Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

Chapter 403: First Meeting with the Crown Princess

Emperor Zhaoming walked out with Prince Zhongshun and the Crown Prince, smiling as he walked:

"Duncheng and Kejin came this morning, and I gave Kejin's boy a job.

“Later, I thought that my nephew has grown up and it’s time for him to take care of some things.

"The Taiji Palace is quite crowded here, how about letting my nephew and the kid from the Duncheng family go to the Daming Palace and follow me?

"Since I have never served before, I will start as a third-class guard and be promoted in one or two years. What do you think, my brother?"

Being able to sneak into the imperial court is the greatest joy that could ever happen!

Prince Zhongshun was overjoyed and thanked him profusely: "Your Majesty really loves me! I thank you!"

Emperor Zhaoming smiled, patted the red-faced and innocent Crown Prince, and teased: "You can tell at first glance that he is a good child. He smiles more than the Crown Prince. I like him very much."

How can a son of a royal family be compared with the crown prince?

King Zhongshun was startled and said with a smile: "The prince is the crown prince of the country, he is always dignified and steady, and behaves appropriately.

"The minister only knows how to eat and play all day long. He is nothing but a fool. How can he be compared to the little finger of the prince?"

The prince's face turned from red to white, his eyes were evasive, and he looked three inches shorter.

Emperor Zhaoming's hand was still on his shoulder, but the strength of his patting was much gentler: "Hey! ~ My brother is too modest!

“They are all the same young people, how can there be much difference?

"You will understand when you see those brats of mine in Daming Palace.

"Only the crown prince is decent enough, the others are so annoying that I want to beat them up every day!

"My nephew is obviously a sensible child. Now that he has established a family and a career, it will be just around the corner for you to enjoy the blessings of your grandchildren!"

Then he smiled and said to the prince, "I have placed a few books in the side hall. Please read them for a while. I want to talk to your father."

The prince bowed respectfully and was led away by the eunuch.

Emperor Zhaoming and Prince Zhongshun walked out of the main gate of the Yanjia Palace and strolled out slowly.

Prince Zhongshun naturally wanted to find out what had happened.

Emperor Zhaoming sighed and was about to speak when Tao Xingjian rushed out of the hall with two memorials in his hands:

"Your Majesty! Urgent news from Mobei!"

Emperor Zhaoming looked at Prince Zhongshun helplessly and said, "What a coincidence."

King Zhongshun immediately said that it was a trivial matter and quickly took three steps back.

Emperor Zhaoming took the memorial, opened it and started reading it. He lowered his head and walked into the hall and then went to the side hall.

Tao Xingjian followed closely behind and went in as well.

After a while, the prince came out with a copy of the Book of Rites in his hand, looking somewhat at a loss. Seeing King Zhongshun standing outside the palace with an expressionless face, he hurried out as well.

As soon as the father and son stood together and were about to speak, Tao Xingjian caught up with them from behind, smiling:

"Oh my! It's such a bad luck. There was a white disaster in Mobei a year ago. Just after the news was sent out, King Guiyi asked us for help.

“There were also several urgent reports that were sent in without any reason.

“Your Majesty has no choice but to deal with it immediately.

“However, I just heard from Ganlu Temple that Tai woke up from his nap. How about you two go over and pay your respects?

"We will send a car from here to take the Crown Prince's Consort to the palace gate to meet up with the two of you later."

Prince Zhongshun thought that this was a good idea. He had come to see the emperor in the first place.

Then he took his son and left.

But when they reached Ganlu Hall again, the eunuch from before came out to block the door again, with a stern face and wooden eyes:

“The Supreme Lord has just left to visit the concubines.

"The Supreme One left a message:

"I know how filial you are. Go back and have a good New Year. You are already this old. It's winter now. You should take good care of your legs and feet!"

Just now, when the Queen Mother met him, she mentioned Prince Zhongshun's age. Now that the Supreme Lord had left a message about this matter again, Prince Zhongshun himself was a little confused.

He respectfully received the order from the Supreme Lord, and then turned around and asked his son in front of the young eunuch: "Is your father old?"

The prince was not very good at lying. His face turned red and he shook his head, but he still said, "Father is not old, but there is already some frost on his temples and beard."

Looking at his young son who was already married, and thinking about Emperor Zhaoming who was full of energy just now, Prince Zhongshun suddenly felt extremely uncomfortable.

He casually bowed to the young eunuch and said, "Then I will leave the palace. Please ask the eunuch to call the sedan chair that brought us into the palace just now."

The young eunuch looked at him in surprise and said, "Prince Zhongshun, please think about what you just said and say it again?"

Prince Zhongshun's old face suddenly turned red.

Not to mention that he is an illegitimate royal prince, even if he was the crown prince in front of the Supreme Palace, I am afraid he would not dare to ask for a sedan chair so openly!

If there were no special favor, who wouldn't have had their legs tied when entering and leaving the palace?

When he was distracted, he said such arrogant and ignorant words!

Especially when he's just a little servant who doesn't know the rules!

Just when I thought of someone, he came!

At this moment, the prince's voice suddenly sounded behind him: "Isn't this Prince Zhongshun? Is he here to pay his respects to the emperor as well?"

When Prince Zhongshun and the Crown Prince turned around, they saw the Crown Prince followed by two young eunuchs, walking into the gate of Ganlu Palace.

The ceremonial guards were waiting outside the courtyard.

The father and son first paid their respects to the prince.

When the prince heard that the emperor was "not there", he knew what was going on, and with a smile he took King Zhongshun's hand and said a few words.

When he heard that he had already kowtowed at the Yanjia Palace and was about to return, he encouraged him a few more times and then let go:

"Goodbye, Prince Zhongshun."

But he had no intention of leaving.

In other words, the prince did not believe or care about the so-called "Supreme Lord is not in the palace" and just wanted to leave first.

King Zhongshun felt extremely embarrassed and said no more. He strode out of Ganlu Palace quickly.

The prince held the book given by Emperor Zhaoming tightly in both hands, lowered his head, and followed closely behind.

After he and his son left the courtyard, the prince looked back at the young eunuch and said with a smile:

"Emperor Dai is not with His Majesty? What's your name? When did you start serving His Majesty closely?

"Well, and also, when will Grandpa Huang come back? I am worried, so I will wait for him here first, and then go visit Grandma Huang."

The young eunuch smiled brightly: "Eunuch Dai is on an errand. I am his disciple's grandson. My nickname is Bai Tian. I was ordered to serve the emperor closely this morning.

"The Grand Master has not left the house, but is in the palace. He expected you to come, and told me to let this servant accompany you directly when you come.

"There was a delicious fragrance in the tribute the other day. I knew you loved it, so I waited for you to come!"

The prince was delighted: "It seems that the emperor grandfather is doing very well. That's great. I will go in and kowtow to him, and then go to see the emperor grandmother!"

He picked up his robe and trotted into the inner hall.

The Crown Princess in Yanjia Palace also came to pay her respects to the Queen Mother. She looked around anxiously for a long time before she breathed a sigh of relief and smiled shyly at Daiyu and the others:

"I was young and didn't understand anything. When I heard the news at noon, my legs went limp with fear.

"Originally we were supposed to come right after dinner, but my father told us that the Empress Dowager had taken medicine at noon and had gone to bed, so we should come back at this time.

"Thank you, aunts and Hongchang, for accompanying and taking care of me. You've worked so hard!"

The words are not beautiful, but they are simple and sincere.

It was her first face-to-face conversation and Daiyu had a good impression of the Crown Princess.