Chapter 8 This Child Is Like His Brother
"Where have the two princes gone?"
According to Zhen Huan's original nature, she shouldn't have meddled in other people's business. But for some reason, when she looked at Hongli's face, she couldn't help but ask a few more questions.
There's nothing wrong with saying it, Hongli replied: "We just paid our respects to Father Emperor and were just about to pay our respects to Mother Emperor."
Zhen Huan seemed to have thought of something, and her attitude became even gentler. "Your Highnesses are very polite. Then I won't keep you two any longer. Please take care."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Hongli smiled and thanked him, then led Hongzhou past Zhen Huan and the others.
Zhen Huan stood there silently watching the two depart, lost in thought. Cui Jinxi, who had also noticed Hongli's "extraordinary" nature, regained her composure and couldn't help but feel worried. She looked at Zhen Huan hesitantly, "Your Highness..."
“I understand what you mean,” Zhen Huan smiled reassuringly at Cui Jinxi. Everyone else in the palace knew that the Emperor disliked the Fourth Prince and avoided him. She knew that Jinxi was worried that she would offend the Emperor. “It’s just because he’s pitiful. He’s an innocent child after all, and besides…”
Zhen Huan withdrew her gaze from the distance, her eyes filled with an inexplicable certainty and confidence. "If the Emperor really sees the Fourth Prince, I think he will change his attitude. It's better to offer help in times of need than to add flowers to brocade... I will know how to handle things properly."
...
On the other side, Hongli and his companion finally arrived at the entrance of Peach Blossom Village.
"Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince and the Fifth Prince have come to pay their respects."
Upon hearing Jianqiu's soft reply, Yixiu unconsciously frowned. Just as she was about to wave her hand in refusal, she suddenly stopped and asked, "Do you know where they came from?"
"Your Majesty, the two princes came from the Hall of Diligent Governance. They said that His Majesty was too busy to summon them, so they simply kowtowed at the door to pay their respects."
Jianqiu's answer was very clear: as long as Hongli explained it clearly. The meaning was also obvious: if the Emperor didn't want to see them, they could just kowtow at the door and leave.
Jianqiu shared the same idea, but Yixiu thought about it and, in order to uphold her legitimate status as Empress, decided not to refuse: "Let them in, after all, it's their first time paying their respects."
"yes."
"By the way, the news that the prince has come to pay his respects to his stepmother should also be known to Consort Hua."
"This servant understands." Jianqiu instantly grasped her mistress's intention and smiled slightly. Originally, she had only heard the message from the eunuch and had not yet met the two princes, but Jianqiu decided to personally go out to welcome them in.
"Your subject Hongli (Hongzhou) greets Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace."
Yi Xiu, sitting at the head of the table, didn't glance at the two of them at all. Instead, she noticed Jian Qiu, who seemed a little dazed. She frowned slightly, knowing that now was not the time to ask.
But the unusual behavior of her personal maid made her lose patience with the two unimportant princes.
"Get up. You are all young and in the prime of your lives. You will not need to come to pay your respects in the future."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I understand."
The two stood up, and Hongzhou made a face at Hongli with his head down, but Hongli stopped him with a look. The two did not want to stay any longer, and without raising their heads, they took their leave: "Then your subject will not disturb Your Majesty any longer, and will take his leave now."
"Um."
Yi Xiu didn't care about their attitudes and waved them away. Upon hearing this, Jian Qiu seemed more agitated, but she didn't say anything in front of everyone.
What's wrong with you?
Yixiu asked, somewhat displeased. Jianqiu, watching Hongli's retreating figure as he walked out of Peach Blossom Village, was anxious but unsure how to speak, "Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince, the Fourth Prince..."
"What's wrong with the Fourth Prince?" The Emperor didn't like Hongli, and Yixiu was also impatient to hear his name.
But by sheer coincidence, because Jianqiu mentioned him, Yixiu subconsciously looked outside and happened to see half of Hongli's profile as he turned his head to talk to Hongzhou.
Yi Xiu's eyes widened in shock, and she gripped Jian Qiu's arm tightly, unsteady on her feet. "Jian Qiu, he... he..."
Seeing her master's eyes instantly redden, Jianqiu also felt a pang of sadness and nodded repeatedly, "He looks just like him, he really does look like the First Prince..."
"Does it look like him? He looks like Honghui, my Honghui..."
Yixiu pressed her for an answer, and seeing Jianqiu nodding repeatedly, she felt extremely regretful for not having seen Hongli's face earlier. "Quick, call him back... No, no..."
Yixiu changed her mind in an instant, "We can't call them back."
"Your Majesty?" Jianqiu was puzzled. Regardless of the Fourth Prince's status, he looked like the First Prince and could comfort his mistress, which she thought was good. She didn't understand why her mistress would refuse when she was so agitated.
In the past, Yixiu was always decisive in whatever she did. But when it came to Honghui, she always became hesitant and indecisive.
"There are too many spies in the garden. We can't reveal his special status. Have someone secretly keep an eye on him and find an opportunity to meet him again."
At this moment, Yixiu was both excited and afraid. She was excited that someone who looked so much like Honghui had appeared, but she was also afraid that Hongli was not actually that similar.
...
Yixiu and her servant were completely focused on Hongli, forgetting the message they had sent to Consort Hua before the meeting.
As expected, Consort Hua was very unhappy upon receiving the news. She had always looked down on Yixiu and had been eyeing the Empress's throne covetously. With her own power in the palace, she saw no difference between herself and the Empress.
According to etiquette, it was fine for the two princes to pay their respects to the Empress, but in Nian Shilan's view, it was a big problem.
"The son of a lowly servant..."
She swept all the teacups off the table and onto the ground. Nian Shilan was extremely displeased and had a cold face. Just then, Cao Qinmo was sitting in Qingliang Palace, reporting on Shen Meizhuang's fake pregnancy. Upon seeing this, she quickly spoke up to comfort her.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. The two princes have lived in the Yuanmingyuan Garden for a long time without any guidance, so they are likely ignorant and unaware of the situation in the palace. Besides, how could this news spread so quickly? It must be that the Empress intentionally angered Your Majesty..."
Upon hearing the mention of the Empress, Nian Shilan instantly calmed down, her intelligence returning to its peak. "You're right, that old Empress is definitely up to no good. She's never seemed to like these two princes much before, so why did she grant them an audience today?"
"Your Majesty is wise. I suppose the Empress is putting on a show for others, demonstrating benevolence and compassion. If Your Majesty were to take action against the two princes now, the contrast would be..."
Cao Qinmo hesitated to speak, actually trying to prevent Consort Hua from making up any excuses. Who knew that she would accidentally reveal the exact reason that Yixiu had planned from the beginning?
"Hmph, how could I let that old woman have her way?" Nian Shilan sneered, and instructed Songzhi beside her, "Songzhi, go and deliver the rewards to the two princes. I suppose they haven't seen anything good these past years living in the garden. Go and tell them that I am now in charge of the palace, and if they need anything, they can come to me!"
"Yes, this servant will go right away and will certainly let the two princes know about the Empress's benevolence."
Seeing that the master and servant had made a decision in just a few words, Cao Qinmo knew that she could not stop them and could only remain silent, but she was still embarrassed.
She just wanted to advise Consort Hua to stay out of it; there was no need to rush in so recklessly, disregarding the Emperor's attitude? The Empress is, after all, the legal mother; aren't you afraid of angering the Emperor?
But Cao Qinmo, who was most adept at reading people, knew from Nian Shilan's expression that the matter was not open to discussion, so she simply kept quiet. As for whether she secretly harbored any intention of making Consort Hua suffer a loss, no one knew.
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