Chapter 62 Extra [VIP]
Chapter Summary: Family Feast (Part 2)
"Do you know what this means?" Xu Luchuan's excitement was palpable. Liu Shiyu, seeing his blissful expression, couldn't help but smile as well. "Of course I know~ Our Emperor doesn't treat you like an outsider anymore~"
As Liu Shiyu spoke, she put her hands behind her back and walked inside. Xu Luchuan, after regaining his senses, followed her through the door.
When the two entered the hall, Tang Wuzheng and Xu Qinguo were already sitting on either side.
Just as Liu Shiyu and Xu Luchuan were about to bow in greeting, Liu Zhizhou spoke from his throne, saying, "Alright, this is a family banquet, there's no one else here. Let's skip the formalities. Elder sister, Right Supervisor Xu, please sit down."
After the emperor finished speaking, the two men looked at each other. They then discovered that their seats had also been arranged on either side. Liu Shiyu gazed longingly at Xu Luchuan, while Xu Luchuan looked at Liu Shiyu with reluctance. The two then parted ways and turned to walk towards their respective elders.
After everyone in the hall had taken their seats, Zhao Feng glanced at the eunuch beside him. The eunuch then led his men forward to serve the dishes.
The food and drink were of the finest quality; they were truly of noble birth.
Even at family dinners, the food is full of delicacies that outsiders would never imagine.
Looking at the steaming stew pot in front of her, Liu Shiyu instantly forgot about her roasted meat. She couldn't wait to devour it.
Suddenly, Liu Zhizhou's voice came from the seat, and Liu Shiyu looked up. He saw that the young emperor, who never drank alcohol, was imitating others today, raising his wine cup and addressing everyone: "The siege of Jinling was successfully resolved thanks to everyone present. Without your life-risking rescue, Shaoyuan would not be where he is today."
"I offer this cup of wine on behalf of the people of Shaoyuan to you all."
Upon hearing this, everyone quickly raised their wine cups and responded in unison, "May His Majesty live a long life, and may Shao Yuan live a long life!"
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone drank the wine, and Liu Shiyu casually put down his wine glass.
Liu Shiyu was about to pick up his chopsticks to try the dishes on the table when Liu Zhizhou interrupted him. Looking up again, he saw the young emperor had filled his wine cup and was offering it to Tang Wuzheng.
Then he said in a firm and resounding voice, "Uncle, I call you Uncle."
"Because you are like my father, protecting me and Shaoyuan with all your heart and soul all these years. I am deeply grateful for your sacrifices. You and my sister are my greatest support. I offer this cup of wine to you."
As he spoke, Liu Zhizhou straightened his robe and rose, walking toward Tang Wuzheng's seat.
Upon seeing this, Tang Wuzheng hurriedly stood up and said in a panic, "Your Majesty, what is the reason for this? These are merely my duties."
At this moment, apart from Xu Qinguo who remained silent with his eyes lowered, everyone else in the hall looked at the Emperor and Tang Wuzheng with confusion. Liu Zhizhou, holding a wine cup, solemnly said, "Uncle, I have a request today. I hope you will grant it."
"Your Majesty, please speak freely. I will do my best to comply." Liu Zhizhou had already set the mood so high that Tang Wuzheng would have to think twice before refusing.
Liu Zhizhou immediately spoke up, "I beg my uncle to entrust Shao Yuan's empire to me with peace of mind, and to restore the freedom that my elder sister desires."
Upon hearing this, Liu Shiyu turned and met Xu Luchuan's gaze, both of them stunned. Liu Shiyu hadn't expected Liu Zhizhou to have the courage to say such a thing; it seemed as if his younger brother had grown up overnight.
Looking at Tang Wuzheng, he was equally surprised and speechless.
Liu Zhizhou seemed to have anticipated this scene, and continued to persuade the person in front of him: "I know that you have many worries, Uncle. You are worried that the power in the court is in disarray, and that there is no one like my elder sister who can wholeheartedly assist me. I will become a puppet in their hands."
“But your sister’s heart is not in this, so why force her? Why not let other capable and virtuous people serve Shao Yuan?”
"Your Majesty, have you found someone you prefer?" Tang Wuzheng, upon hearing this, finally spoke up. Liu Zhizhou turned to look at Xu Qinguo, who had remained silent, and said, "After this incident, the court can no longer tolerate the existence of a rotten beast like Chang'an Dao. I believe that Lord Xu is the one who will be able to shoulder this important responsibility in the future."
After Liu Zhizhou finished speaking, everyone's attention turned to Xu Qinguo.
Xu Qinguo remained as composed as ever. For so many years, he had adhered to the doctrine of the mean, solely to preserve the Xu family's century-old glory. But after Wei Jingshan's rebellion, he suddenly felt that Shao Yuan's eternal legacy was far more important than the Xu family's century-long legacy.
So, amidst all the astonished gazes, he rose, cupped his hands, and replied crisply, "If Your Majesty is willing to entrust me with this task, General Tang will trust you. I will certainly not fail in my mission."
Xu Qinguo's answer made Tang Wuzheng ponder deeply.
Although Liu Shiyu was initially wholeheartedly devoted to protecting Shaoyuan, the position of Princess Protector of the Nation was ultimately forced upon her by the Tang family. Now that Liu Zhizhou has spoken up, this day was bound to come sooner or later. It's time for him to seriously consider this matter.
When he turned to look at Liu Shiyu beside him, Tang Wuzheng asked, "Your Highness, what do you think?"
He gave Liu Shiyu the choice.
Liu Shiyu recalled the resolute figures she had seen beneath the city gate that day, and her heart still warmed. She immediately said, "I believe that Lord Xu and his disciples will surely become pillars of the Young Master in the future."
Having said all that, Tang Wuzheng considered that Liu Shiyu and Xu Luchuan would one day become husband and wife, thus uniting the two families through marriage. The Tang family would guard the outer borders of the court, while the Xu family would protect the inner peace. It could become a beautiful story.
He then completely relented: "Since Your Majesty and Your Highness both trust Master Xu so much, I have no objection."
"Then I entrust the matter of assisting the ruler to Lord Xu." Tang Wuzheng then bowed to Xu Qinguo, who also bowed solemnly in return. "General Tang, rest assured."
Thus, the scene was truly heartwarming and perfect. Everyone then returned to their places.
Liu Shiyu smiled happily at Xu Luchuan, thinking that she could finally eat in peace. But before she could even pick up her chopsticks, Xu Qinguo spoke up again: "Now that His Majesty has finished speaking, it is the old minister's turn."
Liu Shiyu gripped the corner of the table, thinking that if it hadn't been her father-in-law who spoke, she would have been furious. But since her father-in-law had spoken, she could only listen attentively.
"You can present the items now," Xu Qinguo said, turning around and waving his hand.
Liu Shiyu stared intently, and saw that it was the people from the Clothing Department.
Xu Luchuan followed and saw some female officials of indistinguishable rank carrying two trays covered with red cloth, respectfully stepping forward and standing in the center of the hall.
Xu Qinguo stood before the throne and continued in a deep voice, "Half a month ago, His Majesty specifically instructed this old minister to prepare a new set of wedding attire, banquet guest list, and bridal chamber furnishings according to the standards of my son and the Xu family. These are the things I have prepared; please inspect them, Your Majesty."
According to Xu Luchuan and the Xu family's standards!
Upon hearing this, Liu Shiyu and Xu Luchuan exchanged glances, their eyes filled with unspeakable astonishment.
Liu Zhizhou rose again and left his seat, heading into the hall. Once inside, he looked down at the wedding items on the tray and suddenly said, "I feel something is still missing."
"Your Majesty, what is it you mean? This old minister will go and make preparations."
Xu Qinguo remained calm and composed, engaging in a back-and-forth exchange with Liu Zhizhou. This left everyone present utterly bewildered.
Liu Zhizhou then turned his gaze to Zhao Feng, who immediately understood and read aloud the imperial edict of marriage that the young emperor had already prepared. The final sentence, "Right Supervisor, Your Highness, please accept the decree," was uttered.
Xu Luchuan and Liu Shiyu, as if in a dream, suddenly rose from their seats and knelt side by side in the hall. But before they could both bow down, Liu Zhizhou deliberately said, "Wait."
"I grant you permission to disobey this imperial decree. You two should think it over before you thank me..."
Before Liu Zhizhou could finish speaking, Xu Luchuan kowtowed deeply and shouted, "Your subject receives the imperial decree and thanks you!"
Liu Shiyu was startled by the loud slap on the head and froze on the spot.
When Xu Luchuan got up again, Liu Shiyu looked at his red forehead and couldn't help but reach out and cup his face, saying with heartache, "Xiao Lü, doesn't it hurt when you bump your head like that?"
Xu Luchuan hurriedly winked at her, signaling her to accept the imperial decree. Liu Shiyu cupped his face in her hands, then turned her head and saw Zhao Feng holding the decree and handing it forward. Only then did she come to her senses, release Xu Luchuan, and quickly bow to receive the decree.
Xu Luchuan seized the opportunity to take the imperial edict from Zhao Feng's hand, and now everything was settled.
The heavy burden in his heart was finally lifted, and from today onwards he could simply wait peacefully for his marriage to Liu Shiyu. But when he turned to look at Xu Qinguo, who was standing there silently, Xu Luchuan, holding the imperial edict, helped Liu Shiyu up and couldn't help but call out, "Father."
Xu Qinguo sat calmly at the table, picked up the hot tea, gently blew away the steam, and then said calmly before drinking it: "His Majesty has decreed this marriage, and the Xu family will obey."
"Thank you, Father," Xu Luchuan said sincerely.
He had assumed Xu Qinguo would be the first to object, but to his surprise, Xu Qinguo hadn't uttered a single word of rebuttal. In truth, Xu Luchuan understood that while this seemed to be Liu Zhizhou's plan, how could it have gone so smoothly without Xu Qinguo's approval?
In the blink of an eye, for the first time in so many years, Xu Luchuan felt the warmth of a father in Xu Qinguo.
However, he was still not good at expressing himself.
In the hall, Liu Zhizhou looked at Liu Shiyu's blissful face with satisfaction. He hadn't seen his elder sister smile like that in a long time either.
He was once protected by her, so let him protect her from now on.
Tang Wuzheng remained seated in silence. He raised his wine cup, unsure of where to offer it, the images of the late Empress and Lady Mingrou still vivid in his mind.
He thought...
My elder brother was probably wrong before. The past cannot be undone. From now on, let the children live according to their own ideas.
At this moment, everyone was enveloped in boundless warmth, which is perhaps the strength that family brings to them.
Liu Zhizhou suddenly waved his sleeve and loudly proclaimed, "Since that's the case, I hereby declare the wedding date unchanged. Five days from now, Xu Luchuan, the second son of the Grand Master of Ceremonies, will marry the Princess Protector of the Nation. Jinling has been quiet for so long; it's time to have a joyous occasion to liven things up."
Five days?
Five days!
Liu Shiyu, I can finally marry you.
Xu Luchuan, I can finally marry you.
Just then, the two people in the hall, who were like birds flying wing to wing and branches intertwined, turned their heads, looked at each other, and smiled with joy on their faces.
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