Deep Palace Pet Peach Blossom Flawless

Emperor Shenwu said hurriedly, "That's not what I meant. I was just surprised."

Empress Dowager Li was filled with sorrow. "I just hope that your brother can cheer up. I see that girl is the best medicine for him. When your brother truly regains his confidence and starts to make progress, I can finally put my worries to rest."

Emperor Shenwu did not want to say more and nodded, "Then my mother will grant the marriage."

The ban on Prince Kang was finally lifted. That day, Emperor Shenwu held a banquet for the royal family in a side hall of the Linde Palace, inviting only twenty or so close relatives. Among them were Prince An, Prince Kang, and Prince Ding.

Halfway through the banquet, Emperor Shenwu sighed: "I heard that the old prince is already ninety years old. He is indeed the oldest person in the Dasheng royal family. I have sent the imperial physician to serve the old prince personally." The royal family members expressed their gratitude to the emperor and thanked him on behalf of the old prince.

The emperor then said, "Prince Ding."

Prince Ding stepped out and knelt in salute.

Emperor Shenwu said, "The old prince has recently submitted his resignation from the position of clan leader. Prince Ding, my elder brother, Prince Dasheng, will take over the position of clan leader from today, holding the rank of First Rank."

Prince Ding kowtowed in gratitude. Prince Kang watched, envious and jealous, regretting that he lacked the ability. Prince An, however, felt a complex and ambivalent mood. As the eldest son, he had lost his right to compete for the highest position, already relegated to a younger brother, born to the same father and mother. Now, even a prince born to a palace maid had surpassed him.

Emperor Shenwu continued, "The First Rank is responsible for the registers of the nine imperial clans. They regularly compile the Imperial Register, recording matters such as the marriages of royal children to commoners, titles, successions, births and deaths, marriages, and posthumous burials. Prince Ding, you also hold other positions. I hope you will fulfill them diligently and be loyal and filial."

Prince Ding said firmly, "I will not let your majesty down!"

Emperor Shenwu nodded and said, "The Left and Right Zongzheng and the Left and Right Zongren will assist you. There is only one royal rule that all Zhou children must remember: if anyone violates the etiquette and rules, the teacher and the Zongrenfu will report it. If it's a minor offense, the teacher will reprimand him; if it's a major offense, the teacher will report it to the Zongrenfu."

Prince Ding understood that this was to allow him to take back power as soon as possible. The old prince had not been in charge of affairs for many years and was only in figurehead position. Now the left and right clan leaders were in charge of the real power. Although they had done nothing wrong, they were not the emperor's confidants.

The other princes and relatives all knelt in the hall and said, "We will faithfully follow the Holy Order and will not let down Your Majesty's teachings."

Emperor Shenwu asked everyone to stand up, and everyone returned to their seats. Only Prince Kang remained standing in the hall. Only then did Emperor Shenwu look him in the eye.

King Kang summoned up his courage, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, I have acted rudely before, and I have been reflecting on my past. I feel I cannot continue in this muddle-headed way. From now on, I will abide by the rules and regulations and will not bring shame to the royal family again."

Emperor Shenwu felt that both brothers had been acting strangely lately. One wanted to pull himself together and marry a daughter of the Li family, while the other, a lifelong drifter, wanted to stay out of trouble. He shifted his thoughts and said, "That's good."

Prince Kang clasped his fists again and said, "Your Majesty, I have another matter. During the Lantern Festival banquet, I drank a few glasses of wine and made a veiled statement to my elder brother, third brother, and other members of the royal family, saying that Concubine Liu in Prince Kang's palace was the most beautiful in the world. Now that I've sobered up, I feel deeply ashamed and guilty."

A prince claims to have the most beautiful woman in the world in his palace. Where does that put the supreme emperor? And where does that put the six concubines who are the most beautiful women in the world?

The Emperor twirled the jade ring on his finger and said, "It's alright. You've done and said everything when you were drunk."

King Kang seemed even more ashamed and fell to his knees. "It is precisely because of your majesty's magnanimity that I feel even more ashamed and uneasy. My concubine Liu has a younger sister who is even more beautiful than me, like Yue'e. I would like to offer her to your majesty to atone for my false words."

The palace fell silent. Prince Kang could only feel the emperor's inquiring gaze scanning him, and drops of cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Prince Ding squinted at Prince Kang, who had his head lowered, his facial expression unclear.

A prince broke the silence: "Your Majesty, it is rare for Prince Kang to show remorse. Why not accept his kindness?"

Another elder from the imperial clan also said, "His Royal Highness Prince Kang spoke wildly while drunk, but he later made amends and expressed gratitude for the emperor's grace. This is very good."

Emperor Shenwu said slowly, "Since that's the case, Liu will be named a talented lady and will enter the palace on a chosen day."

King Kang seemed relieved and bowed his head to express his gratitude.

Late at night, the Emperor Shenwu came to Suowu Palace. Lan Qingwu was awakened by his movements and hurriedly stood up and knelt. The Emperor Shenwu climbed onto the bed and hugged her and kissed her deeply until Lan Qingwu was out of breath. The Emperor Shenwu let her go and said, "I will show you something."

Emperor Shenwu handed Lan Qingwu an exquisite little wooden box. Lan Qingwu's heart moved slightly. He opened it and looked at it. His eyes lit up slightly. Emperor Shenwu said, "I saw some wedding rings at the market that day, but none of them were as good as the birthday gift you gave me that year."

Lan Qingwu whispered, "Your Majesty, did you bring back a pair of rings?" She had used the finest Hetian topaz, having them carved by a century-old master craftsman. They were smooth and flawless, and they came in pairs. Each ring had a peach blossom carved inside, and in the center, each ring had the other's name, "Heng" and "Ruo." There was only one such pair in the world.

Emperor Shenwu whispered in her ear, "Ruoruo, I brought back not only the wedding rings, but also all the calligraphy, paintings, brushes, inkstones, zithers, and flutes that we deposited together at the Ji family's bank. I sent people to retrieve them all when you were about to enter the palace. They are now in Qianzheng Hall. I was afraid that the deposit would expire, so I specially sent someone to add a few years' worth of money."

Yun Heng could not take the things they used back to the military camp, and Lan Qingwu could not take them home, so they stored them together in Ji's Cunzhuang.

Lan Qingwu's voice became even softer: "I also added money."

Emperor Shenwu heard it clearly, and a smile appeared on his lips: "Go to Qianzheng Hall another day and take a look at those things."

Lan Qingwu nodded, took out the rings, and put them on the ring finger of Emperor Shenwu's left hand. But after a moment, she took them off again. Emperor Shenwu asked her, "Why did you take them off again?"

Lan Qingwu lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty already has a ring on his finger, so it's not appropriate to wear a wedding ring."

Emperor Shenwu looked at her expression and asked, "How should I wear it?"

Lan Qingwu looked up at him and said, "I want to string them together with a string and wear them as a necklace."

Emperor Shenwu raised an eyebrow and said, "This is your birthday gift to me. You're wearing both and not leaving any for me? What are you thinking, you sensitive little thing?"

Lan Qingwu lowered his head slightly: "No..."

Emperor Shenwu embraced her and bit her lips gently: "Why don't you keep it for me?"

Lan Qingwu hugged his neck and said, "...I just don't want Your Majesty to wear the wedding ring...to someone else..."

Emperor Shenwu suddenly pressed her down and said, "You weird little thing..."

The Emperor Shenwu was aroused by her, and Lan Qingwu had no choice but to kneel down and obey the emperor. When the Emperor Shenwu was satisfied, he whispered in her ear: "I'll have someone weave the wedding rings with silk thread and send them to you, okay..." Then he kissed her lips gently.