Chapter 124: The Prince Picks Up Zhen After the Meeting
“We, your humble subjects, implore the Emperor to marry!”
“Spread branches and leaves for the inheritance of the Ancestral Temple and the Empire.”
Inside the Department of State Affairs, a mass of people knelt with a rustle.
Because the view was separated by semi-transparent gauze curtains, the scene inside wasn’t clearly visible, which conversely made the sight of this large group of court officials prostrating on the ground appear even more magnificent.
Su Jingzhiâs Adamâs apple bobbed.
Beneath his bronze wrist guard, his exposed left hand was unconsciously tightening, veins surfacing on the back of his hand.
Wei Wanlan was already eighteen.
In fact, the day of the ceremony for assuming governance had been Wei Wanlanâs birthday.
Most officials in the court naturally didn’t know the Emperorâs exact birth date and eight characters, but Su Jingzhi knew. Since he was chosen by the late Emperor to assist in governance, he had gone to the Tianlu Pavilion to read Xiao Wanâs Golden Casket to understand the new monarch.
Eighteen years old in Great Wei was not yet considered fully adult; one could not perform the Capping Ceremony.
However, among the imperial clan and common folk, many men married and had children before the Capping Ceremony. Wei Wanlan now held real power; it was precisely the time to take a wife and continue the imperial bloodline. The ministers were terrified of a repeat of the late Emperorâs situationâdying without an heir, forcing a young brother to inherit the foundation.
And Wei Wanlanâs relatives in Chang’an had all been eliminated by him… who else could inherit the empire???
For a monarch to marry at eighteen was not excessive.
It was practically imperative.
When Tang Tuan heard these words from within the curtains, he stiffened for a moment too, but his thoughts went in a completely different direction.
These civil officials are truly annoying!
Tang Tuan absolutely did not believe that in the entire Department of State Affairs, no one could see the Boss had feelings for the Little Emperor. They were all feigning ignorance while knowing the truth, trying to force the Little Emperor to marry!
Marriage is great for themâif the Little Emperor marries, they can stuff people into the harem and become imperial relatives. When one person achieves the Dao, their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. If the Little Emperorâs concubines give birth to a few princes and princesses, each faction will have someone to support, making it convenient for them to start the next round of the Game of Thrones.
Although Tang Tuanâs thoughts were a bit extreme.
As a die-hard loyalist of the Regent, he knew deeply that there was a profound bond between the Regent and the Little Emperor. He simply hated all the civil officials to deathâthe Boss and the Little Emperor were so good together; was having a cub really such a big problem???
The atmosphere on the other side of the gauze curtain was a bit deadlocked.
There was no sound for a long time.
The ministers seemed to be kneeling indefinitely.
Tang Tuan was fed up with the civil officials’ routine of “if you don’t listen, I’ll kneel until I die.” He wanted to barge into the council hall and interrupt this farce of forcing the Little Emperor onto the bridal sedan chair. “Subordinate will rescue His Majesty.”
His arm was pinned down by the Regent.
Tang Tuanâs movement stopped abruptly. He raised his eyebrows in confusion. “…Boss?”
He was puzzled, greatly perplexed. What was wrong with the Boss? Was he actually allowing them to poison the Little Emperor’s mind?
Shouldn’t he rush in and domineeringly tell this bunch of civil officials that the Little Emperor was going to spend the rest of his life with him?
Su Jingzhi didn’t speak, so Tang Tuan dared not act without orders.
But Tang Tuan actually didn’t know that Su Jingzhi had long suspended his breath to listen. He desperately wanted to know: exactly what thoughts did Wei Wanlan have regarding marriage and children?
If Wei Wanlan wanted to start a family and take concubines, if he didn’t reject a Grand Wedding, then their mutual “liking” would remain at the level of playmates. Although Su Jingzhi would be unbearably sad, he would continue to treat him as before, but he would also re-evaluate his emotional strategy toward Wei Wanlan.
He loved Wei Wanlan deeply.
But he absolutely did not wish to do anything that would put Wei Wanlan in a difficult position.
…This was a good opportunity to probe the Little Foolâs heart.
Su Jingzhi held his breath.
Inside the gauze curtain, monarch and subjects were silent. It was so quiet one could hear a pin drop.
After about the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, the silence broke.
Wei Wanlan yawned lightly, covering his mouth with a dragon paw:
“Marriage is such a big matter. Zhen still wants to discuss it properly with the Regent, and let the Regent decide together with Zhen.”
This wasn’t a definitive answer. The ministers were struck dumb.
Meng Xiji of the Ministry of Rites hurriedly pressed, “Your Majesty, the matter of an Emperorâs marriage should be managed by the elders of the Imperial Clan. How can…”
But Wei Wanlan pouted slightly. Having regained Su Jingzhi after losing him, he couldn’t tolerate anyone saying he wasn’t close to the Regent. He showed a hint of dissatisfaction:
“But Zhen really doesn’t have any elders left. Can’t Zhen ask the Regent?”
Meng Xiji instantly fell silent.
At this moment, the civil officials also realized something. They all looked at each other, and the scene fell into a strange silence.
The Emperor had long been without father, mother, or older brother. His biological sister and the majority of his imperial relatives had been personally sent to Hell by him during the rebellion not long ago!
âThe Little Emperor, who looked gentle and harmless, had a face that was too deceptive. It was easy to make people forget that he was a true holder of real power, a man alone, whose hands were already stained with blood.
Minister Meng couldn’t help but shudder; he had dangerously offended the Imperial dignity.
Meng Xiji hurriedly apologized, kneeling on the ground very steadily. “Please forgive this humble subject’s offense. This subject has overstepped.”
Since he started it, the civil officials behind him followed suit in apologizing. The situation shifted silently, and the ministers were instantly trembling with fear.
“Please forgive us, Your Majesty!”
Actually, Wei Wanlan didn’t quite understand where the ministers had erred.
Wei Wanlan thought about it, but still offered a somewhat explanatory remark: ” Zhen isn’t angry, nor am I blaming anyone. You all said this kind of thing can’t be handled by Zhen personally, so from now on, you should ask the Regent, okay? Even if you want to kneel, go kneel to him…”
Meng Xiji and the others were even more terrified: Who dares to ask that Living Enma?!!
Let alone kneeling to advise Su Jingzhiâhe wouldn’t pay any attention to you. He might even have the Jinwu Guard drag you out directly, and drag out a whole pile of you.
Inside the gauze curtain, the ministers were even more panicked.
Outside the gauze curtain, a smile suddenly floated onto the Regentâs face: The Little Fool has me in his heart.
âHe wanted him to admit it, to be together quickly. The Grand Wedding could only be with him.
“Ahem.”
Su Jingzhi lifted the curtain and entered the council hall.
The moment he appeared, the entire room bowed. Su Jingzhi had always carried an aura of coercion that made the ministers barely dare to breathe. The officials fell silent instantly.
Only Wei Wanlan hurriedly packed up the paper and brush on the imperial desk and pounced over excitedly: “Regent King! Are you here to pick Zhen up after the meeting?” He followed Su Jingzhi, ready to leave together.
That manner was like a little fox squatting, tilting its head, and wagging its tail, softly waiting to be carried away. He was so obedient that the Regent almost couldn’t resist kissing him right there in the Department of State Affairs.
Recently, his heart was always melting into sugar water.
However, Su Jingzhi decided to hold the line and didn’t use his mouth. Instead, he did something slightly more reserved. In front of all the court officials of the Department of State Affairs, he took Wei Wanlanâs left hand.
“Picking you up to leave. To go boating on the Taiye Pool.”
Wei Wanlan was full of joy. “Great! But Zhen doesn’t know how to row.”
“This King will row.”
“Thatâs awesome!” The Emperor was happy. Wei Wanlan walked in front, the Regent walked behind.
Before leaving the council hall, Su Jingzhi turned around. It seemed like a casual glance back, yet his piercing gaze bore down on the heads of every civil official who had just advised Wei Wanlan to marry, making them shudder without cold.
It was only then that Meng Xiji and the others discoveredâ
The hand the Regent was using to lead the Little Emperor wasn’t a simple hand-hold, nor was it the motion of leading a child.
It was gripped very tightly, fingers interlocked.
The Little Emperor didn’t struggle free either; instead, he narrowed his eyes, enjoying it very much.
No one present was blind. The civil officials were all seasoned spirits; most had figured it out, and they had a rough guess in their hearts. The Regent didn’t treat the Little Emperor as a junior at all!
They were mutually in love.
And they had actually tried to persuade the Little Emperor to take a wife and concubines while the Regent was away?
Meng Xiji and the others felt waves of lingering fear. Thinking of the Regentâs temper, then… would they be flayed by the Regent?
Although two men marrying was contrary to ethical norms… did they dare to stop it?
Did they dare?
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