“You are an understanding and virtuous one.” Noble Consort Su paused, “Even if you can’t give birth to a di son, adopting one in the future is also the same. What kind of temper Ming’er has, you know. As long as you properly handle the things you’re suppose to do, then what should be yours, no one can take away.” Gentle and warm, yet the meaning in her words made one uncontrollably shiver.
Rui Wangfei suppressed the cold feeling in her heart. Whatever Noble Consort Su said, she all deferentially complied.
What kind of temper Li Hong Ming has, she of course knew. As long as she properly handled her duties, what should be hers is hers. These words, coaxing the her from a few years ago would still work. Li Hong Ming indeed appear to not be that lustful, and also respected the legal wife, but that was because he needed a good reputation, and because right now, she still had use. If one day, he were to ascend onto that highest position, Rui Wangfei practically can be certain of what the situation will be. As the saying goes, the more one repressed one’s emotions, the more severe the situation will be when one erupts. Moreover, at present, there was also an incomparably carefree and fearless Jin Qinwang as contrast.
Don’t look at how the various princes right now were all a look of seriousness, dignified and proper. To say they didn’t envy and resent Jin Qinwang, it was practically impossible. These people should also include the other descendants of the imperial clan. Probably not a single one wasn’t thinking, why is he able to be this wanton and they themselves can’t? By the time when one is no longer restricted, one will probably just become even more intense.
If Li Hong Ming doesn’t encounter a girl he admires, then it was still good. As long as she doesn’t make a mistake, she probably won’t lose the empress position. But, if he were to encounter someone he admires, perhaps the cold palace was her best end.
All of this, Rui Wangfei all saw very clearly. That bit of feelings of hers towards Li Hong Ming has long whittled away cleanly. As long as Li Hong Ming maintains that beautiful image on the surface, she will also properly play the role of a virtuous wife and caring mother. She can’t because of resentment just quit her role and put down her duties. After all, if she can’t uphold the duties of a wangfei, then she will also just be not far from death.
Moreover, this isn’t just as simple as her own life and death. She still has two daughters. If they were to have a stepmother, she practically didn’t dare to imagine what kind of circumstances they will encounter.
Even if she didn’t care for the empress position, she still can’t wish for the one to ascend the throne in the future to not be Li Hong Ming. Because that way, the ones to perish will also include her entire maiden family.
The so called ‘one’s glory, the whole’s glory; one’s loss, the whole’s loss’ was nothing more than this. No matter how terrible that man was, she still can’t not help him.
Noble Consort Su sent away Rui Wangfei, and sat there in contemplation. She also sensed that, that young son of hers cared about the Luo family third miss more than normal. However, this was all unimportant. Regardless whether he really liked, or some other reason, she still wouldn’t go as far as to be like the Ding Duchess. Perhaps she would feel a bit jealous, but she was truly frightened by that son’s wife cursing reputation. Right now, they finally managed to find one that even Grandmaster Liao Chen all say was a match made in heaven. Moreover, she indeed hasn’t had any mishaps so far. Even if she was somewhat resentful, she definitely won’t show it on the outside, otherwise even if others don’t say anything, his Majesty would definitely be displeased with her.
Actually, right now, she was quite glad such a young lady was given to her son, and not to Li Hong Yi as a second wangfei. The things Liu-shi was able to detect, Noble Consort Su as the person involved, how would she not be able to detect? This young lady wasn’t that simple of a person. She was very clear of the formidable power of pillow talk(wind). If this wind was devious and evil, then using on the opponent was very good, but this girl however wasn’t like one to cause mischief, so she would only be a positive influence. In addition to this girl also having a strong maternal clan, for the person who marries her, it’s a good thing, and for the people on the opposite side, it was anything but reassuring.
Although it was a bit unfortunate that they can’t make use of her, but rather than letting her be grasped in someone else’s hand, it was better to let her become a ‘discarded piece’.
Li Hong Yuan’s leisure time didn’t even last for four hours before Le Cheng Emperor summoned him.
Towards his old man’s summoning, Li Hong Yuan was very annoyed. However, because he had nothing to do, he didn’t toss his old man’s face either.
At this time, Le Cheng Emperor had already finished taking care of governmental affairs. Rui Qinwang and Gong Qinwang were also present, appearing like as if the father and sons were happily and harmoniously chatting. After Li Hong Yuan gave his greetings, he didn’t state his business either, just holding that tea and taking a sip.
And who was Li Hong Yuan? At the start, perhaps he still didn’t understand Le Cheng Emperor’s intention, but since Le Cheng Emperor was already being that obvious, if he still didn’t understand, then he would’ve just lived for nothing. However, even so, he didn’t plan on nicely playing along either. Just looking to Le Cheng Emperor like that with a cold face, as if saying: ‘You’re that bored?’
Because Le Cheng Emperor was continuously unable to receive a response, in addition to Li Hong Yuan’s look, making him feel his balls hurt[1], he inwardly scolded, ‘you unfilial son!’ However, Le Cheng Emperor was just unable to put down his face and directly open his mouth to ask for it.
The others also saw this pair of father and son ‘crossing blows’, not daring utter a sound.
Have to say, every time seeing Le Cheng Emperor suffer in Li Hong Yuan’s hands, as his other sons, while feeling jealous and envious, they were actually also somewhat refreshed inside secretly. It can’t be helped, who let them frequently get scolded into a dog by Le Cheng Emperor. Thus, when seeing him this dejected, they secretly rubbed in their hands in their hearts, feeling refreshed, greatly having that unpleasant feeling dispelled.
“Scram, scram, scram!” Seeing Li Hong Yuan just like a stump of wood, Le Cheng Emperor angrily smashed his cup again.
Li Hong Yuan looked to the shattered cup two steps away from his foot. This old man really was afraid of injuring him. The place where he smashed things was getting increasingly farther away. Besides, with just this attitude of yours, for you to not raise an unfilial son, now that would be strange. However, there was precisely the so-called, ‘the heavenly might cannot be offended’. Li Hong Yuan at most just angered him on ordinary trivial matters. If he really was lawless and undisciplined, no matter how much ‘feelings’ there were, they would still be grinded into dust. Li Hong Yuan let out a tsk, “Mu An………”
Eunuch Mu who was outside, upon hearing his master’s call, immediately entered, having a small box presented up.
Li Hong Yuan took it, casually throwing it to Le Cheng Emperor’s personal attendant. “Originally was preparing to give to imperial father to begin with, just didn’t think imperial father would be this impatient. This son will take one’s leave.” Turning around, he just nonchalantly left.
Le Cheng Emperor nearly collapsed in anger, scolding ‘unfilial son, unfilial son……..’
Have to say, for the imperial guards outside, these words, they couldn’t be more familiar with, not even batting an eye.
Le Cheng Emperor’s personal attendant carefully held that tiny box. Just now, he almost didn’t catch it. If it really were to fall onto the ground, then perhaps not long after, his head will also be rolling on the ground. Waiting until Le Cheng Emperor more or less finished venting, he finally hesitantly pondered whether or not to present it up……………..
“Stupid slave, still not bringing it over!” Le Cheng Emperor angrily bellowed.
Don’t look at how Jin Qinwang was lofty and arrogant in front of Le Cheng Emperor. Others facing his anger similarly just trembled.
Le Cheng Emperor held the box, subconsciously wanting to toss it, but ultimately couldn’t bear it, putting it down again——–
……….The tea leaves that Jin Qinwang personally picked, prior to this subject turning them into tea, Jin Qinwang already instructed this subject, it must be taken care of properly, and after sampling the taste, will just have half saved, preparing to present to your Majesty.
If not for Luo Pei Shan saying this not long ago, would Le Cheng Emperor do something this embarrassing?
But it can’t be helped, it was precisely the ‘unobtainable’ things that made one yearn in the heart, feeling extremely precious. His others sons would from time to time bring him something good to pay their respect to him, but this bastard, aside from his birthday, just never sends him anything. And even on his birthday, the things this bastard sent, for the most part, were all the things he’d bestowed down. Just that plainly displayed, not even bothering to change the cover. Such half-heartedness, such carelessness, Le Cheng Emperor wasn’t ordinarily stifled inside.
But in contrast, he wasn’t like this towards Noble Consort Su. Food, clothing, and other things, in all aspects, Noble Consort Su was all able to receive. Although the number of times weren’t many, that intention was still there. The things every time all made Noble Consort Su very happy, and she would even very ‘ungenerously show off’ to Le Cheng Emperor. Every time, it made Le Cheng Emperor all the more sullen.
Having this kind of treatment wasn’t just Noble Consort Su. There was also a Princess Min Xiang. Although the number of times were much less than Noble Consort Su’s, it was still far better than those that didn’t have anything at all. That’s why, if Princess Min Xiang were to have complaints towards Li Hong Yuan, Le Cheng Emperor definitely would be the first one to darken his face. ———Your sixth imperial brother is that good to you, yet you actually don’t know good from bad?!
That’s why, good and bad were all made by comparison. However, Le Cheng Emperor just didn’t have this son compared with his other sons. ———Alright, the more those sons did, the more it meant that they harbored ulterior motives.
With great difficulty, this son finally thought of giving him a bit of something, and even something he’d personally picked, how could he not be happy? Naturally after seeing that Li Hong Yuan still didn’t come to present it up, he just impatiently ‘asked’. But the most annoying was that this bastard, in the end, still deliberately angered him.
However, after his anger subsided, Le Cheng Emperor giddily held the box, calling over the palace maid that was the most skilled in making tea, having everything all moved to the study, having them boil the water and make the tea under his eyelids.
Afterwards, he personally extracted a tiny portion. With that tiny bit, one seemingly was able to see clearly exactly how many grains at a glance.
Seeing him treasure it this much, the palace maid’s hands even trembled somewhat. Have to say, as the Emperor, what good teas in the world have you not tasted before, sometimes even they, these palace attendants, were all able to have that good fortune. But now, the palace maid felt, if she were to dare waste a single grain, then he will just………….
Le Cheng Emperor fixedly watched, but just as it was mixed into tea water, his nostrils already opened and closed, seemingly as if the room was already filled with the tea’s fragrance.
His two sons watched from the side, having the urge to cover their eyes. Their old man’s behavior right now, they really couldn’t bear to look straight at, feeling both resentful and bitter inside, but even more was just helplessness. Even if they were to painstakingly work hard, they still wouldn’t necessarily be able to receive a smile from him. In the end, it would usually just be getting suspected of having ulterior motives. But that person, without any effort, or perhaps, even if just sending up a blade of grass, it would still be able to be seen as the most unusual and rare blade of grass by their imperial father. Even if not a treasure, it would still be a treasure.
Gong Qinwang, on the surface, was already somewhat unable to sit still anymore. Rui Qinwang however was the same as usual, even jokingly asking Le Cheng Emperor for a cup of tea.
“You even lack this bit of tea?”
As expected, he was refused, but his expression didn’t change at all.
Le Cheng Emperor eagerly sampled the tea, despite clearly not being ready, and clearly still scalding. He inelegantly blew it, taking a tiny sip. That pleased expression was just like as if he was sampling the nectar of the immortals.
Rui Qinwang was also somewhat unable to maintain his expression anymore.
If Jing Wan were to know, she probably would just let out a ‘heheh’. Le Cheng Emperor practically was just oppressed into a masochist by Jin Qinwang.
[1] It means exactly what you think it means. 蛋(egg/ a man’s balls)疼(hurt), tbh I personally don’t see this slang all that much, but with phrases like ‘pain in the ass’, this really isn’t that weird of a slang.
