"If he doesn't want to go, then he doesn't want to go!" That's his business; he can go or not, she won't be threatened by him. But there are some things she needs to remind him of.
"The court officials are all waiting for you. If you don't go, they will definitely wonder what's wrong with the emperor, that he's not going to court."
"Then they will surely think that I am indulging in the pleasures of love, that I have been ruined by a beautiful woman, and that the king has neglected his morning court from then on."
She refused to take the blame. "I didn't tempt you. You made excuses not to go, so how can you blame me?"
"Then tell me what the gift is, and I'll get up now." He desperately wanted to know beforehand, but she refused to reveal it.
"You'll find out after the morning court session. If I tell you beforehand, what's the surprise?"
"But..." Hongli wanted to say more, but Su Yushan's soft lips silenced him. She kissed him so suddenly that he had no chance to say anything more.
Just as she was about to turn around, he grabbed her waist, pressed her down into the tent, and kissed her again.
The two were so close that Su Yushan could clearly feel that he had sensed her again!
He just indulged himself last night, so why is he having these thoughts again so early in the morning?
She whimpered softly in protest, but he kissed her even more fiercely.
Just as he was about to lose his way, Li Yu's voice rang out again at an inopportune moment.
Hongli had no choice but to let go of her, letting out a low snort of dissatisfaction, "This kid really has no sense of propriety!"
Having narrowly escaped disaster, Su Yushan chuckled, "How would he know you'd do something naughty so early in the morning? Stop fooling around, get up quickly! Otherwise, you'll be late again."
She coaxed him gently, and Hongli kissed her cheek again before he reluctantly got up and went to the Qianqing Palace to attend court and receive the congratulations of the princes and ministers.
After court, he went to Cining Palace to attend a family banquet.
The Empress was still under house arrest. The Empress Dowager wanted the Empress to attend the banquet, but Hongli said that seeing her would spoil the mood, and he did not want to see her or lift her house arrest.
Kao Hsiu-wen's leg injury was not serious, but she had to pretend it was very serious, so she did not attend the banquet and only sent a congratulatory gift.
The other concubines and princes all sent congratulatory gifts. Consort Xian sent a Lantian yellow jade thumb ring, Consort Hai sent an amber fan pendant, and Consort Chen sent a beaded embroidered hanging screen that she made herself.
The Empress Dowager also prepared a gift for her son: a white jade Guanyin statue, flawless and lustrous.
Princes Yonglian, Yonghuang, and Yongcheng all presented their congratulatory gifts, wishing their father, the Emperor, a long and healthy life.
As for Su Yushan's gift, she had already told him not to open it in public, but to look at it alone when they got back.
However, since all the gifts given today were now public, Lan Rong deliberately stirred things up, "We are all very curious, what gift did Consort Chun give to the Emperor?"
Xi Lan couldn't help but remind her, "That's a gift for the Emperor, not for you, Consort Xian. Why are you in such a hurry?"
Lan Rong smiled and replied, "I'm just curious! Everyone else is keeping quiet, so why is Consort Chun an exception?"
The Empress Dowager thought to herself, "Haven't Consort Chun made exceptions enough times already? Is Lan Rong really stupid or just deliberately picking a fight? On such a joyous day, it's really inappropriate to say such things and spoil Hongli's mood."
Although Hongli was also curious, he was unwilling to share it with others, saying, "I will appreciate Consort Chun's gift in detail when I return."
The Emperor forbade everyone to watch, and Lan Rong, feeling awkward, dared not say another word.
After the banquet, Hongli went to Jingren Palace and arrived at Su Yushan's bedroom, where he opened the congratulatory gift that Yushan had given him.
Inside the brocade box was a seal.
Why would Yu Shan give her a seal? What exactly is engraved on it? Curious, Hongli dipped his finger in ink and stamped it on the paper, only to be surprised to discover that Yu Shan had not engraved words, but images.
Although the carving was simple, he could tell at a glance that it was a half-length portrait of him and Yu Shan, still with big heads and small bodies, the two of them close together, warm, cute and sweet.
After a long silence, Su Yushan couldn't help but wonder, "Do you think this gift is too simple?"
Examining the seal carefully, Hongli smiled slightly. "Although the object is small, I know you must have put a lot of thought into it. In the past, you only knew how to paint, but now you also have to learn to carve seals. This is not something that can be accomplished in a day or two. I suppose you have been learning for a long time?"
Su Yushan, feeling touched by the comment, nodded. "I studied for three months. Seal carving is even more difficult than painting. My hands ached from carving, and I used up several seals before I finally carved a satisfactory one."
Hongli couldn't help but be curious, "You've been learning seal carving for three months? How come I didn't notice?" He often came here, yet he hadn't found a single clue!
"If I want to surprise you, of course I have to learn behind your back! I figured you'd be busy reviewing documents in the morning and wouldn't usually come over, so I'll study for an hour every morning. If you see me, someone as observant as you will surely guess what's going on."
Hongli was touched that she had put so much thought into giving a gift, and pulled her to sit on his lap.
"You're so thoughtful! I really like this seal. I'll keep it in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and I'll take it out and stamp it whenever I miss you."
"You see me all day long, don't you get tired of it? You still have time to think about me?"
Her unintentional remark made Hongli start to ponder her unspoken meaning: "Don't you get tired of seeing me every day? Could it be that you're already tired of me?"
Realizing her slip of the tongue, Su Yushan immediately clarified, "I didn't say that, don't wrong me."
Although the two see each other every day, things are different from before.
"During the day I'm busy with official duties and rarely see you, unlike before when we were in the Prince's Palace, when I could spend more time with you. At night, we barely exchange a few words before going to bed. How can I not miss you?"
Hearing his gentle explanation, Su Yushan felt a sweet warmth in her heart. "Can't I let you have your way? I was just saying it casually, look how wronged you are."
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