As the official who went out of the city to welcome Lou Yue, Jiang Suizhou had to accompany him all the way back to the palace. After meeting the Emperor together, hed have to attend the reception banquet held in the palace together with Lou Yue.

By the time Lou Yue finished settling his army, it was already getting late. All the officials in their carriages, together with the Lou father and daughter who rode into the city, and several generals of the army, passed through the opened southern city gate and headed toward the palace with great strength and vigor.

Although Jiang Suizhou wasnt a high official, he was the sole living brother of His Majesty and the only Prince of the dynasty. Therefore, when he went out of the city to meet Lou Yue, he gave Lou Yue great respect. The officials couldnt guess the emperors current thoughts, so they treated Lou Yue cautiously.

However, the Emperor naturally did not have as many concerns as them. He just wanted to let the person he loathed to welcome the person he hated. It was best to let the two of them fight. The more deadlocked they were, the better.

As a result, while the court officials were cautiously speculating on the intention of the Hou Zhu, the latter only complimented Lou Yue with little interest before letting the father and daughter get seated at the table.

Nonetheless, during the dinner this evening, there were several scenes that the Hou Zhu disliked.

Lou Yue has always been wildly arrogant and unreasonable. In the past, even Pang Shao wouldnt receive half of his respect. But today, knowing that His Highness Jingwang, who was in poor health, welcomed him outside the city under the scorching sun, his attitude towards him wasnt as caustic as he treated those civil officials. Lou Yue gave it another thought, and halfway through the banquet, he even got up and offered a toast to Jiang Suizhou.

Apart from His Majesty, Lou Yue had never taken the initiative to toast anyone.

For a time, everyone stared speechless at each other, and their eyes on Jiang Suizhou changed. On the throne, the Emperors face also turned gloomy.

Everyone was well aware that Lou Yue had a massive army under his control. It was because he was not well-liked in the court and was excluded from everyone that the Hou Zhu was able to use him with confidence.

But now

Jiang Suizhou also felt the sudden freezing of the surrounding atmosphere. He raised his eyes to look at Lou Yue, and saw his unperturbed countenance. At a glance, he realized that it was because of their meeting today that Lou Yue got up and raised a toast to him.

However, everyone around them only cared about the sudden close relationship between him and Lou Yue. They would not dig deep into what had actually happened outside the city today.

Jiang Suizhou only felt that this was a sticky situation.

Seeing that Lou Yue was approaching with his wine, Jiang Suizhou got up ahead of him and spoke with a gentle smile before Lou Yue, How can this Prince trouble General Lou to propose a toast to me? This Prince gives you a toast. This Princes body is really good for nothing. I even lost my courtesy outside the city today. Please dont blame me, General

Before he could end his speech, he ran out of breath. He coughed with a cup in one hand, choking on the wine and spilling some of it.

Lou Yue was scared at this sight. He had been in the army all year round, and all he saw were powerful menfolk who could carry weights. He had never seen such a pale, sickly man. He immediately spoke, What is there to blame for? Your Highness is unwell. You should rest more.

Jiang Suizhou struggled to stop his cough, smiled and clinked glasses with him.

He let out a sigh of relief. Now, he clarified some doubts in everyones mind.

But at this moment, a voice drawled from above.

General Lou should give His Highness Jingwang a proper toast. Pang Shao interjected.

Lou Yue was puzzled when he heard this remark. He turned to Pang Shao, who had a smile on his face as he unhurriedly supplemented.

General Lou, you probably still dont know that there is a happy event in Jingwang Manor.

Hearing these words, Jiang Suizhous heart thumped, and he choked on the wine he was drinking halfway through. In an instant, the fake cough turned into a real one.

He naturally knew what kind of happy event Pang Shao referred to as a happy event.

When all was said and done, General Lou was unaware that the only son of his former best friend was married to Jingwang Manor as a concubine.

Jiang Suizhou was coughing so badly that Meng Qianshan hurried forward to smoothen his breath. However, Jiang Suizhou couldnt care less about this. His heart was already in his throat.

Once Lou Yue hears of the news, he would certainly be furious, and there was no knowing what he would do. But regardless, his anger would most definitely be directed at him.

He barely stopped coughing, took a deep breath, and just waited to face the storm.

Lou Yue, on the other hand, was puzzled: What happy event?

Pang Shao glanced at Jiang Suizhou, and then at Lou Yue, chuckled ambiguously a couple of times, and remained silent.

As for the Hou Zhu, for a rare moment, his cloudy face turned sunny. He discarded his doubts and displeasure and gave Pang Shao a satisfied glance.

Thereafter, an official of Pangs party smiled and answered, General Lou does not know, right? The only son of the Marquis of Dingbei, General Huo Wujiu, has become a much told tale with His Highness Jingwang!

For a spell, bursts of laughter arose from the seats.

Another official laughed and chimed in, What General Huo? He should be called Madam Huo now!

Lou Yue was deeply shocked. He stood frozen for a long time before he regained his senses.

What kind of person was this Jingwang? He was a man known to all the people in the world as a cut sleeve. He had heard about Huo Wujius defeat at the start of the year in Lingnan. He just never imagined that

He was humiliated to this extent!

He looked at Jiang Suizhou with disbelief.

He discovered that Jingwang, who had the looks of a woman and too frail to stand a gust of wind, was ashen-faced. He was clinging weakly to the hand of the eunuch beside him as he looked straight at him. Because of that wracking cough just now, his eyes were moist with tears. Under the lamplight, his sickly figure evoked pity.