Chapter 42. Birthday.
It wasn't until the 20th day of the first lunar month after the New Year that Chu Heng returned to the Prince's residence from the palace. Yongkang, having become more cautious, did not quarrel with the Empress Dowager for the entire year, making this year as dull as previous years.
Upon returning to the Prince's residence, Chu Heng fell ill, but it wasn't serious; he only had a slight fever and recovered after taking medicine for two days.
This is the first time Chu Heng has been sick since he recovered last year, and it is also the first time in his life that he has recovered from an illness so quickly.
The Empress Dowager revered Master Pingyi as a deity and conceived the idea of going to Longhua Temple to worship Buddha. This time, she also wanted to bring the eldest prince with her.
The Empress Dowager's purpose was too clear, and the Empress and the eldest prince were overjoyed. The Emperor, on the other hand, implied that the Empress Dowager should also bring the second prince along.
Chu Heng, who was about to be taken along once again, refused the Empress Dowager: "The betrothal will be held on the sixteenth of February. I need to keep an eye on the Imperial Clan Court. I can't let them mess things up and damage the royal family's reputation."
The Empress Dowager rubbed her fingers. Because Daiyu had not entered the palace for a long time, the two nannies she had sent out had not replied. However, even without them saying anything, she knew that her youngest son was very fond of his betrothed princess.
It's good for the couple to be harmonious, the Empress Dowager thought worriedly, but it's really not right for a man to be so preoccupied with trivial matters of the boudoir.
The Empress Dowager then said, "The Imperial Clan Court has handled countless important matters without making any mistakes. There's no need for you to oversee it. Just stay in the capital until the wedding in April. You don't need to worry about anything else."
Chu Heng did not refute, but said, “Mother is right. I am used to running the Imperial Clan Court and do not need to work there. However, my elder brother has always wanted me to take over the Imperial Clan Court. He mentioned it to me several times in the palace a few days ago. He said that this wedding is my practice. After the New Year, my great-uncle is preparing to go home to enjoy his grandchildren. My elder brother told me to hurry up and learn how to do the job well.”
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager remained silent for a moment. The position of Minister of the Imperial Clan Court had always been held by a member of the imperial clan, and Chu Heng was qualified to hold it.
The imperial family's surname was Chu, so the Imperial Clan Court naturally belonged to Chu as well. These people were naturally aligned with the emperor, making it impossible for the empress dowager to win them over.
The Empress Dowager wondered if the Emperor was confident that Chu Heng was on the same side as the Emperor and wouldn't favor her, since he appointed Chu Heng as Minister of the Imperial Clan Court.
Chu Heng's surname is Chu, but he is the Empress Dowager's biological son and has been favored for many years. Even if he has many thoughts, it is really easy for the Empress Dowager to control him.
Since the emperor mentioned it on the fifteenth of August, the empress dowager had pondered for a long time, but she still couldn't be sure of the emperor's true intentions.
The Empress Dowager didn't understand how dissatisfied her children, who were also her children, would be with her control, but the Emperor knew all too well.
Perhaps... the Empress Dowager thought, let's test the waters first. Although the Minister of the Imperial Clan Court is one of the Nine Ministers, he is not involved in court affairs. Moreover, Chu Heng has taken over the position, so there shouldn't be any major problems. The most important thing right now is to find out if the Emperor has any other backup plans.
Moreover, the Emperor is now insisting that the Empress Dowager take the Second Prince to Longhua Temple as well, but she is refusing in every way. The mother and son have gone back and forth many times, and neither of them can convince the other. Postponing this Buddhist visit is acceptable.
"The Emperor is right, Heng'er. You're all grown up now, and it's time for you to learn how to handle things." The Empress Dowager patted his hand and smiled. "There's no rush to worship Buddha. We can go in the summer. It's cool on the mountain, perfect for escaping the heat."
Chu Heng smiled and said, "My brother insists that I take over the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs. Mother knows that I haven't studied well these past few years. If I really do this job, I'm afraid I'll make many mistakes. I hope Mother can put in a good word for me with my brother and find a more suitable person for this position."
The Empress Dowager shook her head and laughed, "What are you saying? You didn't study well before because you were lazy. Now that you're older and more sensible, you should be diligent."
Chu Heng lowered his eyes and smiled, "I used to feel uncomfortable all the time, and when I was in pain, I couldn't concentrate on studying."
The Empress Dowager paused, then put her hand into her sleeve and said nonchalantly, "Fortunately, Master Pingyi is very powerful. You are fully recovered now, so it won't delay things."
"Yes," Chu Heng said, looking up at the Empress Dowager with a smile.
The Empress Dowager leaned back on the soft pillows, glancing at the vase on the windowsill: "I'm tired today too. Go out for a walk and then come back to the mansion."
Chu Heng stood up and said, "Your son takes his leave."
...
The betrothal ceremony was held on February 16th, and February 12th was Daiyu's sixteenth birthday.
Grandmother Jia didn't want to get involved in this matter from the bottom of her heart, even though it was Daiyu's last birthday before her marriage.
However, since Daiyu was Prince Duan's fiancée, even if Grandmother Jia didn't want to hold a banquet, she still had to make sure Daiyu's birthday banquet looked good.
When asked about Daiyu, she replied, "I am a junior and shouldn't make a fuss. Grandmother, just do as you always have."
Grandmother Jia hesitated for a moment: "Times are different now. The Prince said he's not allowed to send gifts. I don't want him to be unhappy."
Daiyu smiled. Putting aside the fact that this beauty had nothing to do with her, if she really went to great lengths to celebrate, it would only make things more difficult for Chu Heng.
“Has the old lady ever heard of the Prince’s lavish birthday banquet? It’s clear he doesn’t like these things,” Daiyu said. “Besides, I’m not even married yet, and it’s really unreasonable for my birthday to be more grand than the Prince’s.”
While in the palace, Grandmother Jia did not know how Prince Duan celebrated his birthday. After he left the palace and established his own residence, she had indeed never heard of him hosting any banquets. On the other hand, other princes and princesses held birthday banquets every year, and she had never heard of Prince Duan attending them.
However, whether Prince Duan likes it or not, and whether he holds a birthday banquet or not, is another matter entirely, as is whether their family's decision not to hold a birthday banquet for Daiyu will displease Prince Duan.
I had never heard of Prince Duan being a petty and calculating person before!
Grandmother Jia was truly in a dilemma. Daiyu would be getting married in two months, and at this crucial moment, she couldn't afford any more mishaps!
No matter how much Jia Mu struggled with the decision, Daiyu made the final decision not to hold a grand celebration. No one in the Jia family dared to disobey her, so they had to abandon their plans for a big celebration. However, they still hired two small operas to prepare for a small celebration in the main hall of Jia Mu's courtyard.
On his birthday, Chu Heng indeed arrived. Jia She and others personally greeted him and led him to the flower hall. Grandmother Jia invited him to sit down at the head of the table, but Chu Heng smiled and said, "Miss Lin is the birthday girl, please take the seat of honor, Miss Lin."
Daiyu smiled and said, "I wouldn't dare, Your Highness, please have a seat."
Chu Heng then smiled and said, "When guests are guests, please follow the host's lead. Please take a seat, Madam. I will sit with Miss Lin."
Grandmother Jia's lips twitched a few times. All she wanted was to sit next to Daiyu. Even royalty had such poor manners.
"I will obey Your Highness's orders." Grandmother Jia dared not say more and sat down on the couch.
Chu Heng and Daiyu sat down on chairs at the lower end of the stage. A song about parting and death was being sung on the stage. Chu Heng frowned and said, "Why are we listening to such a play on such a fine day?"
Upon hearing his words, the Jia family members gasped and their hearts pounded.
Daiyu said quietly, "Your Highness, this is what I ordered."
Chu Heng: "..."
“Uh… Miss Lin, I often listen to lively and auspicious operas in the palace. My ears are practically calloused from hearing them. I really need to listen to some unconventional music like this,” Chu Heng said in a serious tone.
Daiyu had no other intentions; she just didn't want to frighten the Jia family on her birthday, but she never expected to see Chu Heng's reaction.
Daiyu couldn't help but laugh and said, "I'm glad Your Highness likes it."
Chu Heng awkwardly touched his nose, and after a while asked in a low voice, "Do you go to see opera every year on your birthday?"
Daiyu shook her head and smiled, "Thanks to the Prince, I finally have a special opera to listen to this year."
Chu Heng seemed to be deep in thought, then asked, "Do you like listening to opera?"
Daiyu thought for a moment and said, "I don't particularly like any, but if there's a good piece of music, it's good to listen to it." She looked at Chu Heng with a teasing look in her eyes, "Your Highness probably doesn't like listening to opera, after all, there aren't many good plays in the palace."
Chu Heng coughed lightly and said, "I'm serious. You'll see when you hear it later."
Daiyu said, "I've heard it; the opera I sang last year for the princess's birthday was very good."
“Yongkang invited a theatrical troupe from outside the palace. The palace can’t produce good plays,” Chu Heng said. “If you like good plays, I’ll have someone go to the south to buy them. In the future, just ask them to stage whatever kind of play you want to hear.”
In the future...
The betrothal ceremony was to be held in a few days, and this "in a few days" clearly referred to the period after the wedding. Upon hearing this, Daiyu was overwhelmed with mixed feelings and forgot to reply.
Chu Heng assumed she disagreed, so he said, "Miss Lin, you don't like the little operas at home..."
“No…” Daiyu came back to her senses and said without thinking, “It’s all good, it’s all good.”
Chu Heng noticed her odd behavior and was about to speak when he caught sight of her reddish earlobes, so vibrant and luscious that he paused.
Chu Heng was relieved to hear that it didn't mean he was unhappy, but what exactly did it mean...?
Chu Heng felt a little embarrassed, thinking that Miss Lin was not indifferent to their marriage.
On this day, at Daiyu's birthday banquet, the guests and hosts enjoyed themselves immensely. Before leaving, Chuheng handed Daiyu a collection of poems, but he did not tell her that he had copied Daiyu's poems.
Chu Heng was very reluctant to leave. With the wedding day drawing closer, in order to bring good luck, Chu Heng was not allowed to see Daiyu again until the wedding.
—Because Master Pingyi was there, Chu Heng, who had never believed in gods or ghosts, temporarily believed the words of the Imperial Observatory in order to have a good outcome with Daiyu in the future.
Daiyu couldn't understand Chuheng's longing for her, and politely saw him off.
After returning to her room, Daiyu flipped through her poetry collection. Although it was just for her own amusement, she never imagined that her poems would one day be published.
After looking at them with great interest for a while, Zijuan, who was tidying up the gifts, came over with a brocade box and said with a smile, "Miss, look, the prince has given you another set of wood carvings."
"What?" Daiyu asked in confusion.
Zijuan smiled and said, "Last winter, didn't you give the princess that set of zodiac wood carvings? Today, the prince sent two more sets, one made of wood and the other of jade."
This wooden set is even more exquisite than the one she gave to Yongkang, not to mention the jade one. This set would probably be priceless.
Daiyu held the poetry collection and said softly, "Your Highness is very thoughtful."
Because Daiyu loved opera, and he even had to maintain an opera troupe at home, Chu Heng did such a good job that Daiyu suddenly felt uneasy about whether she could be a qualified and competent Princess Consort of Duan.
Amidst Daiyu's anxiety, the day of the betrothal arrived in the blink of an eye.
The Jia family was on high alert ahead, because Prince Duan had come in person to present betrothal gifts to his fiancée.
When Grandmother Jia heard that Prince Duan had arrived, she was immediately startled. Of all the six rites to date, Prince Duan had never come in person. She assumed that the betrothal ceremony was the same, otherwise she would not have let Jia Baoyu go to the front with his father.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
