The next day after the spring rain stopped, the Prince of Yan and the Crown Prince went to the Ministry of Revenue to participate in the "Personal Farming Ceremony".
Every spring, the emperor would prepare a "personal farming ceremony", during which he would symbolically dig the ground with a hoe and plant seedlings to express his importance on agriculture.
The emperor has been ill for the past two years and has been unable to get out of bed. The ceremony of personally tilling the field would naturally be performed by the crown prince.
"My dear Crown Prince, second brother, and the Censor are all watching us. We have to dig the ground seriously." Prince Heng gloated and mocked.
Prince Heng was born to the Imperial Concubine and had always had a bad relationship with the Crown Prince.
The Censorate is Prince Heng’s territory, and most of the censors are Prince Heng’s confidants.
Today, the censors are keeping a close eye on things. As long as the Crown Prince and the Prince of Yan make any mistakes in farming, they will be recorded in the censors' books and passed down to future generations.
The prince glanced at Prince Heng inconspicuously, with murderous intent flashing in his eyes.
"Brother Crown Prince, please don't look at me like that. I am very afraid of you." Prince Heng shook the white jade fan in his hand and smiled sarcastically.
With the sound of ritual music, the ploughing ceremony began.
It had just rained, and the soil in the prepared fields was moist. The prince was wearing sacrificial clothes and his feet were in the mud, and he almost slipped. Fortunately, the Prince of Yan was quick to help and avoided the farce of falling.
But the prince kept coughing and coughing up blood.
The prince fell seriously ill in the winter and has been in poor health since the spring. He cannot stand strong winds.
Upon seeing this, the eunuch sent by the emperor to supervise hurried back to the palace to ask for permission. The emperor delivered an oral order, asking Prince Yan to farm the land instead of the crown prince.
Prince Heng gritted his teeth secretly.
Prince Heng knew that the emperor was warning him - even if the crown prince could not ascend the throne, there was still Prince Yan who could do it.
As for King Heng, he can never become emperor.
"Brother, please take a rest first. Leave this to me." King Yan helped the coughing prince aside.
The prince held the King of Yan's hand and said, "Yuan Jing, you have never farmed before, can you do it?"
King Yan thought of the vegetable garden in Fangfei Garden, where he had just planted a lot of vegetable seedlings. The bright and lively woman also taught him the farming postures and techniques step by step.
Shen Wei never dreamed that she just wanted to win favor, but accidentally gained more favor from King Yan.
King Yan curled his lips slightly and said soothingly, "Brother, don't worry."
The sound of ritual music began, and under the gaze of all officials, the Prince of Yan performed the ploughing ceremony on behalf of the Crown Prince. The censors opened their eyes wide, trying to find even the slightest mistake made by the Prince of Yan.
But they were all disappointed.
The way King Yan held the hoe was very standard. He dug the ground and planted the seedlings, and all his movements were flawless.
All the officials were surprised and admired the King of Yan very much. He was indeed a virtuous King of Yan!
The sick prince looked at his younger brother who was working in the fields, his eyes full of relief.
He knew that his body could not hold out for much longer, and that the foundation of the Qing Kingdom and the people's livelihood had to be left to King Yan.
The music ended and the ploughing ceremony came to a perfect end.
The censor could find no fault in the article, so he had to bite the bullet and write down words of praise for the King of Yan.
Prince Heng was so angry that his teeth itched and his eyes were gloomy.
...
At dusk, Prince Yan, in a good mood, returned to the palace and had dinner with the princess. Today’s personal ploughing ceremony went smoothly, all thanks to Shen Wei’s help.
He planned to meet Shen Wei tonight, to see if the cabbages and radishes he planted had sprouted, and then to have some fun with Shen Wei.
Almost can't wait.
"Your Highness." At the dinner table, the princess gently reminded the Prince of Yan, "Although Shen from Fangfei Garden is good, Your Highness should not forget the old people who accompanied you. Concubine Liu fell into the water yesterday, Your Highness should take good care of her."
The King of Yan put down his chopsticks and looked at the princess: "I don't need the princess to decide who I will favor."
Prince Yan was not very satisfied with the princess' attitude.
As a prince, it is up to the Prince of Yan to decide where he wants to live and who he wants to favor.
But sometimes, the princess would always command him in an "commanding" tone. Not like his wife, more like his mother.
It's really beyond the pale and unpleasant.
The princess felt a chill on her back, and then she realized that she had overstepped her bounds. She stood up quickly in fear and said, "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong."
Prince Yan stood up and left the princess's yard.
The princess' knees went weak and she almost fell to the ground. She held onto Madam Liu's hand, with sadness and grief in her eyes.
The prince treated her more and more coldly as they were a couple who were as close as they were distant.
All men in this world are heartless.
...
Prince Yan left the princess's courtyard and walked straight to Chen Wei's Fangfei Garden.
As he walked, Prince Yan thought of his childhood sweetheart Liu Qiaoer, and the wonderful experiences they had spent together in their childhood came to his mind.
"Well, let's go to Mingyue Courtyard first." King Yan turned and headed for Mingyue Courtyard.
Fugui went to report, and Concubine Liu came out to greet him in panic. She cried several times, her eyes were swollen like walnuts, and her face looked haggard.
"Qiao'er, I'm late." Prince Yan took the initiative to step forward and wanted to hold Concubine Liu's hand.
Looking at the handsome man so close to her, Concubine Liu broke out in a cold sweat. Although Prince Yan is handsome, gentle and affectionate, the methods he used after ascending the throne are truly terrifying.
In her previous life, Concubine Liu was slandered for having an affair and for framing the prince. The look in Prince Yan's eyes when she was looked at was scarier than the abyss.
Men are heartless and ungrateful creatures!
Stay away from dangerous men!
Prince Yan held Concubine Liu's delicate hand. Her palm was sweaty and felt sticky to the touch. Prince Yan was unhappy, but he did not let go of her hand, and the two of them walked into the house.
Concubine Liu poured tea for Prince Yan in a panic, and stammered, "Your Highness, I...I am not fully recovered yet. I am afraid I cannot serve you tonight."
Of course, when the King of Yan met his women, it was not just for sexual pleasure, he could also just chat under the quilt.
King Yan said: "I am just accompanying you tonight."
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