5 005
◎Li Fei's exclusive favor◎
The banquet between the emperor and his ministers, the celebration and rewards were destined to last for a long time. After Qingyang had his fill of meal and watched a dance, his big eyes began to open smaller and smaller.
Emperor Xingwu looked at his little daughter who was dozing off, then looked at his eldest daughter who was still sitting upright despite being suddenly arranged to have a marriage but just stopped eating. He gave a look to the eunuch He Yuanjing.
He Yuanjing walked lightly to the two princesses' seats and said respectfully, "The Emperor said that if the two princesses are tired, you can leave early with me."
Yongkang really didn't feel like sitting here any longer, so he stood up holding his sister's hand. The two sisters knelt and saluted their father, then left through the back door on the east side of the Taiji Hall as they had done when they came.
As they left the Taiji Hall, the noise of the men, the sounds of stringed instruments, and the strong smell of alcohol all disappeared. Yongkang was filled with complicated feelings when Qingyang leaned sleepily on the wet nurse's shoulder, closed his eyes and muttered, "Big sister, I want to go back to sleep."
Yongkang smiled and touched her sister's head, deliberately letting her sister and her group walk in front, while she and the palace maids lagged behind by a few steps.
It was not until the two sides distanced themselves that the corners of Yongkang's lips lowered.
Her gaze fell on the top of her sister's head, where she was leaning against her wet nurse. Her heart was filled with envy. Her sister was born into a noble and stable family. Her father doted on her and she was pampered by Concubine Li. She also had a brother to coax and accompany her. And then there was Yongkang. His mother had died young, and his father was far away. He was separated from his adoptive mother, the Imperial Concubine, and dared not act like a spoiled child. He also had to keep an eye on his younger brother to prevent him from being framed...
Seeing her master's complicated expression, the maid Jinshu whispered, "Your Majesty, how dare you not discuss such a big matter with the princess in advance."
Yongkang glanced at her sideways and said, "You think you can orchestrate the Emperor's actions?"
Jinshu bit her lip and lowered her head, saying, "I dare not, I just feel sorry for the princess."
Yongkang sneered: "There's nothing to be sad about. I'll get married sooner or later. The Fu family is a founding hero. It's not unfair to me."
Now the country belongs to her father. Only when her father's country is stable can she be a noble princess steadily. Moreover, her father will probably pass the country to her younger brother. With her marriage to the Fu family, her younger brother will have an extra support behind him.
.
Qingyang has always had the habit of taking a nap. If he has fun in the morning, he will sleep very soundly in the afternoon. Today is no exception.
At about two quarters in the afternoon, Qingyang woke up. The wet nurse came in with a palace maid. They helped the little princess wash her face and change her clothes while speaking softly to the child.
After changing his clothes, Qingyang went to the main hall to find his mother as usual.
The wet nurse smiled and said, "The Emperor drank too much at the noon banquet and asked the Empress to take care of him. We will accompany the princess to the Imperial Garden first. The Empress will be back soon."
Qingyang then remembered that he had taken his father back to the palace that morning. Since his mother was with his father, Qingyang wanted to go over as well.
The wet nurse quickly calculated in her mind that the Empress had only been gone for half an hour. The Emperor was strong and powerful and had not seen the Empress for more than a year. The Emperor and his concubines might still be busy at this moment, so she must not let the little princess go and cause trouble.
"Your Highness doesn't have to study today. Princess, why don't you go play with him? Once the Emperor has rested, he will send someone to invite you to Qianyuan Palace."
On one side were his father and mother who were probably still sleeping, and on the other was his third brother who was having a rare day off. Qingyang quickly made his choice.
The relaxed wet nurse smiled and accompanied the little princess to the East Palace.
The third prince lived in Chengming Palace, which was located behind the eldest prince's Chongyuan Palace. When Qingyang ran in, Qin Ren was practicing calligraphy in the study.
"Is this the homework assigned by the teacher?" Qingyang moved closer to his brother, his chin just above the desk surface, and he could see a few lines of black words on the rice paper.
Qin Ren sighed, "My homework is done, and I have nothing to do. I might as well practice more before Father comes to check on me."
He is the only one among three brothers who can't even get an A grade. It's really embarrassing.
Qingyang looked around and asked, "Where's Zhang Su?"
Qin Ren: "Duke Weiguo followed my father to fight in the southern border. He has been gone for over a year. This time, my mother specially gave him three days off to go home and reunite with his family. She asked him to return to the palace on the evening of the tenth day."
Qingyang thought of the handsome face of Duke Weiguo and said eagerly, "I want to go to Zhang Su's house to play, too."
Qin Ren: "...Why do you want to go everywhere?"
Qingyang: "Third brother, don't you want to go?"
Qin Ren was silent. The palace was so small, so of course he wanted to go outside. Although he left the palace in the morning, he only waited at the city gate for half a day, which didn't count!
Because of his sister's arrival, Qin Ren stopped practicing calligraphy and took his sister to the shade of the tree in the yard to cool off.
The nanny in the small kitchen cut some fresh melon slices and brought them over. Qin Ren was afraid that his sister's hands or clothes would be stained by the juice, so he picked up the melon slices with a silver fork and fed them to his sister.
Qingyang opened his mouth and continued eating. After finishing, he said, "I still want to hear Third Brother tell stories."
Qin Ren's longing for Zhang Su immediately reached its peak.
In Qianyuan Hall, Concubine Li was crying so hard that she could hardly cry anymore. She let Emperor Xingwu push her around like a rootless duckweed.
Emperor Xingwu finally agreed to carry her to be washed, but the real dragon became spirited again after entering the water and almost took Concubine Li's life.
"If it weren't for the family dinner tonight, I could have stayed with you until dawn."
Holding the delicate beauty who was still gasping for breath in his arms, Emperor Xingwu said with a lingering feeling.
Concubine Li was unable to speak. Her body trembled uncontrollably in the water and panic appeared in her eyes. She was afraid that Emperor Xingwu would really do something crazy like that.
Fortunately, Emperor Xingwu's words were more of a boast. He had been riding and hosting banquets all day, and he had just exerted himself quite a bit. He was tired now. After changing his clothes, Emperor Xingwu embraced Concubine Li and lay down in bed, saying contentedly, "Alright, sleep with me for a while."
Concubine Li: "Your Majesty, please go to sleep. Lin'er must be awake. I have to go back and check on him."
Emperor Xingwu said: "There is a wet nurse, and she will find a way to comfort her. You should take a rest quickly, otherwise you will be exhausted at the family dinner."
Concubine Li didn't dare: "It's not long until evening. Sister Guifei, the children, and Uncle Yong and his family will be here soon. If I really go out with you, wouldn't it be obvious to them..."
Emperor Xingwu could not care less what the imperial concubine and his younger brother thought. After all, from the day he brought Concubine Li back, everyone around him could see his true face of greed for Concubine Li. But the children grew up one after another, especially the eldest daughter Yongkang, who had mocked him just this morning.
Emperor Xingwu finally withdrew his arm from Concubine Li's waist.
Concubine Li couldn't wait to get off the dragon bed, hid behind the screen and put on the dress she wore piece by piece.
Emperor Xingwu stared at him intently, then suddenly smiled: "Just now you said you had no strength left, but now you act like nothing happened. You were lying to me."
Concubine Li, who was shaking her legs while putting on her white silk pants, said: "..."
After combing her hair, Concubine Li fled. Not finding her daughter in Xianfu Palace, she went to Chengming Palace.
"Mother!" Qingyang happily threw herself on her mother, clinging to her as if the mother and daughter had been separated for many days.
Concubine Li's steps were unsteady and she almost stepped back. She hurriedly took her daughter to the shade of a tree and sat on the rattan chair that her daughter had vacated.
Qin Ren saw that his mother's face was red and her lips were a little dry due to the scorching sun, so he ordered the eunuch Fu'an to bring tea.
Concubine Li was very pleased. Although her third son was a little stupid, he was never inferior to others in being filial to his mother and taking care of his younger sister.
After drinking two bowls of light tea, Concubine Li felt comfortable all over. She leaned lazily on the rattan chair, her eyes sweeping across the faces of her children who looked like golden boys and jade girls. She thought that this was the way to live a comfortable life. Although Emperor Xingwu could give her another kind of comfort, she couldn't bear it if he gave her too much at once.
Qingyang took off his shoes and lay in his mother's arms, asking aggrievedly, "Why did mother sleep with father for so long?"
When she woke up and couldn't find her mother, she missed her so much!
Concubine Li: "...Mother didn't sleep. Your father was drunk and vomited several times, so Mother has been taking care of him."
Qingyang had also vomited at the beginning of spring, and frowned and asked, "Is the emperor sick?"
Concubine Li: "No, my father drank too much wine and he vomits easily when he is drunk."
Qingyang felt relieved and stayed in love for a while, then she remembered a new word she had heard at the palace banquet: "Mother, what official position does your son-in-law hold?"
Concubine Li sat up straight in surprise.
Qin Ren, who was also at the palace banquet, took the initiative to help his sister explain: "A son-in-law is not an official. Father means that the second son of the Zhennan Marquis family will be your son-in-law... Speaking of which, in the past, a son-in-law was indeed considered an official. Later, a son-in-law only referred to the husband of a princess and the son-in-law of the emperor."
Qingyang still doesn’t quite understand.
Qin Ren: "My eldest sister has a husband, and the two of them will become husband and wife. They will live together after marriage, and their children will call them father and mother in the future."
Concubine Li next to her was still in shock after hearing this for the first time. The emperor decided the eldest princess's marriage in the time it took to have a meal?
Although Empress Chunxiao is no longer with us, and the Imperial Concubine is only the adoptive mother of the eldest princess and her siblings, the Emperor doesn't even ask about the eldest princess's wishes?
I heard my daughter's innocent childish words: "When Third Brother grows up, will he have a prince consort?"
Qin Ren smiled and said, "The princess's husband is called the prince's wife, and the prince's wife is called the prince's consort."
Qingyang nodded, and thinking about his elder sister's consort, who wasn't very handsome, he suddenly said loudly, "Mother, I want to choose my own consort from now on. Father didn't choose well..."
Concubine Li quickly covered her daughter's mouth, her heart pounding. Glancing at the maids and eunuchs who had been with her for years, but no one knew if they would secretly tip off the Emperor, Concubine Li feigned a casual air as she criticized her daughter, "What do you know? Choosing a consort or a princess isn't just about looks; they have to be good in every way. In short, your father's choices are definitely the best. Remember that?"
Concubine Li glared at her daughter, as if she would not let go unless her daughter agreed.
Qingyang had no choice but to nod obediently.
Qin Ren said weakly, "In fact, the second son of the Fu family is handsome, but his skin color is dark."
Concubine Li breathed a sigh of relief. Emperor Xingwu really dared to choose an ugly one for Yongkang. In the future, he would also dare to choose an ugly prince consort for Qingyang.
.
After her complexion returned to normal, Concubine Li finally brought the brother and sister to the central hall of Qianyuan Palace. At this time, the imperial concubine and her son, Yongkang's siblings, and Prince Yong's family had all arrived.
After greeting each other, Concubine Li wanted to sit next to the Imperial Concubine. Seeing her father waving at her, Qingyang walked over to cooperate.
Emperor Xingwu picked up his daughter and held her in his arms.
Prince Yong jokingly said, "Father and daughter are truly connected. I coaxed Lin'er for quite some time during the Dragon Boat Festival before he finally agreed to let me hold him. He's not shy at all with his royal brother."
Emperor Xingwu liked to hear this and teased his daughter, "Why don't you want to be held by your uncle?"
Qingyang glanced at Uncle Wang, then turned away and said, "Uncle Wang is mean to me."
Prince Yong: “…”
Emperor Xingwu stopped Concubine Li from speaking and asked his daughter to explain herself. After learning about Prince Yong's cruelty to his daughter, Emperor Xingwu naturally sided with her: "Your uncle is just impatient and has a bad temper."
Qin Bing: "Yes, Uncle Wang almost kicked me in front of you last time!"
Prince Yong: "...You and your study partner are the only two students in the lecture hall, and you dare to sleep? Shouldn't you be kicked?"
Emperor Xingwu glanced at the second son indifferently.
Qin Bing had already hung his head. The imperial concubine shook her head. She was too lazy to waste her breath on him because it was useless after so many times of trying.
Emperor Xingwu thought that the imperial concubine was well-versed in poetry and literature, and the Yan family was a family of scholars. It must be because he was not there when the second son was born, and his second brother happened to go back to visit relatives, which led to the second son inheriting his second brother's temperament of valuing military affairs over literature.
At the family dinner, Emperor Xingwu only talked about family matters, and the most talked about topic tonight was the arranged marriage between Princess Yongkang and the Marquis of Zhennan.
When Emperor Xingwu was conquering the world, he relied on these meritorious officials to share his worries. Now that he is on the throne, in addition to rewarding them with wealth, honor, high positions and generous salaries, he also has to find ways to dispel their worries about being abandoned after the birds are all killed and the bows are put away after the rabbits are dead. Marriage is the simplest and most convenient way to do this. I have already married my children to yours, so why would I deal with you again?
Only when the meritorious officials feel at ease can they continue to be loyal to him, instead of focusing on how to guard against him and cause chaos again.
Emperor Xingwu approved the marriage in public, and there was no room for change. The Imperial Concubine, Prince Yong, and Prince Yong's wife all followed suit in praising the talents and character of the Marquis of Zhennan and his son. Only Concubine Li knew that her influence was insignificant, so she rarely interfered in either the Qin family's affairs or state affairs.
Yongkang said angrily, "Well, I didn't say I didn't want to get married. The emperor just came back, so we should pay more attention to him. He has been away for so long, is he injured?"
Emperor Xingwu was very soothing: "Don't worry, I'm fine."
After all, Qingyang was only three years old, so she couldn't join in the conversation when the adults were talking and just concentrated on eating.
As night fell, the family dinner finally came to an end with Prince Yong's family taking their leave.
Emperor Xingwu sat in the main seat, holding his little daughter in his arms and said, "You two should go back and rest early. I will play with Lin'er for a while."
The imperial concubine and others bowed and left, but Concubine Li had to stay because her daughter was detained by Emperor Xingwu. She was ready to take her daughter back to the West Palace as soon as Emperor Xingwu had coaxed the child enough.
However, Emperor Xingwu played with the little princess until the first watch of the night. When his daughter yawned, he asked the wet nurse to take her to the ear room to rest, while he took Concubine Li to the bathroom to take a bath.
The water rippled, and Concubine Li said anxiously, "The Emperor has already favored me this afternoon. It is only right and proper to do so tonight..."
Emperor Xingwu looked at the beautiful woman in his arms, her hair dampened, and pressed the corner of her lips, asking, "What kind of sentiment or logic can dictate who an emperor can and can't favor?"
He and the imperial concubine could barely chat for a while about state affairs and children, but he didn't know what else to say, and the imperial concubine had no intention of forcing a topic.
The two people who seemed to get along very well had already given up on sex before he met Concubine Li. After Concubine Li appeared, Emperor Xingwu would no longer force himself. The Imperial Concubine also seemed quite comfortable and satisfied with the fact that he would deal with serious matters with her during the day and favor Concubine Li at night.
So it is, two concubines, one has a noble position and the power to manage the palace, and the other is his exclusive favor at night. The dignified and talented woman disdains to envy the weak beauty, and the weak beauty will not take advantage of her favor to provoke the dignified and talented woman. The harem is simple and harmonious, which is good.
【Author’s words】
Here I come. I'm going to climb a mountain today. I wrote it in advance last night. I'll update it around noon tomorrow. [kiss]
100 little red envelopes, see you tomorrow [milk tea]
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