Chapter 38
"As for the third cup, I want to announce something before I drink it." After Zhou Xuanqing finished speaking, Chang Xi stepped forward and took out an imperial edict.
Zhou Erlan looked at the imperial edict and felt a pang in his heart. Could it be that the imperial sister is so heartless? He didn't want to be the emperor at all now. He just wanted to help the imperial sister and protect the Great Zhou!
Not only Zhou Erlan felt a pang of anxiety, but the Queen Mother and Prince Pingyu also felt a pang of anxiety.
What is the emperor going to do?
Chang Xi smiled as he unfolded the imperial edict and read, "By the Will of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: For the eternal stability of the Great Zhou, I pray for the blessings of Heaven and Earth, for the important task of presiding over a successor, and for the patronage of the lineage. A virtuous prince will bring prosperity to all nations. Prince Lan, Zhou Erlan, is of noble character, distinguished by his noble ideas, and has long-standing ambitions. His virtuous deeds flourish day by day. Filial piety is the foundation of virtue, and he is well-versed in all virtues. He holds benevolence as his most important responsibility, bringing peace to all things. He may be made Crown Prince. All officials shall prepare the ceremony and appoint him in due time!"
After an imperial edict was read out, everyone looked different.
The Concubine gritted her teeth and clenched her fists. Zhou Xuanqing had actually appointed Zhou Erlan as the Crown Prince! Then her son…
The concubine thought about it and glanced at Zhou Qiuyu. Seeing him happily congratulating Zhou Erlan, she curled her lips speechlessly. What a useless thing!
Prince Pingyu was shocked for a moment, then calmed down. Why was he surprised? Even if Zhou Xuanqing didn't make Zhou Erlan the crown prince, he wouldn't make him the crown prince either.
Besides, he is her uncle, and he will not get the throne unless both of them die.
Gena glanced at Zhou Xuanqing quietly, then looked at Zhou Erlan. It seemed that she had to do something...
Zhou Erlan came out, straightened his clothes, knelt on the ground, took the imperial edict with both hands and said, "Your Majesty, I accept the order. Thank you!"
Fortunately, it’s just the prince…
"The third cup is to toast the ministers of the Zhou Dynasty. I hope you can give the Crown Prince more guidance and encouragement." Zhou Xuanqing said, chuckled, and drank the wine.
"I will definitely help the prince!" Lu Di said with a bow, a smile on his face, and gave Zhou Erlan a rather obscene look.
"I am also willing to teach the prince how to march and fight!" Lu Zehua said with a smile.
"Okay! Sister Royal, my life will not be easy in the future~" Zhou Erlan shook her head and said helplessly with a smile.
Zhou Xuanqing smiled and shook his head, waved at him, and motioned him to sit back.
"I won't say much. Please feel free to try the new dishes developed by the imperial kitchen." Zhou Xuanqing smiled, picked up the chopsticks, took a bite and put it in his mouth.
Casual and lazy, he forgot about the messenger and didn't even bother to give him a glance.
Seeing that Zhou Xuanqing had no intention of paying attention to them, the Southern Barbarian Prince Deng Xuan knew her temper and raised the corners of his mouth. Fortunately, he was prepared.
Deng Xuan walked out with an envoy holding a gift box behind him. He saluted Zhou Xuanqing and said, "Your Majesty. My father has been thinking about you all the time and specifically asked me to bring you the South China Sea pearls I just found. I didn't expect that I haven't seen you for so many days."
As he spoke, the messenger behind him opened the box, which was filled with pearls, each of which shone with a warm luster.
"I haven't seen Deng Xuan for a long time. You have become more handsome. It just so happens that I have found a treasure, which is called dragon blood vine. Please remember to bring it to King Nan for me and ask him to take good care of his health." Zhou Xuanqing said with a smile and asked Chang Xi to get the thing.
Deng Xuan bowed his hands in thanks, looked at Zhou Xuanqing and smiled, "The Emperor gave my father the Dragon Blood Vine, but didn't he give me any gift?"
"Haha~You are becoming more and more shameless. How could I miss you? I will send someone to deliver it to you tomorrow morning." Zhou Xuanqing said with a doting face.
Everyone listening to the conversation between Zhou Xuanqing and Deng Xuan couldn't help but speculate about their relationship.
Six years ago, of the four fiefdoms, only Nanman sided with the Great Zhou. Furthermore, Deng Xuan had lived in the capital for nearly three years before returning to Nanman. Zhou Xuanqing hadn't been rumored to have any romantic affairs at the age of nineteen. Could it be because of him?
Deng Xuan smiled happily, said he was waiting for the gift, and walked towards his seat.
Tang Mitang thought the same as everyone else and looked at Zhou Xuanqing puzzledly.
But she picked up the wine glass and took a sip. Her originally doting eyes turned cold. Her eyelids closed slightly, and when she opened them again, she had returned to her original appearance, lazy and noble.
Tang Mitang quickly looked away. Oh my God, what kind of face-changing was that just now... Fortunately, she was her friend.
That’s right, why would Zhou Xuanqing like a puppy-like boy like Deng Xuan?
Seeing this, the envoys from Dongyi and Beidi stood up respectfully. Just as they were about to speak, they saw Zhou Xuanqing looking up at them.
Originally, they were envoys sent by their own kings to see what was happening in the Great Zhou. Neither the Eastern Yi nor the Northern Di had arranged for a prince or princess to come, so they were already at a disadvantage based on their status, let alone preparing gifts that could rival those of the Southern Barbarians...
Seeing Zhou Xuanqing looking at them with an almost frosty gaze, they forgot all the remarks they had prepared and could only bow silently.
"The Dongyi (Northern Di) envoys come to see the emperor!"
Zhou Xuanqing twirled his wine glass. He didn't rush them to get up. Instead, he tilted his head to glance at Zhou Erlan and said slowly, "Oh? Dongyi and Beidi are here too? Why didn't Erlan tell me?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Erlan suppressed a smile and slowly stood up and said, "It's because Dongyi and Beidi didn't tell me why they came. Plus, I've been busy these past two days and haven't had the time to tell you yet."
Upon hearing this, the Dongyi and Beidi envoys' faces, buried in their chests, turned pale. On the day they arrived, no one came to greet them. Later, Zhou Erlan came to see them and asked why they had come. They were too angry to bother making up a reason, so they didn't say anything.
But I didn’t expect Zhou Erlan to say that!
Zhou Xuan listened to Zhou Erlan's words and saw that the two envoys were almost shrinking their heads. She chuckled and had no intention of letting them go. After so many years in power, she knew the thoughts of these four fiefdoms.
Dongyi and Beidi have always been fence-sitters, leaning towards whichever side the wind blows stronger. If we don't take things too seriously today, they will probably become even bolder.
The two people in the middle became even more frightened when they heard Zhou Xuanqing's laughter. If they had known that Da Zhou was fine, they would not have gotten involved in this mess!
I'm afraid it will take a lot of bleeding to solve the problem today.
"I wonder why the envoys from the two places are here?" Zhou Xuanqing's cold voice reached the ears of the two people, like a deadly ghost talisman, making them shudder.
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