"Send a basket of the newly-minted cherries to Qingwu Courtyard so that Concubine Lu and her son can taste them."
Even when preparing for the Qianqiu Festival ceremony at Mount Tai, my father mentioned him.
"All princes over fifteen must participate in this ceremony... The ninth prince is almost fourteen, so he's not much closer. I'll make an exception and bring him along too!"
People often say "love the house and love the dog in it". Li Longze never expected that just because he went to Fengqi Palace a few times, called "Empress Mei" a few times, and accompanied his sixteenth brother to play, his father's attitude towards him would change so much.
There was even one time when the fourth prince, born to Concubine Xian, and the seventh prince, born to Concubine Wang Zhaoyi, spoke rudely to him in the imperial study, mocking him for fawning over a seductress.
In anger, Li Longze picked up the inkstone and threw it out. In an instant, the study was in a mess and ink splattered everywhere.
He remembered that he was the one who attacked, throwing a flurry of punches, and he didn't know how many times he hit others or how many times he got hit himself.
This incident alarmed the emperor who was attending the morning court.
The time he spent waiting for his father to arrive was like torture for Li Longze. His heart was filled with fear and he was trembling with trepidation, as if he could only hear the sound of his own heartbeat.
He was ready to bear all the punishments according to the palace rules, but he hoped that his mother would not be implicated.
When the emperor finally stepped into the study, he was wearing the dragon robe he wore for the morning court, and he exuded the majesty of an emperor. The oppressive feeling made the princes who usually thought highly of themselves dare not breathe.
Li Longze could no longer remember what his father had said at that time. He only felt that the sound was like the roar of a dragon or a tiger, which shook his soul. He stared blankly at his fourth brother, seventh brother and several relatives who had joined the quarrel and were taken out and beaten with the disciplinary board.
The three-foot-wide bamboo board hitting the palm of your hand is a heart-wrenching pain.
Then the chief eunuch beside my father received my father's oral order: "As the virtuous concubine has failed to raise her children properly, her authority to assist in the management of the six palaces will be removed; Wang Zhaoyi will be fined for six months' salary as a punishment."
Li Longze remained kneeling on the ground, not daring to raise his head.
His mother Lu Fengqing's favor was far less than that of Concubine Xian and Concubine Wang Zhaoyi, and for a moment he had the terrible thought that she might be sentenced to death.
It wasn't until his father's boots stopped in front of him that he heard those gentle words: "You're covered in ink. Change your clothes before you go back. Don't let your mother see you and worry."
No other reproaches.
The emperor's personal eunuch helped him up and personally brushed the dust off his knees.
"Oh, Ninth Prince, why is there a swelling on your face? If you are wronged in the future, you must tell the Emperor." The eunuch said with concern.
Favoritism, this is naked favoritism from the emperor, there is no reason at all. In the palace, heaven and earth, life and death, honor and disgrace, all depend on the emperor's thoughts.
"Your Majesty, the altar has been set up." Chen Jin had been waiting quietly by the side. He had already lit three incense sticks without knowing when. He bent down respectfully and presented the incense sticks to Li Longze.
"Yeah." Li Longze's tone revealed a hint of appreciation, and then he walked steadily towards the altar, where various offerings were neatly placed.
He bowed deeply three times, each bow full of respect and solemnity, then inserted the incense stick into the incense burner. The smoke rose up, carrying his prayers and memories, and floated towards the endless sky.
"It's good that Your Majesty is so thoughtful." Chen Jin was worried that Li Longze would be too sad, and there was no third person present, so he offered comfort.
Li Longze just shook his head and walked deeper into the ruins, not caring about getting his dragon robe dirty.
"Everyone says that the late queen, out of jealousy and hatred, had Fengqi Palace set on fire. Do you believe it?"
Li Longze didn't look back, and there was a hint of hatred in his tone.
"I don't believe or disbelieve things. I hadn't entered the palace yet, so I can only say I don't know."
Chen Jin stood behind him, with his head lowered as usual. He couldn't see the expression on Li Longze's face, but he clearly heard a sigh.
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