C46
In the blink of an eye, it was already summer. The weather was getting hotter and hotter, and even the wind that was blowing seemed to be mixed with hot air.
Zhu Tong brought out a scented sachet embroidered by a rainbow butterfly for Xue Ronghua to smell. "Quasi Royal Consort, this is a new spice made by this servant."
Xue Ronghua leaned into the sachet and took a light sniff, the sweet scent of the flowers made him feel extremely comfortable, "This smell is not bad, what kind of flowers are in there?"
Zhu Tong laughed: "This servant used the Gardenia Flower in the courtyard to make it."
"Gardenia? Do we have any Gardenia in our yard? " Xue Ronghua thought that in order to take care of Aunt Min's child, she had asked her and Xue Liuhua to move to the Western Courtyard. That day when she was packing up her things in the East Garden, Xue Liuhua's earth-shattering cursing seemed to still echo in her ears. It was a pity that Xue Longhu was not in her residence, otherwise he would have been able to experience the aura of her own direct daughter.
Little Zhui helped to tie the scented sachet around her waist and said: "That Aunt Min is living quite comfortably in East Garden.
"That's only natural. The lord's entire heart is in her stomach. She will definitely use this opportunity to reveal her identity." As he thought about what would happen in the near future, a faint smile surfaced on Xue Ronghua's lips.
"However," Little Zhui snickered, "Even Aunt Min didn't notice that something was wrong with her body?"
Xue Ronghua touched her scented sachet, and laughed: "I'm afraid she will think that everything that is wrong is because she is pregnant."
The three of them went to the Aunt Min s in East Garden to tease them. Little Zhui suddenly asked, "Miss, why haven't I seen any Master Duanwang recently?"
Xue Ronghua would come every other week, and it was true that she hadn't seen him for a month.
"He's a prince, so he often has to help the emperor with government affairs. He's been rather busy lately, isn't he?"
Little Zhui said: "Miss, didn't Master Duanwang meet with trouble in the palace?"
Zhu Tong hurriedly replied, "That won't happen, Master Duanwang has always been proper in his actions, future wangfei need not worry."
Xue Ronghua sighed slightly. She didn't know how he was doing in the palace regarding the Mrs. Heyi that she had analyzed with Chu Zongge before, or whether she had found out the truth, or how the battle between him and the crown prince was going on. She didn't have a firm backing like the Empress Chen, so she hoped that he would still be able to resist.
She looked at Zhu Tong who had an anxious expression and consoled him, "I also understand that nothing will happen to him."
Little Zhui stroked Zhu Tong's back, and laughed: "Not only are you loyal to Prince Duan, you're also loyal to our young miss.
Zhu Tong's face slightly flushed, "Sister Little Zhui is teasing me."
Xue Ronghua covered her mouth and laughed, "Little Zhui is right, you are indeed loyal, your previous master taught you better."
Little Zhui suddenly thought of something, "Mingyue even asked me to peel the lotus seeds for her."
Xue Ronghua asked curiously: "Did you play well with Mingyue? "How come I don't find her very patient with you?"
Little Zhui said: "Mingyue is my distant cousin, but due to Eldest Miss always being cold to me, I still have a very warm feeling behind my back."
"Then if Xue Liuhua finds out, wouldn't he scold her to death?"
Little Zhui revealed a sad expression, "In the past, young miss had beaten me up a few times with regards to the snack given to me by Mingyue, and now I don't have any left."
Xue Ronghua sighed to herself, not only was Xue Liuhua very harsh on her, her little sister, he was also very harsh on his servants.
"When you go find Mingyue later, bring some green bean cake as well. Although the food in my kitchen isn't as delicious as in the Miss's room, it's still edible."
Little Zhui was overjoyed: "Thank you, young miss."
The lotus blossoms in the river were fully bloomed. The pink-white flowers were as big as a bowl's mouth and stood elegantly on top of the jade-green lotus leaves, like numerous pink river lamps. Xue Liuhua was at the bow of the boat lightly fanning herself with a palm-leaf, watching the bright moon gather lotus flowers in the lotus pond.
The Prince Jin nodded his head and smiled, "To receive a Sky Lotus, it has an infinite number of jade leaves.
Xue Liuhua said coldly: "Don't hang yourself anymore, let's talk about the important matters."
"How unhappy has Young Miss Xue been recently?"
Xue Liuhua covered half of her face with the fan, revealing a pair of ice-cold eyes.
Prince Jin took out a small Agarwood Box from his sleeve and opened it to reveal a jade ruyi. "Wearing this mutton fat jade on your body feels cool and comfortable, so you don't have to feel uncomfortable seeing me in the future."
Xue Liuhua suddenly froze, and then acted as if she did not care, "Thank you, Prince Jin, but pie has never fallen from the sky, is Prince Jin asking for something?"
Prince Jin clapped his hands and laughed: "Young Miss Xue is smart indeed."
Xue Liuhua's eyes instantly dimmed down, "If you have something to say, then speak frankly."
"Is the would-be wangfei of the Prince Duan doing well?"
Xue Liuhua said faintly: "How can she not be good? She makes scented sachet with her own servant girl everyday, she is free and at ease."
"Does Prince Duan visit her frequently at Prime Minister's Mansion?"
Xue Liuhua shook her head: "I haven't really been here, a few days ago I sent a servant to her, consider it as having a servant take care of her."
Prince Jin was confused: "A servant girl?"
"This is not an urgent matter, it's just a young lady, she is rather docile, and follows Xue Ronghua's instructions."
"Your Yue Mingyue is also very sensible," Prince Jin said as he pointed at the silhouette that was picking the lotus flowers in the distance. "She hasn't come back to pick the lotus flowers for you for so long."
"Brightmoon grew up with me. Of course she knows."
"Do you think that Xue Ronghua can successfully marry into the Prince Duan Palace?"
"Does Prince Jin want her to marry into it or not?"
Prince Jin smiled, "Naturally, it's because I want her to marry into our clan."
Xue Liuhua laughed coldly: "If Prince Jin wanted to fight me, what would he need to call me out for?"
Prince Jin laughed: It's not a charade, but the situation is complicated. I hold Xue Ronghua and do not know what to do, what plans does young miss have?
Xue Liuhua's face turned cold, "I think killing her is a good idea."
"Eldest Miss is too agitated. In the future, when we topple Prince Duan, Xue Ronghua will be at your disposal."
Xue Liuhua said snappily: "What are you always thinking of Prince Duan for, do you also want to be the ruler?"
"Everyone is like a king, and I just want to leave a piece of pure land for myself when I ascend to the throne of the new emperor."
Xue Liuhua did not know what the other party was thinking, "You are also one with few desires, are you part of the crown prince's group?"
Prince Jin laughed again: "I am just on my own side."
Xue Liuhua did not understand much about the matters of the Imperial Palace, so she picked up another matter to ask: "Did you look for Xue Ronghua elsewhere?"
"How am I supposed to find her when she stays in the Prime Minister's Mansion all day? That's why I need your help."
Xue Liuhua looked at his often gentle smile and remained silent for a while.
She carefully touched his face and found that it was indeed a good item from the Northwest tribute. The beads were round and plump, and were slightly chilly.
"Have you eaten the green bean porridge that I cooked for you?"
The Crown Prince said respectfully, "I have already drunk it."
"That's good," the Empress Chen nodded in satisfaction. "That green bean porridge is the best way to clear your mind and relieve the heat. You should drink more in the summer."
The Crown Prince laughed, "mother, we have just entered the summer."
Empress Chen sighed slightly. "Your child will suffer heatstroke before even reaching the peak of summer, am I not worried for you? Oh right, how's Prince Duan? I heard that he was reprimanded by the emperor."
The crown prince whispered into his ear and gloated, "Prince Duan got scolded by Royal Father every two or three days. This time, it's the worst case scenario, and it was locked up right at the Xinyang Hall."
The Empress Chen was stunned. Although the emperor was usually rather strict with the Prince Duan, it was not to the point of confinement. What mistake did he commit to anger your Royal Father? "
"Royal Father said that his words are meaningless."
"Wordless? What did he say? "
The Crown Prince smiled lightly, "Your son isn't very clear. I heard that Eunuch Ning seemed to have said something in his dreams."
Empress Chen asked, "Isn't it normal to dream?
"Hehe, the dreams Prince Duan has seem to be about Mrs. Heyi and Luan Feng Palace."
The tassels around his face drew an arc in the air. Empress Chen stared at the crown prince in a daze, his lips trembling without saying a word.
Seeing mother's soulless appearance, the Crown Prince immediately asked: "mother, what's wrong with you, could it be that there's a problem with Prince Duan's dream?"
Empress Chen forced himself to cover his chest. Prince Duan had never mentioned Liu Chengyun in front of the Emperor and the Emperor had also never told the Prince Duan about her passing away mother.
"Then... What is the Prince Duan's dream? "
The Crown Prince was confused, "... is that the Prince Duan is so anxious thinking of her mother that he dreams that she and his mother are in the Luan Feng Palace. "
Empress Chen asked curiously: "Why would Prince Duan have such a dream? How old was he when mother was around?
The Crown Prince laughed proudly: "That is why the Prince Duan and this son who were fighting for the position of minister had to retreat bit by bit, taking everything for granted. It is a pity that he does not know that his mother is not doted on by the Royal Father, and thus, was not only not moved by the Royal Father, he was even imprisoned."
Empress Chen's face paled a bit as she calmly replied: "You're right, Prince Duan isn't that smart. We messed up this time."
The crown prince smirked, "If it wasn't for Royal Father's order to keep him under lock and key in Xinyang Hall, I really would have thought that the Royal Father would have tolerated him participating in the Seizure."
"Do you know where your Royal Father has been these past few days?"
The Crown Prince rolled his eyes and said, "Royal Father either comes to mother's Changchun Palace or goes to Noble Consort Kang's place. I think he has probably seen Princess Tong a few times."
Empress Chen sighed, who knew the routes that were laid out on the surface, she wanted that place that no one knew about.
"Is the Luan Feng Palace still in ruins?"
"Of course, after Mrs. Heyi left, it was abandoned. I heard that it was filled with willow trees, and the pitch black night looked the most terrifying."
Empress Chen was upset, he shook his feet and said slowly: "How can a abandoned palace not be scary?"
The crown prince asked, "Does mother want me to clean up the Luan Feng Palace?"
"Don't," Empress Chen heard and hurriedly stopped him, "That place is very far away from us anyways, you don't need to worry about it."
The crown prince was puzzled, "I really don't know what the Royal Father is thinking. It's too weird for a broken palace to be left for so long."
The Empress Chen shook his head, "Sacred will can't be guessed at rashly. Don't speak nonsense and be careful not to be locked up in the Eastern Palace like the Prince Duan."
The crown prince hurriedly said, "Your son has always been cautious. I won't follow in the footsteps of the Prince Duan."
"It's good that you understand. When Prince Duan comes out, you will also have to go to the Xinyang Hall to take a look, and make a good example to your brother."
The Crown Prince nodded, "Yes."
"Oh right, look closely at the Prince Jin."
The Crown Prince was confused, "The Prince Jin has never been interested in the throne. Why should we keep a close eye on him?"
Empress Chen looked solemn as he said: "Although Prince Jin does not have any interest in the throne, he is still a good helper. After all, with Noble Consort Kang's maternal family there, it would be best if you could pull it over."
"But he is close to the Prince Duan .."
Empress Chen smiled charmingly, "He can be close to Prince Duan, so of course he can be close to you."