After being exiled for eighteen years, the prince returned to the capital as a veritable immortal.

When the Empress arrived, it was too late.

This long table held an extremely special place in the Empress's heart.

This is equivalent to the position he set up for the crown prince.

many years ago.

The fourth prince almost got whipped by the Empress for taking a bite of fruit on the table.

Only after everyone pleaded for leniency was the matter barely resolved.

In the end, the fourth prince was stripped of a county of his fiefdom.

If Zhou Yi dares to sit at that table, he will surely anger the Martial Emperor.

The Third Prince and the Fifth Prince shook their heads helplessly.

I can only wish Zhou Yi good luck in my heart.

Everyone saluted together.

"Long live my emperor, long live, long live!"

"Rise, all of you. There's no need for so many formalities at a family banquet," said the Emperor.

Empress Yu Gou stepped forward and helped Emperor Wu to his seat.

A glance around the room revealed Zhou Yi sitting at the nearest table, and the Emperor Wu's smile vanished.

His gaze quickly swept past Zhou Yi, as if he hadn't noticed him at all.

Exactly.

Empress Yugou looked surprised, as if she had just seen Zhou Yi:

“Hey, why is Prince Yi sitting here? This is the seat His Majesty specially reserved for the Crown Prince.”

She pointed to the last long table, "That one was a seat that His Majesty personally instructed Eunuch Ji to add for the imperial grandson."

After she finished speaking, her eyes were fixed on Ji Yu.

Ji Yu lowered his head slightly and said, "That seat was indeed specially arranged by His Majesty for the imperial grandson."

This is specifically emphasized as a double attack on the heart.

This implies that Zhou Yi has disappointed the Empress, and also accuses him of disobeying the Empress's order to leave the table.

Before Zhou Yi could reply, the Martial Emperor glanced at Empress Yu Gou and said:

"Since family banquets are held on a family-by-family basis, from now on, the imperial grandson shall sit here."

All the princes are seated at the same table as the princess.

Indeed, it is based on the family unit.

That's why Zhou Yi pulled Hu Die to sit with him.

Is this how it's been resolved?

Everyone was shocked.

The tyrannical and bloodthirsty Empress Wu, who was quick to kill, underwent a complete personality change after meeting the Grandson Si.

During the morning court session in the main hall, despite being repeatedly humiliated by the other party, they still showered him with gifts.

Could it be?

The postponement of the appointment of the crown prince means that the emperor's grandson is to be appointed instead.

The Third Prince and the Fifth Prince were extremely anxious.

Their mothers, as well as Empress Yu Gou, were equally anxious.

They have been vying for the throne for decades, both openly and covertly.

In the end, however, he lost to the previously unknown Emperor Si.

How could I possibly swallow this insult?

The group exchanged glances and reached a consensus.

—Join forces and first completely crush the imperial grandson underfoot.

As the birth mother of the Third Prince, Consort Li pointed at Hu Die and said:

"And who is this young lady? If I remember correctly, Prince Yi is not yet married, is he?"

All eyes were drawn to Hu Die.

This girl is truly as beautiful as an angel.

It perfectly matches Zhou Yi's ethereal and otherworldly temperament.

However, even the most beautiful girl...

They were not qualified to attend the royal family banquet.

"Greetings, Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, and all the Imperial Concubines..."

Hu Die offered a graceful and poised greeting.

Before she could finish speaking, Zhou Yi interrupted her:

"My sister."

younger sister?

As is widely known, Zhou Yi is the Crown Prince's only bloodline.

This younger sister is naturally not of the Zhou family bloodline.

Not being a member of the royal family, yet daring to attend the emperor's family banquet.

These two people.

One dared to bring it, and the other dared to come.

Everyone's gaze involuntarily turned to the Martial Emperor.

With him around, everything is naturally under his control.

As if oblivious to the stares of the crowd, the Martial Emperor simply waved his hand:

"Sit, everyone, sit down."

And just like that, it's over again?

Why does Empress Wu seem more like a grandson in front of the Grandson of the Emperor?

He has no temper at all.

The princes should consider this carefully.

If they dared to bring strange girls to their family banquets, they might be stripped of their royal status.

At the very least, several counties will be stripped of their fiefdoms.

They didn't dare bring their princes and concubines with them, leaving them in the mansion.

That imperial grandson actually...

Okay, I can't compare.

The princes finally believed it completely.

In Empress Wu's heart, the Grandson of the Emperor was not as insignificant as she had previously thought.

On the contrary, they valued it immensely.

It is absolutely necessary to join forces to deal with him.

……

The Empress seemed to be in a good mood.

The banquet had a relaxed atmosphere, with pleasant singing and dancing.

Consort Qu, the birth mother of the Fifth Prince, was in low spirits.

Prime Minister Qu Mao was his elder brother.

The Qu family was just wiped out by Emperor Wu this afternoon.

Rumor has it that Empress Wu was merely expressing her remorse to the Crown Prince's grandson regarding the wrongful conviction of the Crown Prince.

Consort Qu was a criminal, and should have kept quiet to avoid angering Empress Wu.

However, the more she looked at Si Huangsun, the more her anger burned.

Empress Yugou kept giving her meaningful glances.

Everyone is joining forces to deal with the Fifth Prince's grandson, how can you not speak up for him?

Consort Qu hardened her heart and said to Emperor Wu:

"The servants in the palace are all saying that someone is actually living in Bowang Garden."

She looked up at the Empress and continued, "Could it be that someone is claiming to be the Crown Prince?"

Emperor Wu renamed Bowang Garden as Sizitai (Longing for One's Son Terrace).

The intention is to permanently seal it away.

This is common knowledge.

Now, without reporting or asking for permission, the Imperial Grandson moved in directly.

This is truly contrary to the Emperor's will.

Despite being repeatedly humiliated by the grandson of the emperor, Empress Wu's level of patience far exceeded everyone's expectations.

If you can't suppress your anger, why should you quell the anger of the Qu family?

Consort Qu was filled with resentment and wanted to see how long he could endure it.

The Emperor's face was ashen. He took a swig of wine and said:

"If the imperial grandson wants to stay, then let him stay; this is his home after all."

Tolerating this?

The Empress Wu has truly changed.

Where is the tyrannical, bloodthirsty ruler of the past?

A ruthless glint flashed in Empress Yu Gou's eyes as she laughed:

"This afternoon, the Imperial Grandson Si forcibly broke into the Palace of the Mother of Yao. I was taking a bath at the time and did not know what the Imperial Grandson wanted."

"How dare Prince Yi trespass into the Empress's palace? What is his intention?" Consort Li questioned loudly.

Empress Yugou whispered, "Luckily, the palace maids were lined up, otherwise they wouldn't have been able to stop it..."

Although his voice was low, he was not guilty.

She simply described reality as it was, without embellishing it.

Although Emperor Wu was tyrannical, he was not incompetent.

To fabricate slander is to court death.

Zhou Yi raised his wine glass, took a sip and savored it, completely ignoring the questions.

"Reply to the Queen."

Hu Die stood up and said, "There is something strange about Yao Mu Palace. His Highness Prince Yi used his dragon token to investigate. How can you say that he forced his way in?"

Your Highnesses, the Imperial Concubine was filled with surprise.

What strange things might happen at Yao's Mother's Palace?

Zhou Yi's forceful entry left everyone puzzled.

"Strange...very strange!"

The sixth prince was so drunk that he was almost unconscious, and he mumbled something.

Empress Yu Gou's expression changed for a moment, but she quickly regained her smile and said:

"My Mother Yao's Palace..."

"enough!"

The Empress Dowager looked displeased and ordered Ji Yu, "The Sixth Prince is drunk. Help him back to rest."

After glaring at the assembled empresses, the Martial Emperor turned to Zhou Yi and said:

"After becoming a Grandmaster, cultivation is not easy. Without decades of hard work, it is difficult to reach the mid-stage."

"I am very pleased that you are willing to devote yourself to cultivation."

The three princes were finally relieved.

Empress Wu meant that she would not allow the grandson of the emperor to participate in politics.

Naturally, they had no intention of making him the crown prince.

In this way, the throne would still be contested among the three brothers.

The third prince was overjoyed.

The sixth prince got drunk and was sent back home.

The Fifth Prince's maternal uncle, Prime Minister Qu, had just been executed along with his entire family, and was clearly not a candidate favored by the Empress.

Then, wouldn't that mean... it's only him?

"My father is overworked with state affairs and is becoming increasingly haggard."

The Third Prince put on a pained expression and said, "Your subject is willing to return to the capital to share some of the burden with Father Emperor."

Of the adult princes, only the crown prince was allowed to remain in the capital.

This is clearly a request to be made crown prince.

"Good! I am very pleased that the Prince of Yan is so thoughtful."

A rare smile appeared on the Emperor's face as he waved for Ji Yu to step forward, saying, "Now go and draft the decree."

The Third Prince was overjoyed.

Consort Li couldn't suppress the smile spreading across her face.

Empress Wu is finally going to appoint the third prince as crown prince.

The Fifth Prince and Empress Yu Gou's expressions changed drastically.

Years of planning are about to come to nothing.

Emperor Wu instructed Ji Yu: "Remove the Prince of Yan's fiefdom of three counties."

???

The smiles on the faces of the Third Prince and Consort Li froze, while they were inwardly devastated.

The Emperor's heart is unfathomable!

The third son, despite his filial piety, had his fiefdom reduced.

The Fifth Prince and Empress Yu Gou tried hard to suppress the schadenfreude on their faces.

It was very difficult.

……

Take a look at Zhou Yi, who is enjoying all the Emperor's favors, and then look at the empty seat at the Sixth Prince's table.

Empress Yugou suddenly had a change of heart.

Rather than creating a powerful enemy, it's better to tie ourselves to the war machine and help the Sixth Prince.

She picked up the wine cup and brought it to the Empress's lips:

"Your Majesty, Ling'er's marriage has caused you a great deal of worry."

“Now, I have someone in mind, and he will definitely agree.”

The sixth prince not only had an alcoholic disorder, but also consistently refused to get married.

This caused Empress Wu and Empress Wu a headache for many years.

"Oh?"

The Empress Wu's interest was piqued. "Which minister's daughter is she?"

Jade Hook Queen's Finger Butterfly:

"This is Miss Hu Die."