That was an easy yet difficult thing.

Lord Huai was allowed to return to the capital, because he was the Lord, but the Heir did not like it that Lord Huai returned at this moment.

One of the reasons why the Heir did not like it was because he had not yet gotten everything arranged and found a firm spot for himself, and Lord Huai’s return was definitely going to hurt his plan.

In the court, many important ministers conventionally assumed that Lord Huai, who was born from the Queen, should be the rightful heir for the throne.

If Lord Huai was absent from the capital for long, then they could just reveal to the conventional ministers that Lord Huai had no intention of taking the throne, so they could change their mind. However, since he was back in the capital, the Heir’s message to them would not work. That was why he got very anxious.

However, he believed that as the Heir he was already granted the position so he did not have to be anxious about anything.

They could just wait.

“My suggestion is that you can go into the court and pass on the message to the King to see what he thinks. You are the Heir and your Princess Consort is the Phoenix Girl, so you don’t have to be too nervous about it. Many people are going towards your side. That is the trend.

Hearing his words, Zhou Huailing did not feel as annoyed and felt slightly more comfortable.

Junyi was right. He was the one with his destiny written in the stars.

Xie Yan had not been aware of this, and did not believe that he could make it. He always thought that he would fail, but Junyi was different.

Junyi had a long-term vision and could tell the situation clearly.

He had just made an excellent suggestion, so he should visit the court first.

“Okay then, I will visit the court now, and you can take a break ” Zhou Huailing said as he patted his shoulders.

“It is okay, I can just wait for you to return.” Junyi said politely.

Zhou Huailing said nothing more. He was just being polite when he asked him to leave.

He had expected Junyi to wait for him anyway. It was good that he had the same intention. He was very satisfied with Junyi as his strategist.

Then he hurried away.

Zhou Huailing headed directly to Qianqing Palace, as the evening approached.

The King spent most of his time at Qianqing Palace, despite the new girls the Ministry of Rites had picked for him. Zhou Huailing liked this idea that he did not visit the new girls – his father was too old to have any energy for women, and that was good. Zhou Huailing could avoid receiving another competitive brother, who would be a trouble for him and his mother.

As long as his mother could get what she needed, then Zhou Huailing would be happy about it.

***

The King was reading and drinking tea.

De Fu brought those books from Weiyang Palace, which belonged to the Queen.

The King asked curiously at the sight of Zhou Huailing, “What are you doing here so late at night?”

“Father, the Eighth Brother has just come back to the capital. He passed the gate today and was seen by my man there, so I came to inform you about this, on my way to deliver the pastries for my mother,” Zhou Huailing said gently.

Lord Huai was back?

The King was startled.

Despite his surprise, he still said to Zhou Huailing. “It is considerate of you. You are very nice to your mother, who gets to eat the pastry you prepare so often. The chef has been busy with my kitchen, but luckily, you have chefs from the South who make good pastry,” the King said, praising him.

Then he was reminded of his eighth son.

He suddenly felt disappointed.

When it came to the treatment of his father….