Chapter 220: The Heat Rises
The weather gradually warmed up. The windows and doors of the small building in Sanqu Lane were open, revealing a view of lush greenery.
Third Madam Huang carried a tray, placing a plate of pastries on the table and looking at the woman sitting by the window, her chin resting on her hand as she gazed at the scenery outside.
“Young Lady Bai,” she said, “these are the new pastries from Spring Intention Tower. Please try them.”
Bai Li was not polite, picking up a small fork and taking a bite. She nodded. “Delicious.”
Third Madam Huang breathed a sigh of relief, her face beaming with a smile.
Truly happy for a single compliment from her, Shen Qing glanced at her. “You may leave.”
Third Madam Huang responded with a “yes” and retreated.
“Now everyone is talking about the Marquis of Dongyang’s Heir and Prince of Chu’s friendship, speculating about their motives.” Shen Qing said, looking at Bai Li, “In fact, are they plotting for you?”
Bai Li smiled. “It’s true that the two of them met because of me.”
Zhou Jingyun came to the pleasure boat because she was here, and so did Li Yu. However, after the two met, they hit it off and felt like they had known each other for a long time. It could be considered fate.
Shen Qing scoffed. “What fate? Ordinary people in the marketplace might say Marquis Zhou’s Heir is dissolute and that Li Yu’s prodigal nature is hard to change, but for those in the court, this is no laughing matter. Zhang Ze has probably already written down ‘private association, intending to establish a Crown Prince’ as a crime. Do you know how many lives this one sentence can take?”
Bai Li picked up her teacup and took a sip. “Indeed, Zhou Jingyun first brought down the Empress and now wants to support the Prince of Chu as the Crown Prince…” She laughed, “He is truly terrifying.”
“He is also part of Empress Jiang’s faction. I don’t care if he’s acting recklessly and courting death, as long as he doesn’t implicate you.” He said, then chuckled coldly, “If you die because of this, I won’t save you, and you can’t blame me.”
Bai Li smiled. “You can even think for me, could he be worse than you?”
Shen Qing choked, then sneered. “I’m afraid he’s blinded by love and oblivious to everything else.”
“You don’t have to worry about these matters.” Bai Li said, putting down her teacup, “Precisely because the Empress’s case is related to Zhou Jingyun, His Majesty won’t do anything to him, at least not for now. Otherwise, wouldn’t he be criticized by the world for being a foolish ruler seeking revenge? As for Li Yu, a newly recognized nephew, at most, he’ll be disgusted in his heart, but he won’t show it on the surface. The two of them haven’t really rebelled, and even if Zhang Ze fabricates evidence, it won’t be that fast.”
“What about later?” Shen Qing said.
Bai Li looked at him, smiling faintly. “Later? We’ll talk about it later. I only live in the present.”
Shen Qing was speechless again. “You…”
“You don’t have to worry about my affairs.” Bai Li said, “How is the matter I asked you to do going? What is Bai Ying’s movement in the palace?”
Because of his status as a musician, Shen Qing could easily move around the palace. Bai Li asked him to keep an eye on Bai Ying.
“She used the excuse that the Prince is difficult to take care of to keep the Emperor in Hanliang Palace. These past few days, while the Emperor is handling court affairs, she brings the Prince in under the pretext of him crying and lets him listen to the court proceedings.” Shen Qing said, then laughed, “However, Princess Jinyu is faster than her and has already started to install her own people as officials. So in terms of vying for power, she’s a step behind Princess Jinyu and seems a bit anxious.”
Bai Li smiled. “She has waited for so many years, why is she not calm now?”
Shen Qing said indifferently, “Because it’s within reach, close at hand.” He continued, “Also, Bai Ying asked several consorts to suggest to the Emperor to hold a Hundred Days Banquet, intending to use this banquet to restore her status as Noble Consort.”
Shen Qing smiled as he said this.
“She still retains some reason, knowing not to touch the position of Empress.”
Hundred Days Banquet, Bai Li thought, yes, it’s really fast, little Nannan is already a hundred days old.
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“Your Ladyship’s complexion is better than before.”
“Yes, yes, we were worried that Your Ladyship would be exhausted.”
As the weather warmed up and Bai Consort’s confinement period ended, the visits from other consorts became more frequent. Early in the morning, the room was crowded, filled with compliments.
“My complexion has recovered thanks to His Majesty.” Bai Ying said, “His Majesty has been taking care of the child. I eat and sleep every day, I’m really useless.”
As she spoke, the Emperor walked in from the back door.
Everyone hurriedly got up and bowed.
The Emperor heard Bai Ying’s words and laughed heartily, reaching out to help her up. “Giving birth to the Prince is the greatest merit.”
Bai Ying smiled and said, “This concubine doesn’t dare to take credit. Your Majesty already has a Princess and will have more Princes in the future.” She pointed to the consorts in the room, “There are so many people in the family.”
The consorts were grateful and delighted. “If there are more Princes, it will also be the blessing brought by Your Ladyship.”
Bai Ying was much more generous than the Empress. Although she kept the Emperor in Hanliang Palace these days, she didn’t stop everyone from approaching His Majesty. She not only allowed them to visit and bring late-night snacks to His Majesty, but she would even occasionally specifically summon consorts to serve His Majesty.
The Emperor frowned at Bai Ying. “What concubine? Don’t say that again. We are about to attend our son’s Hundred Days Banquet, so I’ll restore your Noble Consort status first.”
The consorts hurriedly agreed. “It should be so.”
Bai Ying quickly shook her head. “Your Majesty, there’s no rush, this concubine doesn’t care about status.” Her expression turned hesitant, “Our son’s Hundred Days Banquet should be simple, after all, the Empress she just…”
The Emperor raised his eyebrows, about to say something, when a voice came from outside.
“How can it be simple? It must be grand.” Princess Jinyu walked in.
The consorts hurriedly bowed, Bai Ying also lowered her head indifferently.
The Emperor looked at Princess Jinyu with some helplessness. “Elder Sister, don’t always scold her when you get the chance…”
She was naturally referring to the Empress.
Princess Jinyu glared. “I didn’t say anything, and you’re already protecting her. When I say grand, I’m not deliberately opposing the Empress. That Yang Yuan is not worth my constant remembrance.” She smiled, “What I mean is, this is the biggest happy event since Your Majesty ascended the throne six years ago, it’s a great happy event and a new beginning for our Great Zhou, so of course it must be grand.”
The Emperor finally smiled and nodded. “Elder Sister is right.” He patted Bai Ying’s hand, “Look, the Princess also said so, our son’s Hundred Days Banquet must be grand, and your status must be restored, this is also for our son to be glorious.”
Bai Ying didn’t say anything more, lowering her head with a hint of shyness and bowing. “Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Princess.”
Lowering her head, her brows furrowed, Princess Jinyu always liked to gloat and never helped others. If she said it should be grand, she must have an ulterior motive.
What is this stupid woman going to do!
……
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At sunset, carriages still lined up in front of Princess Jinyu’s Residence, and the luxurious gatehouse was full of people.
“The Imperial Consort’s Husband has returned.”
Accompanied by shouts, Shangguan Xue, the Imperial Consort’s Husband, stepped out of the carriage, drunk. Three or four servants helped him.
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“I’ll take him.” Li Yu, dressed in fine clothes and wearing a jade crown, jumped out from inside in three steps and two strides, reaching out to support Shangguan Xue.
Shangguan Xue mumbled drunkenly, “First, bath, first bath, bath before seeing the Princess, she, can’t stand the smell—”
Li Yu hurriedly instructed the surrounding servants, “Quickly prepare a fragrant bath.”
The servants rushed forward.
“After so many years, still favored.” “The Imperial Consort’s Husband is truly fortunate.” “Handsome and lucky.”
Accompanied by the murmurs, Li Yu helped Shangguan Xue along the corridor towards the inner courtyard.
“She wants to use the Hundred Days Banquet to arrange a marriage for you.”
Shangguan Xue’s voice suddenly rang in his ear.
Li Yu was startled for a moment, then said loudly, “Imperial Consort’s Husband, if you want to vomit, just vomit, don’t hold back.” He shouted to the surroundings, “Get the hangover soup ready.”
Shangguan Xue hung his head, his voice continuing in his ear, “But I couldn’t find out which family it is.”
Princess Jinyu was not really a fool, especially now that her status was getting higher and higher, she had raised many advisors around her.
Her current movements were not something that could be easily spied on.
“You must…” Shangguan Xue grabbed his arm and murmured, “Be careful, don’t be like your mother…”
He looked up at Li Yu, pain evident in his drunken eyes.
Like his mother, who was schemed against, whose marriage was forcibly broken, whose fate was forcibly changed? Li Yu looked at Shangguan Xue and nodded. “Don’t worry, I…”
Footsteps approached hurriedly. The maid Ah Ju came with others.
“Your Highness, let us take over.” She said, her eyes carrying a reminder, “The Princess is coming to see the Imperial Consort’s Husband.”
Li Yu’s hand tightly held onto Shangguan Xue, reluctant to let go. However, Shangguan Xue lurched forward, leaning on two maids.
“Quickly, quickly put the Imperial Consort’s Husband in the pool.” Li Yu waved his outstretched hand, “Don’t let him choke the Princess.”
Ah Ju responded with a “yes” and escorted Shangguan Xue inside.
Li Yu stood on the corridor and watched them go. The Imperial Consort’s Husband was truly drunk, but he didn’t forget to inquire about the Princess’s movements for him.
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“To arrange your marriage?” Inside the carriage, after listening to Li Yu’s recount, Cai Songnian’s expression was surprised, then puzzled, “The Princess will definitely intervene in your marriage, this is something you and I all know, and it’s reasonable. She can just say it directly, why hide it?”
In Princess Jinyu’s eyes, Li Yu had no right to refuse.
Li Yu’s body swayed with the carriage, his brows slightly furrowed. “Then, besides not allowing me to refuse, she also wants His Majesty to be unable to refuse.”
What kind of family is it? Extremely good, or extremely bad? And it needs to be kept from His Majesty? Cai Songnian couldn’t figure it out. Princess Jinyu was truly a crazy and terrifying woman.
“In short, it’s definitely not a good match for me.” Li Yu said.
Cai Songnian looked at the young master’s handsome face. A good match depends on how you define it. A talented man and beautiful woman falling in love was impossible. For someone of his status, marriage was just a transaction…
“Go to the pleasure boat.” Li Yu said.
What is he doing going to the pleasure boat at such a crucial time! Cai Songnian’s heart skipped a beat. So, the one on the pleasure boat is his good match?
“Go to the pleasure boat, ask her to help me.” Li Yu said.
Her? Bai Li? Cai Songnian looked at Li Yu, what help could she provide? Would she cry and beg the Princess for the sake of two people in love?
That’s not helping, that’s seeking death.
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The pleasure boat had not yet begun to receive guests. When Li Yu arrived, Bai Li was leaning against the railing, fishing with a fishing rod.
Li Yu briefly explained the situation. After listening to him, Bai Li nodded readily.
“I’ll go with you.” She said, then smiled, “This kind of thing, I’m best at.”
Cai Songnian stood aside, his brows furrowed tightly. What kind of thing was she best at? Her status was not something to be proud of!
Bai Li suddenly lifted the fishing rod in her hand. Cai Songnian only felt his vision blur, and in the afterglow of the setting sun, a large, golden fish flew up.
Cai Songnian couldn’t help but widen his eyes and let out a “wow”. He had never seen such a big fish, and it was golden!
“Young Master, Young Master.” He couldn’t help but shout. Just as he spoke, he saw the fish suddenly break free from the hook. He couldn’t help but let out another “ah” and instinctively reached out to grab it, but he was a step too late. The fish jumped back into the river, splashing water and disappearing.
Sigh, what a pity, Cai Songnian was filled with regret. Looking at the ripples spreading across the river, he felt dizzy and hurriedly raised his head. In a daze, he saw Li Yu looking at him.
“What’s wrong?” Li Yu asked.
“Such a big fish.” Cai Songnian hurriedly said, pointing at the river, “It escaped.”
Li Yu was stunned for a moment, looked at the river, and muttered, “What?”
Bai Li put away the fishing rod and smiled from the side. “Yes, what a pity.”
A new month has begun. This month, it might be a bit… dramatic.
This book isn’t long, just simple palace intrigue and family conflicts. Thank you all for accompanying me.
