Qin Yi looked down at the kneeling Qin Hong, his head bowed, eyebrows gathered in calm composure. Gone was the original spirited and proud deanor.
He couldn’t help but reflect!
He still rembered the first ti he t Qin Hong, when he traveled north to Shengjing. Back then, he was nothing but a minor official, as insignificant as a sesa seed, respectfully greeting the eldest son of Prince Xuan and feeling quite lacking in confidence. At that ti, he was very confused about the future, and he was even moved when Qin Hong extended an olive branch to him.
Fortunately, in the end, Pan’er saw through his true nature and stopped him.
And now, their statuses had been reversed.
He sat on the lofty dragon throne, holding Pan’er’s hand, accepting the great bow of homage from Prince Xuan’s heir.
Such a scene, he had never even dread of in those days!
Perhaps Qin Yi had been lost in thought for too long, as Qin Hong had been bowing for quite a while. Such behavior caused Su Pan’er to raise her brows in surprise and turn to look at him.
"Your Majesty?"
Qin Yi snapped back to reality, coughed lightly, and smiling, rose to his feet to personally help Qin Hong up.
"Please, rise! We are all family here, my worthy nephew need not be so formal."
Qin Hong quickly lowered his head to express his thanks: "Thank you for Your Majesty’s great kindness!"
"What Your Majesty? Although I am a few years older than you, I am of a higher generation. You may simply call Royal Uncle!"
Qin Yi had a benign smile on his face: "It’s rare for my royal nephew to visit the palace today. I, as your royal uncle, have also prepared so modest wine, wishing to share a hearty drink with you and strengthen the bond between uncle and nephew!"
His words were spoken gently, but they made Qin Hong’s cheeks burn with embarrassnt!
Scenes from the past surged in Qin Hong’s mind!
He rembered how he had offered the olive branch to this man several tis. At first, he could clearly feel the other party being moved. But later on, the other man strangely rejected the tempting conditions he had offered.
Back then, many of his aides thought this person was arrogant, to forsake a promising future and give up on the support of his strong backing, choosing instead another path that seed far rockier!
Yet, looking back today, he found the other’s foresight terrifying!
Could it be that he had already foreseen today’s events back then?
Thinking this way, Qin Hong couldn’t help but bow his head even lower.
He complied and called out, "Royal Uncle!"
And to Su Pan’er, he gave a fist salute: "Royal Aunt!"
This title of "Royal Aunt" ca out a bit bewildering for Qin Hong, who couldn’t help but raise his head quietly to look at her, sitting next to the current emperor.
Su Pan’er, clad in palace attire, sat beside the emperor; her beautiful eyes were like still waters, exuding an elegant and noble aura that was dazzling, imposing upon anyone who caught a glimpse, making them feel utterly inferior and dare not defile her presence.
Her skin, fairer than snow, was like cream. In those proud and vivacious eyes, there lurked an enchanting allure that bewitched the soul, holding a gaze that made it impossible to turn away, haunting one’s dreams.
Yet such a woman was now sitting aloft, in the high position of the empress, looking down at him with a gaze from above.
And that position was once the goal he tirelessly sought for her. Sadly, today it was another man who had realized it for her! And this man had even beco his own Royal Uncle! The world was too mad; such events could actually befall him, it was nothing if not ironic!
For a mont, Qin Hong stood frozen in place, sinking into thought.
His gaze, naturally, did not escape Qin Yi’s notice.
The expression on his face clearly took on an unsuspecting look, and he coughed several tis heavily.
"My imperial nephew has traveled from afar, you must be weary. The hour is just right, why not set out the Banquet at the Palace, so we can eat while we talk?"
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your consideration."
Qin Hong hurriedly expressed his thanks.
The serving Palace Maids and Eunuchs were quick, and it wasn’t long before Court Ladies and Internal Attendants brought up the banquet dishes one by one.
During this ti, several accompanying officials also actively smoothed things over, casually chatting about poems and essays.
Qin Yi wasn’t worried that Qin Hong would refuse to commit an offence.
Since he had entered the palace, he wasn’t afraid that Qin Hong could escape his palm.
Only when the Banquet at the Palace began did Su Pan’er spot so other familiar faces among the accompanying officials. Not only was her brother Su Ke there, but also Liu Yankang, who had changed his na.
Liu Yankang has been on a recent streak of good fortune!
Although Su Pan’er had not Recognized Ancestors and Returned to Clan, her background had been an open secret for several years now, and with Su Pan’er becoming the Empress, the Liu Family naturally beca the biggest beneficiary and the envy of other aristocratic families!
Who would have thought the Liu Family would have such luck, with a daughter lost among the commoners unexpectedly ascending to a position just below one and above ten thousand!
Perhaps in consideration for Pan’er’s sake, Qin Yi provided considerable care for the Liu Family. Several families amongst the Eight Great Aristocratic Families of Shengjing were severely weakened, and there were also minor aristocratic families who had chosen the wrong side and were wiped out. The Liu Family, Ye Family, and Jun Family suffered the least impact, naturally related to Su Pan’er.
Liu Yankang was extrely moved; the Liu Family benefited, while the Ye Family naturally owed its fortune to Ye Han’s rits, preserving the Ye Family’s century-old foundation. And the Jun Family, naturally, was related to Jun Ruoxue.
In her early years, Jun Ruoxue was betrothed to Qin Yi by the forr emperor, but due to a twist of fate, Prince Xuan’s heir Qin Zitong seized the throne, ordering Qin Hong to Marry Jun Ruoxue.
Although Qin Hong was set on resisting Qin Zitong, at that ti, he was quite satisfied with Jun Ruoxue both in terms of appearance and family background, and thus got his wish to welco her into his ho.
It was just unfortunate that Jun Ruoxue had not produced any offspring over the years.
This ti summoning Qin Hong to join the Banquet at the Palace, Qin Yi had specially invited Elder Jun, hoping he could lend a helping hand!
Ancient people say: "Eat without speaking, sleep without talking."
After Qin Yi had eaten his fill, he put down his chopsticks and picked up a cloth to wipe his mouth. Seeing this, the courtiers also put down their bowls and chopsticks and began wiping their mouths.
"My imperial nephew, you surely understand the current montum in the court. I just don’t know what your thoughts are for the future?"
Qin Yi directly questioned Qin Hong.
Qin Hong only fell silent for a mont before standing up and clasping his fist, "Uncle Emperor, Qin Hong has an audacious request, and I hope Uncle Emperor can grant it!"
"Oh? What are your thoughts, my nephew?"
"The unification of the country under the Great Zhou is now an inevitable trend. And Uncle Emperor is the chosen hope, a wise and virtuous ruler of Our Great Zhou! With Uncle Emperor presiding over Great Zhou, you will surely lead us to a new level..."
Qin Hong rattled on endlessly with his mouth full of praises, spilling them out like a stream of beans, all of them piling onto Qin Yi.
A good word makes for softness, three points soft!
Qin Hong’s flattery fell on Qin Yi’s ears, but not even his eyebrows twitched, letting Qin Hong shower him with various praises.
Having said so much for the ti of two cups of tea, Qin Hong then turned the conversation, "Back then, my imperial nephew suffered many large and small injuries in his wanderings. After these days of deliberation, I hope Uncle Emperor can allow to return to Huainan Prefecture, and from then on, I will surely offer tribute year after year, benefiting the local commoners."
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