Princess, something terrible has happened! The prince consort has attempted suicide again!

He's been so bored these past two days.

Zhao Changning issued a death order, strictly forbidding him from stepping out of the princess's residence.

Those guards were specifically tasked with watching him, and who knows how many more secret guards were hiding behind the scenes.

Zhang Xiaomeng's every move in the princess's residence could not escape Zhao Changning's eyes. He was like a canary kept in a cage, with no freedom at all.

Let alone wanting to die, even getting a minor cut is a luxury he can only dream of.

Now that the emperor has ordered him to be sent as an envoy to Nanzhao, this is a golden opportunity to get rid of Zhao Changning, and he certainly cannot miss it.

"You're not allowed to go!"

Zhao Changning's face turned cold, and he sternly stopped him.

Zhang Xiaomeng's expression was solemn, his words righteous and forceful.

"Your Highness, you are mistaken! As the imperial consort, I am entitled to the emperor's salary and bear his burdens."

"With national affairs at hand, concerning the prestige of the Eastern Mausoleum and the diplomatic relations between our two nations, how can we allow personal feelings to jeopardize the greater good of the court?"

"As a princess in a high position, she should prioritize the nation and its people; how can she be so selfish and willful!"

This righteous and awe-inspiring speech filled Eunuch Li with admiration, and he nodded secretly in approval.

Zhao Changning had long since figured out this guy's character; all that talk about the overall situation of the court and prioritizing the country was pure nonsense.

He just wanted to run away, to go out and be wild.

Just as Zhao Changning was about to use her status as a princess to pressure him into staying in the mansion, a hearty laugh suddenly rang out.

"Well said, 'He who eats the emperor's food should also bear the emperor's worries'!"

The visitor was none other than Emperor Zhao Qiandong of the Eastern Mausoleum.

Zhao Changning was very surprised. Why did his father come in person?

She quickly pulled Zhang Xiaomeng to kneel down and pay her respects, saying, "Your subject greets Your Majesty. I was unaware of Your Majesty's arrival and failed to greet you in time. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Zhao Qiandong smiled and waved his hand, "It was I who forbade anyone to announce this. Get up."

Zhao Changning stood up and asked cautiously, "Father, you are so busy with state affairs, why have you suddenly come to visit me?"

Zhao Qiandong suddenly stopped smiling and began to reprimand Zhao with a hint of displeasure.

"If I hadn't come, how long did you intend to keep the prince confined?"

"If word got out that my daughter wouldn't let her husband go out, how would I save face?"

Zhao Changning quickly explained, "Father, you have misunderstood me. I was worried that he would cause trouble and tarnish the royal family's reputation."

"is that so?"

Zhao Qiandong didn't believe it at all.

She believed that her daughter imprisoned her husband because she was afraid he would go out and have affairs.

After all, Tang Wan and Liu Qingrou are cautionary tales.

I never imagined that my usually aloof daughter would be so obsessed with her husband.

"Your subject would naturally not dare to deceive Father Emperor." Zhao Changning dared not tell the truth and could only lie through his teeth.

Zhao Qiandong mistakenly thought she was just shy and embarrassed to admit it.

Without revealing the truth, she said calmly, "It's good that you care about the Prince Consort, but you are not allowed to disobey my decree."

Zhao Changning asked, puzzled, "Father, there are countless capable ministers in the court, why choose the imperial son-in-law in particular?"

Zhao Qiandong softened his tone and said, "I know you are worried about the safety of the驸马 (the驸马). He previously saw through the Nanzhao conspiracy, and he is exceptional in both character and wisdom. He is the only suitable candidate for this trip to Nanzhao. Besides, he himself has no objections, so you don't need to persuade him any further."

Seeing that his father was determined to send Zhang Xiaomeng as an envoy to Nanzhao, Zhao Changning knew he could not disobey and could only say, "Since that is the case, your son wishes to accompany the prince consort. Please grant my request, Father."

Zhang Xiaomeng panicked upon hearing this. If Zhao Changning followed him, how would he escape?

He immediately spoke up to dissuade her, "Your Majesty, the princess is of noble birth and has a special status; it is not appropriate for her to be sent as an envoy to Nanzhao."

"Shut up!"

Zhao Changning snapped, "You have no right to speak here!"

"I am your husband. You care about my life and death, so how could I not worry about your safety?"

Taking the opportunity, Zhang Xiaomeng grasped Zhao Changning's small hand, gazing at her tenderly and affectionately, "My wife, be good, I promise I will return safely."

With her father watching, Zhao Changning felt awkward and annoyed, unable to shake off Zhang Xiaomeng's hand.

These past two days, he's only ever called himself "woman," and he's been avoiding her as much as possible.

Now he's putting on this act of deep affection, clearly putting on a show for his father.

But she couldn't very well expose him.

What frustrated her even more was that Zhao Qiandong actually believed it and laughed out loud.

"Since you two are able to consider each other's feelings and have a deep affection for one another, I am at ease."

With a single, decisive statement, he declared, "This matter is settled. The prince consort will be sent as an envoy to Nanzhao. Changning will await good news."

Get it!

Zhang Xiaomeng was secretly delighted and immediately bowed, "Your Majesty, please rest assured, I will certainly live up to your expectations."

Zhao Qiandong reached out and lifted Zhang Xiaomeng up, revealing the loving kindness of an elder. "Now that you are the imperial son-in-law, you are my son-in-law. From now on, you may call me Father Emperor."

Zhang Xiaomeng responded, "Yes, Father, I understand."

"well!"

Zhao Qiandong burst into laughter again.

Only Zhao Changning, standing to the side, was filled with exhaustion and helplessness.

Two days later, Zhang Xiaomeng was appointed as the Imperial Envoy for Pacification and given the temporary official title of Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

One identity was that of a full representative of the Eastern Mausoleum Emperor in negotiations with the Nanzhao Kingdom, and the other was that of a fourth-rank civil official, a respectable position.

Accompanying them were imperial guards, historians, interpreters, and censors.

Zhang Xiaomeng sat in the gilded royal envoy carriage pulled by four imperial horses, with people lining the streets to see him off, making quite a grand spectacle.

No one would have imagined that the once spoiled brat would now represent Dongling on a diplomatic mission to Nanzhao.

Among the crowd, people began to discuss the matter.

"I heard that this time it was all thanks to the Prince Consort who saw through Nanzhao's scheme, and now he's representing Dongling to hold Nanzhao accountable. He's truly remarkable. I wonder which family's young master is it, bringing such honor to his family."

"You don't know? He is Zhang Xiaomeng, the former heir of the Marquis of Yongwu's mansion, who has already been expelled from the family."

"It was actually this纨绔 (wán kù, a spoiled brat)! He's been hiding it so well. The Marquis of Yongwu must be kicking himself!"

"That's right. The Emperor specifically issued an edict to punish the Marquis of Yongwu's family, ruining their careers and making them a laughing stock in the capital. They probably don't even dare to go out anymore."

Marquis Yongwu hid in the crowd, listening to the jeers all around him, his fists clenched, his face extremely ugly.

He glanced at the carriages in the procession and sighed sadly.

He then turned and left.

As we passed through a narrow alley, a sinister voice suddenly sounded behind us, "Does Your Excellency accept your fate?"

The Marquis of Valor turned around abruptly and saw that the other person was dressed in a black robe and wore a large hood. He immediately became wary and asked, "Who are you?"

The man in black robes said, "Who I am is irrelevant; the only question is whether Your Excellency accepts your fate."

"What do you mean?"

"I can help the Marquis restore his family's honor."

Marquis Yongwu saw through the other party's intentions and resolutely refused, "You want to use me to deal with my son? Impossible!"

"The Marquis may consider the bond between father and son, but does he still acknowledge you as his son?"

"You've ended up like this all because of him. Does Your Excellency wish to be laughed at by the world and never be able to hold your head high again?"

The man in black robes was extremely persuasive, and the Marquis of Yongwu frowned as he listened. Thinking of Zhang Xiaomeng's triumphant appearance in the city while he himself was in a sorry state, a hint of resentment flashed in his eyes.

But he still snorted, "You're hiding your true colors and harboring ill intentions. I'd like to see what kind of coward you are."

Having said that, he suddenly rushed towards the man in black robes.