Everyone who was waiting to see misfortune befall Li Hong Yuan all darkened their expression. Such a major offense, and that was it? Eating vegetarian food for a period of time can also be considered a punishment? What’s the difference between this and ‘shutting oneself up and reflecting on one’s mistakes’? But, since Le Cheng Emperor agreed, then there was no room for anyone else to comment. Even if this matter was known by everyone, it couldn’t be brought up in the imperial court either. Something that made Le Cheng Emperor lose his face, who would still dare to mention it again? Did you think yourself to be the same as Jin Qinwang? Did you think you’d get tolerated like Jin Qinwang? Keep dreaming!
Li Hong Yuan lusted after beauty and liked pleasure. Going to a buddhist temple with all kinds of rules and restrictions, this can also be considered a heavy punishment for him. —–Angry at the unfairness, they could only console themselves like this.
“Bastard, immediately get your ass to White Dragon Temple for me. Without a decree, you’re not allowed to come back.”
“This son accepts the Emperor’s decree.” He didn’t wait for Le Cheng Emperor to tell him to get up either, and just stood straight up.
That look made Le Cheng Emperor want to whip him again. But regardless of what you do, he would always be indifferent. To say it more unpleasantly, it was ‘a dead pig doesn’t fear scalding water’. Ultimately, one would only suffer in anger. “What are you all still standing around here for? All have nothing to do? All of you get lost!” Such obvious misplacement of anger.
Everyone who was watching all immediately had a look of ‘having something important to do’, and one after the other asked to be excused, even perceptively sealing their lips.
“You bastard, still not getting lost? Right now, the one this Emperor doesn’t want to see the most is you.”
“This son has something to say to consort-mother. Doesn’t imperial father still have government affairs to take care of at this time?” In other words, still not leaving!?
Le Cheng Emperor ultimately couldn’t hold back his anger, and ruthlessly gave Li Hong Yuan a kick, before finally storming off.
Li Hong Yuan glanced at the footprint on corner of his clothes and frowned. Not because it hurt, but purely because he disliked getting dirty.
Noble Consort Su very naturally crouched down and used her handkerchief to wipe away that footprint. Just like when he would trip and fall in his youth, he would get helped up, and afterwards she would personally brush away the dirt on him, gently comforting him. Li Hong Yuan’s expression was slightly strange. He took a step back, “Consort-mother……”
Noble Consort Su stood up straight and amicably looked to him, “What’s wrong?”
“This kind of thing should naturally be done by the palace servants, how could you still be troubled to do it personally.”
“Consort-mother is just used to it. If you don’t like it, consort-mother will pay attention in the future.”
“It’s not dislike, this son is just….” Li Hong Yuan paused, seemingly not knowing how the following words should be said.
“You’re just concerned for consort-mother, consort-mother knows. You ah, if you anger your imperial father less, he naturally won’t do anything to you. Then there wouldn’t be these matters. What happened today, consort-mother believes that you wouldn’t really be that willful and rash. Even if Imperial Concubine Li conduct was improper, you still wouldn’t involve yourself for no reason. Earlier, with that many people around, you weren’t willing to say, then now, can you tell consort-mother?” Noble Consort Su said in a gentle tone.
Li Hong Yuan put on a cold face, unwilling to speak.
“Your Highness, a few days ago, master saw her highness Imperial Concubine Li be rude towards you, so that’s why……”
“Shut up.” Li Hong Yuan coldly interrupted Eunuch Mu’s words.
Noble Consort Su blanked, and tears swiftly rose in her eyes, feeling even more warm inside, “Yuan’er, you really just….”
“Consort-mother…..” Li Hong Yuan knit his brows, his complexion becoming increasingly cold. But anyone could tell, he was just unsure how to console Noble Consort Su. Because he was at a loss for what to do, he thus appeared even more cold looking.
Noble Consort Su wiped away the fallen tears, and smiled very happily. “Others all say how terrible my son is, but how would they know, my son is the most filial and considerate. Just, Yuan’er, in the future, don’t do this kind of reputation damaging thing. Consort-mother has been in this inner palace for more than twenty years. Imperial Concubine Li is nothing more than a little girl that has become arrogant from receiving favor. Having seen a lot, consort-mother doesn’t even attach importance to her. What your imperial father’s thoughts are, consort-mother can’t be more clear, he’s merely just coveting a momentary novelty, it won’t last long.”
“Consort-mother don’t listen to Mu An’s nonsense. This son was merely just amused in the moment.”
Seeing that he wasn’t willing to admit, Noble Consort Su didn’t say anymore. Just that expression was clearly saying: consort-mother knows, Yuan’er is shy. “Yuan’er ah, this time going to White Dragon Temple, just quietly stay there for some time. Although it’s a vegetarian diet, White Dragon Temple’s vegetarian dishes are famously delicious. Before consort-mother entered the palace, I’d often specifically run there to eat their vegetarian dishes. Aside from this, if there’s nothing, just copy some buddhist scriptures. Treat it as accumulating good fortune for your imperial father. Don’t cause any other mess. That’s a Buddhist temple, if you touch anything you shouldn’t touch, afraid your imperial father will really be angered. This time listen to consort-mother, endure for a period of time, alright?”
(T/N: I nearly spat blood trying to imagine him be cute saying that line.)
Li Hong Yuan paused for a moment, “This son knows. Consort-mother, no need to worry.”
“Then that’s good.” Noble Consort Su knew, as long as it was something he promised her, then there was nothing he couldn’t accomplish.
“Since that’s the case, this son will bid farewell. Don’t know how long before I’ll be able to return. Consort-mother, take care.”
“Don’t worry, your imperial father won’t let you stay at White Dragon Temple for too long.” Noble Consort Su somewhat profoundly said.
She will find an opportunity to plea for leniency with Le Cheng Emperor.
Li Hong Yuan faintly nodded his head. Towards this matter, he completely didn’t care. “This son bids farewell.”
After Li Hong Yuan walked far, the mama by Noble Consort Su’s side spoke, “Have to say, this mother and son, really is mother and son. It’s something others far can’t compare to. No matter how Wangye is on the outside, in front of your Highness, he’s still like when he was small.”
“That’s right, Yuan’er is actually very smart. Because of Ming’er and I, he’s given up on a lot.” Noble Consort Su said in a low voice.
Rui Qinwang, Li Hong Ming, stood behind a nearby tree, silently watching and listening. Afterwards, he expressionlessly left. Just what he was thinking, probably only he himself will know.
Gradually getting farther away, the cold sharp air around Li Hong Yuan’s body became increasingly dense. Eunuch Mu followed behind him, not daring to breath. Clearly last night, he’d just said he wanted to go to White Dragon Temple to recuperate for a period of time, and now today, his goal was achieved. No matter how he looks at it, it all looks like it had been long planned. To have one’s wish come true that easily, and can be considered killing two birds with one stone, he ought to be happy. But seeing him like this, his mood was even worse than prior to heading to the Luo Manor.
Eunuch Mu pondered over the cause and effect. This problem might have arisen from Noble Consort Su. People like them, all knew that their master had ambitions towards the throne, and it was a must have, privately casting the net and laying out plans. Perhaps because he felt guilty towards Noble Consort Su who had raised him like this? Or could it be that master and Noble Consort Su didn’t have that deep of mother and son feelings like on the surface? What the specifics were, master has never mentioned before, and has never clearly expressed before either. So no matter how much he thought about, it was to no avail.
However, this matter didn’t need for him to waste his efforts to guess at either.
Coming out of the palace gates, before Li Hong Yuan got on the carriage, he glanced at the towering imperial palace and thought of Noble Consort Su’s last request. Punishment was fake, praying for good fortune was real. As for who these prayers were for……..naturally he can’t touch things he shouldn’t touch. That was his good imperial father’s taboo in his heart. No matter how tolerating he was of him, to step on his bottom line in this area, he would still suffer his storming rage. However, even if he cleanly broke all the rules of the buddhist temple, he would still want them to all know.
After returning to Jin Wang Manor, because he’d long prepared, everything was taken care of very quickly. Rather there wasn’t any great fanfare. After all, a dignified qinwang getting punished, no matter how one looks, it all wasn’t a glorious thing.
After Gong mama received the things the shadow guard passed along, she trembled in anger. She had finally pacified her mood with great difficulty, but now she had no choice but to go find her Miss.
“Miss, the peach blossoms of White Dragon Temple have bloomed, do you want to go have a look? That peach orchard in White Dragon Temple is very big, and every time it’s in bloom, it’s exceptionally beautiful. In the entire capital city, you can’t find a better peach orchard than there.”
