"Your Highness, Concubine Meng's words were inappropriate. I hope the Princess will forgive me for the sake of His Highness the Crown Prince. His Highness the Crown Prince has been away from the Imperial Capital for a long time. All matters in the Crown Prince's Mansion are handled by this old servant. I apologize to Your Highness the Princess on behalf of Concubine Meng."
As Butler Zhou spoke, he knelt down.
Princess Ningguo immediately reached out to help him and said, "Uncle Zhou, what are you doing? What does Meng Shuixian's frivolous behavior have to do with you?"
As she spoke, she couldn't help but complain about Emperor Shengyuan and the Empress: "I don't know what my father and mother are thinking. What kind of person did they choose for my brother, the Crown Prince?"
"Princess, you..." Meng Shuixian now wished she could find a reason to hide in the mansion today, or wait until she returned to the mansion to find a chance to punish the guy named Qiqing.
She shouldn't have attacked that bitch outside the mansion, and she happened to be encountered by Princess Ningguo, who was a nosy person.
Normally, I call her "sister" to show my affection. Even if Princess Ningguo doesn't respond, she wouldn't embarrass me like this. Her behavior today is clearly supporting that bitch Qiqing.
Princess Ningguo, she couldn't afford to offend her. Qi Qing was completely hated by Meng Shuixian.
When Housekeeper Zhou heard Princess Ningguo muttering about the Emperor and the Empress, he disapproved and stopped her immediately, saying, "Princess, be careful with your words."
Princess Ningguo's words not only included Meng Shuixian, but also included Du Shuangshuang and Li Bingying, making them look a little derogatory. Therefore, Du Shuangshuang and Li Bingying's expressions were not very good.
Huangfu Lingmeng stuck out his tongue at Zhou Nian. "Zhou Nian, why did my brother come to the palace right after he returned? It's a good thing I left the palace to look for him the moment I heard he was back. Humph! Why did you guys take so long this time, leaving me all alone in the imperial capital, feeling bored?"
Facing this little princess who even His Highness was often helpless against, Zhou Nian said with a smile, "Princess, Your Highness has come to the palace to report to His Majesty that she encountered some problems while away. The situation is urgent, so I hope the princess will not get angry with Your Highness.
When His Highness returns home, he will immediately take the princess out for an outing. How could the princess be without someone to play with in the imperial capital?
Huangfu Lingmeng raised her head proudly. "I won't play with them. It's pointless. Since my brother doesn't have time, then you can accompany me to play today!"
Zhou Nian hesitated and said, "Princess, but His Highness told me..."
"It's okay that my royal brother doesn't have time to accompany me, but why can't you either? I don't care, you must accompany me today!" Huangfu Lingmeng stomped her feet, a little unhappy.
Zhou Nian glanced at Butler Zhou, thought about it and couldn't refuse, so he said: "Your humble servant obeys your command..."
Huangfu Lingmeng immediately cheered up. Smiling, he pulled Qiqing aside and said, "I want my future sister-in-law to accompany me."
Zhou Nian said with some amusement: "Princess, Miss Qiqing is not..." Your sister-in-law
"What's not? Wasn't the Empress Dowager brought back by the Crown Prince to be chosen as the Crown Princess?" Huangfu Lingmeng asked back.
"Miss Qiqing was brought back by His Highness, but..." Zhou Nian felt that he couldn't explain it clearly.
Huangfu Lingmeng didn't listen to his explanation. She took Qiqing's hand and said happily, "Sister-in-law, let's go play. I'll take you to see the imperial capital of Shengyuan."
Qi Qin was infected by the smile on Huangfu Lingmeng's face, tilted his head and smiled and said: "My name is Qiqing" I'm not the emperor's sister-in-law.
"Okay...Sister-in-law Qiqing, let's go." Huangfu Lingmeng said.
"My three concubines, His Highness has now returned to the Imperial Capital. Please be careful with your words and actions and discipline everyone in the pavilion to avoid causing unnecessary trouble to you and His Highness.
When His Highness returns home, all arrangements will be made by His Highness. There are less than two months until the Double Ninth Consort Ceremony, so I hope the three concubines will make preparations early. "Butler Zhou said politely, with a serious expression, bent over,
The three of them were initially dissatisfied with being lectured by a housekeeper, but Housekeeper Zhou was different from other housekeepers. There was no housekeeper in the Prince's mansion, so all matters inside and outside the mansion, in the front and back yards, were overseen by Housekeeper Zhou alone.
Didn't I hear even His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Princess Ningguo respectfully address him as "Uncle Zhou"? This showed his status. Then I heard Butler Zhou say, "His Royal Highness has returned to the Imperial Capital. There will be plenty of opportunities to spend time with him."
They also had to make plans for the consort enthronement ceremony in advance. Although the three of them were concubines now, they had not heard that Emperor Sheng Yuan and the Empress had any intentions for anyone to be the Crown Prince's principal wife.
Perhaps the Queen was indeed dead, and the Crown Prince had chosen her own. Then wouldn't the three of them be in a good position? As long as they caught the Crown Prince's eye and slept with him first, or even became pregnant with a grandson, the position of Crown Princess would be within their grasp.
The three concubines had different thoughts and became much more obedient, so they went back one by one.
Steward Zhou looked at the direction the three concubines had left, then thought of the girl named Qiqing who had been dragged by Princess Ningguo to the street for a stroll, and frowned slightly.
His expression was somewhat solemn. In the past, there were few slaves and maids in the Prince's Mansion, let alone the mistress. But now, there are suddenly several more masters.
He had been with the Empress for many years and had naturally witnessed many fights among the wealthy and powerful families, not to mention the even more prestigious Prince's Mansion. He didn't know what would happen next.
Shengyuan Palace
"Your servant Feng Qi greets His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Feng Qi, the chief eunuch beside Huangfu Tian, immediately stepped forward and saluted when he saw Huangfu Lingao.
"Eunuch Feng, no need to be so polite. Is my father here?" Huangfu Lingao asked, looking at the closed door of the imperial study.
Feng Qi looked at the Crown Prince's face and said hesitantly, "Your Highness, His Majesty and the Imperial Preceptor are inside."
As expected, upon hearing that the State Master of Shengyuan Kingdom was also in the imperial study, Huangfu Lingao's tone suddenly became sharp: "Zhi Bai..." Huangfu Lingao's eagle eyes emitted a slightly dangerous light.
Zhibai, the state teacher of Shengyuan State, is the person most favored by Huangfu Tian in Shengyuan State except for the Crown Prince Huangfu Lingao. He has an aloof status and never participates in state affairs. In his own words, he is a person who cultivates immortality and seeks the truth.
Therefore, he has a very high reputation not only in the heart of Emperor Shengyuan, but also in the eyes of civil and military officials, and even in the hearts of the people of Shengyuan.
But for some reason, Huangfu Lingao simply didn't believe him, even though he had taken his father to cultivate the Dao, which made him, the Crown Prince, wield more power than any other Crown Prince in history. Furthermore, the Imperial Preceptor had always held the Crown Prince in high esteem, which also made Huangfu Tian and the entire court even more convinced of His Royal Highness.
"Father, how long will it take for him to come out?" Huangfu Lingao asked.
Feng Qi bent down and lowered his eyes and said, "Your Majesty summoned the Imperial Master to give a lecture this afternoon." I'm afraid he won't be able to come out for three to five days.
Huangfu Lingao's eyes were gloomy, and after a long moment he said, "Then I will return home first. When my father is done, I hope Eunuch Feng will pass on the message."
Feng Qi replied with deep fear, "I don't deserve it, Your Highness. You just returned to the Imperial Capital and must be tired. You should rest in your residence for the next few days. When Your Majesty comes out, I will notify you as soon as possible..."
Huangfu Lingao nodded, turned around and left with Posha.
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