At dinner time, a rich variety of delicacies were placed on the golden rosewood table.
Emperor Xuanwu's eyes fell solely on a plate.
The plate was filled with large cherries that were as red as pearls and agates, with half a bite taken.
The palace maid brought in a dish of juicy cherries. Eunuch Fu presented it, "Your Majesty, this dish is even more crisp and tender. Please try it."
But the emperor picked up a bitten red cherry and put it into his mouth.
Eunuch Fu secretly observed Emperor Xuanwu's expression, which was calm, solemn, and without any emotion.
It is impossible to fathom the divine will.
Xuan Ling ate all seven or eight half-eaten cherries on the white jade plate at once.
The palace maid presented him with a brocade handkerchief, and after wiping his hands, he picked up the jade robe and ate.
After the meal, Eunuch Fu found the emperor in front of the bronze mirror, stroking the kiss mark on his neck.
Well, the rouge was stained on the collar of the imperial robe. The clothing bureau would have to spend some time to clean it without damaging the precious fabric.
Xuan Ling stroked the remaining lipstick with his slender fingers, and his heart was moved when he thought of the feeling when he hugged Sheng Xiyan today.
You just crave her.
you.....
That night, Guanju Palace was extremely lively.
In addition to Gao Guirong and Lin Jieyu, Defei also came with the second prince Yuqing.
Yuqing had grown a lot and was very naughty, crawling sideways on the couch and playing.
Sheng Xiyan shakes the pottery ball,
"Yuqing, you'll be able to walk soon. What should Empress Chen give you on your first birthday?"
Concubine De said, "We have everything we need, so there's no need to spend money."
Gao Guirong said with a smile: "It would be best to give it to a younger brother or sister, so that they can play together in the future."
De Fei leaned closer and asked, "Sister Chen Fei, is there still no news? You know medicine, you should take good care of yourself."
Sheng Xiyan smiled helplessly, "Children are fate, maybe the time has not come yet."
Lin Jieyu ate candied fruit and said, "Sister Sheng, please give birth to a few more babies and we can raise them together."
"Yeah, we don't have much hope left. We're relying on you, Sister Sheng."
De Fei pondered for a while, then shook her head and said:
"The Emperor doesn't like a woman with Wang Shuyi's temperament, but it's hard to say for a woman as elegant and quiet as Concubine Cui.
Sister Chen Fei, you have to find a way to trap the emperor."
Sheng Xiyan nodded in agreement.
Gao Guirong said while eating pine nuts:
"We'll know the outcome tonight. It's easy to tell whether the Emperor likes it or not. Let's just wait and see."
Sheng Xiyan didn't want to think about this matter, as she felt uncomfortable when she thought about it.
In the Yangxin Palace, a naked woman was wrapped in a brocade quilt on the dragon couch.
As soon as Xuan Ling arrived at the West Hall and entered, he heard a knock on the door, followed by a childish voice.
"Father! Father!"
It's the voice of a general.
"Come in."
Eunuch Fu opened the door, took off a small satin dress, and ran towards him.
"Baby, aren't you playing in the West Warm Pavilion?"
Just as he was about to climb onto him, Xuan Ling picked him up and placed him on his lap.
"Father, I'm scared. I don't want to sleep alone."
Xuan Ling pinched his round cheeks,
"When you chased Lewen away, you said you wanted to sleep alone. Why don't you want to sleep alone anymore?"
Jiang Jiang shook him, "I want to sleep with Father, otherwise I will have nightmares. If I have nightmares, I won't grow taller."
Xuan Ling touched his head lovingly.
Jiang Jiang glanced at the dragon bed behind the screen in the distance and made up his mind: I will protect my father for my mother and not let him sleep with other women!
"Father, I'm sleepy. Let's go back and rest, okay?"
"All right."
Xuan Ling picked up the general and left the West Hall.
Cui Nianmi heard it clearly from under the quilt, but she didn't move.
In the rear hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Eunuch Fu carefully blew out several candles.
On the dragon couch, Jiang Jiang clung tightly to Xuan Ling's arms, his two little hands clutching the bright yellow ancient fragrant satin sash, fearing that he would fall asleep and his father would run away.
"Your Majesty, the young master has fallen asleep. I am watching him. Will you return to the West Palace?"
Xuan Ling leaned over and gently kissed Jiang Jiang on the cheek.
"Send Concubine Cui back."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Xuan Ling lay down and pulled the quilt over Jiang Jiang and himself.
Baby, did you come here to snatch our father tonight because you wanted to, or did your mother ask you to do it?
No need to think, it must be you who is clinging to your father.
Your mother doesn't care.
Xuan Ling lay on his side, gently stroking the little guy's soft hair.
It was as if he saw himself as a child. Before he was twelve years old, he was also a clingy child.
After attending Taifu's lessons every day and practicing martial arts with his master, he would rush back to Cuiwei Palace, hoping to see his mother as soon as possible.
When he went to bed at night, he liked to have his mother watch over him until he fell asleep before leaving.
The nightmare began after his twelfth birthday when he could no longer return to Cuiwei Palace, nor to his mother's arms.
I can only curl up every night and swallow the tears of fear and loneliness.
He longs for someone who can love him deeply, accompany him forever, and only have eyes for him.
I can hug him anytime.
Outside the palace, the marquis's mansion.
In the main house in the front yard, Qi Yan was half lying down.
Princess E was blowing the ginseng and pork rib soup beside her.
"Yan'er, mother has selected a few noble ladies from the capital for you. When you recover, we can meet each other so that you can start a family soon."
Qi Yan pushed away the bowl and said coldly, "Mother, please go back. I want to rest."
Princess E said earnestly:
"Yan'er, Sheng Xiyan has become the emperor's woman, you should stop thinking about her and let her go. It will be good for both you and her.
You have to look forward. Even if you feel it’s hard to get over it now, you’ll get over it after you get married and live with it for a while.”
Qi Yan said with despair, "Mother, you don't have to worry about me. I can go to the temple and become a monk. Go back quickly. I won't see you off."
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