"Yes, Siwen is right." He Chengzhi looked relieved and reached out to pinch He Siwen's fair cheek.
"General He, after passing Jingyun Gate, the Jingren Palace is in front." The palace servant who was leading the way stopped and introduced it to He Chengzhi.
"Okay," He Chengzhi nodded. He looked up at the plaque. Then he led He Siwen forward and saw two young eunuchs pulling a cart of fodder. He Chengzhi was very surprised. He was used to doing farm work in Ningguta, so he could tell what the fodder was used for. He asked the palace people out of curiosity. "What? Are cows fed in the palace?"
"Yes." The palace servant explained with a smile, "Your Majesty and His Majesty miss the farming days in Ningguta very much, and they also want to set an example for the people of the world. So they opened three acres of land in the Imperial Garden and cultivated it themselves. Seeing that the weather is getting warmer, they are preparing for spring ploughing."
He Chengzhi was shocked: "Your Majesty and His Majesty are going to farm the fields themselves?"
"Yes, Chengzi. The Empress even personally selected the seeds," the palace servant said with a smile. Seeing He Chengzhi's shocked face, he couldn't help but say to He Chengzhi, "And I also heard that His Majesty is going to farm the fields himself, saying that he wants to grow crops for the Empress and future princes and princesses."
He Chengzhi recalled Zhong Mingwei's noble demeanor during the morning court session. He really couldn't imagine what he looked like with his trouser legs rolled up and plowing the fields. However, he felt comforted and warmed in his heart. He nodded and said with emotion: "Your Majesty really has deep feelings for the Queen."
"Yes, His Majesty and the Empress are truly in love. Outsiders may not know this, but we palace maids have seen it all," the palace maid was young and lively. Once she started talking, she couldn't stop. She slowed down her pace and said to He Chengzhi, "His Majesty wakes up in the morning for fear of waking up the Empress, so he goes to the outer hall barefoot, then changes clothes and washes himself for the morning court. The Empress is also very good to His Majesty. She prepares breakfast for him every day and waits for His Majesty to finish the morning court before eating together. That's it." Ever since the queen got pregnant, she had severe morning sickness and stopped going to the kitchen. But His Majesty and the queen still eat together every day. His Majesty remembers what the queen likes to eat better than we servants do." At this point, the palace servant couldn't help but sigh, "We servants have served other masters before. To be honest, we are used to seeing that once you enter the palace, it's like a deep sea. How can there be any deep love within these palace walls? But His Majesty and the Queen are truly a perfect match. You can't find another pair like them even if you look through history books!"
…
He Chengzhi arrived at Jingren Palace amid the chattering of the palace servants. He stood in front of the palace gate, squatted down to tidy up He Siwen's clothes, tidied himself, and then followed the palace servants in.
Jingren Palace was not quite what He Chengzhi had imagined. It was not magnificent, but it had a strong flavor of everyday life, and it seemed like a home where people were living. He Chengzhi looked at the row of pomegranate trees wrapped in cotton wool and well protected by the wall, and the conspicuous swing in front of it. This reminded He Chengzhi of the Nanshan Villa in the past.
"General He, please come in." The chief eunuch came over and respectfully lifted the door curtain for He Chengzhi.
He Chengzhi led He Siwen into the main hall and saw Zhong Mingwei and Mei Ya sitting on the couch. When they saw the father and son coming in, they both stood up and came forward to greet them with a smile.
"Your subordinate He Chengzhi and my son come to pay respects to His Majesty and His Majesty!" He Chengzhi was so busy that he pulled He Siwen to his knees and kowtowed, "Long live the emperor! Long live the queen!"
"Get up," Zhong Mingwei said with a smile, "Sit down and talk."
"Yes, thank you, Your Majesty," He Chengzhi and He Siwen got up from the ground. The chief eunuch was busy bringing an embroidered cushion. He Chengzhi sat down, but He Siwen didn't dare to sit down. He stood timidly behind He Chengzhi, quietly looking at Zhong Mingwei and Mei Ya, and finally his eyes fell on a plate of hawthorn cake on the small table. He stared at the plate of hawthorn cake, and then swallowed a big mouthful of saliva with great force. The sound was so loud that the three of them heard it. He Chengzhi was busy glaring at He Siwen, and then hurriedly bowed to Mei Ya and Zhong Mingwei, saying, "My son grew up in the countryside and is used to being unruly. Please forgive me, Your Majesty and Your Majesty!"
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