Chapter 902: Chapter 718: You’re Not a Virgin, No Entry!
You know, there really are a few handsome young men among these officials’ families. Although they don’t quite have the imposing presence of our own Imperial Husband, at least they can barely live off their looks.
Hongyan Jiaojiao was very satisfied and waved her hand, "Capture them!"
It must be said, there was no resistance. Those high-ranking officials, who dared to criticize Emperor Zhoulin in the imperial court, just watched, teary-eyed, not even managing to shout for help.
By the time the order was relayed by the female officials, Hongyan Jiaojiao had already set out to the street of the imperial relatives and nobles.
The layout of the Capital of Great Zhou is very organized, with the Imperial Palace in the center, surrounded by three rings. Court officials live in the outer ring, non-royal vassals in the next, and on the street closest to the palace are the imperial relatives who have opened their own mansions. It’s an impressive sight, with Royal Mansions and Princess Mansions lined up in a row.
This made Hongyan Jiaojiao’s operation much more convenient. With the words from the Emperor himself, she was told to capture more of the Zhou family members. Of course, Hongyan Jiaojiao didn’t dare slack off. One word: search!
Once the search was complete, the qualified ones were naturally captured!
As time went on, Hongyan Jiaojiao managed to capture from one end of the inner ring street to nearly the other, sparing no one, whether it was a Prince, Commandery Prince, or anyone from a Princess or Commandery Princess Mansion.
Those Princes, always aloof and superior, had never encountered such a blatant act of abducting men. They were instantly furious, watching as the Miao girls, adorned with silver, coldly roamed through their mansions. Those self-important Princes just wanted to cry!
"Where is His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mu? Where is His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mu? Hurry and rein in your soldiers... the ones who haven’t yet entered the household!"
This is simply madness, utter madness!
Unfortunately, the Crown Prince they longed for was very busy, enjoying a hotpot in the garden with his Changsheng. He occasionally took on the role of server, happily and soulfully feeding, having no time to concern himself with them.
"Sir! Sir! Our Jier hasn’t finished eating yet..." a woman dressed in a Princess Consort’s attire anxiously spoke, tugging at the sleeve of a female official.
Not far in front of them, a seventeen or eighteen-year-old dressed in County Prince’s Attire, with pure and simple elegance, still hadn’t swallowed a bite of shark fin, and was captured just like that.
"Psh! In the Southern Emperor’s Heavenly Palace, we can’t lack a single meal? Not to mention swallow’s nest and shark fin, anything from the sky, ground, water, or mud, as long as you can name it, the Heavenly Palace can make it into a delicacy for you! Capture him!" The female official leading the squad scoffed, exuding heroism, while waving her hand powerfully.
The Southern Emperor’s Heavenly Palace she spoke of is in fact the traveling palace where Gu Changsheng currently resides.
Thusly, another young imperial kin from the Zhou family was captured.
Although it was unclear what the Southern Emperor intended, seeing such a high-profile search, none of the imperial relatives’ residences had a single flower or plant harmed, nor were they ransacked.
After all, it would be surprising if the wealth of the Southern Emperor cared for anything from their mansions.
But why did they take a liking to the young men in their estates?
Upon hearing the female official’s words, they thought, well, delicacies... Is this an invitation?
The imperial relatives and nobles were thrilled when they heard the street rumors. Being invited to the Southern Emperor’s Heavenly Palace was an immense honor. Just the other day, Emperor Zhoulin himself was blocked at the gates, yet they could go in? Could actually go in?
Heavens!
Simple-minded imperial relatives and nobles, getting excited over the opportunity to visit the Heavenly Palace and become familiar faces in front of Gu Changsheng.
"Hey, hey! Look at me! Why not me? I’m also quite dignified!" A certain Commandery Prince urgently tugged at a female official’s sleeve, eager to follow along, "Take me too! Take me too! I also want to taste the delicacies of the Heavenly Palace. It’s said the people we provided for the Southern Emperor were all cleared out; the Southern Emperor must have brought their own chefs. Take me, I’m just going for a meal."
This sudden shift in tone was a bit fast. The female official in charge of the search was somewhat bewildered, but still conscientiously scrutinized him and then shook her head, "No, you can’t go! You’re not a virgin! Anyone with an unclear background cannot enter the Heavenly Palace."
"What?" The Commandery Prince was struck dumb, and another dropped the chicken leg they were holding.
"Pfft!" Behind him, a woman dressed in a County Princess Consort’s attire couldn’t help but cover her mouth and laugh.
"You! You! How do you know I’m not... not... whatever? I... I..." This was a Commandery Prince with quite a reputation among the imperial kin.
"What kind of men hasn’t this official seen? Just one look and I can tell if your background is unclear." The female official proudly announced.
The women of the Southern Border, if they lack even this much discernment, would be laughed at!
"But, but going to the Heavenly Palace as a guest, does it have anything to do with... that thing?" The Commandery Prince, craving the Heavenly Palace’s delicacies, was very frustrated.
"Absolutely! It’s very much related. In the presence of my Emperor, how could we allow men who don’t uphold male purity to have an audience? Step aside, don’t block me from handling official business!" The female official said, eagerly continuing her search operation.
"I... I just wanted to go for a meal..." A certain rejected Commandery Prince stood in the wind, feeling a jumble of emotions, and spoke with a look of grievance.
Could it be that, from now on, even mooching a meal requires checking if one is a virgin?
Men who don’t uphold male purity can’t have an audience? This rule is truly too harsh and hurtful, oh! No wonder his royal grandpa was refused admission; it turns out it’s because his royal grandpa already has a harem of three thousand!
This certain Commandery Prince felt he had uncovered something truly remarkable, originally should’ve been pleased, but thinking about missing out on the delicacies, he suddenly felt a bit resentful.
"Enough, does Prince Rong’s Mansion lack food or drink for you? You’ll only be laughed at if this spreads!" Said the Lady of Prince Rong, stepping forward and dragging the screened-out Commandery Prince back to the dining hall.
"It’s not the same, haven’t you heard the saying, the food at someone else’s place is always fragrant? Besides, the Southern Emperor’s Heavenly Palace must have good food!" The certain gluttonous yet not fat Commandery Prince said, unwillingly.
"What do you still want? You’ve shamelessly tried to tag along, but they don’t want you." Upon saying this, the Lady of Prince Rong lowered her head, laughing quietly.
"No, no! How can such rules be set? It makes no sense!" Prince Rong, Zhou Rong, felt increasingly unwilling, he’d married a princess and was guilty, but his love for food wasn’t guilty!
"Don’t laugh, tomorrow we’ll visit His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mu." Prince Rong solemnly patted his own princess consort.
"Ah? You haven’t given up yet?" The Lady of Prince Rong was taken aback.
"Of course not, I’ve sneaked snacks from the Imperial Kitchen countless times; how can I miss the Heavenly Palace?"
"But the Heavenly Palace’s guards..." The Lady of Prince Rong knew her husband well, who only cared about food and nothing else, hence didn’t stop him, but rather objectively suggested that the Imperial Kitchen was easy to sneak from since even Emperor Zhoulin let his grandson go unchecked for everything but food; however, the Heavenly Palace was distinctly different with strict guards.
"That’s why we need to visit His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mu, get in through the back door, you understand?" Prince Rong, Zhou Rong, was willing to do anything for food, "Let me tell you, when I was young, I lived next to Prince Bao’s quarters in the palace. Although not very familiar with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mu, I did share some of his treats from time to time. However, my Imperial Sister was quite close to Crown Prince Mu..."
"Shush! Be discreet! Don’t mention my Imperial Sister, lest others overhear and cause gossip." The Lady of Prince Rong showed a change in expression, quickly tugging at her husband’s robe.
"What’s wrong? Can Xiao Wang not miss his sister? No matter how rebellious she is, she’s still my sister. Xiao Wang has only this one blood-related sister and can’t think about her?" Zhou Rong, hearing this, his face grew troubled.
"Father King and Royal Mother live in the neighboring mansion, if they discover, none of..."
"What kind of Royal Mother is she! Just a subsequent spouse dare to criticize my sister?"
"But my Imperial Sister, after all... never mind, let’s continue dining, tomorrow we’ll go visit His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mu together..." The Lady of Prince Rong hesitated but eventually changed the subject.
"Alright, but considering how Father King has often hindered His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mu over the years, I wonder if my Imperial Brother Mu still remembers our good times together..." Zhou Rong nodded, complying as he walked with his wife towards the dining hall, a bit downcast in tone.
The Lady of Prince Rong’s expression shifted but she said nothing.
"It doesn’t matter, whether he remembers or not, Xiao Wang never lacked bites from him when we were kids. Chewing food silences mouths, I’ll repay with meals from his wife’s house, perfect!" As the Lady of Prince Rong’s expression remained unchanged, Prince Rong clapped his hands and joyfully concluded.
The Lady of Prince Rong breathed a sigh of relief, amusedly watching her husband, realizing her worries were futile. Her husband is simply a carefree, idle Commandery Prince who loves eating, ah, no, he loves eating and doing nothing; how could he possibly have any intentions of currying favor with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mu?
This little episode didn’t attract much attention, because truly quite a few were seeking to be caught!
However, the female officials had sharp eyes, even those Imperial kin tightly clenching their legs couldn’t escape their discerning gaze, instantly identifying clean or unclean, could they?
"Oh! Isn’t this Prince Liang’s Mansion?" Finally, Hongyan Jiaojiao’s search reached the door of Prince Liang’s Mansion.
And Prince Liang, ordered to stay home in confinement for reflection, had gained liberty due to the Southern Emperor’s Honor Guard sweeping action, for no other reason than even the Imperial Forest Army ordered by Emperor Zhoulin to monitor him dared not breathe heavily in front of Hongyan Jiaojiao.
If not for Zhou Mu’s impending royal marriage in the capital city, avoiding bloodshed, Emperor Zhoulin would likely have already dealt with this unfilial son. But alas, despite the son’s many flaws, what father would willingly repeatedly suppress his own child? Though Emperor Zhoulin is an Emperor, he is also just a person, moreover, an old man!
"Hehe... Lord Hongyan, have a look, how are these young lads in this mansion?"