GBP Chapter 314: Summer Palace
Chapter 314: Summer Palace
Of course, the two people in the bedroom of Fengqi Palace had no idea what was happening in De'an Palace.
The Shenwu Emperor was in the prime of his life, and he had been vegetating for many days, so he was tossing and turning until almost evening. Lan Qingwu was half asleep, with a pair of misty eyes: "My husband is bullying the weak."
Emperor Shenwu simply kissed Lan Qingwu's cheeks, nose tip, and forehead soothingly.
An hour had passed before Lan Qingwu regained consciousness. She suddenly asked in surprise, "Brother Heng, you just returned to the palace and haven't paid your respects at the Cining Palace yet. This..."
Although Empress Dowager Li could no longer influence anything, and the Da Sheng Dynasty did not rule the world with filial piety, or the idea that filial piety was the highest virtue of heaven, she was the biological mother of Emperor Shenwu after all. However, it must be said that such obvious indifference and perfunctory attitude was still not good for Emperor Shenwu.
Emperor Shenwu, however, had already made up his mind: "Don't worry, I sent Li Xiang to the Cining Palace to tell him. I'm tired from the journey, so I can go and pay my respects tomorrow morning."
"I'm afraid the Queen Mother is worried about her eldest son right now!"
In fact, Emperor Shenwu was right. From the time Empress Dowager Li fell ill to the time she was able to get up and then to her recovery, she had thought about Prince An's matter many times. She decided not to give up Prince An easily.
Lan Qingwu didn't know how to respond to this, so he just pestered Emperor Shenwu to tell him about what happened to the Sixth Prince in the military camp.
Emperor Shenwu picked out some of the things he said, and Lan Qingwu leaned lightly on the emperor's shoulder, listening quietly.
The weather was getting hotter. When Emperor Shenwu came to Fengqi Palace that day, he heard the seventh princess whimpering and crying. She looked pitiful and delicate.
Emperor Shenwu was so distressed that he personally held the seventh princess in his arms and comforted her. Lan Qingwu was also very tired.
Emperor Shenwu was dissatisfied and just glanced at the wet nurse and palace maid who were serving him, scaring the servants so much that they knelt on the ground.
Lan Qingwu frowned slightly and said, "Your Majesty, Yueyue can't stand the heat. Her bones are delicate, and there can't be too much ice in the room. I'm also very worried."
The Seventh Princess cried softly. Emperor Shenwu held his daughter's plump, white, and tender hands, patiently coaxing her for a while. Then he thought, "How about this? Let's take Yueyue to Miaoling Palace as soon as possible to escape the summer heat! We'll go first, and let Concubine Jiang make all the arrangements, and then we'll go a few days later!"
Lan Qingwu was stunned. This was a possible solution. "What about the Queen Mother?"
Emperor Shenwu said, "It has only been a few days since my mother recovered from her illness. She should rest in the palace. The civil and military officials will arrive soon."
Lan Qingwu nodded. Emperor Shenwu looked at the listless Seventh Princess and said, "Yueyue, are you still feeling down? This is our little princess's first summer. Would you mind if father and mother take you out to play?"
The seven-month-old Seventh Princess could only hum softly, which made Emperor Shenwu feel distressed again.
After the Emperor Shenwu's decree came down, the six palaces became busy again, and Concubine Jiang also became busy.
Emperor Shenwu issued an edict that Concubine Wen, who was under house arrest, did not need to go. The Emperor and Empress would go first, and the rest of the concubines and princes and princesses would follow after they had packed up.
Of course, the legitimate prince's daughters and princesses born to Lan Qingwu would travel with the emperor and empress, so the carriages, guards, etc. would have to be rearranged and divided into two groups, unlike in previous years when they went to the Miaoling Palace with the emperor.
In Wenhua Palace, the Third Princess was so angry that she smashed a white porcelain vase. "Father is so partial! A little girl who is only a little girl dares to compete for favor like this."
Concubine Wen, however, was much calmer: "She is the legitimate princess, the favorite of your father, how can she not be favored like this? You can go with the second group, anyway, your mother can't go."
The third princess didn't know what she was thinking about, her expression calmed down a little, and she slowly sat down.
Emperor Shenwu first took Lan Qingwu to Miaoling Palace.
It was indeed hot this year, so Lan Qingwu and the children mostly stayed in the Emperor Shenwu's carriage, which was spacious and comfortable, with room for more than a dozen people to lie down. The Seventh Princess felt a little more comfortable in the carriage, no longer grumbling, and could even breastfeed, which made Lan Qingwu feel relieved.
The Sixth Prince looked at his fair and tender sister and said, "Sister, you are so delicate!"
For some reason, Lan Qingwu recalled the time when Emperor Shenwu teased him, and couldn't help but blush slightly. Emperor Shenwu gave Lan Qingwu a meaningful look and said, "Since my sister is a girl, she is naturally a little more delicate. You brothers should take better care of her."
The Sixth Prince said, "Of course, I will take care of my sister."
The Seventh Prince nodded seriously. He stood motionless beside the Seventh Princess, his eyes full of curiosity. "My little sister is so small. When will she be able to walk? When can she play with me?"
The Sixth Prince glanced at his brother and said, "It will be very quick." Just like you.
Of course, the Seventh Prince didn't know how fast it was. He stared at the Seventh Princess intently, looking at the little girl's dark eyes and long eyelashes. His hands were itching, so he reached out and gently touched his sister's tender cheek. The touch stunned him.
Emperor Shenwu and Lan Qingwu couldn't help but smile at each other.
Miaoling Palace is indeed a summer resort, shaded by green trees and extremely cool. After the Seventh Princess arrived, she really recovered quickly, and within two days, she was in high spirits.
Lan Qingwu was completely relieved. At this time, the concubines in the harem had not arrived yet. Emperor Shenwu took Lan Qingwu and rode into Qiling Mountain on Chengfeng. Lan Qingwu felt refreshed.
She and Emperor Shenwu rode on the same horse, whizzing through Qiling Mountain. Emperor Shenwu took her to appreciate the beautiful scenery of the mountain, the strange forests and rocks, the beautiful mountains and rivers, and the brilliant flowers.
Seeing Lan Qingwu lingering in the mountains and rivers, Emperor Shenwu simply said, "I feel more free and at ease here in these mountains and rivers."
Yes, free, unrestrained, and carefree, just like when he first met Lan Qingwu, she could really talk to flowers for a long time. Until now, Emperor Shenwu still couldn't understand what kind of environment could shape Lan Qingwu's character.
Now there are only the emperor, empress and three children in Miaoling Palace, so Emperor Shenwu feels much more relieved. In a few days, when there are many concubines, eunuchs and palace maids in the harem, Emperor Shenwu and Lan Qingwu will not be so relaxed.
Sure enough, after all the concubines, civil and military officials arrived a few days later, Lan Qingwu was no longer so comfortable. She and her three children did not move to another palace, but instead lived in the back hall of Qingliang Palace.
Emperor Shenwu only said at the family banquet that the Seventh Princess could not stand the heat, and the Qingliang Palace was the coolest place, so the Queen should take care of the Seventh Princess in the Qingliang Palace!
Naturally, the concubines did not dare to say much.
After all, this is a temporary palace, and the rules are not as strict as in the palace. The ministers of the previous dynasty are reluctant to say much, and they naturally know that saying more will be useless!
In the imperial city, Emperor Shenwu had ordered the Ministry of Works to renovate the princess's mansion. However, because the eldest princess was of noble status, Emperor Shenwu simply ordered the Ministry of Works to build a new one for the princess. This made all the sisters in the palace envious.
The marriages of the three princesses had been decided. When autumn came, the eldest princess would be married off. The Ministry of Rites calculated several auspicious days, and Emperor Shenwu chose a day in the middle.
On this day, Lan Qingwu held a banquet and watched a play in Hualiang Pavilion. When the party was halfway through, Emperor Shenwu said, "The weather is very hot now. When it cools down, the Queen can hold a chrysanthemum banquet."
Lan Qingwu understood and said, "That's easy. I also want to invite the eldest daughter of the Duke of Rong to the banquet, but she would seem lonely coming alone. Why not invite more of the younger generation of the family? That way it will be more lively."
Emperor Shenwu said: "That's very good!"
At this time, Concubine Jiang and Concubine Wan came to their senses. They were about to be seen by the three older princes! They were also at the age of engagement.
Imperial Concubine Jiang immediately regained her composure, while Concubine Wan suddenly became more energetic. Concubine Yang was stunned for a moment, then lowered her head to drink to hide the expression on her face.
Regardless, this is a happy event.