"Greetings to Your Majesty, greetings to the Emperor Emeritus."
"Greetings to Your Majesty, greetings to the Emperor Emeritus."
With everyone's salutations, all knelt on the ground except for Yi Zixie and Namujong.
Shen Xiaoyan knelt on the ground, inwardly grumbling.
These damned ancient times, this damned status.
They knelt for half the day, yet heard no words from the Emperor Emeritus or His Majesty.
The room was silent, only the sound of everyone's breathing and the occasional clack of a chess piece on the board could be heard.
Yi Zixie watched the two men, who seemed to have entered another world, engrossed in their game, his gaze gradually growing cold.
He understood that the Emperor Emeritus was definitely vying with His Majesty.
It was just that using them as pawns in this competition, he needed to see if he was willing.
"Since Your Majesty and the Emperor Emeritus are so busy, this Grand Tutor shall take his leave." After speaking, Yi Zixie pulled Namujong and headed for the exit.
Namujong walked out with Yi Zixie, her clear laughter spilling from her lips.
"It's all been said, coming here is a waste of time. It's been so many years, who still remembers you as Grand Tutor? Your favors have long since vanished with time."
Namujong's words drifted into the ears of the Emperor Emeritus and His Majesty, successfully causing their expressions to change.
"Grand Tutor, please stay."
"Grand Tutor, please stay."
The two men looked up simultaneously, speaking to Yi Zixie.
After speaking, His Majesty quickly said to the nobles kneeling on the ground, "Quickly, rise. I was too engrossed just now, I didn't notice you."
Yi Zixie turned around, looking at Emperor Emeritus Sima Hao and His Majesty Sima Zhu, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes, and said coolly, "I see Your Majesty and the Emperor Emeritus are very busy, so I shall not stay to disturb you."
Sima Hao was taken aback, then quickly regained his composure.
After all, he had known Yi Zixie for many years and understood his temperament, knowing that he always spoke this way.
If anyone gave him disrespect, they could only expect to face his ill temper.
However, Sima Zhu had few opportunities to meet Yi Zixie.
As the ruler of a nation, he could not tolerate anyone treating him with such an attitude.
Sima Zhu looked at Yi Zixie for a while, until the killing intent in his eyes was concealed, before smiling and saying, "Grand Tutor, please do not be angry. My father and I have prepared a welcoming banquet for the Grand Tutor and others tonight. It's been many years since we last met, we must have a good chat."
Yi Zixie raised his eyebrows at this, "Oh? Is that so? I didn't see any indication that Your Majesty was very welcoming."
After speaking, Yi Zixie looked at Sima Hao again, "It's been many years, Emperor Emeritus, you've grown old. But then again, if you weren't old, how could you be the Emperor Emeritus? Your eyesight must be failing. You can't even see a living person standing right in front of you."
Yi Zixie's words were far from polite.
But at this moment, the Emperor Emeritus had something to ask of him and could not afford to be angry.
Shen Xiaoyan saw the Emperor Emeritus's body tremble violently a few times, then she heard him say, "Yes, Grand Tutor, you are correct. That is why we rushed to invite you back. After all, not everyone can be like the Grand Tutor and his wife, who haven't changed at all after so many years."
Yi Zixie laughed heartily upon hearing this, "That's natural. Otherwise, would I still be the Grand Tutor?"
Shen Xiaoyan was extremely surprised to see Yi Zixie like this.
She had seen Yi Zixie like this before.
But was it really okay for him to be so arrogant in front of Sima Hao and Sima Zhu?
"Jiang Yubao, be seated." The Emperor Emeritus commanded, and he and Sima Zhu sat back on the couch.
Shen Xiaoyan sat down next to Zheng Wei and listened to Yi Zixie and Sima Hao exchange words with great enthusiasm.
As for Sima Han, he had been forgotten by Sima Hao since he entered.
Or rather, he had been deliberately ignored.
It wasn't until half an hour later that the two of them stopped.
Sima Hao watched Yi Zixie slowly sip from his porcelain cup, his gaze shifting away from him.
As if suddenly remembering, Sima Hao lightly patted his own head, "I'm getting old, I even forgot. A'han, you're back?"
Sima Han stood up when Sima Hao called him and walked to the Emperor Emeritus. He respectfully knelt on the ground and paid his respects to Sima Hao and Sima Zhu.
"Sima Han has returned. Sima Han is unfilial, causing the Emperor Emeritus to worry."
Sima Hao looked at Sima Han kneeling on the ground. Compared to a few years ago, he looked much more mature and not as downcast and dejected as he had imagined.
Sima Zhu also examined Sima Han from the side. Seeing Sima Han like this, a gleam appeared in his eyes, "Fifth Prince has been away for several years, he has indeed become more mature. Looking at him, it seems he has been doing well. It's a pity that Father misses you so much and doesn't know your whereabouts, he has aged considerably."
Sima Hao's appearance had indeed aged a lot, with white hair already appearing at his temples.
Even while sitting, his brows were tightly furrowed.
Sima Han lowered his eyes and kowtowed again, "It is Sima Han's lack of awareness, causing the Emperor Emeritus to worry."
Sima Hao finally sighed, saying somewhat sadly, "Does A'han resent Father for not bringing you back sooner?"
Sima Han lowered his head, "Sima Han dares not."
"You dare not, or you will not?" Sima Hao retorted.
Before Sima Han could reply, Sima Hao continued, "You don't even call Father 'Father' now. If that's not blaming Father, then what is it?"
Sima Han paused at this.
His lips pressed tightly together, Sima Han closed his eyes, temporarily putting his thoughts aside, "Father, A'han dares not, and even less would he resent Father."
"In the past, it was A'han's immaturity. These past few years, A'han has learned a lot while being away. I am a father myself now, and I naturally understand the Emperor Emeritus's care for his son."
Hearing Sima Han speak like this, Sima Hao nodded repeatedly, a look of comfort appearing on his face.
"Good, A'han has truly grown up. Quickly, quickly, stand up."
Sima Han stood up as instructed and answered a few words to Sima Hao before Sima Hao asked him to go back and sit down.
Sima Zhu's gaze suddenly fell on Yue Qingxin, saying, "Fifth Prince's Consort~"
Yue Qingxin quickly stood up upon hearing this and stepped forward to bow, "Greetings to Your Majesty, greetings to the Emperor Emeritus."
Sima Zhu exempted her from the bow and said, "Seeing A'han like this, I know you have taken good care of him these past few years. I heard that you also gave birth to a son for A'han, who is almost one year old. Is this true?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, yes."
Sima Hao's eyes lit up upon hearing this, "This is the eldest of this generation. Bring him into the palace tomorrow for me to see."
Sima Zhu's face changed immediately.
He really wouldn't miss any opportunity to provoke him.
However, he had many consorts in his harem, but none of them had conceived.
Let alone giving birth to a prince, not even a single one was pregnant.
Naturally, he would not suspect that there was something wrong with him.
Even if there was a problem, it was with those women, each and every one of them incapable of bearing children.
Fortunately, the imperial selection was approaching. When that time came, he would select some good ones, and he wouldn't believe that no one would get pregnant.
However, thinking of the imperial selection, Sima Zhu's gaze shifted to Yue Qingxin.
Then, Sima Zhu smiled and looked at Sima Han, "A'han, you've returned at just the right time. After the New Year, there will be an imperial selection. You've been away from the capital for these past few years, and when it comes to concubines, even if you wanted them, you'd be powerless. Fortunately, you're back now, and it's just the right time. We'll select a few caring ones for you then, so that Fifth Prince's Consort won't have to take care of you and the child alone, and be overwhelmed."
Sima Zhu's words were indeed pleasant, acting as if he was doing it for A'han's good.
His words were high-sounding and made it impossible to refuse.
However, Sima Han was no longer the Sima Han who could be manipulated as before.
Sima Han stood up, walked to Yue Qingxin's side, and said, "To be honest with Your Majesty, Sima Han has not had an easy time these past few years. Due to an accidental injury, I was saved by the Grand Tutor, which preserved my life. Although my life was saved, the Grand Tutor also said that Sima Han should not indulge in sensual pleasures, otherwise, I might not live for many more years."
Sima Zhu's face turned dark upon hearing this.
Was he refusing him?
Sima Hao, however, asked with concern, "Injured? Where were you injured? I'll have the imperial physician come and examine you properly later."
Sima Han gave Sima Zhu a grateful look, but he shook his head and said, "Your Majesty knows the Grand Tutor's abilities. Since he said so, even more imperial physicians examining me would be useless."
Sima Zhu was also taken aback upon hearing this.
Indeed, how could the imperial physicians compare to Yi Zixie's abilities?
"Alas, you have suffered. Forget about the imperial selection, your recovery is most important."
"Thank you, Father."
Sima Han spoke with genuine sincerity this time, as it saved him the trouble of dealing with Sima Zhu.
Since Sima Hao had already agreed, even if Sima Zhu was unwilling, he could no longer speak.
It was a fact that he and the Emperor Emeritus were not on good terms, and everyone knew it.
But knowing it was one thing, it couldn't be brought out into the open.