Chapter 150 The Grudges Are Hard to Settle (A Must-Read Chapter!)
Time flies, and before we knew it, it was Chu Lingyang's full moon day.
The palace was already decorated with festive decorations, with red ribbons fluttering in the air and lanterns hanging high, creating a joyous atmosphere everywhere.
Inside the main hall, golden unicorn ornaments symbolizing good fortune were placed on both sides of the throne. A large red carpet was laid out in the hall, and banquet tables and chairs were neatly arranged on both sides of the carpet.
The table was also set with exquisite tableware and auspicious pastries and fruits, creating a grand scene.
Royal relatives, civil and military officials arrived at the palace one after another, and envoys from various countries also came in gorgeous attire, bringing precious gifts to offer their congratulations.
Everyone's faces were full of joyful smiles, and their words were all blessings for the princess's full moon celebration. But whether these smiles were genuine or not was unknown. As long as they could please His Majesty, that was enough for them.
At 3:45 AM, the full moon banquet officially began.
As the palace servants announced the arrival, Chu Huaiyu, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, personally helped Lu Zhaoxue, who was wearing a bright red robe embroidered with gold phoenixes, slowly enter the hall.
Lu Zhaoxue's makeup was exquisite, her face was rosy, and her eyes were full of dignified and proper smiles as she held Chu Lingyang, who was wrapped in a red-gold brocade embroidered with dragons and phoenixes, in her arms.
Chu Lingyang was unusually energetic today, her round eyes wide open as she curiously surveyed the scene inside the hall.
The moment the Emperor, Empress, and Princess appeared, they instantly attracted the attention of everyone in the hall.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress!"
Everyone stood up, bowed, and offered their congratulations in unison, their voices resounding throughout the Forbidden City.
Chu Huaiyu raised his hand to signal everyone to stand up, his face full of gentle smiles: "My dear ministers, please rise."
"Today is the full moon celebration of my beloved daughter, Chu Lingyang. I have prepared this banquet to share this joy with you all. There is no need for such formalities!"
Upon hearing this, everyone stood up and sat down.
Chu Huaiyu gently took Chu Lingyang from Lu Zhaoxue's arms, carefully holding her in his embrace. His eyes were full of doting affection as he smiled and said, "Look at my daughter, how intelligent she is! She truly deserves to be my eldest daughter!"
Chu Lingyang seemed to sense something, and gently grasped Chu Huaiyu's finger with her small hand, then let out a soft, sweet cooing sound, which made Lu Zhaoxue and everyone in the hall laugh.
Chu Huaiyu's eyes were filled with increasing affection, and he wished he could give all the world's rare treasures to his daughter!
Subsequently, members of the royal family, princes, and ministers stepped forward to present their congratulatory gifts.
Looking at the lively scene before him, Chu Huaiyu was filled with satisfaction and said with a smile, "I appreciate everyone's kindness!"
After saying this, he raised his hand to signal the palace servants to start the banquet. The palace servants from the imperial kitchen immediately and orderly presented one exquisite and delicious dish after another, each dish symbolizing good fortune and auspiciousness.
During the banquet, everyone raised their glasses to congratulate Chu Huaiyu and Lu Zhaoxue on the princess's one-month birthday.
The sounds of string and wind instruments filled the hall, and dancers gracefully performed, adding to the lively atmosphere of the full moon banquet.
...
Now that Lu Zhaoxue has safely given birth, there are some things Chu Huaiyu has to do.
Ever since Lu Zhaoxue bumped into Emperor Mingwu that day, Chu Huaiyu ordered his "good father" to be imprisoned in a temple in the Taihang Mountains.
Now that Chu Huaiyu is a father, he naturally wants to see Emperor Mingwu and tell him this wonderful news!
Deep in the Taihang Mountains.
At this moment, Emperor Wu of Ming was leaning back on a soft couch covered with a plain monk's carpet. The arrogance of his former reign had faded from his eyes, leaving only the vicissitudes of time.
As soon as Chu Huaiyu stepped across the threshold, Emperor Mingwu's steady voice rang out: "You've arrived."
Emperor Mingwu's tone was calm and even, as if he had already anticipated Chu Huaiyu's visit and was neither surprised nor disturbed.
Chu Huaiyu looked up, the hatred in his chest almost bursting out of his chest.
Since Chu Lingyang was born, he held the exquisitely beautiful child in his arms every day. As he felt the softness in his palms, his hatred for Emperor Mingwu grew stronger.
When he was struggling to survive in the palace and being manipulated like a pawn, did Emperor Wu of Ming ever show a shred of genuine concern as a father?
Years later, when Chu Huaiyu recalled those days and nights when he was curled up in the cold palace in a daze, it still made his spine tingle and his hatred hard to quell!
Chu Huaiyu slowly raised his hand to brush away the fine dust on his robe. His movements were composed, and his tone was calm as he said, "Father, I have come today to tell you that I have become a father as well."
He deliberately emphasized the words "朕" (the imperial "I") and "为人父" (a father), which were his silent accusations against Emperor Mingwu and his questioning of past injustices.
Emperor Mingwu nodded upon hearing this, his face remaining completely expressionless, as if the good news Chu Huaiyu spoke of had nothing to do with him.
After a moment of silence, Emperor Mingwu spoke calmly: "Anything else?"
Emperor Mingwu seemed to have already seen through Chu Huaiyu's true purpose for this trip, waiting for him to vent all the resentment in his heart.
Chu Huaiyu's lips curled into a self-deprecating smile. He raised his eyes to look directly at Emperor Mingwu and asked, "Anything else?"
"Then I will speak frankly. I have come here today to ask you why, as a father myself, you show such favoritism towards one another! You have given all your affection to Chu Siheng, while treating me only as a pawn in your consolidation of imperial power!?"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Mingwu slowly raised his eyes, his gaze meeting Chu Huaiyu's in mid-air.
The two stared at each other silently. The meditation room was eerily quiet. Emperor Mingwu simply looked at Chu Huaiyu, remaining silent and refusing to give any response.
Seeing this, Chu Huaiyu took a step forward and said in a firm voice, "Father, do you know how I survived in the deep palace back then?"
"In order to make you look at her more often and to secure her position in the harem, the Empress Dowager cruelly forced me to drink medicine, causing me to have a high fever that wouldn't go down, and leaving me bedridden all day!"
“Once or twice, perhaps it could be considered an accident, but what about later? She went even further, putting sleeping pills in my food, making me delirious all day, just to gain your sympathy and attention, Father!”
Chu Huaiyu's voice suddenly rose, and those long-buried painful memories surged forth like a tidal wave, almost overwhelming him, now the emperor.
"Father, do you dare say you know nothing about these things?!"
"Now that I am a father, I only wish I could give my child the best of everything in the world, showering him with love and affection! But what about you? When I was struggling in the deep palace, did you ever, even for a single day, truly treat me as your son?"
"Instead of being a pawn for you to balance the harem and consolidate your imperial power?!"
Chu Huaiyu stared intently at Emperor Mingwu, the anger in his eyes growing ever stronger.
Emperor Mingwu merely gave him a deep look, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes before returning to calm and remaining silent.
Because what Chu Huaiyu said was true...
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