"Congratulations to His Majesty for finding the loyal minister from his dreams years ago! I rember His Majesty was deeply troubled over this, never expecting that Lord Qin would be the heaven-sent loyal minister. Congratulations, Your Majesty!"
The Chief Eunuch of the court, with a head full of white hair and a slightly hunched back, bowed towards the emperor with a tremble and congratulated him with a beaming face.
Seeing this, all ministers also stood up to congratulate: "Congratulations, Your Majesty!"
A hint of hidden amusent flashed in the Emperor’s eyes as he replied with a smile: "My dear ministers, please sit down."
Then everyone took their seats.
Qin Yi also returned to his seat.
The Emperor sat down on the dragon throne and slowly scanned the crowd before announcing solemnly: "My dear ministers, today we gather for the sacrifice to heaven. Besides expressing my gratitude for the great achievents of beloved Official Qin, I have a matter of the utmost importance to announce, a matter that concerns the stability of our kingdom and the future of the Great Zhou Dynasty."
The grand hall instantly fell into silence!
Prince Xuan’s eyes lit up instantly.
Finally, the heir to the throne would be announced!
"I am well aware that everyone has been deeply concerned about the appointnt of an heir, a matter indeed crucial to the foundation of our state and the continuation of the Great Zhou Dynasty."
The Emperor scanned the crowd sternly again and said slowly: "As I have reached an old age, it is indeed ti to appoint an heir in order to prevent any chaos after my passing. Therefore, after careful consideration, I have issued an Imperial Edict. After my demise, you will all know who will take over the reign of Great Zhou."
All were taken aback.
The joy in Prince Xuan’s eyes solidified instantly.
Unable to contain a smile, Su Pan’er thought to herself what a cunning fox the emperor was, she concluded he was playing Tai Chi, using the ulterior thod of an Imperial Edict to resolve the thorny issue of appointing an heir.
After the announcent of the Imperial Edict, the banquet quickly concluded.
Everyone left for their own residences, taking their various thoughts with them.
Having received the Emperor’s permission, Su Pan’er and Qin Yi escorted Ye Han ho.
While they were on their way out of the palace in the special carriage awarded by the Emperor, they unexpectedly encountered Master Liao Jue.
Master Liao Jue was also in a carriage driving alongside theirs, he looked at Su Pan’er from afar.
Then he clasped his hands together in a prayer-like gesture towards Su Pan’er and recited a chant: "Amitabha Buddha! It seems that Lady Benefactor and this humble monk are indeed bound by fate. As such, I urge you to refrain from visiting Huai. Rember, rember!"
Su Pan’er was startled, "What do you an, master?"
"There is a divine will in the darkness! Where there’s a cause, there’s an effect. I have said my piece, I’ll take my leave!"
Master Liao Jue refused to say more. The carriage he was in suddenly sped up, leaving their carriage behind.
Su Pan’er was left speechless!
He only spoke half a sentence before causing a commotion, more of a charlatan than a attained monk!
Looking back, she saw Ye Han with his eyes closed in feigned sleep, while Qin Yi was frowning, silently watching the direction in which the old monk had left.
"Qin Yi?"
Su Pan’er softly called out.
"This is Master Liao Jue who is known to see five hundred years into the past and future! He rarely forecasts people’s destinies. Those whose destinies he has forecasted, have always t their fate. In this situation, I think it’s better to be cautious."
"But what he said about not entering Huai, could he be referring to Qin Huai? Or was he hinting at the brothels? How could I, a woman, possibly venture into such places?"
Su Pan’er casually responded.
"The master’s words surely have a deeper aning. We better hurry ho and discuss this. We might be able to understand the mystery behind it."
Qin Yi smiled and asked,
"Rush ho?"
Sothing suddenly occurred to Su Pan’er, she urgently said, "Qin Yi, speed up imdiately. We must hurry ho!"
"What’s wrong, Pan’er?" Qin Yi asked in confusion.
"Today, you were appointed as the General of the Guards, commanding the Imperial Guard. Your status is attracting too much attention, I’m afraid so schers will seize the opportunity to cause trouble," Su Pan’er replied with a furrowed brow.
Ye Han is severely injured. Even with the careful treatnt and the saliva from the rascal pig, his recovery won’t happen in a short amount of ti. On top of that, she was about to give birth herself. If there really are people who want to harm the three of them at this mont, and sothing unexpected occurs, she wouldn’t just be helpless, she might even beco a burden!
What she thought of, Qin Yi naturally would have considered too: "Upon leaving the palace this ti, His Majesty sent a hundred Imperial Special Guards to escort us. Normally, common miscreants wouldn’t dare to take risks lightly!"
"Hehe, those who dare to take risks will not be common miscreants!"
Su Pan’er looked worried, and unintentionally stroked her round belly.
Qin Yi also looked at her protruding abdon and said with seriousness, "As there is no other option, let’s have the coachman speed up. We must get ho as soon as possible!"
Once they were back at the residence, everything would be much easier to handle!
Su Pan’er remained silent, watching the carriage exit the palace gates and gallop towards their ho.
Even though it was dayti, the sky looked as if it were pressing down, with grey clouds everywhere, and anything beyond sixteen feet was obscured. Snowflakes mixed with the cold wind scraped across their faces like icy blades, stinging sharply.
However, the two in the carriage had no mind to pay attention to these details!
Just as they reached the intersection ahead, a rope for tripping horses suddenly appeared at their waist level!
The coachman scread in shock! He desperately pulled on the reins: "Whoa!"
The horses were frightened and reared up together with a neigh. Because of inertia, the carriage tilted forward abruptly and was about to hit the stone pillar by the side of the road!
Su Pan’er shouted in shock, "Quick! Jump off the carriage!"
Nearly at the sa instant, she instinctively sprang from the carriage. She vaulted herself from the carriage like a pole-vault and just narrowly landed behind the carriage. Any slight delay and she would have landed on the tilted carriage.
In the anti, Qin Yi also pulled Ye Han out of the carriage. They quickly regrouped with Su Pan’er, who called out worriedly.
"Pan’er, are you okay?"
"I, I’m fine!" Su Pan’er replied loudly.
How could she be fine? After such a bumpy ride and sudden exertion, she felt a sudden drop in her lower abdon, as if a weight had fallen, causing waves of pain.
It seed she was going into labor.
Why did she have to go into labor now of all tis?
She gritted her teeth and endured the pain, holding her tongue, but was suddenly tugged by Qin Yi: "Quick! Let’s go! Don’t delay! This way!"
With that, he grabbed Su Pan’er’s hand and ran desperately towards another street.
Just as the horses were startled and the carriage overturned, countless people wielding weapons erged from every direction at the intersection, charging at them nacingly.
"Quick! Hold them off! Hold them off!" Qin Yi was commanding the hundred Imperial Special Guards accompanying them.
The Imperial Special Guards bravely stepped forward to resist, and Qin Yi took the opportunity to run down the main road with the two of them.
Soon, a large group of people started to chase after them from behind.
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