"Your Majesty, the Imperial Kitchen has made some fresh cheese. It's getting hot, would you like to try some?" Liang Jiugong came in from outside, followed by his apprentice Fengzhong.
Once they were close enough, Liang Jiugong turned around and carefully carried the cheese from the tray held by Feng Zhong to His Majesty.
"It's almost time for dinner, and Consort Rong has sent over a bowl of Eight Treasure Duck..."
The Emperor put down his vermilion brush, didn't taste the cheese, but instead took a sip of the Longjing tea that was already a little cold beside him.
"How is the fourth brother doing?"
Because the fourth prince was injured, and Bao Cheng was still recuperating at Yuqing Palace, His Majesty could only see Bao Qing, the third prince, the fifth prince, and the eighth prince at the morning court session today.
Even though there were only two people missing, His Majesty inexplicably felt uneasy.
The herbal tea seemed to taste even worse. His Majesty frowned and said, "Have the imperial physicians take good care of him... I want a fourth son who is whole and healthy."
Feng Zhong had already quietly slipped away by this time.
Liang Jiugong was very good at reading people's expressions: "Your Majesty, rest assured, the Fourteenth Prince is with the Fourth Prince, and Consort De has also sent someone to visit him. The Fourth Prince only needs to rest quietly."
His Majesty said "Oh," and then added, "With the Fourteenth Prince around, how can the Fourth Prince have any peace and quiet? That kid is only avoiding the Grand Tutor's questioning because his Fourth Brother is injured this time..."
This is a tone of mocking laughter.
Liang Jiugong smiled apologetically.
The Emperor lowered his eyes and casually ate two bites of cheese. Then, as if thinking of something, the slight smile on his face disappeared.
"Did you find anything?"
Liang Jiugong naturally understood what His Majesty was asking, and he also put away his smile: "Lord Longkodo said there was no doubt about it."
The Emperor seemed to give a cold snort, his emotions unclear, and as he spoke, he put down his teacup with a light touch.
"A rain shower would wash away anything, no matter what it was."
Liang Jiugong remained silent, standing silently to the side.
The Emperor turned his head and first caught sight of the bowl of chilled cheese.
The cheese was placed in an exquisite enamel bowl, the body of which was painted with nine lifelike five-clawed golden dragons playing with a pearl, seemingly about to leap out.
The handle above the porcelain spoon features a phoenix in flight, with a pearl in its beak, depicted in a lifelike manner.
This bowl of crispy cheese, made by the Imperial Kitchen, is like a fine work of art.
However, the Emperor's gaze did not linger on the cheese, but rather fell upon the bowl.
He gazed silently at the nine golden dragons, as if deep in thought.
His fingers gently caressed the teacup, savoring its delicate texture, but his thoughts had already drifted far away.
Bright yellow is a symbol of the ruler; only the emperor could use such a teacup, which represents supreme authority and nobility.
After a moment, His Majesty glanced at Liang Jiugong and gestured for him to hand over the cheese.
Liang Jiugong carefully handed the cheese to His Majesty.
The Emperor took the cheese and gently scooped up a spoonful.
He didn't say anything, but slowly swallowed the cheese.
"Reward the Imperial Kitchen. Have them make another bowl of crispy cheese and send it to Yuqing Palace. Baocheng's illness has almost healed." His Majesty suddenly spoke up.
His voice was deep, full of authority and power.
The implied meaning in the words also carries immense weight.
Liang Jiugong quickly agreed, but secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
After all this time, His Majesty has finally reconciled with the Crown Prince.
Seeing the delighted look on his face, the Emperor paused for a moment before asking, "What has Baoqing been doing these past two days?"
Liang Jiugong hesitated for two seconds: "The First Princess's pregnancy is not very good. These past two days, Prince Zhi has been by her side, only going to the Ministry of War after court every day."
Upon hearing this, His Majesty turned and asked something else: "Where is Mingzhu?"
Liang Jiugong was the Emperor's most trusted eyes and ears. He bowed, and his tone remained unchanged when the Emperor asked him questions.
"The Prime Minister has been claiming illness these past few days, and has only summoned some of his students to his residence to discuss matters; that's all."
His Majesty seemed a little tired, his eyes slightly closed, and he spoke again after a moment.
"I remember, it was I who took off the Third Prince's hat..."
Indeed, when Lady Zhangjia passed away, the Third Prince cut his hair during the hundred-day mourning period. When His Majesty found out, he severely reprimanded him and, in a fit of rage, even stripped the Third Prince of his title of Prince of the Second Rank and demoted him to Prince of the Third Rank.
Currently, among all the princes, besides the Crown Prince, only the First Prince, Prince Zhi, and the Tenth Prince, Prince Dun, are princes; the rest are still princes, beile, and beizi.
Liang Jiugong keenly sensed that His Majesty was probably about to say something.
He glossed over it with very simple words: "What happened back then... Third Master still feels very guilty about it. Your Majesty, what is it...?"
He took the initiative to bring up the conversation.
The Emperor opened his eyes, picked up the vermilion brush, and began to write in the empty space.
Liang Jiugong craned his head slightly and slowly read out the words written by His Majesty.
“Yong…”
The Emperor put down his pen and said, “The ‘Shuoyuan’ mentions ‘graceful and unhurried’ in the ‘Lijie’ section, and the ‘Shiji’ also says ‘graceful and leisurely’.”
Upon hearing this, Liang Jiugong smiled flatteringly and said, "Your Majesty, this servant cannot understand what you are saying, but the character 'Yong' does sound like a good character."
“Yong is indeed a good character. Have the Imperial Clan Court and the Ministry of Rites prepare to grant my fourth son, Yinzhen, the title of Prince Yong. My third son, Yinzhi, will be granted the title of Prince Cheng.”
Liang Jiugong paused for half a second, then quickly replied, "Yes, this servant obeys."
His Majesty restored the Third Prince's title of Prince... I suspect the Fourth Prince's influence is also involved?
This time, the Fourth Prince made great contributions to the management of the Yongding River's siltation, and even Li Guangdi praised him. It's no wonder that on the way back, the Prince Zhi spoke to the Fourth Prince with veiled barbs.
Prince Zhi was skilled at leading troops in battle, but seemed somewhat incapable of handling matters such as water management and people's livelihood.
However, if the title were bestowed solely upon the Fourth Prince, it would be too conspicuous, especially since the Fourth Prince is currently injured...
However, these days Third Master has been assisting the regent in the capital with great skill, and Third Master has always been good at speaking...
It's not surprising that His Majesty is thinking about the Third Master right now.
It's just that... Fifth Master, who was left out, was in a rather awkward position.
As a servant, there are some things you can say, but there are others you cannot say.
Liang Jiugong didn't say much, and soon left with the Emperor's decree.
He sent his apprentice Fengzhong to the Third Master's residence, while Liang Jiugong went to the Fourth Master's residence in person.
This was naturally a great opportunity to curry favor. Even though Liang Jiugong was a close confidant of the Emperor, it was best not to offend anyone.
The news that the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince had been granted the title of Prince of the County spread like wildfire from the Forbidden City to the capital.
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