Chapter 58 Brothers Suspicious of Each Other Days passed by, and soon…

Days passed by, and soon the Spring Festival was approaching again. This year's Spring Festival was not as relaxed as in the past, because Cheng Qianyue had become the Crown Princess, and thus experienced firsthand the tediousness of the New Year's affairs in the Forbidden City.

Starting from the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month (the Little New Year), the festive atmosphere in the palace grew stronger day by day. Then, she and Consort Li Jia, the two Crown Princesses, would go out to socialize with the Crown Princess.

As for where to socialize, needless to say, it was naturally at the Empress Dowager's residence in the Ning Shou Palace. The Empress Dowager was old and particularly enjoyed being around people, so she met with people every day. Not to mention the concubines of the Six Eastern and Western Palaces, there were also the wives and concubines of the princes, as well as the older princesses from various families. In addition, the Empress Dowager would also summon the wives and daughters of princes and nobles to the palace to celebrate the New Year.

The Palace of Tranquil Longevity was bustling with activity every day, with the Empress Dowager leading a large entourage to watch operas, play mahjong, and play card games.

The Crown Princess was often at the mahjong table. Sometimes, when she got tired and stopped playing, she would sit next to the Empress Dowager and help arrange and watch the mahjong tiles. As for Cheng Qianyue, if the wives of the princes, concubines, or noblewomen from official families came to pay their respects, she would accompany them. If they went to the concubines in the six palaces of the East and West, she had nothing to do, so she either returned to Xiefang Palace or became a background figure in Ningshou Palace.

This continued until the afternoon of New Year's Eve, when a banquet was held at the Ning Shou Palace to bid farewell to the Empress Dowager and offer New Year's greetings before they could finally rest. But this was not the end; the main event was on the second day, New Year's Day.

Cheng Qianyue had to get up very early in the morning, then, dressed in her formal attire, accompany the Crown Princess to the Ning Shou Palace to pay New Year's respects to the Empress Dowager. After that, she would follow the crowd to the Qian Qing Palace to pay New Year's respects to the Emperor, and then to the Six Eastern and Western Palaces to offer New Year's greetings to the principal concubines. Finally, she would return to the Xie Fang Palace with the Crown Princess, where she and other ladies of the court would go to the main courtyard to pay New Year's respects to the Crown Princess. In short, she was running around everywhere early in the morning.

You think that's the end? No, no, no. After the New Year's greetings, it was time for the banquet. Dozens of tables were set up inside and outside the Ning Shou Palace. Cheng Qianyue was especially grateful that she could have a seat inside the palace, because some of the ladies of the outer court had their tables set up outside instead of inside. Although there were charcoal braziers outside the palace, with a light breeze blowing and light snow falling, those who were banqueting outside were suffering much more than those inside the palace.

But this kind of treatment was a matter of face. After all, there were countless people in the world who would do anything to enter the palace on the first day of the Lunar New Year to offer their congratulations to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. So even though they knew that entering the palace would be hard and tiring, everyone who was able to step into the Forbidden City was grateful and acted as if they were receiving imperial favor.

The power to turn hard work into a blessing is undeniable; the word "power" truly has a magical quality.

However, the most sought-after figures this year were Consort De and the Fourth Prince's wife. At the grand banquet on New Year's Day, the Empress Dowager rewarded each table with dishes, but specifically bestowed two upon Consort De. She also publicly inquired about the princes and princesses in the Fourth Prince's household, followed by praise for the Fourth Prince's wife's effective management. With the Empress Dowager leading the way, for a period after the New Year, the palace and the outside world were filled with praise for Consort De and the Fourth Prince's wife. Later, this praise extended to the Fourth Prince, who was lauded for his loyalty and dedication during his regency.

Cheng Qianyue knew that something must have happened in the outer court. Sure enough, she soon heard that the emperor had held a banquet in the Hall of Supreme Harmony this year and invited the Third and Fourth Princes to go down to toast with the officials. In the following days, the Third and Fourth Princes of the Mongol vassal states also accompanied Yinreng at the banquet.

Cheng Qianyue was quite puzzled. Wasn't there another Third Master among the prominent figures? Did he have an extra nose or missing eyes compared to Fourth Master? Why was everyone praising Fourth Master? Before Cheng Qianyue could figure it out, in February, the Emperor issued an edict to bestow titles and rewards upon the princes. Third Master and Fourth Master were both granted the title of Prince, Fifth and Seventh Masters were granted the title of Prince of the Second Rank, and Ninth and Tenth Masters were granted the title of Prince of the Third Rank.

Cheng Qianyue was a little confused. Was this a good thing or a bad thing?

After court, Yinreng returned to Yuqing Palace and sat down to slowly drink a cup of hot tea. He was still reeling from the Emperor's bestowal of titles upon the princes. Only after the tea had cooled from lukewarm to ice-cold did he slowly exhale and put the cup down.

To be honest, he was anxious.

In previous years, when the eldest prince targeted him, he was merely a prince of the second rank, but now, with the emperor bestowing titles upon so many princes, there are already two princes of the first rank. And this is only a few people; there will likely be many more when the younger ones grow up. Furthermore, according to the emperor, the newly ennobled princes will be assigned to different banners in the next few days, each commanding a portion of the five banners. In this way, the princes' power will greatly increase.

Actually, these things alone wouldn't have been so bad, but after returning from the Mulan Hunting Grounds, he felt that the Emperor's attitude towards him seemed to be fluctuating, which made him vaguely uneasy. This unease reached its peak when the Emperor appointed the third and fourth princes to go down to toast the princes and high-ranking officials of the first and second ranks, and to assist him in accompanying the Mongol vassal states at the banquet.

Yinreng couldn't help but raise his hand to cover his face. He wondered if the Emperor was trying to incite his subordinates to rebel against him.

Sometimes, even Yinreng couldn't understand. Had he not done enough? Ever since he was reinstated as Crown Prince, Chen He was always by his side whenever he discussed matters with court officials, and whenever he needed to send someone out of the palace to meet with ministers, he would instruct Hai Qing, the Grand Minister of the Eastern Palace. He practically ripped his heart out for the Emperor to see, so why did the Emperor still send people to beat him, the Crown Prince?

For a moment, he wondered, if the Emperor was wary of him, why did he reinstate him in the first place? And having reinstated him, why pressure and coerce him like this? Was the Emperor only satisfied when he truly drove him to rebellion?

Yinreng took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. He knew he couldn't continue thinking like this, or he would fall into an abyss of no return. He stood up abruptly and strode out without even putting on his hat.

Chen He hurriedly followed, not daring to utter a sound because he could tell that the Crown Prince was in a bad mood. He ordered someone to bring the hat and cloak and followed the Crown Prince at high speed.

When Yinreng arrived at the main courtyard of Xiefang Palace with a sullen face, it startled the Crown Princess and the others. The Crown Princess gave Shuang Mama a wink, and Shuang Mama nodded and hurriedly retreated quietly, rushing to the tea room to tell someone to quickly boil water and make tea.

Before the tea was even served, Yinreng spoke first, asking the Crown Princess, "What do you think about the princes being granted titles?"

The Crown Princess was taken aback, then lowered her eyes and said, "I was just thinking about this too. I reckon that my younger siblings will be granted the titles of Prince and Princess Consort soon, so I wanted to prepare some congratulatory gifts for them in advance."

Yinreng nodded and said, "That's how it should be."

The Crown Princess continued, "His Majesty's bestowal of titles upon the princes is surely intended to provide you with more support. If you could submit a memorial to His Majesty to express your gratitude, he would surely be pleased."

I submit a memorial to express my gratitude... Ah...

Yinreng couldn't help but let a mocking smile creep onto his lips. He had indeed come to see the Crown Princess with the intention of emulating her, but hearing her say this made him feel extremely oppressed.

Why should he loudly proclaim that the Emperor did a good job when the Emperor carried someone to beat him? Furthermore, did the Emperor not consider the previous Prince Zhi when he did this? Doesn't the Emperor know how the eldest prince dealt with him back then? How can the Emperor be so sure that the princes below him won't harbor thoughts of seizing the throne?

Just thinking about it made Yinreng tremble all over, as if the people under him harbored wolfish ambitions and were waiting to skin him alive.

At this moment, Granny Shuang and the others brought up tea. Yinreng listened attentively as the Crown Princess talked about the congratulatory gifts. After he finished his cup of tea, he was no longer willing to listen. He stood up and said, "Crown Princess, please begin the preparations." With that, he left the main courtyard and headed directly west.

The Crown Princess bowed and saw him off, then couldn't help but sigh. She thought the Crown Prince was showing signs of repeating his past mistakes, but no matter what she said, she couldn't change him. After a while, the Crown Princess said in a deep voice, "Bring over the list of New Year's gifts from each family."

If the Crown Prince is unwilling to congratulate the princes on their promotion to Prince or Duke, then she will choose more gifts for their wives to fulfill the proper etiquette for the Crown Prince.

In the west courtyard, Cheng Qianyue knew Yinreng was in a bad mood the moment he strode in. Look at that cold face, like a persimmon frostbitten on a branch in winter. When she leaned closer and touched it, well, it wasn't much warmer than a frozen persimmon.

She hurriedly asked someone to bring over some warm water, soaked a towel in it, wrung it out, and personally wiped his face and head, saying as she did so, "Why didn't you wear a hat when you went out? You weren't wearing a cloak either."

The steaming towel warmed Yinreng, and he let out a long sigh. His face softened and became less gloomy. He mumbled, "I forgot in my haste to come out."

Cheng Qianyue ordered someone to bring ginger soup, but Yinreng waved his hand and said, "No, thank you." He drank two cups of tea in a row, and his stomach was full. Cheng Qianyue had no choice but to instruct someone to prepare some ginger slices for him to soak his feet in that evening.

Yinreng felt extremely tired and lay down on the kang (heated brick bed) with his eyes closed to rest. Cheng Qianyue slowly sat down next to him and gently stroked his chest. She didn't know what was wrong with him, so she could only try to soothe him like this.

This oppressive atmosphere persisted into the evening. Yinreng tossed and turned in bed, turning over and over again. Cheng Qianyue couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, what's wrong with you?" He wouldn't say anything when she asked him at dinner, and now he was tossing and turning in bed, making it impossible for her to sleep.

Yinreng said sullenly, "It's nothing." After a while, he became as sullen as a mudfish digging a hole again.

Cheng Qianyue simply reached out and hugged him, whispering, "If there's anything bothering you, just tell me. I promise I won't tell anyone else." The two of them were still inside the bed curtains; what couldn't they say to each other?

Although Yinreng stopped moving, he refused to speak. Just as she was drifting off to sleep, he suddenly whispered, "Do you think they might try to use a spell on me, like Prince Zhi did?"

Um? !

Cheng Qianyue's mind cleared instantly. Who were these "them"? In a flash, she connected this sentence with the Emperor's bestowal of titles upon the princes.

Is Yinreng worried? She quickly asked, "Is that what Your Highness is thinking?" Is he worried that his subordinates will rebel against him and harm him?

Yinreng fell silent again.

After a while, Cheng Qianyue touched his face and said softly, "Nothing in this world is perfect. Even gold has people who claim to regard money as dirt. Similarly, although you are the Crown Prince, there must be people who dislike and hate you." She couldn't guarantee that no one would turn against him or harm him, because that would be too unrealistic. However, she didn't want Yinreng to treat everyone as an imaginary enemy, because having paranoia is a very painful thing, and it will only lead to internal strife and death.

Hearing her say that, Yinreng buried his head in Cheng Qianyue's neck. Cheng Qianyue touched his forehead and gave him some random advice: "For every person who is loyal, there will be someone who opposes. Your Highness can't just look at one side. Let's be more careful and see who is loyal and who is opposed, okay?"

Should we wait and see? Yinreng wondered, but quickly asked, "And then what?"

after......

Cheng Qianyue said, "You've been a master for so many years. Reward those who are willing to be loyal and punish those who oppose you. Of course, if you want to make more friends and fewer enemies, that's fine too." This is the strategy of a great man, but I wonder if it will work here.

Yinreng pondered her words, finding them increasingly reasonable. He smiled and said, "I don't know where you heard that." Though his words were crude and blunt, they revealed the essence of the matter, a rare insight for a young lady from a respectable family.

He took a deep breath and thought, with her by his side, he wasn't afraid of people cursing him behind his back, so let him see who the loyal dog was and who the wolf was trying to bite him!