Chapter 42
Princess Yue's nineteenth birthday was a celebration across the country. The streets and alleys of Yidu were filled with a festive atmosphere, and the people were overjoyed. The inner courts of the imperial palace were especially bustling with congratulations, and officials from all walks of life presented lavish gifts, wishing Princess Yue good health and prosperity.
"Father." Yi Luoyue, dressed in gold silk and satin, came to Tianlu Pavilion hand in hand with Xiaoyueer, who was wearing the same gorgeous clothes.
King Yi, Yi Xuanxin, looked up, his eyes blurry, and rubbed them. Oh my god! What did he see? Luo Yue and her younger self!
“This…what is this?”
"Father, this is Xiaoyue'er, Gong Yuchen's adopted daughter." Yi Luoyue pushed Xiaoyue'er in front of Yi Xuanxun.
Yi Xuanxun squatted down and looked at the little girl who looked exactly like Luo Yue when she was a child, then looked up at Yi Luoyue and asked uncertainly.
"You said she was your daughter, and my father believed it."
With graceful willow-shaped eyebrows, a straight nose, and a playful mouth, this innocent little beauty who looks like Luo Yue actually has the same natural aura as Luo Yue. However, upon closer inspection, this child also has some shadows of his late queen, which makes him a little confused. This child looks like his own child no matter how you look at him, more like his other grandchildren.
She wore a moon-white blouse overlaid with a golden silk satin skirt, and a wide, flowing liuxian skirt of the same color. A silver-white belt hung from it, holding a pearl-studded purse embroidered with osmanthus flowers on a white background. Two silver bells were tied to the bottom, ringing as she walked. Her hair was styled into heart-shaped buns on either side, adorned with osmanthus flowers made of yellow jade and pearls. A tuft of hair flowed in the breeze on either side of her ears, further highlighting her playful and charming nature.
“Father, I also wish she was my daughter, but she really isn’t.
"But it will be soon!" Xiaoyue looked at the two adults with certainty.
"Okay, okay! Come, Xiaoyue, you haven't paid your respects yet." Yi Luoyue's face was almost burning with anger, and she quickly pulled the little guy to pay her respects.
"Then what should Xiaoyue'er call Your Majesty?"
"What does Xiaoyue want to call me?" How adorable! The more Yixuanxin looked at the child, the more he liked her. She felt particularly close to him.
"Xiaoyue, can you call His Majesty the Emperor grandpa? Mother said that grandpa was so happy when Xiaoyue was born. He gave Xiaoyue so many gifts, so many that it would fill a whole room!"
"What a cute little kid, just like Yue'er when she was little, even the way they ask for gifts is exactly the same."
"Then Grandfather, can you give Xiaoyue a gift as well?"
"Really!! Xiaoyue thanks grandpa, Xiaoyue loves grandpa the most." After saying that, she hugged Yixuanxin's waist fearlessly.
"How dare you!" Zhang Liang, the chief eunuch of the Imperial Household Department, scolded Xiao Yue'er for her unreasonable behavior.
"Hey! Keep your voice down, don't scare her."
"His Majesty."
"I hereby grant you special permission. Xiaoyue'er is not allowed to kneel down or kowtow to anyone in this palace." Yi Xuanxun gave the order while hugging Xiaoyue'er.
"If anyone scares her, I will chop off his head." After just one meeting, Yi Xuanxun treated Xiaoyue'er as if she were Yi Luoyue when she was little. This was a treatment that neither Yi Tianhao nor Yi Tianya had ever received.
Looking at the lovely Xiaoyue'er, Yixuanqin said somewhat sadly.
"After seeing this child, my father feels that Luo Yue, your future children will also be as smart and cute. I am just afraid that there will be a day when I will not see them."
"Father, what are you talking about? Can you bear to abandon your daughter?" Yi Luoyue held his hand and asked sadly.
"Silly child, of course your father couldn't bear to part with you. When your mother gave birth to you, you were so tiny and soft, so adorable. Your first smile, your first call to someone, was all about me, your father. After your mother passed away, I wanted to follow her. If you hadn't held me back, wasting a few more years, I would have reunited with your mother long ago!"
All his life, he loved Yi Luoyue's mother deeply, and all other emotions in the world were insignificant to him. But this daughter was born to him by his beloved wife, and he could not let her go. He was also afraid of betraying the queen's trust, so he treated her like a treasure and could not bear to see her get hurt.
"Grandpa will live a long life, and he and Xiaoyue will take care of little brother."
"You have a little brother?" Yi Xuanxun patted her little face jokingly, but looked at Yi Luoyue.
"Xiao Yue'er!" Yi Luoyue looked at the old and the child awkwardly.
"Yes! Xiaoyue will have a little brother soon, so grandpa will live a long life."
"Hahaha, this child really is exactly like you when you were a child."
"Father, why do I feel like I'm going to fall out of favor?" Yi Luoyue was very happy that her father liked Xiaoyue'er. Does this mean that he won't object to her being with Gong Yuchen?
"Spoil both of them, spoil both of them!" He hadn't been so happy for a long time. In fact, it was time for him to enjoy his grandchildren and live out his days in peace. However, he could never be happy about the two children of the virtuous king. Unlike Xiaoyue, he felt like they were old friends at first sight and wanted to pile all the good things in front of her.
"Xiao Yue'er, do you want to come to the palace to visit your grandfather more often?" Yi Xuanxin touched her head.
"Okay, okay! When Daddy and the others are busy, Xiaoyue can come and accompany Grandpa! But how can Xiaoyue come?"
Yi Xuanxin thought for a moment, reached out and took off the "Four Gods" jade pendant on his belt that represented his identity, and tied it around her body.
"Zhang Liang."
"His Majesty."
"Pass the decree down. Seeing this jade pendant, you can move freely within the palace as if I were present in person."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Zhang Liang finally understood. This little girl was deeply favored by His Majesty. Even the virtuous prince, Tianhao, and Princess Tianya had never been treated so kindly. He would never again underestimate this new guest. He would have to give her careful instructions. Even if this child didn't have the title of princess, she had a powerful background. He had a feeling she would become a frequent visitor to the palace.
"Father, this is too precious." Yi Luoyue said it was inappropriate, but he tied the jade pendant tightly to Xiaoyue'er.
"This is my gift to Xiaoyueer. Just accept it."
"Xiao Yue'er thanks grandpa." The little elf accepted it without any hesitation, and her tone seemed as if the thing originally belonged to her.
"Today is your birthday. Tell your father what you want."
"I only wish that my father stays in good health."
"Oh? Is that all you want? I thought..." He looked at his daughter with a meaningful smile.
"Father..."
Yi Xuanxin looked at his daughter's shy expression. It was normal for a girl to be reserved, but he couldn't let his old father keep asking her questions every day! He had to leave some information for others to find out!
According to Li Yang, Gong Yuchen's feelings for Luo Yue are real, but he is a little jealous, and being jealous is good! It proves that what he cares about is Luo Yue as a person, not her identity as a princess. And Luo Yue also admitted that she likes Gong Yuchen, and he felt a little relieved after hearing that, but he was also worried that yesterday's test would deepen their misunderstanding and hurt their relationship. If Gong Yuchen knew that this was a test, although he would not say anything, he was afraid that there would be grudges in his heart, and he felt it was inappropriate for him to explain to Gong Yuchen. However, looking at Luo Yue's condition today, it seems that the misunderstanding between the two has been resolved. Well! This is good, it seems that Gong Yuchen is not a brainless person, and he should be able to rest assured by leaving Luo Yue to him.
"Your Majesty, Young Master Li Fei requests an audience."
"Cousin Li Fei?"
"Call him in."
As soon as Li Fei came in, she saw Yi Luoyue and Xiaoyueer chatting with Yi Xuanxun.
"Uncle Li." The sweet-mouthed Xiaoyue calls out to acquaintances whenever she sees them.
"Li Fei, greetings to His Majesty, Princess Yue."
"Stand up, we're all family, there's no need to be so reserved. Why are you here so early today?"
"Of course, I'm here to borrow the good fortune of my cousin Luo Yue, the birthday girl, and ask for an imperial decree from His Majesty."
"Why, are you bringing up Luo Yue to ask for permission this time?"
"Father, please give cousin Li Fei an order, otherwise he will have to kneel for a long time again." Yi Luoyue joked.
"Your Majesty, I have no choice but to ask Your Majesty to be kind to me. You see, my cousin Luo Yue has someone she loves, and I definitely can't be her consort. So, it's not too much for her to accompany my wife, right?"
"Cousin Li Fei!"
"You kid, you're saying that as if I don't grant you a marriage, you'll be left without a wife!"
"Grandfather, Uncle Li likes Aunt Xue, but Daddy likes Aunt. I want Aunt to be my mother, so Aunt Xue will be given to Uncle Li, okay?" Xiaoyue hugged Yixuanxin and acted coquettishly.
"Okay, okay, whatever Xiaoyue says is fine." It would be better to quickly arrange the marriage between Li Fei and Miss Gong, so that no one would go back and talk about Luo Yue stealing someone else's husband.
Li Fei and Yi Luoyue looked at each other in bewilderment. Is that all? What the adults couldn't solve, Xiaoyue solved with just one sentence?
"Zhang Liang, draft the decree."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Yi Xuanxin handed the imperial edict of marriage written by himself to Li Fei.
"Take it. I will betroth Gong Mingxue to you and give you a pair of dragon and phoenix jade pendants as your engagement gifts. Now you can rest assured, right?"
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Li Fei hurriedly thanked the emperor, accepted the decree, and gave Xiaoyueer a thumbs up.
"Zhang Liang, take this brat to my private vault to get the jade pendant, so he won't bother me all the time."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"When will you pick a date for the wedding? You young people can discuss and decide among yourselves. Once the date is set, let me know and I will prepare a great gift for you."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your help." Li Fei finally felt relieved.
"It's still early for the dinner, and there's a ceremony at noon. You should go to the garden to prepare for the ceremony first. Luo Yue, in addition to your birthday banquet today, you also have to meet outstanding talents from various families. Although you already have someone in your heart, you still have to go through the process, otherwise it would be rude.
"Yes, Father. Luo Yue knows. Let's prepare now."
"Also, don't let others know about some things for the time being. Don't help Gong Yuchen. He wants to marry my princess, but he's not sincere enough. Don't blame father for not agreeing."
"Father!" Yi Luoyue blushed with embarrassment.
"Okay, you guys go and do your own things. Xiaoyue, just stay here with me and chat with an old man like me. I'll send someone to take it to you later." Anyway, there was nothing else to do today, so it would be nice to play with the grandchildren.
"Okay, I want to go with grandpa. Auntie, go find daddy." After saying that, she pulled Yixuanxin away.
"Grandfather, let me tell you..."
"Luo Yue."
"What's up?"
"Are you sure she's not your daughter?"
“…”
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