"Yes, if Nan Gui has any requests, I will naturally grant them to you," Shu Chengfeng said with a smile.
He was relaxed and smiling happily.
Yan Nangui wondered, was His Highness the Crown Prince genuinely amused by this, or was he happy because this meant the Yan family's daughter could no longer marry the Seventh Prince?
Yes, now that the Third Miss is already going to the Meng family, how could the Eldest Princess allow the Second Miss to marry the Seventh Prince?
Among the women of the Yan family, she could not possibly call anyone of a higher status than herself.
Yan Nangui was an accident, something she couldn't control. But what if the second young lady became a prince's consort?
So don't worry about it, she'll stop it herself.
The Zou family isn't any better; let them fight like dogs.
It was too easy for the Crown Prince to bestow some useless imperial gifts, so he immediately ordered someone to send over a box.
Yan Nangui thanked him and got up to personally pour him tea: "Your Highness truly warms my heart."
The teapot had barely been set down when Shu Chengfeng pulled her into his arms: "Is that so? Nan Gui is so pitiful, how could I bear not to love him?"
He leaned closer and gently sniffed Yan Nangui's hair: "Beauty is like a flower, and Nangui is indeed the most beautiful one."
"I have heard a saying that describes the cheeks of a Yue maiden slightly flushed by the rain. But the Yue maiden is not as beautiful as the one who returns south. The one who returns south has skin as smooth as ice and bones as beautiful as jade, and her smile is pleasant, and her tears are moving."
"What flower does Nan Gui love the most?" Shu Chengfeng asked, putting his arm around her waist.
"Crabapple blossoms, all kinds of crabapple blossoms, are extremely beautiful. However, I heard that there is a grove of pear blossoms in front of my pavilion, which I also like very much," Yan Nangui said with a smile.
"Hmm, excellent. How about I give you a nickname, Tang'er?"
"It sounds a bit tacky, but it's fine as long as Your Highness sounds right," Yan Nangui said frankly.
"I can't think of anything better right now. If I do, I'll change it later," Shu Chengfeng said.
"Of course, but may I ask what Your Highness's courtesy name is?" Yan Nangui asked, for it would be impolite not to reciprocate.
“I have no words,” Shu Chengfeng said.
That's awkward.
Clearly, the crown prince is no longer in favor.
Yan Nangui didn't ask any more questions: "Speaking of which, I'm going to the palace the day after tomorrow. I've never been to the palace before, and I'm not familiar with many of the rules. Will the banquet be held in Yaoguang Palace?"
“That’s right, don’t worry, just follow the Crown Princess. Nan Gui is so intelligent, she won’t make any mistakes.” Shu Chengfeng pinched her nose.
Yan Nangui naturally hugged his neck: "Your Highness trusts me so much, I naturally can't make a mistake. Your Highness, it's getting late."
Shu Chengfeng smiled. Indeed, he hadn't arrived early.
He picked her up and said, "Since it's not early, it's time to go to bed. I'm sure Tang'er wants to go to bed early too, hmm?"
"Your Highness is so naughty," Yan Nangui said coquettishly.
Inside the Moonlit Pavilion, Ye Liangdi smashed an entire tea set before sitting down and taking a few deep breaths.
She didn't utter a sound, but everyone serving her knew she was furious.
The only one who could offer advice was the firefly.
"Please calm down, my lady."
"I'm fine." Ye Liangdi had calmed down after the incident.
"That's good. Please don't be so angry. When Consort Xia was favored, she kept His Highness for several days. This Consort Yan has only served His Highness for the third time. There's really no need for you to be angry."
"I'm not angry about this." Ye Liangdi was extremely aggrieved, her eyes reddening. "Yan Liangyuan didn't serve me many times, but... but he has time to visit the Crown Princess and Su Shi, why doesn't he come to me? I sent him soup, but he didn't have time to see me." Ye Liangdi cried, "I'm just upset."
"Don't cry, Consort Liang. You're family! Even if His Highness comes less often, you're still his cousin! If it weren't for His Majesty's decree, you would be the Crown Princess! His Highness is in a difficult situation, and this is the time for him to establish himself firmly. Even if he comes less often, you still wholeheartedly support him, don't you? But the Crown Princess's family and Consort Yan's family are indispensable. Visiting more often is the right thing to do. As for Lady Su, she's just a woman with no power. After all, she was brought back by His Highness. How long can he like her?"
Ye Liangdi sobbed, and surprisingly, she took these words to heart.
These words were full of loopholes, but a silly girl who had been pampered since childhood believed them completely.
Immersed in their own efforts.
She wasn't entirely unaware that her cousin didn't like her, but she simply chose not to think about it.
Soon, it was time to enter the palace.
The Crown Prince's carriages made a grand procession into the palace, and upon reaching the palace gates, the passengers disembarked and walked inside.
After passing through the palace road and arriving near the Beichen Palace, the Crown Prince was about to go to the Emperor's side, while the Crown Princess led everyone towards the Empress's Fengxiang Palace.
There are still a few female members of the family in Fengxiang Palace.
The second prince's principal wife, Lady Song, and the third prince's principal wife, Lady Li, were each accompanied by a woman, clearly a lady of the household.
On the second prince's side, there was a four or five-year-old child, who was obviously his eldest son.
The Empress, dressed in a bright yellow court robe, sat at the head of the table. Her appearance was naturally outstanding, but... compared to the concubines below, she was slightly less striking. It was clear that the Crown Prince's looks were most likely not inherited from her.
Yan Nangui became curious: what does His Majesty look like?
Below are a dozen or so beautiful women in palace attire, and more people are arriving.
Clearly, these are His Majesty's concubines.
The wild geese flew south, following the Crown Princess to pay their respects.
The Empress smiled and said, "No need for formalities, please sit for a while. I reckon we'll be heading to Yaoguang Palace soon."
Today is the Empress Dowager's birthday, but the Empress has no intention of going to see her. Presumably, the Empress Dowager will go directly to Yaoguang Palace later.
Tsk, this Empress Dowager is really not the current emperor's biological mother, otherwise why would she treat him so poorly?
Just then, a call came from outside: "Consort Zhen has arrived! Consort Li has arrived!"
Many people were about to get up when Consort Zhen entered.
She wore a pearly pink dress, her hair was styled in a high bun, and her head was adorned with pearls and jade.
She entered, supported by a palace maid. Despite having given birth to two children, she still possessed a slender waist and graceful figure. Truly worthy of being called the second Goddess of the Luo River.
Her appearance is beyond compare; she is both delicate and fragile, yet strong. Every feature of her face—eyebrows, eyes, and lips—is exquisite.
Even though she's not young anymore, she's still radiant.
No wonder His Majesty likes her.
She arrived and gracefully greeted the Empress. The Empress naturally did not want to see her, but unless she did not appear, she would inevitably see her.
Consort Zhen simply hummed in agreement, clearly used to it and unconcerned, before taking her seat below the Empress.
No one in the harem liked her.
Of course, the concubines were an exception; they needed to rely on her for protection.
But those older, high-ranking concubines all hated her.
Especially Consort Lixian, the birth mother of the Second Prince, was the most favored woman before Consort Zhen entered the palace. Yet she only managed to rise to the rank of Zhaoyi. But Consort Zhen entered the palace and became a Noble Consort. It took Consort Lixian several years to climb to the rank of First-Rank Consort.
How could I not hate it?
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