Xie Zhaozhao missed her son, but she also had to maintain her imperial dignity, because negotiations had not yet begun, and she could not allow the other side to exploit her weaknesses.
Looking at Zhou Shaoyu bowing to her, she felt a pang of sadness and said, "Your Highness, there's no need for such formality."
Zhou Shaoyu stared intently at Xie Zhaozhao, not even wanting to blink; his Zhaozhao had lost weight.
His son, Zhao Zhao, looks very dignified, but is indifferent.
Zhou Shaoyu handed Zhou Qiheng towards Xie Zhaozhao: "Your Majesty, please hold him. He's been eight months and twenty-seven days."
She was taken away immediately after being born at eight months and twenty-seven days old.
Not to mention her own suffering, the thought of it tore at his heart; he felt her pain as well.
Yuanyuan rushed over and carefully took Zhou Qiheng from him.
Zhou Qiheng looked at Yuanyuan, then at Zhou Shaoyu: "Huh?"
Who is this person? Why are they hugging me?
"Heng'er, this is Aunt Yuanyuan!"
Yuanyuan nodded hurriedly, "Yes, yes, I'm one of your own, I'm your Aunt Yuanyuan!"
The ministers on both sides were moved to tears.
Fate is cruel; this scene is truly heartbreaking.
The original intention of using Zhou Shaoyu and Zhou Qiheng to blackmail Xie Zhaozhao now seemed so despicable.
Emperor Hui led the way out of the flower hall.
As he stepped out of the hall, he looked up at the clouds in the sky.
July and August are the best time to see the clouds. The clouds in August are truly beautiful, with clear blue skies and three-dimensional, ever-changing white clouds.
Like fleeting clouds, life is ever-changing.
Inside the hall, Xie Zhaozhao had shed her imperial demeanor and held Zhou Qiheng in her arms, their eyes meeting.
Xiao Heng'er: "Ahhh~"
"Heng'er, I am your mother..." she said, choking back tears.
Watching him innocently and playfully yell "Ahhh!" at her, she sobbed.
Zhou Qiheng put his little fist into her mouth: "Ahhh!"
Don't cry, I'll give you the best punch from Xiao Heng'er!
Zhou Shaoyu said, "Your Majesty, children are possessive of their food. They love to suck their fingers, and sharing their fingers with you shows that they love you the most..."
Tears kept falling from Yuanyuan's eyes, but she smiled and said to Zhou Qiheng, "Why don't you stay with Auntie and not leave?"
Zhou Shaoyu immediately said, "He's always been with me; I'm afraid he'll cry and make a scene if I leave him."
Yuanyuan sneered, "He was born after His Majesty's arduous ten months of pregnancy and agonizing birth. He was plotted against from birth and separated from his flesh and blood for a year. Does Your Highness intend to possess him all to yourself?"
Xie Zhaozhao held Zhou Qiheng in her arms, crying and laughing at the same time, tears streaming down her face.
He held the child in his arms, his head resting on his shoulder, unable to see his own tear-streaked face.
Zhou Qiheng sensed her sadness and felt heartbroken as well; his dark eyes instantly filled with tears.
"Ahhh~"
I'm going to cry too!
Wow~
Little Heng cried so loudly it shook the heavens and the earth.
Xie Zhaozhao hurriedly stood up, not bothering to wipe her own tears, and put on a smiling face. She took a handkerchief to wipe his tears: "Xiao Heng'er, don't cry, and Mother won't cry either, okay? Let's not cry anymore, okay?"
When Zhou Shaoyu saw her repeatedly calling "Mother," he couldn't hold back any longer. He stepped forward, opened his arms, and hugged both of them.
Tears silently streamed down her cheeks.
"Zhaozhao, we'll never be apart again..."
The whole family burst into tears.
Yuanyuan carefully left the flower hall and stood under the corridor, leaning against a pillar and sobbing.
Xu Li, Xie Yu, and Ling Xun all silently bowed their heads.
The ministers on both sides who were to negotiate were all very heavy-hearted at this moment.
They all understood that Xie Zhaozhao attacked Da Gan as soon as she established her country because Da Gan had people she hated, and even more people she missed.
The family met, closed the door, and talked for a long time, but ultimately, negotiations still had to be conducted.
This contest between the two countries still needs to come to an end.
Emperor Hui naturally had the most ideas.
Aside from the initial sadness and grief, he was mostly calculating.
If Yulong Kingdom could be incorporated into Daqian, his life would surely be remembered in history.
To eliminate the greatest threat, the Wei family, and realize the dream of two generations of emperors;
To expand the territory by at least one time;
To cultivate the strongest heir to the throne.
During the negotiations, Zhou Shaoyu still held Xiao Heng'er in his arms. Xiao Heng'er had spent half a day with Xie Zhaozhao and had grown fond of her.
Xie Zhaozhao asked Zhou Shaoyu to sit next to her, and Xiao Heng'er would occasionally share her fingers with Xie Zhaozhao.
"Ahhh!" Mommy tasted my fingers, my little fists, and my little feet. They tasted so good!
Emperor Hui said, "My idea is that our two countries are neighbors, and we have Xiao Heng'er as a bond. It is not good for family members to be separated. It would be best to unite."
Xie Zhaozhao: "Okay."
"It's great that you've come to your senses. National affairs are a lot of work and require a lot of effort. From now on, we can leave these to Jingchen."
Xie Zhaozhao smiled again: "Okay."
Xie Anfeng and Xie Yu were both a little anxious. Would Xie Zhaozhao really let her husband and son hand over the Jade Dragon Kingdom that they had worked so hard to conquer?
"Your consideration for the greater good pleases me greatly!"
Emperor Hui was overjoyed. "I will issue an edict as soon as I return: the Xie family shall be allowed to return to the Xie residence in the capital, Xie Yu shall be reinstated to his original position, and all the confiscated property shall be returned..."
Xie Zhaozhao gently squeezed Xiao Heng'er's fingers and said, "Da Gan and Yu Long Kingdom will be merged and I will govern them together. The original Crown Prince of Da Gan, Zhou Jingqi, will be deposed, and the capital will be established in Daming Prefecture."
Emperor Hui: ...That's not what I meant!
Xie Zhaozhao continued, "I am willing to govern together with His Highness Zhou Jingchen, with two emperors in one country. He will be in charge of the people's livelihood, and I will be in charge of the territory. If any conflict arises between the two, I will prevail."
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