Unlimited estates for rural beauty-Chapter 668: The First Time the Empress’s Voice Sounded So Pleasant (3)

Dugu Chen looked at him with a smile, "Have you thought it through?"

Seeing that stern, unsmiling expression on his father’s face, chills ran down his spine. He obediently nodded, and Dugu Chen reached out to pat him, "That’s right. During this time, observe how the Prime Minister handles various emergencies. You can deal with minor issues yourself, but you must listen to the Prime Minister’s opinions. If you think the Prime Minister’s handling is inappropriate, or if you have any better suggestions, you may express them. Or, if there’s anything you don’t understand, come to find your father in the evening, and I will explain it to you. Have you remembered all this?"

"I got it, Father." He responded reluctantly.

And so, the five-year-old child was enslaved by his father for a while.

Time flew by, and six days passed. The carriage of the ruler from Lou had also entered the city. Upon arrival at the post station, he immediately sent word, requesting an audience with Emperor Jinghe and Empress Jinghe.

By the evening, a decree from Emperor Jinghe was received: "The ruler from Lou has traveled a long and weary road. Rest well tonight, and we shall meet at the morning court."

Even though the foreign ruler was anxious, he managed to restrain himself and quietly spent the night at the post station, tossing and turning restlessly.

The next day, in the Jinluan Hall.

"You may rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

The ministers were just getting to their feet when someone at the entrance of the hall reported, "Your Majesty, the ruler from Lou requests an audience outside the hall."

Dugu Chen’s eyebrows rose slightly; the visitor had indeed arrived swiftly. He gestured, "Let him in."

"Yes." The announcing soldier left, and shortly after, the ruler from Lou appeared in the Great Hall with his entourage.

"Long live Emperor Jinghe," the foreign ruler stood in the hall, bowed respectfully, and after a brief moment, straightened up.

Dugu Chen narrowed his eyes and, after a moment, spoke with an authoritative voice, "The ruler from Lou has come from far away and should have properly rested at the post station."

Lou Qianyu replied with a light smile, "Qianyu has come to the palace today for two reasons, which weigh heavily on my mind, prompting my hastiness."

The Prime Minister had been scowling ever since the foreign ruler had entered the hall, now rolling his eyes, then sticking out his neck defiantly, without giving the foreign ruler a proper glance.

"What matters could be so pressing for the foreign ruler?"

"Firstly, Qianyu is extremely grateful to Empress Jinghe for saving the people of my country, and I have come here especially to express my thanks. Secondly,..." he said, glancing sideways at the Prime Minister and seeing his displeased demeanor, feeling a chill in his heart.

Dugu Chen, keeping his composure, waited for him to finish his sentence, his fingers resting on the armchair slowly coming together.

The foreign ruler bowed his head in contemplation, recalling the image of tear-filled eyes, the pain in his own heart twitching; he stood up and held his fist to his chest, "Secondly, Lou Qianyu wishes to ask for the hand of Prime Minister Xiao Yiran’s daughter, Miss Xiao Jiazhen."

Xiao Yiran’s face suddenly changed, and he turned to refuse, only to realize he was in the imperial court, and the suitor was a foreign monarch. His face turned crimson with strain, but he could not utter any words of refusal. His only hope was that the Emperor would reject the proposal.

Dugu Chen watched as his uncle’s face turned from pale to dark red, clearly disagreeing with giving his daughter to Lou Qianyu, and Dugu Chen fell silent.

The ministers all silently bowed their heads, reducing their presence, with the Prime Minister staring angrily at the tip of his shoes, and the foreign ruler looking at the silent Dugu Chen with hope-filled eyes.

The Great Hall was silent until a series of footsteps finally broke the deathly quiet.

Dugu Chen frowned and looked, only to see his wife, with her hand on her belly, walking step by step toward him.

The ministers turned back and upon seeing the Empress dressed in the Phoenix Robes, their eyes lit up, and they all knelt down to greet Feng Xuxu, "Peace to Your Majesty the Empress."