Emperor Xian Long Wei had woken up early as per his usual wake up schedule. Donning his yellow dragon robe, he was ready to go to the morning court.
The servants tidied up his clothing once more before they retreated out of his personal chamber. Not long after, the head eunuch came announcing his attendance. He issued an order for him to come in.
"Have Head Eunuch carried out what Zhèn have told you to do?"
"This old servant has accomplished what His Majesty has ordered."
"Make sure they're wrapped with the finest silks and be ready to be sent anytime," nodding in satisfaction, Emperor Xian Long Wei walked out of his chamber followed by the head eunuch.
All the servants knelt down when the son of heaven walked passed them. Xian Long Wei just looked straight forward; his stone and cold face bearing no emotion.
The morning court was already full with the generals and the ministers. All of them knelt down as the emperor walked to his throne. Emperor Xian stood before his throne while the head eunuch stood to the left side and slightly at the back of the emperor.
"Long live Your Majesty!"
"Stand up."
After the greeting, Emperor Xian Long Wei slowly but elegantly sat down on his dragon chair and looked over the ministers and generals. He caught a look of General Bai's dark face and wondered what happened to the man?
He kept it in his mind to talk to General Bai after the morning court; first, about asking for Zhan Chen's hand in marriage, second, why did he have that dark look.
"First, Zhèn want to hear about the project to build the bridge that connects the Hong city, in Shui country to Lan city, in Tian country," Emperor Xian Long Wei said as he turned towards the Foreign Minister.
The Foreign Minister was an old man in his fifties. He came forward and bowed to the emperor in respect. "As per Your Majesty's command, the project has been progressing without a problem. The people from Hong City and Lan City would be able to use the bridge within three months."
Emperor Xian Long Wei nodded his head in satisfaction. "Make sure there is no problem with the project. Treasury,"
"Yes, Your Majesty?" A middle aged man with long beard came forward as he bowed.
"Add 2000 golds for the bridge project that connecting Hong City and Lan City."
"This servant understands." The treasury wrote on his book, bowed again and fell back to his place.
Foreign minister's face brightened immediately. He bowed repeatedly as he said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Emperor Xian just waved his hand to indicate that he had finished discussing the matter with the foreign minister.
The foreign minister drew back before Emperor Xian opened another report in his table. "General Duan, what about the recruitment of new soldiers?"
A tall and muscular man who looked a bit older than General Bai came forward and bowed. "Long live the Emperor. The recruitment was smooth. There were so many promising young men who would like to list into the army. This is due to the General Bai's good reputation."
"This servant didn't do anything," General Bai said politely in his place.
Emperor Xian Long Wei nodded his head. "Good, good, our Xian Empire needs more promising young men who can enlist in the army."
And the morning court proceeded smoothly without a problem.
Only a few ministers sans prime minister, foreign minister, generals and treasury once again asked about the non existence of an Emperor's harem and the Empress. He didn't say anything and once again said that he would find his own Empress. For the harem, he had no interest. The ministers said it was impossible because the empire needed heirs but Emperor Xian Long Wei countered back that the previous Emperor also only had an Empress and no harem.
"What will happen, will happen. Fellow ministers shouldn't worry too much about His Majesty's matter. This official trusts His Majesty knows what he is doing." Prime Minister Li said from his place as he eyed those officials who were about to say something.
So, once again, the ministers couldn't say anything but inside their hearts, they were unwilling.
Emperor Xian Long Wei was glad the prime minister supported him and managed to shut the mouths of those busybodies.
After finished hearing all the reports and giving solutions to where were needed, Emperor Xian walked out of the throne room. The Head Eunuch came to General Bai as he whispered a few words.
The general whispered his own understanding and promised he would see the Emperor later.
After that, the Head Eunuch followed the Emperor back to his study.
Arriving at the Emperor's study, like usual, the Head Eunuch would stand outside near the closed door while Emperor Xian did his works.
Emperor Xian Long Wei was a very busy man. Everyday, there would be paperwork to be done. Being a ruler to the empire, it was estimated that Long Wei didn't get time to relax. Like right now, he was reading the new reports that just being sent to him.
Giving his seal of approval or a frown in between his eyebrows, the report stack decreased over time, he wrote on the paper with an ink filled brush.
His handwriting was beautiful, it was like an art. Making the people who were reading it felt good and joy.
Sighing at one of the reports, he shook his head. Not long from his heavy sigh, the door to his study was knocked and Head Eunuch came inside after the affirmative.
The old man whispered to the Emperor and Emperor Xian put away his writing tools and reports to the side, he said to the Head Eunuch to allow the man to come inside.
Soon, after the Head Eunuch was out, walking inside the study was a man Emperor Xian Long Wei had been waiting for. He stood up in greeting.
"Uncle Bai, welcome. Sit down please."
General Bai hearing the ruler removed his title, Zhèn, quickly frowned inwardly. He felt that Emperor Xian Long Wei would say something he didn't like. Outside, he was still sporting his usual look.
"Long Wei ah," General Bai sat down on the chair. "What's the matter? This uncle still has something to do."
Long Wei moved from his chair and stood in front of the older man before he suddenly bowed. It was unbecoming of an Emperor to bow to the lower being than him but since this man was the father to the person he wanted to marry, Long Wei could even prostate himself to get his permission.
"Long Wei?" the frown in between General Bai's eyebrows was prominent now. He felt something bad would happen. He quickly stood up, "An Emperor shouldn't bow down to anyone in his life time."
"Long Wei knows this, but," he said while still bowing, "Uncle Bai, Long Wei would like to ask for Zhan Chen's hand in marriage."
As soon as those words were out of Emperor Xian Long Wei's lips, General Bai felt like thunder had strike him from the heaven.
He didn't answer the request as he stared down on the bowing younger man with dark look.
Long Wei had been prepared for this. So, when he heard no answer for a long, long time, he slowly stood straight and faced the most scary person ever in this empire.
This look, Emperor Xian Long Wei had a chance to see it for the first time when Zhan Chen was kidnapped by the former old ministers.
And now it was toward him...
"Uncle Bai, I really love Chen Chen."
Glaring at the handsome younger man who was taller than him, General Bai's voice was harsh when he spoke, "How do you know? You two have just met again after thirteen years."
"I can't explain it in words but I know that Zhan Chen will be my future Empress when I first saw him again that day."
That day, of course it was still in Bai Jian Yu's memory. He should have known at that time when Xian Long Wei wanted to follow him into Zhan Chen's room and stayed there to talk.
Bai Jian Yu, "......"
"Uncle Bai," Long Wei felt that his confession wasn't enough to melt the general's stone heart. So, without thinking of his reputation as an Emperor, he knelt down as he begged for permission, "Please grant Long Wei your permission to marry Zhan Chen. Long Wei promises to love and care for Zhan Chen until the day Long Wei no longer exists on this earth."
People said when there was a time an Emperor made a vow and kneeling down to a person, the heaven would get angry and thunders would strike the earth.
Small Theatre
(A full row of young pretty gers)
Emperor Xian looked at the young gers without any emotion: What's the meaning of this?
Some ministers: Your Majesty, since you haven't formed your harem and choose the Empress, we the ministers would like to introduce Your Majesty the eligible, young pretty gers that are talented. They are the ger sons of the noblemen.
Emperor Xian: Oh, is that so? Then, Zhèn would have to trouble the ministers to send them back home because Zhèn have his own Empress' candidate.
Some ministers: !!!!!!
Some pretty young gers: (internally cry and curse at the Empress candidate that has been chosen by His Majesty)
Somewhere in the Bai's Household...
Zhan Chen: Achoo!!!
.
.
A/N: Let's pray Long Wei is able to persuade Baba Bai.
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