Fu Tinghan bent down amidst the intentional and unintentional gazes of the crowd and stepped down from the carriage using the stool.
Seeing that Fu Tinghan was inside the carriage, the gazes beca even bolder until he turned around and extended his hand, helping another person out of the carriage. Only then did everyone slightly restrain themselves, lowering their eyes, yet still couldn’t help but sneak a peek.
Zhao Hanzhang stepped down from the carriage with Fu Tinghan’s hand as support. She glanced around and asked, "Where’s Second Son? Where have he and Xun Xiu run off to?"
Ji Yuan bowed and said, "Xie Shi is following Second Sir, there shouldn’t be a problem."
Zhao Hanzhang was relieved upon hearing that Xie Shi was with him, she looked up and t the gaze of Gou Xi who was looking down. She smiled slightly, nodded distantly at him, and then walked up with Fu Tinghan.
Other officials stepped aside, waiting until they had climbed several steps before following.
Across a dozen steps, a few people gathered together and whispered while climbing, "I heard that Doctor Chen from the Ministry of Rites was thrown out of Zhao Mansion by Zhao Hanzhang."
An official who was slightly lagging behind in news imdiately asked, "Why is that? Could it be that the position set by the Ministry doesn’t please her?"
"That position isn’t sothing the Ministry of Rites can decide, it’s set after discussions among court ministers, and Zhao Hanzhang sits on the left one." Prince East Sea took so many ministers away, few remain at court, the largest position in the Ministry of Rites is held by an Assistant Minister, then Chen Fulian."
Such a big matter as the seating arrangent at the state banquet, it’s beyond the capacity of just the Ministry of Rites to decide.
"Then why?"
"It’s said Chen Fulian went to persuade Zhao Hanzhang to beco the Empress."
Everyone was shocked, "We were just casually ntioning it, how could he just go knocking on her door?"
"Actually, if Zhao Hanzhang were willing to be Empress, it would be a great thing for Your Majesty and Great Jin."
"That might not be the case, didn’t you see earlier?" soone said, "Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan share a deep affection, and the Zhao Family and Fu Family are long-ti allies. If she were to beco Empress, with power in her hands, who knows whether the future Crown Prince might bear the surna Sima or Fu?"
Everyone: ...
"Quick, hush, if these words reach Zhao Hanzhang’s ears, it’s like courting death."
A young man passed by them, calmly saying, "Just alighting from the carriage in front of the grand hall is enough to provoke your endless speculations."
Soone saw him and coldly raised their head arrogantly, "It’s Second Young Master of the Wang Family, isn’t it strange? Didn’t the mbers of Mrs. Wang all leave the Capital City with the Grand Commandant Wang? Why are you still here?"
"Perhaps due to humble origins, Mrs. Wang didn’t rember him when leaving the capital, forgot to take him along, hahaha..."
"Quite possibly true, oh, your adopted younger brother left with them, right?"
Zhao Hanzhang, who had only climbed halfway, stopped and turned her head, standing high on the steps, she looked down, taking a good look at this group of people’s expressions.
A sharp-eyed individual sensed Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze and quickly pulled at those laughing wantonly.
They looked up, eting Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes, imdiately lowering their heads in fright.
Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help but let out a snort seeing them act so cowardly.
Fu Tinghan followed her gaze from afar and asked curiously, "From so far away, can you hear them?"
Zhao Hanzhang replied modestly, "A little bit."
Speaking ill of her in such a loud voice, even if she didn’t have such hearing, with so many people and loose tongues in the palace, and given her current power, wouldn’t others pass it to her ears?
It’s simply having the gall to provoke and test her to see her reaction.
Unfortunately, she never liked holding grudges afterwards; so busy every day, why should she put effort into such small matters and petty grievances?
She dealt with it instantly.
Zhao Hanzhang beckoned a eunuch, pointed below, "Go, invite Mr. Wang up here. As for the others, I can’t quite see their faces or rember their nas, go check, and report their faces and nas back to ."
Let’s see if she doesn’t scare them half to death.
The eunuch cautiously went down, conveying the ssage, making everyone’s face around Wang Xing turn pale with fright, their limbs going weak.
Zhao Hanzhang, after terrifying them, temporarily set the matter aside and turned to climb the steps, which were indeed long in front of the grand hall.
"General Gou is looking dashing."
Gou Xi also displayed a slight smile and said, "General Zhao is equally splendid."
He looked Zhao Hanzhang over carefully, feeling that now she sowhat appeared ladylike.
Just as he was thinking, an official from the Ministry of Rites ca out and personally welcod the two into the grand hall.
After they entered, only then did everyone dare to go in.
This state banquet was held in the grand hall, with a hundred tables set up. The official leading them inside kept his head deeply bowed, guiding them to the very front, pointed at the seat on the left and said to Zhao Hanzhang, "General Zhao, please be seated."
Turning to Gou Xi, he said, "General Gou, please be seated."
Zhao Hanzhang sat on the left, Gou Xi on the right.
Even though he had already heard the news, Gou Chun was still dissatisfied. No matter the contributions to Great Jin, or the official qualifications, his elder brother surpassed Zhao Hanzhang, why should she sit on the left?
Just because she entered the city first to save the Emperor? But his elder brother has also saved the Emperor before! Shouldn’t past rits count?
Gou Chun looked at Zhao Hanzhang, who was already rudely tugging Fu Tinghan to sit on the left and right, kneeling down. Behind her, several table seats were laid out for her people.
Mi Ce quickly entered, paid respects to Zhao Hanzhang, and then stood by her side. Zhao Hanzhang pointed to a position behind her for him to sit, and asked, "Where’s Second Son?"
Mi Ce quickly glanced at Gou Xi’s brother opposite, and lowered his voice to say, "Xun Xiu took Second Sir to search for treasure, waited outside the palace gate for a long ti but didn’t see them, so he ca in first."
He hurriedly added, "I’ve also sent soone to look for them, they should be found by now?"
Zhao Hanzhang gave him a sidelong look, nonsense of treasure hunting, clearly ravaging, now the whole Luoyang City has not a single commoner left, only empty houses.
Since people have fled, what good things can remain in those houses?
Xun Xiu, for the sake of wealth, actually dragged Second Son to do such a thing at this crucial ti, utterly mistaking the importance of matters.
If treasure hunting is desired, can’t it be done after the state banquet?
Zhao Hanzhang looked around, Zeng Yue and Ting He were both left outside, she simply beckoned to a eunuch, saying, "Let my maid co in."
Although attendants can’t enter the grand hall, or palace at all, the eunuch dared not object, bowed and went out to invite people.
Ting He soon ca in.
Zhao Hanzhang said, "The banquet is about to begin, send soone to find Xun Xiu, tell him if he can’t enter before the banquet starts, he needn’t co to this hall anymore."
Ting He followed orders and left.
Various officials arrived one after another; everyone entered, first paying respects to Zhao Hanzhang and Gou Xi, then went to their seats.
Quite a few officials brought their families; the seats behind them were reserved for family mbers.
Fu Zhi entered alone.
Upon seeing him, Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan imdiately stood up to pay respects, "Grandfather Fu."
Fu Tinghan also called out Grandfather.
Fu Zhi nodded, turned and paid respects to Gou Xi, then sat below him.
To Zhao Hanzhang’s surprise, Zhao Zhongyu brought only Zhao Yi, not Zhao Ji and his wife. Zhao Hanzhang raised an eyebrow, after paying respects, she asked with a smile, "Great Uncle, where’s the eldest uncle?"
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