Chapter 60 New Year
With such a big thing happening, Chan Zhen naturally couldn't sit idly by any longer.
"Your Majesty," she lowered her voice before the matter was made public, "does the banquet need to be suspended for a moment?"
Although His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin had some unpleasantness with her before he went to war, he is, after all, Your Majesty's biological prince. Upon hearing such news, Your Majesty must have been very worried.
"No need, everything will proceed as usual." Unlike what she expected, His Majesty's expression was as calm as ever.
Zen Zhen was a little anxious: "But Your Highness Prince Jin..."
Chen Dingyao waved the eunuch who had delivered the message away. Seeing the worry evident on her face, his eyes dimmed slightly. "Is Chan really worried about Yun Yi?"
Chan Zhen didn't notice the abnormality in his tone. "I wonder how His Royal Highness Prince Jin is doing? The Rong people are in danger. I hope His Royal Highness can return safely."
Chen Dingyao felt uncomfortable watching this. He picked up a glass of wine, swallowed the turmoil in his mind, and said calmly, "Yun Yi will not be left in the hands of the Rong people."
After all, he had placed a lot of expectations on Yun Yi and almost taught him hand in hand. If he were to sacrifice himself just to chase a Rong prince, it would be too useless.
Seeing His Majesty so calm, Chan Zhen also felt relieved. Perhaps His Majesty had already made a decision in his mind.
She came back to her senses and saw that His Majesty looked a little depressed for some reason. He drank one glass of wine after another. She frowned and asked, "Why did Your Majesty drink so much?"
Ever since she became pregnant, His Majesty has never touched alcohol, except on special occasions, when he would just pick up the wine glass and touch his lips politely.
Chen Dingyao paused holding the wine glass, and under her dissatisfied gaze, he silently put the glass back where it belonged.
It turns out that Chan Zhen is not only worried about Yun Yi, he is still in Chan Zhen's heart.
Chan Zhen always treated him with great respect, never letting him down, in private. She carried the wine jug farther away, thinking that when she got home, she would have to have Lu Zhu make some hangover soup for His Majesty, and then have him clean himself of the alcohol before going to bed. She and Yuan Zhao didn't want to fall asleep smelling of alcohol.
Except for this little incident just now, everything went very smoothly at the banquet.
"Your son respectfully wishes the Emperor and the Empress a happy new year." Ever since he was personally reprimanded by His Majesty for being disrespectful to the Imperial Concubine on the last Tianshou Festival, Prince Yu has been neglected in the court for a long time. The ministers who originally supported him also dispersed after seeing this situation. Therefore, the Prince Yu, who used to think highly of himself, had to bow his head in front of Chan Zhen again.
Chan Zhen did not see the Princess of Yu, but heard that she was about to give birth and would soon give birth to the first grandson for His Majesty.
But His Majesty did not treat her very well. For such a long time, not to mention rewarding her, he had not even said a greeting to her, as if the Princess of Yu, who was pregnant with the eldest grandson of the royal family, did not exist.
Facing Prince Yu's expectant yet anxious gaze, His Majesty simply nodded indifferently and let him leave.
Chan Zhen watched helplessly as the light of expectation in His Royal Highness Prince Yu's eyes dimmed, and he returned to his seat dejectedly.
She unconsciously touched her lower abdomen and sighed softly.
"Chanzhen," His Majesty suddenly called her name, "Everyone is partial, and I am no exception."
He knew Chan Zhen was soft-hearted, and now that she was pregnant and saw him treating Yun Che so coldly, he couldn't help but overthink things. Whether from the perspective of an emperor or Chan Zhen's lover, since he had already decided to hand over the throne to Yuan Zhao, he couldn't give the other princes even the slightest hope. Their hopes would breed ambitions, potentially harming Chan Zhen and Yuan Zhao. Yun Yi was the only exception, because Yun Yi shared his love for Chan Zhen and Yuan Zhao. Even though Yun Yi and Yuan Zhao were not related by blood, he would do his utmost to protect the child.
That's why he felt safe letting Yun Yi go to the border, safe in the knowledge that Yun Yi could seize power. After Yun Yi gained power, his sword would only be aimed at him, not Chan Zhen or Yuan Zhao. Although he wanted a long-lasting relationship with Chan Zhen, if something happened to him and Yuan Zhao hadn't yet developed the ability to protect himself and Chan Zhen, Yun Yi would be his last resort.
Zen Zhen looked at his resolute profile. He turned his head and the coldness in his eyes immediately relaxed.
"I always favor you," he said.
Zen Zhen suddenly felt relieved: "Zen Zhen knows what your Majesty means."
She was no plant, so how could she not sense His Majesty's partiality towards her? It turned out that she was also selfish. Even though His Majesty already had so many children, she still hoped that His Majesty would always love and value her children the most.
She would rather bear the condemnation of her conscience than share even a little of His Majesty's love with others.
After the palace banquet, as soon as he returned to Fengqi Palace and there was no one around, His Majesty couldn't help but hug her tightly.
Zen turned his face away, avoiding the kiss he placed on her.
His eyes suddenly darkened, and his voice was filled with a rare hint of loss and grievance, and his hot breath sprayed on her ear.
"Zen really despises me?"
Zen Zhen sighed helplessly, patted his shoulder gently, and coaxed: "Your Majesty, drink some hangover soup first and wash it off."
It was strange. His Majesty had a good alcohol tolerance in the past. He hadn't drunk a drop of alcohol since she stopped him today. He was sober at the banquet just now, and there was nothing unusual when he was talking and laughing. How come he got drunk as soon as he returned to the palace?
"I don't want to drink." He recalled how Chan Zhen was worried about Yun Yi at the banquet, and he felt unhappy. So he just pretended to be crazy to sober up, hoping that Chan Zhen would coax him more.
Chan Zhen frowned and said, "If your Majesty doesn't drink, don't even think about getting into my bed tonight."
The imperial physician said that the smell of alcohol was not good for her and the fetus in her womb, and even His Majesty could not violate her principles.
Chen Dingyao was silent for a while. He could no longer pretend under such a threat. He was indeed drunk just now and almost forgot that Chanzhen was still pregnant.
He straightened up and took two steps back, afraid that the smell of alcohol on his body would bother her again.
"Don't be angry, I will listen to you."
He rubbed his swollen forehead and went downstairs to wash himself. He washed several times before he could no longer smell any trace of alcohol. Only then did he come out of the bathroom with peace of mind.
The hangover soup was ready. When Chan Zhen saw him come out in clean clothes, he held the hangover candy in his hands and tried to hand it to him.
Chen Dingyao frowned and immediately walked over to take it from her: "I'll do it myself, don't burn you."
When Chanzhen saw him take the hangover soup and drink it all in one gulp without even frowning, she felt relieved and threw herself into his arms. She sniffed and found that there was indeed no smell of alcohol, and it was very dry.
Chen Dingyao caught her and felt that the missing part in his heart was finally complete.
Zen Zhen obediently raised her face, and this time she did not resist his closeness. When the kiss ended, Zen Zhen's cheeks flushed, her eyes moist, and she softened in his arms.
Chen Dingyao restrained the desire in his heart and just held her and sat down on the bed.
"It's a new year again." He held Zen Zhen's hand, "Zen Zhen and I have already gone through the first year."
The scene he had longed for countless times in his dreams in his previous life finally came true in this life.
Chanzhen leaned against his chest, silently recalling the scenes of this year with His Majesty from the time they met until today. A year ago, she was still in the small square courtyard of the Song family, learning how to please people with her teacher day after day, and was uneasy about her future destination.
“It’s like a dream.”
After meeting His Majesty, she realized that she was also valued and pampered by others.
If everything that happened after she met His Majesty was really a dream, she hoped that she would never wake up from it.
"This time next year," His Majesty looked down at her, "I hope Chan Zhen and Yuan Zhao will be by my side."
Zen Zhen blinked and smiled, "Is this the only hope Your Majesty has?"
She held his hand tightly and interlocked her fingers with his.
"Zen really hopes that I can be with Your Majesty and Yuan Zhao every year on this day."
"Year after year, the cycle continues without end."
…
There was no news about the disappearance of His Royal Highness Prince Jin in the outside world. When Concubine Shu came to pay her respects the next day, her face was still filled with anticipation and joy for the New Year.
Of the three concubines in the past, she is the only one left. Prince Yu and Prince Zhuang, who she once regarded as threats, have now been disliked by His Majesty, while the other has become unknown again due to the retirement of Concubine De. On the other hand, her Yun Yi is now fighting at the border and has made many military achievements. Even some of the supporters in the court who originally supported Prince Yu and Prince Zhuang are gradually approaching her.
The only thing that made her unhappy was the queen above her, a daughter of a lowly merchant, who in less than a year had climbed to the position she had dreamed of for nearly twenty years, and was even pregnant with the royal heir.
There are also many ministers in the court who are watching and have not yet voted for either side. They are just waiting to see whether the baby in the queen's belly is a boy or a girl. If it is a prince, he will almost certainly be the next crown prince. Among all the princes of His Majesty, only Prince Jin can compete based on his reputation.
"Your Majesty, it's time for this baby to be born in four months, right?" Concubine Shu saw this baby as a thorn in her side, and even Concubine Xu was jealous. "We have many princes in the palace, but princesses are very rare. If your majesty's baby is a princess, His Majesty will surely love it very much."
Zen Zhen slowly raised his eyes, glanced at her, and said, "My own children, whether they are princes or princesses, are naturally precious."
She paused, and seeing the smug look on Concubine Xu's face, she snorted inwardly and continued, "But His Majesty said that this baby of mine must be a prince, so of course I believe His Majesty's words."
As soon as these words were spoken, not only Concubine Xu, but even Concubine Shu's face turned ugly.
What does your Majesty mean by this? Since you're so eager for the Empress to give birth to a prince, are you convinced that this child is the only one who can be crowned heir?
Lu Zhu watched Shu Fei's smug look when she first came to pay her respects, and how she would occasionally boast about the achievements of His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin at the border, and then her cold expression when she left. She finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"The Queen has finally stopped pampering them." It was obvious that the Queen's brother, General Song, had also made great efforts at the border, but the Queen Concubine Shu spoke as if this battle was won entirely because of His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin.
"I just don't want my good mood to be ruined on the first day of the new year." Zen Zhen sighed slightly.
It was New Year's Day, and his mother couldn't stay in the palace any longer. She still had many social interactions to attend to at the Song residence, so Madam Wei left the palace early. Chan Zhen had learned a few lessons about dealing with people from her time with Madam Wei.
After all, she is already the queen, so the opinions of others except His Majesty are not that important. She used to want to act like a virtuous person, but now she thinks it is better for her to be happy first.
No matter how virtuous she is, she cannot avoid being envied by others. There are still many verbal attacks against her in the court. As long as His Majesty favors her, such voices will never stop.
"Who ruined your good mood?" His Majesty suddenly walked in. At the beginning of the new year, there were fewer things to do in the court. Now was the most leisurely time of the year for him.
"Your Majesty!" Zen Zhen smiled as soon as he saw him, and his eyes curved into two crescents.
She was older now and could no longer trot into his arms like before. She could only wait for him to come to her, and His Majesty was never reluctant to take those few extra steps.
He walked over to her and sat down. "You've met so many people today, are you tired?"
He had some free time these days, but Chanzhen had to accept visits from the concubines in the harem and some ladies in the court. He felt heartbroken when he thought that she was still pregnant.
"I'm sitting here. Your Majesty, should you ask others if they are tired of kneeling here and there?" Chan Zhen smiled at him.
Chen Dingyao looked at her warmly: "I only care about you, what does anyone else have to do with me?"
His Majesty always spoke with a unique fondness for her, which made her heart flutter. "If your Majesty's words were to get out, you would be cursed."
"It's just some insults, I don't care." After all, he had been insulted a lot in his previous life, some even pointed at his nose and scolded him for being "blinded by lust", but he felt calm in his heart.
He did not deny that he was infatuated with Chan Zhen, but apart from the fact that he doted on Chan Zhen unshakably, he did not do anything that would harm the country. The country had always been peaceful and stable. It was obvious that there were no beautiful women who brought disaster to the world, only tyrants who cowardly used women to cover up their crimes of destroying their country.
Zen Zhen placed his palm on his chest and raised his head confidently: "Is it not okay for me to care?"
She didn't want His Majesty to bear the blame for her. Even if they had to be blamed, they should be blamed together.
"Does Chan really care about me?" He raised his deep eyes.
Chan Zhen's eyes were filled with a bright smile: "Your Majesty, can't you see that I am partial to you?"
Feeling the warmth from her palm, he raised the corners of his lips.
…
The grasslands in the northern part of the Great Wall were barren, and the north wind was howling, as shrill as the howling of wild beasts.
He was chased almost non-stop for many days, and even the elite soldiers guarding him were reduced one by one, until finally he was the only one left.
When he fell off his horse, the eldest prince of the Rong tribe, who had always been powerful and influential in the royal court, was already in a trance. He lay on the ground exhausted and unable to crawl forward another step.
The man who caused this scene walked up to him step by step with a Shura-like face, and his voice was filled with evil spirits that seemed to have crawled out of hell.
"Why don't you run away?" The man kicked him, treating him as a stray dog on the roadside.
He was so tired that he couldn't open his eyes. He had completely lost his former dignity and could only beg for mercy: "Don't kill me..."
"How can I kill you?" the man asked.
Before he could breathe a sigh of relief, he heard a sneer the next moment, which made him suddenly feel that he might as well die here.
"Bringing the eldest prince of the Rong tribe back to the capital as a prisoner, I'm sure my father will be very happy to see it."
After all, this was something that even his father had not been able to do.
"This way, she should look at me more, right?"
Just look at him more, and don't keep your eyes fixed on his father.
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