Princess Returns After Great Victory on the Frontier
Li Yanzhang respectfully said, "Please trouble Eunuch Zhao to convey my gratitude to His Majesty and the Empress."
Zhao Hongxing said, "This servant will relay the message."
Then he waved his hand behind him, and a group of people carried numerous congratulatory gifts into the mansion and put them down.
Gifts such as jade, writing implements, silk and satin.
Seeing this, the crowd whispered among themselves, "No wonder he's the Empress's own brother; even his birthday banquet gifts are so precious..."
Zhao Hongxing smiled and said, "I'll leave this gift here for now. I have to rush back to report, so I'll be going now."
Upon hearing this, Li Fengtan quickly led everyone to bow to him and said, "Respectfully seeing off Eunuch."
Zhao Hongxing smiled and left, and everyone then returned to their seats to begin the banquet.
On the eleventh day of the fourth month of the first year of the Taigan era, it was the birthday of Li Yanzhang, the eldest son of the Minister of Rites. The people presented gifts, the emperor and empress offered congratulations, Princess Huimin attended in person, and guests filled the air, creating a joyous and harmonious atmosphere.
After a long while, as the banquet drew to a close, Li Yanzhang watched the guests leave when he suddenly heard someone say, "Happy birthday."
Before he could turn around to see who it was, Qi Min quickly walked away from him.
Li Yanzhang only understood after watching her retreating figure.
So that's what she meant to say.
At this moment, Ji Xi walked over and said, "She doesn't resemble her mother at all."
Li Yanzhang agreed, saying, "Yes, it's different from the rumors. At first, I thought she came to my birthday banquet because her mother ordered her to cause trouble, but now it seems that's not the case."
Ji Xi said, "Okay, I'll head back now."
Upon hearing this, Li Yanzhang asked in confusion, "So soon? Aren't you going to stay here a little longer?"
Ji Xi looked at him and said, "Forget it, I still hope I can recover from my injury as soon as possible."
Li Yanzhang smiled and said, "Alright, I'll see you off."
Inside the Phoenix Palace, Li Xingyi stood under a pear tree. The wind blew through the tree, scattering pear blossoms. Li Xingyi stretched out one hand and held it in mid-air. Pear blossoms fell onto his palm. The wind blew the blossoms, the blossoms surrounded him, and he caught the blossoms. This scene was so mesmerizing.
Li Xingyi looked at the pear blossom in his hand and said, "Flowers bloom and fade in their own time."
Qingyi said, "Your Majesty, it's windy outside, let's come inside."
Li Xingyi said calmly, "It's alright. I find this scenery very beautiful and would like to stay a little longer."
Then she looked at Qianwu and said, "Qianwu, go and prepare some paper and ink. I wish to paint here."
Qianwu bowed and said, "Yes."
After Qianwu left, Li Xingyi sat on the stone bench and said, "You can all go now. Qingyi can stay here."
The servants could only bow and say, "Yes, this servant will take her leave."
Qingyi said, "Your Majesty, she has been given an identity to take advantage of the opportunity to participate in the imperial concubine selection."
Li Xingyi asked calmly, "What's your identity?"
Qingyi said, "Meng Tingyu is the daughter of a farmer."
Li Xingyi said, "Listening to the Rain in a Dream is a decent name, nothing special."
Qingyi added, "Your Majesty, His Majesty did not favor Consort Duan last night."
After hearing this, Li Xingyi calmly said, "...It's just the art of rulership. He is indeed a remarkable person, but I still can't see through him. If he is worried about power, why did he want to get involved with me? Or is he plotting against me?"
A few months of exclusive favor is not a good thing. Even if Shi Yan is weak and alone, she still needs some favor to prevent others from criticizing Li Xingyi and his father.
Qingyi's expression remained unchanged, but she was inwardly excited.
That's because he likes you, my master. I really want to tell you, but... sigh, never mind, even if I told you, you wouldn't understand.
Qingyi then replied, "This servant guesses that His Majesty did this because of Your Highness's father. After all, the Master is His Majesty's man, and even if you serve him and bear a child, it will benefit both of them."
After hearing this, Li Xingyi said, "Hmm, that's possible. By the way, how's the situation on the frontier?"
Qingyi said, "We will overpower them."
Li Xingyi said, "General Weiwu truly lives up to his title. His military strategy is excellent. I'm afraid he will be staying on the frontier for a long time this time."
General Qi Xuangui was ordered to go to the frontier to fight against the Iron Tatars. He could use this opportunity to stay on the frontier and train the army, so Princess Qing'an and Princess Ru'an could return to the palace.
Qingyi thought for a moment and said, "It must be because of that matter. Then are they going to come back?"
Li Xingyi said calmly, "Well, let's continue sending people to find evidence."
Qingyi replied, "Yes."
Just then, Qianwu returned with the writing implements. She said, "Your Highness, I have brought the things."
Li Xingyi looked at her and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Qianwu."
Qianwu was flattered and said, "Your Majesty, please don't say that. You're making me feel so ashamed."
Li Xingyi said, "It's alright, grind the ink for me."
As instructed, Qianwu began grinding ink, and Li Xingyi spread the paper on the stone table and began painting with a brush in hand.
Inside Yonghe Palace, Shi Yan hadn't seen Qi Dou since she got up. Instead, Fu Rong came up to her and hugged her, crying, "My poor lady, it's bad enough that you were forced into the palace, but now you've lost your chastity. Are you going to stay in this palace until you die? Waaah!"
Shi Yan said helplessly, "Furong, you should call me Your Highness. You can't say that. Besides, I'm still a virgin. You don't need to do that..."
Before she could finish speaking, Furong cried even harder, "Your Majesty, I know you're only saying this to comfort me, but I know perfectly well that someone as gentle as you must have been too rough with His Majesty last night, which is why you got up so late..."
Shi Yan was taken aback.
Why does it feel like what she said is the truth? What an imaginative thought…
Then she raised her hand and flicked Furong's forehead, saying, "Alright, stop crying. Don't you believe what I said? Besides, if I were really as you say, why would I be in this state?"
Furong covered her forehead and looked at Shi Yan, saying, "Really? Your Majesty, you really don't have it?"
Shi Yan smiled gently and said, "It's true, His Majesty has probably been in love with the Empress for a long time, just as the rumors say."
Furong asked, "So, does that mean I won't have to worry about serving you in bed anymore?"
Shi Yan said, "Probably. By the way, Furong, you absolutely must not tell anyone other than us about this, not even your aunt, understand?"
Furong lowered her hand and nodded, saying, "Don't worry, Your Highness, I will definitely not tell anyone."
Shi Yan hummed in agreement.
Then, as if she had thought of something, Furong asked with worry, "Your Majesty, can this matter be kept from the Empress Dowager? Even if it can be kept from her, what will happen if you do not conceive for a long time in the future?"
After hearing this, Shi Yan looked somewhat sad and said, "Let's talk about it another time."
Seeing this, Furong stopped talking.
Inside the Xuanzheng Hall, Qi Dou was handling government affairs, with Zhao Hongxing attending to him. Suddenly, a palace servant appeared with an envelope. He immediately knelt down, holding the envelope with both hands, and said, "This servant greets Your Majesty, conveying the situation of the border war."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Hongxing immediately stepped forward, took the envelope, and handed it to Qi Dou. The envelope was inscribed with the four large characters "To be opened by His Majesty." Upon seeing this, Qi Dou stopped writing and opened the envelope.
The envelope read: "Your humble general Qi Xuangui greets Your Majesty. I have successfully fulfilled my mission, repelling the Iron Tatar tribe. I believe this is a good opportunity to train troops on the frontier and defend it, preventing the Iron Tatars from invading our country again. I humbly request Your Majesty's permission—Qi Xuangui."
After reading it, Qi Dou said, "Hongxing, convey my decree: General Weiwu has rendered meritorious service in repelling the Iron Tatar tribe and will be rewarded with one hundred taels of gold. In addition, to prevent the Iron Tatar tribe from invading again, General Weiwu is ordered to garrison the border. Princesses Qing'an and Ru'an may immediately return to the capital."
Zhao Hongxing hurriedly replied, "Yes, this servant will go and convey the decree immediately."
After giving his instructions, Qi Dou picked up his pen again to handle government affairs.
I wonder what Xingyi is doing right now? Will she misunderstand and think I slept with someone else last night?
Lost in thought, Qi Dou didn't notice that ink had dripped all over the memorial, turning it completely black. Realizing what had happened, he quickly said, "We can't get distracted. Let's check whose memorial it is first and prepare our wording."
Qi Dou flipped the memorial over and saw the words "Minister of Rites Li Fengtan" written on it. He immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness, it's Li Aiqing's, so it's fine. We can just say that he accidentally spilled the ink.
On the other side, Li Fengtan had finally finished copying the book during the day, and had just submitted his memorial in the afternoon when he received a memorial splattered with ink. He looked at the memorial in his hand in confusion, then at Zhao Hongxing who was smiling in front of him, and hesitated, "Eunuch Zhao, is His Majesty still... angry?"
Zhao Hongxing was completely confused, but he still answered, "No."
Li Fengtan looked at the memorial in his hand again, still in disbelief.
It's not here yet?! They're so angry they don't even want to read my memorials anymore; they must have just poured ink on it.
He then bowed helplessly to Zhao Hongxing and the others, saying, "I'm sorry to have troubled you to make this trip, and I would also appreciate it if you could tell His Majesty about my loyalty to him."
Zhao Hongxing was puzzled.
? ? ?What's the meaning?
He smiled and said, "His Majesty knows of your loyalty, sir. You can rest assured."
Li Fengtan quickly said, "Thank you very much, sir."
He then watched Zhao Hongxing leave, and Li Fengtan looked up at the sky again.
Alas, serving a ruler is like serving a tiger. I wonder how my poor daughter is doing? Alas…
He sighed as he walked, and the servants in the mansion, seeing this, whispered among themselves, "What's wrong with the master?"
"I don't know, but Eunuch Zhao just came by. Perhaps His Majesty had Eunuch Zhao say something to you, which is why you are so troubled."
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