"Hmm, there’s so truth in that."
As they spoke, Xia An brought in a bowl of chilled sour plum soup from outside.
It was quite refreshing and thirst-quenching.
The Emperor received it, tilted his head back, and drank it in one go. He felt slightly unsatisfied but remained silent without asking for another bowl.
As an emperor, he was already accustod to controlling his desires.
Indulging in the coolness of sumr was not considered appropriate.
The two exchanged so casual conversation, then saw Nanny Du bringing the Second Prince over from the backyard. They entered directly into the inner room, and then paid their respects to the Emperor with proper decorum.
The Emperor furrowed his brows with a hint of helplessness.
"Nanny, I’ve ntioned before that such formalities are unnecessary."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness, but rules cannot be neglected."
She then beckoned the Second Prince over, softening her tone as she spoke.
"I haven’t co by in the past couple of days, and you seem more spirited than before."
"Thank you, Father, for your concern. Lady Lin, Nanny Du, and everyone in Huifang Courtyard have been good to , so I’ve been able to eat and sleep well."
The Emperor reached out to pat his round head, smiling with satisfaction.
He truly believed that children, like orange trees, needed the right soil and careful nurturing.
Otherwise, how could the saying go, "Oranges in the south are oranges, but in the north beco trifoliate oranges"?
"I ca today to talk to you about sothing."
"Please, Father, speak."
"Lin Guifei wishes to hold a birthday banquet for you, at the Lotus Lake Pavilion not far from here. What do you think?"
Lin Guifei?
The Second Prince seed perplexed, as he had little interaction with this Lin Guifei.
Even her daughter, the Emperor’s only princess, was equally unfamiliar to him.
Such unfamiliar people suddenly wanting to celebrate his birthday, and from the sound of it, not in a small way.
He already understood there was so intrigue involved.
From the bottom of his heart, he disliked this matter.
After a mont of silence, he slowly spoke.
"I do not wish for a grand birthday banquet, and I ask for Father’s understanding."
"Why is that?"
"My... my biological mother passed away due to childbirth, so my birthday is also her death anniversary. If it were just a small gathering in the courtyard, it might be acceptable, but celebrating grandly makes feel unworthy as a son."
The Second Prince’s words were reasonable and well-founded.
Su Pin had been gone for so long that everyone had sowhat overlooked her death anniversary.
Or perhaps no one in the entire palace ever rembered it.
Hence, when he suddenly brought it up, everyone fell silent.
Especially the Emperor.
At this mont, he even found Su Pin’s appearance sowhat blurry in his mory, as she was very low-profile.
The Emperor didn’t even know what she liked to eat or use.
Let alone anything else.
Nanny Du noticed a trace of regret in the Emperor’s eyes and suddenly opened her mouth to comfort him.
"Your Majesty, this old servant has sothing to say, but I don’t know if it’s appropriate."
"Speak frankly, Nanny."
"This old servant believes the Second Prince is right, but Lin Guifei’s intentions are also good. If we were to refuse directly, it might cause unnecessary misunderstandings. Perhaps it would be better, in the na of the Second Prince, to recite the Rebirth Scripture for Princess Consort Su for seven days, wishing her early ascension to Paradise. This would also allow the Second Prince to show his filial piety."
The Emperor nodded; this thod was indeed tactful.
It didn’t offend Lin Guifei’s honor, nor did it have to stop the birthday banquet.
So after thinking about it, he opened his mouth and said.
"Dong Yuzhong."
"At your service, Your Majesty."
"Issue a decree: posthumously confer Su Pin the title of Princess Consort Su, and invite Master Zhiyuan from Baolin Temple along with his disciples to the traveling palace to recite scriptures for the Princess Consort Su’s salvation!"
"Yes."
Then he looked at the Second Prince and added.
"The Second Prince’s filial piety moves the heavens. I am greatly comforted. From this day forward, you shall be conferred the title of Han King, with Yunzhou as your fiefdom."
The Second Prince was stunned when he heard this.
He completely didn’t expect that from just a matter of a birthday banquet, so much would co of it.
Not only could his mother obtain a posthumous title, but he also beca "Han King"!
Although it currently seed to be a title without substance, there were only two princes in the palace now.
Clearly, the healthy and intelligent one was the Third Prince, yet the first to be conferred a king title was him!
It’s really unfathomable.
Lin Wanyi was also shocked, but she was not a thoughtless person.
While the Emperor indeed favored the Second Prince a bit out of guilt, it wasn’t enough to make him disregard the Second Prince’s health and entrust him with the kingdom.
So, there must be another reason.
If it’s not due to the Second Prince, then it must lie with the Third Prince.
Was it a warning to the tiger?
Or an enticent by profit?
Lin Wanyi couldn’t comprehend.
She glanced at Qiu Ming, who quickly understood.
Knowing the Emperor’s intentions, Dong Yuzhong, being the one who served at the imperial court, naturally understood.
So it was reasonable to have Qiu Ming investigate.
However, Nanny Du, coldly observing the eye contact between Lin Wanyi and Qiu Ming, was contemplating sothing with pursed lips.
Lin Wanyi gently patted the Second Prince’s shoulder and softly reminded him.
"Second Prince, quickly give thanks."
Only then did the Second Prince react.
He imdiately knelt, respectfully kowtowing to express his gratitude.
The Emperor looked at his innocent face, and the complex emotions in his eyes ultimately lted by the bond of father and son.
"Hmm, stand up. First, get your health back. When spring cos next year, I’ll find you a master for horseback archery. With more practice, your constitution won’t be as weak as before."
The Second Prince was speechless.
In his whole life, let alone horseback archery, he seldom even ran or jumped daily.
Otherwise, he would likely end up out of breath.
The Emperor really had high hopes for him, thinking that the illness they couldn’t cure for six years would be healed after this re half year?
Though such thoughts crossed his mind, his deanor still showed eagerness.
After all, he had heard from the palace elders that his Father had also begun practicing horseback archery from a young age.
Getting wounded was as common as eating als, yet it only made his mind exceptionally strong.
"Yes, I understand, Father. I will practice diligently and not disappoint your expectations."
"Hmm."
Seeing them speak so harmoniously, Lin Wanyi was also happy on the side.
Such a scene of paternal kindness and filial piety brought back many mories.
She too was pampered by her parents and grandparents growing up.
Although often suppressed by Ronghe Hall and the West Wing in the Pri Minister’s Mansion, she chose not to let those people or things weigh heavily on her heart.
Just rembering the beautiful, warm mories was enough.
During the ti she spent with the Second Prince, she found the child truly remarkable.
Such a young person, having endured the palace’s human relationships and indifferent treatnt, still maintained a sincere heart.
Although he hadn’t engaged in much study yet, given ti, he would surely gain good knowledge.
For a scion of the Royal Family,it isn’t necessary to reach high office to have the best.
Being able to live a long life of peace without worries is also a good fate indeed.
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