Chapter 109 Kyushu Qingyan

"Bring this along, and bring that along too."

It was Hongzhao who was going to the Mulan Hunting Grounds, but Su Peisheng was the one who was busy running around non-stop. In the days leading up to his departure, Yinzhen would often sit up suddenly in the middle of the night while he was sleeping and ask, "Su Peisheng, did you bring that Hundred Blessings quilt for Hongzhao? He's used to that one and can't sleep soundly with anything else."

He was constantly being asked about things like blankets, clothes, servants, and carriages, and couldn't sleep soundly no matter what.

Thus, it was common to see Su Peisheng rushing out in the dead of night to call for someone, just to prepare a quilt for the Crown Prince.

Su Peisheng naturally dared not complain, but after it happened so many times, Yinzhen himself lifted the quilt and secretly thought that if it didn't work, he wouldn't let the Crown Prince go. He would feel more at ease keeping the Crown Prince by his side. But as soon as he had this idea, he immediately shook his head and rejected it.

The fatigue from days of poor sleep was written all over his face. Hongzhao couldn't bear to look at him any longer, so he stood up, stopped Su Peisheng who was pacing around in circles, walked up to his father, and gently touched the dark circles under his eyes.

Feeling the warm little hands caressing his face, Yinzhen closed his eyes and remained motionless, the corners of his mouth unable to suppress a smile.

Hongzhao looked up at him knowingly—"Father, don't worry. I know the rules and procedures of Mulan Qiumi, so I won't make any mistakes. Also, Uncle Thirteen is with me, so everything will be fine. If you miss me, write me a letter. I will miss you too."

Yinzhen's heart softened, and he held the child on his lap, gently stroking him as he had when the child was young, saying, "Alright, Father will write to You'er, and You'er must remember to write to Father too. If anything happens, ask your thirteenth uncle, understand? Going to the hunting grounds is not like going to the palace. You must bring all your guards with you wherever you go, and be careful in everything you do."

Yinzhen kept giving instructions, and Hongzhao, without getting annoyed, responded patiently from time to time.

"Come on, tell your father again, do you remember everything you need to do tomorrow?"

He asked again, still not entirely convinced, and only breathed a sigh of relief after receiving a positive answer from Hongzhao.

He couldn't send Hongzhao away directly. It was only July, which was far from the time for the autumn hunt. He hadn't carried out any hunts for three years since he ascended the throne. Sending him away rashly would inevitably alert the enemy and ruin everything.

Tomorrow's banquet at the Kyushu Qingyan would be the perfect opportunity, but it would be a shame to trouble the Imperial Noble Consort and Hongzhao.

"You'er, don't be afraid tomorrow."

——

The sounds of silk and bamboo instruments from the Jiuzhou Qingyan resounded slowly in the main hall.

Seeing that the Emperor seemed to be in a bad mood today, Consort Nian glanced at Consort Yu, who was sitting at the very end, and secretly gave her a wink.

Yu Ying'er understood and gracefully rose, picked up the fruit plate on the table, walked gracefully to the Emperor's table, and spoke in a melodious voice, "Your Majesty, this is a plate of fine fruit that I have carefully selected. Please taste it."

Yinzhen looked at the two plates of fruit on his table that were almost identical to his own, and his eyelids twitched involuntarily. He reluctantly picked out a grape from the plate that Consort Yu was holding and said against his will, "It's acceptable."

Seeing the Emperor's varied expressions, Lü Jiaying, who was sitting closest to him, almost couldn't help but smile. With a slight upturn of her lips, she used her usual sarcastic tone—"Sister, you really put in a lot of effort. This plate of fruit doesn't even look as good as the one on Your Majesty's original table. I wonder what kind of effort you put into it."

Her words were barbed and sarcastic, yet no one in the hall seemed to find anything wrong with them; even Consort Nian was used to it. After all, Lü Jiaying had always had this temperament since she was a concubine in the Prince's mansion; it was simply a matter of remaining faithful to her husband.

Yu Ying had never seen it before. In the days since she entered the palace, all she had seen was how much the Imperial Noble Consort doted on her child. She only thought that the Imperial Noble Consort had risen to a high position by virtue of her pregnancy and that she was only elevated because of her child. Upon hearing these words, she widened her eyes and looked up in disbelief.

"How could Your Majesty speak such slanderous words? How could I not have put my heart into what I gave to His Majesty? His Majesty is certainly aware of my intentions." After saying this, she looked to the Emperor for help.

Yinzhen seemed to want to laugh as well, but he suppressed his smile and said seriously, "With me here, no one dares to say such things to you."

Suddenly, Consort Wan, dressed more glamorously than usual, spoke up: "What Sister Yu said is absolutely right, but I would also like to remind you to work even harder. The Mid-Autumn Festival is the triennial selection of imperial concubines. At that time, many new talents will emerge, and you will be very busy."

Yu Ying'er stood up straight in the hall. Having received a word from the Emperor, she was now extremely confident: "Consort Wan has served the Emperor for many years, and the Imperial Noble Consort is even more senior. Naturally, she is adept at teaching her sisters. How can I, a mere concubine, compare?"

Older? No woman could laugh at such a comment from her rival. Lu Jiaying paused in her act of peeling fruit, then looked up and said directly, "I am indeed older, but the oldest person is sitting below. Did Consort Nian go to the trouble of presenting you to the Emperor just to hear you mock her in public?"

Consort Jing sat to the side, watching Nian Shilan almost break her fingernails, and couldn't help but pinch her handkerchief and nod her lips.

"No, that's not what I meant!" she hurriedly protested, waving her hands so hard they almost left afterimages.

Nian Shilan gritted her teeth and spoke angrily, "Is the Emperor going to sit idly by and watch the Imperial Noble Consort and Consort Wan behave like this at the banquet?"

The struggle was finally ignited. Yinzhen, his hands on his knees, showed no emotion. "Is this how the Imperial Noble Consort usually manages the harem for me? No wonder there's always so much turmoil in the harem!"

As he spoke, he slammed his hand on the table. The Imperial Noble Consort's expression changed immediately. She stood up, hurriedly walked down, and knelt down.

The Emperor was furious, and the Imperial Noble Consort knelt down. Naturally, everyone else could not remain seated and hurriedly followed her into the hall, kneeling down to pay their respects without daring to delay for even a moment.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. It's all my fault."

"As an Imperial Noble Consort, you have actively provoked a quarrel, causing unrest in the harem. This is a serious dereliction of duty on your part!" He carefully chose his words, his brows furrowed as if they could trap a fly, and pointed directly at Lü Jiayingfeng at the very front.

Lu Jiaying's face was full of fear and regret, and she repeatedly said, "Please calm down, Your Majesty."

Yinzhen ignored him and instead said, “Consort Wan has behaved improperly before the Emperor and spoken inappropriately. From this day forward, she shall remain at home to reflect on her mistakes and shall not leave without imperial decree, nor shall anyone visit her.”

"The Imperial Noble Consort... is unable to exercise the duty of acting as Empress's seal and seal, so take it back to me. Confine her to her quarters for three months and reflect on her actions!"

Upon hearing this, everyone looked up in shock, staring at the Emperor in disbelief.

To take back the Empress's seal—what a grave crime that warrants this!

Consort Jing and Noble Lady Rou rushed forward to plead for mercy, but someone else acted faster than them.

"Father, please retract your decree!" Hongzhao was shocked and hurriedly crawled forward two steps, kneeling beside his mother, his eyes burning as he looked intently at his beloved father.

"Father, Mother has always been like this, as you know. She has a sharp tongue but a soft heart and had no intention of starting a fight. Please, Father, investigate!" Hongzhao seemed frightened, kowtowing repeatedly as he spoke, each kowtow more sincere than the last, until his forehead was red.

Yinzhen's hand, hidden under the table, was tightly gripping his trousers. Seeing Hongzhao like this, he couldn't bear it at all. The word "okay" was almost out of his mouth, but he swallowed it back.

"How can my orders be changed so easily? I think I've spoiled you too much these days, and this is so improper!"

His tone was stern, something he had never said to his son before, let alone anything harsh. Now, the only thing he could bring himself to say to this brat was "disrespectful." After all, when he was just a little kid, he'd climbed up the dragon robe clinging to him, and he'd used that phrase almost daily.

"Your mother has committed a grave error, and you're pleading for her without even knowing the facts. Is this how I've always taught you? You've disappointed me greatly!"

Su Peisheng knelt to the side, and when he quietly raised his head, he could see that the emperor was almost buttoning ten holes in his densely woven gold dragon robe as he spoke. He quickly lowered his head and used the brim of his hat to cover his expression.

Hongzhao had never heard him speak so harshly before, and his eyes immediately reddened, turning as red as a rabbit's. His eyes were filled with tears but stubbornly refused to fall, and his lips were turned down in a wronged manner. The red blush on his forehead from the previous bump had not yet disappeared, and he looked like a wilted eggplant.

"Father..." The voice faintly betrayed a hint of tears.

Seeing Hongzhao like this, Yinzhen's already furrowed brows furrowed even more. He lowered his eyes to hide the reluctance that was almost overflowing in them. He didn't want to do anything right now, he just wanted to go down and hug his son.

It's all the fault of that despicable Tenth Prince and Nian Gengyao!

"Since you can't learn well by my side, then leave the palace. It's time to hold the Mulan Qiumi ceremony this year. Go and keep an eye on it. Set off tomorrow."