Chapter 174 The Banquet
Consort Hui gave birth to a daughter prematurely and was promoted to Consort Hui. Consort Cao was confined to her quarters, and Consort Wan was demoted to Lady Zhen and sent back to the palace to be confined to Suiyu Pavilion.
The series of changes that occurred in the inner palace did not cause much of a stir, simply because "Grand General" Yunzhen escorted Tsewang Arabtan, the leader of the Dzungar Khanate, back to the capital. To celebrate the "pacification of the Dzungar Khanate," the Emperor specially held a grand banquet in the Yuanmingyuan Garden, inviting all civil and military officials to attend.
"Your humble servant has successfully fulfilled his mission, pacifying the Dzungar Khanate and capturing Tsewang Arabtan alive. May our Great Qing Dynasty enjoy prosperity for thousands of years to come!"
Yunzhen was the protagonist of the banquet. When he stood in the center of the hall with a wine glass in hand and toasted Yinzhen with great pride, all eyes were on him.
"Very well! All of you, let us toast my fourteenth brother, and also my Great General King!"
"Respect to General Wang!"
Yinzhen bestowed upon him absolute trust and unparalleled favor. Under his leadership, all the officials rose to offer their congratulations to General Wang Yunzhen. Yunzhen laughed heartily and returned the toast with three cups. This scene of harmonious relations between the emperor and his minister was enough to leave a significant mark on the historical records.
The women present were also infected by this atmosphere; even those who knew little about politics understood that subduing the Dzungars was a tremendous good thing. This also alleviated the unease many concubines felt due to previous events.
However, not everyone could relax at such a lively banquet. Especially the concubines with children, who watched as the Crown Prince was led around by the "Grand General" and socialized with the officials, while their own sons could only sit and play in their seats.
"Fourteenth Uncle, why do you keep pulling me along?"
Honghui followed behind Yunzhen, dealing with officials of all ranks, his face practically frozen from smiling.
"Tsk, I have no patience for dealing with these convoluted civil officials." Yunzhen sipped his wine with an air of nonchalance, making no attempt to conceal his purpose.
Honghui was speechless. He felt that after going out for a while, his fourteenth uncle's skin had become thicker. Did he have to be so blunt?
"So, you're using me as a scapegoat?"
"You are the crown prince, and you are supposed to deal with civil and military officials. Wouldn't it be good to give you a chance to practice?"
Hearing the familiar and similar rhetoric, the usually dignified Crown Prince couldn't help but roll his eyes: "Fourteenth Uncle, you don't need to learn everything from Father Emperor. I'm all grown up now, and I won't be fooled anymore."
Yunzhen touched his nose and grinned, "I think this method works quite well for my royal brother."
Honghui stared at him and explained helplessly, "That's my father."
Just because I'm willing to indulge my father doesn't mean I'm willing to indulge you.
"Hey!" Understanding Honghui's implication, Yunzhen pinched the soft flesh on his cheek unhappily. "You're treating me differently, aren't you? I was out there fighting and I was still thinking of you, bringing you back so many good things. You heartless little guy."
Honghui didn't care what Yunzhen said. He didn't want to have to "work overtime" for no reason when he finally had a break. He repeatedly refused: "Yes, yes, Uncle Fourteen is right. I have no conscience. I know my brothers like the things Uncle Fourteen gave me. Why don't we ask them to help?"
Upon hearing this, Yunzhen looked Honghui up and down, realizing that he genuinely meant it. He couldn't help but sigh, put an arm around Honghui's shoulder, and said with a sigh, "Honghui, Honghui, you really need to be more careful. You are the Crown Prince..."
Having understood the unspoken meaning of his fourteenth uncle, Honghui didn't care at all: "Fourteenth Uncle, you said it yourself, I am the Crown Prince. If I'm afraid of this and that, what kind of Crown Prince am I?"
"Good, as expected of my nephew!" Yunzhen was clearly very satisfied with Honghui's confidence and demeanor, and patted him on the shoulder forcefully. Taking this opportunity, Honghui slipped away from him.
"Fourteenth Uncle, since you don't need your brothers' help, then face it yourself. I'm going to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager."
"Sigh..." Before Yunzhen could even try to stop him, Honghui's figure had already disappeared. "What a... heartless little rascal..."
At the seats for the princes and princesses, Yinzhen did not serve them wine, treating everyone equally, regardless of age, they all drank honey water. The fifth prince, Hongzhou, was the most restless, dragging his curious but awkward fourth brother, Hongli, and his little friend, Galudai, happily weaving through the seats, gossiping about the various ministers.
When they got tired of playing, they would run to their older sister, Bu'erhe, drink honey water, and enjoy her thoughtful care.
The third prince, Hongshi, sat sulking in his seat, unwilling to leave. He suddenly realized that everyone he met only complimented him with, "The Third Prince has grown taller again." Did he have no other merits?
Unconvinced, Hongshi sat in his seat, deep in thought, and decided that he would not move until he could think of any merits for himself.
As for the second son, Hongyun, seeing that the younger siblings were being looked after by their older sister, he really didn't know how to comfort his third brother, so he decided to go visit his mother. It wasn't an attempt to escape; after all, he had two mothers, and he had to take care of both of them. No one was better at treating them equally than him.
"You're still young, you're not allowed to drink alcohol secretly."
"Yes, Mother Duan." Hearing his foster mother's concern, Hongyun nodded obediently. His older brother had said he needed to keep an eye on his younger brothers, so he definitely needed to set a good example. In short, under Hongyun's watchful eye, no one, including himself, wanted to sneak a drink!
"Alright, go see your mother, but don't cause any trouble with her," Qi Yuebin instructed carefully, as if unaware of what unpleasant incident had occurred between Hongyun and Mei Qiyue recently.
"I know, I won't." Hongyun touched his nose and smiled sheepishly. He was already 10 years old, and his mother still had to worry about him.
Seeing his mother looking at him expectantly from a distance, Hongyun's heart softened, and he felt a pang of guilt. His mother loved him so much; even if they had differing opinions, he should have controlled his temper and not argued with her.
Thinking he needed to apologize to his mother, Hongyun quickened his pace and walked to Mei Qiyue's side: "Mother, I..."
“Hongyun, listen to your mother,” Mei Qiyue, preoccupied and oblivious to Hongyun’s expression, grabbed his hand urgently, “Look, do you see it?”
Hongyun, confused, followed his mother's gaze and looked into the distance: "Mother, are you talking about Fourteenth Uncle?"
“Yes, it’s General Wang, your fourteenth uncle,” Mei Qiyue’s eyes shone with a strange light as she looked at her proud son and urged, “Look, your fourteenth uncle is clearly impatient with dealing with those officials. Go, your fourteenth uncle gave you so many things, go and help him.”
“Mother…” Hongyun’s pupils dilated, as if he couldn’t understand what his mother was saying.
"Hongyun, listen to me, go quickly. Your older brother just went, it's your turn now, go quickly."
“Mother…” Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar face before him, whose eyes were filled with desire and ambition, Hongyun’s heart sank. “Mother, my elder brother is the Crown Prince.”
Mei Qiyue hesitated to meet her son's shocked and heavy gaze. But thinking of her son, who was still a bald prince, and his future, she steeled herself and continued to persuade him, "Aren't they all Prince Xun's nephews? He gave you so many things, which shows he likes you very much. Just go and help him. It's just a small thing. It's not like the Crown Prince did it, so you can't do it..."
Seeing his mother rambling on and on, coming up with all sorts of excuses, Hongyun could no longer deceive himself. He stroked his mother's hand off his arm and said, "Mother, I'm not a child who doesn't understand anything anymore."
“Hongyun!” Mei Qiyue didn’t seem to say anything, but her eyes clearly showed that she was doing it all for his own good.
Hongyun smiled wryly, sometimes he didn't want to see things so clearly: "Mother, I have to go now."
"Hongyun, Hongyun..." Being at a banquet, Mei Qiyue dared not call out loudly. She could only watch helplessly as her son hastily fled, collapsing weakly into her seat. "Was I wrong? I was doing this for him..."
As expected, Qi Yuebin smiled slightly upon seeing the estrangement between the mother and son: "Jixiang, pour me another cup of wine."
"Your Majesty, is there something to make you happy?"
"I just feel that beautiful scenery deserves fine wine."
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