Seeing his gesture, the singing girls scattered around the table while dancing, with one staying beside each of them. They danced like willows in the spring breeze, while one hand held the wine glass and offered it to the lips of the guests. No matter whether they were lustful or not, they could not bear to refuse his kindness and drank it all in one gulp.
Good wine and beautiful women, since ancient times, how many heroes can avoid them?
For a moment, the host and the guests were all having a great time.
Qin Xiangning knew that Prince Ning was hosting a banquet for important guests today, so she did not disturb him, but asked Xiao Nuo to keep an eye on it. Xiao Nuo came back with a flushed face and told Qin Xiangning what she had seen.
Qin Xiangning's expression changed several times: "Forget it, we should turn a blind eye to men's affairs."
She threw the bellyband in her hand away. There was still half of the lotus leaf embroidered on it, and the needle was stuck on it, brightly hurting people's eyes.
Xiao Nuo picked it up and dusted it off: "Princess, the prince is not holding any woman, he is just entertaining guests."
Qin Xiangning nodded: "Of course I know."
However, knowing is one thing, and accepting is another. She suddenly thought, if Dongfang Yan really became the crown prince and one day became the monarch, then would she be able to accommodate the six imperial harems?
Qin Xiangning felt that she might not be able to bear it.
Even if she was the queen, she would not allow him to get close to another woman.
After Qin Xiangning thought about it this way, she was not so interested in Dongfang Yan's fight for the position of crown prince.
The next day.
Censor Zhang's sedan chair was traveling on the street when it suddenly stopped. He lifted the curtain and saw a group of drunk people standing beside him, staggering as they walked. One of them said, "Zhang Meng, you are just a small gatekeeper. Do you think you can enter the palace of Prince Xiankang as a guest?"
"I don't think so. Prince Ning is recruiting talents everywhere, and you just heard it from others. If you bring it up like this, be careful that others will hear it."
"That's great. I won't say more. I just envy the nightly revelry in Prince Ning's Mansion. It is said that the singing girls there are unparalleled in the world, much better than the girls in Wanhua Tower, tsk tsk..."
He turned a corner and disappeared into the alley next to him. Out of Zhang Yushi's sight, the drunken men stopped immediately. One of them distributed silver, and after several people took it, he disappeared. The remaining man smiled and took a shortcut back to Prince Kang's mansion to report.
Censor Zhang had an idea in mind. He returned to the mansion and sent people to investigate. The result of the investigation made Censor Zhang frown.
After attending court the next day, he came to the imperial study and told the emperor everything about Prince Ning. The emperor was furious when he heard it, but he did not show it. After Censor Zhang left, Emperor Yunqi walked back and forth in the imperial study. He did not go to find Prince Ning immediately, but called the secret guard and gave him some instructions.
Then he met with An Qingran again. No one knew what the two of them talked about in the room. After An Qingran came out, her face was very calm and nothing could be seen.
The next day, news came from the Eastern Palace that the prince had improved significantly after treatment by the Crown Princess.
When the news spread, one family was happy while others were sad. It was said that in order to celebrate the prince's improvement, the East Palace hung red silk on the door. The silk fluttered in the wind, like a flag.
But it really hurts my eyes.
Concubine Shu was so angry that she spat out a mouthful of tea. Her chest pain came back. She sat in the room holding her chest, but she didn't want to ask a doctor to come. She had to hold a piece of red ginseng in her mouth to boost her energy. She also had to ask the palace maid to pat her back from time to time before she could catch her breath. But she cursed in her heart that if the prince didn't die, she would be angered to death sooner or later.
Of course, Dongfang Yan was even more disappointed. He held a banquet for his important ministers in his own residence without any hesitation. He thought that if the news really leaked out, his father would not have the energy to blame him once the prince was dead.
Besides, my father doesn't seem to be very nice to the prince. He even seems to dislike him often.
Murong Lanxin was the one who was truly happy when she heard the news. She was grinning from ear to ear. The Queen Mother couldn't help but laugh at her expression: "Child, you still haven't given up on the Crown Prince. There's really nothing we can do. I heard that the East Palace doesn't receive visitors. Otherwise, you can go and take a look."
Murong Lanxin smiled embarrassedly: "Queen Mother, even if Lanxin refuses to give up, it is impossible for her to see the Crown Prince now."
"Why not? You can go and visit them on my behalf. I don't think they would even ignore me," the Queen Mother said kindly.
When Murong Lanxin heard this, her eyes lit up immediately: "Is it really possible?"
"How can it not be true? By the way, do you know what the prince likes to eat the most? Prepare it yourself, and let me take a look before you go, how about that?"
"Okay, thank you Queen Mother. Lan Xin will prepare it right away." Murong Lan Xin was very happy to see that the Queen Mother still supported her. She tried hard to recall that the prince liked to eat purple sweet potato balls the most. So, she asked someone to prepare them and she watched from the side. After all, it was food and she didn't want the taste to be unauthentic. After it was done, she tasted it herself and found that it tasted the same as before.
Then she brought some more to honor the empress dowager. The empress dowager picked one up with a small fork and put it in her mouth. She chewed it twice and smiled: "Princess Lanxin, you can make such delicious meatballs, but you usually don't make them for me. I guess you have a bad heart and only have the prince in your heart, not me." The empress dowager deliberately looked jealous.
Murong Lanxin's face suddenly turned red, and she was extremely embarrassed. Before she could explain, the Queen Mother waved her hand and said, "I am teasing you. Come closer. I have something to give you."
As she spoke, she took off a bracelet from her hand and put it on her wrist without giving her a chance to refuse. The bracelet was of pure jade color and was something the Queen Mother had worn for a long time. Murong Lanxin refused, but the Queen Mother smiled and said, "Your jewelry doesn't look very good. If you become the Crown Princess in the future, you will naturally have a lot of good things. But before that, you shouldn't be so plain..."
The nanny beside her brought out another jewelry box and opened it. It was full of jewels and gems, very pleasing to the eyes, including wax, coral, pearls and agate. Although the style was a bit old-fashioned, the quality was first-class.
The Queen Mother picked up a gold filigree peony hairpin inlaid with gems and put it on her hair. Then she stepped back and contemplated for a moment before nodding slightly. "Only you can contain the richness of this golden peony. When I was young, she thought it was too precious when I wore it. But now it looks grand on your head."
Murong Lanxin didn't know why the Queen Mother treated her like this today, but she was very happy in her heart. She thought that the Queen Mother was still willing to help herself and the Prince.
Finally, the Queen Mother patted her on the shoulder with a satisfied smile on her face: "Well, this is a good look. Go and greet the prince for me. Tell him what he wants. Just ask. Poor child, he has suffered many disasters since birth. I have also prayed for him in front of the Bodhisattva. I hope he will have good luck this time."
As he spoke, he wiped the corner of his eyes with the corner of his handkerchief, and waved his hand, as if to ease the pressure: "Go quickly, so that I don't have to worry about you."
Murong Lanxin took out a food box, but was worried that she would not see anyone again, so she felt uneasy. Unexpectedly, when she arrived at the door to report, Rendong let her in smoothly.
As soon as she entered the room, An Qingran came to greet her. She took the things in her hand and said with a smile, "Princess Lan Xin is thoughtful."
She put the things on the back windowsill. The window was open, and the picture of fluttering butterflies on the curtains and the green leaves complemented each other, looking very beautiful.
However, Murong Lanxin's eyes peeked in through the beaded curtain, and there was a figure lying in the vague gauze. She sighed: "The prince is finally getting better."
An Qingran smiled and said, "Come on, since you are here to see the patient, there is no reason why I cannot let you see others."
As she spoke, she drew the curtain, and Murong Lanxin followed in and sat on the chaise longue a little further away. An Qingran drew back the veil, and Dongfang Jin, dressed in a moon-white dragon robe, sat up leaning against an embroidered pillow. At one glance, Murong Lanxin's heart began to beat wildly. The prince had been ill for so long, but he did not look haggard at all. His eyes were like torches and exceptionally bright. Because he was recuperating, his hair was half loose, only half tied with a white ribbon, and the rest was softly draped over his shoulders. His black, shiny hair flowed like running water, as if to attract all the attention.
Murong Lan's heart was still beating wildly. She took a deep breath and glanced around, and she felt like she could hardly breathe. She felt dizzy. She couldn't help but think of the feeling of close contact with him that time. He even warned her, but how could she never see him again?
It would be better to just die.
In a moment, countless thoughts flashed through her mind. An Qingran asked someone to bring her a cup of tea. Dongfang Jin sat there and didn't say anything. Suddenly, he frowned and winked at An Qingran. An Qingran understood and immediately stepped forward: "Prince, do you want some water?"
Dongfang Jin nodded slightly. An Qingran turned to the outer hall to pour water and asked Rendong to boil water. Murong Lanxin was sitting in the room at this time and stood up slowly: "Prince, I... have always wanted to apologize to you for the previous incident. I was wrong that time, but it was not arranged by me. I am also..."
Dongfang Jin heard something in her words, so he asked, "Who arranged this?"
Murong Lanxin's face turned red: "I don't want to talk about it anymore. Are you feeling better? What do you want to eat? I'll have someone go out and buy it for you."
As she spoke, she took another step forward, only two steps away from the bed. She stopped, biting her lower lip, her eyes revealing undisguised worry.
Dongfang Jin glanced at her and said, "Qingran will prepare it for me, so I won't bother you, Princess."
The voice is distant and indifferent.
Murong Lanxin blushed when she heard this: "Prince, I... have been unable to sleep or eat these days, so I secretly burn incense for you, hoping that the Bodhisattva can bless you."
"You mean, the improvement in my illness is due to your efforts?" Dongfang Jin looked up unceremoniously, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes, and a hint of coldness appeared.
Seeing his eyes, Murong Lanxin couldn't help but take a step back: "No, that's not what I meant. It's naturally the credit of the Crown Princess, and the Crown Prince is blessed with great fortune, and the blessing of the late Queen."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
