Chapter 308 Regret
From Zhengde Gate, one can overlook the entire capital city, where pedestrians throng the streets and smoke rises from cooking fires.
"This is the land of my Great Zhou."
The third prince leaned against the stone wall with both hands, watching the crowds passing by on the street, a smile unconsciously creeping onto his lips.
A strange sense of satisfaction filled my entire chest.
"The Great Zhou Dynasty has a vast territory, and the capital is just a corner of the land." The Crown Prince suddenly appeared on the city wall, still with that gentle and harmless appearance. "Third brother, you are narrow-minded."
The Third Prince had his back to the Crown Prince, his smile unchanged, but his hands, hidden in his sleeves, tightened continuously. Finally, he adjusted his breathing, turned around, and once again adopted that scheming, manipulative demeanor that made Qiu Qiu grit her teeth in frustration.
The innocent-looking dog blinked its eyes and said, "Your Majesty, I am not as good as you."
The Crown Prince smiled without saying a word. Su Junyao had warned him earlier to be wary of his third brother. How bad could a child he had watched grow up be?
Unfortunately, I didn't know until I investigated that he had been using so many tricks behind my back.
He could tolerate his younger brother's underhanded tactics, but he absolutely could not allow the foundation of the nation to be harmed.
It's obvious that the Third Prince has crossed his bottom line.
"It's good that you understand, my brother." He stood beside the Third Prince, following his gaze to the area below the city wall. "The Turkic envoy will be entering the palace tomorrow. I don't want any mistakes to happen at this time. Do you understand, my brother?"
The third prince was taken aback, seemingly not understanding why the usually amiable crown prince would suddenly speak to him like this. Having been brothers for many years, the two naturally knew that the crown prince was not as dignified as he appeared.
He is a master of disguise, and he is not exactly a gentleman.
In royal politics, the hypocrite wins.
The third prince feigned confusion and looked innocently at the crown prince: "Your Majesty, I don't know what you're talking about."
The Crown Prince gave him a deep look, then chuckled and patted him on the shoulder with a mocking tone that held a hidden meaning: "The women in your palace are too high-profile, Third Brother. The palace isn't a place where just anyone can come and go. Some people can't stay."
The prince refers to Hu Die.
This woman was born a commoner, but she exuded an innate arrogance. She acted recklessly within the Third Prince's palace, but fortunately, she was smart enough not to cause trouble outside, so the Third Prince let her be.
However, the Crown Prince still found out about Hu Die's existence.
"I know my third brother is young and impetuous, but you are still a prince. I think you're just really hungry and will eat anything. What, did a bowl of braised pork trotters make you fall for this woman?"
The relationship between the Third Prince and Hu Die was merely that of master and servant, mutually exploiting each other. The fact that the Crown Prince said these words only made him feel ashamed.
His expression changed drastically. He lowered his head to hide the resentment in his eyes, suppressing his anger while trying to appear weak to the Crown Prince: "It was my fault. I will send him out of the palace as soon as possible."
The crown prince reached out and took the handkerchief offered by the young eunuch, carefully wiping his hands clean before casually tossing it away. A gust of wind blew, and the handkerchief fluttered down from the city wall.
“Things that drift are destined to go where they are meant to go, what do you say, Third Brother?”
The third prince smiled obsequiously, showing no sign of reluctance, and said in a low voice, "Your subject knows what he's doing."
After speaking, the Crown Prince strode away without even turning his head. Only the Third Prince remained standing there.
He bent down to look at the falling handkerchief; a gust of wind rose, and the handkerchief flew upwards a bit.
He looked away. "Things that are adrift can fall into the mud, or they can soar into the sky."
"Brother, it's still unknown who will have the last laugh until the very end."
After he finished speaking, he got up and left. His elder brother had been a superior person for so long, it was time for him to experience what it was like to be trampled underfoot.
He walked too fast to see the handkerchief, and then a gust of wind blew it down, causing it to fall quickly and finally land in a muddy puddle by the city wall.
————
Gao Wenyan spent an hour persuading Emperor Jingming to give Qiuqiu a chance to prove herself. Although Qiuqiu didn't want to.
She came to recommend talent, not to recommend herself.
Emperor Jingming ruthlessly dismissed Qiuqiu's appeal, looked meaningfully at the sulking little dumpling, and said to Su Junyao, "Your daughter is quite popular."
When Gao Wenyan recommended Qiuqiu, those children were even more excited than if they were going to compete themselves. Liu Debao relayed that Jin Xiaoming insisted on crawling to the competition, fearing that Qiuqiu would mess everything up and be punished.
Sometimes, connections are extremely important.
Su Junyao patted Qiuqiu's head and said, "This kid is really good at fooling people."
"Alright, stop lingering here and hurry back to get ready."
With a mournful face, Qiuqiu felt even heavier than when she went to visit her grandmother's grave, whom she had never met.
【I didn't agree; you were the ones who agreed!】
【I'm packing my bags and running away right now! What can I, a little clumsy person, do? I can't do anything!】
Su Junyao picked at his ear. She was already so noisy even though she couldn't speak properly yet. What would she be like in the future!
After all, the daughter is his own flesh and blood. If she runs away, His Majesty will blame the whole family.
"Chirp chirp, this is mainly Gao Wenyan's fault!"
Chirp chirp nods emphatically!
I'll eat my hat if he manages to marry my sister!
"but!"
Her father's sudden change of tone made Qiuqiu stare intently at him. [What are you still going to say for him!]
"Chirp, what are you going to do now?"
The most urgent task is to resolve this matter before blaming Gao Wenyan.
Not wanting to do something and not being able to do it are two different things.
Even a chick will bite if pushed too far.
She glared angrily ahead, raising her two little paws and scratching at the air, "Bite him!"
A fatal blow! Su Junyao felt that his son was planning to seduce the other person to death.
To support Qiuqiu, the whole family spent the whole night researching and finally slept soundly to Qiuqiu's snoring. When they opened their eyes, it was time for Qiuqiu to enter the palace.
Today's banquet is attended by all officials of the fifth rank and above in the capital and their families; the scale is so grand that no mishap is allowed.
It's fair to say that everyone attending the banquet tonight is practically beholden to the Emperor's every whim.
Of course there are exceptions.
Lu Wenzheng casually picked up a peach and started eating it, then nudged Su Junyao next to her: "I haven't seen this scene in twenty years."
The woman from my memory comes alive again, only making me feel even more sorry for her.
"Do you think Jia Canglan regrets it?"
Su Junyao shook his head: "I don't know if Jia Canglan regrets it, but I know that if you don't put Tao down, your wife will soon make you know what regret is."
Following Su Junyao's gaze, Lu Wenzheng shamelessly put down the peach she had just taken a couple of bites of and thoughtfully turned it in a different direction so no one would notice.
He said softly, "I regret it."
I've regretted it for twenty years.
Su Junyao remained silent, staring intently at the elegantly dressed, noble woman seated at the head of the table below Emperor Jingming, a cold glint in his eyes.
He regretted it too.
I regret not being able to save Princess Fufeng back then!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
