Praying for blessings on behalf of Heaven
Although Huai Tang was deeply moved by Li Wuyou's words, he was also filled with fear. He had an eighty-year-old grandmother and younger siblings in their teens. How could he possibly elope? The woman he was eloping with wasn't just any ordinary young lady; she was the most favored princess of the court. If he acted impulsively and actually eloped with the princess, then... that would be a capital offense punishable by the extermination of nine generations of his family!
Seeing that Huai Tang's complexion was not good, Li Wuyou frowned and asked, "A-Tang? Are you feeling unwell? Why do you look so pale?" Seeing Li Wuyou's worried expression, Huai Tang quickly shook his head, then forced a smile and said, "If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now. The palace is about to enter curfew, and if I don't leave now, I won't be able to leave." Huai Tang gently shook off Li Wuyou's hand, turned around and left. Once outside Li Wuyou's palace, Huai Tang fled as if he were escaping. Huai Tang knelt outside the palace gate, panting heavily. He hadn't expected Li Wuyou to say that, which left Huai Tang somewhat at a loss.
On the day of the banquet, the princes sat side by side on one side, and the concubines from each palace sat on the other side. Li Yunye sat in his seat, looked around, and then said, "Empress Yun and the Ninth Prince didn't come again this year?"
Li Yunrui nudged Li Yunye's arm. "It's fortunate that Father didn't come. Do you have a death wish? Mentioning Consort Yun, Ninth Prince is staying at my residence. His studies these past few days have been really neglected. Even if he had come, if Father asked about it, I'm afraid it would displease him."
Li Yunye glanced at Li Yunrui. "Brother... I heard you've been at the Ministry of Works these past few days, overseeing matters at the Grand Palace."
"Yes, Father Emperor will be going to the Grand Palace for summer retreat in a few days, so we have to hurry." Since becoming Crown Prince, Li Yunrui has been very concerned about Emperor Yun's opinion of him, wanting to share the burden of government affairs as soon as possible, or rather, to prove his abilities to Emperor Yun. However, Emperor Yun not only ignored him in court, but even the memorials he submitted were returned without any comments. Although Eunuch Feng explained to him that Emperor Yun had indeed read them all, but simply thought he was capable and therefore did not make any comments, Li Yunrui still felt a lot of pressure. He felt that Emperor Yun was lukewarm towards him, while Li Yunheng was eyeing him covetously. He was now in an awkward and difficult position.
Just as Li Yunrui was thinking, the voice of Eunuch Feng rang out outside the Xuan Ya Hall, "His Majesty has arrived! All princes and concubines, rise and perform the full kowtow!" Emperor Yun, seated in his palanquin, only rose slowly after reaching the steps of the throne within the hall. "You may all rise! Today is a family banquet; no need for such formalities." The sound of string and wind instruments began to play softly, melodious and pleasant, but everyone at the banquet was preoccupied with their own thoughts. "Father!" Li Yunrui stood up, walked to the center, and knelt down. "Father, I have something to report. The Southern Grand Palace is complete, and finishing touches are being made. Next month is the start of the hottest period of summer, so it won't delay Your Majesty's journey. Also, there's the drought in Lichuan..."
Eunuch Feng stood to the side, head bowed, and sighed. This Crown Prince usually seemed so clever; why was he suddenly so determined to provoke the Emperor? At this moment, Consort Yan looked at Li Yunrui, her brows furrowed. She had clearly instructed him a few days ago not to exaggerate his actions to claim credit with the Emperor. She knew the Emperor's temperament; he wouldn't praise someone for such a trivial matter and utterly despised those who were arrogant and boastful. Cold sweat dripped down Consort Yan's forehead. Li Yunrui had knelt on the ground and finished recounting his story, expecting the Emperor's praise, but instead, he was met with a long, silent silence.
After a long while, Emperor Yun slowly opened his mouth and said, "Does the Crown Prince know... that today is a family banquet?"
"I know... I know."
"Then why bring up matters of the court at a family banquet? Women of the harem are not allowed to interfere in politics, don't you know that? Or is this some kind of performance you put on for me?" Hearing the Emperor's increasingly cold voice, Li Yunrui inwardly cried out in alarm. How could he have been so blinded by reason to say such a thing to the Emperor? Li Yunrui lowered his head, knelt down in the middle, and bowed, "Your subject was momentarily confused, please punish me, Father Emperor."
Emperor Yun waved his hand, clearly not wanting to pursue the matter further. "Alright, alright, I consider that you have indeed worked hard supervising the construction at the Ministry of Works these past few days. Let this matter rest." Li Yunrui bowed in thanks and returned to his seat. As soon as he sat down, Li Yunheng stood up, and several palace servants moved a stool to the center. "Father, a few days ago, I brought some dancers from Lanxi to perform the Moonlit Green Robe Dance, which is very famous in the area. Therefore, I have composed a new melody to present to Father."
Emperor Yun nodded. "Fourth brother certainly knows how to fawn over others. Look at eldest and third brother, they haven't even done anything like that, let alone found anyone." As soon as Emperor Yun finished speaking, Li Yunye looked up and saw Xiao Wan'er staring at him with a look of disappointment. Li Yunye turned his head and asked Li Yunrui, "Big brother, what was wrong with you just now?" For Li Yunye, Li Yunrui rarely said anything that would offend Emperor Yun. Although he was not as obsequious as the fourth brother, he spoke with great restraint.
"Perhaps I've been too busy and tired these days, but it will be over soon. Once the Grand Palace is completed, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief."
Li Yunye handed over the wine glass and clinked glasses with Li Yunrui. "Then you'd better hurry. It's not appropriate to leave my sister-in-law alone on her wedding night!"
"It is indeed a bit unfair to my younger sister." Li Yunrui hadn't returned to the Crown Prince's residence since his marriage. Although his younger sister Lin was very supportive, he still felt somewhat guilty.
The banquet was supposed to be a family gathering, but everyone was preoccupied with their own thoughts. After a few words, Emperor Yun left. Li Yunheng rose, holding a wine cup, and walked to Li Yunrui, smiling, "Brother, have you been overworked these past few days? How come you can't even distinguish between what you should and shouldn't say? Or perhaps... Brother has developed a covetous heart for that place?" With that, Li Yunheng pointed to the dragon throne above.
Seeing Li Yunheng raise his wine cup to toast him, Li Yunrui put down his own. "We walk different paths, so we cannot work together. Besides, what you've meticulously prepared is nothing more than a tool for flattery in Father's eyes. Once the dance is over, you'll still be the Fourth Prince, and I'll remain the Crown Prince." Li Yunheng, instead of being angry, laughed, clinking his cup against Li Yunrui's, and then downed it in one gulp. "Brother! To secure this position, simply criticizing me won't suffice. Without means, one is like a bird without feathers, never able to fly high. Even if one does, it's only for a moment. This cup, I'll finish it; you can drink as you please."
Li Yunrui poured the wine from his glass onto the ground, then turned and left. On his way back to the manor, Li Yunrui pondered Li Yunheng's words. Was he trying to break ties with him completely? He felt he had almost no one left by his side. Apart from Shen Qinghang, who was loyal to him, everyone else was just using him. Li Yunrui took a deep breath at the entrance of the manor before going inside.
"Your Highness, His Highness the Crown Prince has returned!" Hearing the commotion outside, Lin Xiaomei stood up, about to go out to greet him, when she saw Li Yunrui standing at the door. "Your Highness...you...you're back!"
Li Yunrui was a little embarrassed and stood at the door, hesitant to go in. "I'm sorry, on the second day of my marriage... I went to the Ministry of Works and haven't been home since. It's been about half a year..."
"Pfft, you don't look like a prince at all! Come in quickly! If the servants see you, they'll gossip!" Lin Xiaomei pulled Li Yunrui inside and closed the door. "You are a man with a bright future ahead of you. You don't need to worry about me. Everyone knows the Crown Prince is kind and benevolent. Marrying you wouldn't be a disservice to me." Lin Xiaomei helped Li Yunrui take off his heavy outer robes, then pointed to a small set of clothes on the table. "My mother sent this set of clothes over early this morning. I think it's exquisite; no wonder it's made by a palace embroiderer."
Li Yunrui stared at the small clothes for a moment, knowing that his mother was urging him and Lin Xiaomei to have a child, so he smiled and said, "Mother has lived alone in the deep palace for so long, and has always wanted a child to keep her company. But don't put pressure on yourself, just let nature take its course."
"Your Majesty, you've had a long day; you should rest." Seeing that Emperor Yun was still at his desk reading memorials and completely ignoring him, Eunuch Feng tentatively asked, "Your Majesty... where will you rest today?"
"At today's family banquet, everyone was so drunk they were all staggering and didn't want to go anywhere." Emperor Yun closed the memorial, picked up a pastry from the table and put it in his mouth. Eunuch Feng quickly handed him a plate. "So you're resting here today?"
"Um"
"Then this old servant will go make your bed right away." Just as Eunuch Feng was about to leave, Emperor Yun called him back. "No rush, come here and talk to me!" Seeing Eunuch Feng return, Emperor Yun leaned back in his chair and placed the half-eaten snack back on the table. "At the family banquet today, I noticed Wuyou has grown into a graceful young woman. How old is she this year?"
"Your Majesty, the Eldest Princess is twenty-six years old this year."
"Twenty-six... He's been gone for twenty-six years, and he still won't forgive me."
“Your Majesty, the late Empress was kind. Knowing how much you doted on the Eldest Princess, she would surely be pleased in heaven,” said Eunuch Feng. After Eunuch Feng finished speaking, Emperor Yun opened his eyes and looked at him, coldly snorting, “You’re quite clever, knowing how to use the late Empress to fob me off. The ‘he’ I’m talking about isn’t Qiao’er, you know that, don’t you!”
Eunuch Feng lowered his head and said in a low voice, "This servant wouldn't dare, this servant is indeed foolish." Emperor Yun looked at Eunuch Feng beside him and then said, "The sacrificial ceremony is in a few days, let the Crown Prince handle it! I should also get some rest." Seeing that Emperor Yun had changed the subject, Eunuch Feng breathed a sigh of relief and then said, "Then this old servant will go to the Crown Prince's residence tomorrow to convey this message to the Crown Prince."
"Go down! There's no need for service here." After Eunuch Feng left, Emperor Yun slowly rose and stood by the window, murmuring, "Twenty-six years have passed. Wu You is about to marry, yet why do you still hold a grudge against me and refuse to forgive me? I know you're not dead, but why won't you come to see me? Or do you truly intend never to see me again, in this life and for all eternity?"
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