Chapter 447 - 447 Fulfilling the Promise

447 Fulfilling the Promise

Su Chong handed the envelope to the messenger. He was afraid that he would snatch it back, so he left without looking back. He bought another bottle of wine and drank it. When he returned to the General’s residence, his head was dizzy and he fell asleep.

—-

Zhou Heng lay in bed, staring at the gauze curtain above his head. It was already late at night, but he was not sleepy at all.

This place that should have been familiar to him now seemed unfamiliar.

He could not sleep for a long time. His mind was filled with what his father had said.

Father said, “Heng’er, you can always trust your brother. He never wanted to kill you and stop you from coming back. He was just young and angry. If your mother had any love for him, he wouldn’t have done that.”

“Heng’er, Zhi’er’s health isn’t too good. He doesn’t have much time left. Your brotherhood is too short. Learn from Zhi’er during this period of time. Get used to it as soon as possible and take charge of the situation in the capital, understand?”

“When you and Zhi’er were born, Father dreamed of seeing two dragons descend into the world. If not for Kong Zhi’s prophecy, the two of you would definitely not be ordinary. You should be two peerless talents of the Great Zhou.”

“The heavens are always biased towards you. When you were young, you liked to smile, which made your mother even happier. Zhi’er was always careful and stubborn, but did you know? He’s not interested in the throne. What he wants… I wonder who in this world can give it to him.”

“Heng’er, it’s not easy to become an emperor. In the future, you have to work harder than ordinary people. You have to have a deeper plan than ordinary people to stabilize the internal situation and calm the chaos outside.”

His thoughts surged in his heart, and Zhou Heng felt his heart ache.

In just one day, he understood how heavy the burden on him was.

He had many things to do. He wanted to control the situation in the capital before Zhou Zhi collapsed and stabilize his identity.

Suddenly his world felt oppressive.

Perhaps it was because he had lived a peaceful and comfortable life for too long, so long that he had forgotten that he should have fallen into the mud of the capital.

Thinking about the future, his heart sank. He was confused, uneasy, terrified, and afraid.

The luxurious and comfortable palace was brightly lit, but he felt too cold. He missed that small hut, missed hearing Su Chong’s snores at night, missed everything.

His lips curled into a self-deprecating smile.

Why was he like this? He clearly wanted to come back before.

Zhou Heng closed his eyes and tears fell from the corners of his eyes. He knew very well that the reason why he was sad was that he realized that everything he had once imagined did not exist. There was no uncle, grandfather, or mother who doted on him. Zhou Zhi did not have them, and neither did he.

Not everyone’s parents in this world could be like Su Sanlang and Madam Zhao.

He did not sleep the entire night. When he woke up in the morning, palace servants came in to serve him.

They greeted respectfully, “Your Majesty, did you sleep well last night?”

Zhou Heng’s expression was calm, and he only replied with a single word.

He was cold, and the palace servants could not figure out his preferences. They would only be more careful when serving him.

After he washed up, a palace servant came to pass the message that the emperor had invited him over for breakfast.

Zhou Heng went over. At this moment, the morning court assembly had already ended.

When Zhou Heng arrived, the emperor had yet to arrive. He sat and waited, watching the palace maids quietly prepare the food.

After a while, Zhou Zhao arrived. When he saw Zhou Heng, a smile appeared on his serious face. “Heng’er is here. Did you sleep well last night? Are you used to it?”

Zhou Heng nodded. “Thank you for your concern, Father. I slept well.”

Zhou Zhao smiled and said, “You can still relax for two more days. After patrolling the streets, you’ll have to attend morning court assembly too. Listen more and take a look. If you don’t understand anything, ask Zhi’er.”

Zhou Heng nodded. The father and son ate together. Zhou Zhao’s expression was gentle, and Zhou Heng looked relaxed.

After breakfast.

Zhou Zhao said slowly, “Heng’er, visit your mother more when you’re free. Spend more time with her when you’re free.”

Zhou Heng nodded. “I know.”

Zhou Heng got up and knelt down. Zhou Zhao was puzzled. “Get up quickly. What are you doing?”

Zhou Heng looked at Zhou Zhao seriously and said, “Father, I have something to ask of you.”

“What’s the matter? Get up and talk.”

Seeing how serious Zhou Heng was, Zhou Zhao was interested, but he still asked him to get up.

Zhou Heng did not get up. He said seriously, “Father, I’ve been in the Su family for nearly ten years. I’ve fallen in love with Su Xiaoling, the daughter of Su Sanlang and Madam Zhao. I’ve sworn that after I recover my identity, I’ll officially marry Su Xiaoling. Father, please fulfill my wish.”

Zhou Zhao didn’t agree immediately. He frowned and his expression was a little solemn. After a while, he said, “Heng’er, do you know that even if Su Huahua is the top scorer in the new subject, he doesn’t have any power or foundation in the capital? Marrying the Su family’s daughter won’t be of much help to you.”

Zhou Heng’s expression was firm. “Father, Su Xiaoling and I are truly in love. Ever since I came to the Su family, I’ve loved her. I want to marry her. With her around, I think no matter how bumpy the road ahead is, I have the courage to walk it.”

“Father, please grant my wish.”

Zhou Heng was very serious. He looked straight into Zhou Zhao’s eyes without avoiding them.

“Heng’er, the position as the main wife is too heavy. Heng’er, have you thought about how the future empress position will make her the center of attention? If you like it, it’s fine to make her a secondary consort. You’re the future crown prince. You’ll have a harem by your side. How dangerous would it be to push her to the center of attention?”

Zhou Zhao sighed and said. He had been young too. The most sincere love he had when he was young was everything.

However, it was precisely because he liked her that he wanted to protect her.

Zhou Heng looked at Zhou Zhao and said firmly, “Father, I don’t want to marry anyone else in this life. I just want to have the empress in my life.”

“That’s impossible.”

Zhou Zhao frowned and raised his voice. For a moment, he did not know if he should be angry.

In the capital, almost all the officials in the imperial court had wives and concubines, but almost all ordinary people had one husband and one wife.

Over the past few years, Zhou Heng had interacted with and seen almost all of them monogamous, so it was normal for him to only want to marry one wife.

But this was the capital, and he was going to be the emperor in the future.

No matter what, it was impossible for him to only marry one woman.

“Father, please fulfill my small wish. No matter what happens in the future, I don’t know what will happen in the future. But now, I can’t go on without Su Xiaoling accompanying me.”

Zhou Heng swallowed. He did not want to walk this path alone. He needed Su Xiaoling to accompany him. They had agreed that he would marry her after he recovered his identity. No matter how difficult it was in the future, she was willing to accompany him.

He could not go back on his word.

“Heng’er, you…”

Zhou Zhao felt a little helpless. Zhou Heng was only 16 years old. The deep love he had now was just youthful stubbornness.