Wu Chang Jie

73+74

Chapter 73
After that hair-raising Jiaolong assembly, Daming City was put under curfew for several months, with strict checks on all those entering and leaving the city, and no celebrations or gatherings were allowed to be held by the people. Even the feast to celebrate Zong Zi Xiao's victory, which should have been organized in a big way, was put off due to the dark clouds hovering above them because of the core thieves.

Recently, life was finally restored in Daming City because of the 38th birthday of Emperor Ning Hua, Zong Ming He.

In the snowy winter, enthusiasm was high inside and outside the Wuji Palace, busy with preparations for Emperor Zong's birthday feast. In fact, in previous years, there had never been such a great deal of excitement and fanfare for the birthday feast. As an outstanding example to the world, Emperor Zong should not be wasteful for his birthday, but this time it is an unusual occasion. For one thing, the birthday banquet will rekindle the former vitality of Daming City, and for another, it is said that Emperor Zong will make an important announcement at the banquet.

It was rumored in both the immortal cultivation world and the common folk that Emperor Zong was going to choose a crown prince.

Along with such rumors, outsiders were waiting to see the excitement, but those within the Wuji Palace were on edge.

The statement that Emperor Zong wanted to make the youngest son the crown prince was widely circulated, but most people did not believe it. For thousands of years, the basic rule for crowning a prince was to choose the first son, and if there's no first son, then the eldest son will be chosen. Therefore, the youngest prince, who is not yet an adult, should not be chosen, not to mention the fact that the wife's relatives behind the first son's back are from Wuliang Sect.

It is said that the emperor and the empress had a big fight one day, and the empress even punished a few palace staff for spreading rumors, and everyone in the Wuji Palace felt insecure, afraid of touching the empress's bad luck.

Although Zong Zi Heng did not believe that Zong Ming He would make Xiao Jiu the crown prince, he was inevitably anxious about the rumors. If they were true, it would turn into a nightmare. The empress Li Xiang Tong, who would not let it go like that, Lu Zhao Feng, who was hiding in the shadows, and Xu Zhi Nan, who was waiting for an opportunity to make a move, could all do something irreversible, and on that day, the higher Xiao Jiu stood, the harder he would fall.

He had to secretly plan a way to escape from Daming, just in case.

Zong Zi Xiao, on the other hand, was oblivious to the impending calamity and came to play with his big brother as usual, carrying wine and a sword.

In the Orchid Garden, the two brothers lounged on a bamboo mat in the pavilion, watching the snow fall, drinking a cup of Xiaoyaoniang that heated up their bodies.

Zong Zi Heng used his sword scabbard to open Zong Zi Xiao's hand to reach the wine jug: "You agreed to drink only one cup."

"What's wrong with one more cup? It's such a cold day."

"You are still young. It's not suitable for you to drink alcohol."

"I'm not young anymore." Zong Zi Xiao jumped up from the ground and stretched his slender arms and legs, "In another year, I'll be an adult. Look, I'll soon be taller than big brother."

Zong Zi Heng snorted, "Dream on."

"Hmph, you haven't grown in the past two years and I'm growing every day. It's a matter of time before I'm taller than you."

"Who says I'm not growing?"

"You just aren't growing anymore. If you don't believe me, stand up and compare yourself to me." Zong Zi Xiao smiled and extended his hand towards his big brother.