Nanjing's morning court was held every five days. Zhao Qi had been attending court in recent months, but he hung a curtain in front of the dragon throne. Now that the crown prince had returned, the curtain was removed by the palace servants and replaced with a grand master's chair next to the dragon throne. Sitting on it, he could overlook the ministers and exercise the power of the emperor.
This is the seat reserved for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
Although Zhao Mian had followed the prime minister to learn how to govern the country since he was a child, this was the first time he served as regent.
Before the morning court session, Bai Yu, Zhou Huairang and Shen Buci watched the Crown Prince put on his newly made dragon robe. The yellow robe was embroidered with circling dragons. It was not as gorgeous and complex as the Crown Prince's private clothes, but more of a symbol of dignity and power. It was intimidating, and people did not dare to appreciate his extraordinary appearance.
Bai Yu put the crown on Zhao Mian's head, and Zhao Mian leaned forward to cooperate. Bai Yu said with emotion: "Your Highness has been away from the palace for a year, and he seems to be more imposing."
"Really, really." Zhou Huairang echoed, "Your Highness looks more mature and stable than he did a year ago."
Of course, his journey over the past year was not in vain.
Zhao Mian said calmly: "Stop flattering me."
Zhou Huairang said: "I am sincere!"
Zhao Mian turned to Shen Buci without comment. He didn't say anything, but his eyes seemed to say "It's your turn".
Shen Buci didn't react at first, but when he saw Bai Yu's look at him, he realized that His Highness might not have been praised enough, and immediately said, "No one can match Your Highness's manners."
Zhao Mian knew that he was good-looking, but he had seen himself too much and was often unsure of how good-looking he was. Shen Buci had said the words "unmatched", so it seemed that he was really good-looking.
It's a pity that he is so handsome, but Wei Zhenfeng can't see it.
Zhao Mian looked at himself in the mirror and made up his mind that if Wei Zhenfeng didn't write to him, he would never wear nice clothes in front of Wei Zhenfeng again.
At this time, a young eunuch hurried in, holding a brocade box in his hand: "Your Highness, Prince Heng's Mansion in Beiyuan has sent something, please take a look."
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince raised the corners of his lips in satisfaction.
Zhao Mian said in a nonchalant tone: "What is it?"
Bai Yu opened the brocade box and said in surprise, "Your Highness, it's a pair of red jade earrings."
"No letter?"
"no."
Zhao Mian said modestly, "It's just earrings. There are not many of them in the East Palace. It's not worth making a fuss about it."
Is Wei Zhenfeng stupid? He has already given me the earrings, so will I break my hand if I write a letter
"I have seen this red jadeite in the young prince's house. At that time, I thought it was of excellent quality and very suitable for making earrings for Your Highness." Bai Yu smiled, "I didn't expect that the young prince would really listen to my words."
Zhao Mian was silent for a moment, then said, "Put it on me."
In addition to attending court, Zhao Mian also needed to meet with ministers and review memorials. Fortunately, Nanjing had enjoyed good weather and peace in recent years, and with Xiao Xiang's assistance, Zhao Mian's task as regent was not too heavy.
After the father and son dealt with the recent government affairs, they began to look through the red comments that Zhao Qi had made when they were away.
Zhao Qi noticed the red jade earrings on Zhao Mian's ears and asked curiously, "Mian Mian, the earrings you are wearing today..."
"It was Wei Zhenfeng who sent it to me."
Zhao Qi was stunned for a moment, and said, "I just wanted to ask if it was new."
Zhao Mian nodded: "It's new. Wei Zhenfeng gave it to me."
Zhao Qi: “…Oh.”
"Father, how many memorials have you approved this month that have not yet been sent back?" Zhao Mian said, "Show me and your son."
Zhao Qi asked Jiang Dehai to get it, and at the same time did not forget to tease himself for having to have his son check his homework at his age.
The more Zhao Mian looked, the tighter his brows furrowed. It wasn't that there was anything wrong with his father's decision, but his father's handwriting and his overly straightforward way of expression were really hard to describe.
Zhao Mian asked: "Father, are you serious when you say 'shut up'?"
Zhao Qi took a look and said, "Is this the greeting letter from King Zhaonan? He talks too much nonsense, I couldn't help but..."
Zhao Qi sat beside the father and son in silence for a long time, then held his forehead and said, "Alright, alright, stop scolding."
Zhao Mian closed the memorial submitted by King Zhaonan and said, "Father, your son and I have no intention of blaming you."
"Your expressions have already explained everything." Zhao Qi waved his hand. "In short, I am really not suitable to be the emperor. It is better to abdicate as soon as possible. Mianmian, you should be ready to tell your father at any time. Your father will definitely give you the imperial seal with both hands."
In history, abdication requires three refusal and three concessions. Even if one is eager to ascend the throne in his heart, the person concerned still has to appear humble on the surface.
But Zhao Mian never needed to put on such a show in front of his fathers. He could express his thoughts most directly: "I am ready."
Ever since he was old enough to understand, he has been preparing for the day when he will ascend the throne.
He enjoyed the glory that power brought him, and he also liked the feeling of being superior. Except for his father and respected elders, he hated to bow to anyone, even if it was just a flat bow, he felt that he was the one who suffered a loss.
He admitted his arrogance, but was also glad that he was in the royal family, which gave him the capital to be arrogant.
The throne of Nanjing belongs to him, and he can sit on that position anytime he wants.
Zhao Mian nodded.
"Father's dragon robe looks great," His Royal Highness the Crown Prince smiled, "I want to try it on."
If a prince from another country said such treasonous words, he would lose his life, not to mention his position as crown prince. But Zhao Mian was never a prince from another country. He was the crown prince of Nanjing, a treasure raised by the emperor of Nanjing, and a talented young man taught by the prime minister.
Not to mention the throne of Nanjing, even if he wanted the stars in the sky, the emperor and the prime minister would find a way to get them for him.
So Zhao Qi was very puzzled. How did Wei Zhenfeng get such a pampered baby? Just give him an earring and see how happy he would be.
The abdication of the emperor is a major national event, and there is no precedent before Nanjing. Zhao Qi did not want Mianmian's coronation ceremony to be perfunctory, so he gave the Ministry of Rites sufficient preparation time and issued an imperial edict in advance to recall his second son who was far away in the north, requiring him to return to Beijing to attend his brother's coronation ceremony.
For Zhao Mian, whether his brother came back or not was secondary. He hoped that Wei Zhenfeng could see him wearing the dragon robe and the twelve tassels.
Soon after, Zhao Qi successfully gave birth to a little princess, finally fulfilling Nanjing's dream of being a princess and Zhao Mian's dream of having a sister. From then on, Queen Mother Wen was no longer the only mistress in Nanjing's palace.
In April, the spring rain stops and the breeze is warm.
The Second Prince, who was thrown into the military camp by his father and the Prime Minister for training, finally returned to Shangjing. Zhao Mian looked disdainful of his brother whom he had not seen for more than a year, but still went to the city gate to greet him in person.
It had been raining for several days in the suburbs of Beijing, and the roads were extremely muddy. The trouser legs of passers-by were not very clean, and the Second Prince on horseback was no exception.
Zhao Mian saw a familiar figure running towards him from afar. The 17-year-old boy held the reins with one hand and waved his other hand desperately: "Brother, brother! I'm back - brother, I missed you so much -"
The young man was wearing tight clothes which were convenient for riding horses. He had sharp eyebrows, bright eyes and a bright smile. There was still a hint of childishness in his facial features, but he still looked very heroic.
Zhao Mian's forehead jumped: "Why are you shouting so loudly? I'm not deaf."
Having said that, Zhao Mian's eyes were firmly fixed on his silly brother.
Zhao Lin has grown taller, stronger, and... tanned
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince almost blacked out.
Will the Zhao family be unable to escape the curse of the black skin after all
Suddenly, Zhao Mian's eyes were attracted by a person beside his brother. This person was riding a horse, and his appearance and aura were much more impressive than his silly brother. Judging from the situation, it seemed that he was Zhao Lin's companion.
As Zhao Lin and his group got closer and closer to him, Zhao Mian opened his eyes wide in disbelief.
Zhao Lin always felt that he deserved to be scolded. Including his newborn little sister whom he had not yet met, he liked his elder brother the most among the five people in the family. Even though his elder brother had always been unkind to him, he just liked to get in front of his elder brother, act like a jerk from time to time, get scolded, and then hug his elder brother's thigh and beg for mercy pitifully.
His father once used the term "weird brother-complex" to describe his behavior, and he thought it was very appropriate.
At this moment, his most missed brother was standing at the city gate, his expression was the most moving he had ever seen, which made his already extremely excited mood even more intense.
Although my brother doesn't say it, he must miss him very much in his heart...
Zhao Lin couldn't wait to get off the horse, opened his arms and ran towards Zhao Mian: "Brother—"
Zhao Mian came back to his senses.
Zhao Lin called him brother instead of imperial brother because they were outside the palace and no one knew them except their own people.
Does that mean he doesn't have to worry about the prince's manners
Seeing that his silly brother was about to pounce on him, Zhao Mian looked straight ahead and said, "Shen Buci."
Shen Buci silently stood in front of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. The Second Prince's pupils dilated, but he was too late to stop and suddenly bumped into Shen Buci's body. Then he watched his brother pass him and walk quickly towards the person behind him.
Second Prince: "... What's going on?"
Shen Buci helped the Second Prince to stand firmly: "Your Highness, don't you know who that is?"
"I know, Little Prince Beiyuan, my brother Feng." Zhao Lin was confused, "So what?"
With only two steps left, Zhao Mian slowed down.
After not seeing him for three months, Wei Zhenfeng had become thinner, dressed simply, and looked tired, as if he had not had a good sleep for a long time.
But Zhao Mian still wanted to hug him.
So he went to hug her.
Wei Zhenfeng laughed and pushed him away: "No, I haven't changed my clothes in a few days, they are dirty."
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince doesn't care about that.
Zhao Mian threw himself into Wei Zhenfeng's arms.
Wei Zhenfeng no longer cared about anything. He immediately hugged Zhao Mian back with greater strength than Zhao Mian did.
(End of this chapter)