Chapter 152 Chapter 152 "Let's have a birthday party together...
Chapter 152
In the private room of Piaoxianglou, Lin Zhiyi offered a toast to Xie Junnuo, saying, "Brother Xie, let Xiuyuan toast you first."
Xie Junnuo stood up, his eyes glancing over Lin Zhiyi's handsome face before he lowered his gaze slightly. "You're welcome, Prince Consort. Please let me know if you have anything to say."
"It's not an order, it's a request for help, Brother Xie. You have a good relationship with Lord Chi Huaimin, the Tongpan of Yangzhou. Regarding next year's military selection, please put in a few kind words and help me connect with Lord Chi."
Xie Junnuo readily replied, "It's not difficult. Huaimin said he's admired the Prince Consort for a long time and wants to visit the capital to learn about taxation and other tax calculations. Your Majesty also wants the provincial governors and prefects to learn the tax accounting methods in the capital, so it should be possible by the beginning of next spring."
Xie Junnuo was a close minister to the emperor, and Emperor Longshun would discuss some of his ideas and plans with him, or let him know in advance so that he could make basic preparations. Therefore, what he said was highly credible.
Moreover, the fact that Xie Junnuo dared to reveal this plan in advance showed that Emperor Longshun did not mind him revealing it.
Otherwise, with his caution, he would never make such a mistake.
Lin Zhiyi said happily: "That's great! Father is so wise!" She also flattered Emperor Longshun, although she was talking to Jingyue.
Jing Yue nodded in agreement: "Well, let's toast to Father from afar."
Who among those present could be disrespectful?
After the toast, Lin Zhiyi was in a good mood.
She began to ask Ye Changning about the careers of the Wei and Qin family heads as detectives.
After all, these two families had a relationship of marriage with Jingyue, and were victims who were affected for no reason. She and Jingyue cared about them very much.
Ye Changning vaguely guessed why she was asking, and since there was nothing he couldn't tell her, he picked out some of the incidents from the case and told her, "...Lord Wei is more calm, while Lord Qin is more courageous. With their combined strength, the criminal had nowhere to hide and nowhere to escape." He glanced at Jing Yue, who was listening quietly, and said, "So, the Prince Consort and the Princess don't have to worry about them. And there's no need to feel guilty."
It was precisely because everyone could get together to eat and play, and had a good relationship, that Ye Changning dared to speak so frankly.
Jing Yue and Lin Zhiyi looked at each other and said in unison, "Thank you, Brother Ye."
“…You’re welcome.”
The current Young Marquis Xie Junxing stood up with his wine glass in hand and toasted Lin Zhiyi, "Xiuyuan, I want to toast you too. Thanks to you this year, our Ministry of Works has been able to smoothly advance the flying kites and irrigation canals. Thank you!"
Pei Nanyu and Lin Zhihua also stood up and echoed: "That's right, Xiuyuan has made the greatest contribution."
Lin Zhiyi said modestly, "You three are more ingenious and skilled. Otherwise, how could you have successfully developed those rare things?"
Zhou Mingyan: "Okay, stop the compliments. It's the end of the year, everyone has achieved something, and everyone deserves a toast. Come on, drink!"
"Yes, Young Master Zhou has made great contributions. Let me toast you." Ji Wuyou joked.
Everyone laughed and raised their glasses to drink together.
Soon Tang Cong entered the room and, after greeting the princess, her husband, and several young gentlemen, he whispered in Jing Yue's ear, "Your Majesty and His Royal Highness Prince Kang are also in the Zuixianju box of Piaoxiang Tower."
Jing Yue glanced at him, and Tang Cong nodded in tacit understanding, meaning that His Majesty knew that they were having dinner in the Xiankelai box.
He explained in a low voice, "Your Majesty shook his head before I went up to pay my respects, so I didn't bother him."
"I understand. Please leave." Jing Yue said.
After Tang Cong left, Lin Zhiyi looked at Jing Yue inquiringly. Jing Yue came over and whispered in her ear, "Father and Fifth Brother are in the private room at Zuixianju."
Lin Zhiyi: "Shall we go and pay our respects?"
Jing Yue shook her head: "No need. There will be too many people and it will cause inconvenience to the emperor. Let's go and pay our respects during the New Year's Eve palace banquet."
Lin Zhiyi naturally listened to him.
Jing Yue is more familiar with the ancient etiquette and rules, and is more thoughtful about them.
After today's dinner was over, Jing Yue looked at Tang Cong who was waiting outside. Tang Cong made a "go" gesture, indicating that His Majesty and Prince Kang had left.
After returning to the princess's mansion, Jing Yue and Lin Zhiyi talked about this matter.
Jing Yue: "It's really strange that Father took Fifth Brother out of the palace to eat alone."
Lin Zhiyi speculated, "In my opinion, it must be because our gathering made Father feel itchy, so he asked the fifth brother to leave the palace with him."
Jing Yue also understood immediately: "You mean - Father has known about our dinner for a long time?"
Lin Zhiyi: "Brother Xie has already told us about the emperor's plans for next year. Do you think he won't mention the dinner to him?"
Jing Yue thought about it and said, "Brother Xie and the Emperor do seem to be close friends regardless of age."
Lin Zhiyi: "Father will rely on him more." Although Ye Changning was also favored, his official duties had to be completed outside the palace. Xie Junnuo, on the other hand, could always accompany the king and enter and leave the palace freely.
Jing Yue: "Father, don't you think we're too close together? We're related by marriage, and we get together privately..."
Lin Zhiyi sighed: "I hope he doesn't care too much about this."
Otherwise, the emperor's suspicion and jealousy would not be a good thing.
Two days later, on New Year's Eve, Emperor Longshun summoned relatives from Beijing to the palace for a banquet.
The palace banquet was very lively.
This is also a long-awaited festive occasion.
The eldest prince Jing Zhuowen and his family arrived first, after all, they lived in the palace.
Jing Zhuowen and Cheng Manyu took Lang'er to pay a visit to the Queen first, and then went to pay a visit to Emperor Longshun with the Queen.
Emperor Longshun rarely smiled at them. He glanced at the delicate little baby and said, "Bring Lang'er here for me to see."
The wet nurse responded and came forward. Emperor Longshun personally took Lang'er and played with him for a while.
Lang'er loves to laugh. He grins at his grandfather and looks very cute when he laughs.
The Queen said with relief, "Lang'er loves to laugh, just like his father."
These words immediately brought Emperor Longshun's memory back to thirty years ago.
At that time, his first son Jing Zhuowen had just been born and also loved to laugh.
Lang'er was plump, fair, and cheerful, looking healthy. It was obvious that his parents had taken great care of him. Emperor Longshun smiled and praised him, saying, "You have taken good care of Lang'er. This is a reward."
Jing Zhuowen said humbly, "Thank you, Father. It's my duty to raise Lang'er, not for any reward. Now that I'm a father, I understand your father and mother's good intentions even more. I was foolish before and failed your love. I know I was wrong."
Cheng Manyu standing next to her also looked virtuous, polite, gentle and humble.
Emperor Longshun handed Lang'er to the wet nurse, glanced at them, and said, "It's a major festival, so let's not talk about the past. You have been very calm recently, which is good."
These words were more useful than rewards. Jing Zhuowen and Cheng Manyu thanked him with a smile.
The queen also breathed a sigh of relief.
Soon Prince Rui and his family arrived.
Also arriving were the families of Princess Duanyang Jinglong and Princess Mingyang Jingluo.
This time, Emperor Longshun did not tease any of his grandsons or granddaughters in particular. He just smiled after they paid their respects.
Prince Rui glanced at Jing Zhuowen, who was obviously in better spirits, and felt a little jealous.
Prince Kang arrived after Prince Rui and the two princesses.
He politely paid his respects to Emperor Longshun, the Empress, several imperial concubines, imperial concubines, princes and princesses in turn.
Even though almost a year had passed, people were still not used to the fact that he could speak.
Prince Rui was particularly disdainful.
He used to be a little mute, so what if he can speak now? Could it be that his ability to do his job can be improved overnight?
If his father hadn't chosen Lin Shuo as his father-in-law, he would have had no competitiveness at all!
However... seeing the subtle expression on the Queen's face, Prince Rui was still very happy.
——Although the matter of the Queen harming Concubine Xian and the royal heir was somewhat left unresolved, the Queen and Jing Zhuowen lost a lot as a result.
The next people to enter the palace were Princess Chaoyang Jingwei and her family, and Princess Liyang Jingyue and her family.
On their way to Qiankun Palace, they met the Sixth Prince Jing Zhuoan again.
Emperor Longshun was kind to both Jing Wei's family and Jing Yue's family to show his favor.
I also hugged the little girl from Jingwei's family. The little girl had big eyes like the princess and Concubine Rou, and was very cute.
Later, Concubine Rou was reluctant to let go of him.
After Jing Zhuorui went to Qingzhou to be a vassal, they could no longer celebrate the New Year together. He only sent a letter back to pay his respects before the New Year. He did ask Meng Weichen to buy a lot of rare toys to entertain his mother, the imperial sister, and his little niece.
When Meng Weixin misses his son, he visits his daughter and granddaughter more often, which gives him some comfort.
When she takes care of her granddaughter, Lan Fei will also join in the fun and play with the child.
She even joked with Concubine Lan, asking why she didn't urge Jingyue to have a child quickly. It would be quite a leisurely life to enjoy herself with her grandchildren.
Concubine Lan flicked her handkerchief, looking like a boss who didn't care: "I feel much more relaxed after Yue'er got married. Who cares when they have children? I just want to have a few more years of peace and quiet."
Imperial Concubine Rou: "Even if we have a child, the Duke's wife will take care of it most. Why would it take up my sister's energy?"
"Anyway, I don't want to take care of a child so soon. The young couple haven't had enough fun together."
Concubine Rou thought again about how Concubine Lan had been favored for so many years, but it was just her who wanted Jingyue to have a child.
She looked the youngest among the concubines in the palace, with a beautiful complexion that would never fade.
The palace banquet for New Year's Eve basically maintained a festive atmosphere, and no one wanted to cause any bad luck at this time.
On the surface, there is peace and happiness, and blessings are endless.
Emperor Longshun thought, "Lang'er and Hong'er are about to celebrate their first birthdays. And Jingwei's Miaomiao is only a few days older than her two brothers. Why not have a birthday party for them all? It'll be lively."
Now that the emperor has spoken, who else dares to say anything?
In the past, the Empress might have offered some advice, saying, "How can the eldest grandson of the Emperor be treated the same as the eldest grandson of the legitimate wife?" Furthermore, the Princess' child was only a little princess, so how could she celebrate her birthday with the eldest grandson of the legitimate wife?
But now the Queen's power has fallen into the hands of others, and Concubine Rou is in charge of the palace affairs. Emperor Longshun also discussed this with Concubine Rou.
Of course Concubine Rou was happy. It didn't matter if she celebrated her precious daughter's daughter's birthday a few days later.
"Okay, I'll do as your Majesty says. I'll make good preparations."
The emperor's words were golden, and Concubine Rou assisted him. The empress did not say anything. Naturally, Jing Zhuowen and Jing Zhuowu could no longer have any objections, and they all stood up to express their gratitude.
Jingwei also thanked him in a coquettish manner.
As for what everyone is thinking in their hearts, only they themselves know.
After the palace banquet ended, everyone respectfully saw off Emperor Longshun, the Empress, and the imperial concubines before dispersing.
The road out of the palace inevitably overlapped, and Prince Rui took the initiative to talk to Lin Zhiyi, asking her about her preparations for the martial arts selection next year.
Lin Zhiyi said modestly, "I don't have a perfect plan yet. Does Second Emperor have any good ideas?"
Prince Rui: "Quality is more important than quantity in the military selection. Second brother is a few years older than you and has more experience, so I'm shamelessly advising you not to rush all those scoundrels into the capital. You'll overcrowd the capital like a market. If anything goes wrong, won't the responsibility be on you?"
Lin Zhiyi raised an eyebrow, then suddenly realized and thanked him: "Second brother, your advice is indeed brilliant. Without your advice, Xiuyuan would have made a big mistake. Thank you very much, Second brother!"
Prince Rui smiled proudly: "You're welcome! Let's go out for a drink some other day, brothers!"
Lin Zhiyi: "Definitely!"
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