Yang Mengchen hastily walked to the center, knelt down respectfully, and said, "Daughter-in-law gives thanks for Father Emperor’s grace! May Father Emperor live for ten thousand, ten thousand years!"
Long Xuanmo naturally followed suit as the husband echoing his wife.
"All of you, rise," the Emperor said with great joy as he raised his hand, "Jiujiu, with the Holy Ancestor Gold Medal, even when you see me, the Empress Dowager and the Empress, you need only bow as a courtesy. From now on, there is no need for such grand gestures of respect; after all, nobody can bear such kneeling from you!"
Qing’an Country was militarily strong and prosperous, and since ancient times, the emperors of the four countries had always schemed to win over Qing’an Country, hoping to secure a powerful ally for their own nation. Sadly, the successive rulers of Qing’an Country had always maintained neutrality and refrained from involving themselves in the conflicts among the four countries.
He, too, wished to establish ties with Qing’an Country and had even sent people there, only to find that not even an audience with an emperor or any royal family member was granted. Members of Qing’an Country’s Royal Family rarely appeared before the public, and though he was willing, he was helpless.
He had never imagined that his daughter-in-law would be Princess Yong’an of Qing’an Country, and moreover deeply cherished and protected by the Qing’an Country’s Royal Family. It was like the saying: Effortlessly planting willows yields unexpected shade.
Anyway, he had long intended to pass the throne to Momo. Now that Momo had married Jiujiu as his only Official Wife, it was inevitable that Jiujiu’s son would inherit the throne. Now that Crown Prince Meng had publicly made such a promise, at least for the next hundred years the other three countries wouldn’t dare to invade Dong Chu so lightly, and he could rest easy.
Thinking back, his mother and Momo truly had exceptional foresight. Jiujiu indeed is the Auspicious Star of him and Dongchu Country.
The crowd couldn’t help but suck in a breath of cold air.
It is known that the Holy Ancestor Gold Medal could command an elite force of fifty thousand Royal Secret Guards. In the past, it was with the aid of those guards that the Empress Dowager helped the Emperor to stabilize the succession turmoil at the beginning of his reign, making its significance self-evident. Who would have imagined that the Empress Dowager would actually bestow the Holy Ancestor Gold Medal to Princess Chen? From now on, who would dare disrespect Princess Chen?
Prince Duan and Empress Jing regretted their action deeply. Had they known that this peasant girl had such fortune, they would have taken preemptive actions. Now, it was too late for regrets.
Members of both factions were also somewhat panicked. The Emperor and the Empress Dowager favored Princess Chen to such an extent—could it be that they had already decided on Prince Chen as the successor?
Long Yanrou’s face was dark, and her eyes cold. Uncontrollable jealousy, resentment, and reluctance surged in her heart.
She was the true noble born of golden branches and Jade leaves, meant to be held high above all, and to enjoy the admiration, veneration, and envy of the world. Why couldn’t heaven see her excellent qualities? Why did it favor such a lowly person? Why did it allow this lowly one to snatch away the glory that rightfully belonged to her?
Could this lowly person be her nemesis?
Yang Mengchen slowly stood up, her expression calm and indifferent, with no hint of pride in her eyes, exuding an air of elegance and nobility from the inside out.
The crowd secretly marveled.
Such a Commandery Princess, who seemed to be born with an extraordinary air and who was also Princess Yong’an, married to Princess Chen—who would dare to criticize Princess Chen’s peasant background or find fault with her now? They would first need the courage to stand beside Princess Chen and become completely overshadowed.
Seeing all eyes focused on Yang Mengchen, Long Yanrou inwardly wished she could tear Yang Mengchen into pieces. Her teeth clenched tightly on her lips, her hands under the sleeves clenching into fists, nails digging deep into the flesh, trickling out threads of blood, yet she was oblivious to the pain.
Seeing Long Yanrou still standing there alone, Prince Ke and the Princely Heir felt both heartache and anger. The Princely Heir subtly signaled his daughter with his eyes, and Long Yanrou, suppressing her full dissatisfaction, returned to her original place with restrained anger.
The banquet eventually ended in joy, and Meng Jingqi with his siblings still followed Yang Chengrong and his brothers back to the Princess Mansion, while the others from the three countries agreed on a time to visit Yang Mengchen and then happily returned to their lodgings.
The next morning, Meng Jingqi with his siblings and the Yang family set off for home, and Yang Chengning also headed to the border. Yang Mengchen insisted on sending them to the outskirts of the capital.
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