In Yonghe Palace, Concubine De sat on the couch, her right hand supporting her head and her left hand supporting her forehead, as if she was thinking about something. Suddenly, she opened her eyes, her eyes were firm, as if she had made an important decision.
She muttered to herself, "I think it's time to ask the Emperor for mercy on behalf of the eldest prince. After all, the crown prince is fine, and this incident has been over for a while. The Emperor's anger should have subsided by now, right?" A hint of hesitation and worry appeared on her face. "But what if..."
Thinking of this, Concubine De sighed and muttered to herself, "Alas, I wonder how the eldest prince is doing now. When he was by my side before, although he was adopted and not my biological child, he always took my side in everything. Now that his life or death is uncertain, I am truly worried!"
Concubine De frowned, and thinking of her son, the Fourth Prince, she couldn't help but feel helpless. "That good-for-nothing Fourth Prince, all he does all day is eat, drink, and have fun. He has no ambition at all, let alone a desire to fight for the throne. If the Crown Prince ascends the throne, it'll be easy. He may appear ruthless, but he's actually very clear about his grudges. As long as we don't provoke him, there shouldn't be too much of a problem. But if the Third Prince takes the throne, it will be troublesome. He's treacherous and cunning, and he won't let anyone get away with anything. I'm afraid our lives, mother and son, will be in danger!"
The more Concubine De thought about it, the more frightened she became. She knew she had to find a way to cling to the Crown Prince to save her own life and that of her son. So, she made up her mind and immediately ordered her maidservant, "Hurry and prepare the Emperor's favorite mung bean soup. I will personally deliver it to the Yangxin Palace."
A moment later, Concubine De walked towards the Yangxin Palace, carrying a bowl of steaming mung bean soup. Along the way, she was thinking about how to plead with the emperor, hoping to help the eldest prince get his forgiveness.
Concubine De walked lightly to the door of the Hall of Mental Cultivation with a gentle smile on her face. She whispered to Eunuch Wei who was guarding the door, "Eunuch Wei, please tell me that although it is autumn, the weather is still hot and humid, so I thought of making a bowl of mung bean soup for the emperor." Her voice was soft and gentle, like a breeze blowing past her ears.
"Empress Defei, please wait a moment. I will go in and report immediately," Eunuch Wei replied in a sharp voice, then turned and entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation. His movements were light and quick, obviously he performed such tasks frequently.
"Thank you, Eunuch Wei." Concubine De smiled and thanked Eunuch Wei, her eyes revealing a hint of anticipation and joy. She knew that this bowl of mung bean soup might bring some coolness and comfort to the emperor.
After a while, Eunuch Wei walked out of the Yangxin Palace with a smile on his face and said, "Empress Defei, please come in." He smiled and made a gesture of invitation, indicating that Empress Defei could go in.
"Thank you, Eunuch Wei." Concubine De nodded gratefully and carefully walked into the Hall of Mental Cultivation, carrying the mung bean soup. Her steps were graceful and light, like a beautiful butterfly dancing among the flowers.
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the emperor sat on the dragon throne, intently reviewing memorials. Hearing footsteps, he slowly raised his head, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, and said, "The Virtuous Consort is here." His tone was filled with a touch of intimacy and fondness.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects." Concubine De bowed slightly, her voice clear and melodious, like the sound of a yellow oriole singing in a valley. Her eyes fell on the emperor, filled with deep affection and concern.
"Excuse me," the emperor said as he put down his pen, stood up, and personally walked over to Concubine De. He gently lifted her hand, his eyes full of smiles. He asked with concern, "Why are you free to come here today?"
Concubine De smiled slightly, walked lightly to the front of the emperor, and said gently: "Your Majesty, I have seen that the weather is still a bit hot and humid recently, and I am worried about your health, so I have specially prepared a bowl of your favorite mung bean soup. Moreover, I have also ingeniously added pumpkin to it. This bowl of soup not only has the effect of clearing away heat and relieving summer heat, but also adds a different flavor. I hope Your Majesty can taste it." As she spoke, she handed the tray in her hand to the palace maid beside her.
The emperor was surprised and curious, asking, "Oh, pumpkin in mung bean soup! This is the first time I've heard of such a dish. But since it's personally prepared by my beloved concubine, I absolutely must try this unique flavor." He reached for the small bowl offered by the maid and took a sip. A satisfied smile immediately spread across his face, and he praised it profusely, "Hmm...it's indeed delicious. I love it very much. Concubine De, you are always so thoughtful, always considering my preferences."
Upon hearing the emperor's praise, Concubine De felt a surge of joy in her heart, and she smiled and replied, "As long as Your Majesty likes it, I am satisfied. This soup would taste even more refreshing if chilled, but considering that it is autumn now and Your Majesty should eat less cold food, I have not added any ice. When summer arrives next year, I will prepare this refreshing and delicious soup for Your Majesty every day."
The emperor looked at Concubine De with emotion and said affectionately: "My beloved, thank you! After so many years, you still remember my insignificant little preferences. This kind of thought is really rare." He reached out and gently held Concubine De's hand, his eyes full of gratitude.
"Your Majesty, you are my husband, so of course I have to remember every one of your preferences," Defei said in a flattering manner.
"Very good, very good." The emperor nodded with a smile.
"Your Majesty, I have been having nightmares recently and can't sleep at night!" Defei sighed.
"My beloved concubine, what's wrong with you? Why are you having a nightmare? Are you ill? Have you called the imperial physician?" the emperor asked anxiously.
"I have a headache. In the past, when the pain was severe, the eldest prince was always by my side to massage me so that I could fall asleep peacefully. The eldest prince has been obedient and sensible since he was a child. When I couldn't sleep because of a headache, he would wait patiently until I fell asleep before quietly leaving. Sometimes, when the eldest prince knew that I had a nightmare, he would stay by my bedside and never leave. Although he is not my biological son, he is very filial, much better than my disobedient Yunji. But now..." As Concubine De spoke, she actually began to wipe away her tears.
"Don't cry, Concubine De. I have already thought of how to deal with the matter of the eldest prince. After all, he is my biological son. I will spare his life. I have already asked the crown prince for his opinion on this matter, and he agrees." The emperor said gently.
"Really? Then I, your Majesty, will thank you for your grace on behalf of the First Prince!" De Fei finally felt relieved. She thought to herself, "The next step is to establish a good relationship with the Crown Princess and leave a way out for her and the Fourth Prince."
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