In an instant, the fireworks stopped, and the clamor of the people gradually subsided.
Xie Rang lowered his eyes and kissed Yun Qing on the cheek before saying, "Shall we go back?"
After a day of playing, it's time to get back to work. Yun Qing nodded, "Okay."
It's unclear what's hidden in the palace. Xie Rang hasn't mentioned it yet, so Yun Qing gave up on the idea of investigating and went back to the Li residence with him to rest for the night.
Yun Qing didn't just throw away the red string that had been taken off; instead, she carefully kept it. After all, it was hand-woven by His Majesty the Emperor. Although it contained some awkward little thoughts, Yun Qing eventually managed to trick him into revealing them.
Even before he could express his feelings clearly, he had already tried every means to mark Yun Qing.
Calling him a bastard is no exaggeration.
Yun Qing reflected on the matter seriously and realized that he bore a lot of responsibility. If he hadn't spoiled him so much as he grew up, he wouldn't have developed such a bad temper.
All the pitfalls that were created in the early years, I had already taken responsibility for.
Yun Qing sighed, "If I had known, I should have taught him better."
-
For a long time afterward, Yunqing did not enter the palace again.
She held great power as a regent, and officials often visited her at the end of the year. She was at ease in the palace, but the officials had to go through layers of checks, which was very inconvenient. Moreover, she didn't know what Xie Rang had done in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and he was still hiding it from Yun Qing. So she simply went along with Xie Rang's wishes.
After the previous misunderstandings, even though Yun Qing did seem to be less close to Xie Rang during this period, no one dared to subtly inquire about it anymore. Whether there were any private discussions or not, as long as it didn't come to the forefront, it was harmless.
This situation continued until a banquet was held in the palace.
After this banquet, the ministers will be able to enjoy a rare annual leave, without having to attend court or go to the government office every day.
Following Yun Qing's advice, Xie Rang, unusually, also sent invitations to the princesses living in their fiefdoms, allowing them to bring their families back to the capital for a visit, since some of the princesses' mothers were from the capital.
Because the princesses had little interaction with Xie Rang during his childhood, Xie Rang was quite lenient in his treatment of them. As a result, all the princesses returned except for one who was ill.
The capital city became much more lively for a time.
Many seats were added to the banquet at the last minute, and there were some minor changes as well.
Yun Qing's seat was originally located to the left of Xie Rang, which was a unique position. This year, it was simply moved to the side of Xie Rang. He said nothing, yet it was as if he had said everything. The Ministry of Rites remained silent. There were two censors in the remonstrance department to keep quiet and prevent any unpleasant words from reaching their ears.
Therefore, many ministers, including Yun Qing, did not learn of this arrangement until the banquet began.
The person who took her there was Shunfeng's apprentice, Deming. This newcomer was quick-witted, which is why he caught Shunfeng's eye. He thought that if he could train a few more capable apprentices, they would be better able to deal with various unexpected situations in the future.
"Sir, your seat is over there."
Deming slowed down and stepped back to Yunqing's side, then stopped moving forward. The direction he pointed in was quite surprising.
Yun Qing stopped in her tracks, a rare look of confusion in her eyes: "Huh?"
Is Xie Rang ready to act recklessly?
Deming remembered that his master had told him to treat Lord Li as the emperor, so he said with great respect, "It was arranged by His Majesty, so Lord Li need not have any doubts. Everything has already been explained."
"That little brat..." Yun Qing muttered, and as she was about to step forward, she found that Xie Rang had just arrived. He had taken his seat first and was already waiting for her there.
Having made all the preparations, she couldn't possibly embarrass Xie Rang, so she stepped over as well.
When the officials saw the two seats side by side, they already had a premonition, but when they actually saw Yun Qing walk over and sit down, the feeling was completely different.
After such a long period of influence, they have now barely accepted this matter. The ones who are truly shocked are the princesses who have not returned to the capital for many years. They look at Yun Qing with disbelief.
"This...this is Lord Li?"
"Her and His Majesty?"
"Has something happened in the capital that I don't understand?"
They used to be rivals, but all of that is irrelevant to them now that the new emperor has taken the throne. Their fiefdoms are far apart, and they don't have much opportunity to communicate. Their only knowledge of the matter is that the imperial tutor is a woman.
The current developments have left them even more bewildered.
The ministers were also busy processing the news, and for a moment there was silence. The gazes they cast were filled with surprise, inquiry, and some heavy, incomprehensible emotions.
Yun Qing once again experienced what it meant to feel like she had a thorn in her side.
"Grand Tutor," Xie Rang grasped her hand, turned his head to ask, "Does sitting here feel different?"
Upon hearing this, Yun Qing finally looked up to see what was happening in the arena.
The emperor's position is above all others. Looking out from here, one can not only see the changes in their expressions, but also the palace walls outside the gate, the sharp edges of the roof tiles, cold and majestic.
It is... loneliness.
Yun Qing suddenly realized, is this what it feels like when he sits on it?
“You never told me this before.”
Yun Qing lowered her voice.
Xie Rang didn't take it to heart: "That's because I didn't want the Grand Tutor to worry. It's alright, I have the Grand Tutor with me now."
The young man smiled, his gaze on her gentle. After their conversation, he turned to her and ordered, "Start the banquet."
When the emperor spoke, servants brought up dishes, music began, and dancers filed in, making the place lively.
People would come forward to offer New Year's greetings from time to time, and they would do so in a way that extended to everyone, including Yun Qing. Anyone with eyes could see what the situation was, and there was really no need to spoil the fun on such a joyous occasion.
Yun Qing took a sip of wine and realized that the wine placed in front of them had a very low alcohol content and was not a new wine produced in recent years.
"Why did you suddenly decide to switch to a different wine?"
In Yunqing's memory, Xie Rang was not a heavy drinker, but he did have some preference for alcohol, especially alcohol with a higher alcohol content. In the past, at banquets, she would have someone bring him a hangover soup halfway through the drinks. This time, however, she was so considerate and switched to a low-alcohol beverage.
Xie Rang smiled sarcastically: "I won't get drunk, but the Grand Tutor will. I don't want anyone to see."
Yun Qing would never know how beautiful she looked when she was drunk.
Xie Rang, driven by selfish motives, naturally wouldn't let others see it; sacrificing his own feelings was nothing.
"Not proper."
Yun Qing laughed and cursed.
Xie Rang readily accepted her assessment: "Didn't the Grand Tutor already know what kind of person I am?"
The final banquet was held in the evening. After the banquet, the ministers could go home to reunite with their families and enjoy a peaceful and happy New Year.
Since she was already there, Yun Qing naturally had no chance to leave the palace. Instead, Xie Rang took her in the imperial carriage to the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
It wasn't until she pushed open the door that Yun Qing realized she had underestimated Xie Rang's ill intentions.
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