Chapter 1056, Return to Beijing (Two chapters in one)
Because he was carrying three children, Xiao Yeyang didn't have to travel too fast. When he came across a busy place, Daohua would take the three children off the carriage to experience the local customs.
After a staggering journey, it was not until mid-March that Xiao Yeyang and his party entered the capital.
"Mom, look, are we about to reach the capital?"
Daozi leaned against the car window and excitedly pointed at the tall and magnificent city wall in the distance.
Daohua smiled and said, "Yes, we will be in the capital soon." Then, she pulled Daozi over to sit down and lowered the curtain.
"Once we get into the city, we can't act as crazy as we did on the road."
Daozi nodded and sat up straight. "Mom, I know. Dad has already told me that the capital is under the rule of the emperor and has many rules. Our every word and action represents the palace and we cannot lose face."
Seeing that the rice was so sensible, the rice flowers were very pleased.
After approaching the capital, Xiao Yeyang did not take a carriage but chose to ride a horse.
Soon, the convoy arrived at the city gate.
Without checking, the soldiers guarding the gate saw Xiao Yeyang and hurried forward to greet him. Then, in just a moment, the convoy drove into the city gate unimpeded.
"Mom, the capital is so lively!"
"It's even more lively than our Xiliang."
Listening to the noise coming from outside the carriage, Daozi could bear it, but the twins couldn't. In order to comfort the two little ones, Daohua could only open the curtain a little.
Seeing the three little ones looking at the street scene outside with curiosity, Daohua smiled and said, "When your father finishes everything, let him take you out to play."
After a while, they arrived at Prince Ping's mansion.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!"
Huai En rushed into the study in a hurry.
Prince Ping, who was sorting through the portraits of his grandchildren, raised his head in displeasure and said unhappily, "A dog is chasing you! Why are you so flustered?"
Huai En panted rapidly: "Prince, King Weiyuan has returned with the princess and the young prince."
Hearing this, Prince Ping was stunned for a moment, then he suddenly put down the painting in his hand and walked out of the study quickly.
After leaving the yard, Prince Ping realized that he seemed to react too strongly, as if he missed Ye Yang's family too much. After thinking about it, he deliberately slowed down his pace.
Even so, Prince Ping and Concubine Ji and the others arrived at the gate one after another.
"Your Majesty!"
Seeing Prince Ping rushing over, Concubine Ji and the others felt a little jealous. As expected, the prince cared most about his legitimate sons and grandsons.
It took Daohua and the others some time to pay their respects, and now they were just about to enter the mansion.
Originally, Prince Ping wanted to pretend to be reserved. As a father, how could he go to welcome his son and daughter-in-law?
However, when a small pink figure panting and pulling a pink box tried to climb over the nearly foot-long threshold of the palace gate, Prince Ping broke down his defense and ran to the pink ball.
"You are my dear granddaughter, right?"
The little girl, who had already stepped over the threshold, looked at the flattering smile that suddenly appeared in front of her. Her big round eyes blinked twice, and then a bright smile spread across her face: "Grandfather, are you my grandfather?"
Although he had been mentally prepared, upon hearing the affirmative answer, Prince Ping's face, which still had few wrinkles, still broke into a smile: "Yes, yes, yes, I am your grandfather, and you are Daomang, right?"
He nodded his head vigorously like a chick pecking at rice, put down the suitcase in his hand, and stretched out his arms towards Prince Ping.
When Prince Ping saw the little girl, he was so happy that he immediately picked her up.
Dao Mang hugged Prince Ping's neck and smiled sweetly: "Grandfather, I miss you so much!" Her sweet and soft voice was long and drawn out.
Hearing her daughter's affectionate voice, Daohua couldn't help but twitch the corners of her mouth. Just by listening to the voice, people who didn't know would think that the little girl had a deep relationship with her grandfather.
Who knew that this was the first time they met.
Seeing his granddaughter being so close to him, Prince Ping felt as sweet as if he had drunk honey. He imitated Daomang's tone and said, "Grandfather misses you too."
It’s cute when children act coquettishly, but it’s a bit corny when middle-aged people do this.
Xiao Yeyang, who was one step behind, couldn't stand Prince Ping's behavior, so he forced his way out, interrupting the relationship between the grandfather and grandson.
"Father!"
Daohua followed behind and bowed to Prince Ping.
Prince Ping smiled and nodded to the two of them.
After both parents had bowed, Daozi took her brother to Prince Ping and bowed, "Grandson greets grandfather!"
Seeing the rice, Prince Ping's eyes lit up. He held the rice stalks with one hand and touched the rice's head with his free hand: "Moxi has grown so tall?"
Daozi is much taller than his peers. Although he is only eight years old, he looks like he is in his teens.
Daohua smiled and replied, "Father, he is just stupid and tall."
Prince Ping was dissatisfied with this statement. He shook his head and smiled, "I think it's Moxi who is in good health." He looked at Daohua with satisfaction and said, "You have raised the child very well."
Then, Prince Ping looked at Dao Miao again. Seeing the child growing up strong and chubby, the smile on his face became more and more satisfied. "Not bad, not bad. My grandchildren are all good."
"Come on, follow me into the palace."
Prince Ping held the rice stalks in one hand and the rice seedlings in the other, and motioned the rice to follow. Then the fourth master, Grandfather and Grandson, ignored everyone else and went straight to the inner courtyard.
At this time, Xiao Yeyang and Daohuacai greeted Ji Cefei and others who were waiting on the side.
Concubine Jiang looked at Daohua's almost unchanged face and complimented her with a smile, "It's been many years since we last met, and your Highness is still as radiant as ever. It's true that even time favors beauties."
Daohua smiled and replied, "Concubine, you are bragging about yourself. I see that you are getting younger and younger."
After exchanging a few pleasantries, everyone followed Prince Ping and his four companions.
Sanxiao looked at the pavilions and towers in the palace with curiosity.
"Grandfather, is this the palace my brother will inherit?"
Hearing his granddaughter's question, Prince Ping nodded with a smile: "Yes, this palace will belong to your brother in the future."
These words made Concubine Ji and her son, who were walking behind, very upset. They had been accompanying the prince for all these years, but in the end, they were still no match for the legitimate sons and grandsons.
Dao Mang exclaimed, "Big Brother's palace is really huge! It's even bigger than the one in Xiliang."
"I also have a big house." Dao Miao suddenly interrupted.
When Prince Ping heard this, he immediately smiled and said, "Yes, yes, yes, we in Dao Miao also have a Duke's Mansion."
As soon as these words were spoken, Concubine Ji and others became even more upset. They were all princes' descendants, so why was there such a big difference? Xiao Yeyang became a prince, and even his two sons were given titles at such a young age.
"Big brother's palace is so beautiful."
"Wow, there are so many beautiful flowers there, Grandpa, shall we go over and take a look?"
Hearing his granddaughter's exclamation, Prince Ping simply left Xiao Yeyang and his group behind, taking the three little ones with him, and disappeared in a short while.
Seeing this, Xiao Yeyang looked at Concubine Ji and the others: "Yiyi and I will return to Pingxi Hall first."
Concubine Jiang nodded hurriedly: "You have worked hard on the journey, go back and rest and wash up."
Looking at Pingxitang, which was almost unchanged from when they got married, Daohua smiled and walked over to help Wang Maner, who was kneeling on the ground, to her feet. "Hurry up and get up. It's thanks to you for watching over this place all these years."
Seeing her master again, Wang Man'er's eyes were red, and she replied respectfully: "These are all my duties. I dare not neglect the things that the young lady has instructed me to do."
Daohua nodded and went into the main room with Wang Maner.
Nothing in the yard has changed, and the furnishings in the house have not changed much. Pingxi Hall was built specifically for Xiao Yeyang and Daohua's wedding. They went to Xiliang less than a year after their marriage. Today, many festive items are still preserved in the house.
Daohua looked at the pair of half-human-high peony vases placed at the door of the house, and some scenes from her wedding came to her mind.
More than ten years have passed, and she is now the mother of three children.
Daohua did not rush to ask Wang Maner about what had happened in the palace over the years. Instead, she took a bath first to wash away the fatigue from her body. When Wang Maner was wiping her hair, she asked about what happened in the palace.
"Concubine Ji and Concubine Jiang are old, and the prince doesn't like to go to their courtyard. They are in charge of the food, clothing, housing and transportation of the prince's mansion. From time to time, they will cause trouble. However, they are self-aware and know that without the prince's favor, they dare not make too much trouble."
"As for our Pingxi Hall, Concubine Jiang is fine, but Concubine Ji and the Third Young Master have some ulterior motives."
Hearing this, Daohua raised an eyebrow: "Why, could it be that they also want to covet the title of the prince's palace?"
Wang Man'er nodded. "That's right. Concubine Ji often asks the Third Young Master to bring some of his grandchildren to the Prince to show their filial piety. It seems she wants to use the grandchildren's colorful clothes to entertain their parents in exchange for the Prince's favor."
"Unfortunately, the prince did not give them this opportunity. He was not very close to his grandchildren, but he was more fond of the grandchildren born to the eldest lady. He often asked the eldest lady to bring the grandchildren back to the palace for a short stay."
Daohua smiled after hearing this and said, "Father has learned a lesson. Back then, because he showed too much favor to Princess Ma and Xiao Yechi, he allowed them to harbor thoughts of usurping the title, which led to unrest in the family. Father naturally doesn't want to repeat the same mistake."
Wang Maner nodded and said with a smile, "It's really what the young lady said."
Daohua: "Has anything special happened in the capital recently?"
Wang Man'er thought for a moment, then lowered her voice and whispered in Daohua's ear, "Xiaoliu has heard some gossip recently, saying that the Emperor will announce the appointment of a crown prince on his sixtieth birthday."
Daohua's expression shifted, then she shook her head: "Just pretend you don't know about this news, and don't spread it around anymore."
Wang Maner agreed immediately.
Daohua thought for a moment and said, "Tomorrow, go to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion and give him a visiting card. Just tell him that Xiao Yeyang and I want to visit our mother and ask when she's free."
Wang Man'er: "I've made note of this."
After drying her hair, Daohua entered the inner room and saw Xiao Yeyang sitting at the desk reading letters. She walked over and told him about the rumor about the establishment of a crown prince.
Xiao Yeyang thought for a moment and said, "This matter has nothing to do with our family, so just pretend you don't know."
Daohua nodded: "I think so too." Regardless of whether the emperor appoints a crown prince or who he appoints as the crown prince, it will have little impact on Prince Ping's Mansion.
Of course, it can’t be the eldest prince.
Daohua: "Go to bed and rest for a while. You have to go to the palace to meet the emperor's uncle tomorrow."
Xiao Yeyang looked at Daohua and smiled: "Don't you know my body well? I won't get tired." Daohua glared at him, then he smiled and continued to read the letter in his hand.
"Now that I'm back in Beijing, I should learn more about the situation there to avoid getting scammed."
That night, everyone in the palace had dinner together.
After dinner, Daozi took the initiative to suggest that she and the twins live in Prince Ping's courtyard.
Daohua looked at the twins first, and seeing that they had no objection, she left them alone.
Prince Ping was stunned by this sudden surprise and immediately asked his servants to clean up the room for the three children.
When the twins saw that their grandfather was as happy as their eldest brother said, Baozi's face showed a look of heartache.
The eldest brother said that they were far away in Xiliang and grandfather had no one to accompany him here. While they were in Beijing, they should spend more time with grandfather to prevent him from being lonely.
Now they just go to sleep in grandpa's yard, and grandpa is so happy. It turns out that grandpa is usually very lonely.
Prince Ping directly ordered people to clean up the warm room in the upper room where he lived.
After moving to a new residence, Sanxiao didn't have any difficulty adapting. As usual, he played around for a while before going to bed, and then fell asleep with his legs spread out on the bed.
Prince Ping stood by the bed, looking at the three children sleeping soundly, with a smile on his face. "These three children are so well-behaved, not annoying at all."
Huai En's mouth twitched. "Behaved?" The prince must have forgotten about the precious flowers and plants that were ruined in the Hundred Flowers Garden today.
They were pulled out all over the ground!
I guess only my grandfather could say something completely opposite to the actual situation.
After a night's rest, Xiao Yeyang dressed neatly and entered the palace early the next morning.
The imperial palace.
After reading the letter from Gu Jian handed to him by Xiao Yeyang, the emperor felt a little disappointed. Even though he was the emperor and had a lot of sons and grandchildren, the relative he really wanted to be close to was his uncle.
"How is my uncle now?"
Xiao Yeyang: "My uncle is still pretty strong, especially after Mo Yan and Ke Yan were born, my uncle has become more and more energetic."
The emperor nodded. He understood this. Mo Yan was adopted by the Gu family. Now that the Gu family had an heir, her uncle had hope and would naturally take good care of his health.
"Find a time and bring Moxi and Moyan into the palace for me to see."
When Xiao Yeyang heard that the emperor did not mention his daughter, he immediately realized that the emperor seemed to have misunderstood something. His uncle's high spirits were not entirely due to the rice seedlings, but a large part of the reason was because his daughter looked like her mother-in-law, which gave his uncle some hope.
However, he didn't explain.
He neglected his precious daughter and was not even happy for her to come to the palace.
Afterwards, Xiao Yeyang talked to the emperor about the development of Xiliang. His report was more detailed than that of the Jinling Guards. The emperor listened very carefully and before he knew it, it was noon. Then, Xiao Yeyang was kept for lunch.
The emperor wanted to appoint a crown prince on his sixtieth birthday. No matter who spread the rumor, almost all the court officials believed it.
At this time, every move of the emperor would trigger people's associations.
Prince Weiyuan was left behind to dine with the emperor. Putting other things aside, it was certain that he was deeply favored by the emperor.
As a result, when Xiao Yeyang left the palace, he unexpectedly met several princes, even the eldest prince was there. After a lot of interactions, it was already dark when he returned to the palace.
(End of this chapter)
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