098. Mid-Autumn Festival

On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the court meeting was held as usual, but Xi Yanzhong, who had been "claiming to be sick" for a long time, appeared in public. His son's scandal was known to the world, and even though Liu Ran was promoted to his legal wife, his face was not much better.

Without the eldest princess as his daughter-in-law, the Xi family could no longer be considered royal relatives. In fact, if it weren't for the conflict between the new emperor and the regent, he would have been charged with treason by now.

However, Rong Se did not pay too much attention to the Xi family, and even ignored Xi Yan. At the court meeting, he again mentioned the enthronement ceremony and other matters of Concubine Yan, and then discussed state affairs such as agriculture, and then the court meeting was dispersed.

Rong Se summoned Ji Miaotong alone to Linghui Pavilion for the purpose of conferring the title of Concubine Yan, while Xi Yan, who had not attended court for a long time, went to meet Rong Jing together with Cao Lun.

"It is a foregone conclusion that Concubine Yan will be promoted." Cao Lun's face was not very good. He was the one who led the impeachment of Concubine Yan when she was executed. As a result, she is still restless after her death. "Let the Regent Prince do whatever he wants. We can also take this opportunity to bring the Queen Mother back to the palace."

It has been three months since the new emperor ascended the throne, and in all these three months, there has been no news from my sister.

Hearing Cao Lun bring up the old matter again, Rong Jing was annoyed, but he did not show it. He was silent for a while and said, "It all depends on my uncle. As for Xuanhe, let's do it. I will arrange a marriage between Ayun and Liu's daughter."

Xi Yan was still disappointed. After agreeing, he left the palace with Cao Lun.

When the two of them walked to the palace gate, Cao Lun suddenly reminded them in an ambiguous tone: "Master Xi, please be careful in your actions these days."

Xi Yan was stunned, "Master Cao, what do you mean by this?"

Cao Lun frowned, then shook his head and said, "I just think that the Regent Prince's behavior is not right. He didn't use Xuan and the Princess as an excuse to make a scene, but just asked for two divorce letters."

When this was mentioned, Xi Yan's face turned cold again, and he said angrily: "Why didn't you get angry? My Lord, you didn't see it. Yun Zhi personally watched the execution and almost took my life!"

"But your son is still alive." Cao Lun's tone became heavier, and he said in a deep voice: "If the imperial guards had taken action personally, thirty strokes of the cane would have killed someone. Given the Regent's temper, since he already had evidence against you, why would he have spared your son's life? But he let him go back alive."

After hearing what he said, Xi Yan suddenly calmed down and fell into deep thought.

Cao Lun whispered, "Perhaps I am worrying too much, but the Regent Prince's behavior is always strange. I don't know what he is up to, but you and I can all see how deep his mind is. Lord Xi, please be very careful recently. It is always better to be safe than sorry!"

After being reminded, Xi Yan broke out in a cold sweat for no reason and suddenly turned the corner.

Indeed, given the Regent Prince's usual style, since he had already captured Xi Chaoyi, how could he let him go back alive?

This doesn't make sense.

When something is abnormal, there must be something wrong.

Thinking of this, Xi Yan felt cold all over and said repeatedly, "Thank you, Lord Cao, for reminding me. I understand now."

.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family reunion, but for Rongse, this day is no different from any other day.

He has no one to reunite with, and he doesn't want to reunite with his so-called family. Apart from recording a specific video, such as replicating traditional mooncakes, or making some innovative mooncakes, this festival has basically nothing to do with him.

But this year is different.

The Regent Prince's Palace was very lively. Apart from Yun Chu, Lan Ying and Rong Zhi Xu who lived there permanently, Yun Zhi brought Xiao Mu Feng with him when he came. Song Yan Wu Jie from Liang Shenyu's residence also joined in the fun. In the courtyard of the Regent Prince's Palace, red maple trees swayed in the wind and the flower beds were filled with rich fragrance, making the originally sad autumn day seem poetic.

The four-legged brass tripod that Liang Shenyu brought last time was placed in the yard, and a few small tables were also placed for people to sit on - all made by Master Yun.

According to Yun Chu, since the Regent Prince's Mansion is entertaining guests, they cannot be impolite, so as not to lose face for the Palace and the Prince.

The prince who cooked the meal himself had no objection to this. Rongse was busy in the kitchen and only ordered to entertain Song Yan and Wu Jie well, after all, these two were Liang Shenyu's confidants.

"The prince said that you two don't need to be so formal in the palace." Yun Chu smiled politely, and chuckled to Song Yan who was sitting at the table eating cakes and candied fruits one after another, "There are not so many etiquettes in the palace, you two can just be casual."

Wu Jie sat upright, but even the scar on his face was tight, and he nodded gently and said, "Thank you."

Song Yan swallowed the sweet peach cake and nodded to Yun Chu repeatedly: "I understand, I understand, we are all family, the cakes in the palace are so delicious - Master Yun, don't pay attention to him, he is just like that."

Yun Chu's expression was subtle. He suppressed a sigh and nodded. Suddenly he raised his eyes and looked around, wondering, "Why don't I see Marquis Dingbei?"

"Oh, my master has gone back to the mansion." Song Yan said, "Aunt Qing is still in the mansion. Today is the festival, so he has to go back to see her."

Yun Chu was sensitive to the title "Auntie Qing", and a smile remained on his face. He simply sat over and talked to Song Yan, trying to find out the identity of this Auntie Qing.

He was a shrewd and smooth person, and he was even more witty when he deliberately brought up a topic, so Song Yan was soon led by the nose.

Wu Jie's eyes darkened as he saw Song Yan telling him everything and having a very pleasant conversation with Yun Chu.

Then he took over the conversation and said succinctly: "Aunt Qing is the personal maid of the old Marquis' wife. She served the Marquis in the past few years."

Yun Chu got the answer, said goodbye and left with satisfaction.

Song Yan was unaware of what was happening. He spat out the candied fruit pit and said in surprise, "I'm talking to someone, why are you butting in?"

Wu Jie remained calm, picked up a piece of sweet-scented osmanthus jelly cake and stuffed it into his mouth, saying sparingly, "Eat yours."

.

Liang Shenyu did return to the old house, and Hua Qing was in the yard, working as a maid in the church.

"Auntie Qing." Liang Shenyu said softly.

Hua Qing was startled when she heard the voice, and then there was a gentle joy in her eyes, and she smiled and said, "The Marquis is back."

Liang Shenyu waved his hand to signal the maids to leave, then placed the food box in his hand on the stone table and gently opened it, revealing a few round moon cakes inside. The patterns on them were either lively little birds, or rich peonies, or a Chinese character for "Fu", stacked up exquisitely and compactly.

"This is..."

Hua Qing was stunned.

Liang Shenyu said gently: "I sent you a mooncake. Try it."

"Thank you very much, Master Hou." Hua Qing smiled, her eyes kind and gentle. She picked up a mooncake with the Chinese character "Fu" on it and took a bite. Her mouth was filled with the sweet fragrance of osmanthus. Suddenly, she looked curiously, "What is this?"

"How is it?"

Liang Shenyu just smiled, but his eyes softened unconsciously, with a hint of pride.

Hua Qing was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled and said, "This was made by the person who made dumplings for Master Hou, right?"

This time it was Liang Shenyu who was stunned. Although it was only for a brief moment, he chuckled and said, "Why do you think so?"

"The Marquis's expression just now is very similar to Madam's." Hua Qing sighed, "Madam used to have the same expression when she thought of the aunt and the young masters, gentle, happy, or something else... It's exactly the same."

Her eyes fell on Liang Shenyu's eyebrows again, and she shook her head and smiled, "The Marquis looks like the Madam."

The three young masters of the Liang family all look more like their mother, unlike their father who has rough features. Liang Shenyu in particular is handsome, with bright eyes and sparse brows. When he restrains his hostility and harshness, he becomes a graceful young man like white jade and cold pine.

Liang Shenyu chuckled softly, his eyes shimmering with a soft glow like stars, and nodded: "It's him."

Hua Qing was quite surprised to see his expression.

Last time I thought he just had some feelings for me, but now when I see him again, it's clear that he's already moved.

"I'm so timid, I wonder which family this girl is from?" Hua Qing smiled sweetly, "The girl's craftsmanship is so good, and I think she has a virtuous personality. If the Marquis is really interested in her, he should have decided on her earlier."

"Not a girl."

Liang Shenyu said these four words calmly and frankly.

Hua Qing didn't react yet and suddenly stopped. After a long while, his eyes gradually changed. He opened his mouth, seeming to want to say something but stopped.

"Can……"

She wanted to say something, but couldn't.

"Aunt Qing, I understand." Liang Shenyu's smile faded a little, and he said softly: "I am the only child left in the Marquis' Mansion, but I am just one of the countless people in the world. The world is divided and united, and dynasties are superimposed. These are major events that change with the times, and I am just a drop in the ocean. I don't care whether I can have an heir."

Hua Qing frowned and sighed, "What about the Madam and Aunt? Marquis, don't be willful. If you really like her, you can take her into the mansion, but marrying a wife and having children is a big deal. There are three kinds of unfilial behavior, and the worst is to have no descendants. The Marquis's mansion must have someone to carry on the legacy!"

"I'm afraid not." Liang Shenyu's tone was still gentle, but he was also determined, "Aunt Qing, if we talk about rules, if the emperor wants his subjects to die, they have to die. This is also the rule of our ancestors, but Aunt Qing knows that I will never do this for the new emperor. For me, these so-called rules cannot restrain me."

Hua Qing was speechless.

Liang Shenyu said with a smile: "Besides, I can't just take that person into my house... Aunt Qing, the current Regent is not that easy to control."

He frankly stated the identity of his sweetheart, which was also equivalent to stating his own position.

He is destined to be a treacherous official.

Having committed such a heinous crime, all those rules, etiquette and dogma are naturally meaningless to him.

Hua Qing was completely stunned, her eyes widened, as if she was shaken by this overly shocking news. After a long while, she patted her chest, and when her eyes swept over the exquisitely shaped mooncakes, she spoke with difficulty: "So... making dumplings for the Marquis, and the people who make these, are...?"

"It's him."

Liang Shenyu's eyes, which had been calm and indifferent just now, suddenly softened, and a faint smile appeared on his lips. "It's all him. I told you this because I regard Aunt Qing as an elder, but I have made up my mind, and Aunt Qing should know what I mean."

Hua Qing was his mother's maid and they were like sisters, so Liang Shenyu also respected her.

But that doesn't mean Hua Qing can influence his decision.

Seeing Liang Shenyu's calm expression, Hua Qing still knew her duty. After a short silence, she sighed with a complicated expression, "Since the Marquis has made up his mind, it is useless for me to say more. I think Madam and Aunt also hope that everything will be fine for the Marquis."

Liang Shenyu smiled slowly.

"It wasn't so good originally, but after having him, it's not so bad anymore."