After a satisfying meal and much conversation, Fan Zehao, feeling tipsy, returned to his manor. Before leaving, he made sure to invite them for a talk the next day!
Watching him act all drunk, yet still so clear-headed about discussing matters with them tomorrow, made everyone realize he wasn't truly drunk. He was clearly feigning ignorance.
As they saw him off, he left with his wife and son-in-law, leaving behind the逍遥王 (Xiaoyao King) and 贤王 (Xian King) to entertain the emperors.
This was also an opportunity to subtly warn them, as the backing of both these princes came from Fan Zehao, their brother-in-law.
On the way back to the manor, Zhao Jiaqi pushed away the man leaning on her shoulder. "Stop pretending, the carriage has been out for quite some time!"
The man sheepishly rubbed his nose and sat up straight. "You're so stingy. What's wrong with leaning for a bit? It's not like you'd lose a piece of flesh!"
He was so old, yet when he pouted, he was even more coy than a teenage girl. She shook her head, a hint of helplessness in her expression.
"Did you notice? This Snow Country shows considerable respect for Wei Country, always looking to the Wei Emperor's face for approval!"
Fan Zehao's smiling face immediately darkened.
"Wei Country thinks they've been doing well these past few years, and coincidentally, Yun Country is suffering from a severe drought this year. They thought they could take a share of our resources. I suspect he wants to be the leader!"
"Husband, I believe Snow Country has certainly allied with Wei Country. You must not be careless, be cautious in all matters!"
His wife's concern was justified. Fan Zehao squeezed her hand. "Don't worry, I'm not foolish. Since they want to jointly attack our Yun Country, why not use this opportunity to show them a stern warning! To let them know our strength!"
If a tiger doesn't show its power, people will truly believe a monkey is king!
Even if he chose to live in seclusion, he wouldn't tolerate others bullying his cubs!
A stern warning!
This made Zhao Jiaqi a little suspicious.
"How will you warn them?"
Fan Zehao smiled mysteriously at her. "Just wait and watch the show. I won't disappoint you!"
Since he wouldn't say, she wouldn't ask, saving herself the effort of talking.
That night, some slept soundly, while others tossed and turned, unable to sleep, and some couldn't sleep at all.
The next morning!
After breakfast, Huangfu Xi led Cheng Hong to the manor!
Meeting the Zhenguo King and Zhenguo Queen privately, seeing them still receive him with smiles, smiles as warm as ever, Huangfu Xi's anxious heart finally settled.
"Junior Huangfu Xi pays his respects to the Supreme Emperor and Supreme Empress, wishing you both ten thousand blessings!" He lifted his bright yellow dragon robe and knelt down, sincerely kowtowing to them both.
With this kowtow, Zhao Jiaqi had a fleeting sense of her son bowing to his father!
She was only thirty-one, after all.
He directly addressed the people below. "I'm not your father, so why are you kneeling? Besides, I'm not any Supreme Emperor. Call me King from now on. This act makes it seem like I've gained another grown son like you!"
He couldn't accept this undeserved favor, as it would likely lead to trouble.
The man kneeling on the ground's face twitched uncontrollably. Kowtowing was a sign of respect, and who else would receive such treatment?
He wouldn't even kneel to his own father, as Heng Wang had never been an emperor. Furthermore, some ministers were resolute in supporting Fan Zehao and Zhao Jiaqi as the Supreme Emperor and Empress.
Even though they had established their own kingdoms, this title could not be erased.
Therefore, this couple was the spiritual pillar of Yun Country, and now, they were his backbone. Their charisma was irresistible.
He had lost, and he lost wholeheartedly!
"Regardless of anything else, the King and Queen will always be my elders!"
With that said, he rose and took his seat, his movements fluid.
This was the first time she had truly looked at him. When he was an emperor, he had met too many people and handled too many affairs. Moreover, Huangfu Xi held a nominal position in the court and was not present during morning assemblies. If Huangfu Xian hadn't mentioned him, he would have truly forgotten about him.
"Why did you revoke those policies that were beneficial to the country and the people, which I established?"
Fan Zehao got straight to the point with a sharp and awkward question, without any subtlety or giving him a moment to breathe!
Huangfu Xi pursed his lips and truthfully explained his original intentions. "After ascending the throne, facing those kneeling before me, I had a fleeting sense of being the foremost in the world. At that time, there were still some who didn't approve of me, and I harbored a desire to surpass you. Coincidentally, Liu Sheng presented a memorial requesting the restoration of the former emperor's system, so I agreed!"
"Of course, this is only part of it. The other part was due to the insufficient national treasury, and facing the soldiers' pay, clothing, and provisions, I had to abolish some policies and retain those that were profitable!"
These words were sincere and from the heart.
He thought the King would be angry, but Fan Zehao merely squinted at him. He didn't see him blowing his beard and glaring, nor did he see the slightest trace of anger on his face.
Fearing that Fan Zehao would be angry because he abolished those policies, he immediately told him about Liu Sheng.
"That scoundrel Liu Sheng, I have already dealt with him privately. It can be considered as avenging the common people of Yun Country!"
Fan Zehao and Zhao Jiaqi exchanged a glance. He then nodded slightly. "Liu Sheng's death or survival is of no concern to this King. You only need to protect Yun Country well."
Now, it was Huangfu Xi's turn to feel awkward. He had intended to please the King, but the King clearly didn't take the matter seriously.
Outside the main hall, Xiao Ce rushed in, whispered a few words into the King's ear, and then withdrew to the side.
The King paused for a moment in thought, then turned to Zhao Jiaqi. "Wife, there's something happening at the military camp that I need to attend to. You can handle things here."
"Alright, go ahead."
Although Zhao Jiaqi didn't know why something suddenly happened at the military camp, she understood that this sudden event must be important, otherwise, he wouldn't have left Huangfu Xi for her to handle.
Before leaving, Fan Zehao squeezed Huangfu Xi's shoulders twice and said earnestly, "Be more vigilant in all matters!"
Huangfu Xi nodded heavily and bowed. "Please rest assured, Your Majesty. I know my mistakes and will correct them in the future."
These two sentences pleased him greatly. Knowing one's mistakes and correcting them is a great virtue. He feared mere words, but the future would tell.
Fan Zehao strode away, leaving only him, Zhao Jiaqi, and two servants in the front hall.
Regarding this matter, Zhao Jiaqi decided not to beat around the bush. She preferred to be direct, avoiding unnecessary trouble.
"Yun Emperor, do you know when the King's birthday is?"
Huangfu Xi was startled. "Isn't it on the ninth of the tenth month?"
She smiled and shook her head. "No, the King's birthday is on the ninth of the twelfth month. In the past, the King said his mother didn't celebrate birthdays. This time, advancing the celebration was actually for you, and for Yun Country."