Chapter 93 Mid-Autumn Festival.
Daiyu found the Empress's overtures amusing.
Putting aside Chu Heng's identity, while the former eldest and second princes were not yet able to handle affairs independently, their mothers in the harem were already fiercely vying for power.
Daiyu thought of the emperor, who thought he was all-powerful, and suddenly felt that this family... truly was a family.
On second thought, Chu Heng was also a member of this family.
Daiyu sighed deeply; Chu Heng had truly suffered.
So, in the evening, Chu Heng received a bowl of steamed sweet cheese. Holding the bowl, he asked in surprise, "You're so happy about coming to the palace? You even let me eat sweets now."
Daiyu was eating watermelon with a silver coin when she heard this and smiled, "It's not that I'm happy...no, it's just that I'm quite happy. The palace is very interesting."
Chu Heng became even more curious: "What interesting thing happened to you?"
Daiyu simply smiled and said, "Aren't you going to eat the cheese? Otherwise, bring it over for me to eat."
Chu Heng actually handed the bowl to her and even brought the spoon to her lips: "Try it? Can you eat this?"
Daiyu took a bite, nodded and smiled, "Not too sweet or greasy, not bad, you should eat it."
Chu Heng then fed her another spoonful: "You eat first."
Daiyu laughed out loud: "Can't our family afford a bowl of cheese?" After saying that, she ordered Zijuan to tell the kitchen to make another bowl.
After they had eaten the cheese, Daiyu told Chuheng what had happened in the palace, saying, "The Empress Dowager seems to be in much better spirits. After being ill for several months, she is finally recovering. Once the Empress Dowager is well, will His Majesty still target the Fang family?"
Chu Heng said, "We don't have that intention yet, but that's not important." He frowned, "The Empress and Consort Wu are both watching you, so it's best if you go to the palace less often."
Daiyu smiled and said, "The Empress Dowager also told me today to rest and take care of my pregnancy, so there's no need to go to the palace to pay my respects to her for the time being."
Chu Heng suddenly relaxed his brow: "It seems that even the Empress Dowager has been fooled by the Empress's stupidity."
After all, the Empress Dowager was on the side of the eldest prince. As the eldest prince's birth mother and the Empress, the Empress could not afford to make any mistakes, so that the eldest prince could have the rightful claim.
"With the Empress Dowager's words, no one will dare to say anything else. You can rest assured from now on," Chu Heng said softly, holding Daiyu's hand again.
Daiyu nodded and smiled, "I'm fine with frequent visits to the palace, but I didn't expect the Empress Dowager to be the first to give in."
Chu Heng also found it amusing: "It's all the Empress's fault. If the Empress Dowager wants to blame someone, she can only be blamed."
After chatting and laughing for a while, the two washed up, turned off the lights, and went to bed.
No longer needing to go to the palace, Daiyu's life was not much different, except that her body became increasingly heavy and she experienced more discomfort. Fortunately, the imperial physician checked her pulse every day, and she was attended to by maids and nannies. Chu Heng also tried his best to cheer her up, which helped alleviate some of the discomfort.
Mid-Autumn Festival arrived in the blink of an eye. The Empress Dowager's health improved, and the Emperor, to show his filial piety, gave orders early in the morning to make sure the Mid-Autumn Festival family banquet was lively and pleasing to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress in the palace dared not slack off. Although Consort Wu was dissatisfied with the Empress Dowager's favoritism towards the eldest prince, she did not dare to disrespect the Empress Dowager. She also prepared gifts to show her respect to the Empress Dowager in advance and instructed the second prince to show his filial piety and overshadow the eldest prince.
The princesses and relatives outside the palace dared not be negligent. Before the fifteenth day had even passed, they had already presented the Empress Dowager with many rare and precious treasures. Thinking that the Empress Dowager was getting old and loved family life even more, some of them also brought their children to the Empress Dowager to curry favor with her.
"This year's Lantern Festival is truly spectacular." Chu Heng looked out through the gauze window of the carriage and could already see the city brightly lit even before entering the palace.
Daiyu was leaning against a soft pillow, unraveling a nine-linked ring puzzle, when she heard this she laughed and said, "His Majesty let slip the secret, and the Empress Dowager is pleased. How could the people below not laugh? Naturally, it became lively."
Chu Heng, still a little worried, instructed, "Let's not join in the fun. Once we're in the palace, we won't go anywhere with lots of people."
Daiyu laughed and said, "I'm not one to join in the fun. Move aside, you're blocking my light."
Chu Heng had no choice but to turn to the side and say, "It's getting dark and it hurts your eyes. Stop playing around and let's talk. I have something to tell you."
Daiyu looked up at him and said, "What is it? Tell me."
"Fifth Sister's eldest son is engaged and will be getting married next March." Chu Heng counted on his fingers, "In a little over six months, we'll be going to another wedding banquet."
Daiyu asked, "Around the New Year, Fifth Sister said she wanted to arrange a marriage for her eldest son. It's been almost half a year now, and it's finally settled. I wonder which family's daughter it is?"
Chu Heng replied, "The He family's daughter's father is the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination), and comes from a family with a long tradition of scholarship. They are a good family."
Daiyu smiled and said, "You're choosing a wife for the emperor, so it's natural that Fifth Sister has high standards. Fifth Sister said before that she would settle down before starting a career. With the Emperor and her father-in-law being the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Fifth Sister probably doesn't need to worry."
"Hmm." Chu Heng nodded casually. He didn't pay much attention to other people's affairs; he only mentioned this to divert Daiyu's attention.
After recounting the happy events of several other families of the imperial relatives and princesses, the carriage slowed down. Chu Heng lifted the curtain and looked out the gauze window: "We're almost there."
As they spoke, they saw carriages in front and behind, all carrying princesses and other members of the imperial family who were coming to the palace for a banquet.
After the carriage stopped, Chu Heng got out first, then carefully helped Daiyu out of the carriage: "The carriage ride must have been tiring. I'll have someone take you to Yongkang to rest later."
Daiyu smiled and said, "Go ahead and do your thing, don't worry about me, I know what I'm doing."
Chu Heng had to give several more instructions to the maids and servants attending to Daiyu before helping her into the sedan chair.
...
In Renshou Palace, Daiyu and Yongkang chose a quiet spot to sit, chatting and eating snacks while watching the princes and princesses surrounding the Empress Dowager, and the children of the princesses' families on the outer perimeter.
Yongkang commented, "A scene of perfect harmony, the joy of family life." She thought for a moment and added two more words, "So good."
The Empress Dowager is finally turning her attention to the next generation of children. As elders, she and Daiyu should naturally give way to the younger generation.
Daiyu smiled slightly, took a piece of milk cake in her hand, ate it slowly, and then said, "Yes, it's really good."
When He Jia arrived, Daiyu and Yongkang were each eating a bowl of bird's nest porridge. She rubbed her temples and said, "The banquet hasn't even started yet, and you two are already eating."
Daiyu was about to get up when Hejia quickly stopped her, saying, "You should sit still. It's all Man'er's fault; she's made your fifth sister-in-law so childish."
Yongkang was eating and couldn't speak, but he pointed to himself, his eyes conveying only two words: "Injustice."
Daiyu smiled and said, "Fifth Sister, you misunderstand. I've been feeling unwell lately and don't like being alone, so I asked Yongkang to come and keep me company."
“You need to be careful now. Let Man’er stay with you.” After saying that, He Jia looked at Yong Kang and said, “You mustn’t offend your fifth sister-in-law.”
Yongkang wanted to argue, but then felt it was unnecessary, so he simply nodded.
As He Jiaben was about to leave, he couldn't help but feel a little envious as he looked at them: "It's so good to be young, you don't have to worry about anything. I still have to worry about that good-for-nothing kid."
After saying this, she shook her head, took the lady-in-waiting's hand, and left.
Daiyu asked in bewilderment, "Isn't Fifth Sister's eldest daughter already engaged? Is she worried about her career?"
She thought that Hejia didn't need to worry about this matter, which shows that raising children is indeed very difficult.
Daiyu thought of her unborn child and wondered what the future held for him.
"Is that right?" Yongkang wasn't sure either.
After a while, the banquet began, and Chu Heng followed the emperor to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. Only after all the formalities were completed could he come over to accompany Daiyu.
Chu Heng hurried over, but before he could speak, he heard Daiyu burp. He was taken aback, then smiled and asked, "What did you eat?"
Daiyu blushed slightly and said shyly, "I was talking to Yongkang and ate too much without realizing it. It's nothing, just some milk cake, jujube blossom pastry, mooncakes... and I also ate a bowl of bird's nest porridge."
Chu Heng suppressed a laugh: "Hmm... okay, you won't be able to eat much at the banquet anyway, it's good that you've eaten your fill beforehand."
Daiyu gently punched him: "Stop laughing."
Chu Heng quickly put on a stern face: "I won't laugh, I won't laugh anymore."
However, the corners of his mouth, which he couldn't suppress, and the smile in his eyes betrayed his true feelings. Daiyu, burying her head in the sand, decided to avoid looking at him for the time being.
The palace was filled with music and feasting, which Daiyu found somewhat enjoyable.
The banquet ended at 9 PM, when the Empress Dowager felt tired.
Daiyu hid behind Chu Heng, covered her mouth and yawned; she was also feeling tired.
Fortunately, they never socialized with anyone. Since the emperor ordered them to take their leave, Chu Heng and Daiyu didn't delay at all and went home immediately.
Daiyu was drowsy on the carriage, and when they got home, Chuheng carried her back to the main room. She rested for two more days before she could recover from the day's fatigue.
...
The Mid-Autumn Festival's festivities seemed to be a premonition, as the eldest and second princes gradually began to compete, with the second prince initiating the rivalry.
After entering the court, the second prince gradually discovered that many of the court officials claimed to be uninvolved in factional struggles, but in fact they all secretly supported the eldest prince, simply because he was the eldest son of the legitimate wife.
The second prince had the emperor's support, but the emperor also needed a formal title to establish an heir.
The eldest prince only needs to proceed steadily and avoid making major mistakes, and he will naturally have the support of his ministers. But the second prince cannot do that. If he wants to surpass the eldest prince, he must do his best to show himself.
The Second Prince's idea was affirmed by his future father-in-law and supporters. Since he was not in a position of power, he had to demonstrate his abilities so that the court officials could see them and the Emperor could make up his mind to make the Second Prince the heir apparent.
However, the emperor was not happy to see this situation. He felt that the second prince had his own values and only needed to accumulate strength now, and slowly show his abilities in the future. With him as the emperor protecting him, there was no worry that the throne would not go to the second prince.
The emperor felt he was young and strong and could protect the second prince for many years, but the second prince did not think so. He believed that fortune and misfortune could happen at any time and that the matter of establishing an heir should be done sooner rather than later.
Not wanting to let the second prince lose face, the emperor couldn't reprimand him openly, so he could only discipline him when no one was around. Afterwards, the second prince did indeed behave much better.
However, the emperor had no idea what he was thinking.
But none of this mattered to Chu Heng and Daiyu. One of them was busy with Yongkang's wedding in September, and the other was waiting to attend the wedding ceremony.
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