Wow, this rough-around-the-edges pregnant wife is something else, she's incredibly ruthless!

Wisps of smoke swirled in the air, emitting a faint fragrance.

The room was spacious, bright, and extremely luxurious. Behind a large pastoral screen, a faint shadow could be seen.

The chess pieces made a "click" sound as they landed on the board, but upon closer inspection, it turned out that only one person was playing.

The pieces on the opposite side are in the air.

The man was not yet twenty years old, but he was already tall and slender. The crescent-white robe he wore gave him an indescribable air of nobility.

Of course, what's most stunning is the man's cold and unique face, which possesses both the fortitude and coldness of a man and the allure and charm of a woman.

The combination of the two doesn't seem contradictory; instead, it adds a unique charm to the man.

Her narrow, upturned eyes, with a slight smile, were almost 80% similar to Meng Tong's, and her tightly pursed thin lips were almost identical to Lu Chuan's.

This is Lu Huai, who wandered around Wuyou Valley and eventually came to the palace to become the imperial advisor.

He played chess with himself in a leisurely and elegant manner, and the white chess pieces hovering in the air landed steadily on the chessboard after the boy made his move.

The boy held a cup in one hand and took a sip from the teacup beside him with the other.

His calm, unwavering eyes held a constant smile, just as the black piece was about to fall. A sharp voice rang out from outside the door.

"Sir, the Crown Prince has arrived."

The father-in-law, who was in his early forties, walked in respectfully and said...

He dared not overstep his bounds in front of the young man seated above him.

This is someone even His Majesty treats with deference!

"Let him in!"

"Yes."

The eunuch bowed and left the room. Lu Huaigang stood up from his chair, and a young man dressed in a bright yellow robe walked in.

Although he was two or three years younger than Lu Huai, Zhou Min's figure already possessed the bearing of a man.

This is all thanks to Zhou Fu and Zhou Yan for their excellent teaching; they take the child to exercise every day.

A broad smile graced his face, and the boy's clear, bright eyes sparkled with surprise.

"Brother Ah Huai, why did you come to the palace? When Father took my sister and me to Wuyou Valley before, Aunt Meng told me that you went to Nanling."

"How was it? Was it fun outside?" Zhou Min's usually aloof personality was revealed when he was in front of someone he knew well.

Especially that curious look, it's exactly the same as when I was a child.

Lu Huai smiled faintly, then gestured for Zhou Min to sit opposite him on the chessboard.

After ordering hot tea to be served, Lu Huaicai said casually, "It's fun. Your Highness can go out and see it in the future."

It would have been better if it hadn't been mentioned, because Zhou Min felt wronged as soon as it was brought up.

From childhood to adulthood, he had never been anywhere except the palace. The last time he was able to go to Wuyou Valley was only because he had to beg his father for a long time.

Watching Lu Huaineng travel all over the country, Zhou Min felt extremely envious, and at the same time, he also really enjoyed listening to the boy share the outside world with him.

……

While playing chess, Zhou Min complained to Lu Huai about Zhou Yan.

"My father wants me to inherit the throne before the new year, but he is still so healthy and young. He clearly just wants to take my mother on a trip around the world, and he tells me it's to train myself."

“Brother Ah Huai, do you think Father is very biased? He took my sister and the others with him, leaving me all alone in this palace. I feel so pitiful.”

As the boy spoke, tears welled up in his eyes.

Lu Huai, who had been listening silently, slowly chuckled.

He put down the chess piece in his hand before looking up at the boy opposite him.

"I'm still here, aren't I?"

“But Brother Ah Huai won’t be here for long! You’ll be leaving the palace eventually too.”

“That’s not necessarily true.” Lu Huai said, taking a sip of hot tea before continuing, “Your father didn’t say why I came to the palace.”

"No."

Zhou Min shook his head, then, as if he had thought of something, his bright eyes sparkled.

Forgetting all etiquette, the boy stood up and went to Lu Huai, pinching his arm with one hand and looking up hopefully, asking, "Brother Huai, you're not here to help me, are you?"

"Well, you could say that, but my real purpose is to try something new."

"I'm tired of the outside world, but I've never experienced the power struggles in officialdom."

"what!!!"

As soon as Lu Huai finished speaking, Zhou Min was overjoyed.

You should know that Brother Ah Huai was personally taught by Aunt Meng, and even Father Emperor said that he was an extraordinary person.

I never expected him to come to the palace.

Does that mean I won't be lonely anymore, since I used to have someone to eat with?

Zhou Min was so happy he almost screamed; his face was full of excitement.

The slight worry in my heart dissipated, no wonder my father would bring up Brother Ah Huai.

Zhou Yan had been considering stepping down for a long time; if Zhou Min hadn't been so unsteady, a man wouldn't have backed down for so many years.

Lu Huai's arrival was not accidental; there were many complex relationships involved.

It was not only his own pursuit, but also Zhou Yan's high regard for him.

Jiangshan, in the end, is a world dominated by young people; his ideas are slowly becoming outdated.

Zhou Yan did not want to become a tyrannical and incompetent ruler in his later years, so he invited Lu Huai over.

The man had the privilege of witnessing this kid's abilities once, and it's no exaggeration to say that no one could outmaneuver him, including Meng Tong and Lu Chuan.

He was a born politician; the officialdom was his battlefield.

Both Meng Tong and Lu Chuan spoke with Lu Huai about this and obtained his consent, but the two had nothing more to say.

……

With the year-end approaching, Zhou Min's coronation ceremony is just around the corner.

The daily morning court session gradually changed from Zhou Yan to Zhou Min, and many officials also noticed the young man beside the Crown Prince.

The boy's indifference was mixed with a faint smile, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking.

For a time, even those with ulterior motives dared not act rashly.

With Lu Huai by his side, Zhou Min's anxiety was greatly relieved.

The boy matured and became more self-satisfied day by day, and even learned some of Lu Huai's true skills.

The entire Zhou dynasty was now clearly theirs.

Lunar New Year's Eve was not only the annual Lunar New Year's Eve of the Zhou Dynasty, but also Zhou Min's coronation ceremony.

This is truly a double celebration, a cause for universal joy!

Dressed in a dragon robe, the young man stood tall with a calm and composed demeanor.

Everyone knows that the future of the Great Zhou Dynasty is bright and promising.

Standing in a corner of the main hall, the young man in a crimson robe smiled as he looked at the young man on the throne.

Isn't it just the country?

What others can do, he can do too.

A century later, in the prosperous Great Zhou Dynasty, everyone knew of the wise and almost demonic ancestor, the Grand Preceptor who lived a life of brilliance and integrity. He was not only a treasure of the royal family but also a lucky star for the people of Great Zhou.

It's a pity that the young man never found a good match in his life. But to have a soulmate and a happy family with his parents would have been a bright and promising future.