Chapter 66
The night wind howled, and Zhu Yun stepped ahead, half a step behind. He roughly knew why Luo Yan was crying; if they were at home, he could do something intimate and use his methods to cheer her up.
But in public, Luo Yan was too shy to hug or touch him, so she could only hold his hand quietly.
While he was pondering, Luo Yan was also silently observing him.
At the Qujiang Pavilion, the emperor hosted a banquet for his officials.
The drums suddenly sounded, and several dragon boats raced neck and neck on the river. Suddenly, a red-headed dragon boat cut through the water like a sharp sword and took the lead.
A man at the bow of the boat beats a drum with great enthusiasm.
Soon, a minister recognized him: "That's the Fifth Prince!"
The red-headed dragon boat won, and the drummer came ashore with a limp; it was indeed the Fifth Prince.
The fifth prince presented the brocade he had won to the emperor, saying, "May Father be free from all evil and enjoy peace and health year after year."
The emperor's personal attendant personally took the colorful silk and presented it to the emperor.
The emperor praised, "My son is brave and strong."
At this moment, Li Chaoen arrived with gifts, saying, "Zhu Yun sent his servant to inquire after Your Majesty's well-being and wish Your Majesty a joyous Dragon Boat Festival and a long and blessed life."
The lively banquet fell silent in an instant.
The emperor beckoned, and Li Chaoen knelt down to present the gifts.
The emperor lifted the red cloth and saw steaming rice dumplings, exquisitely fragrant sachets, and a five-colored silk thread.
"Was it made by Zhu Yun himself?"
"Exactly."
The emperor glanced at it for a moment and said, "Zhu Yun is very thoughtful."
The imperial eunuch accepted the gift and set it aside.
Li Chaoen waited for His Majesty's instructions, only to hear one sentence: "Tell Zhu Yun to focus on his studies."
He broke out in a cold sweat and respectfully kowtowed, saying, "Yes."
Inside, it was very quiet.
Even the high-ranking monks who preached the sutras every day took leave, leaving Zhu Yun with nothing to do but feed the fish on the waterside pavilion.
His method of feeding the fish is quite unique: he places the food box in a hanging basket, which floats in the water, allowing the fish to swarm forward.
Zhu Yun watched quietly as the fish fought for the food as if they were starving.
When Li Chaoen returned, he brought someone with him, namely Cheng Hua.
"Zhu Yun".
Cheng Hua held the silk book in his hands. Li Chaoen guessed what it was and quietly moved away.
"Scholar Cheng, may the Dragon Boat Festival bring you good fortune."
Zhu Yun greeted her, saying, "The Ministry of Revenue has already distributed zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), so I won't give you any more."
Cheng Huadao dared not.
He recalled the rice dumplings that the Feng family had sent that morning and felt somewhat uneasy: "This is a draft imperial edict. Her Majesty the Empress has already read it and has come to request your review."
Zhu Yun said, "Since the Empress Dowager has already seen it, I don't need to see it anymore. Scholar Cheng has a profound knowledge and should be without fault."
Cheng Hua secretly breathed a sigh of relief: "Now, I can really congratulate Zhu Yun."
Zhu Yun said calmly, "Scholar Cheng is a kind and warm-hearted man."
Cheng Hua had heard those words before near Fengjia Fuxiang Path. For some reason, his heart skipped a beat again.
May 12th, seven days to go. Li Chaoen cooked zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) and sent them to Zhu Yun.
Zhu Yun recalled what had happened before: "Has Father Emperor eaten yet?"
Li Chaoen said with difficulty, "His Majesty said... he has some indigestion, perhaps he can eat later."
Zhu Yun pondered for a moment, said nothing, and then snapped a peeled rice dumpling in half, releasing a glistening sweet syrup.
On the Dragon Boat Festival, Zhu Yun ate alone, which made Li Chaoen feel very sad.
Just as he was thinking this, someone from Fengzao Palace suddenly came to invite Zhu Yun to have a meal.
Li Chaoen immediately sensed something was wrong.
Each time Zhu Yun went to Fengzao Palace, he returned unexpectedly.
As expected, Li Chaoen was serving Zhu Yun when the Empress spoke up as soon as Zhu Yun finished eating and put down his chopsticks.
"I haven't seen you employ any female officials, do you not like them?"
Before Zhu Yun could reply, the Empress waved her hand and summoned someone: "Your mother has personally chosen someone for you. When will you send her over?"
Zhu Yun looked up and saw that the person's face was familiar; it was Hong Ling, one of Aunt Cui's servants. She was a beautiful young woman with her head bowed and eyes lowered, looking shy.
The Empress said, "Don't say you don't need it. You can't refuse a gift from an elder."
Zhu Yun cupped his hands and said, "Your subject will obey Your Majesty. However, I am very busy with my studies these days. I will let her come into the tent to serve me in a few days."
The Empress nodded in satisfaction: "At the latest, three days."
Back at Qingyun Temple, a high-ranking monk sent someone to say that there was no need to copy scriptures during the Dragon Boat Festival.
However, the scriptures for yesterday, the day before yesterday, and the day before that were not handed in, so Zhu Yun needs to transcribe the Buddhist scriptures thirty times and hand them in at the waterside pavilion tomorrow morning.
The high monks of Qingyun Temple, backed by the Emperor and Empress, showed no mercy; Zhu Yun's palms were red for several days.
Upon hearing this, Li Chaoen quickly began grinding ink for Zhu Yun.
Zhu Yun removed her belt and looked at him indifferently: "What are you doing?"
Li Chaoen hesitated: "Buddhist scriptures..."
Zhu Yun took off his coat and said, "I won't copy."
Li Chaoen broke out in a cold sweat: "...but..."
Zhu Yun's mind had already wandered elsewhere. She casually tossed her hair ornament onto the table and asked, "Your Highness, what does 'red apricot over the wall' mean?"
Before being conferred the title of Consort Zhu Yun, even as the crown prince of a country, Zhu Yun could not do anything.
Li Chaoen came over and bowed, bringing with him two more people, both of whom were acquaintances—Wang Lang from the Ministry of Justice and Zhang Xian from the Ministry of Personnel.
These two were close advisors to Zhu Yun, and Cheng Hua was no longer fit to stay, so he took his leave: "May 12th, awaiting good news."
After the imperial edict was issued, Zhu Yun also went to express her gratitude and make preparations for her wedding the following year, and then waited for the wedding date.
After Cheng Hua left, Wang Lang congratulated Zhu Yun.
Zhang Xian looked at his friend in shock, not understanding why his usually taciturn companion had suddenly become so shrewd.
Zhu Yun remained silent.
That's even stranger.
I dare not utter the many congratulatory messages I had prepared beforehand.
Zhang Xian's gaze subtly shifted between Zhu Yun and his friend.
He keenly realized that he seemed to have missed something. And these things were tacitly understood between Zhu Yun and his friend.
The usually taciturn Wang Lang spoke again: "I have heard that the Tuoze River is flooded again. Fortunately, Admiral Sun is in good command. I have also heard that Admiral Sun specially wrote a memorial to praise Feng Mengshu, the compiler of the Hanlin Academy, saying that his compilation of the Commentary on the Waterways Classic is well-organized and can serve as a good guide for water management."
Zhu Yun asked with a faint smile, "When did Lord Wang learn to beat around the bush?"
Officials from the Ministry of Justice are actually interfering in the affairs of their Ministry of Personnel!
Zhang Xian thought to himself: Something's definitely not right! Li Chaoen gasped: "Who! Who... dares to speak to me like that?"
Zhu Yun leaned back and fell onto the couch.
He took out a jade pendant from under his pillow, flicked it on his finger, but then stopped responding, clearly having lost interest in exploring it.
Zhu Yun's idea came out of nowhere and went out of nowhere.
After a while, he suddenly asked the emperor, "I haven't seen Father Emperor for a long time. How is his health?"
Li Chaoen recalled the Emperor's appearance during the day and said, "His Majesty's complexion is rosy, and he seems to be fine."
In reality, His Majesty rarely goes out.
Aside from matters of state that are not open to criticism, he usually doesn't show his face and leaves all other matters to the Fifth Prince.
Zhu Yun couldn't possibly be unaware of these things. Luo Yan hadn't left her room for five whole days, only opening the window to move the potted peony outside when she needed it to bask in the sun. Once the sun had set, she would bring the peony back inside.
Perhaps out of consideration for her suffering during those two days, Feng's mother did not ask anyone to inquire about her or deliberately require her to follow the usual rules.
Luo Yan was like a mushroom growing in a dark room.
They are especially restless when night falls.
"My wife, dinner is ready."
Azhi brought in the food on time, opened the food box, and took out the dishes one by one. Suddenly, she touched a delicate little box, held it up to her eyes, and asked, "What is this?"
Luo Yan asked, "What is it?"
Azhi handed it to her: "I don't know who put it here, maybe it was—"
Luo Yan suddenly threw the box away as if she had been bitten, staring at the ground in horror.
Azhi was startled and looked down at the ground.
The box was smashed open, revealing rouge scattered all over the floor.
Azhi inspected the food box, lifted the last layer, and found dozens of exquisite little boxes piled inside.
It was covered in rouge, densely packed.
When asked this question, Zhu Yun might not have intended to learn anything from him; perhaps he was simply reminded of something about the emperor.
Zhu Yun then asked the Empress, "What is Mother doing right now?"
Having just left Fengzao Palace, the Empress had naturally finished her meal and was preparing to retire for the night.
Li Chaoen then gave this answer.
Zhu Yun nodded: "You're right, Mother doesn't have the habit of digesting food after meals."
As he spoke, Zhu Yun loosened his grip, and the jade pendant fell onto his collar.
Upon catching a glimpse of the character "嫣" on the jade pendant, Li Chaoen's eyelids twitched violently.
"Ling Gong, when do you think Feng Ziyu will return?"
Li Chaoen couldn't answer, so Zhu Yun muttered to himself, "They said at least three months before, but Admiral Sun submitted a memorial saying that Feng Ziyu had performed exceptionally well and requested to return to the capital early. Now, it's at most three months."
Li Chaoen silently counted the days; there were only a few days left.
After saying that, Zhu Yun suddenly closed her eyes, turned over, and fell into a deep sleep.
Li Chaoen quietly closed the palace door. Seeing the bright moon outside, he clasped his hands together and bowed.
My first wish is that Zhu Yun, having experienced the ways of the world, will finally give up those messy and unsavory thoughts.
His second wish was for them to get married soon. Putting aside the fact that this would resolve his predicament, at least he wouldn't have to live in constant fear, worrying that Zhu Yun might do something inappropriate.
My three wishes... Is praying to the moon truly effective?
Li Chaoen muttered to himself and awkwardly let go.
The following day, a high-ranking monk from Qingyun Temple gave a sermon in the waterside pavilion. Before the sermon, he asked Zhu Yun if he wanted the scriptures that had been copied the previous day.
Li Chaoen was terrified and tried to explain, "Zhu Yun's health is not—"
Zhu Yun interrupted him: "I haven't written it yet."
The high monk frowned: "Why?"
Zhu Yun frankly replied, "Nothing more than that, I just don't want to write anymore."
He was already sweating, but his friend remained calm and composed, replying, "What I mean is that such a talented person, if given a chance, will certainly be of great help."
Zhu Yun said, "Understood. If there's nothing else, you may leave now."
Zhang Xian felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly took his leave. However, his friend, who had been so brave today, added:
"My situation has been bad lately. If I could marry into the Liu family, it would be a wonderful thing."
Zhang Xian moved a little further away.
When did my friend ever dare to give Zhu Yun advice on how to do things?
After the two left, Zhang Xian repeatedly scanned Wang Lang from head to toe, suspecting that his friend was possessed by a ghost.
"Even if Zhu Yun intends to make things difficult for that Hanlin Academy compiler, as long as no one is killed, just do as he says. Have you lost your mind today? Is Feng Mengshu your long-lost brother?"
The sound of the slap in the prison cell that day still echoes in my ears.
Wang Langdao: "What if the purpose isn't Editor Feng?"
Zhang Xian's mind raced, several possibilities flashing through his head, and he said incredulously, "This..."
Wang Lang did not deny it.
Luo Yan lifted her eyelids and urged her on.
He could no longer contain himself, and with his palm facing down, he said in a cold voice, "If you ask any more of these pointless questions, I'll make sure you can't get out of bed tomorrow."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
