It was getting dark. Hu Changsheng walked in front holding a lantern, reminding Song Chengze to pay attention to his feet from time to time.
The weather is getting warmer, and the snow that melts during the day freezes into ice at night. There are always some areas on both sides of the road that have not been cleaned.
Song Chengze didn't walk fast. He was thinking about what he had said to Concubine Lian today while walking.
This was the third time in his life that his mother had openly summoned him to the Qionghua Palace to reprimand him. The first time was when, as a teenager, he threw Prince Duan's birthday gift to Consort Xiang into the river. The second time was when he submitted a memorial to the Ministry of Rites, without consulting his mother, to appoint Xiaolin as a concubine.
This time, Concubine Lian seemed extremely angry. She actually sent Aunt Mo directly to Chengtian Palace. After the Emperor had summoned their sons, she blocked him at the door of the Imperial Study. With a sullen face, she said in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear, "Your Majesty, please spare some time to visit Qionghua Palace. Your Majesty, perhaps because you didn't remind him to wake up in the morning and evening, he has forgotten how to get to Qionghua Palace."
This sentence made Song Chengze's face flush red, and several princes standing beside him looked amused. Prince Duan pointed at Aunt Mo and asked, "What did the Sixth Master do to upset Concubine Lian?"
Aunt Mo first bowed to Song Chengze and said, "Please forgive me, Your Highness. I just said what Your Highness said. Your Highness asked me to repeat every word to Your Highness."
Then she bowed to Prince Duan and said, "Lady Lian, it's just that she hasn't seen Prince Rui for a long time and wants to talk."
Prince Duan glanced at Song Chengze with interest and said, "Mrs. Meng is really never quiet. She has a very fierce temper." After saying that, he walked past Song Chengze.
Prince Cheng followed closely behind him, smiled slightly and said, "Sixth brother, please pay more attention. It seems that the fourth sister-in-law's family is about to have a wedding. If the news gets out... hehe." After saying this, he strode away.
Prince Jing looked at Song Chengze awkwardly, then turned to the crown prince walking at the end and said, "Look at what's going on. You're always talking about your brother-in-law. What's the point?" Then he said to Song Chengze, "I heard that Concubine Lian was not very happy after talking to Sixth Brother's wife yesterday. My mother wanted to talk to her but was rejected. I'm afraid she's still not happy. You can comfort her with a few words and everything will be fine."
The Crown Prince stepped forward and said, "Fourth brother is right. Sixth brother's wife is a bit straightforward and doesn't understand the habits and temperament of Concubine Lian. I'm afraid she might say something wrong. When she goes to the palace again, ask your sister-in-law to accompany her to chat with Concubine Lian more often."
Song Chengze said helplessly, "My two brothers don't know. When I went back yesterday, Meng kept talking to me about it. Although I don't know what Mother said to her, looking at her expression..." He bowed and said helplessly, "I'll go and see first. I have to comfort Mother."
The Crown Prince nodded. The two watched Song Chengze turn toward the inner palace corridor. Prince Jing said quietly, "It's not easy for Sixth Brother either. Being caught between women is the worst feeling, isn't it, my Royal Brother?"
The prince didn't turn around, staring at the melting snow dripping from the eaves. "It's easy for anyone. Every family has its own problems. By the way, the third brother just mentioned your brother-in-law's wedding. How is it going?"
Prince Jing shrugged. "I don't ask about the affairs of the Hong family. I just know that Hong Zhe doesn't seem to like the eldest daughter of the Meng family very much... You know, the incident with Sixth Brother's wife made such a big fuss. Even if Hong Zhe didn't mean to do it, they are two major families after all. Now that they are married to the Meng family, I'm afraid it will be awkward when they meet in the future."
The prince smiled slightly, "He married her and she married him, and they lived their own lives. For some things, the most feared thing is time."
King Jing watched the Crown Prince walk towards the East Palace, squinting his eyes and motioning for his eunuch to come over, "Go back and tell the princess that Hongzhe's marriage must be used to good advantage."
――――――
Song Chengze rubbed Concubine Lian's shoulders and whispered, "So, Mother didn't deny it?"
Concubine Lian patted her son's hand and motioned Song Chengze to sit down.
"I never thought Meng was so clever. Do you think she hit her head when she fell on the ice?"
Song Chengze laughed, "People are always foolish when they are knocked down, there is no such thing as smart people."
Concubine Lian also smiled. "She speaks with great discretion. She probes my questions without being offensive. She expresses her resolve with undeniable sincerity, never a hint of pretense. Her sincerity is irresistible. Most importantly, her foresight and insight are so profound that I can't even categorically deny her words."
Song Chengze picked up a tangerine, gently plucked the pith, and placed it on a small gilded dish before handing it to Concubine Lian. "Son, remember, when I was little, every time Aunt Mo came to visit me, she would always leave me two oranges, plucked cleanly like these. As soon as I saw them, I knew they were picked by Mother herself. I couldn't bear to eat them, so I placed them by my pillow to inhale their fragrance. One time, one of those oranges rolled into my quilt, and the juice got all over me. I was so happy, it felt like I was scented with you."
When Concubine Lian heard Song Chengze talk about this, tears fell, "It's my own incompetence that I dare not get close to my own son, let alone bring him with me. I have caused you so much suffering."
Song Chengze held Lian Fei's hand and said, "Mother, it's not your fault. They pushed you too hard. If you hadn't done that, I wouldn't have grown up like this. I know everything, and I've never blamed you. For so many years, you've humbled yourself for me. I know everything."
When Concubine Lian heard her son say this, she put her face in the palm of her son's hand and whimpered.
Song Chengze felt the warmth of his palm and raised his head to hold back his tears. The sparrows in the yard jumped onto the windowsill outside, as if heralding the arrival of spring.
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