T/N: Thanks for the ko-fi, Michi! Double replace right this moment as my token of appreciation. Subsequent chapter can be posted in a couple of hours. 

“Niangniang, His Highness Chen Wang and Ming Xianzhu have arrived.”

“Allow them to in.” Su Guifei sat up within the chaise longue, seeming hardly shocked that Chen Wang had adopted alongside.

“Niangniang, His Majesty barely issued the decree forbidding you from sending something to His Highness.” Her private maid mentioned worriedly: “If His Majesty finds out, he is not going to be offended with you, will he?”

Everybody within the Palace was conscious of the Emperor’s current foul temper. Of the 5 princes, he demoted one, had some flogged with sticks and fined the others. He even criticized two of the princesses. And but, not one of the imperial concubines dared to go plead with him, which confirmed how grave the present scenario was.

“His Majesty solely forbade Ben Gong from sending issues to my son; he didn’t say something about him coming to see Ben Gong.” Su Guifei replied with confidence. “When did Ben Gong disobey the imperial decree?”

The feminine official remained silent, realizing that she had forgotten how a lot the Emperor favored their niangniang. On this case, “His Highness approaching his personal” didn’t essentially equal “niangniang sending issues” and subsequently, it wasn’t a problem. 

“Guifei niangniang.” As quickly as Jiuzhu entered and noticed Su Guifei, her steps quickened: “I’ve not seen you for a very long time. How are you?”

“The whole lot is okay, besides that I missed you a bit.” Su Guifei pulled Jiuzhu to sit down. “Come, take some relaxation first. Now that you’ve come, you could keep a couple of days earlier than leaving. In any other case, my days can be too lonely.”

“Niangniang, what occurred?” Jiuzhu requested, taking a look at her worriedly.

“Ai.” Su Guifei sighed softly. “His Majesty had ordered me to not ship something to the Zhangliu Palace for Duqing. Ever since he punished the princes, everybody within the Palace has been on edge. The concubines additionally chorus from interacting with one another now, leaving me alone on this desolate Palace. It’s actually chilly and cheerless.”

Xiangjuan, who had accompanied Jiuzhu and Chen Wang inside, remained silent.

The concubines don’t work together?

Within the first place, niangniang was by no means keen on them.

Niangniang not allowed to ship issues to the Zhangliu Palace?

In actual fact, among the many 5 princes, their prince acquired the mildest punishment. Furthermore, she additionally suspected that the Emperor solely forfeited Chen Wang’s half a 12 months wage to keep away from making him stand out an excessive amount of.

Even when niangniang didn’t ship something, Taiyang Palace was nonetheless there to try this.

“Don’t fear, niangniang.” Jiuzhu whispered: “I introduced some cash for His Highness.”

Su Guifei glanced at Chen Wang, who turned to have a look at the beams on the roof.

“Duqing… he took it?”

“His Highness was prepared to take solely half of it.” Jiuzhu whispered in Su Guifei’s ear: “However fear not, niangniang. I’ll give extra after the lunar New Yr. I’ve cash now.”

Not solely did she get month-to-month silver from her mom now, but in addition wage as a xianzhu. She was actually a cheerful little wealthy girl. 

He really took it?

Su Guifei checked out her son in disbelief. He had the nerve to take cash from somewhat guniang. What about face? What about conscience?

“I persuaded for a very long time, however His Highness solely accepted half.” Jiuzhu sighed: “Niangniang, why don’t you assist me persuade His Highness?”

“He’s an enormous man. How can he lack cash?” Su Guifei mentioned: “I don’t suppose you must give him even half a coin.”

“His Highness has by no means lacked cash since he was younger. How can we let him undergo like this?” Jiuzhu didn’t agree with Su Guifei’s phrases. Shedding one thing that one had since beginning should be very tough ah.

“Don’t fear, with me right here, he received’t actually undergo.” Su Guifei discovered Ming Jiuzhu increasingly more likable: “Apart from, my daughter can not lack cash to spend. You’re feeling sorry for him, so that you give him cash to spend. He feels sorry for you, so he’s solely prepared to just accept half of your cash. That is excellent.”

Chen Wang patted the bulging pouch at his waist and coughed dryly. It was not that he felt sorry for Ming Xiaozhu, he simply… couldn’t bear to see her sad and aggrieved expression.

Outdoors the Mingyue Palace, a member of the Dragon Guards circled the primary gate earlier than stopping and turning to ask Liu Zhongbao, “Liu gonggong, did His Majesty actually say that this subordinate ought to respectfully ask, and if the Guifei doesn’t want to say, this subordinate can not press additional?”

“That’s proper, Commander Wang.” Liu Zhongbao smiled: “You don’t have to fret, this previous slave will accompany you to satisfy Guifei niangniang.”

“Alright.” Commander Wang sighed helplessly. His Majesty is admittedly too good to Su Guifei. He’s unwilling to let her face any difficulties even in such a serious case.

Any more, if anybody mentioned that Su Guifei was a demon consort, he could be the primary to oppose it.

If Su Guifei actually was one such consort, with His Majesty’s stage of favoritism in the direction of her, it was attainable that their Da Cheng’s imperial household’s surname would have modified to Su, and the opposite princes wouldn’t have had the possibility to develop up.

In information, there was an Emperor who favored a sure consort. This consort was childless, and the Emperor, for her sake, didn’t even need kids. In the long run, the one surviving youngster was secretly raised by eunuchs and palace maids.

If there was a rating for demon consorts, Su Guifei would positively be ranked final, not as a result of she was not favored, however as a result of she was too kindhearted.

“Liu gonggong and the Dragon Guards’ commander search an viewers?” Su Guifei was extraordinarily shocked. What did the Dragon Guards’ commander need from her?

“Allow them to in.”

“This Commander greets Guifei niangniang, Your Highness Chen Wang, and Ming Xianzhu.” Commander Wang entered and paid his respects.

“Commander Wang, please have a seat. Liu gonggong as nicely.” Su Guifei waved her hand and had the palace maids deliver tea and a few mild refreshments. She went straight to the purpose: “What enterprise does Commander Wang have with Ben Gong?”

Commander Wang was nonetheless wracking his thoughts making an attempt to consider a technique to method the matter. He didn’t anticipate her to ask him straight. He glanced at Jiuzhu, who was sitting beside Su Guifei. Jiuzhu, realizing the which means behind his gaze, was about to rise up and discover an excuse to go away.

“There are solely Ben Gong’s personal individuals right here.” Su Guifei leaned towards the gentle cushion lazily: “Simply ask straight.”

Jiuzhu rose somewhat solely to sit down again once more.

Chen Wang stood up and walked over to her aspect, reaching out to take the fruits in entrance of her. Jiuzhu beamed and supplied him the entire plate.

He chosen the most important fruit, peeled it and break up it into two halves earlier than sending one on to her mouth.

Liu Zhongbao smiled as he watched this scene, not hiding his closeness to Chen Wang.

“Then this commander can be daring sufficient to start.” Commander Wang stood up and cupped his fingers: “Could I ask niangniang for those who, throughout the fifth 12 months of Longfeng if you accompanied His Majesty to Lingzhou, had deliberate to style the culinary delicacies in Lingzhou Metropolis?”

Upon listening to Commander Wang’s phrases, Jiuzhu misplaced her focus and by chance bit Chen Wang’s finger.

Chen Wang widened his eyes. Is she really a pet and never somewhat pig?

She snapped again to her senses and lowered her head to have a look at Chen Wang’s fingers. Jiuzhu rapidly pulled out a handkerchief, shot him a flattering smile, and began wiping his finger. She whispered:

“Apologies, Your Highness. Chennu didn’t do it on function.”

“You actually are worthy of your zodiac sign1T/N: It’s talked about in chp 25.2 that Jiuzhu was born within the Yr of the Canine. You possibly can check with the first footnote there for those who wanna get a fast recap on this matter..” Chen Wang picked up two fruits. “Now it’s your flip to peel these for me.”

“Sure.” Su Guifei glanced on the two whispering individuals and turned to have a look at Commander Wang: “What’s the matter?”

“This commander has simply came upon that there was an assassination try on niangniang and His Highness at the moment. Resulting from you two returning to the Imperial boat midway via your journey, the try failed.” Commander Wang checked out Su Guifei, observing her expression: “Does niangniang nonetheless keep in mind the explanation why you modified your plans halfway?”

Jiuzhu, who was peeling the fruit along with her head down, was shocked.

Somebody wished to kill niangniang and His Highness?!

“What? Somebody really wished to hurt Ben Gong and my son?” Clearly, Su Guifei’s focus was on the primary half of the assertion. Her expression misplaced its indolence: “Have you ever came upon which household despatched the murderer?”

Commander Wang: “……”

No- wasn’t he the one asking the questions?

“What? You don’t wish to inform?” Su Guifei stood up: “If you happen to don’t wish to inform, Ben Gong will go ask His Majesty. Ben Gong needs to see who dares to be so daring.”

“Please quell your anger, Guifei niangniang!” Realizing that she was actually going to hurry into the Taiyang Palace, Commander Wang rapidly spoke up: “It’s not that this commander doesn’t wish to reveal the mastermind. It’s simply that the investigation shouldn’t be but full, so this commander doesn’t dare to open his mouth rashly.”

“Then inform what you’ve got found to this point.” Su Guifei sat again as if she wasn’t the one who was riled up a second in the past: “Ben Gong believes that even His Majesty will reply if I requested. Proper, Liu gonggong?”

Liu gonggong bowed: “Niangniang, His Majesty will certainly inform you no matter you wish to know. Even when he doesn’t know, he’ll discover out the reality and inform you.”

Upon listening to this, Commander Wang instantly spoke up: “Niangniang, the mastermind that has been found is the Zheng household, Ning Fei niangniang’s natal household.”

“The Zheng household?” Chen Wang sneered, “No surprise Ben Wang by no means discovered them pleasing to the eyes. Seems they’re really within the unsuitable.”

Commander Wang: “……”

You actually can’t say that. In your entire capital, there aren’t many individuals that you just discover pleasing to the eyes.

“Go summon Ning Fei.” Su Guifei waved her hand to dismiss Commander Wang: “You possibly can go. Ben Gong goes to satisfy His Majesty now.”

“Niangniang, aren’t you going to see Ning Fei niangniang?” Xiangjuan hinted Su Guifei along with her eyes. In any case, Ming guniang was nonetheless right here. Would she not appear too fierce and shrewish if she have been to cope with Ning Fei niangniang in entrance of her?

“Duqing, take Jiuzhu on a stroll to your courtyard within the Zhangliu Palace.” Su Guifei smiled sweetly: “I’ve some issues to debate with His Majesty.”

When she handled somebody, she by no means cared what others considered her or how they noticed her.

However Jiuzhu was totally different. She was the one who would accompany her son all through his life.

Chen Wang glanced at Jiuzhu, who was peeling the fruit along with her head down. After some time of doing it, she had solely managed to peel one fruit. “Alright.”

He pulled Jiuzhu out of the Mingyue Palace. “Don’t fear. With Mom Consort right here, I received’t be at a drawback.”

“However…”

“It’s the most secure contained in the Palace precisely as a result of all of the grownup princes and princesses are locked up now.” Chen Wang flicked her brow, “Don’t fear, and don’t be afraid. Ben Wang is with you.”

Throughout the first few days of dwelling within the Palace, the brothers gathered collectively to eat sizzling pot not solely to bother Yun Yanze, but in addition due to the shortage of belief between one another.

Nobody may make certain which bowl or piece of meals or which cup of tea would go into their very own mouths after they have been collectively, so none dared to tamper with the meals and drinks.

“En.” Jiuzhu nodded gently, her eyes stuffed with belief: “I do know. Your Highness has at all times been essentially the most superb.”

Chen Wang snorted softly: “Definitely.”

As quickly as Solar Caiyao got here out to the yard, she found the palace maids of Zhangliu Palace sweeping the ground and wiping the pillars. Even the weeds on the rockery have been pulled out cleanly. Some additionally picked a couple of branches of pink plum blossoms and tied them to the leafless branches.

“What are they doing?” Solar Caiyao requested the palace maid at her aspect.

“Replying to Junwangfei, the palace maids are adorning the outer courtyard and Chen Wang’s courtyard.” The palace maid replied as she glanced uncontrollably on the lovely shark gauze lantern that the servants had introduced and held on the tree branches.

“There’s nonetheless eight days till the lunar New Yr. Why did they begin adorning the courtyard so early?”

“Junwangfei, it’s not due to the lunar New Yr.” The palace maid whispered. “This slave heard that Chen Wang specifically organized for the decorations on account of Ming Xianzhu’s arrival.”

They’re adorning the Zhangliu Palace’s complete outer courtyard simply because Ming Jiuzhu is coming?

Are the servants of the harem actually following Chen Wang’s orders like this?

Was it due to Yun Duqing’s recklessness or was it as a result of everybody within the harem knew that the Emperor doted on him essentially the most?

“Your Highness,” Jiuzhu walked into the Zhangliu Palace and noticed the lanterns fluttering with the wind. “What’s that? It’s so lovely.”

“That’s a shark gauze lantern.” Chen Wang mentioned. “When it’s lit at evening, it appears as lovely because the merfolk, therefore the title. Some individuals additionally say that the material used to make these lanterns is woven by them, which is why they’re referred to as like this2T/N: You could be questioning why I translated the lantern’s title as ‘shark gauze lantern’ and never ‘mermaid gauze lantern’ if the material is supposedly made by the merfolk. So right here’s my explanation- merfolk are referred to as 鲛人 (jiāorén or actually, shark individuals) in Mandarin whereas shark is simply 鲛 (jiāo). The lantern is named 鲛纱灯 (jiāo shā dēng) and apparently, these merfolk are wonderful craftsmen; the material woven by them is uncommon and beautiful. I couldn’t discover a image of this shark gauze lantern however the one beneath is comparable. It’s a kind of gauze lantern (纱灯) and is named 绛纱灯 (jiàng shā dēng) the place the 绛 means darkish pink. .”

“Are they actual?” Jiuzhu requested with curiosity.

“No.” Chen Wang flicked her brow frivolously. “Stop dreaming.”

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