C138 (1/2)
Although the Prince Zhan was not the empress dowager's biological body, she had indeed been by the empress dowager's side for many years. Ten years ago, an incident had occurred between the Prince Zhan and his mufei because of the empress dowager and the emperor.
The empress dowager felt very guilty, and naturally, this care and concern she had for the Prince Zhan was also filled with sincerity.
When the empress dowager heard that the emperor had also sent Little De over to the Prince Zhan's Mansion to invite people over, the empress dowager couldn't care less about her status and identity. She also hurried to the imperial study and waited with the emperor for the Prince Zhan to enter the palace.
When the emperor saw the empress dowager's arrival, he didn't seem surprised at all, as if he had already expected her arrival. ”Imperial Mother, please wait a moment. Prince Zhan should enter the palace immediately.” At that time, the empress dowager and the Prince Zhan's imperial concubine were on good terms with each other in the palace. After the death of the Prince Zhan's imperial concubine, the empress dowager was extremely nervous of Chu Xiuhan.
Not long after the empress dowager sat down, the Prince Zhan walked into the imperial study. The empress dowager gave a slight bow, representing that the empress dowager was courteous. The emperor wouldn't take it lightly when he was an official, and as for the empress dowager, he didn't either.
”Brother Han, you have done a great service to the Tian Sheng this time. In just a few days, the ten cities on the border have changed from a place that is filled with turmoil to a peaceful city where humans love to work. ”After I received the urgent news that you were eight hundred li away, I was very excited. I did not close my eyes for the entire night. I truly thank you on behalf of the people of the ten cities near the border.”
When the Emperor saw the Prince Zhan, he naturally spoke with enthusiasm. The Emperor sincerely thanked the Prince Zhan and sincerely felt happy for the people at the border. However, Prince Zhan's expression was still as calm as usual. ”Thank you, Your Majesty.” It was just a few words, and there was nothing more to say.
The empress dowager had been looking at Prince Zhan ever since he entered the study. Now she finally found an opening and looked at him with an extremely affectionate gaze. ”Han'er, quickly sit down.”
The Prince Zhan kept her cold gaze and slightly nodded her head. The empress dowager and emperor couldn't help but look at each other in dismay. The emperor tried his best to speak out towards the empress dowager. ”What's wrong with him now?”
The empress dowager knew what the emperor meant. When the Prince Zhan returned from the border, he looked much colder, and the empress dowager could feel that the border was a place where the Prince Zhan had gone through several life and death situations. The empress dowager felt that the border was a place where the Prince Zhan had paid a lot of blood and suffered many crimes.
The empress dowager didn't pay any attention to the emperor, but gave him a meaningful look so he could hurry back to the main topic at hand.
”Brother Han, you have made a great contribution on behalf of my Tian Sheng. It is a great blow to the rebel forces at the borders and the small countries outside the borders that wish to invade my Tian Sheng's territory. I thank you on behalf of this great river and mountain, I thank you on behalf of the people at the borders. Just as the emperor was rejoicing, the empress dowager couldn't take it anymore and glared at him in disdain.
”Your majesty!” Her Majesty was perhaps reminding the Emperor of something.
The emperor lightly coughed twice. ”Cough, cough, little brother Han, after your triumphant return this time, we discussed with the empress dowager about organizing a celebratory feast for you, which is also to announce the national might of our Tian Sheng, to calm the hearts of the people, stabilize the hearts of the generals, and shake the border with treason. I wonder how little brother Han feels?”
When Prince Zhan heard what kind of banquet was going to be hosted for him again, he had to reject it in his heart. On one hand, Prince Zhan wasn't someone who liked to join in the fun, and it gave him a headache to see more people. On the other hand, Prince Zhan felt that the emperor and the empress dowager giving him some kind of banquet had given him an uneasy feeling, and she had already learnt Qin Ruxue's lesson …
However, on second thought, since Nangong Waner was not going to the Duke Palaces, there was a possibility that he might have gotten a chance to host a banquet.
The emperor and empress dowager anxiously waited for Prince Zhan's reply, but Prince Zhan seemed to be deep in thought and remained silent.
”I wonder who the emperor and empress dowager are planning to invite to the banquet?” Prince Zhan asked lightly.
”I know that the Prince Zhan is unhappy with the crowd, so I planned to invite officials of the Assistant Minister s and above to join in the fun. Brother Han, how is it? If Brother Han feels that there are too many people, we will narrow the area down and invite officials of the Minister level and above to the banquet. ”
”There's no need for that. The Emperor should be generous with his kindness. The Assistant Minister s and above are just right for that.” As soon as the Emperor finished speaking, the Prince Zhan followed suit.