Chapter 54: Different Thoughts

It was also at this time that Li Jing brought his two concubines and Princess Wenxiu into the palace to spend the New Year with the Emperor.

The palace lanterns were hung high, making the hall as bright as day.

The dining tables were placed around the main hall, with a space in the middle where a stage was set up. Maybe there would be singing and dancing during the meal.

The Queen was in charge of both the layout and the food, and she spent a long time carefully arranging them, striving for perfection.

Young Imperial Concubine Dong had already asked for the palace's singing and dancing troupe, and today's singing and dancing was arranged by her.

The guests at such palace banquets were basically princes, who brought their families with them.

The emperor's elders, peers, and distant relatives would basically celebrate the New Year at home. Then on the first day of the new year, they would go to the palace to accompany the emperor in worshiping their ancestors and performing the rituals.

Li Chang is unmarried and alone. After Li Jing came back, he rarely went back to his own house and stayed in Prince Qi's mansion all day. Today, the two of them came together.

The prince was dressed elegantly and looked very happy. He was the busiest person, he had to take care of the emperor and chat with the empress dowager. He had to deal with every prince and was completely busy.

Standing next to him was the Crown Princess Jiang, who brought her two daughters and her illegitimate son. Jiang was the eldest daughter of the Crown Prince of the Guardian State.

The prince of the Duke of Huguo was born out of wedlock.

Queen Jiang's brother married the Crown Prince's elder sister.

The Huguogong family favored concubines over wives, which was a bad practice, but this Crown Princess was a standard daughter of an aristocratic family, with a decent appearance and a gentle temperament. As a Crown Princess, she was very methodical in her conduct and was highly valued by the Queen. The only regret was that she only gave birth to two daughters and no sons.

It is said that she and the prince had a harmonious relationship.

The Crown Prince talked to Li Jing. The Crown Princess chatted with Concubine Feng and Concubine Tian, ​​and asked her two daughters to play with Princess Wenxiu.

The emperor was not happy when he saw Li Jing. Because years ago, when only the father and son were in the imperial study, Li Jing directly asked him for power... Palace defense, city defense, Western Suburbs Camp, Langfang Camp. He wanted whatever was given to him. The key point is, these are all the key points... He doesn't even know how to avoid taboos!

The emperor was so angry that he smashed the cup after he left. Although he hadn't agreed yet, the emperor knew that he had to give him something!

Seeing this bastard saluting to him, he snorted.

Concubine Feng took out a brocade box, which contained a New Year gift for the emperor. Eunuch Liu opened it and found a horn cup. It was shiny and heavy, and had patterns carved on it. "Oh, your majesty, this is so good, I haven't seen many!"

The emperor nodded casually. The food was good, but he wasn't too keen on it.

When the Empress Dowager saw Li Jing, she didn't recognize him as usual. The Queen patiently introduced him. When Concubine Xiao Dong and Concubine De saw him, their smiles disappeared.

Princess Yu'an sat next to the queen in gorgeous clothes, with a haughty look on her face. Except for the four above, she was indifferent to everyone else, including Concubine Dong. After the unpleasant chat with Li Jing, she no longer had the heart to flatter him.

As soon as the greetings were over, Concubine Dong started to pester the emperor to talk about the song and dance she had arranged, obviously ignoring Li Jing.

Li Chang then took Li Jing to see his mother, Concubine Zhu.

Concubine Zhu sat in a corner. She had a pretty face and her clothes were solemn and unobtrusive. She always kept a low profile in the palace.

Seeing Li Jing, he smiled and said, "I have received everything the prince asked Chang'er to bring. I am doing well in the palace and I have everything I need. You don't have to worry about me!"

"This is Seventh Brother's kindness, so please don't be polite!" Li Chang said with a smile. He never treated himself as an outsider.

The two concubines Feng and Tian were of low status. They only greeted others and did not take the initiative to approach them. They were relatively close to Concubine Zhu. Hearing their conversation, Concubine Feng thought to herself: Did the prince give money to Concubine Zhu again? She felt a little uncomfortable: Why didn't the prince let her do these things?

Today, Princess Feng Chengzhang also came. Her hair was completely white and a little sparse, and she was dressed very luxuriously. Originally, she would not come to such an occasion again. But for the sake of her granddaughter Feng Xuehua next to her... time and situation were not waiting for anyone, so she had to come and test it out in person.

At this moment, his eyes lit up because Li Jing was approaching.

"Auntie!" Li Jing bowed to her, "I was busy coming back and didn't come to greet you. Please forgive me!"

"What are you talking about! I'm an old woman who spends all day looking at flowers and drinking tea. I have nothing to do! You have countless state affairs and family matters to deal with. If you don't have time to come, just wait until you are free to talk! There's no need to say so much! Seeing that you look so good, I'm relieved!"

Li Jing didn't say much, just nodded.

"Do you still remember Xuehua?! Your little cousin!" Princess Feng Chengzhang had a meaningful smile in her eyes.

"Cousin!" Feng Xuehua lowered her eyes and saluted to hide her embarrassment.

The Queen and the Crown Prince on the high platform exchanged a glance, then looked at Princess Fengcheng and Li Jing.

Li Jing nodded to Feng Xuehua, and then said to Princess Fengcheng, "I helped my uncle bring back the account books of Yuling. The situation is relatively stable at the moment, so don't worry, aunt."

There is a salt mine in Yuling, which belongs to the Feng family. In the past two years, there have been various troubles. The government can't collect money, and it was Li Jing who helped to calm down the situation.

"Oh, that's good, that's good..."

"I'll come and pay my respects to you when I have time," Li Jing said, and then left.

They are all smart people, so there is no need to say it. Princess Feng Chengzhang was a little disappointed, but she didn't show it on her face. She glanced at Li Chang's back... To be honest, she really looked down on Li Chang. Without a maternal family, the emperor didn't love him. Without property and an important position, life was not easy.

Feng Xuehua knew what her grandmother meant, and also understood what the King of Qi meant. She concealed her displeasure and started chatting with the little girl next to her.

At this moment, Prince Yongping arrived. He was the son of the emperor's elder brother, Prince Xing.

King Xing passed away early, leaving behind only this one son.

The emperor treated him only worse than he treated Concubine Dong, who had an affair with Xiao Xiao, and better than he treated the prince!

After greeting, Prince Yongping smiled and said, "I found a toy and want to show it to your uncle." He opened a brocade box and took out a necklace.

Under the exquisitely carved gold chain, there is a green plaque without words, the size of a woman's palm. The plaque is green and beautiful, like a pool of spring water. Looking at the shape, it has a rather exotic style.

The emperor took it and looked at it. He had many good things, but nothing like this. "Not bad! You are quite good at finding some novel things!" He had heard that Prince Yongping managed his property well.

For a man who lost his father at a young age and was favored by the emperor, it was not easy not to become a playboy!

It is not easy to achieve what we have today.

The only regret was that he was nearly thirty years old, and after two princesses died, he never married again. He had no descendants to this day. In the mansion, there were no concubines or concubines! Some people said that he had a love affair with a man, but he did not refute it.

When Concubine Dong and Princess Yu'an saw that thing, their eyes lit up.

"Your Majesty, look, this green brand is just right for my clothes!" Little Concubine Dong spoke first. She was wearing a beige Shu brocade today, without embroidery, a very simple style. The fabric was very shiny, reflecting her snow-white skin and beautiful face, making her look even more youthful and beautiful.

The queen next to her, who was wearing a fully embroidered and layered dress and had an ordinary appearance, looked particularly old.

Princess Yu'an was wearing a deep purple skirt with large peony flowers embroidered on it in green silk thread. Her neck looked empty, but no one knew that she had a jade ornament hidden under her clothes.

As soon as I saw this collar, I felt it matched the peony on my body.

She wants it too.

"Father~" she cried tenderly, "Last time you said you owed me a birthday gift! I see, this collar matches the clothes I'm wearing very well..."

Upon hearing this, Little Concubine Dong sneered and squatted in front of the emperor, "Your Majesty, please show me how to do it..."

Normally, the emperor gave too many things to Concubine Dong, so when his daughter opened her mouth, she originally wanted to give it to Yu'an.

But when you gesture in front of Concubine Dong's chest... it's so beautiful and touching.

Such a beautiful lady, only I can have her in the whole world. So, he smiled and said, "It looks good! I'll give this one to my beloved concubine first. A'long, you can find another one for Yu'an later!"

Prince Yongping smiled with his eyes narrowed, and it was impossible to tell what he meant. He promised repeatedly, "Uncle Emperor, please rest assured! I will find you as soon as possible!"

Princess Yu'an's face turned red with anger, but the Queen looked at her with a scolding smile: "Look at you, why are you still acting like a little girl!?"

Little Concubine Dong put on the collar directly and sat there beautifully.

After everyone socialized, they sat in their seats and prepared to eat.

The sound of stringed instruments began and the dancers came on stage.

The dance arranged by Concubine Dong was really amazing. The lead dancer was wearing a long red dress with narrow sleeves and waist, with big slits on both sides. Her long legs spun lightly all over the stage, and she was even held up in the air by everyone, like a fairy, which was simply beautiful.

Everyone stared at it intently; even the emperor put down his chopsticks and stared in fascination.

So, no one noticed: Prince Yongping and Concubine Dong looked at each other affectionately through the dancers in Taichung...

I was busy yesterday and didn't have time to write. It's late...

(End of this chapter)