Madam, protect me!

Zhao State.

In the past, no one knew the result of the election until the last moment.

But the final candidate was nothing more than a few princes who supervised the country.

The four princes fought for nearly a year, and the winner was the Sixth Princess, which was beyond everyone's expectations.

Although the people usually said that the Sixth Princess had the qualifications to be the empress, they never really thought that what they said casually would actually come true.

Even the vast majority of court officials did not expect this result.

Those dozens of officials were so tight-lipped that they did not reveal any information.

All along, everyone believed that the supreme position must belong to the Fourth Prince.

The one with the biggest gap was naturally Prince Sheng.

After the election, in just two days, Prince Sheng's mansion went from being crowded with carriages and horses in the past to being deserted.

The groups of retainers and counselors left without a single one left.

None of the powerful officials who used to flatter him came to visit again.

In a deserted hall in the Sheng Palace, the Sheng King sat on a large chair, staring blankly at the empty space.

An old servant knelt in front of him and begged, "Your Highness, please eat something. You haven't eaten for two days. If you continue like this, your body will collapse..."

The Sheng King did not speak, and there was no expression on his face, like a lifeless wooden sculpture.

The old servant advised, "Your Highness, things have come to this point, you should stop thinking about those things. Even if you lose, you are still a prince of a country, and Her Majesty is your sister. Your status is still more noble than that of the other princes..."

"Go down."

The Sheng King finally spoke, his voice was hoarse, and no emotional fluctuations could be heard.

The old man sighed and could only retreat helplessly.

Walking out of the hall and looking at the empty palace, he couldn't help but feel a sense of the coldness of the world in his heart.

In the hall, the Sheng King's fist clenched suddenly.

If there is no hope, there will be no disappointment.

In the past, he had never imagined that he could sit in that position, and even if he lost, he would not feel anything.

But he was so close to that position, so close that it was within his reach!

She gave him hope in person, and destroyed his hope in person.

He had never thought that the one who betrayed him would be his own sister!

At this time, an ethereal voice suddenly came into his ears.

"Are you unwilling?"

King Sheng's body shook, and he looked at a corner of the hall vigilantly.

In the darkness, a figure slowly walked out. He was covered in a black robe, revealing only a pair of eyes. He looked at King Sheng and said again: "Your Highness, are you really willing to admit defeat like this?"

King Sheng stood up, looked at him warily, and asked: "Who are you? How did you get in? What do you want to do?"

The man slowly said: "It doesn't matter who I am, and it doesn't matter how I got in. Your Highness only needs to know that I am here to help you..."

If a mysterious person broke into the palace before, he would have shouted for help.

But at this moment, King Sheng didn't even think about calling for help. He sat down again, leaned back on the chair, and asked, "Help me? The situation has been decided. What's there to help a dog that has lost its home?"

The man in black robe shook his head and said, "The situation has been decided? Not necessarily..."

King Sheng smiled coldly and asked, "The election is over. Can you overturn the election results?"

The man in black robe said slowly, "Although the election results cannot be overturned, if there is another election, Your Highness will have another chance, right?"

King Sheng looked at him again.

The man in black robe continued, "The last way is in front of Your Highness. It depends on how you choose..."

...

Princess's Mansion.

Since the Sixth Princess was summoned to the palace two days ago, Li Nuo has not seen her again.

However, he is not worried that she will have any changes in the palace.

The election system of Zhao State will be followed by every generation of emperors.

On the day after the election, the old emperor of Zhao State issued an imperial edict, announcing to the world that he will hold a ceremony to pass on the throne to Princess Zhaoyang in ten days.

This means that after the Holy Emperor more than a hundred years ago, Zhao State will soon have a second empress.

It was a bit rushed to prepare for the succession ceremony in ten days.

These days, she must be very busy.

At this moment, in the small courtyard of the Princess's Mansion, a middle-aged official looked at Li Nuo almost pleadingly and said, "Lord Li, I beg you, when you return to Daxia, please give me a definite letter, so that I can report to the court, otherwise, I will be punished by the court when I return..."

Although nominally, he was the chief officer of the Daxia delegation, Li Nuo had to obey all his arrangements.

But how dare he exercise the power of the chief officer on him.

The transfer orders from the three provinces were issued one after another, and he didn't pay any attention to them.

The empress who was about to take the throne of Zhao State was said to have secretly agreed to spend her life with him, and the empress was also supported by him. If he stayed in Zhao State, he would be the existence above ten thousand people.

Even many times, he would be above that person.

From then on, Daxia officials in Zhao State had to rely on him.

When they failed to put pressure on him, they began to embarrass innocent people. Li Nuo didn't want to implicate innocent people, so he thought about it and said, "One month, at the latest, I will set off to return to Daxia..."

The Daxia official thanked him profusely and left.

A moment later, several figures walked into the courtyard.

When she came back here again, Zhao Zhiyi changed into a dress that Li Nuo had never seen before.

Her hair was piled high, the gems on her crown were dazzling, and she wore a red dress embroidered with exquisite and complex patterns, which looked solemn and gorgeous.

She was already full of heroic spirit, and this dress made her look even more handsome.

Behind Zhao Zhiyi, there were four female officials.

All four of them had the aura of a master.

Zhao Zhiyi looked back at them and said, "You wait outside."

An old woman shook her head and said, "I'm sorry, but your majesty has ordered that we can't leave your highness three steps away."

Zhao Zhiyi's eyebrows showed helplessness, and he could only look at Li Nuo and asked, "My father is having a banquet for all the ministers in the palace tonight. Are you and Miss Song going to come?"

Li Nuo waved his hand and said, "I'm not an official of Zhao State, so I won't go tonight."

Zhao Zhiyi nodded. She knew that Li Nuo would not go, and this time she left the palace, she was just looking for an excuse to see him.

She had a lot to say to him, but she turned around and looked at the female officials behind her, and finally just asked: "Are you not in a hurry to go back?"

Li Nuo nodded and said: "Wait until you ascend the throne."

After getting this answer, she temporarily put her mind at ease and said: "Well, then I will go back to the palace first. There are still many things to do before the ceremony..."

Soon after the Sixth Princess left, Li Nuo and Yiren also went out hand in hand.

The overall situation has been decided, and no one will try to win him over.

In principle, they no longer need to pretend to be a couple.

However, the two still maintain the tacit understanding they had before.

Walking on the streets of Zhao State, Li Nuo saw many changes.

Since the Sixth Princess won the election, the streets of Zhao State have been decorated with lights and colors everywhere, truly celebrating with the country.

Her reputation among the people is indeed unmatched.

It is certain that if there is another election now, her votes will definitely be more than the last time.

There are too many neutral court officials who never thought they could vote for her.

The election has been over for two days, and people are still talking about it on the streets.

"The Sixth Princess really became the empress, it's just like a dream."

"Doesn't it mean that everyone can afford to see a doctor in the future?"

"The good days of the people are still to come..."

"The Sixth Princess has not married yet, so her future husband will be the empress?"

"You can say that, but I don't know who will have this luck."

"Will it be the top scholar in the six subjects of Daxia?"

"Impossible, he is already a married man, even if he wants to marry the Sixth Princess, it is not an easy thing, not to mention that the Sixth Princess is about to become the empress, what do you think Will the empress share her husband with other women? "

"That's right..."

...

Song Yiren carried the basket in one hand and held Li Nuo's arm in the other, listening to the discussion of the people in the vegetable market, and suddenly looked up and asked: "If you knew Song Jiaren and the Sixth Princess at the same time, which one would you choose?"

Li Nuo said without thinking: "Of course it's Jiaren."

Song Yiren said: "The Sixth Princess will be the empress in the future. She is not only as beautiful as Song Jiaren, but also has high cultivation. Aren't you tempted?"

Li Nuo said decisively: "No."

He only has a friendship with the Sixth Princess.

Maybe she is a little more special than ordinary friends. After all, she is the empress, and she is the empress he supported. How can he have a special feeling in his heart?

Song Yiren asked again: "What if it is Song Jiaren and Li Anning? If they haven't married you yet, who would you choose?"

Li Nuo thought about it seriously.

If we really put aside the question of priority.

Jiaren and Anning...

Just from the first impression, Anning is more fragrant.

But he certainly couldn't tell the truth, otherwise he would offend her as well. Li Nuo shook his head and said, "I don't choose, I want them all."

Song Yiren pinched his wrist lightly and said, "No, you have to choose one!"

Li Nuo said, "I don't choose, I just want them all."

Song Yiren snorted, "You are so greedy!"

Along the way, she didn't ask the same question again, until she returned to the small courtyard of the princess's mansion, she suddenly spoke again: "If Song Jiaren didn't marry you first, and asked you to choose between me and her, who would you choose... I want to hear your true words."

Her eyes looked at Li Nuo, but Li Nuo didn't answer.

She didn't force him, she went straight into the kitchen and said, "I'm going to cook..."

Li Nuo stood in the courtyard and thought about this question seriously.

Jia Jiaren and Yiren, although they look exactly the same, they have different personalities.

Jia Ren is introverted and reserved. Although she never expresses herself, she always protects him silently in places he can't see.

Yiren is frank and straightforward, dares to love and hate, how can she not be liked?

Of course, he chose to take them all.

Li Nuo walked into the kitchen and worked with her to prepare dinner.

Meanwhile, in the Zhao Palace.

Two to three days after each election, a banquet would be held in the palace for all the ministers.

One was to celebrate, and the other was to let the ministers get familiar with the new emperor before the succession ceremony.

At the banquet, not only officials from the capital could not be absent, but also dignitaries and royal children would be present.

Prince Shun came forward with a glass of wine, smiled at Zhao Zhiyi, and said, "Sixth sister, congratulations."

Zhao Zhiyi also raised his glass and said, "Thank you, brother."

Later, Prince An and Prince Xiang, the two princes who had lost the election, also came forward to express their congratulations.

This is also the long-standing tradition of Zhao State.

Although the fight for the throne failed, the blood and family ties are still there.

Regardless of whether they are willing in their hearts or not, the princes who have failed in the general election will congratulate the new emperor at the banquet.

Looking at another figure walking up, Zhao Zhiyi's expression was a little complicated.

She moved her lips and said, "Brother Emperor..."

King Sheng smiled, waved his hand and said: "There is no need to say anything. At first, I was a little angry. After all, you are my biological sister and the person I trust most. However, I have thought a lot in the past two days. , the people like you so much, if you come to power, it will be a good thing for the country and the people. Moreover, we are the same father, emperor and mother, so who will succeed, what difference will it make..."

He took the initiative to clink glasses with Zhao Zhiyi and said: "The past is in the past. You must be a good emperor and don't let the emperor down..."

After that, he drank all the wine in his glass, then touched Zhao Zhiyi's head affectionately, and turned to leave.

This scene fell in the eyes of the surrounding officials, causing them to whisper.

"I didn't expect that King Sheng would have such a demeanor."

"The fourth prince's generosity is indeed beyond my expectation."

"I thought he wouldn't attend the banquet tonight."

"They are brothers and sisters after all. Since the result cannot be changed, it is better to accept the reality."

"This can be considered the best result..."

…

After King Sheng congratulated the six princesses, he walked to the seats of the other three princes and toasted them one by one.

Several princes looked down on him before, but seeing his performance today, they also think highly of him.

This scene also changed King Sheng's impression in everyone's mind.

When fighting for position, several people are rivals.

But after the election, they are still brothers.

This is in sharp contrast to the princes of Daxia.

The two princes of Daxia conspired to kill the former prince and forced the emperor to marry him in the name of the Qing emperor.

When they were fighting for the throne, they did everything they could to kill their brothers from the same father and mother.

As for the princes of the Zhao Kingdom, even when they competed for the throne, they fought openly and openly and never used dirty methods.

Compared with Daxia, the royal family of the Zhao Kingdom can definitely be regarded as brothers, friends and brothers, with a loving father and a filial son.

Being in such a country, the officials of Zhao State are proud of themselves.

The banquet ended in a harmonious atmosphere, and many officials returned drunk. This was one of the few occasions where officials were allowed to get drunk.

The second day.

Princess Mansion.

Li Nuo sat up from the bed, turned his head and glanced, seeing that Yi Ren was still pretending to sleep.

She would not wake up until he kissed her every day.

Li Nuo got up and washed up first. The lady on the bed opened her eyes a little and looked at his back in confusion.

When he gets up every morning, doesn't he kiss her gently before going to wash up?

Did you forget today?

After Li Nuo finished washing and turned around, she immediately closed her eyes again.

Li Nuo walked to the bed and sat down, looking down at Yi Ren's pretty face.

In a few days, the sixth princess will officially ascend the throne.

It wasn't that long before their return trip.

He and Yi Ren have been pretending to be confused for several months, and the time has come. There is no need to continue pretending...

Li Nuo leaned down and kissed her gently on the face.

Yiren breathed a sigh of relief, the morning was finally complete.

She routinely waited for Li Nuo to leave before getting up and washing up.

But he kept sitting on the bedside with no intention of leaving.

Li Nuo looked at Yiren who was pretending to be asleep, gently shook her shoulders, and said with a smile: "Okay, don't pretend to be asleep, I know you have woken up long ago..."

Song Yiren's eyelashes trembled, she slowly opened her eyes, and asked in confusion: "What are you doing?"

Li Nuo exposed her mercilessly: "You're still pretending, you really think I don't know the perception of the peak of the fourth realm, and you secretly kissed me before..."

Song Yiren said in embarrassment: "Stop talking!"

Li Nuo shrugged and said: "If you don't want to say it, don't say it. In fact, I thought about your question all night before I came up with the answer. If you don't want to hear it, then forget it..."

Song Yiren raised her eyebrows and asked, "What's the problem?"

Li Nuo said: "You ask me, if the beauty did not marry me, who would I choose among you..."

Song Yiren immediately sat up from the bed: "Who do you choose?"

Li Nuo looked into her eyes and said with a smile: "I still choose them all..."

Song Yiren rolled her eyes at him and was about to say something when her beautiful eyes suddenly opened wide. After being stunned for a moment, they slowly closed again...