Chapter 24 I Saw Spring Return (Part 1) "Committing a crime in the street?"...
The annual festivals in the palace are the same every year. All the rituals were established after Emperor Taizu stabilized the country and made them more complete and supplemented by the previous emperors. By the time of Emperor Xuanning, there were precedents to follow for both palace banquets and court assemblies.
At least in recent years, the banquets Yan Chao attended have remained largely unchanged. She had long since memorized the complicated procedures and proceeded step by step, which, though tedious, went smoothly.
In addition to the palace banquets and court assemblies held in the Fengtian Hall, the Eastern Palace also held a court ceremony in the Wenhua Hall. The entire New Year's Day was a day of intense focus, with no time to relax from the moment one opened their eyes.
It was nearly dusk when they returned to the East Palace.
Liang Lu took the nine-tassel crown she had removed, gently adjusted the five-colored jade beads, and then turned to hand it to the eunuch beside him. He then heard her say in a muffled voice, "Why do I hear what sounds like singing and dancing coming from the Fengtian Hall?"
Liang Lu waved for the eunuch to leave, listened carefully, and then turned around and said, "The East Palace is still far from the Fengtian Hall. This servant did not hear any singing or dancing. Perhaps Your Highness has listened to too much music today and is not used to it."
Yan Chao grunted, shook his head and chuckled, "Four words are still swirling in my mind: Mao Ying Jing Fu."
Liang Lu was slightly taken aback, and tentatively asked, "Is Your Highness a little drunk?"
He was somewhat surprised. Yan Chao usually didn't drink alcohol, but the amount of alcohol at the annual banquets wouldn't have disturbed her mind.
"No, I..."
"Your Highness, the young prince of Zhaoyang Palace requests an audience."
Yan Chao swallowed back the words that had been interrupted him, slightly surprised: "Fei'er? Why is he here at this time?"
She remembered that Madam Sun rarely allowed him to go out, let alone come to the Eastern Palace, which was unprecedented.
"Let him in." She looked at the imperial robes she was wearing, secretly wondering what she should change out of.
Yan Fei was a lively person, and he was not at all timid when he entered the East Palace. Before seeing him, one could already hear the light and quick footsteps under his feet.
The eunuch slowly lifted the curtain. The first thing that caught the eye was a six-lobed round hat made of dark blue crepe gauze, and a pair of round eyes that peered in curiously.
Yan Chao glanced at him and said gently, "Come in."
Yan Fei stepped in, his steps more steady than before. He took a few steps forward and bowed respectfully: "Greetings, Your Highness. May the New Year be blessed."
Yan Chao said, "No need for formalities," and then instructed the palace servants to fetch some sweets and pastries. Yan Fei's eyes lit up slightly, and he reached out to pick up a piece of chestnut cake and put it in his mouth to taste. The sweetness was milder than that of the ones in Zhaoyang Palace and Qianqing Palace, but it had a unique flavor.
He was just wondering whether to ask which chef made it when Yan Chaoxian spoke up: "Does your mother know that Fei'er is here?"
Yan Fei swallowed the small mouthful of t before smiling and saying, "Mother doesn't know. I came from the Qianqing Palace. My grandfather sent me to deliver an imperial edict, asking my sixth uncle to come over."
Before he could finish speaking, he saw that Yan Chao had already stood up, so he added, "...Grandfather also said that Sixth Uncle doesn't need to worry or be nervous. There's nothing important, it's just a regular dinner. Oh, and...Grandfather instructed you to bring Eunuch Lan Huai'en along as well."
Yan Chao's eyes darkened, and he nodded slightly: "I understand. Fei'er, rest for a while, I'll go change my clothes."
Yan Fei nodded obediently, and before she turned away, she asked again, "Sixth Uncle, I want to ask, who made this chestnut cake?"
“My wet nurse, Ying Niang,” she glanced at Ying Shi beside her, paused, and then added, “Since we’re having dinner later, don’t eat too much.” Yan Fei was a little disappointed and gave a soft “oh.”
Upon entering the inner palace, palace servants had already prepared clothing. Through the screen, Yan Chao changed into his everyday clothes one by one, and Liang Lu's voice was already extremely low: "Your Highness, Lord Shen has pretended to have fallen into the trap."
Yan Chao's heart tightened slightly, and his hands paused. He asked softly, "Is he in danger? If the risk is too great, we can still tell him to come back."
Liang Lu replied, "Lord Shen anticipated that Your Highness would say such a thing, so he told our men in advance that since we have entered the tiger's den, there is no way out, and he only asked that Your Highness must believe him no matter what."
After a long silence, a sigh was heard: "Who really believes whom..."
She changed her clothes, walked around the screen, and stepped outside, the heaviness she had felt gradually dissipating. After fastening her jade crown, she rose and thoughtfully instructed, "Fei'er likes those pastries. After dinner, have Yingniang personally deliver some to Zhaoyang Palace. It wouldn't be appropriate for someone else to go."
After some thought, Liang Lu realized that the relationship between the Sun family and Yan Chao was quite delicate, and that it was indeed necessary for someone of high status from the Eastern Palace to deliver the gifts, so he agreed to go ahead.
Seeing that Yan Chao had already started to walk out, Ying Wan followed and carefully spoke in a low voice, "Your Highness, Duan Shou went to investigate outside the palace as you instructed. This servant has also been keeping an eye on Ying Niang, but has not found anything unusual."
Yan Chao paused, noticing the slight arrogance in the latter half of his sentence, and calmly replied, "Yes. I have my own plans, you don't need to worry too much."
Liang Lu's mind immediately jolted, realizing the meaning behind her last sentence. Just as he was about to apologize, he saw that Yan Chao had already walked far away, so he had no choice but to give up, suppress his unease, and hurriedly followed.
Upon arriving at the Qianqing Palace, she learned that the Emperor had indeed only summoned her for dinner. Prince Xin was also present, making a total of four people. However, with Yan Fei there, the atmosphere became much more lively.
When she entered, Prince Xin seemed to be discussing matters concerning Xiaoyantang with the Emperor. The Emperor, with a smile on his face, turned and their eyes met. Yan Chao bowed and apologized, saying, "Your subject is late, Father Emperor, please forgive me."
Yan Fei then performed the proper greetings and went straight to the emperor's side.
"It's alright, there are only the four of us today, no need for formalities," the emperor smiled and glanced at her, patted Yan Fei's head, then turned to call Ji Weixian, "Serve the meal."
Prince Xin looked at Yan Fei and asked him with a smile, "Fei'er, you just went to the East Palace. When will you come to your fourth uncle's residence? Tang'er is waiting for you to play with him."
Yan Fei tilted her head, thought for a moment, and said, "Let's wait a bit longer. Tang'er is too young now. If he's a little older by the Lantern Festival, I'll go play with him. Kids cry too much..."
The emperor couldn't help but laugh, reaching out to gently stroke the bridge of his nose: "Weren't you also raised from a child? Fei'er used to be adorable too."
"How did you know?" Yan Fei blushed with embarrassment and lowered her head shyly.
"I held you in my arms. When you were little, you liked to pull my beard and cry. I couldn't soothe you no matter what I did. When I asked you what you wanted, you wouldn't say. In the end, you would cry and hiccup, asking for your parents..." The emperor suddenly fell silent when he said this unintentionally.
Mentioning Crown Prince Zhaohuai brings a touch of sadness to the atmosphere. Crown Prince Zhaohuai didn't live to see his son born, and Yan Fei never met his father.
Yan Fei lowered his head, seemingly saddened for a moment, but then, with the innocent curiosity of a child, he pressed on, "If every child loves to cry, then Father must be the same. What about Fourth Uncle... Sixth Uncle? Grandfather, Sixth Uncle is usually quiet. Did he cry little when he was little?"
The emperor was speechless for a moment, and when he glanced at Yan Chao out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly thought of the tears that the crown prince had tried so hard to hold back but still shed last time.
When he was young... he had never seen what Yan Chao looked like as a child. In fact, when he first met him at the age of six, he felt somewhat unfamiliar with him. At that time, Yan Chao was still timid, tugging at his wet nurse's clothes, and couldn't even utter the word "Father Emperor".
Yan Fei stopped pressing the matter, feeling as if he had said something wrong, but not quite sure what it was. He could only tug at the emperor's sleeve: "Grandson has spoken too much..."
The emperor put his arm around his shoulder and smiled amiably: "No. I enjoy listening to Fei'er talk, it's just that it's been so long, I can't remember clearly..."
Just then, Ji Weixian came in to report that dinner had been prepared, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief and got up to go to the side hall.
Dining in the palace is a time for quiet conversation, so even the usually active Yan Fei behaved himself properly, remaining completely calm and quiet from beginning to end.
Finally, when the eunuch came in to clear away the meal, the emperor suddenly said, "I wish to bestow the title of Prince Fei'er upon him. What does the Crown Prince think?"
Yan Chaoqian was taken aback.
There have been precedents in this dynasty for granting the title of Prince of the Second Rank to the sons of princes, let alone Yan Fei, who is the son of Crown Prince Zhaohuai. However, there has never been a case of granting a title to a minor.
She bowed her head and replied, "Fei'er is of noble status, so it is only natural that she be granted a title."
After all, Princess Yongjia's daughter had already been granted the title of Princess of the County.
The emperor nodded slightly, rose, and walked out, followed closely by his entourage. After a moment, the emperor paused, turned back to wait for Yan Fei, took his soft little hand in his, and spoke as they walked.
"I think that Fei'er has been intelligent since childhood, but he has been confined to the palace by Madam Sun all day long. Not to mention that he is bored, his reading and knowledge are much worse than his peers. If it were an ordinary prince, I wouldn't care much. Fei'er is the legitimate son of Crown Prince Zhaohuai and the eldest grandson of the emperor. He should not be ignorant and mediocre."
Yan Fei was short and took small steps, so the emperor intentionally or unintentionally slowed down to wait for him.
Yan Chao, standing beside him, pondered for a moment and roughly guessed the emperor's meaning. He tentatively said, "Now that Fei'er has reached the age for enlightenment, Father, could you find him a tutor?"
Prince Xin couldn't get a word in edgewise, so he just followed silently without uttering a sound.
"That's exactly what I was thinking." The emperor nodded, and immediately felt the little hand in his palm move restlessly, resisting, but not daring to break free too forcefully.
After the emperor entered the hall and took his seat, Yan Fei withdrew his hand, his face full of worry, and said softly, "Grandfather... my mother also urges me to study every day in Zhaoyang Palace. The eunuch who teaches me is already very strict. If we find a tutor, won't I be beaten every day?"
Children are generally afraid of their teachers.
The emperor chuckled and helplessly pulled him aside: "Haven't you heard that a strict teacher produces outstanding students? Besides, Fei'er is so smart, you won't get a beating if you study hard."
Yan Fei blinked: "But Mother said that Fei'er doesn't need to be as talented as Father, who was precocious but died young. As long as she is safe and well, that's enough."
He sniffed, feeling a particularly sore throat. He didn't know if it was the sadness of not having a father, the heartache for his mother, or simply the sadness of having to find a husband.
These words were clearly spoken carelessly by Madam Sun in private; though not euphemistic, they revealed boundless sorrow.
The emperor said gently, “Kefei’er has a long way to go, and she needs to have a long-term vision.”
He didn't explain anything further, patted Yan Fei on the shoulder, and then looked at Yan Chao and Prince Xin: "Finding a tutor for Fei'er is not urgent. The Crown Prince can keep an eye out for such people, and Prince Xin can also recommend them if you know anyone good."
The two answered in unison, "Yes."
Yan Fei stood quietly to the side with her head down.
The emperor glanced at the sky outside the window and asked Ji Weixian, "What time is it now?"
"Your Majesty, it is approximately three-quarters past noon."
The emperor grunted in response, his gaze falling upon a peacock-green glazed Yuhuchun vase in the corner of the window. The vase was decorated with the Three Friends of Winter, and the warm light made it appear even more emerald green and translucent.
He asked again, "Is Lan Huaien outside?"
"Yes. Since returning to the Qianqing Palace, I have insisted on kneeling outside, awaiting His Majesty's decree." Ji Weixian lowered his head, his heart sinking.
The emperor, his expression unreadable, said calmly, "Send him back. He can come back to work tomorrow. Have Cheng Tai from the Eastern Depot meet with him. Cheng Tai will tell him what to do."
Ji Weixian thought to himself, "Just as I thought," bowed in agreement, and then withdrew.
"You've all had a busy day, so you should all go back and rest," the Emperor sighed softly, his gaze sweeping over Yan Chao and lingering for a moment on Prince Xin. "I heard that Tang'er hasn't been feeling well these days, so I ordered the imperial physician specializing in pediatrics from the Imperial Hospital to take a look. How is he now?"
Prince Xin turned to the side and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Father. Physician Liu said that Tang'er's spleen and stomach are a little weak, but there is nothing seriously wrong. He instructed the wet nurse to pay attention to her diet, and she is much better today."
"That's good then." The emperor nodded, watched the three bow and take their leave, and then specially instructed a eunuch to see Yan Fei off.
When Yan Chao came out of the warm pavilion, it was already dark, but the eaves of the connecting corridor were still brightly lit, and the palace servants carried lanterns and walked at night, with rows of lights moving in the distance.
A gust of cold wind blew by, and she involuntarily shrank her neck, clenching her fists lightly in her sleeves to steady her breathing. Liang Lu came forward and helped her put on the crane cloak, only breathing a sigh of relief when he saw that her face was normal.
Prince Xin smiled and said gently, "Sixth Brother has always been afraid of the cold, so you should take good care of yourself."
Yan Chao nodded, but did not speak.
Before getting into the sedan chair, she saw that it was still Shuying who had come to pick up Yan Fei. However, she did not dare to be presumptuous here. She lowered her head and only raised her bright, watery eyes when she saw Yan Fei.
She couldn't help but recall the outspoken words Shuying had spoken that day. The Sun family dared to teach Yan Fei the "Imperial Model," yet only allowed him to recite the "Classic of Poetry" before the emperor.
So, is it really just a wish for his safety and well-being?
.
Zhaoyang Palace.
Yan Fei recounted everything that had just happened, counting on his fingers. He remembered the conversation and details very clearly. After finishing, he couldn't help but add a question: "But didn't we already attend the banquet today? Why do I still have to have dinner with my grandfather?"
Madam Sun closed the book in her hand and placed it on the table before turning her thoughts back, and said softly, "It's not just with your imperial grandfather, but also with your fourth uncle and sixth uncle."
Yan Fei: "If my mother hadn't told me to remind him, my grandfather really wouldn't have thought of my sixth uncle. He was all alone when I went to the Eastern Palace."
He took a candy from the table, and as he ate it, he couldn't help but think: Uncle Liu's pastries aren't sweet, even the sugar tastes bland.
After a moment of silence, Madam Sun ordered someone to take the food that had been delivered out, clearly afraid that he would eat too much. Yan Fei, on the other hand, secretly winked at Shu Ying to express his dissatisfaction.
"How is your grandfather feeling?"
Yan Fei smiled and tilted her head, saying, "You know that my grandfather loves me the most. With me around, he always speaks gently and is never stern."
"That's good," Madam Sun raised her hand to adjust the red plum blossom jade hairpin at her temple, her eyes hidden behind her lowered eyelashes, and said softly, "It's a good thing that you've been granted a title, and you probably won't be studying in Zhaoyang Palace anymore. If you're with your sixth uncle, you can often look after each other."
Yan Fei asked in surprise, "How can they take care of each other?"
"You said yourself that your sixth uncle is all alone. Sometimes you can help him out in front of the emperor. You can also ask him for help if you don't understand something in your studies."
Yan Fei said "Oh," and wanted to ask something more, but Madam Sun had already instructed the palace servants to take him away to rest. Before taking his leave, he glanced at his mother under the lamplight, his demeanor elegant and serene.
He sometimes felt that his mother was a very contradictory person. She wanted him to act like an innocent and clumsy child, but at the same time, she had the eunuchs teach him those profound and unfathomable principles.
.
After the New Year's Day, the Lantern Festival festivities followed. Officials were given a ten-day holiday, during which they either reunited with their families, held banquets and parties, or strolled the streets to watch the lanterns. As a result, the palace and government offices suddenly became empty.
Yan Chao was feeling rather bored in the Eastern Palace, so he decided to go and ask for an imperial decree to leave the palace incognito.
Only a few carefully selected eunuchs and guards accompanied the carriage. Liang Lu did not go with them. Before leaving, as usual, he gave them a lot of instructions and watched the carriage drive away with reluctance.
Once outside the palace, Yan Chao remembered to ask Xiao Jiu, "Where was the reunion for Shen Wei's classmates this year held?"
The annual gathering was a reunion of officials who had passed the imperial examinations together. The officials of the Langshu (a government office) were busy with their daily affairs, so it was the perfect time for them to get together and have fun on the Lantern Festival.
She remembered that it was at the Meng family's house last year, but this year it was absolutely impossible.
"Your Highness, this year's gathering at Grand Secretary Li's residence," Xiao Jiu paused, then lowered his voice, "seems to have lasted longer. I heard it started yesterday, but everyone was still not satisfied and drank until 7 p.m. last night before returning home. They gathered again this morning."
Yan Chao pondered slowly. The top scholar who passed the exam in the same year as Shen Wei was Meng Huai's grandson, Meng Tingke, and Li Shihuai's youngest son seemed to have made it into the top ten of the second class. However, this gathering of classmates was originally just a get-together, and as long as the organizer was of decent character, it was fine. Obviously, the Li family held high positions of power and had extensive connections, so those officials with less seniority would not refuse to give them face.
However, if Shen Wei is also willing to go, then this is something worth reconsidering.
Xiao Jiu asked, "Is Your Highness going?"
Yan Chao was undecided and said, "Let's wait and see."
Xiao Jiu responded, then thought for a moment and added, "There is also a banquet at the Grand Secretary's residence today, and several cabinet ministers are attending."
Yan Chao shook his head: "That's even more inappropriate."
The sedan chair was originally supposed to pass through the bustling city center, but Xiao Jiu stood on the street for a long time before finally deciding to take a detour. Yan Chao didn't mind, only saying, "Just don't get lost."
Xiao Jiu immediately assured him, "Don't worry, I've walked this road many times."
The route was fine, but just as they exited the street, a person came charging straight at them. The guards reacted quickly, raising their swords to stop him, and the sedan bearers, though startled, remained calm and managed to bring the sedan to a safe stop.
Yan Chao frowned and asked, "Who? Was it intentional or unintentional?"
As Xiao Jiu stepped forward to look, the madman looked up, his face flushed and his left cheek bruised, clearly having been beaten. He reeked of alcohol, his clothes were slightly disheveled, and his staggering steps were interrupted as he seemed to regain some consciousness, managing to utter a few words: "Please forgive me, Your Excellency, I meant no harm..."
"You scoundrel, you deserve a beating! You..."
Suddenly another one followed, imposing and speaking without any politeness. However, his words stopped abruptly upon seeing Xiao Jiu.
The air fell silent instantly. Yan Chao suspiciously lifted the curtain and saw the man not far away. He was dressed in the simple robes of a commoner, and the mustache on his lips looked inexplicably unnatural, but his expression was fierce.
Their eyes met.
Yan Chao raised an eyebrow: "Committing a crime in the street?"
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