Chapter 371 Drunkenness
Du Yuanhua even suspected that the invitation was just Wen Zhiming's feigned politeness, and that the jealous emperor couldn't wait for him to disappear from his cousin's sight.
This can be seen from the obvious smile on Wen Zhiming's lips after he mentioned his fiancée.
Upon hearing this, Meng Lingge said, "My cousin is getting married? Since he's in the capital, I'll send someone to fetch him. It'll be a good opportunity for me to meet my future cousin's wife. My cousin has helped me and the Emperor so much this time. If I don't host a banquet for him when he enters the palace, my uncle and aunt will think I'm being impolite."
When Du Yuanhua heard her mention her parents, he dared not attend the banquet.
Qiaoling can't keep things to herself. If she comes, she will definitely reveal that Du's parents had confined him a few days ago. Not only will the relationship between relatives become strained, but Meng Lingge will also feel bad.
Thinking of this, Du Yuanhua smiled faintly.
"The Empress knows this person; it's Qiaoling. You met her in Jiangnan. The Emperor and Empress have designated the Du Family Cloth Shop as the royal supplier, which is the greatest recognition for the Du family. If my parents knew this news, they would surely be grateful for the Emperor's favor. The business world is ever-changing. Now that I have received the Emperor's decree, I still want to do something practical in the capital as soon as possible to help the Du Family Cloth Shop gain a foothold in the capital, so as not to fail the Emperor and Empress's trust."
"So it's Miss Qiaoling. She's carefree and easygoing, and she's the daughter-in-law my aunt has chosen. After my cousin gets married, he and his wife will surely treat each other with respect and their family will be harmonious," Meng Lingge said with a smile.
Du Yuanhua's eyes were deep and profound. "Thank you for your kind words, Your Majesty."
Having made up his mind to marry Qiaoling, he would naturally be a good husband. He would love his wife and children and live a simple and peaceful life.
At least on the surface, it's flawless.
“Since you’ve said all that, cousin, I won’t force you to stay.” Wen Zhiming put his arm around Meng Lingge and saw him to the door.
"When I have time, I will draw a portrait of my cousin so that the guards at the city gate can remember what you look like, so that my cousin can freely enter and leave the palace."
In this way, the guards will bring Du Yuanhua to see him instead of going to see Meng Lingge.
Meng Lingge was surprised. To allow Du Yuanhua free access to the palace, all she had to do was give him a token. Why make it so complicated?
They even drew a portrait of him, making him look like a wanted criminal. My cousin had urgent business at the palace, and someone looked him up and down with that portrait. That was so bizarre.
However, considering that Du Yuanhua would definitely not enter the palace unless it was something important, and that he could seek help from Meng Xingyuan at the Meng residence if something really happened, there was probably no reason for him to need the token.
So although she didn't understand Wen Zhiming's words, she didn't press him for an answer.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Du Yuanhua immediately understood Wen Zhiming's little scheme.
He has already made it clear that he wants to get married.
Wen Zhiming, however, still guarded against him meeting his cousin as if he were a thief, which truly confirmed the definition Wen Zhiming had given him when they first met.
What a jealous husband.
Du Yuanhua boarded the carriage prepared for him in the palace, his gaze quickly sweeping across Meng Lingge's face as he got in.
Even though Wen Zhiming treated Meng Lingge very well, he still had some things he wanted to tell Meng Lingge privately, but Wen Zhiming was too wary of him, and he ultimately didn't find an opportunity to say his heartfelt words.
Let's hope his worries don't come true, and that my cousin will never need the backup plan he made for her.
The Emperor, Empress, and Empress Dowager's lunch was held at Yuehua Palace.
The palace servants knew that the Emperor and Empress liked this place, so they made some changes according to their preferences. They added lotus flowers to the pavilion and the fish in the lake were much fatter than before.
It looks very cozy.
The three of them enjoyed tea and food while chatting casually.
The Empress Dowager said that she did not plan to leave after returning to the palace this time. She and Prince Anshun had always been separated for long periods of time, and recently when they were together, they had grown tired of each other. In any case, Prince Anshun had two concubines to take care of him, so he did not need her. She would stay in the palace and be a leisurely Empress Dowager, where she would not have to suffer any mistreatment and could take care of the imperial grandchildren.
Wen Zhiming and Meng Lingge readily agreed.
The Empress Dowager suffered a lot of grievances and ridicule in the first half of her life because of Wen Zhiming's poisoning. Now that Wen Zhiming has become the emperor, he naturally wants to do his best to be filial to his mother. The Empress Dowager has always been kind to Meng Lingge, and Meng Lingge is also very happy to have another person to love her child.
Looking at her son and daughter-in-law, the Empress Dowager was even more grateful that she had agreed to Meng Lingge's marriage to Wen Zhiming when Meng Lingge broke off the engagement. If it weren't for Meng Lingge's support and help, she and her son would not have known whether they would even be alive, let alone have such immense wealth.
At the same time, she was even more grateful that after Wen Zhiming and Meng Lingge got married, although she always had her own calculations and selfish motives, she never thought of making things difficult for Meng Lingge.
While her success today is certainly due to her son and daughter-in-law, it is also largely related to her vision and character.
Recalling the past, the Empress Dowager's eyes reddened. She summoned a palace maid to bring fine wine, insisting on having a few drinks with Wen Zhiming and Meng Lingge.
Wen Zhiming was worried about Meng Lingge's health and tried to stop her, but Meng Lingge didn't want to spoil the Empress Dowager's mood, so she ordered the palace maid to change the fruit wine.
Unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager was in a particularly high mood today. After switching to fruit wine, she first drank three large cups in a grand manner, toasting herself to the good times that had finally come, then to her son for peace and prosperity throughout the land, to her daughter-in-law for a long and blessed life, and then to heaven, earth, and even the air...
Before Wen Zhiming and Meng Lingge could even start drinking, the Empress Dowager had already devoured the entire pot of fruit wine.
Wen Zhiming and Meng Lingge were dumbfounded. They really didn't expect that the Empress Dowager had such a free-spirited side.
It seems that the Empress Dowager really didn't have a good time during the months she spent with Prince Anshun.
Wen Zhiming and Meng Lingge thought it would be good for the Empress Dowager to relax and vent, but the Empress Dowager was still not satisfied after finishing a bottle of wine and kept asking the palace maids to bring more wine, which Wen Zhiming could not persuade her to stop.
Meng Lingge could only chime in from the sidelines.
"Mother, you just said you would take care of my child. If you get sick from drinking, I dare not entrust the child to you."
These words instantly sobered the Empress Dowager up considerably. She waved her hand and said, "I won't drink anymore. I still have to take care of the imperial grandson in the future."
Wen Zhiming was both amused and exasperated by her, and quickly had a palace maid help the Empress Dowager back to Cixi Palace to rest.
After the Empress Dowager left, Yuehua Palace fell silent.
The couple exchanged a glance, both feeling helpless yet unable to suppress a smile.
Wen Zhiming explained, "Mother is not usually like this. She was probably too happy today and couldn't control herself. She will definitely regret it when she wakes up. She originally wanted the family to be reunited and celebrate, but instead we have to watch her perform a one-woman show."
Meng Lingge didn't feel there was anything wrong with it.
"Now we are reunited, and the atmosphere is even more festive than expected. Even when the Empress Dowager was drunk, she was still thinking about taking care of the imperial grandson, which shows that she is a loving grandmother. I originally thought that with the Empress Dowager here, the atmosphere in the palace would be more serious and disciplined, but now that I see it, I reckon it will definitely be more lively and interesting in the future."
Wen Zhiming looked at Meng Lingge and couldn't help but pull her into his arms.
In his heart, whether the palace was bustling or desolate depended entirely on his wife.
With his wife by his side, he felt at peace even in the most desolate place; without her, he felt deeply lonely even in the bustling city.
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