk, Duanmu Yao brought him a hangover cure: "This is something I made. You can feed it to your uncle, and he shouldn't get so drunk!"
"Thank you." Huangfu Jue looked at Duanmu Yao gratefully.
"Silly boy, why are you being so polite with me?" Duanmu Yao cupped Huangfu Jue's handsome face and kissed him, then blushed and ran away: "I won't disturb you and Uncle anymore."
Huangfu Jue watched Duanmu Yao's retreating figure and couldn't help but smile indulgently.
Only after Duanmu Yao's figure disappeared from sight did he get up and feed Huangfu Shenglin the hangover medicine.
Duanmu Yao's hangover medicine was really effective; Huangfu Shenglin woke up shortly after being given it.
"Jue'er!"
When Huangfu Shenglin saw Huangfu Jue, he reached out to touch him, but Huangfu Jue avoided him.
Huangfu Jue's avoidance caused Huangfu Shenglin immense sorrow. Overwhelmed with grievance and heartache, tears streamed down his face. "Jue'er," he said, "it is your father who has wronged you. Your father and mother are also reluctant to send you to such a far place, but your father has no choice. The other three kingdoms all have their guardian beasts, but only our Southern Qi does not. How can I be at ease and do nothing? If the White Tiger Beast never appears, I fear that even if I die, I will have no face to face our ancestors of the Southern Qi royal family. Therefore, after much deliberation, I have no choice but to make this sacrifice for you. Fortunately, the Empress of Eastern Chu treats you well; otherwise, I would not be able to eat or sleep in peace!"
Seeing Huangfu Shenglin weeping bitterly, Huangfu Jue felt a pang of sadness: "You're drunk."
Huangfu Shenglin shook his head, crying, "Father is not drunk. Father is guilty. Father had his reasons for doing these things. Your mother and I missed you day and night in Southern Qi. Your mother even fell ill from missing you. Please forgive your father, okay?"
Upon hearing that his mother was ill, Huangfu Jue immediately asked anxiously, "How is Mother? Is she seriously ill?"
Huangfu Shenglin sighed softly: "The imperial physicians come to see you every day, but your mother's illness is a mental one, and the medicine is not helping. I originally wanted to bring her to see you this time, but I was afraid that she would not be able to bear the long journey, so I thought I would bring her after you get married."
Upon hearing this, Huangfu Jue became even more anxious.
He had originally resented his father for sending him to Eastern Chu and had no intention of returning to Southern Qi, but now he was eager to go back and visit his mother.
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