"Then where would you like to go for fun, madam?"
Zhu Ling took Liang Chaozong's arm and said, "I think Nanyuan is good. Now that autumn has arrived, the fruits in Nanyuan are ripe. We can enjoy the autumn scenery and pick fruits for fun."
"By the way, the pair of Qilin beasts that were recently sent as tribute from foreign nations have also been arranged in the South Garden. We can also take a look at them."
Zhu Ling spoke excitedly and seemed very excited, but Liang Chaozong pursed his lips and looked worried.
"What's wrong? Sir, you have a stern face, but you don't want to go with me?" Zhu Ling's eyes fell immediately when she met Liang Chaozong's cold face.
Liang Chaozong said softly, "Your Majesty is as precious as a pearl to me. Traveling with you is the greatest honor of my life. How could I not want to do it?"
"I am just worried that today is a day off, and there will be many people in Nanyuan. If someone sees me and Your Majesty together... I am worried that it will damage Your Majesty's reputation."
Nanyuan was a temporary palace of Dai Viet.
Located in the suburbs of Beijing, close to the imperial palace, and with its lush vegetation and beautiful scenery, successive Dai Viet emperors, empresses, concubines, and royal relatives all loved to visit Nanyuan.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Ling burst out laughing, "Sir, you are too cautious."
"Nanyuan is a temporary palace, and only a few people are qualified to visit it. Besides, you can wear a veil hat. That way, the servants in Nanyuan won't be able to recognize you."
Liang Chaozong thought about it again and felt that what Zhu Ling said made sense, so he did not refuse anymore.
The two men packed up, took only a few trusted aides, and boarded a carriage to Nanyuan.
At the same time, in the villa where Jiang and Yao Jinse lived.
In the main hall, Jiang, Yao Jinse, and Han Lie's family of three were having breakfast.
Han Lie took a piece of crispy cake and said to his daughter, "What is my son-in-law busy with all day? I can't see him at dinner, and he doesn't even show up on his day off."
Jiang curled her lips. "That's right. Today is a day off, and it's rare for your father to have breakfast here. Why don't you call Chaozong out to have breakfast with your father?"
Yao Jinse's face looked a little ugly, and she lowered her head and said, "He went out early in the morning."
Jiang slowly shook his head and sighed.
Han Lie snorted heavily.
Yao Jinse felt mixed emotions. When she saw Liang Chaozong dressed in new clothes and hurried out this morning, she suspected that her man had gone out to meet his lover, and she was worried the whole morning.
At the dinner table, his parents expressed their dissatisfaction with Liang Chaozong again, and he had to cover up for him, which was really miserable.
Yao Jinse forced a smile and said, "Let's ignore him for now. Father is on leave today, and it's a rare opportunity for the three of us to be together. Why not just enjoy some family time together?"
Han Lie's stern face lightened with a relaxed expression when he heard his daughter say this. "Jinse, now that you mention it, I remember something. A foreign country has just sent a pair of Qilin beasts as tribute. Why don't we, the three of us, go take a look?"
Yao Jinse clapped her hands, "Great! I've heard of Qilin beasts a long time ago, but I've never seen one."
Jiang frowned. "I'm afraid we have to go to Nanyuan to see the Qilin Beast. I'd rather not go. I'm afraid people will recognize me with this face."
Han Lie advised: "Why don't you pretend to be a nanny?"
Jiang still shook her head, "Let's be cautious. You and your daughter can go."
Yao Jinse pulled Han Lie's arm and advised, "What mother said makes sense. Let's go together, father and daughter."
It is better to be cautious, so Han Lie did not persuade him anymore.
After the family finished their meal, Yao Jinse disguised herself as a maid and followed Han Lie out the door.
…
Xia Miaoyuan and his party took the carriage prepared by the little emperor. After more than half an hour, they arrived at Nanyuan. The little emperor arrived early and was already waiting there.
He was overjoyed to see Xia Miaoyuan coming, "Miaoyuan, today is a day off, we can have a good day together."
Xia Miaoyuan held his hand and got off the carriage.
The young emperor glanced at the carriages parked at the gate and instructed his confidants, "Tell the drivers to park the carriages in the stables in the South Garden, and not at the gate, lest the imperial censors see me inviting Princess Anguo and start gossiping."
After giving these instructions, the little emperor pulled Xia Miaoyuan inside.
Before long, the Empress Dowager's carriage arrived at Nanyuan.
Liang Chaozong wore a veil on his head, and the black gauze on the veil covered him tightly.
Liang Chaozong helped Zhu Ling get off the carriage.
Zhu Ling glanced at the carriage and instructed her trusted maid, "Find an inconspicuous side courtyard and park the carriage there."
The confidant knew that Zhu Ling was afraid of being seen, so he quickly agreed.
After giving these instructions, Liang Chaozong followed Zhu Ling and walked inside.
Before long, another luxurious carriage stopped at the gate of Nanyuan.
Yao Jinse disguised herself as a maid and helped Han Lie get off the carriage.
The guards guarding the Nanyuan gate perked up when they saw another carriage coming.
The mustachioed chief guard, Sun Ling, was sharp-eyed and recognized the visitor as Prime Minister Han at once, and immediately ran over happily.
"Master Han, you have worked hard." Sun Ling flattered him servilely.
"You must have been invited by the Empress Dowager today. Please come in!" Sun Ling walked beside Lord Han with a hunched body and made a gesture of invitation.
Han Lie's heart trembled, and he was about to ask why Sun Ling asked if it was the Queen Mother's invitation, but his eyes turned, and he swallowed the words and just nodded.
This Nanyuan was the imperial palace of Dai Viet, and not just any nobleman could enter.
Generally speaking, it was the emperor, empress, or queen mother who invited people to visit Nanyuan for sightseeing.
Normally, if there were royal family members or favored high-ranking officials who wanted to visit Nanyuan, they had to ask for permission from the emperor or empress in advance.
Han Lie, however, is an exception.
As a powerful official in Dai Viet, Han Lie was looked up to by the emperor, the empress dowager, the princes and nobles.
Therefore, no matter where Han Lie went, people would flatter him and give him special treatment.
Whenever he came to Nanyuan, no one stopped him at all. He walked in as casually as if he was coming from his own villa.
Today, Sun Ling, who was guarding the gate, saw the emperor and the empress dowager arrive one after another, and soon saw Han Lie. He thought that the empress dowager must have specially invited Lord Han to come and enjoy the scenery today.
As for Han Lie, he brought his illegitimate daughter to play out of selfish motives. Seeing that the guard had misunderstood him, he did not ask any further questions or explain in accordance with the principle of less trouble is worse than more.
At this time, the little emperor pulled Xia Miaoyuan and ran to the enclosure where the Qilin beast was raised.
Nanyuan is very large. It has a palace for people to live in, a garden with fruits and flowers, an artificial lake, and an area specifically for raising various rare animals.
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