Chapter 95 Butterflies Fluttering

Almost everyone was present at the banquet, so when the Emperor appeared carrying the Crown Prince, he immediately attracted everyone's attention.

He stepped into the house. Outside, the first snow was falling gently. The father and son walked through the snow, creating a rather picturesque scene. He first went to the first seat on the left and gently put Hongzhao down before walking to the front seat and sitting down himself.

Although Consort Xian knew she was now considered the most powerful woman in the harem, she had not yet been officially crowned Empress. Therefore, her seat was slightly lower than usual, and she was currently holding her daughter, smiling as she looked at her eldest son opposite her.

The Empress Dowager never got involved in these kinds of commotions, and this time she didn't invite him either.

After exchanging greetings, everyone sat down. Hongzhao turned around and looked at his row of people. They were all familiar faces: Fifth Uncle, Tenth Uncle, Thirteenth Uncle, and others he didn't recognize, Seventeenth Uncle...

Wait a minute! The one sitting between Uncle Thirteen and Uncle Seventeen, look how tall he is, twice the size of Uncle Seventeen, with a righteous face and a bold posture, could he be... Uncle Fourteen?

Prince Xun keenly sensed a gaze subtly directed at him and immediately turned his head to meet it, but did not meet anyone's eyes. However, having been on the battlefield for some time, he did not miss the sound of the golden bells still jingling behind the little prince's head at the front.

He stared at the child's figure and smiled. This little prince that Fourth Brother has set up seems to be quite interesting.

"Why are there fewer people today?" Yinzhen looked at the row of seats on his right, where there were only a few people. Consort Xian followed his gaze and explained, "Consort Wan sent Jinxi to report earlier that she was feeling unwell due to the winter wind and wouldn't be coming. Consort Nian is also busy taking care of Princess Wenyi, so she hasn't had time to come either."

When Consort Cao heard that Wen Yi had caught a cold, she couldn't help but clench her sleeves, her anxiety making her unable to sit still as if nails were piercing her halfway down the stool. In the months since Nian Shilan took Wen Yi away, she hadn't received any updates on her daughter, and even when they met once a month, she would be hurriedly taken away again.

He caught a cold. Such a small child is already weak, so how uncomfortable he must feel if he caught a cold.

She was extremely anxious, but dared not utter a word to ask someone to go and check on her. She was afraid that Nian Shilan would hold a grudge and treat Wen Yi even worse. She could only endure all the bitterness in her heart.

Consort Xian looked down and felt even more strongly that there were indeed too few people in the palace now. Apart from those who didn't come and those who couldn't come, there were only five people in total, including herself, which looked quite desolate.

Yinzhen nodded without saying anything—"Then let's begin."

After he finished speaking, he raised his cup and was about to speak when he suddenly saw a bright red color in his eyes and couldn't help but ask, "Seventeenth Brother, what good thing are you holding in your arms?"

Prince Guo paused for a moment, then smiled and generously took out the plum branches he had been protecting in his arms—"Your Majesty has a good eye. When I passed by Yimei Garden, I saw that the plum blossoms were in full bloom, so I couldn't help but break off two branches."

Lu Jiaying was now completely certain that plum blossoms were the key word for the Emperor. Just like on New Year's Eve of his first year on the throne, his eyes couldn't help but linger when he heard the word "plum blossoms"—"Then I'll go for a walk in Yimei Garden."

"Take a walk? Last time you left, you never came back. At least we drank a few rounds of wine before, but this time you didn't drink a single cup. We can't just leave the imperial relatives hanging like this, so Consort Xian quickly spoke up when she saw this."

"Your Majesty, please don't leave us behind to go have some fun. The plum blossoms bloom despite the frost; let's go and see them together."

Yinzhen smiled at her, said nothing, but stood up and took her hands in his, patted her round belly, and the two walked slowly out of the banquet hall hand in hand, and the crowd got up and followed.

Because Consort Xian was pregnant, everyone walked slowly. When they finally got there, they could see a figure in the plum garden from a distance. The figure was wearing a silver cloak and kneeling in front of an ordinary plum tree.

Everyone was curious, so they paused and craned their necks to look.

Others might not recognize who that figure was, but Yinzhen would. Wanwan and Wanwan even looked alike from behind. Unaware of this, he released Consort Xian's hand and tentatively took two steps forward.

Zhen Huan's attire was no longer as plain as it had been in previous months; she was now adorned with gold ornaments and flowers. With her hands clasped together and her face devout, she said, "I, Zhen Huan, am without talent or virtue, unfit to care for the imperial heir. I am filled with sorrow and have no face to face Your Majesty. I sincerely pray that Your Majesty will be blessed by Heaven, that you may have peace, joy, and happiness for ten thousand years. If my wish is granted, I will be willing to be a vegetarian for the rest of my life and never again seek Your Majesty's favor."

"Huanhuan, is that you?"

Hongzhao watched this iconic scene with sparks flying in his eyes. The group, including concubines, relatives, and servants—dozens of people in total—were chatting and laughing loudly all the way. It's true what they say, entering the palace is all about mental fortitude. Even so, they managed to keep up the act without batting an eye.

The Emperor could obviously see through it, but he didn't care at all whether it was an act or not. All he cared about was that the usually stubborn Consort Wan was finally willing to put her heart into it and submit to him.

Since being taught the ways of a ruler by his father, Hongzhao has become increasingly able to understand the mindset of those in power. They enjoy the process of taming, and perhaps in his father's eyes, Wanpin's submission this time is a sign of his successful taming.

Consort Wan spun around, and her cloak suddenly opened, releasing countless butterflies that fluttered out in all directions.

Yinzhen was somewhat mesmerized by the scene—"So many butterflies brought here in winter."

Zhen Huan's expression still held a hint of grievance as she softly replied, "This concubine does not know either."

"Even butterflies are captivated by you." He reached out and took his fox fur coat from Su Peisheng, draping it over the person in front of him. Just as he was about to say something more, he heard a sudden chuckle from behind.

The laughter wasn't concealed much, and Hongzhao couldn't help but turn around when he heard it. After seeing who it was, he silently turned his head back. It was his fourteenth uncle... Then it's alright.

In his spare time, he reached out and nudged his third brother, who had been staring at the butterfly with a fascinated expression and muttering something about "Zhuangzi's dream of a butterfly" ever since he saw it. "Looks like you've always liked looking at your father's wife since you were little. It's no wonder you were adopted later."

Yinzhen stiffened at the sound of the chuckle. He didn’t even need to turn around to look; no one present except the Fourteenth Prince could make such an annoying sound!

Just as he was about to turn around and lash out, he saw that Consort Xian, who had been standing beside him, looked rather unwell and was now leaning against a palace maid, enduring the pain.

He quickly released Zhen Huan's hand and took two steps forward—"What's wrong with Ying'er!"

She smiled weakly and spoke in a slightly breathless voice, "Your Majesty, I think I'm about to give birth."

Who can resist watching a melodramatic short drama before giving birth? Well, Consort Xian is an exception.