Chapter 16: The Eve of the Imperial Court Gathering (Part 1)

  Zhou Jian looked at Zhou Meng's appearance and felt heartache, also knowing that the morning meeting would face many people, if not holding Little White, Zhou Meng would be even more terrified.

  "That's all right then." Zhou Jian turned his head and said faintly to the palace maid.

  "Your Highness." The palace maid did not expect Zhou Jian to refuse and her eyes widened in anger, as if she was about to erupt.

  "Do I still need you to supervise me?" Zhou Jian said with a cold hum.

  After finishing speaking, Zhou Jian put his arm around Zhou Meng's shoulder and walked out. Being looked down upon, a prisoner-like life was just a thing of the past before today. After today, he would become the crown prince of this great Zhou dynasty. A small palace maid, why bother to care about her.

  The palace maid did not know about Zhou Jian's plan to withdraw the troops, and thought that after wearing the prince's clothes, he had become arrogant. She couldn't help but secretly scold him in her heart, saying "he doesn't know his own death". It's really a case of giving someone an inch and they'll take a mile.

  At the same time, the gate of the palace was wide open, and Deng Guifei was seeing off her third son.

  Zhou Feng, Zhou Que, and Zhou Nu, the three princes, were already dressed up, exuding an air of elegance and nobility as they approached.

  Deng Guifei smiled and stood still, looking at Zhou Feng's appearance, as if she saw that the Crown Prince had already risen.

  "It's time, let's go."

  Deng Guifei looked up at the sky and said to Zhou Feng, "It's almost time."

  "Agreed."

  Zhou Feng, Zhou Que and Zhou Nu all responded in unison. Immediately, the three brothers boarded the carriage, surrounded by attendants on both sides, heading towards the direction of the imperial court.

  Qing Luan Palace, Taiji Palace.

  Zhou Chong, Zhou Fei, Zhou Jun, and Zhou Ting also set off on their own.

  Not long after, the six sons and three daughters of King Zhou of Shang gathered in a house beside the Zhengde Temple in the main hall of the palace.

  The hut was just a temporary place for the princes to wait, so there were no extra decorations, only seats.

  Zhou Jian, Zhou Meng was the last to arrive. He swept a glance at his brothers and sisters, each of whom was very reserved, sitting separately according to their stance. The struggle for the throne had reached its final stage, with tensions running high.

  Brush.

  Zhou Jian walked in and also attracted many eyes, especially Zhou Feng, Zhou Fei, etc., not only did they not show respect to their elder brother, but their eyes even hid a threatening intent.

  Only elder sister Zhou Jun stood up and saluted Zhou Jianfu, and for this gentle and ambitious elder sister, Zhou Jian also led Zhou Meng to return a courtesy.

  "Big brother." After that, Zhou Xiong very solemnly saluted Zhou Jian, and then walked over with a thick face.

  "This is the third sister that Big Brother has been hiding, truly a beauty without match." After walking over, Zhou Chong first carefully examined Zhou Meng, then smiled and praised her, clearly having the intention of winning her heart.

  "Just pretend to be happy if you have to, why put on such an act." Zhou Ting was the most sarcastic and saw this with a cold smile.

  The rest of the people didn't say anything, but their eyes were filled with contempt and disdain.

  "An elder brother is like a father. I try to please my elder brother, that's filial piety. But it's different with all of you." Zhou Chong's expression didn't change, instead he became even more self-righteous and ridiculed the others for lacking filial piety.

  "Hum, a Haba dog."

  Zhou Ting coldly snorted, then immediately turned her head to face Zhou Jian with a chilly tone: "Big brother should take a closer look, the seemingly most affectionate lap dog might actually be the most ferocious beast."

  Zhou Jian didn't understand Zhou Ting, this younger half-sister of his, who was exactly the same as her mother.

  "What did you say?" Zhou Chong roared in great anger.

  "I say you're a dog. Even if you became the Crown Prince of Great Zhou, you'd still be a shame to our Great Zhou. If I were the Emperor, I'd rather die than appoint you."

  Zhou Ting's sharp tongue and quick wit made her even more fearless of Zhou Chong, and she coldly sneered.

  "Are you looking for trouble?"

  Zhou Chong angrily shouted and mobilized his cultivation, ready to charge at Zhou Ting.

  "That's enough." Seeing the two of them quarreling like this, Zhou Jun's eyebrows furrowed and she shouted in a delicate voice.

  "Hmm."

  Zhou Chong heard this and stopped in his tracks.

  "This time, let's give face to big sister." Zhou Ting, who was about to fight back, also relaxed and snorted coldly.

  "Brother, it's too noisy."

  Just as things were about to calm down, Zhou Meng's timid voice rang out.

  Childlike innocence, yet so real, what a nuisance.

  Everyone present felt more or less awkward.

  Zhou Jian burst out laughing and said, "Well said, what a ruckus, what's the point of that?" He then stood up and said, "I have an emergency, I'll take my leave first."

  Then, Zhou Jian pulled up Zhou Meng's hand and walked out.

  Apart from Zhou Jun, probably no one else in the room really regarded Zhou Jian as a big brother.

  But at this moment, Zhou Jian burst out laughing and said with a loud voice, "What's all the fuss about?" He had an air of pride and dignity, like an elder brother.

  Young people furrowed their brows, while older ones were like the gentle breeze of Zhou. Yet, Zhou Jun inexplicably thought back to his childhood days.

  At that time, Zhou Jian was the true elder brother, the eldest son of the Di family, the favorite of Empress Zhao, and the powerful influence of the Zhao family, with a stable position like Mount Tai.

  Apart from this, a pair of eyes seemed to be shining with unparalleled wisdom. When they saw Zhou Jian, they couldn't even take a breath.

  As he thought about it, a hint of gloom suddenly flashed in Zhou Feng's heart.

  "Haha, Second Brother, Fourth Brother, look at our Big Brother, he doesn't seem to be someone who can be easily bullied." Zhou Chong, being younger, didn't have much impression of Zhou Jian's mighty presence when they were young, but was also shocked by the aura Zhou Jian just displayed, and dryly laughed, saying.

  "What does it matter, I admit that just now there was indeed a bit of momentum, as if there was something to rely on. But his leg is broken, the position of the Great Zhou King, can it be inherited by a disabled person?"

  Zhou Fei snorted and said. Then, he sneered at Zhou Feng: "Unless Second Brother's eyes are dim and confused, even harming Big Brother can be mistaken."

  "Hmph." Zhou Feng snorted, Zhou Fei's words made him certain in his heart. Originally, he had personally used his divine sense to investigate and was sure that Zhou Jian's legs were indeed broken, so there was nothing to be afraid of.

  As he thought about it, Zhou Feng's heart gradually calmed down and became tranquil once again.

  "Heh heh." Zhou Fei chuckled and didn't think that Zhou Feng would be so stupid.

  Even Zhou Jun couldn't help but sigh, his elder brother was originally so outstanding, but he was ruined by these messy disputes and ended up like this.

  "Where is the restroom?" Zhou Jian asked as he led Zhou Meng out, seeing the guards standing at the door.

  "The end will lead the way for Your Highness." The guards volunteered.

  "Good." Zhou Jian nodded and followed the palace guard with Zhou Meng. After a while, they arrived at a room outside, which was indeed the imperial palace, even the toilets were luxurious and grand.

  "Don't go anywhere, don't mind anyone." Zhou Jianxian glanced at the door and then turned back to say this, not putting his heart at ease about Zhou Meng.

  "Mmm." Zhou Meng nodded repeatedly.

  Zhou Jian felt relieved and pushed open the door to enter.

  Although it's a toilet, when you push the door open, a refreshing fragrance hits your nose. The surroundings are also spotless and clean.

  It's not just because the palace maids are diligent in cleaning, but also because very few people come here.

  After all, there aren't many princes like him who are unrefined and full of crap. He glanced around and sneered at himself.

  Zhou Jian immediately got down to business, first closing the door and then lifting up his clothes to remove the prosthetic limb.

  In an instant, he became one-legged. Zhou Jianpan sat down, activated his magical power, and let the temporarily retracted leg slowly grow out of his body.

  After his leg healed, Zhou Jian stood up and moved around, a satisfied smile flashing across his face. Who would have thought that after it broke, it could actually grow back?

  At that time, the whole court was in an uproar. Thinking of the upcoming struggle for the throne, Zhou Jian sneered and walked out of the door, taking Zhou Meng back to that room.

  The bell rang soon after.

  At the same time, a series of footsteps echoed from afar and drew near. The expressions of the crowd changed slightly as they turned their heads towards the entrance, knowing that the crucial moment was about to arrive.

  Under everyone's gaze, an imperial eunuch walked in and bowed: "The time for the court assembly has arrived, please move forward, Your Highnesses, to enter the Zhengde Hall."

  Zhou Jian and others heard this and stood up in unison, forming two rows. The right row was the princes, and the left row was the princesses.

  Zhou Jian walked unyieldingly on the right side in first place, with Zhou Feng and others following behind him in order of age. On the left side, the eldest princess Zhou Jun was in the first place, and Zhou Meng was at the very end.

  After lining up in this way, the group of people went towards Zhengde Hall.