Reborn Lady - Chapter 378
Emperor Yongping entered Beijing with the Crown Prince accompanying him, until finally, after all the busy work, Emperor Yongping was about to rest, and the Crown Prince returned to the East Hall sweating profusely.
The East Hall was once the Shizi Mansion in the Yan Palace.
When Wei Yang was the eldest son of the Yan Palace, he and his four brothers lived in the east harem of the palace, where they resided.
Just like King Yan usually handled government affairs in the Cunxin Hall of the front palace, the front palace also specially built it for him as a place to study and participate in politics.
Now that Wei Yang had become the Crown Prince, his wife, concubines, and children must live with him and could no longer stay in the harem, so the place was expanded.
When he came to the familiar yet unfamiliar East Hall, the prince wiped the sweat from his forehead and showed a gratified smile.
Although his father always disliked him, he was the legitimate Crown Prince. His father was old, and if he endured it for a few more years, there would always be a day when he would be proud. No matter how capable his third brother was in both civil and military matters, he still had to listen to him and be at his mercy.
Thinking of positive things, the Crown Prince found himself in a better mood.
Xu Qingwan and his family were waiting for him. They had moved there a long time ago, and the Crown Prince had just entered Beijing with Emperor Yongping that day.
Glancing at his wife, concubines, and children, the Crown Prince smiled and said, “I’ll go rest first, and we’ll meet again at dinner.”
After a long day, he was tired and lacked the strength to socialize.
Except for Xu Qingwan, everyone else bowed and left.
Before leaving, Concubine Meng looked at the Crown Prince quietly, and though he noticed it, he knew it was impossible for him to visit the concubine’s chamber these two nights. As a Crown Prince, he understood the importance of prioritizing etiquette; he couldn’t simply do as he pleased.
Following Xu Qingwan to the backyard, he took a bath and then lay on the bed, asking Xu Qingwan to massage his legs.
Remembering the flattery of his second brother, the Crown Prince couldn’t help but express his disgust to Xu Qingwan, saying, “The Emperor is wise, yet why does he entertain the Second Brother’s flattery? Why does Shier Lang indulge in daydreams and nonsense?”
Despite his fondness for Concubine Meng and the young concubines, the Crown Prince confined only to Xu Qingwan about matters, both public and private, and trusted no other woman.
Xu Qingwan responded, “The Second Master has always been the least promising of your brothers. Father holds no expectations for him, so a few clever words from him won’t affect Father. Instead, Father places his hopes on his other sons. He wants them to fulfill their duties diligently; flattery alone won’t win Father’s favor.”
The Crown Prince frowned, contemplating why his diligent performance in his duties wasn’t sufficient, and why his father disliked hearing flattery from him.
He glanced at Xu Qingwan once more, noting her gentle demeanor as she massaged his legs earnestly, without any hint of embarrassment. This reassured the Crown Prince, and he let go of his thoughts.
He concluded that even if the Second Brother flattered his father, it wouldn’t necessarily translate into success.
After three nights of rest, the Crown Prince regained his vitality and finally visited Concubine Meng’s quarters.
Both Xu Qingwan and the two side concubines were from noble backgrounds, so the Crown Prince felt compelled to maintain seriousness in their presence, making it difficult to relax fully. Though the other concubines were young and beautiful, they were newcomers. Despite his affection for Concubine Meng, the Crown Prince found himself aging and unable to engage in certain activities. Additionally, Concubine Meng had a tendency to cling, so the Crown Prince would only visit her quarters three or four times a month at most.
Now in his early forties, the Crown Prince found himself spending half of his time sleeping alone. With a wife and concubines, Concubine Meng could only occupy three or four nights in the remaining half of the month.
However, Concubine Meng didn’t think so. She believed that the Crown Prince disliked her due to her age. Despite being only in her thirties, she felt she was considered old. She worried that in a few years, the Crown Prince would forget about her entirely.
Aware that she couldn’t match the dignity of the Crown Princess and side concubines, Concubine Meng knew her methods in bed were her only advantage. Born as a singer, she employed various techniques that left the Crown Prince in ecstatic satisfaction, making it unforgettable for him.
Emperor Yongping’s birthday fell on the seventeenth day of the winter month.
Civil and military officials were busy preparing birthday gifts, while the relatives were tasked with presenting original gifts to demonstrate their respect and filial piety towards Emperor Yongping.
The five members of the Shu Mansion began their preparations early.
Gold, silver, and jewelry were common offerings, but Emperor Yongping, being the Emperor, had seen his fair share of lavish gifts. Thus, everyone aimed to present gifts that were heartfelt and meaningful, surpassing the material value alone.
Back when Yin Yong celebrated his sixtieth birthday, Wei Luo gifted a painting, impressing the Emperor at the time. Having demonstrated his painting skills, Wei Luo decided to give his father another painting this time around.
Wei Luo had been diligently painting since the beginning of the year, creating one artwork after another, all centered around Emperor Yongping. Among them were paintings depicting Emperor Yongping hunting, overseeing spring plowing, patrolling the border, and portraits of the Emperor himself. Each painting was a result of his meticulous efforts, with several drafts discarded before achieving satisfaction.
Now faced with the decision of which painting to give, Wei Luo pondered. “I particularly like this painting of spring plowing,” he remarked. “The portrayal of the Emperor appears benevolent, conveying a profound message of paternal care for his people.”
When Yin Hui accompanied Wei Luo to look at the painting, he asked her opinion.
While acknowledging the positive implication of the spring plowing painting, Emperor Yongping, depicted in coarse clothing and modest attire, lacked the requisite majesty. Given the significance of Emperor Yongping’s sixtieth birthday, coupled with the recent relocation of the capital, Wei Luo speculated that his father might prefer paintings that exuded his regal presence.
Though he remained silent, Yin Hui discerned the reason behind Wei Luo’s hesitation. Pointing to the painting of Emperor Yongping’s personal conquest, she suggested, “How about this one? The victorious depiction of Father’s personal conquest symbolizes the wealth and strength of our great Wei country.”
Wei Luo felt conflicted about this particular painting. While he had created it out of genuine admiration for his father’s skills, he couldn’t shake off the suspicion that it might be perceived as flattery, akin to his second brother’s actions.
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