"Enjoy it...?"
Seeing that Grand Tutor Chen Fan seemed completely unconcerned, everyone couldn't help but frown.
Li Ying looked at Chen Fan with displeasure and said, "The Grand Tutor is right. His Majesty has worked hard for a year and certainly deserves a rest, but he shouldn't be like those spoiled brats, should he?"
Xun Shuang chimed in, "Yes, I've heard that His Majesty now has to be fed by palace maids every day. What will become of him if this continues?"
Hu Guang also looked worried and said to Chen Fan, "Ciming is right. Besides, she is just a palace maid without a title. It is probably not appropriate for her to stay by His Majesty's side like that!"
Hu Guang didn't care much about the emperor's fondness for beautiful women. He even hoped that the emperor could give birth to several princes for the Han Dynasty as soon as possible to stabilize the hearts of the people.
After all, the emperor having many sons signifies the prosperity of the Han Dynasty. However, the eldest son of the emperor must be born to the future empress. Otherwise, if a palace maid were to give birth to him, there might be hidden dangers in the future.
Li Ying nodded, then lowered his voice and said, "Bo Shi is right! Besides, that's someone close to the Empress Dowager...!"
As soon as Li Ying finished speaking, Xun Shuang and Hu Guang's expressions changed, and they looked at Chen Fan with serious expressions, wanting to see what Chen Fan's attitude was.
After thinking for a moment, Chen Fan nodded and said, "How about this, let's go to the palace together and offer our advice, and also see why His Majesty has come to this!"
"Yes, then let's set off immediately!"
The group nodded and then left the Grand Tutor's residence, heading towards the palace together.
Inside the Deyang Palace, Liu Hong lay on his side on the imperial throne with his eyes slightly closed, humming an unknown tune. The official documents and memorials on the table were nowhere to be seen, replaced by various exquisite pastries.
The palace maid Xiao Qiong knelt behind Liu Hong and gently patted his neck and shoulders.
Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and Song Dian, who were huddled together to the side, looked at Xiao Qiong with some envy.
That was originally their job, but now it's been taken over by a little girl.
"Zhang Rang!"
"Yes, sir!"
Upon hearing the emperor call his name, Zhang Rang hurriedly bowed and stepped forward.
Liu Hong slightly opened his eyes and said softly, "Have you found the musicians and dancers I asked you to find?"
Zhang Rang respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, as you instructed, I have found one hundred musicians and fifty dancers!"
Liu Hong nodded in satisfaction. "Hmm, I've heard that Cai Yong, a professor at the Imperial Academy, is an expert in music. Go to his residence and invite him here!"
"promise!!"
Zhang Rang respectfully agreed, then turned and left.
"Zhao Zhong, go find some large drums, chime bells, and some percussion instruments. They must be loud and resonant!"
"promise!!"
"Song Dian, go find Lü Qiang and tell him to take some people to make uniform costumes for those musicians and dancers as soon as possible. They must look spirited and impressive!"
"promise!!"
After giving a series of instructions, Liu Hong waved to the three of them and then leaned back comfortably.
Just as Liu Hong closed his eyes to enjoy the moment, Chen Fan, Li Ying, and others arrived outside the Deyang Palace.
"Your Majesty, the Grand Tutor, the Grand Commandant, the Minister of Works, and the Minister of Justice are outside the palace requesting an audience!"
"Oh, please let them in!"
Upon hearing the report from his guards, Liu Hong immediately sat up straight, and Xiao Qiong also stopped what she was doing and stood beside Liu Hong with her head bowed.
Soon, Chen Fan and the others entered the hall together and bowed to Liu Hong on the throne.
"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, pay our respects!"
"Gentlemen, please rise and be seated!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After the emperor and his ministers exchanged greetings, Liu Hong looked at Chen Fan and the others and said with a smile, "I wonder what brings you gentlemen to the palace today?"
Chen Fan bowed respectfully to Liu Hong and said, "Your Majesty, there has been nothing to do recently. As the year draws to a close, we have come here specifically to visit Your Majesty and extend our greetings!"
As he spoke, Chen Fan glanced at Xiao Qiong, who was standing beside Liu Hong, seemingly unintentionally.
"Heh~, thank you all for your concern. Recently, with you all and Tian Yuanhao sharing the burden of government affairs, and with Duan Jiong, Zhang Huan, and Lu Zhi guarding the outside, things are stable both inside and out. My mind and body are much more at ease, and I'm eating and sleeping well... You all need not worry!!" Liu Hong smiled and looked at Chen Fan and the others.
Chen Fan and his companions were all experienced and shrewd men. From the moment they entered the palace, they noticed that the emperor was in high spirits and had a ruddy complexion, showing no signs of being infatuated with women. Thus, they quickly understood the emperor's unspoken meaning.
That means nothing has changed, so there's no need to overthink it. I am still the same person I always was. The reason I did this is for another reason.
Xun Shuang smiled and said respectfully, "As long as Your Majesty is well, then we are at ease!"
Hu Guang, standing to the side, couldn't help but feel anxious. He had originally thought that the emperor was starting to like women, and he was quite happy, but he was just worried about this palace maid.
Now that he knows the emperor was just putting on an act, he can't help but feel a little disappointed.
Hu Guang's eyes darted around, and he looked at Liu Hong with a smile, saying respectfully:
"Your Majesty, the New Year is just over twenty days away. By then, Your Majesty will be fourteen years old (by the traditional Chinese age reckoning). I believe it's time to add a few more noble ladies to the inner palace!"
"Uh... well, it's not up to me to decide. Let's consult the Empress Dowager first!"
Liu Hong looked at Hu Guang in astonishment. Why did this old man always want him to find women?
But considering that according to ancestral custom, I will be fourteen years old next year, which is indeed the age to fill the inner palace.
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