Chapter 55 His son's counterattack

"Where did Yuanyuan find it?" Xiao Qing bent down and kissed the top of Yang Manyan's head, but the smile did not reach his eyes.

"It's on the museum shelf in the main hall." Yang Manyan blinked, her almond-shaped eyes sparkling.

There is a heating channel under the bedroom, and the underground heating is burning brightly. Although it is icy and snowy outside and the wind is biting, it is warm as spring inside.

The man who just came in from outside still had a hint of coldness on him, just like his mood at the moment.

After pondering for a moment, he finally accepted the gift.

Xiao Yan smiled gently and said, "Besides this, I have prepared another gift. How about I give it to you on your birthday?"

"There is another gift?" Yang Manyan was surprised, her face flushed. "A birthday is not a big deal, but I am sorry that Your Highness has to worry about it."

The girl was only wearing a snow-blue nightgown, with her long, silky hair casually draped over her shoulders. The dim light cast a hint of tenderness on her beautiful and delicate features.

She had just taken a bath not long ago and used rose perfume, which gave off a rich aroma.

Xiao Yan's heart suddenly softened, and he thought the way she trusted him unconditionally was extremely cute.

He gently stroked Yang Manyan's soft and smooth black hair, "No matter how big or small your affairs are, they are all extremely important to me."

Yang Manyan's heart was pounding, and his face was even more red-faced than when they usually made love.

"Your Highness, please go and wash up!" she urged softly, the heat on her face spreading to her neck.

Xiao Yan chuckled and let go of the shy and naive girl in his arms.

After bathing and changing clothes, the two of them indulged in sweet and affectionate affection.

In the bedroom, the candlelight flickered and the water clock dripped.

When they were about to start their second tender moment, Yang Manyan suddenly told her in a soft voice about Concubine Wei Shufei and Chang Ying coming to the Eastern Palace one after another.

She added cautiously, "Eunuch Chang also said that His Majesty ordered that my birthday be celebrated according to the standards of the Queen's 100th birthday..."

Xiao Yan pursed his lips slightly and lowered his eyes to hide the cold light in his eyes.

With crystal Go and a birthday celebration according to the Qianqiu Festival standards, it seems that my father still refuses to give up.

However, it also happens to dispel the rumors that have been secretly circulating in the inner court over the past two days.

He bent down and kissed the girl's neck. "Don't be anxious, Yuanyuan. It's just that the birthday banquet is a little more grand than originally planned. I felt guilty for not being able to hold a grand birthday for you. Now it's the icing on the cake."

Yang Manyan's body was very sensitive, and he kissed her until she felt numb and itchy. "Don't... I still have something to say!"

"Last night, the Empress of Renshou Palace sent someone to pass on a message, but when I asked again today, the people over there said that the Empress was not feeling well today and was temporarily gone."

Xiao Yan asked in a deep voice: "Did the people from Renshou Palace tell me why they came here yesterday?"

"It is said that the Empress of Renshou Palace wants to tell me about the Empress Dowager..." Yang Manyan said weakly.

Xiao Qi frowned, vaguely guessing what Empress Xu wanted to say to Yang Manyan.

The late emperor and Empress Xu had been childhood sweethearts, and they lived in harmony after marriage. However, due to Empress Dowager Jiang's selfishness,...

"Don't be afraid. I will order Tong Lin to go to Renshou Palace to take a look tomorrow." He whispered comfortingly.

Yang Manyun asked in confusion: "Where is Eunuch Shu Qing? Why is it that Tong Lin is serving His Highness personally now?"

She had met Tong Lin several times before and knew that he had a strong and upright figure, and his bearing was unlike that of an ordinary eunuch, standing out like a crane among chickens.

Xiao Yan remained calm and said, "Shu Qing is not young anymore. It is too tiring for him to serve me closely. I will allow him to leave and take a rest."

Yang Manyan was slightly startled. Shu Qing seemed to be less than 30 years old? But she still nodded as if she understood.

The two of them then continued their love affair which had been interrupted several times before.

After finishing the work, Xiao Yan carried the unconscious Yang Manyan to the bathroom to wash him up, then he put on a crane cloak and walked out of the bedroom.

Walking in the thick night, Xiao Yan walked towards the study alone with a solemn expression.

The East Palace is like a miniature version of the imperial palace, with a considerable distance between the study and the bedroom.

On the large table in front of the bookcase was a nanmu chessboard that he had carved himself and which was still unfinished.

This was his first time doing any carving work, and his technique was unfamiliar. He had already spent several pieces of nanmu before he carved out a piece that he was somewhat satisfied with.

Thinking of Yang Manyan's joy and cherishment for the crystal Go set, Xiao Yan's eyes became slightly tearful and his heart seemed to be pulled.

Sitting at the table, he silently picked up the carving knife and refined the edges and corners of the chessboard bit by bit, staying up all night.

The prince was extremely busy for the next few days.

Because of the heavy snowstorm in the capital area, he used his salary to open porridge factories and greenhouses in various places. He also went to the princes and ministers in person to urge them to donate silver and materials.

For a time, the crown prince, who already had a good reputation, became even more popular.

There are even rumors among the people that the heavy snowfall is because the current emperor is unworthy of his position and should have given up his throne to the crown prince who is popular among the people.

Palace of Heavenly Purity, South Study.

The emperor was dressed in a dark brocade robe with dragon pattern, sitting behind a desk with a golden sword, a golden crown on his hair, and a face as gloomy as water.

Looking at the memorials before him, which were urging him to abdicate to the crown prince, he sneered, "The crown prince is busy with disaster relief every day. It seems that these are what he is really busy with."

If there were only a few people who gave advice, he could still make an example of them, but now everyone was on the side of the prince, and if he started a massacre, it would only make them angry.

It seems that this is his son's counterattack against him.

Even if we can't really pull him off the throne, we must make him suffer a setback.

Chang Ying stood aside, grinding ink, nodding his head and lowering his brows, as silent as a cicada.

After a while, the emperor suddenly changed the subject and asked, "Has the Construction Department sent the clothes that Yang Shangyi will wear for her birthday tomorrow to the Eastern Palace?"

Chang Ying nodded hurriedly, "Don't worry, Your Majesty, it has been delivered early in the morning, and the Ministry of Rites and Guanglu Temple have also made arrangements for tomorrow's birthday banquet."

The emperor nodded slightly, and then asked a little uncomfortably: "Does she like the crystal go set?"

Chang Ying chuckled, "I heard that Yang Shangyi is very precious and plays with her for a while every day."

"I also heard that Yang Shangyi often went to Wenyuan Pavilion to browse the books these days. Your Majesty, maybe you haven't been to Wenyuan Pavilion for a long time? Your Majesty, do you want to..."

The emperor's eyes dimmed a little, and reason and impulse were pulling back and forth in his mind.