"Yongle, quickly call her Aunt!"
"Mother, I don't want to call her aunt!" Yongle immediately pouted and complained.
Song Yaozhu looked at the extremely aggrieved Yongle and thought to herself, "I used to be your second aunt! I can still bear the title of 'aunt'."
"Nonsense!" Princess Xuan bluntly exposed her. "Didn't you keep saying you wanted your aunt to teach you how to ride a horse? Now that your aunt is here, you can have a good talk with her."
Upon being exposed, Yongle blushed with embarrassment and threw a tantrum, saying, "I'm going to play!"
Then he ran out of the theater with his maid.
"Please don't blame me, sister. It's because I spoiled her too much that she developed this kind of personality."
Song Yaozhu naturally wouldn't hold a grudge against a little girl. "Sister, you're too kind."
The two were talking in hushed tones when one of the concubines in front turned around and said to Song Yaozhu with a smile, "What does Princess Xiaoyao think of this play? I've heard from inside the palace that you're spending lavishly on actors outside the palace!"
Although the concubine spoke with a smile, Song Yaozhu could sense the malice in her words.
Song Yaozhu glanced at her, then shifted her gaze to the back of the Consort's head, which was adorned with jewels.
"How could someone as illiterate as me understand such refined things? I was just watching others have fun and wanted to show off a bit myself. The prince has already reprimanded me, and I would never dare to do such a thing again."
The concubine originally intended to take this opportunity to make trouble and accuse her of being close to the Prince of Yan, but she didn't expect her to not take the bait and grit her teeth in secret.
"Is that so? I thought the Princess Consort admired the Prince of Yan!"
Song Yaozhu smiled faintly, but there was no smile in her eyes. The concubine immediately felt a chill run down her spine, a sense of oppression as if she were being stared at by someone in a superior position.
She entered the palace late and had never met the late Empress. If Consort Shu were present, she would definitely scream out loud at this moment—Song Yaozhu looked exactly like she was reprimanding a palace concubine.
"The Prince of Yan is the Emperor's half-brother. He was the Emperor's right-hand man during the founding of the dynasty, and now he shoulders the heavy responsibility of guarding the southern border. Does Your Majesty not admire the Prince of Yan?"
The concubine stood frozen in embarrassment, unable to say "no." The Prince of Yan's achievements were undeniable; a simple "no" would invite endless scorn. But if she expressed "admiration," the Emperor would surely despise her!
"Alright, you're all wives and mothers now, why are you talking about other men?" The Imperial Concubine interrupted, thinking to herself, this Song San is no simple man.
He hasn't read many books, but he's quick-witted.
The play on stage changed several scenes, and the rest of the officials' wives arrived one after another.
Not long after, the Emperor arrived at the theater. Behind him were several cabinet ministers, followed by several princes. Behind them were several princes and dukes, and the rest of the officials were arranged according to rank, forming a large group.
The Imperial Concubine was the first to rise and curtsy, "Your Majesty."
"No need for formalities." The Emperor's gaze passed over the Imperial Concubine and landed on Song Yaozhu behind her.
Today she was wearing a navy blue brocade peacock patterned palace dress. This old-fashioned dress made her look a few years older, but it also highlighted her composure.
It was just a fleeting glance, but he vaguely thought Xie Wanqing was standing in front of him, smiling gently. However, following her gaze, he saw her eyes fall on Xie Liwei behind him, causing him to unconsciously tighten his grip on the jade pendant.
When the Imperial Concubine saw the Emperor's gaze linger on her for a moment, she naturally knew who it was because of, and couldn't help but feel annoyed.
"Your Majesty, let's take a walk together and let them feel at ease," the Imperial Concubine suggested with a smile.
The Emperor withdrew his gaze; on such an occasion, he would naturally not offend the Imperial Concubine.
The Imperial Concubine's face immediately lit up with joy, and she and the Emperor walked out of the theater. As soon as she and the Emperor left, several other high-ranking concubines in the harem also left their seats.
With the Imperial Concubine absent, these gentlemen and ladies were free to move about. Having a rare opportunity to enter the palace, the curious young men and women naturally wanted to look around and broaden their horizons.
Xie Liwei walked over and sat down next to Song Yaozhu. Princess Xuan kindly reminded him, "Your Highness, this is the women's section. You should sit over there."
Xie Liwei straightened his robes. "I wish to sit with the Princess Consort. Please pretend that I am not here."
Well......
How can you pretend it doesn't exist when it's so big?
"The Prince and Princess are newlyweds, and they're so reluctant to part!" she said awkwardly, making excuses for them.
Song Yaozhu herself felt embarrassed; she had never been one to flaunt intimate relationships in public. No matter how close the two were in private, they should maintain a certain distance in public.
Xie Liwei's deliberate performance drew hundreds of gazes, making her toes itch and want to scratch the ground.
Song Yaozhu turned her head to look at him, her almond-shaped eyes widened, her two beautiful slender eyebrows furrowed, and she glared at him.
Xie Liwei took in the look of her glaring at him, but in his heart he wondered if a woman could be both cute and intimidating when she glared at someone.
Seeing that he remained unmoved despite her gaze, Song Yaozhu tugged at his sleeve, not wanting him to be subjected to the gazes of everyone present again because of her.
"Excuse me, sister. I'm going out for a walk with the prince."
Left with no other choice, we had to drag the person out.
Princess Xuan found it amusing and remarked how wonderful it was to be young, able to show affection for each other without restraint.
Song Yaozhu led Xie Liwei out of the theater and headed towards the Imperial Garden. The eunuch assigned to Song Yaozhu could only follow behind his two mistresses, along with Caijin.
Where are you going?
"Let's go sunbathe in the Imperial Garden!" Song Yaozhu said irritably, her steps light as the wind, showing no trace of the elegance and composure of a noblewoman.
"The Princess Consort seems to know the palace layout better than the Prince's residence," Xie Liwei said casually.
Song Yaozhu suddenly stopped and turned to look at him.
What is he suspecting?
"Although I haven't been to the palace for many years, there are some roads that I will remember for the rest of my life."
"Oh." Xie Liwei's tone was indifferent, as if Song Yaozhu was overthinking things. He took a few steps forward steadily and unhurriedly, and when he saw that Song Yaozhu hadn't followed, he turned back to look at her, "Didn't we say we were going to the Imperial Garden? Why did you stop?"
Song Yaozhu thought to herself, "Men's hearts are like needles at the bottom of the sea." She lifted her skirt and jogged to catch up.
Xie Liwei didn't walk fast, but his strides were long, and Song Yaozhu struggled to keep up. After walking for a while, she couldn't keep up anymore and, in a moment of panic, grabbed his belt, "Slow down, I can't keep up!"
Xie Liwei stared at her hand in disbelief. She had actually grabbed his belt in public!
This is his belt!
How could she do something so private!
"Let go!" He reached out to pry her fingers apart, but Song Yaozhu gripped them even tighter. She knew that her actions in her haste were not very elegant, but wouldn't letting go now make her seem guilty?
"No way! Who told you to walk so fast! Couldn't you have slowed down and let me pass? It's clearly your fault!"
Xie Liwei laughed in anger; she was actually trying to argue her point!
"Your Majesty, look at the Prince of Xiaoyao and his consort, they are truly a perfect match!"
The two froze in place, watching as the imperial concubine and the emperor stood at the corner they were about to pass, with a bunch of curious black heads behind them.
Song Yaozhu's inner roar: I just want to ascend to heaven on the spot!
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