Chapter 1897

"Change my clothes!"

"Also, summon the Secretariat Drafter Cui Xinghe to see me immediately!"

Wu Zhao's steps were light, even carrying a trace of joy, as she walked toward her sleeping quarters.

She changed back into the black and red dragon robe that symbolized supreme power. The woman in the mirror, although she hadn't slept all night, was full of spirit, her phoenix eyes shining with essence, as if even more dazzling than the rising morning sun!

In the Imperial Study, Cui Xinghe rushed over, his brain still somewhat chaotic, not knowing why His Majesty had summoned him in the early hours of the morning.

He bowed respectfully: "Your subject Cui Xinghe, pays respects to Your Majesty!"

"Cui Aiqing, no need for formalities!"

"I summoned you for one thing: help me draft an edict to enfeoff the Prime Minister, Champion Marquis, and General of the Flying Cavalry, Gao Yang, as—Duke of Zhenguo!"

"Bestow... the four-clawed golden-scaled python robe!"

Boom!

Once these words were spoken.

Cui Xinghe's originally somewhat chaotic brain suddenly cleared.

He stared wide-eyed, staring at Wu Zhao in disbelief, his mouth open wide enough to fit an egg.

All sleepiness was blown to ashes in this instant!

"Duke... Duke of Zhenguo!"

A Duke of Zhenguo in his twenties—looking at the entire Da Qian, no! Even looking at the entire world, it was unique!

Duke and Marquis, although only a one-character difference, were a world of difference!

The four-clawed golden-scaled python robe—this was treatment for a Prince!

This... this was no longer favor! This was simply... gifting the entire country! It was the ultimate secular glory that an emperor could bestow upon a subject!

Beside her, Xiao Yuan clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms.

She was completely unaware of this sharp pain, and only one thought was roaring crazily in her mind.

Duke Prefecture... two Dukes in one family!

Crazy!

His Majesty is... going to poke a hole in the sky!

You must know that there were still dozens of memorials in the Imperial Study impeaching Gao Yang for calling a chicken a phoenix.

But Wu Zhao not only didn't reprimand Gao Yang, she actually wanted to enfeoff Gao Yang as Duke of Zhenguo!

Once this news got out, wouldn't the impeaching censors vomit blood one after another?

Wu Zhao no longer looked at them. She turned and looked at the sky outside the Imperial Study that was getting brighter and brighter.

The morning light outlined her perfect profile, and in those phoenix eyes burned an unprecedented, almost paranoid expectation and heat.

Wu Zhao gently stroked the cold dragon pattern on her sleeve, her whisper carrying a trace of imperceptible, girlish joy and nervousness, yet also possessing the absolute confidence of an emperor.

"Court is about to start, I wonder, Prime Minister, if you... will like this gift of mine?"

I don't know why, but Wu Zhao, who had figured everything out, stopped escaping, and began to face her feelings squarely, was more expectant of this court session than any time before, and more expectant of seeing Gao Yang.

PS: (This entire plot segment is relatively important, and everyone is truly too smart, guessing quite a bit, but it was actually the most difficult to write. These two chapters were rewritten three times and took eight hours to construct Wu Zhao's inner world. I didn't finish writing until five in the morning. It was truly tricky. I dare not guarantee for tomorrow; I might have to ask for a day off, muah, but I will try my best, striving not to ask for leave.)