Yu Nanqing and Su Wanyan bowed respectfully: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
No matter how low the other party's status, they have ultimately ascended to the throne, and proper etiquette cannot be disregarded.
Yu Jing'an had only met Yu Nanqing a few times, and was even less familiar with Su Wanyan, who was still a child. So the two of them didn't exchange many words and greeted each other very quickly.
A year later, Su Wanyan returned to the capital.
The people of the city all rushed to the city gate to watch the ceremony. After entering the city, Yu Nanqing sat with the young emperor on the dragon carriage. The carriage was magnificent and there was no cover on any side. When the women of the city saw Yu Nanqing's true face, their exclamations of surprise were deafening.
This was also to allow the people in the city to witness the hero's demeanor.
If Yu Nanqing had returned with the army, he would probably be riding a horse, wearing silver armor, with a long sword at his waist. His figure would be so heroic and valiant that even Su Wanyan couldn't help but feel a flutter in her heart just thinking about it.
She really wanted to see him, but unfortunately he came back with her in the carriage.
The welcoming banquet was held inside the Golden Palace.
Su Wanyan and Yu Nanqing followed behind the young emperor. As soon as they entered the hall, they could see the Empress Dowager sitting next to the golden throne with a kind smile on her face.
The Empress Dowager's golden palace robe looked even more dazzling than the one worn by the young emperor.
In this grand hall, the intention to usurp the host's position is quite obvious.
No, the Empress Dowager should now be called the Grand Empress Dowager.
The young emperor, with his tiny feet, stepped up the palace steps one by one and sat steadily on the dragon throne. Yu Nanqing and Su Wanyan stepped forward: "Your subject and your wife greet the Empress Dowager. Long live the Empress Dowager."
The Empress Dowager smiled gently and waved her hand slightly: "Rise quickly."
She looked to be over fifty years old, but she was in excellent spirits.
Before this, Su Wanyan had never met the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager lived deep in the inner palace, and she never appeared even at banquets held in the palace.
Taking advantage of the moment when she rose, Su Wanyan glanced up at the Empress Dowager. She saw that the Empress Dowager was wearing a glass and gold crown, and her solemn aura was not diminished in the slightest because of her age.
Her gray hair was neatly pinned up, and her kind smile held a deep, unfathomable meaning in her eyes.
"Prince Gong led his troops to conquer Donghai and occupy the city of Donghai. This is a great victory. Today, we have specially prepared a banquet to welcome you both. Please take a seat."
"Thank you, Empress Dowager." Su Wanyan bowed to Yu Nanqing and slowly sat down at her seat.
As soon as she sat down, she gave a glance to the eunuch beside the emperor. The eunuch immediately understood, stepped forward, and announced, "Let the banquet begin!"
Immediately, two rows of palace maids carrying delicacies slowly entered from both sides of the side hall.
Su Wanyan couldn't help but look around the main hall and noticed that Prime Minister Liu was missing.
Prime Minister Liu is the father of Consort Xian. The Empress Dowager wants to seize power. Regardless of whether Prime Minister Liu participated in the struggle for the throne, the Empress Dowager cannot allow Consort Xian to develop in the court simply because she has given birth to a prince.
It's unclear whether Prime Minister Liu chose to avoid suspicion or whether the Empress Dowager pressured him.
What Su Wanyan didn't expect was that Su Shiyan of the Marquis of Yuanning's residence was sitting in the seat of Prime Minister Liu at this moment.
Su Shiyan was originally the Inner Vice Minister, whose position was directly under the Emperor's cabinet. He basically had first-hand information from inside the palace, including the Emperor's decisions and the drafting and production of imperial edicts, all of which would pass through the cabinet.
It is not unusual or abrupt that someone from the cabinet has been transferred to the previous dynasty to assist the young emperor and manage all officials.
However, Su Shiyan was there but did not see Marquis Yuanning, and Su Wanyan did not pay much attention to it.
In addition, Dai Jin'an, the eldest son of the Duke of Changguo's family, and Xu Nianhe, the second son of the Duke of Shunguo's family, appeared at the welcoming banquet. If I remember correctly, the official robes they wore were those of a third-rank official and a third-rank official.
Among these many court officials, Su Wanyan also spotted Si Yang.
The two exchanged a glance, nodded in tacit agreement, and then looked away.
"Yan'er." Yu Nanqing's voice brought Su Wanyan back to her senses. He picked up a crystal-clear slice of meat and placed it in Su Wanyan's bowl: "Try this."
The Crystal Phoenix of the Imperial Court features slices of meat that are translucent and glistening, making them not only visually appealing but also crisp and refreshing without being greasy.
Su Wanyan was also a little hungry, so she put a slice of meat in her mouth. After eating it, she still felt it wasn't enough, so she picked up another slice for herself.
She raised her hand to cover her lips and said softly, "It seems that the two Dukes of Changshun have found their place in the court."
"Mm," Yu Nanqing replied simply.
"Princess Consort Gong." Suddenly, the Empress Dowager directly called out Su Wanyan's name.
Su Wanyan had no choice but to put down her chopsticks, stand up, and lower her eyes: "Your Majesty, I am here."
"The battle report from the frontier mentions that you played a crucial role in the battle between the Great Jin and the East Sea. The draft report states that Princess Gong ventured alone into the East Sea naval camp and risked her life to poison the water source used by the East Sea navy, causing the entire 30th naval force of the East Sea to fall ill. This laid a very important foundation for our great victory. Is this true?"
Su Wanyan smiled her standard smile and said, "It's nothing more than doing my humble best."
"Hahaha, it seems that what the battle report said is true." The Empress Dowager laughed heartily: "At first, I thought that General Lü was exaggerating, and I even asked the Prince Consort. Now that I hear what you have to say, you are truly a woman who is not inferior to men."
She picked up a glass of wine from the table: "Such courage deserves the admiration of everyone present. This glass is a toast to you."
Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall raised their wine cups: "We toast Your Highness, the Princess."
Yu Nanqing picked up his wine cup and stood up: "Yan'er is not a good drinker, so I will drink this cup on her behalf."
"Hahaha." The Empress Dowager laughed kindly: "Prince Gong is as protective as ever."
She raised her hand and smiled, "Alright, I'll drink first as a sign of respect. Prince Gong and Princess Gong, please feel free to drink as you please."
As he spoke, he looked up and drank the wine in one gulp.
Then Yu Nanqing, along with the other officials, finished his wine.
Su Wanyan was finally able to sit down, as she was still not very good at dealing with things in the palace.
"However..." The Empress Dowager changed the subject, asking, "I am very curious, didn't the Princess Consort disappear in the capital? How did she suddenly appear on the frontier? Is there some twist or reason that others don't know about?"
"..." Su Wanyan's brows twitched slightly as she looked up at the Empress Dowager.
She still had that kind and loving look in her eyes.
Little did they know, such a question was not easy to answer; the issues arising from her disappearance or not would provide enough material for the public to discuss for quite some time.
They had just returned to the capital in triumph, so why would the Empress Dowager ask such a question at this time? Was she using her to give Yu Nanqing a hard time?
Or should I remind her to follow the rules in the future?
To be honest, when Lü Cezhong reported the battle, they hadn't thought about this issue at all. She had left the capital under the pretext of disappearance.
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