The next day, the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Civil and military officials and ladies of honor entered the palace to pay New Year's greetings to the Emperor and Empress.

After Emperor Wenzong accepted the court ceremony, he specially invited Chu Xuanchi to have a meal in public.

In Fengyi Palace, Empress Jingren also left Mo Zhaohua behind, but this was Emperor Wenzong's intention.

According to royal rules, the emperor had to dine with the empress and stay overnight on the first and fifteenth day of every month.

They didn't even keep the Crown Prince and his wife, but kept the Prince and his wife. This was a favor to them.

Civil and military officials left in groups of three or five, whispering about the matter.

Some people speculated, "It is said that His Royal Highness Prince Yu is much better now. Is His Majesty going to use Prince Yu more?"

Someone agreed, "It's very likely. The Iron Cavalry Battalion was given military power a few years ago. I wonder what position they will be assigned this time."

Some people are certain that "given the King's military achievements, he must be in an important position, not an empty one, otherwise His Majesty would not attach so much importance to him."

Someone thought of something, "Then why don't you go to court with us? This person may be the first person in history to go to court in a wheelchair."

A cold voice sounded, "As long as you have real ability, it doesn't matter if you sit in a wheelchair? Do you think the King is not worthy of attending court with you?"

This person was Zhong Lingfei's father, the Minister of War Zhong Kun. His words clearly meant to protect Chu Xuanchi.

The man quickly explained, "Minister Zhong has misunderstood. I just admire you. Your Majesty is a man of both civil and military talents, and a pillar of the country."

The court officials were whispering in groups of three or five, and Chu Xuanchi's brothers were no less enthusiastic. Chu Xuanhan gathered with King Jin and King Rui.

The Prince of Jin started to sow discord as soon as he opened his mouth. "Father has many sons, but he only left the fifth son to have dinner with him. How do you feel about that?"

Chu Xuanhan said righteously, "Fifth Brother has made great contributions in the war and protected the people of Dongling. This is what he deserves."

Prince Rui chimed in, "Yes, let alone keeping my fifth brother for dinner, even if I was offered a high position, I would be convinced."

"Are you really so magnanimous and don't have any thoughts at all?" King Jin didn't believe it. "There are no outsiders here, so there is no need to act."

How could Chu Xuanhan show his true face to others? "I am telling the truth. If you have nothing else to do, I will go to see the Empress Dowager first."

Prince Rui never wanted to be with Prince Jin, especially when facing him alone, so he hurriedly said, "Sixth Brother, I will go with you."

Prince Jin sneered, "Are you guys going to form cliques and abandon me? Or is the Queen Mother just the royal grandmother of you two brothers?"

Chu Xuanhan came up with an excuse easily, "I thought my eldest brother had other things to do and would go later. If not, let's go together."

Prince Rui agreed again, "Yes, if the Empress Dowager saw us going together and being so friendly and respectful to each other, she would surely be very pleased."

At this time, someone had already arrived at Shoukang Palace. They were Chu Xuanchi and Mo Zhaohua. They came with Emperor Wenzong.

After Emperor Wenzong left, the couple was kept by Empress Dowager Yuande, and other people who came to pay New Year's greetings had to wait outside the palace.

Empress Dowager Yuande smiled happily, "The emperor actually invited you to have lunch. Great, great, he finally did something that pleased me."

Chu Xuanchi smiled at her and tried to keep his tone gentle, "Grandmother Royal wants your grandson and Zhao Zhao to stay in the palace for dinner?"

Empress Dowager Yuande explained, "Silly child, eating is a small matter, but favor is a big matter. Only in this way will others not dare to look down on you."

"Is this the reason why the Empress Dowager treats her grandson so well?" Chu Xuanchi habitually mocked himself, "Are you afraid that people will look down on your grandson because of his appearance?"

Empress Dowager Yuande was filled with remorse, "I failed to protect you in the past, and I want to make amends while I still have breath, so that I can die with my eyes closed."

Mo Zhaohua frowned, "Grandmother, today is the first day of the new year. How can you say such unlucky words? Zhao Zhao will be angry."

Chu Xuanchi pretended to be helpless, "Grandmother, Zhao Zhao has a bad temper. I have never dared to offend him, for fear that I would not be able to coax him. What do you think we should do now?"

"Okay, okay, it's my fault. I shouldn't have said such unlucky words. Zhao Zhao, please don't be angry for my age, okay?"

Empress Dowager Yuande was of noble status. If she were asked to apologize to others, even Emperor Wenzong would have to think carefully, but she was willing to do so.

Chu Xuanchi knew the reason from her attitude. This was to give him face. It seemed that she cared a lot about what happened back then and really wanted to make amends.

"This is just one time, and it won't happen again. If your grandmother makes a mistake again, Zhao Zhao would rather be called unfilial by the world than come to Shoukang Palace."

Mo Zhaohua frowned and looked displeased, speaking extremely seriously, but Empress Dowager Yuande was not annoyed, but felt extremely relieved.

She sneered, "The little girl is really hot-tempered. She wasn't like this before. It's obvious that she was spoiled by Chi'er and has developed this bad temper."

Chu Xuanchi and Mo Zhaohua wanted to reply, but a palace servant came to report, "Queen Mother, Prince Jin, Prince Qi, and Prince Rui are here to wish you a happy new year."

Empress Dowager Yuande was reluctant and said, "Why did you come at such a bad time? With them here, I can't even joke with Chi'er and Zhaozhao."

Chu Xuanchi deliberately avoided her, "Grandmother, you can't be so partial to one and ignore the other. We still have to go to other palaces to pay New Year's greetings, so I'll take my leave first."

Prince Jin's words were full of thorns, Chu Xuanhan had plotted against Mo Zhaohua, and Prince Rui was the one who had gone to marry him, and he didn't like any of them.

Prince Rui thought he had concealed it well, but through these few meetings, Chu Xuanchi had already discovered his attention to Mo Zhaohua.

However, he saw the restraint of King Rui and did not want to cause trouble to Mo Zhaohua, so he did not tell her about this.

Empress Dowager Yuande could not treat them equally, and was also happy for them to separate. "Go now, come back to Shoukang Palace when you have time, I will be waiting for you."

When Chu Xuanchi and his wife left the hall, they naturally met King Jin and his men. After they greeted each other, the former left.

Prince Jin took the opportunity to instigate, "We are a step late again. No wonder the Empress Dowager is increasingly fond of the Fifth Prince and neglects the Sixth Prince."

Chu Xuanhan sighed, "Fifth Brother has the Fifth Sister-in-law's relationship, so I can't compare to him. Big Brother, please don't laugh at me."

Empress Dowager Yuande was Mo Zhaohua's great aunt, but Emperor Wenzong was not her biological son, so these imperial grandchildren had no blood relationship with her.

As everyone knows, Mo Zhaohua has been favored since childhood because he looks like the young Empress Dowager Yuande, and Chu Xuanchi can naturally benefit from it.

King Jin lowered his voice and said, "I am not joking, but telling the truth. If it weren't for Old Five's interference, this marriage would have been yours."

Chu Xuanhan knew that this was a plot by the King of Jin to sow discord and he didn't want him to get too close to Chu Xuanchi, but in his heart he agreed with what the King of Jin said.

If Chu Xuanchi had not been there, he and Mo Zhaohua had a personal relationship and was confident that he could use his eloquence to convince Emperor Wenzong to grant the marriage.

Because they had already entered the hall and there were many people around, King Jin had just spoken in a low voice, so he did not respond.

He was so focused on this that he didn't notice that there was something clearly wrong with the way King Rui looked at him just now.

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