The emperor's original intention was to smooth things over.
It was he who issued the imperial edict betrothing Song Wanchu to Liang Yuzhou.
He admired Song Hengyi and regretted his untimely death. He also had a good impression of Song Wanchu, Song Hengyi's daughter.
From the perspective of an elder, Song Wanchu was definitely an outstanding child and worthy of being the mistress of the Duke's Mansion.
Her family background was her only shortcoming.
He didn't understand why the princess dowager had such great hostility towards Song Wanchu.
In order to slander this innocent child, she didn't even care about her dignity and reputation.
The princess dowager refused to let the matter rest.
She stared at Liang Yuzhou, her eyes as if poisoned. "Young Master Liang is already a Taoist priest. Yet he talks about love between men and women all the time. It seems he hasn't truly renounced the world. I wonder which unobservant person recommended such a person to participate in the Spring Festival Banquet. I'm afraid it will anger the gods, and they won't bestow blessings on the people of our Great Zhou."
The crown prince, sitting beside the emperor, gently curled his lips and calmly took a sip of tea.
Unable to win, she started to change the topic and attack a different target.
"What the poor Taoist said were all old things before I became a Taoist priest. But as for the princess dowager, there are many young ladies sitting behind you, yet you are the one who started to pick on Miss Song and talked about love between men and women. What would you call such behavior? Being disrespectful in your old age?"
Everyone was shocked by Liang Yuzhou's audacity and stared at him in disbelief.
The grand hall was like a stagnant pool.
The princess dowager gritted her teeth, the veins on her forehead bulging. Her anger seemed to burst through her blood vessels.
Everyone in the capital knew that the princess dowager hated most to hear others say she was "old".
The word "old" was a taboo in front of her.
Everyone knew that the princess dowager deceived herself and constantly looked for young and strong male favorites in an attempt to regain the feeling of youth.
But no one dared to openly anger this beloved royal relative.
Liang Yuzhou was simply courting death!
"Someone, quickly arrest this arrogant, disrespectful and overconfident Taoist priest for this palace!"
The emerald jade cup in the princess dowager's hand shattered on the floor tiles.
She shrieked and gave the order.
A look of gloom flashed across the emperor's eyes.
The crown prince keenly noticed the change in his father's expression.
He calmly said, "Aunt, please calm down. In this main hall, the emperor is the most respected. The emperor hasn't said anything yet. Aren't you being a bit hasty?"
The princess dowager's eyes trembled slightly, and she subconsciously looked at the emperor.
In the past, she had also punished servants in front of the emperor many times.
The emperor never stopped her, let alone refused to give her face in public.
Afterwards, he would only persuade her mildly to be more lenient and not to treat the servants harshly.
But these words were mostly harmless, and the princess dowager never took them to heart.
She had suffered two setbacks at the hands of the crown prince, but she had managed to get through them without much danger.
The emperor's unconditional favor and indulgence towards her were the capital for her arrogance.
It even gave her the confidence to depose the crown prince!
The princess dowager was confident that on such a grand occasion, the emperor would definitely side with her and give her enough face.
But the emperor only glanced at her indifferently, then picked up his wine cup and took a sip.
Everyone quickly followed suit and raised their cups to drink.
The princess dowager's face was left hanging there.
The emperor even refused to give her a way out.
The princess dowager's hand holding the wine cup trembled constantly, and her body shivered.
What was wrong with the emperor today?
Was he possessed, or did he take the wrong medicine?
The crown prince's eyes met Liang Yuzhou's.
The surprise Liang Yuzhou had prepared for Song Wanchu had ended successfully.
The storm that the princess dowager had to face had just begun!
Liang Yuzhou retreated to the ranks of the Taoist priests.
The seats prepared for the Buddhist monks and Taoist priests were in the side hall.
Just as the two lines of people were walking towards the side hall under the guidance of the eunuchs, the princess dowager spoke again.
"This palace noticed that the seat of the Duke of Jinning is empty. May I ask the old matriarch, is the old duke in poor health?"
"It's all right. Although the situation was dangerous before, but Taoist Priest Qingzhou offered his heart's blood, and the severe poison has been removed. He will soon come out to pay respects to the emperor."
Although it was the princess dowager who asked the question and the old matriarch who answered it, the answer was addressed to the emperor.
The emperor nodded with a smile. "After all, they are blood - related. Taoist Priest Qingzhou is truly magnanimous."
His dissatisfaction was piling up. This was already the third time today that the princess dowager had spoken before him.
Why hadn't he noticed before that his elder sister was so arrogant?
Did she not even put him, the emperor, in her eyes?
Was it because he had indulged this sister too much in the past?
"No matter how good Taoist Priest Qingzhou is, he has already become a Taoist priest. And Song Wanchu has become a member of the Duke's Mansion. I'm afraid even if Taoist Priest Qingzhou returns to secular life, he won't be able to be included in the Liang family's genealogy."
The princess dowager looked at the emperor eagerly. "The Duke's Mansion is of great importance. It is always related to the safety of our Great Zhou. The position of the heir has been undecided, which is also a concern for the emperor."
She strongly implied to the emperor not to have any hope for Liang Yuzhou.
He only had love on his mind and was not worthy of becoming the heir again.
"Your Majesty, I think only Liang Yuchuan is the most suitable candidate for the heir."
The queen thoughtfully served the emperor some food. The emperor ate the food without making any comments.
He didn't speak easily because once he did, his words were like a gentleman's promise, which could influence people's minds and the trend of the court.
The princess dowager was anxious.
What else was there to hesitate about?
Liang Yuchuan was the only candidate!
"Father, aunt is concerned about the position of the heir of the Duke's Mansion, mainly because she is worried about the military power of the Duke's Mansion having no proper successor. I actually have a very suitable candidate."
The princess dowager sneered. "Does the crown prince still not want to give up on Liang Yuzhou?"
"No, it's not him." The crown prince denied, speaking in a leisurely tone.
The emperor's curiosity was piqued. "Who is it that Hong'er is talking about?"
The military power of the Duke's Mansion was also a hidden worry that troubled him day and night.
Two hundred thousand troops. If the hand - over was not done properly, the whole Great Zhou would be in turmoil.
The crown prince stood up and bowed respectfully to the emperor. "I beg Father not to be hasty. The music and dance department has newly choreographed a dance called 'Spring Plowing Dance'. Father might as well wait until after watching it."
The emperor said cheerfully, "Very well."
The princess dowager didn't know what the crown prince was up to.
But she became more and more panicked.
The emperor seemed to care less and less about her!
The singing started, and the drumbeats gradually grew denser. The dancing girls wore wheat ears on their heads and colorful dancing clothes, and they danced gracefully.
The dance movements changed constantly, making people dazzled.
When the music reached its climax, a clear voice rang out -
"Welcome the God of Grain!"
An old man with white hair and a ruddy complexion was sitting on a throne made of grains and was slowly pushed into the hall by six dancing girls.
The God of Grain had a kind and compassionate look, as if he carried the light of the gods. He looked down on all sentient beings with compassion, bringing the hope of a good harvest to the land.
Everyone clapped their hands. This dance was novel and had a good meaning. The emperor would surely be very pleased.
When everyone looked at the emperor's reaction, the emperor suddenly stood up and shouted excitedly, "Uncle Third?"