We'll have you impersonate the Crown Prince and create a prosperous era for the Great Qian Dyna

Zhou Tiancheng quickly went downstairs and grabbed Shi Cheng's hand.

"Minister Shi, you've come at the right time. I've prepared a huge feast, and I don't know how we'll finish it all. Come and help me with the meal."

There was no hint of intimacy or attempt to win him over in his words.

But when Steward Liu brought over the shoes, Shi Cheng saw that Zhou Tiancheng's right sock had turned black. How could he not be moved?

If that's all there is to it, then Chou Tien-cheng doesn't deserve to be a Best Actor.

Just as Steward Liu was about to put shoes on him, Zhou Tiancheng squatted down first and put them on himself.

What are you doing?

He's deliberately showing off his pathetic side!

Without this scene, Shi Cheng might still think the Crown Prince was just putting on an act when he got back.

But when Zhou Tiancheng awkwardly squatted on the ground to put on his shoes, and turned back to comfort him with an apologetic look, Shi Cheng immediately felt that this prince was genuine and unpretentious, and that his previous closeness to him was also real.

This is exactly the effect Zhou Tiancheng wanted!

He squatted on the ground putting on his shoes, then turned around and smiled awkwardly.

"I'm sorry, I've made a fool of myself in front of Minister Shi."

Shi Cheng felt flattered and overwhelmed.

"Your Highness is so straightforward; this is no joke, it's a truly admirable story."

Zhou Tiancheng breathed a sigh of relief.

The play was successfully staged.

He stood up and invited Shi Cheng upstairs, to which Shi Cheng readily agreed.

But when they actually went upstairs, they found themselves in a huge private room with several tables, just the two of them staring at each other in bewilderment.

It was still awkward in the end.

Shi Cheng wanted to leave, to escape this awkward situation.

Zhou Tiancheng didn't give him a chance to speak, and sighed first.

"Alas, I have invited all the civil and military officials of the court to a banquet, but they all have other commitments and cannot come. Minister Shi, you are the only one who is willing to come. I would like to toast you."

At this point, even a fool would understand.

Civil and military officials were unwilling to get involved with the Crown Prince. Shi Cheng had just arrived in the capital and was unclear about the situation, which led him to make such a basic mistake.

But that's alright!

If it's just one person, that's called making a mistake, but what if a lot of people come?

Upon seeing the table laden with delicacies, Shi Cheng immediately had an idea.

"Your Highness, it would be such a waste to waste so much fine wine and meat. I have some friends in the capital. If Your Highness doesn't mind, may I invite them over?"

Become!

Zhou Tiancheng was overjoyed.

But he didn't show much on the surface, only revealing a gentle smile.

"Wouldn't that be too much trouble for Minister Shi?"

Shi Cheng shook his head.

"I'll just have the guards deliver the message; they'll give me that face."

then.

Less than 15 minutes.

Shouts came from downstairs.

"Cheng Zhonglang Hou Feng has come to the banquet!"

"Zhou Jie, the honored guest, has arrived for the banquet!"

"Wu Yilang, Sun Tong, has come to the banquet!"

The sound of messages kept coming.

Zhou Tiancheng was laughing so hard his mouth almost twisted into a crook.

The private rooms on the third floor finally started to fill up one after another.

at the same time.

The assessment process on the first floor has also begun.

The food on the first floor consists of ordinary, common dishes, but the chef at Zui Chunfeng is more skilled, so it's not considered impolite to serve ordinary people.

However, the food on the second floor, including bird's nest, bear paws, and shark fin, is not something that just anyone can afford.

Upon learning that they could eat even better, some people were eager to try it.

One of the servants brought by Shi Cheng immediately chose to take the martial arts exam.

"This rock weighs 800 pounds? Does lifting this rock allow you to go up to the second floor and eat bear paws?"

The servant was burly and strong; he heard that if you could lift 800 jin (400 kg), you could eat bear paws, so he immediately went forward to try.

What does 800 jin (400 kg) mean?

Converted to modern units, that's two hundred kilograms, or a full four hundred jin!

Olympic weightlifting champions can only lift 263 kilograms, which is just over 100 kilograms short, far beyond what ordinary people can do!

The burly man squatted down, grabbed the two sides of the stone, and with a sudden burst of strength, he lifted the stone up with a roar!

"Whose general is this? He's so brave!"

Zhou Tiancheng leaned out, making no attempt to hide his praise.

The generals weren't the type to be coy; since they were already there, they decided to let loose and have some fun.

Hearing the noise, everyone looked downstairs.

Shi Cheng couldn't stop smiling.

"Your Highness, that is my guard, Su Xiu, whom I brought back to the capital from the northern frontier battlefield."

Zhou Tiancheng immediately waved his hand.

"What a strongman!"

"Steward Liu, a reward of fifty taels of silver!"

Zhou Tiancheng's voice was very loud.

Su Xiu grinned from ear to ear and bowed to Zhou Tiancheng in respect.

Shi Cheng, standing to the side, gave a proud rebuke.

"Why aren't you thanking His Highness the Crown Prince?"

Turning around, Shi Cheng's mouth was practically crooked from smiling.

His guards made him look good, how could he not be proud?

The generals' competitive spirit immediately began to rise.

They all summoned their most capable subordinates to come and take on the challenge.

You can lift an 800-pound stone, right?

Then my guards will have to lift 850 jin!

In the end, Sun Tong even personally stepped up and lifted a 900-pound boulder!

This action undoubtedly brought the atmosphere of the banquet to a climax.

In the end, Zhou Tiancheng got so drunk that he collapsed onto the table.

……

Deep within the palace.

The old eunuch handed the secret report to Zhou Rui.

Zhou Rui glanced at it and immediately frowned.

He tapped his fingers on the table unconsciously for a long time before finally speaking.

"The Crown Prince has become intimate with these generals who came from the battlefield? What's he up to?"

After all, in his mind, the Crown Prince wouldn't be busy with important matters; he was full of bad ideas and probably planning some kind of trouble.

The old eunuch did not look up, but his voice steadily reached Zhou Rui's ears.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince intends to win over these military generals to compete with the Third Prince for the throne."

Zhou Rui suddenly realized something, slapped his forehead, then shook his head and sighed.

"If he had been this sensible in his younger years, I wouldn't have supported the third prince."

"I have long since lost faith in him, but he has become more sensible."

The old eunuch hesitated for a moment, but finally spoke.

"Perhaps His Majesty ordered the Crown Prince to move out of the Eastern Palace, and the Crown Prince is afraid?"

"However, in my opinion, this may not be a bad thing."

Zhou Rui turned his head and looked over.

The old eunuch gritted his teeth and mustered his courage to say what followed.

"Firstly, His Highness the Crown Prince has finally come to understand reason and human nature, so there is still hope that he will repent and change his ways."

"Secondly, the Third Prince has been too successful. A while ago, it was said that His Highness the Crown Prince was a stand-in and an imposter, which caused Consort Liu to lose her salary. He himself also lost the position of Prefect of the Capital and the position of Drunken Spring Breeze. He has become a bit impetuous. Now His Highness the Crown Prince can help to temper the Third Prince."

"Your Majesty, isn't this a double celebration?"

Zhou Rui fell into deep thought.

The old eunuch watched Zhou Rui's expression nervously, and only breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Zhou Rui smile.

He was an old servant who had followed Zhou Rui and the late Empress. At this moment, he naturally had a bias in his heart, and that bias was towards the Crown Prince!

"Your Majesty, this old servant has lived up to your kindness."

The old eunuch muttered something to himself, then shut his mouth and remained silent.

On the contrary, Zhou Rui became happier the more he thought about it.

"Tiannu, you're right."

"In any case, they are both my sons, and it would indeed be a good thing if they could become better."

"I just hope that the Crown Prince will not disappoint me again."