Chapter 660: Chapter 394: Morning Greetings_3

And she never appeared before Pei Zhan again.

The young girl knew her boundaries. Moreover, she respected herself.

It was only natural for her to be curious about the woman that the man she liked would eventually marry, right?

Fu Zhen didn’t think it was a big deal.

The rest of her life was long, and she was quite willing to have more sisters she could visit.

The formal palace banquet was set in Taihe Palace.

By noon, the eunuchs from Qianqing Palace came to respectfully invite the Empress to Taihe Palace to join the Emperor in receiving the congratulatory salutations, with civil and military officials and imperial wives accompanying.

This time’s kneeling was formal and solemn.

The entire ceremony lasted for about three or four quarters of an hour.

Midway through the congratulatory ceremony, Fu Zhen glanced around but still did not see Yang Yi, yet she quickly spotted Yi Yun amidst the crowd.

She was not familiar with the Yi Family before, but the Yi Family, too, were meritorious figures who accompanied the Emperor during his campaigns into the capital, at least they were known.

At this moment, Yi Yun stood with hands folded, eyes gazing at his nose and heart, seemingly having everything under control.

Fu Zhen then looked at the people beside him, and instantly locked her gaze on the two unfamiliar youths positioned in front of Yi Yun.

These two were both around fifteen or sixteen years old. Although their posture was upright, their constantly darting eyes revealed their excitement and unease in such an occasion.

"... Two young men of the Yang lineage have specially come to the capital to celebrate the Empress’s birthday!"

Fu Zhen was pondering these words when someone at the front of the officials’ line spoke out loudly.

Before she could identify who it was, the two youths hurriedly stepped forward, lifted their robes, and knelt down.

After knocking their heads a few times, they spoke with trembling voices, "... May the Empress live a thousand years, a thousand years, a thousand thousand years!"

"Are these the youths from the clan?"

The Empress looked kindly, as if lovingly gazing at a pair of nephews. Then she lifted her hand slightly, "Someone, give a reward!"

Following that, a line of Palace Attendants came forward, carrying gold, silver, and various treasures.

On the side, a eunuch loudly announced the list of rewards.

Those who knew about this beforehand focused their gaze upwards.

Those who did not know showed a strong expression of surprise on their faces, and busily exchanged glances with those around them.

"Your Majesty," someone from the Imperial Censorate spoke, "may I ask what the identities of these two are? Why are they able to celebrate the Empress’s birthday in the name of the Yang lineage?"

The Emperor, seated high on the dragon throne, showed no expression, his demeanor calm and steady.

"These two are collateral descendants retrieved by the Yi Family from my ancestral home, and their identities have been verified by the Office of Clan Affairs. They indeed belong to the same clan as me."

Instantly, the great hall was filled with uproar.

Some were incredulous, some were shocked, while others who reacted quickly were already starting to show joy.

"This is a matter of celebration! Our Great Zhou has such collateral descendants, this is, this is a blessing for Great Zhou! It is heaven’s blessing on Great Zhou!"

Someone was the first to shout out this sentiment. Soon, it brought out a chorus of congratulatory voices!

Yi Yun stepped forward to salute, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Empress! Now that there are nephews of the Yang Family here, I plead for Your Majesty to decree the Office of Clan Affairs to document their genealogy, and grant them imperial titles, announcing it to the world!"

After he said this, the voices on the hall grew louder. But listening closely, they were divided into three groups. One agreed with Yi Yun’s view, one argued that even if they were of the Emperor’s lineage, the bloodline was too distant to warrant such a swift conferral of titles,

and the last group, which included Fu Zhen and Pei Zhan, remained silent.

Even as the discussion became louder, like the tide, they quietly stood beneath the calm Emperor and Empress, equally silent.

"Your Majesty! ..."

"Silence!"

Yi Yun wanted to speak again, when the Emperor had already spoken, his brows slightly furrowed, looking down with authority, "The nation has its laws, and the family has its rules. It is true they are my kinsmen. The Office of Clan Affairs has already verified this, what more is there to argue about?"

The officials who initially did not support immediate ennoblement were dumbfounded.

Represented by Yi Yun, those in favor of ennoblement now showed a bit of pride.

The Emperor’s gaze swept over them, then paused on the two young men whose faces could no longer conceal their joy, and he waved his hand, "The Empress’s birthday celebrations are finished, and she has already bestowed rewards, you may go now."

Now the turn came for the two young men to be dumbfounded!

Yi Yun was also stunned, "Your Majesty, they have been found with much difficulty..."

"Who asked you to find them?" The Emperor gave a faint glance, "Have I ever instructed you to find them? Did I ever say that anyone should go find them?"

"..."