Chapter 30 Not as good as peony
After this incident, Shen Meizhuang naturally expressed her deepest gratitude to Lü Yingfeng. How could she not be grateful that a lady who had barely spoken a few words to her was willing to speak up for her in front of Consort Hua?
Lü Yingfeng smiled and offered a few words of reassurance, after all, having more friends is much better than having more enemies.
Needless to say, Consort Jing spent almost the entire next few days at Yongshou Palace.
“I saved you your monthly salary, and you still come here every day to freeload on food and charcoal. I should have had Consort Hua punish you for two more months to teach you a lesson,” Lü Yingfeng said to the person opposite her, throwing down the chess piece in her hand and feigning impatience.
Consort Jing knew what kind of person she was, so she ignored her and just kept her head down, holding up the wind chimes to tease the little girl in her arms.
Everyone else was praying to the gods for a prince, like Wenyi. If she were a prince, she would definitely be raised by Consort Hua, but because she was a princess, Consort Hua didn't think much of her, so Consort Cao was able to raise her herself.
When others mention Consort Xin, they mostly talk about how she is the mother of two princes and how fortunate she is.
Consort Jing loved the little girl in her arms the most. Shu'er was never one to cry or fuss. Once she set her sights on something, she would play for a long time. She was very quiet and endearing. The more Consort Jing looked at her, the more she liked her.
She said nonchalantly, "I'm not here to see you, I'm here for our Princess Shuer, aren't I—" As she spoke, the wind chimes swayed gently, and the crisp tinkling sound made Shuer clap her hands and laugh non-stop, her little dimples on her cheeks were incredibly cute.
The two chatted casually, and Consort Jing, while rocking Shu'er, said, "Have you heard? This year's New Year's Eve banquet is being organized by Consort Hua."
Lu Yingfeng propped her head up, looking completely unconcerned—"It's obvious. These days, which of the most expensive banquets in the palace isn't organized by Consort Hua? Only she's willing to keep pouring money into them. No one else would have the same intention or the same ability."
Consort Jing agreed wholeheartedly, and looked up at Lü Yingfeng with a distant gaze—"The war in the Northwest seems to be coming to a conclusion, and Consort Hua will probably add even more glory to the cause."
Lü Yingfeng knew what she meant, so she leaned closer and deliberately lowered her voice—"Then when she's made a Noble Consort, you can also become a Consort Jing and show off your power!"
"Your mouth is so sharp, no one can get past you!" Consort Jing was unusually cheerful in Yongshou Palace, putting down Shu'er and playing with Lü Yingfeng.
——
Time is the hardest thing to pass. Every day, watching Hongzhao and Hongjin bicker and play, and watching Hongzhou do nothing but eat and sleep, he slowly learned to roll over. In the blink of an eye, the end of the year is approaching.
That day.
Lü Yingfeng followed behind Nian Shilan, her eyebrows raised in confusion as she watched Nian Shilan introduce the newly decorated main hall one by one.
Perhaps her gaze was too intense, because Nian Shilan rolled her eyes—"Look at your ignorant self. It's a good thing the Emperor didn't give you the power to assist in managing the six palaces. What could you possibly accomplish like this?"
Lu Yingfeng wasn't annoyed by her words, but simply nodded noncommittally – "Yes, there's nothing I can do but play with the children. Three in a row have really worn me out."
"You!" Nian Shilan was furious. She snorted coldly and turned her head awkwardly—"I called you here today to help me see how I've handled the New Year's Eve banquet?"
She felt that she had done everything perfectly, but she also knew that she was not a meticulous person.
This task was originally supposed to be done by Cao Qinmo, but for some reason, ever since the day she became pregnant with Wenyi but kept it a secret, Nian Shilan could no longer fully trust her.
In the palace, only Lü Yingfeng was honest and straightforward, and Consort Hua could trust her.
Consort Hua asked her to look, and Lü Yingfeng didn't stand on ceremony, carefully observing the scene in the palace.
As the saying goes, once money is spent, the things gained are never bad, and Lü Yingfeng couldn't find any fault with it. However, she was taken aback when her gaze fell on the plum blossoms that could be seen everywhere in the hall.
The words Hongzhao spoke to her this morning echoed in her heart.
Hongzhao asked, "Mother, do you know what flower Father Emperor loves most?"
Lü Yingfeng considered herself to know the Emperor fairly well, but she was still somewhat stumped by this question. Yinzhen was definitely a qualified emperor, never showing his emotions and his likes and dislikes were unpredictable.
Hongzhao didn't wait for his mother's reply and said to himself, "Father Emperor loves plum blossoms the most. I secretly saw them in the Imperial Study. Father Emperor is thinking of his old friends through plum blossoms."
Hongzhao knew that what he said was obviously false, but no one could actually go to the imperial study and search it to expose him.
When Hongzhao thought of the New Year's Eve banquet, the first person that inevitably came to mind was Yu Ying'er.
This was once the woman on my list of options for choosing a mother.
The thought of how she imprisoned Consort Xin, who had just miscarried, in the Imperial Prison of Hongzhao in the original drama makes me grit my teeth with hatred. Although Consort Xin wasn't his mother yet, he loved her because of her.
After much deliberation, it's best to keep such an arrogant and foolish woman out of the harem, lest she harm others and cost herself her life.
Even if those words had no effect, the Emperor still went to Yimei Garden, and he had naturally prepared other countermeasures.
Children's words are often rambling and incoherent. After saying this, Hongzhao ran off to practice calligraphy, leaving Lü Yingfeng alone in the room, sitting quietly in deep thought.
Thinking of old friends...
Who else could be our emperor's old friend?
Aside from the legendary Empress Chun Yuan, Lü Yingfeng had no other thoughts.
"What's wrong?" Nian Shilan noticed her dazed expression and followed her gaze, but could only see a pot of red plum blossoms that were about to bloom, leaving her quite puzzled.
Lu Yingfeng snapped out of her daze, blinked twice, and said in a natural tone, "This plum blossom is not good. Why not change it to peony? Winter peonies cultivated in the greenhouse can bloom in the snow. When the Emperor sees them, he will remember your contribution."
"Really?" Though it was phrased as a question, the increasingly bright light in Consort Hua's eyes clearly showed that she was tempted!
——
When New Year's Eve arrived, Hongzhao looked at the peonies blooming all over the room and nodded in satisfaction. Consort Hua's efficiency was truly remarkable.
Hongzhao and Hongjin held hands, both wearing fluffy capes and hats with fur trim, looking as adorable as two little bears.
At this moment, even the empress, who was all talk and no action, and Consort Hua, who was always saying one thing but meaning another, couldn't help but pinch and touch the two glutinous rice balls.
Hongzhao and Hongjin have good personalities and are never shy. They greet everyone they meet sweetly, which makes them very likable.
"Today is a family banquet, so please don't be shy." Naturally, the Emperor spoke first at the start of the banquet, which is commonly known as "setting the tone."
“Your Majesty always says there’s no need to be so formal, but if we follow the rules, it’s still so formal.”
A clear voice came from the side; it was a civet cat!
Hongzhao curiously peeked out and saw a handsome young man with a face like jade sitting there with an unrestrained posture. His peach blossom eyes seemed to contain a touch of charm, and looking into them did not feel vulgar. Instead, one felt that this person was deeply affectionate.
Hongzhao secretly turned around and compared his father to his father...
All I can say is, "Who wasn't stunningly beautiful when they were young?"
The Emperor's aura and imposing presence were so powerful that no one dared to look him in the eye. Presumably, the cold-faced prince in his younger days could also be described as handsome and dashing.
During the banquet, everything unfolded as Hongzhao remembered: the Empress offered a toast, Consort Hua drank it down, Nian Gengyao made a contribution, and Consort Wan was asked where she was.
Just as Hongzhao was relieved to be in control of the plot, he heard a deliberately coquettish voice coming from the other side, which was quite inappropriate.
"Logically speaking, plum blossoms should be in full bloom during the coldest days of winter. Consort Hua has chosen peonies over plum blossoms. Isn't that... a bit inappropriate?" Consort Qi drank two cups of wine, her cheeks flushed, and looked at Nian Shilan with a hint of provocation.
But as soon as she said those words, it wasn't just Consort Hua whose expression changed.
It was as if some keyword had been triggered.
Before Consort Hua could speak, she glared at him fiercely, when she heard the Emperor mutter to himself, "Plum blossoms... Have the plum blossoms in the Plum Garden all bloomed yet?"
Yi Xiu's peaceful smile froze on her face, but she still replied in a normal voice, "Blooming amidst frost."
In a secluded corner where no one was watching, Hongzhao sighed and rubbed his forehead in exasperation. Was this just a coincidence, or would the plot automatically correct itself? Was it really necessary to go to the Plum Garden?
Seeing the familiar lines that followed, Su Peisheng and the civet cat chased after the Emperor, forcing Hongzhao to resort to his Plan B.
He quietly crouched down, using the table as cover to conceal himself, and slipped out through the side door.
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