At this moment, almost everyone stood up and looked outside the hall.
A team of royal guards came with a man wearing a black Regency Dynasty robe with a pattern of a soaring dragon with four claws. He walked straight and calmly, with his usual cold and resolute face under his jade belt and crown, as if there was nothing special about it, just like every time he entered the palace.
Walking with him was Xia Zian who had disappeared together with him. Beside Xia Zian were Xiao Tuo and Su Qing. They were slightly behind the four of them. The steps of the royal guards were in perfect unison and well-trained.
Ni Rong rushed forward excitedly, "Prince!"
Murong Jie patted his shoulder and said, "Step back first."
Ni Rong took a step back and said, "Yes!" He still couldn't hide the excitement on his face.
The smile on Prince Nan Huai's face slowly faded, emitting a venomous light, but then he smiled again and walked down quickly, "Royal brother, I'm so glad you're back safely."
Murong Jie stopped and glanced at him calmly, "You're back?"
"Yes, my brother is back." King Nan Huai looked at him with great joy, as if his safe return was a great joy to him.
Taifu Liang looked at Murong Jie. He had never been so happy about Murong Jie's appearance in his life as he was now.
The queen did the same and breathed a sigh of relief.
Although Murong Jie's return would make her plans of the recent period come to nothing, it was at least better than having the power of regent fall into the hands of Prince Nan Huai, because Murong Jie had not shown any desire for the throne so far.
However, this was only a fleeting thought. Murong Jie's return meant a situation of three tigers occupying the throne, which was more difficult to resolve than dealing with the regent alone.
But no matter what, this level has been passed.
Since the Regent is not dead, the accusation made by Prince Nan Huai just now is invalid. The so-called evidence is now in the hands of the Empress Dowager and will definitely not be made public. Murong Jie knows the seriousness of the situation and will definitely not depose the Crown Prince at this moment, so this letter cannot be made public either.
When Madam Linglong saw Zi'an, she covered her mouth and cried out, "It's impossible, she's not dead?"
When many people heard this, they all looked at Madam Linglong in surprise. This was really inappropriate.
Zi'an also heard these words, but did not look at her. Instead, he looked at Yuan beside her and nodded slightly to her.
Yuan seemed to have known that she was safe and sound, and was not very surprised. She just nodded at her with a smile.
Several people came forward to kowtow to the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother was so excited that tears welled up in her eyes. She held Murong Jie's hand and said, "It's good that you're back. It's good that you're back."
Murong Jie gave Zi'an a meaningful look and said, "With the help of a noble person, even if you go to the King of Hell's Palace, you can't enter."
The Empress Dowager looked at him in surprise, then at Zi'an, and immediately understood. It seemed that the Empress Dowager mentioned Xia Zi'an many times in the letter for a reason.
Murong Jie helped the empress dowager sit down, raised his robe, turned around, and stood on the stone steps, like a god descending from heaven, with an intimidating look.
All the officials knelt down and kowtowed, "I pay my respects to the Regent Prince."
Murong Jie looked around at everyone and finally looked at Taifu Liang's face. Taifu Liang was a high-ranking official in the current dynasty, so there was no need for him to kneel down and worship a prince who was only exercising the power of the emperor. He could just bow in greeting.
He raised his head slightly and their eyes met. This was the first time that Taifu Liang faced the Regent. He lost his momentum and only glanced at him twice before lowering his head.
Zi'an looked at the crowd of heads below and felt the oppression emanating from him. She automatically took two steps back and kept a certain distance from him.
"Everyone get up!" Murong Jie said in a deep voice.
All the officials stood up, Murong Jie raised his hand, signaling everyone to take their seats again, and all the officials bowed and then sat down.
Murong Jie was sitting next to the Empress Dowager. The palace maids hurriedly set the table and served the meal. Xiao Tuo and Su Qing had already walked down and sat in their seats, so Zi'an planned to leave.
Murong Jie, however, extended his hand and beckoned, "Zi'an, you sit with me."
Everyone's eyes were fixed on Zi'an. Almost everyone present had seen her on that day when the engagement was broken off. Although they felt sorry for her at that time, they only viewed her as a spectator.
However, no one expected that this miserable girl would be standing beside the Regent today.
That day, she took off her red veil, revealing a resolute and stubborn face, with her hair covered in pearls and jade, and her silk wedding dress extremely expensive. However, one could still tell from her words that she had led a miserable life, suffered a lot of hardships in the mansion, and lived in extreme poverty.
Today, she was dressed in a coarse blue dress, with her hair casually tied up and only a simple hairpin on her head, without any unnecessary decorations. However, she looked so noble and extraordinary.
Anyone who is attentive can recognize that this temperament is very similar to that of Yuan when he was young.
Xia Wan'er clenched her fists and stared at Zi'an with jealous eyes. When her marriage to the prince was announced just now, not many people paid attention to her. Even if they looked at her, they were just indifferent. She hardly felt any attention.
However, Xia Zian just stood there and attracted everyone's attention, and some people even exclaimed in amazement.
Prime Minister Xia was in a very complicated mood. He did not expect that Xia Zian and Murong Jie were still alive, and they came back together. The Regent asked her to sit next to him, so it seemed that the marriage was settled.
He felt a sense of panic in his heart, mixed with a feeling similar to regret. If he had known that she could achieve such success, he would not have ignored her all these years.
However, for so many years, there was no gratitude, but resentment. There was a powerful person who resented himself as a potential threat, and he could not leave this threat behind.
If they are not useful to him, they will be eliminated.
Prince Nan Huai also sat down. His expression did not change at all, as if he had never asked for the position of regent.
The moment Concubine Mei saw Murong Jie coming back, she felt relieved.
At least, you can keep yourself alive temporarily.
She looked at Zi'an and had already made up her mind.
She subconsciously glanced at Concubine Yi beside her. Concubine Yi's face was calm, but anger was rising in her eyes. Xia Zian knew her secret, and she must have tried every means to kill Xia Zian. When Concubine Mei thought of this, she made up her mind about the next path to take.
After Murong Jie and Zi'an sat down, they looked at Prince Qi. His cold and resolute expression gradually subsided, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. "Prince Qi, I have been looking forward to your coming to the capital for a long time."
Prince Qi said cheerfully, "Prince Regent, I feel relieved to see you. I will not feel relieved until you sign the peace agreement."
Murong Jie pretended to be ignorant and said, "Prince Qi, whether I am here or not, the alliance with Beimo will continue. The friendly diplomatic relations between the two countries have greatly promoted the development of the two countries and are beneficial to national policy. This agreement is the same no matter who signs it. The meaning remains unchanged and is based on peace and development."
When he said this, he looked at the prince. The prince felt guilty today, and when he saw his cold eyes, he immediately lowered his head and dared not look at him again.
Prince Qi nodded and said with deep feeling: "Yes, yes, it is a good national policy and we should stick to it."
Murong Jie pointed at the assassins below and asked, "What's wrong with them? Why are they kneeling here?"
(End of this chapter)