Chapter 35: Confused
After the reward was given, the queen suddenly smiled and said:
"Your Majesty, I also have a gift for today's protagonist."
She raised her hand towards the outside of the hall: "Bring it up!"
Immediately, several people came in carrying a huge object, which was covered tightly with red silk cloth, and it was impossible to tell what it was.
The emperor looked at the queen in surprise: "Could this be..."
The queen smiled and nodded, and asked someone to lift the silk cloth, revealing a huge stone!
The court officials all cried out in surprise:
"Isn't this the auspicious Phoenix Stone? How dare the Queen give it away?"
It turns out that this huge stone is the auspicious sign that was tributed from Nanzhou not long ago. There is a clearly visible pattern on it, which looks like a phoenix spreading its wings and soaring!
Since the Queen was the mother of a country and a true phoenix, this stone was naturally presented to her. She treasured it very much and placed it in a prominent position in Fengqi Palace to admire it every day.
So today, when she actually took out the Phoenix Stone as a gift, everyone was shocked.
but……
The emperor hesitated and said:
"There's only one piece of Phoenix Stone. Who is the Queen going to give it to?"
The Queen smiled slightly and looked at Yun Bailian:
"This auspicious phoenix stone is naturally meant to be given to someone born with the phoenix destiny."
"Bai Lian, as the Crown Princess and the God of Heaven, you must assist the Crown Prince and make it your responsibility to prosper our country."
Yun Bailian was surprised and delighted, and immediately knelt down to express her gratitude:
"Bai Lian will remember the Queen's teachings! Thank you, Queen, for your grace!"
The Emperor glanced at Xiao Changheng and saw that he looked calm and expressionless. Then he smiled and said:
"That's right! The Crown Princess is indeed the most suitable owner for this Phoenix Stone!"
Yun Bailian thanked him again, then stood up and stood beside the prince with a happy face.
All the court officials and guests came to congratulate him, and amid the chorus of congratulations, some people began to whisper.
"The Crown Princess is the destiny of the Heavenly Phoenix. This status is incredible!"
"Isn't it? The Crown Prince has the assistance of Tian Feng. It is a blessing for Daliang!"
"Don't forget that it's not just Tianfeng who assists the Crown Prince, there's also the Prime Minister's daughter! The Su family is well-known among the powerful in the capital, and Su Yurou is the most talented woman in the capital!"
"On the other hand, although Yun Qingqing is the descendant of a meritorious official, her father died for her country long ago, and her Yun family has no other support in the court."
"Yes, both are daughters of the Yun family. The Crown Princess is destined to be a phoenix, while Yun Qingqing has no power or influence. The difference is really obvious..."
These people's voices were not loud, but they were distributed in many places and said similar things. Gradually, the atmosphere in the entire venue turned towards the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess.
The queen appeared calm on the surface, but she was secretly delighted in her heart. Of course, she had arranged these people long ago in order to create momentum for today's occasion and overshadow the regent and the princess!
However, at this moment, loud cheers suddenly rang out from outside the hall:
"Yunlan Academy congratulates the Prince Regent and the Princess on their wedding, and presents a piece of calligraphy personally written by the old dean!"
The entire hall was silent for a moment, and then it suddenly became noisy. Even the emperor and empress widened their eyes and looked towards the door.
"Is it Mr. Xu who is here? Please come in quickly!" The emperor stood up from his seat happily and said loudly.
When the person outside walked in, everyone exclaimed in surprise:
"It really is the great scholar Xu Cizheng, Mr. Xu!"
"The old gentleman has disciples all over the world and has been in seclusion for many years. I never thought he would come in person to congratulate the Regent on his birthday, and the calligraphy is in his own hand!"
"I didn't expect the Regent and Mr. Xu to have such a close relationship! I've never heard of this before..."
"Yun Qingqing is so lucky to have won the favor of the Regent. If it were anyone else here, even if it was the Emperor taking a concubine, I'm afraid they wouldn't be able to invite Mr. Xu!"
The queen's eyelids twitched, and her good mood disappeared instantly.
She gritted her teeth to suppress the anger in her heart, and looked at Xiao Changheng with a surprised smile:
"I didn't expect the Regent to be so secretive. Even Mr. Xu has such a personal relationship with you!"
However, just as she finished speaking, Xu Cizheng laughed and said:
"Your Majesty, this is wrong. I have never met the Prince Regent, so how can we have a personal relationship?"
Everyone's eyes widened even more.
What does this mean? If he didn't come to give a gift to show his respect to the Regent, then who else could it be?
Could it be...
Everyone's eyes couldn't help but fall on Yun Qingqing. They just saw her take a step forward and said to Xu Cizheng with a smile:
"I didn't expect Mr. Xu to come today. What a pleasant surprise!"
...Yun Qingqing, a junior, actually spoke to the great scholar in this way. This is too outrageous!
Everyone was surprised and began to think that she had become too proud of herself after becoming a princess.
A gleam flashed in Yun Bailian's eyes, and she took a step forward and said in panic:
"Sister, how could you speak to Mr. Xu like that? This is so disrespectful!"
Having said this, she bowed deeply to Xu Cizheng and said with great trepidation:
"My sister lost her father when she was young and has never behaved in a proper manner. Please don't blame me, Mr. Xu. Bai Lian is here to apologize to you!"
The Queen's servants among the guests nodded and said in a voice neither too loud nor too soft:
"The Crown Princess is truly a natural-born phoenix. She is so well-educated and well-mannered. This is the etiquette that a royal concubine should have!"
Yun Bailian was proud in her heart, and lowered her head to suppress the corners of her mouth that were curled up.
However, Xu Cizheng suddenly frowned and said coldly:
"Master Yun is very well-mannered. I think you, a girl, are the ones who don't understand the rules. I'm here to congratulate Master Yun, so how can a junior like you have the right to speak?"
Having lived for so long, Xu Cizhen could see through Yun Bailian's little thoughts, so he said this in a very ruthless manner.
Yun Bailian's face froze and she stood there in a daze.
The guests were also dumbfounded. It was not surprising that Xu Daru did not give face to anyone in the royal family, but it was completely incomprehensible that he defended Yun Qingqing so obviously.
Xu Ci turned to Yun Qingqing, and his expression immediately changed. He laughed out loud, clasped his fists and performed a Confucian salute to her.
"I nearly lost my life the other day. I was saved by Master Yun. No wonder my Xu family is so shameless!"
"Today I heard that you were getting married to the Prince Regent. I have written a calligraphy piece to express my feelings. I hope Master Yun will not despise it!"
As he spoke, he took a scroll from the disciple beside him and respectfully presented it to Yun Qingqing with both hands!
emperor:……
Queen: ...
The Crown Prince and his two concubines: ...
Except for Yun Qingqing, everyone in the audience was dumbfounded.
What does Master Yun mean? Is he still indebted to him?
Xu Daru's every move can no longer be explained by supporting Yun Qingqing, right?
He is clearly praising Yun Qingqing to the sky!
What on earth had Yun Qingqing done to deserve such respect from Mr. Xu, a great scholar and a spiritual leader revered by all Confucian scholars,? That's right, respect!
In the silence, Yun Qingqing smiled calmly and took the scroll:
"Thank you for your concern, Mr. Xu."
As soon as she finished speaking, before everyone here recovered from their shock, loud cheers were heard outside.
"Mingguogong congratulates the Regent Princess on her wedding, and I have come to congratulate you—"
Everyone:!!!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com