Chapter 868: Chapter 689: The Southern Emperor’s True Poverty
When Gu Changsheng and Hongyan Jiaojiao were meeting, a crowd had already gathered in front of the ruined city gate of the Capital City.
Emperor Zhoulin was an emperor who conducted affairs with great propriety. Thus, even in the awkward situation where elders of his clan guarded their way past five barriers and six generals to arrive at the city gate, he did not forget the diplomatic ceremony that should be upheld between two nations. Consequently, in front of the ruined city gate now, Emperor Zhoulin stood at the forefront. Naturally, after tidying himself a bit, he appeared somewhat like an emperor, though a bit dust-covered. Behind him, Zhou Mu stood with a cold face; ever since he saw Emperor Zhoulin, he hadn’t said a word, causing Emperor Zhoulin’s several attempts to speak to be thwarted by looking at the cold face of his own Imperial Grandson.
The civil and military officials, the yet-to-be-settled imperial relatives and nobles, and several prominent lady members of the Great Zhou Imperial Family, along with the Empress and Noble Consort, as well as a woman standing between the Noble Consort and Empress, Madam Zheng!
Madam Zheng, the Wife of the Former Crown Prince, Zhou Mu’s biological mother!
At this time, she wore formal attire, lavishly decorated, but her expression was extremely unsightly, because Zhou Mu ignored Emperor Zhoulin, naturally ignoring her as well!
Behind her stood a boy of about fourteen or fifteen years old, wearing a Sky-facing Bead on his head, dressed in County Prince’s Attire, nervously gripping her hand.
“Mo… Mother, is that the Imperial Brother?” Zhou Hao asked timidly, looking at the vibrant purple-gold figure.
“Shut up! You have no Imperial Brother!” Madam Zheng exclaimed coldly, her gaze towards Zhou Mu growing more sinister.
A mother loves her young child dearly, and she did too. After more than ten years of not seeing her eldest son, he still exhibited the same splendor as before, no, even more so than back then! In the past, as Crown Princess Consort, she had to stand outside the Ten Miles Long Pavilion in the autumn wind, shivering to welcome her triumphant son returning home. Additionally, she had to salute the son who excelled in military achievements more than the Crown Prince. Now, even as a son, he ignored her, his own mother, and she still had to welcome his woman here!
This!
This was simply challenging her limits of endurance!
Madam Zheng’s hands were trembling, recalling the old events from twelve years ago, still gritting her teeth against her eldest son. Because of this eldest son, her husband’s Crown Prince position was precarious; because of this eldest son, she became a widow and was destined to be estranged from the Empress’s position forever, all because of him!
Because of this evildoer before her!
Zhou Hao, seeing his mother like this, became even more frightened, shrinking behind Madam Zheng and dare not speak.
On the other side, Prince Liang, yet to be settled, because Zhou Mu’s palm struck the city gate, causing him to fall from the top, now stood supported by someone amid the crowd of imperial kin and nation kin, with a face full of fear and hatred.
This diplomatic ceremony between two nations was destined to attract attention; indeed, it might even be recorded in national history.
For the Emperor of the Southern Country to personally visit the Great Zhou, it was of such great importance!
Under everyone’s gaze, Hongyan Jiaojiao led several female officials, elegantly approaching not far from Emperor Zhoulin and stopping. She glanced at Zhou Mu, who had a serious expression, resignedly placing her right hand slightly covering her chest and nodding as a salute, “Chancellor of the Southern Country Hongyan Jiaojiao, greets His Majesty of the Zhou Dynasty.”
She carried out this salute rather reluctantly, entirely for Zhou Mu’s sake.
Emperor Zhoulin saw this and his expression immediately improved somewhat. However, before he could respond, Hongyan Jiaojiao unexpectedly placed her right hand covering her chest, kneeling on one knee respectfully and saluted again, “Hongyan greets the Imperial Husband!”
Comparing between these, Hongyan Jiaojiao’s salute to Emperor Zhoulin seemed rather perfunctory compared to the one to Zhou Mu, didn’t it?
Emperor Zhoulin’s old face turned dark.
But who was Hongyan Jiaojiao? Wasn’t it mentioned before? Chancellor of the Southern Country! Below one person, above thousands of others, with power in the court of the Southern Country!
Southern Country, encompassing the Southern Border Bashu, Emperor Zhoulin wouldn’t dare belittle even an envoy, let alone this former envoy, now a chancellor?
Emperor Zhoulin reluctantly held his breath, sighed helplessly in his heart, took a step forward, and returned the salute, “Emperor Lin of the Zhou Dynasty, greets Lord Hongyan of the Southern Country. Lord Hongyan, you have endured much exhaustion on the journey.”
“Haha…” Hongyan Jiaojiao did not wait for her Imperial Husband to call her to rise, completing the courtesy, she stood up herself, hearing Emperor Zhoulin’s words, her expression lit up with a smile, “You have a good eye, old man, we meet again. But this time, Hongyan is not the main character; our Emperor has personally arrived. All matters will be conducted according to the diplomatic relations between the two nations.”
“Naturally.” Emperor Zhoulin nodded.