After traveling through time, I became the aunt of the loyal dog emperor

Rehearsals, detail control, and scene scheduling, Wan Ning and Xiang Wanxuan all devoted themselves to the preparations for the memorial dinner in the next few days. Even several people from Yuxi Palace were drafted in and were extremely busy.

Fortunately, everything went smoothly as planned. Now we just need to send out all the invitations before the banquet and wait for the guests to come. In the court, Liu Xueyu's case has been sorted out and the truth has been found out, but how to use this case to tear open a gap in the power of the emperor and develop the emperor's own power in the court has not yet been determined.

Ziheng understood very well that even if this incident could hit them, it would not be enough to pose a threat to the retired emperor; even if there were people who could develop themselves in the court, they would be far from being able to compete with them; if they were counterattacked by them one day, they would probably lose even more completely.

Now there is another way before him, which is to promote his own people while introducing the power of a third party to form a three-way balance of power, that is, to support the old forces of King Qi.

When Prince Qi left Nanye, he had many supporters and followers in the court, including some in high positions. After Prince Qi left, all of these forces suffered setbacks and were ignored by the new emperor, and on the surface they fell apart. But with Prince Qi ending his vow to guard the border and returning to Nanye not long ago, these forces are also ready to move, and perhaps this is an opportunity to unite them.

However, he had not dealt with Prince Qi for many years and was not clear about Prince Qi's position. He was afraid that he would let the wolf into the house. However, if he did not do this, he could not escape the fate of being a puppet with his power, could not realize his ambitions, and could not protect the people he wanted to protect. Perhaps, signing a contract with danger was the way to avoid danger.

Therefore, when Liu Xueyu's case was not yet closed, Ziheng secretly investigated the deeds of King Qi in Northern Qi. After learning that Northern Qi was well-organized under King Qi's 19-year rule, not only did he protect the local peace and avoid interference from foreign tribes, but he also eliminated the bullies who had oppressed the people for many years and completely wiped out the bandits who bullied men and women, he felt more at ease with his choice.

Even if Prince Qi had ambitions to become emperor, his talent and ambition were enough to make the State of Chu stable and prosperous. In this way, he had fulfilled his responsibilities as an emperor, and he would have no regrets.

He went out of the palace privately many times to talk with Prince Qi, and personally promoted Fu Yuanlang, who was recommended by Prince Qi, as the chief judge of this case. Fu Yuanlang's father was once a confidant of the previous emperor. He was upright and outspoken and brave enough to give advice. When Prince Qi had not yet left Nanye, he had repeatedly criticized the absurd behavior of the retired emperor, who was still the prince, and praised Prince Qi's unique insights. When he learned that Prince Qi was going to leave Nanye for 19 years, he was even more outspoken about his concerns about the Chu State being handed over to the prince.

Later, when the previous emperor passed away and the prince ascended the throne, he took the initiative to resign and left the power center to avoid disaster. The emperor, thinking of the previous emperor's face and not wanting to be known as petty, let him go. But the impact has always existed. His son Fu Yuanlang has been well-read since he was a child and has passed the imperial examinations. However, after many years of serving as an official and winning the local reputation and people's hearts, he has never been reused or promoted and has been rotating in small places.

Now Ziheng has issued an imperial decree to summon him back to Nanye to try this case that has attracted national attention. On the one hand, it can consolidate the original strength; on the other hand, it is also a test for him. If he can handle it impartially, there will be no problem with his ability and position, and it will not be a wrong choice to keep him in the court of Nanye. Thirdly, although his father has left the center of power for many years, many people promoted by him are still there. Although most of them have been suppressed by the retired emperor, as long as the new emperor can give some support, it will boost their morale.

It can indeed pose a certain threat to the emperor's party. Now he has no way to retreat and can only move forward.

Anyway, time passed quickly and the day of the banquet finally arrived.

Everything went according to plan in the early morning. First, someone was sent to Furong Building to retrieve the reserved lotus cakes. Then Wan Ning rushed to the venue to supervise the arrangement, taking care of every detail. When everything was ready, it was already noon. Wan Ning changed into the pink dress she had prepared in advance, combed her hair into a dignified and elegant princess hairstyle, and added a few clever hairpins to embellish it. In a trance, she couldn't even tell who was in the mirror.

"Sister Le Yan, you are so beautiful!" In order to prepare for today's event, Meng Zhu specially asked for a day's leave from the Queen Mother and followed Wan Ning like a little follower.

Wan Ning smiled and turned back: "Mengzhu, your words are getting sweeter and sweeter. It's not in vain that you have been learning from the Queen Mother. You have achieved remarkable results."

"I'm not lying. Sister Le Yan looks best in this way." Meng Zhu touched the dress carefully, her eyes full of love, yet she cherished it as if she was afraid of getting it dirty.

Wan Ning saw her like this and immediately winked at Wan Tao who was standing beside her. Wan Tao understood and turned around to take out a beautifully wrapped package from the room and brought it to the two of them to open. A gorgeous goose yellow dress appeared in front of them. Meng Zhu's eyes flashed with love and she looked at Wan Ning in disbelief. After getting a positive answer, she happily took it and compared the size in front of her.

"It seems a little big. If it doesn't fit, you can alter it." Wan Tao helped to check and added, "Princess Le Yan wanted to give Princess Meng Zhu a surprise, so she didn't tailor the clothes to her body, but it can still be altered."

"It's not big, not really. Anyway, I can't wear it now. In two years, when my father comes to pick me up, I will wear it and give him a surprise. I will be very beautiful then, and he may not even recognize me." Meng Zhu imagined excitedly while carefully putting the clothes away.

Mengzhu came here on behalf of Tumo, so she always wore her special clothes. As they talked, they had finished dressing up, and moved to the main venue of the banquet to welcome the invited guests. On both sides of the banquet venue were placed the flowers and plants that Pei Lan liked. The melodious sound of the piano in the courtyard also drifted around with the wind. The music that sounded was also the song she loved to play before. The pianist followed the skills from the simplest to the most advanced, and now he was just like a child learning to speak.

"Auntie Huang, long time no see!"

Hearing someone calling her, Wan Ning quickly turned around and saw Yan Ke, who usually dressed like a female knight, also dressed up and had a smile on her face. The strange thing was that she was the only one there, without any sign of Prince Qi and Zi Jian.