Yuan Xiu said, "Can you shut up, you bastard?"
Zhou Jinghuan was overjoyed and said with a fawning smile, "I'm so excited, please tell me!"
Yuan Xiu looked up and took a deep breath, saying, "Give me some time, give my imperial sister some time, and give my country some time. This is not only my family matter, but also an important national matter. I promise you, I will consider it carefully and give you an answer later."
Zhou Jinghuan bowed to Yuan Xiu and said, "Then I will await Emperor Jing's good news!"
Yuan Xiu's words calmed down the officials who were in a bad mood.
Neither the hardliners nor the compromisers could say anything more; this kind of thing really does need time to be discussed.
Most importantly, we no longer have to hear Zhou Jinghuan chattering away at state banquets.
Doesn't that delay your drinking time?
The singing and dancing continued, and the state banquet moved on to the free drinking contest. There were more civilians on the second day than on the first, and with the first day's experience setting a precedent, everyone drank even more wildly today.
The emperor had a rule that when people moved into Yongshou Palace in the evening, those who didn't want to come that night and couldn't drink could leave.
Taking advantage of Yuan Xiu's inattention, Zhao Cheng secretly slipped away with Zhao Wu, Xia Qi, and Qiu Shu.
Last night I experienced what hell is like, so I can't let the emperor take me away tonight.
Although Xia Qi and Qiu Shu are young, they are quite restrained. Most young people like to drink, especially at a celebratory occasion like a state banquet, but the two girls have their own way of dealing with it. Yesterday, if Xia Qi was the one drinking the most, then Qiu Shu would only sip. Today, they will switch roles, with the two sisters taking turns. Even so, the one who is drinking the most restrains herself from losing control.
The two sisters could attract countless eyes even just strolling around Changsui City, and the same was true at a state banquet.
According to Zhao Wu, countless young men came to chat up the two sisters last night when Zhao Cheng was not around.
If the two sisters lose their composure and are taken advantage of, it will be Zhao Cheng who loses face.
If the two sisters can restrain themselves, it will bring honor to Zhao Cheng, and others will praise him for having many beautiful women in the Right Prime Minister's residence and for his skillful management of his subordinates.
This was the first time Zhao Cheng had brought the two sisters to such an event, and he was very satisfied with their performance. It seemed that the five years of training had not been in vain.
Zhao Cheng walked quickly, and as soon as he stepped out of the state banquet area, he saw a group of people walking towards him.
Zhao Cheng thought these people were probably on patrol inside the palace and should have just passed by, but this group of people stopped in front of Zhao Cheng, clearly coming for him.
Zhao Wu immediately became alert and shielded Zhao Cheng behind him.
"Young Prime Minister, please wait."
The crowd parted, and Heng Wenhao stepped forward, one hand on the hilt of his sword, and said, "Yu Yunzhai invites you."
Zhao Cheng's face immediately darkened, and he asked suspiciously, "You're waiting for me?"
"No, not at all. The Princess ordered me to invite you, and it just so happens that we ran into each other."
Zhao Cheng cursed his bad luck inwardly, "I've taken the wrong path!"
Zhao Wu and Xia Qiqiu were both taken aback.
The eldest princess?
Isn't that the one that the second prince of Nanzhou begged for a marriage alliance with?
What does she want with her master?
Heng Wenhao stepped aside to make way, saying, "Please!"
Seeing Zhao Cheng's reluctant expression, Zhao Wu said in a deep voice, "If Master doesn't want to go, then he won't go!"
Heng Wenhao reminded him, "This is the imperial palace."
Zhao Cheng thought for a moment and said, "Guard Heng is right. This is the palace. We can't act impulsively."
With that, Zhao Cheng took a deep breath, looking as if he were ready to die, and said to Zhao Wu, "Take good care of the two girls, I'm going!"
Zhao Wu was stunned. Wasn't he going to see the Princess? Why did he look like he was about to die?
"Master, we'll go with you!"
Zhao Cheng was about to say that they probably couldn't go, but Heng Wenhao said, "It's fine. Yu Yun Zhai has plenty of food and drink. You can wait for the young prime minister there."
Zhao Cheng looked at Heng Wenhao in surprise, only to see Heng Wenhao staring at Xia Qi and Qiu Shu with a look of fascination.
So it's Xia Qiqiu's charm!
He also confirmed that although Heng Wenhao was just a guard, he was probably Yuan Yun's confidant and held considerable power in the palace.
Out of habit, Zhao Cheng skillfully took out a money pouch from Zhao Wu's pocket and casually stuffed it into Heng Wenhao's belt, saying with a smile, "Please lead the way, Guard Heng."
Heng Wenhao did not refuse, but respectfully lowered his head and said, "Please."
...
night.
The Imperial Study.
Yongshou Palace was still filled with singing and dancing, while Yuan Xiu summoned Wen Tai, Mu Shanyue, and Lu Zhao to the Imperial Study for a meeting.
Lu Zhao is the Minister of Rites, and he doesn't have many opportunities to come to the Imperial Study. This is why Yuan Xiuzheng called him over to discuss the marriage alliance with Southern Zhou.
However, Wen Tai had given him a hint, saying that the Ministry of Rites had experience in handling these diplomatic matters and might be able to offer better ideas.
"What to do? What to do? You all need to think of a solution for me!"
Upon arriving at the Imperial Study, Yuan Xiu disregarded all decorum and immediately lay down on the Imperial Desk, while Wei You massaged his shoulders and back.
Wen Tai and Mu Shanyue were already used to it, but Lu Zhao was seeing it for the first time and was a little uncomfortable, looking down at his nose with a resentful expression.
Mu Shanyue stroked his white beard and said, "Your Majesty, please give us some background information. What exactly are you thinking?"
Yuan Xiu closed his eyes, enjoying Wei You's massage, and said, "Many people think that Zhou Jinghuan is just a lazy prince of Southern Zhou, but in fact he has a lot of influence in Southern Zhou. It is more secure to negotiate such an important matter as peace with him. This Zhou Jinghuan was summoned by me, so of course I support peaceful coexistence with Southern Zhou."
"The Great Jing needs a ten-year recovery period, or at least five. After five or ten years, even if the Southern Zhou doesn't want to fight, I will test their mettle!"
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