Chapter 95 Mother and Child Portrait
The palace banquet ended in peace and everyone went home.
Prince Rui followed Concubine Shu to Lanxin Palace.
Concubine Shu was born bright and beautiful, and she has taken good care of herself over the years. She still looks beautiful with her hair covered with pearls and emeralds.
Emperor Sheng seldom lingered in the harem, but he still went to Lanxin Palace the most times every month.
As soon as she entered the main hall, Concubine Shu started to get busy and asked the people around her to take out the cakes and snacks that had been prepared long ago.
"Lang'er, come here, these are all your favorite foods."
After a prince is crowned king, he has to move out of the palace. According to the rules, he cannot enter and leave the harem at will.
Therefore, Zhao Huailang only comes to Lanxin Palace a few times a month now.
He sat behind the desk and saw his mother busying around for him. A warm look appeared on his face and he relaxed. He lazily bent his right leg and supported his chin, looking relaxed and casual, which was rare.
"Here, Lang'er, your favorite butterfly cake."
Concubine Shu smiled and personally handed the cake plate to Zhao Huailang.
Zhao Huailang glanced at it and said helplessly: "Mother, the child is already grown up. This is what I loved to eat when I was a child."
Even as he said this, he still picked up a piece and put it in his mouth.
Seeing this, Concubine Shu pursed her lips and smiled. Then she waved to the palace servants beside her and said, "Everyone, leave."
The palace servants left quietly, and when there was no one else in the palace, Concubine Shu slowly straightened her face and said softly:
"If Princess An Ning really has a crush on Jiang Xun, what will you do, Lang'er?"
Zhao Huailang still looked casual, and shook his head at Concubine Shu, "Mother, I have my own plans for these things, don't worry, bring the bowl of sweet soup for me to taste."
Concubine Shu followed her instructions and went to serve the sweet soup on the table, but she continued, "Jiang Xun was devoted to Crown Prince Xianhuai, and later the emperor made him the tutor of His Royal Highness the Grandson."
"If Jiang Xun really marries Princess An Ning, Lang'er, you should know what this means."
Zhao Huailang scooped a mouthful of the sweet soup and put it into his mouth, then frowned slightly.
Not sweet enough.
But he did not say much, instead he drank the sweet soup in two or three gulps, and then he said: "Mother, Mingjue has taken a fancy to the young lady of General Dingguo's mansion."
The topic changed too suddenly, but Concubine Shu understood instantly, "Look at you, you support Mingjue?"
"Is there something so unusual about Miss Shen that she is more valuable than Princess An Ning in your eyes?"
If General Shen could be won over, it would indeed be a good thing, but Miss Shen had broken off an engagement after all, so she was worried that Mingjue would be wronged.
Zhao Huailang shook his head and said softly, "Mother, the young lady of the Shen family is not like an ordinary girl in the boudoir. She has some special qualities, and she is a good match for Mingjue. This is one reason."
Upon hearing this, Concubine Shu couldn't help but show curiosity, "What about the second one?"
Zhao Huailang stared at the empty bowl of sweet soup in a daze, then said, "Mingjue is different from others after all. I'll just fulfill his wish."
When Concubine Shu saw Zhao Huailang suddenly look lost, her face changed with fear. She looked around subconsciously and then said angrily:
"Lang'er, the Zhen that your mother chose for you is so beautiful and gentle, but she still can't make you forget that person?"
Zhao Huailang lowered his eyes, but chose to remain silent at this moment.
Concubine Shu opened her mouth, but no matter how many words of blame she wanted to say, she ended up feeling helpless.
"Lang'er, all these years have passed..."
When Zhao Huailang heard this, he smiled instead.
"Mother, let's not talk about anything else. Mingjue is a good person. I told him that if Miss Shen doesn't work out, he must try his best to win over Princess An Ning."
Upon hearing this, Concubine Shu frowned, "How could it be possible? If that's the case, Mother would like to meet this Miss Shen and see how beautiful and talented she is. She can't even catch Mingjue's eye."
Zhao Huailang didn't care whether his mother met Shen Jiasui or not, but even he didn't expect that Princess An Ning had been curious about Jiang Xun so early on.
In this case, Mingjue seems to have no chance with Princess An Ning.
No matter what, Princess An Ning cannot marry Jiang Xun. Just as her mother said, Ye'er cannot have the help of the eldest princess by his side.
However, he doesn't need to be too nervous.
Thinking of this, Zhao Huailang calmly straightened his sleeves.
After all, he wasn't the only one who was eager to take action.
————
At the same time, Ningxin Palace.
Concubine Chun sat behind the desk. She was not beautiful, but she had fair skin and a restrained elegance.
But for some reason, she looked very indifferent at this moment.
Zhao Huaixiang was sitting opposite Concubine Chun, but seemed a little reserved.
"Mother, please have some tea."
Zhao Huaixiang respectfully pushed the tea in front of Concubine Chun.
But who would have known that the next moment, Concubine Chun suddenly waved her sleeves, sweeping the teacup and the entire cup to the ground.
Crackling——
The palace servants who were waiting outside the palace with their heads bent jumped in fear.
Zhao Huaixiang turned his head and looked at the broken cups on the ground. His brows furrowed slightly, but soon relaxed.
He stood up as if nothing had happened and said in a gentle voice, "Mother, my father has said that he will hold a welcoming banquet for the eldest princess and the county lady in the Southern Suburbs Imperial Garden."
"My child remembers that mother loves the wintersweets there the most. I will pick a few branches myself and bring them back to you. I will put them in a vase for you to enjoy for a few days."
Upon hearing this, Concubine Chun raised her eyes to look at her tall and handsome son standing beside her and said coldly, "No need."
Zhao Huaixiang, however, pretended not to hear anything, his face still full of warmth, and said with a smile: "My son will take his leave."
After he finished speaking, he strode out.
The moment Zhao Huaixiang turned around, the coldness on Concubine Chun's face gradually faded, and a hint of unspeakable bitterness overflowed.
She lowered her head to look at the fragments on the ground. She didn't know what she was thinking about. Suddenly her eyes became red and she stood up and reached out to pick them up.
As a result, the fragment pierced the fingertip, and blood instantly fell to the ground and mixed with the tea.
But even so, Concubine Chun did not call the palace servants outside the hall. Instead, she picked up the fragments silently until her hands were covered in blood.
————
East Palace.
"Mother, this soup is too sweet. Ye'er doesn't like it."
Zhao Yuanye raised his head and spoke softly to the Crown Princess opposite him.
Hearing this, the Crown Princess leaned forward, scooped a small spoonful from the cup beside her, put it to her lips and tasted it, and found it just right.
However, she did not refute Zhao Yuanye, but moved the sweet soup in front of him and said with a smile:
"If it's too sweet, then don't eat it. Come, rinse your mouth."
Zhao Yuanye did as he was told. After washing himself, he suddenly asked, "Mother, do you think my cousin will choose Mr. Zhong Jiang?"
The Crown Princess was stunned when she heard this, and at this moment she couldn't help but think of Miss Shen whom she met at Prince Rong's mansion.
She saw that Miss Shen was bold, careful, and skilled in martial arts, while Lord Jiang was upright, calm, and steady. The two were simply made for each other.
Furthermore, Lord Jiang has a rough road ahead, and I think only a woman like Miss Shen is a perfect match for Lord Jiang and can go forward hand in hand.
It’s a pity that Miss Shen has no interest in Lord Jiang, so she can’t force it.
After collecting her thoughts, the Crown Princess shook her head at Zhao Yuanye, "This... Mother doesn't know either. Why did Ye'er suddenly ask this?"
At this time, Zhao Yuanye slowly straightened his expression, and a hint of maturity appeared on his delicate little face.
He lowered his voice, approached the Crown Princess, and whispered:
"Mother, Ye'er knows that if you can marry your cousin, it will be a good thing for us."
"But how can we measure the world's affairs only by benefits? Sir is really good to Ye'er, so mother, Ye'er also hopes that Sir will be well."
"Yer still hopes that you can spend your life with the person you truly love."
The Crown Princess' eyes widened slightly upon hearing this.
She stared at Zhao Yuanye's sincere and pure expression, and vaguely saw the shadow of the person she had been thinking about day and night in him.
At this moment, the Crown Princess' eyes became hot and she couldn't help but burst into tears.
Husband, Ye'er is really becoming more and more like you...
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