Chapter 75 Mid-Autumn Festival.
The imperial physician examined the patient and, in addition to prescribing a medicine, also advised the patient to never indulge in sweets or avoid raw and cold foods in the future, otherwise the toothache might recur.
After ordering Zhao Qing to see the imperial physician off, Daiyu suppressed a laugh and said, "Now you know you can't be greedy, right?"
Chu Heng stubbornly argued, "I've never had a toothache before."
Daiyu couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Fine, you didn't, but you've been hurt this time, so you'll remember it next time, right?"
Chu Heng nodded reluctantly: "I'll remember."
Daiyu looked at him pitifully and rubbed his ears, saying, "You look like a cat right now."
“Civets can bite too.” Chu Heng opened his mouth, revealing a set of bright white teeth, but he immediately closed his mouth again.
"The pain will subside after you take the medicine." Daiyu's eyes softened. "I'll have someone make you another bowl of soft porridge. You can eat it after you take the medicine."
"Hmm." Chu Heng held Daiyu's hand and rubbed it against her, making him look even more pitiful.
Daiyu felt both sorry for him and found it somewhat amusing. Toothache from eating too much candy was a problem that only children had, and it seemed really out of place for an adult like Chu Heng.
"Why do you love sweets so much?"
Chu Heng casually replied, "I don't know, maybe I took too much medicine."
Daiyu, who had also taken medicine for many years, frowned upon hearing this: "Things are different now. We have to eat less sugar so we don't have to take medicine."
Chu Heng rested his chin on his hand: "It seems so."
When the medicine was brewed and brought over, Chu Heng was stroking Daiyu's fingers. As soon as he smelled the medicine, he made an unbearable expression: "Let it cool down before you drink it."
Daiyu took the silver spoon: "I'll feed you."
Chu Heng hesitated for a moment, then said, "I'll just eat a couple of bites when it's cold. Drinking it spoonful by spoonful is too torturous."
Both of them had a lot of experience taking medicine. Upon hearing this, Daiyu smiled and deeply agreed: "Yes, it tastes bitter all over."
After taking his medicine and rinsing his mouth, Daiyu ordered a bowl of soft porridge to be brought over. Chu Heng felt a little better at this point and slowly finished the porridge.
Daiyu added, "This bowl of porridge won't last long; we should add some minced meat."
Chu Heng rubbed his stomach: "I should eat less sweets. It's really unpleasant to be hungry."
Daiyu then laughed and said, "You learn from your mistakes."
Because of his toothache, Chu Heng had an even better excuse to stay at home. It just so happened that it was the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the palace’s sacrificial banquets and feasts all required the involvement of the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs. Chu Heng, the Minister of the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs, could slack off, but the emperor summoned him to the palace and personally instructed him to pay attention to everything he handled. Chu Heng had no choice but to give up his idea of slacking off and recuperating.
Meanwhile, Daiyu was at home preparing gifts for the Emperor and Empress Dowager. Mooncakes were a must, so she ordered the kitchen to make osmanthus filling, and also prepared several other kinds. In addition, there were seasonal items such as watermelons and crabs sent from the estate outside the city. Naturally, some rare and exotic treasures were also indispensable. The Prince Duan's mansion prepared these every year, and Zhao Qing was already very experienced, so Daiyu entrusted these to him.
The Mid-Autumn Festival arrived quickly. After having breakfast, Chu Heng and Daiyu went to the palace. They greeted the Emperor, Empress, and Empress Dowager, and then sat down at Renshou Palace.
On such a day, Renshou Palace must have been bustling with activity, with children from all families gathered around the Empress Dowager, creating a beautiful scene of family bliss.
Chu Heng and Daiyu sat down in their seats. Although they did not want to attract attention, quite a few people still came over to chat with them.
Prince Duan was once just a child favored by the Emperor and Empress Dowager, but now that he's entered the court, things are naturally different. Whether he'll be needed or not is another matter, but it's always good to befriend him first. Regardless of how close or distant they are, everyone in Renshou Palace can be considered family.
He Jia also came to talk to Chu Heng, smiling and chatting, her words carrying a deeper meaning: "The marriage arranged by the Second Prince is excellent. Mother is overjoyed, and I am happy to see it too."
Because of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor's scheming back then, He Jia lost her own marriage, and she was very reluctant to let her daughter get involved in another struggle for the throne.
Even if the outcome is still undecided, and even if the Second Prince were to enter the Eastern Palace and ascend to the throne, He Jia would still not want her daughter to enter the palace.
He Jia knew all too well what kind of life the concubines in the harem lived. As the daughter of a princess, she would always be looked up to when she married into another family, but not in the palace.
Chu Heng said calmly, "It's all thanks to my brother's filial piety. With three joyous events, my mother is naturally delighted."
He Jia smiled. She didn't care about the struggles in the palace and the court. She only cared about the well-being of her children. So she changed the subject and teased Daiyu, "It would be even better if you two had another happy event."
Daiyu blushed and lowered her head, remaining silent.
Chu Heng straightened his sleeves and said with a smile, "Thank you for your kind words, Fifth Sister."
He Jia noticed that he seemed unhappy and was puzzled. Could it be that he couldn't even make a joke?
Well, it seems she made a pointless trip; Chu Heng has no intention of accepting her gratitude.
He Jia shook his head: "I need to go see your little nephew and niece."
Daiyu followed her back and saw Hejia's youngest daughter. She was talking to her sister and looked rosy-cheeked with bright eyes. She was no different from when Daiyu had seen her before.
Chu Heng whispered, "Don't pay attention to what they're saying."
Daiyu was stunned for a moment before she understood what he meant.
Young couples, especially newlyweds like Daiyu and Chuheng who have only been married for a few months, are inevitably asked things like, "We're waiting for you to have a baby!" and "We're waiting for good news!" When it comes to having children, the woman always feels more pressure than the man.
Daiyu had always taken this as a common joke and never paid it any mind. The couple had been married for less than half a year, so who would be thinking about having children?
Unexpectedly, Chu Heng was more concerned that she might have something on her mind.
Daiyu chuckled softly, "I know... please don't talk about these things outside."
In all honesty, Chu Heng had no ill intentions when he said those words; he simply wanted to comfort Daiyu. But after hearing her say those words, Chu Heng decided to tease her a little: "Well, let's talk about it when we get back, or better yet... tonight."
Daiyu pinched his arm: "If you keep talking nonsense, I won't dare to talk to you anymore."
Chu Heng obediently shut his mouth, but his hands were not so well-behaved. He grabbed Daiyu's hand and asked her to rub the spot where he had twisted it.
Daiyu refused, just then Princess Shude's husband came over to talk to Chu Heng. While Chu Heng got up, she also went to talk to Yongkang, so that Chu Heng wouldn't cause trouble again when she had free time later.
Yongkang pulled Daiyu to sit down and eat some snacks: "Let's have something to eat now, or we'll go hungry."
Daiyu smiled and said, "I ate a bit too much for breakfast, so I'm hungry now."
They chatted and laughed, eating and drinking, and by the time they moved with the Emperor and Empress Dowager, Daiyu was already about half full.
At the palace banquet, after the emperor finished speaking auspicious words, the empress dowager spoke, and then the empress spoke, and everyone else had to say auspicious words to them. Even with the constant elegant music, one could only feel that the palace banquet was far too tedious.
Chu Heng's toothache had just subsided, but he didn't have a chance to eat much at the palace banquet. When it was over, he quietly told Daiyu, "All I want now is to go home and have a bowl of hot soup."
Daiyu chuckled, "I've already instructed people to prepare it in advance, so we can eat as soon as we get back."
However, they could not go back yet. As usual, the Empress Dowager wanted to take them to Renshou Palace for a chat. This time, there were fewer people, and Chu Heng and Daiyu were very close to the Empress Dowager, so they could no longer whisper to each other.
"Heng'er was treated by the imperial physician a few days ago. Is he much better now?" the Empress Dowager asked with concern.
Chu Heng stood up and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Mother. I'm fine; I've been well for a while now."
The Empress Dowager nodded with a smile: "I am relieved that you are well. Master Pingyi is truly amazing. I have been thinking of taking you to worship Buddha and chant sutras again, but I have never had the time."
Chu Heng smiled and said, "Please ask Mother to plead for my brother and grant me some leniency so that I can accompany you to Longhua Temple again."
The Empress Dowager pointed at him: "You still want to slack off. Your brothers' affairs are matters of state, not matters of the previous dynasty. I will not interfere."
The emperor then laughed and said, "Fifth brother has always been lazy; Mother should teach him a lesson."
He Jia chimed in, "Fifth Brother has been idle for so many years, it's time he could properly share the Emperor's burdens. Your Majesty, you can't let him off so easily."
While things were harmonious and joyful on one side, Yongkang merely pursed his lips, showing no intention of joining in.
After a while of joking and laughing, the emperor said first, "It's been a lively day, and Mother must be tired. I still have some memorials to write ahead. Let my younger siblings keep you company while you rest. I'll take my leave now."
"You have important business to attend to, go ahead," the Empress Dowager said. "You may all leave now, I need to rest."
Everyone rose, bowed, and withdrew. The Emperor and Empress each made their own arrangements and took the princes and princesses with them.
Yongkang wanted to say something more to Daiyu, but Hejia stayed behind: "I asked the Empress about your princess's residence. It's not far from where I live, and it will be completed by May or June next year, so it won't delay the wedding in September."
Yongkang smiled and said, "Thank you very much, Fifth Sister. I will definitely visit your residence often in the future."
He Jia laughed and said, "Come on, but I'm too tired to play anymore. I'll play with your niece then."
Yongkang winked at the two maids: "Okay!"
Hejia's eldest daughter was about the same age as Yongkang, and they got along very well. Hearing her mother say this, she quickly asked, "Auntie, can we come to your house to play too?"
Yongkang patted her on the shoulder: "You can come! You can come!"
He Jia shook her head: "She's about to get married, and all she thinks about is playing."
"Otherwise, what am I thinking?" Yongkang shrugged.
If Princess Zhaoyang were still alive, Yongkang would have a mother-in-law to take care of. But now, even the Duke, who is in charge of the Ming family, is just a subject in front of the princess.
After thinking about it, He Jia's feelings became somewhat complicated: "That's true."
"You all speak." He Jia took her leave with the children, and Chu Heng and the others bowed to see her off.
After she walked away, Yongkang asked, "Fifth Brother, if we're close to Fifth Sister's house, does that mean we're far from your house?"
"The capital city is only so big, how far can it be?" Chu Heng took Daiyu's hand. "It's closer and cheaper than you going from the palace."
Daiyu patted his arm and said gently, "Although the Princess's residence and the Prince's residence are not in the same place, they are not far apart. You will know this when you go out in the future."
Yongkang laughed and said, "Sister Lin is the best!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
