These disturbances have no impact on Prince Chen's Palace at all.
Because Gu Jue had to recuperate and couldn't go out to see the lantern festival, Chu Qianchen had people buy all kinds of lanterns in Beijing. As the Lantern Festival was approaching, all the shops selling lanterns were busy. Normally, the lanterns should have been ordered before the New Year, but Chu Qianchen ordered them at the last minute, so he spent a lot of money.
In the end, there were a total of one hundred lanterns, including pumpkin lanterns, revolving lanterns, jade rabbit lanterns, gourd lanterns, cat lanterns, doll lanterns, peacock lanterns, etc., in various shapes.
The palace hung these lanterns in every courtyard, pavilion, garden, water pavilion... It was like a small lantern festival.
On the night of the Lantern Festival, these lanterns were lit one by one. In the dark night, they were colorful, like fireworks, and extremely gorgeous.
Queen Mother Yin, Gu Jue and Chu Qianchen, surrounded by Amber, Nanny He and others, strolled in the palace to admire the lanterns.
The weather was still cold on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, and everyone wore a cloak and had a hand warmer in their sleeves.
The three of them were in a good mood and didn't feel the cold. They talked and laughed as they walked. Even Amber and Nanny He occasionally interrupted them.
"Princess, this tiger lantern is really great. It looks very majestic."
"Empress Dowager, this year is the Year of the Tiger. You can hang this tiger lantern for a few more days to suit the occasion."
“…”
In fact, these lanterns were bought in a hurry, so they were basically not custom-made. They were just whatever was available in the shops. They were also things from folk shops and could not be compared with the lanterns in the palace.
But Queen Mother Yin didn't care at all.
Lantern Festival, a day of reunion.
For her, the most important thing is "reunion".
She had been looking forward to it for so many years, and this year's Lantern Festival finally saw her family reunion.
Queen Mother Yin's eyes were filled with tears, and she suppressed her inner excitement.
The night was chilly as frost, with a cold wind blowing gently, causing the lanterns hanging in the air to sway in the wind. The flames in the lanterns also flickered, the revolving lanterns turned, and the pictures painted on the lanterns suddenly became vivid.
This revolving lantern is painted with peach blossoms, starting with a withered peach branch in late winter. Then the branches begin to twitch leaves and buds, grow flower buds, and finally bloom on the branches. The branches are full of peach blossoms, which is a beautiful sight.
Queen Mother Yin stopped beside the pavilion, looked up at the revolving lantern, and said with a smile, "The lantern is well painted."
Gu Jue smiled slightly and blinked at Queen Mother Yin: "Mother, you really have good taste!"
Queen Mother Yin sensed something profound in his smile, and a guess emerged in her mind.
Could it be...
She turned to look at Chu Qianchen who was standing on the other side of her for confirmation. Chu Qianchen nodded slightly and said, "I didn't make this lamp, but I painted the picture on it."
"The prince can make lanterns. Next year, the prince will make them and I will paint them. It will definitely be better than this one!"
Queen Mother Yin agreed with this and smiled. She was already looking forward to next year's Lantern Festival, which would surely be even more lively.
Queen Mother Yin looked back at her son and daughter-in-law, her gaze especially lingering on Gu Jue's face for a moment.
After nearly half a month of rest, Gu Jue's face was flushed again, and the thin flesh he had lost during the first few days when he couldn't move also grew back. Chu Qianchen said that now Gu Jue could do everything that ordinary people could do, except running fast, riding a horse, practicing martial arts, and lifting heavy objects.
He needs to take good care of his body for three months before he can practice martial arts.
Queen Mother Yin agreed very much. It takes a hundred days to heal a broken bone. Gu Jue's operation was close to his heart, so he had to be taken care of like this. Her son always liked to show off his strength. Fortunately, he now has his daughter-in-law to watch over him! Looking at this pair of perfectly matched people, Queen Mother Yin felt indescribably happy and felt that she was actually a little redundant.
She raised her hand and rubbed her brows, saying, "I'm a little tired, you guys continue shopping."
During this Lantern Festival, the couple should have gone to the lantern festival outside to guess lantern riddles, admire lanterns and watch fireworks. But now that Gu Jue couldn't go out, they let the couple have fun on their own.
Queen Mother Yin left as soon as she said she would. After a while, Chu Qianchen and Gu Jue were the only ones left in the garden. Even Amber left, asking the maid to light an extinguished lantern.
The garden at this time of year is actually quite deserted. The winter plum blossoms are about to wither, and the spring flowers have not yet bloomed. Only occasionally can you see scattered white magnolia buds growing on the treetops. It is quite deserted.
But tonight, these colorful lanterns decorate the branches.
Chu Qianchen and Gu Jue walked forward hand in hand, one holding a white rabbit lantern in the other hand.
This lamp was made by the Third Princess Anle herself. She specially ordered the eunuch to deliver it to Prince Chen's Mansion the day before yesterday. There was one lamp for Empress Dowager Yin, one for Chu Qianchen, and the one for Gu Jue was forgotten by her.
Chu Qianchen gently shook the white rabbit lantern in his hand like a child and praised: "The third princess has quite skillful hands."
Anle doesn't like reading, playing the musical instrument, chess, calligraphy, or painting, nor does she like needlework. Instead, she likes making small things, such as making lanterns, weaving interesting webs, making silk flowers, shuttlecocks, and so on.
Gu Jue stopped and glanced at the white rabbit lamp. His eyes were clearly saying, is this called dexterity? Chu Qianchen blinked, and in an instant, he saw a rare childishness in Gu Jue.
She subconsciously tried to coax him: "Of course I can't compare with you!"
He raised an eyebrow and she noticed immediately that he was happy, and she coaxed him into it.
This thought made Chu Qianchen feel as happy as if there was a sparrow flying in his heart.
She likes to coax him.
She could also sense that he would occasionally show weakness in front of her.
These are all different from previous lives.
In his previous life, even though Gu Jue was seriously injured and even though he didn’t have much time left, in front of her, he was still the indestructible Gu Jue, the Gu Jue who could not be shaken even by death.
In her previous life, Gu Jue was clearly by her side, but sometimes, she would feel that he was very far away from her, just like the stars in the sky. How could a mortal hand possibly touch the stars?
But this life is different.
Feeling the warmth from his palm, she couldn't help but hold his hand tighter.
The current Gu Jue is no longer the moon in the well or the flower in the water, he is within her reach.
Thinking of this, Chu Qianchen's heart became warm, just like the flower tea with honey added, the flowers created ripples in the tea. Even if you don't drink it, just looking at it will give people a fragrant, sweet and beautiful feeling.
Chu Qianchen's heart suddenly started pounding, and he walked forward holding Gu Jue's hand.
She slowed down her pace even more, as if hoping that this moment would last a little longer.
That night, fireworks and sky lanterns were set off in Prince Chen's Palace. Everyone, from the master to the servants, held a Kongming lantern. It was quite spectacular when all the lanterns rose up from Prince Chen's Palace and flew into the moonlit night sky.
The Lantern Festival passed in such a lively manner.
The next day, Prince Li came to visit specially, but before he could open his mouth, Gu Jue rejected him.
Facing Prince Li, Gu Jue did not beat around the bush and said directly: "I am worried about my mother living in the palace. If it were my uncle, would he take the initiative to send my mother to someone else's hands and not even guarantee her safety?"
Gu Jue almost said, would Prince Li let his own mother die? !
Prince Li was speechless.
So, Queen Dowager Yin continued to live in Prince Chen's Mansion and had no intention of returning to the palace.
The emperor is still ill. Because of this incident, he was so angry that his erysipelas almost broke out. He became even more ill and couldn't even get up.
In desperation, the emperor had to give up his original plan: "Prince, in three days, you will escort the Prince of Andaman and his men out of the capital on my behalf."
The emperor was half lying and half sitting on the dragon couch. Not only did he have sores in his mouth, but he also started to get red sores on his back and forehead. He had not slept well in recent days, so his complexion was very bad. He was obviously only in his forties, but now he looked at least seven or eight years older than his actual age. He was completely different from the one he was a year ago.
Gu Nanjin felt complicated.
He calmed himself down and did not agree. Instead, he suggested, "Father, should we keep Haoren for a while longer?"
Gu Nanjin always felt that something was wrong with this matter. The fact that Da Qi changed the candidate for marriage from the third legitimate princess to the emperor's "adopted daughter" was tantamount to an act of contempt for Hao Kingdom.
The King of Andaman was furious about this, but after being furious, he actually accepted it so easily.
Gu Nanjin had to wonder whether Andaman had gained greater benefits from Da Qi, which made him endure it.
However, after thinking about it, Gu Nanjin really couldn't figure out what this "benefit" was.
Previously, the emperor confined Gu Nanjin to the East Palace and did not allow him to get involved in state affairs. Even if Gu Nanjin had any suspicions, he had no way to investigate the matter. But now it is different. He is temporarily handling state affairs on behalf of the emperor, so he can try to investigate Haoren’s intentions.
The emperor frowned upon hearing this, and became even more dissatisfied with the prince. He scolded, "Not right!"
"You do whatever I tell you to do. Prince, do you want to take over my place just because I'm sick? You have so many ideas!"
Every word in the emperor's voice became sharper and higher-pitched, and each word was as hurtful as a knife.
In the past, Gu Nanjin would be hurt by the emperor's words and would defend himself, but the emperor's repeated suspicions chilled his heart. He knew that no matter how much he said, it would not be enough to overcome his father's suspicion.
Gu Nanjin remained silent and let the emperor scold him, wondering in his heart: Should he go look for the Ninth Uncle again?
A few days ago, he asked Gu Jue to suggest a candidate for the imperial envoy, and Gu Jue did suggest one. Moreover, he had no selfish motives in proposing this candidate, and even the emperor felt that Prince Rui was indeed suitable.
Gu Jue might be able to understand Haoren’s intentions.
Thinking of this, Gu Nanjin half lowered his eyelids and clenched his fists, but he didn't know that the emperor saw his expression as unconvinced.
The emperor's eyes were sinister, and he suddenly became too lazy to scold him anymore.
Anyway, it's useless to say more. The prince and him have long had ulterior motives and he wishes he would die sooner so that he can succeed to the throne!
The emperor waved his hand and said tiredly, "Prince, please leave."
Gu Nanjin agreed respectfully and walked out with his head lowered.
When Gu Nanjin was walking out of the Palace of Tranquil Longevity, he met Kang Hongda who was walking towards him behind the gate.
"Greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Kang Hongda bowed to Gu Nanjin with a smile.
Kang Hongda is a close minister of the emperor. Even when facing the prince, he remains neither humble nor arrogant, and even seems a bit nonchalant.
The emperor did not sleep well at night, so he often fell asleep during the day. Once he closed his eyes, no one dared to disturb him. No matter who came to see him, they could only wait outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Kang Hongda nodded in agreement and sighed, "Your Majesty is not feeling well. I am deeply worried and cannot sleep or eat well."
The two sides exchanged a few pleasantries and then Gu Nanjin left.
Kang Hongda respectfully saw Gu Nanjin off, his eyes looking at his back as deep as the abyss. He was naturally deeply touched by the emperor's dislike for the prince, and the prince's position was probably not so stable.
This kind of thing has never been a rare thing. There are many deposed princes in history, and there are also some who were deposed and reinstated several times. Who will have the last laugh depends on luck.
While thinking, Kang Hongda followed a young eunuch into the emperor's bedroom with brisk steps.
Kang Hongda came to see the emperor, but not because he was worried about the emperor's health, but because of Chu Lingxiao, or rather, because of Chu Yunyi.
Today Chu Lingxiao finally returned to the capital.
Chu Lingxiao was escorted back to the capital by several Jinyiwei, and Aunt Jiang also came back with him.
When Chu Lingxiao left the capital last year, he was taken away wearing shackles and irons. He walked from the capital to the exile place in Youzhou, and his life was miserable.
This time, he was escorted by the Embroidered Uniform Guards and had a carriage to ride in. Although he had to travel at full speed, for Chu Lingxiao, it was much better than when he left last year.
At this moment, looking up at the familiar city gate of the capital, Chu Lingxiao felt as if he was in another world. All kinds of feelings were intertwined in his heart, rolling over and over again, and he felt a kind of embarrassment and torment of the past that he could not bear to look back on.
He has had a very hard time in the past few months!
Chu Lingxiao is an exile and a criminal. He has to perform labor service in Youzhou, and Aunt Jiang has to take care of Chu Lingxiao's daily life personally.
The two of them used to live a life of luxury, and had never even washed their clothes by hand. Now, living in Youzhou, exposed to the wind and rain, wearing coarse clothes and eating simple meals, was simply a nightmare life for them.
In just a few months, their once smooth and delicate skin became rough, sallow, and they looked much older. Even Chu Lingxiao's back became a little hunched over due to being bent every day.
Both of them were wearing rough cloth, without a single piece of jewelry. At first glance, they looked like a poor couple making a living on the streets.
Chu Lingxiao almost thought that he would die in Youzhou in this life, but he didn't expect that God had not yet cut off his life. Suddenly, there was a turn for the better and he could return to the capital.
He 's back! He's finally back! ! Chu Lingxiao was very excited. At this moment, a familiar male voice came from the front: "Brother! Brother, you're finally back!"
Chu Lingyu walked over quickly, his eyes red and he looked so excited and choked up that passers-by couldn't help but sigh at the deep brotherly love.
"Second brother!" Chu Lingxiao was also very excited, and his eyes turned red.
After not seeing his family for several months, he finally felt relieved when he saw Chu Lingyu.
He really returned to the capital.
"Brother, you've lost weight." Chu Lingyu sighed with tears in his eyes, his voice hoarse, "I've cried so much for you these past few months, brother."
"Fortunately, you are finally back. As long as you can come back, no matter how much effort I put in, it is worth it."
Chu Lingyu wiped his tears with his sleeve and tactfully told Chu Lingxiao that it was because he helped Chu Lingxiao to return to Beijing.
"Second brother, thank you for your hard work!" Chu Lingxiao patted Chu Lingyu's upper arm and believed it.
When the Jinyiwei went to Youzhou to tell him that he could return to Beijing, Chu Lingxiao was shocked.
On the way back to Beijing, he tried to find Jinyiwei to talk, but Jinyiwei was too tight-lipped and refused to reveal anything. Chu Lingxiao could only guess from his own treatment whether this trip back to Beijing was a good or bad one.
It was a long journey, and Chu Lingxiao had nothing to do, so he naturally thought of various possibilities, even whether Chu Qianchen had a change of heart... But he quickly rejected it. Chu Qianchen was just like her biological mother Shen, both cold-blooded and ruthless. It was absolutely impossible. Therefore, he also felt that it was most likely that his family had paved the way.
Chu Lingxiao took two deep breaths and said, "Second brother..."
He wanted to ask if everything was okay at home, but the Jinyiwei escorting him were already impatient. One of them looked down at him from his horse and said, "Have you said enough?!"
"We still have to report back!"
Chu Lingyu knew what was going on, so he boldly ordered his servant to give some silver to these Jinyiwei and personally accompanied Chu Lingxiao into the city.
Next, the group entered the city.
Aunt Jiang was a woman from a proper family, sitting in a shabby green-covered carriage, while the two Chu brothers rode on horses.
Several Jinyiwei took the silver, helped others, and followed behind at a distance.
Chu Lingyu seized the opportunity and said, "Brother, don't worry, everything is fine at home, and mother is fine too. She is just worried about you."
"But……"
Chu Lingyu sighed, seeming to be hesitant to speak, with an embarrassed look and wandering eyes.
Chu Lingxiao's heart skipped a beat, and he asked anxiously, "Second brother, what happened in the mansion?"
"Brother, as a younger brother, I shouldn't have said anything bad about my sister-in-law, but she..." Chu Lingyu frowned in embarrassment, looked around, and then hesitantly lowered his voice and said, "My sister-in-law is now in control of the entire mansion. She is really... Hey, now Sister Huang has been promised to the princess as a concubine, and she will soon go to Nanhao."
At this time, Aunt Jiang in the simple green-covered carriage reacted. She lifted the curtain on one side of the carriage with one hand and looked towards Chu Lingyu. Her eyes flickered and her lips moved slightly.
Chu Lingyu didn't pay any attention to Aunt Jiang. His attention was all on Chu Lingxiao. He sighed and said, "Also, Brother Yi was forced to drop out of the Imperial College by her. Oh, what a thing!"
"What?!" Aunt Jiang's face changed drastically, and she interrupted with a tremor in her voice, "Why would Yi Ge'er drop out of school? He had a hard time getting into the Imperial College! During that time, Yi Ge'er practiced martial arts day and night, and that's how he got into the Imperial College..."
Aunt Jiang looked at Chu Lingxiao through the carriage window with tears in her eyes.
Aunt Jiang had no makeup on and her hair was tied in a simple bun. Her originally sallow complexion became even paler, her curved dark eyebrows seemed to be half-knitted, her chin was pointed, and she looked pitiful.
During this period in Youzhou, her greatest psychological support was Chu Yunyi.
She hoped that her son could become a talent in the Imperial College, take the military examination in the future, show his face in front of the emperor, and become a successful person in the future!
She hoped that after Chu Yunyi gained the emperor's appreciation, he would be able to inherit the title of Yongding Marquis as an exception as the eldest son of a concubine.
Chu Lingyu then glanced at Aunt Jiang with a subtle look in his eyes, and agreed, "Yes, big brother, it was not easy for Brother Yi to be admitted to the Imperial College. He is still young, and if he studied hard in the Imperial College for a few years, even if he could not pass the top three in the military examination, he could at least be a sixth-rank military cavalry captain, and his future would be limitless."
"It was my eldest sister-in-law who asked Yi Ge'er to drop out of school. No matter how my mother and I tried to persuade her, she wouldn't listen. It wasn't easy for Yi Ge'er either. He even told us that he wanted to drop out of school on his own initiative."
Chu Lingyu sighed again after he finished speaking.
The implication is that Shen was afraid that Chu Yunyi was better than Chu Yunmu and that Chu Yunmu would not get the title, so he forced Chu Yunyi to drop out of school.
Aunt Jiang thought the same thing. Her eyes gradually turned red, as if stained with blood. Her silver teeth were almost broken and the muscles on her cheeks were tense.
She grabbed the carriage window with one hand, clenching it tightly, feeling heartbroken for her son and also hating Shen.
"Master." Aunt Jiang called softly, her body trembling slightly.
"Shan'er, don't be anxious." Chu Lingxiao looked at Aunt Jiang's tearful face with heartache.
He and Aunt Jiang grew up together as childhood sweethearts. He once swore to her that he would never make her cry, but ever since she followed him, he didn't know how many times she had cried for him.
If the occasion was not inappropriate, he would have wanted to hold her in his arms and comfort her, and he would have hated Shen even more in his heart.
When he was not in Beijing, Shen Shi became even more unscrupulous, trampling on Brother Yi like this, she was indeed a vicious woman! ! The Chu family married such a daughter-in-law, it was really a sin in the previous life! "Master, how can I not be anxious." Aunt Jiang blinked, and the transparent and crystal tears rolled down her cheeks from her eyes, crying weakly and helplessly, "Brother Yi is a piece of flesh that fell from my body."
"He still has so much time left in his life, what should he do in the future..."
Chu Lingxiao glanced at the Jinyiwei behind him, making sure they were farther away, and consoled him, "Shan'er, I'm here. Now that I'm back, I'll definitely find a way and won't let Brother Yi suffer any loss."
"Yeah." Aunt Jiang wiped away her tears with her fingers and nodded.
She tried hard to keep her eyes open to stop the tears from falling. Her pupils, washed by the tears, looked dark and bright. She looked so weak and forbearing, which made me feel pity for her.
Seeing her trustful look, Chu Lingxiao felt tender in his heart and he looked at Aunt Jiang infatuatedly.
In front of her, he is a man who stands tall and upright. He is her sky, her earth, and her support.
Aunt Jiang accompanied him in exile to Youzhou, and endured so much hardship with him in that desolate place. She treated him as the most respected person in everything, while that bitch Shen was enjoying a good life in the capital.
Of course he likes his Shaner more, and this is reasonable.
After that, there was silence all the way.
Aunt Jiang lowered the curtains, and there was no sound in the carriage.
But Chu Lingxiao seemed to be able to hear Aunt Jiang sobbing quietly in the carriage. Because she didn't want to make him worry, she could only endure it and cry so suppressedly.
At this moment, Chu Lingxiao secretly made up his mind: As a man, he would never let his most beloved woman and their flesh and blood down!
Chu Lingxiao was in a state of confusion. Sometimes he thought about Shen's mother and daughter, sometimes he thought about Aunt Jiang, and sometimes he began to worry about his own future, wondering how to deal with it next.
In a daze, he found himself in front of the palace gate and pulled the reins in astonishment.
To be honest, Chu Lingxiao was surprised. He thought he would be taken to the Sky Prison and kept in jail for a few days awaiting trial, but he didn't expect that the Jinyiwei would bring him here directly.
What shocked Chu Lingxiao and Chu Lingyu even more was that Kang Hongda also showed up.
Kang Hongda was wearing a scarlet dragon robe with a jade belt around his waist, looking very high-spirited. The dragon robe he was wearing was given by the emperor, and only important officials and dignitaries could wear it, so it naturally symbolized the emperor's favor.
In a declining mansion like the Yongding Marquisate, no one has worn python robes for several generations.
"Brother Chu." Kang Hongda smiled and bowed to Chu Lingxiao, saying in a friendly manner, "The Emperor wants to see Brother Chu, please come with me."
Both Chu brothers were very excited.
Chu Lingyu was even more ecstatic: Kang Hongda was a favorite of the emperor. Chu Lingxiao had lost his title and was just a commoner. It was obvious why Kang Hongda came to welcome him in person! Chu Lingyu really didn't expect Kang Hongda to attach so much importance to Chu Yunyi.
This is an opportunity for their Chu family!
(End of this chapter)