Chapter 4
At daybreak, Chang Xi, accompanied by a dressed-up palace maid, holding the dragon robe, knocked on the door of the main hall of the Daming Palace on time.
"Your Majesty, it's time for the morning court~"
After Chang Xi finished speaking, a while later, a sound came from inside the house.
"Come in."
Zhou Xuanqing sat up from the bed, glanced at the palace maids who rushed in like a swarm of fish, and pressed his solar plexus tiredly.
If possible, she doesn't want to be the emperor...
Zhou Xuanqing changed her clothes, and her black hair was tied up high and fixed with a golden crown. As usual, the palace maid drew her eyebrows a little thicker to hide her beauty and add a touch of heroic spirit.
Zhou Xuanqing walked outside. After taking two steps, his eyes rolled, revealing a sly smile. He turned around and walked to the dressing table and sat down.
"Ah?" Chang Xi was confused by the emperor's action and followed him in confusion.
The emperor has never been late since he came to power. How come he is sitting down when it is almost time today?
Zhou Xuanqing took out pearl powder and smeared some on his face. Seeing his face turn pale, he nodded with satisfaction. Then he changed the vermilion lip balm to colorless and wiped off some of the eyebrow ink.
Zhou Xuanqing stopped only when the face in the bronze mirror became weak.
"Your Majesty, the morning court session will begin in half a quarter of an hour." Chang Xi leaned close to Zhou Xuanqing's ear and whispered a reminder.
"Lan'er has been tying her hair for two years?" Zhou Xuanqing asked with raised eyebrows.
"Well, yes." Chang Xi answered and waved his hand to send the palace maids out.
Zhou Xuanqing held his wrist and stood up, walked to the window, thought of the scene in his dream, and sighed.
"Chang Xi...I dreamed yesterday that Lan'er killed me...Chang Xi, have I done anything wrong all these years?"
"Your Majesty, Prince Lan would never do such a thing. The people of the world have seen your achievements in politics over the years. Without you, there would be no glorious Great Zhou. Go out of the palace and take a look. The country is prosperous and the people are safe. You can't think like that." Chang Xi said anxiously as he stood in front of Zhou Xuanqing, tears in his eyes.
He had grown up with the princess, and over the years, he had watched her become emperor. She first pacified the remnants of the Cheng clan, then sent troops to suppress the tribes surrounding the Great Zhou. Even droughts, floods, and insect plagues were dealt with personally by the princess. When the princess inherited the throne, she was only thirteen! She hadn't slept in all those years!
"Wuwu... Your Majesty, please don't think too much..." Chang Xi hugged Zhou Xuanqing's arm, her eyes blurred with tears, and tears fell down.
"Pa" Zhou Xuanqing covered his mouth with a slap. It was really... annoying.
"Chang Xi, you are not allowed to read storybooks anymore!" Zhou Xuanqing said, turning and walking out the door. She certainly knew her own abilities, and she was talking about family relationships!
Chang Xi wiped her tears and followed Zhou Xuanqing's steps. Thinking of the powder on the emperor's face, she silently held her arm.
"Your Majesty, please walk slowly. You are poisoned~"
Zhou Xuanqing rolled his eyes at him and said in a deep voice, "What's wrong!"
Zhou Erlan arrived at the court early for the first time, wearing a dragon robe, standing among the officials, holding the imperial edict in his sleeve with some excitement.
The officials waited until the morning court bell rang, but still no sign of the emperor. They looked at each other in confusion. Why was the emperor, who always arrived early, late today?
When Zhou Erlan saw it, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but rise.
Hahaha~ From today on, the throne belongs to him!
Zhixuan had indeed not lied to him and had given the imperial sister a drug that made her unconscious. He would wait until he became emperor and then wake her up...
"The emperor has arrived~" Chang Xi raised his whisk and shouted in a shrill voice.
Zhou Xuanqing walked up to the stage step by step and sat on the dragon throne. Seeing Zhou Erlan's stiff smile, his heart ached.
Lan'er is simple by nature, why would she smear arsenic on an arrow?
Why did the princess wake up?
Zhou Erlan's smile froze on her face, and she looked at Zhou Xuanqing with disbelief.
Zhixuan couldn't possibly have lied to him? How could that be? Could it be that the medicine didn't work?
Zhou Xuanqing frowned when he saw the disbelief on his face. What was Lan'er so disbelieved about? Could it be... impossible? They were siblings with the same father and mother.
Even if the person who tried to assassinate her last night went to Zhou Xuanqing's place, even if the sword in her dream last night was so real, she would not believe that her brother wanted to kill her.
"Cough cough~" Zhou Xuanqing put his sleeve in front of his mouth and coughed twice, then looked at the officials and spoke weakly.
"I'm late today."
"Your Majesty, please take care of yourself!" All the officials shouted worriedly as they looked at her pale face.
After all, they had witnessed the emperor's years of governing the country, and the prosperity surpassed all previous dynasties. Although she was a woman, everyone was convinced of her ability to govern the country.
"After the banquet yesterday, I was assassinated in the Imperial Garden. The investigation into the perpetrators will be handed over to Prince Lan. I hope Prince Lan can give me a satisfactory answer. In addition, I need to recuperate for the next two days, so I ask Prince Lan to come to the Imperial Study after court every day to help me handle government affairs."
Zhou Xuanqing spoke one sentence at a time, looking at Zhou Erlan with a smile.
After hearing this, Zhou Erlan stepped forward, clasped his fists, and said, "Your Highness, I obey your command."
Why does the Imperial Sister look so glum? Didn't they say that the drug would only cause a somnolence, the same as falling asleep?
But did the Imperial Sister ask him to investigate because she discovered something? And did she ask him to handle government affairs in the Imperial Study? Was she planning to give up power?
Zhou Erlan was full of doubts. After the court session, he walked towards the imperial study.
Zhou Xuanqing got on the sedan chair and went straight back to the Daming Palace.
Chang Xi followed behind, looking up at her with a smile.
"Your Majesty, aren't you going to the imperial study?" Chang Xi asked slyly, rubbing his hands, his small eyes darting around.
Zhou Xuanqing glanced down, the corner of his mouth curled up as he said, "I've been poisoned. I'm not feeling well and need to stay in bed and rest."
Chang Xi nodded and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, have a good rest. By the way, Tang Mi will be there to serve you today. I'll go help Prince Lan first. You can talk to her if you have anything to say."
After saying this, Chang Xi chuckled and ran towards the imperial study happily.
Zhou Xuanqing looked at his back and shook his head helplessly.
Then Xuan Yi and Xuan Er appeared on Zhou Xuanqing's left and right.
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