The eldest princess jolted upright, her reaction even more intense than the emperor's.
The third imperial uncle?
Which third imperial uncle?
That old coot, the Prince Rui?
He wasn't dead yet?
She blinked vigorously, her eyes fixed on the white - haired and bearded old man.
Her heart tightened with each beat, and a chill ran down her spine.
That old scoundrel, the Prince Rui, had bossed the emperor around back then, telling him not to indulge her too much.
Those words had reached the empress dowager's ears, and the empress dowager had summoned her and scolded her for being arrogant and causing trouble for the court.
Every little bit of her out - of - line behavior had escaped neither the Prince Rui's eyes nor his reports to the emperor.
The eldest princess loathed this meddling third imperial uncle to the core.
Back then, he had destroyed the imperial edict that the late emperor had issued to make him the regent. He had forced the chief scribe to forge an edict and exile himself from the capital, committing the heinous crime of deceiving the emperor.
And yet, he dared to appear openly before the emperor?
The eldest princess wished the emperor would immediately issue an order to arrest him and execute him by slow slicing!
However, the emperor's reaction caught her off - guard.
The emperor rose from his dragon throne and strode quickly down the steps. Before he even reached Taoist Qiu, he stretched out his hands.
A solemn and taciturn emperor had never demeaned himself like this before.
Taoist Qiu jumped off the five - grain throne and grasped those trembling hands.
He smiled calmly, as if facing a long - lost, grown - up junior.
It had indeed been over twenty years since he and the emperor had last met.
The once high - spirited young man now had gray hair, wrinkles around his eyes, and a look of vicissitude from years of toiling for the country in his eyes.
"Third imperial uncle, it really is you," the emperor said, his eyes brimming with tears. "Hong'er wrote to say he'd found you. At first, I couldn't believe it. I never thought you'd be willing to return to the capital and see me..."
Taoist Qiu took two steps back and was about to kneel when the emperor quickly supported him. "Uncle, I can't accept this bow!"
"Your Majesty, you are the lord of the world and the monarch of the country. Although I'm of a higher seniority, I'm still your subject. It's only natural for a subject to bow to the king," Taoist Qiu said.
The emperor was stunned for a moment. After understanding the meaning behind Taoist Qiu's words, he was overjoyed and didn't stop him anymore.
Taoist Qiu performed a standard salute of a subject to the emperor.
After all these years apart, he didn't act superior but insisted on saluting the emperor, indicating that he was willing to let bygones be bygones and become a general of the Great Zhou again, obeying the emperor's command.
The control of the two hundred thousand troops of the Duke's Mansion finally had a perfect destination at this moment.
The emperor knew that Liang Yuchuan was not up to the task, but he was worried about finding someone with authority and ability to take over the military power of the Duke's Mansion.
The crown prince had relieved his worries and found the most suitable candidate.
The emperor turned to look at the crown prince and nodded approvingly. "Hong'er, you've done well!"
It must have taken the crown prince a great deal of effort to persuade the retired Prince Rui.
It must be Hong'er's sincerity that had touched the third imperial uncle.
The eldest princess's face seemed to be splitting apart, her eyes blazing with extreme anger and hatred.
The emperor, the crown prince, and the Prince Rui were in cahoots, so easily seizing the military power of the Duke's Mansion?
Wouldn't Liang Yuchuan become a useless piece on the chessboard?
Her hands clutching her knees trembled constantly, the knuckles protruding and cold.
The military power of the Duke's Mansion was a sharp weapon to stabilize the court. Whoever held it held the power of speech.
Liang Xuguang had remained neutral and refused to take sides. She had planned painstakingly for so many years, and success had seemed within reach.
It must not be snatched away by the suddenly - appeared Prince Rui!
The changes in her expression didn't escape the crown prince's eyes.
Receiving the emperor's praise, the crown prince remained calm. He walked up to the emperor. "Father is wise. Uncle Duke's willingness to enter the capital again and serve the Great Zhou is thanks to Miss Song. I couldn't persuade Uncle Duke, but Miss Song touched his heart with reason and emotion, and only then did Uncle Duke agree to return to the secular world."
When Song Wanchu's name was mentioned by the crown prince, it carried an additional layer of patriotism.
The emperor looked at Song Wanchu and sighed. "Miss Song is truly a woman of great integrity. She is worthy of being the daughter of the Song family. Both she and her father are heroes of the Great Zhou!"
The grand hall fell deathly silent. Everyone's eyes on Song Wanchu turned respectful.
The queen's gaze swept across the crown prince's face imperceptibly.
The crown prince was looking at Song Wanchu intently.
But it was just a glance, and then his attention shifted away from Song Wanchu's face.
The queen followed his gaze and was slightly surprised.
A few seats away from Song Wanchu sat a new face at this banquet.
Cheng Simian.
The crown prince's eyes lingered on her for a long time.
No wonder the crown prince's look at Song Wanchu seemed much purer than before.
The queen smiled faintly, understanding everything.
"Your Majesty, Miss Song has rendered great service and should be well rewarded," the queen said.
She was glad to see the eldest princess being foiled and truly hoped to dispel all the rumors about Song Wanchu.
Without hesitation, the emperor waved his hand. "Reward, of course! I hereby ennoble Song Wanchu as a county princess with the title of Yuening. She shall be rewarded with one thousand taels of gold and an estate of thirty thousand households!"
Song Wanchu left her seat and knelt to thank the emperor.
Who could have imagined that Song Wanchu, the daughter of a sixth - rank official, would suddenly be ennobled as a county princess and become a real member of the royal family!
The eldest princess looked as pale as death.
Song Wanchu, Song Wanchu, always Song Wanchu.
All her plans had failed because of Song Wanchu!
The unwilling hatred fiercely battered her nerves.
She took a few deep breaths to calm herself down and forced a sinister smile. She looked at Princess Lingyang.
"Lingyang, you'll have an elder sister from now on. Aren't you happy? You two sisters should let bygones be bygones and make peace."
Every word she said was subtly trying to sow discord.
Everyone knew that Princess Lingyang was madly in love with Liang Yuzhou and hated Song Wanchu to the core.
Liang Yuzhou had deliberately ignored Song Wanchu in public, creating the illusion that he was deeply in love with Yu Huiyan, making Yu Huiyan a thorn in Princess Lingyang's eye.
By the time Princess Lingyang realized that Yu Huiyan was just a scapegoat for Song Wanchu, the emperor had already issued an edict to ennoble Song Wanchu as a first - rank imperial - order lady.
Princess Lingyang probably hated Liang Yuzhou too.
This hatred born out of love had been transferred to Song Wanchu. Princess Lingyang wished she could skin Song Wanchu alive!
The queen nervously looked at Lingyang and silently warned her with her eyes not to be provoked by the eldest princess and lose her mind.
Princess Lingyang had been spoiled and sometimes did act recklessly and cause trouble.
But she knew that going against Song Wanchu now would be to disrespect her father.
She wasn't that stupid to be used as a pawn by the eldest princess.
She smiled sweetly at Song Wanchu. "Sister Wanchu, I was naive and offended you before. Now that we're family, I'd like to apologize to you."
She walked down, picked up a cup of wine in front of Song Wanchu.
Song Wanchu remained calm and clinked glasses with her.
"I don't deserve an apology from the princess. I'm unworthy of this cup."
The two defused the tension with their polite words.
The eldest princess's scheme had failed again.