Chapter 50 Changchun Palace
The sound of rain was pouring down, but a number of racks had been erected in the Changchun Palace courtyard, with vines climbing densely. The ingenious craftsmen had extended them outside to create a shelter from the rain.
The bluestone path goes little by little into the garden, winding and ingenious. There are many plants on the side that bloom in summer. Walking on the bluestone slabs is a joy to watch.
The palace ladies also set up stone tables and stone chairs here, and there are high walls and big trees on both sides. It is very cool in the summer, and even if it rains, it does not prevent you from enjoying the scenery outside.
Concubine Ying and the Princess are eating grapes.
"Summer comes late, and these grapes are still a little sour." Although the grapes were a little sour, Concubine Ying Gui felt they were delicious and put them into her mouth one by one.
Yuan Qi picked one up at random and put it in his mouth, his pretty face wrinkled: "My mother, this is so sour..."
The maid Hongzhi immediately served tea: "Your Highness, rinse your mouth!"
"It's just a little sour, kid!" Concubine Ying couldn't help laughing, thinking her daughter was teasing her. "Okay, okay, if you don't want to eat it, then don't eat it. This orange is sweet, a Concubine orange. The skin is hard on the outside, but the inside is surprisingly sweet and juicy."
Yuan Qi rinsed his mouth with Hongzhi's hand and asked tentatively, "Mother, why haven't you seen Father recently?"
Everyone in the palace knew that Emperor Yuan felt indebted and guilty towards Yuan Qi.
"I stayed at Changchun Palace a month ago. I only come here occasionally these days. The war on the front line is intense. Don't worry about your father!" Concubine Ying peeled an orange for her precious daughter. "Try it quickly. It's delicious. The lychees you like to eat will be around for a while!"
Yuanzhi took it, broke off a piece and put it in his mouth. It was indeed sweet.
Hasn’t the Yun family always been leading the troops in the front-line battles?
The Yun family is not a simple family, and their succession of generations is no joke.
It can be said that at least half of the Yuan Kingdom was conquered by the Yun family. My father has always relied heavily on the Yun family.
Therefore, this time the troops were dispatched out of fear that the Yun family might harbor resentment and be more powerful than their master, and might want to rebel.
In order to prevent this from happening, don't we have to keep Yun Jue imprisoned in the palace?
The whole Shangjing knows about it, how could the Yun family not know about it?
It is said that nephews resemble their uncles. Yun Ke is 70% similar to Marquis Wu'an, and more like Marquis Wu'an than his own children.
This Yun Zhuan is also strange. He actually resembles the wife of Marquis Wu'an when she was young.
If the Shen family hadn't interfered, Conghui would probably be 20% similar to her.
"Nannan, the young lady of the Yun family is indeed in poor health. I heard that she seems to be in poor health again in Concubine Su's palace." Concubine Ying picked up the teacup and scraped off the tea foam. "You haven't seen this young lady. She is very different from the one in the rumors."
Yuan Qi smiled and said, "One day when I was out on business, I ran into that young lady, who was with Yuan Yao. Her face and eyes were indeed weak, and she looked sick for a long time."
"She has such an aura that it's as if she had always been kept in the palace!"
Concubine Ying Gui was also surprised: "That's right, the Empress didn't spend much time teaching her etiquette. If she wasn't smart, how could she learn it so well?"
Yuan Qi changed the subject and said with a smile: "Mother, is it possible that I am not smart?"
This Yun Zhuan is really good at hiding her shortcomings. If she wasn't in the palace, who would have known that she is such a smart and intelligent woman?
Don't tell me you are using the Shen family as a shield to confuse the aristocratic families and hide your own ambitions!
"Look at you, you're already showing your temper!" Concubine Ying Gui tapped Yuan Qi's forehead, "Your mother has loved you for nothing!"
Then she sighed again: "Mother just hopes that Nannan can find a prince consort in the capital, and then live with mother, and live a peaceful life!"
Yuan Qi looked at the simple Concubine Ying Gui and sighed in his heart, thinking that his mother always thought things were so simple.
"Mother, what do you think of Yuan Yin? I heard that he came to pay his respects to you last time?" Yuan Qi felt sour as he watched Concubine Ying constantly putting grapes into her mouth.
Concubine Ying Gui thought of Yuan Yin and said, "I am telling you that this child is really well-behaved, like a little sun. I have seen him suffer setbacks many times, but he is always well-behaved when he comes to pay his respects in my palace, and he never complains about his sufferings!"
The rain was still falling, and many new shoots and flower buds were knocked down in the yard.
Concubine Ying Gui felt a little regretful: "Look at the flowers. If the weather was fine, they would have bloomed beautifully! Is there anything else to see in this palace besides flowers?"
Yuan Qi looked at his innocent mother and couldn't help but feel overwhelmed.
The Seventh Prince was by no means a simple person. At such a young age, he was able to escape from the cold palace and enter the Imperial Academy. Although he started to learn at a late age, he was smart and never minding the trouble. He memorized his lessons morning and night and was much more diligent than the other princes.
She didn't believe that such a prince had no ambitions.
It's just that such people are good at forbearance and hiding, and Yuan Qi thinks he is a promising talent, or he can bet on it.
The worst outcome is to end up with a tiger.
"How about, when the Seventh Prince comes back, I will ask you to give him to me as your adopted son?" Yuan Qi said it jokingly, with a serious tone.
After all, having a prince is a support, and as the eldest sister, it is reasonable for her to give him some support.
Concubine Ying Gui's eyebrows lit up immediately: "Really? Yuan Yin is still young. If no one takes care of him, he will be pitiful!"
Yuan Qi breathed a sigh of relief, and as he looked at the grapes disappearing from the plate, doubts in his heart continued to rise.
"Mother, I have some things to do outside the palace. Please remember to have your meals on time." Yuan Qi bowed, got Concubine Ying's permission, and then stood up and left.
Concubine Ying Gui hurriedly said, "Cuiwei, send Nannan out."
Cuiwei received the order and held up a silk umbrella with hibiscus patterns: "Princess."
Originally, this task had always been done by Hongzhi and Wuyi, but Yuanqi happened to have something he needed to ask Cuiwei.
Arriving at the gate of Changchun Palace, Yuan Qi whispered:
"How long has mother been eating sour food?"
"Your Highness, the Queen normally prefers sour food, but she has only been liking sour food for a few days." Cuiwei answered respectfully.
Yuan Qi nodded: "Okay, observe carefully, and if there is anything, send someone to report to me immediately."
"Yes, Princess." Cuiwei responded immediately, "I will see you off respectfully."
Wu Yi hid herself, Hong Zhi held out the silk umbrella, and Yuan Qi walked towards the palace in the rain.
Without a prince, there would be no chance to speak. Although Concubine Ying did not make enemies with anyone, she was in such a high position after all, so it was normal for some people to be uncomfortable with her. Huaqing Palace was a real example.
When she was nine years old, she was sent as an envoy to the border. She was used to the fickleness of human nature and knew that the Xiao family was desperate and had sent someone to the palace to share the favor of her mother.
Yuan Qi looked over coldly. That was the direction of Yongning Palace where Concubine Zhen was.
As expected of the princess, she made the right bet
However, it is like trying to steal the skin of a tiger.
(End of this chapter)