Chapter 901: Chapter 778, Killing Intent Chapter 901: Chapter 778, Killing Intent Daohua noticed her master was in better spirits after eting with Prince Shengping, and with the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival in mind, she decided to personally write an invitation for him to co to the Four Seasons Manor to appreciate flowers and enjoy the moonlight.
After finishing the invitation, Daohua selected a few pots of the Mo Ju that Prince Shengping had admired before, and then summoned Yan Shouhou to deliver the invitation and flowers to the Prince Residence.
Compared to his first visit when he had been coldly ignored, Yan Shouhou found himself treated with much more courtesy this ti.
Upon receiving the Mo Jes, Prince Shengping’s mood greatly improved, and he couldn’t help but praise Daohua’s thoughtfulness. After reading her invitation, he thought he should give so face to his future daughter-in-law.
However, he wouldn’t be able to attend on Mid-Autumn Festival itself since there was a banquet at the Imperial Palace.
After so thought, Prince Shengping decided to visit the Four Seasons Manor before the festival and enjoy the flower appreciation while also having Old Master Gu give him so acupuncture treatnt.
Having received such fine gifts, Prince Shengping felt he couldn’t enjoy them alone. He imdiately took two pots of Mo Ju to the Imperial Palace, intending to present one each to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.
At the Imperial Palace.
The Emperor, seeing the Mo Ju, laughed as he listened to Prince Shengping proudly boast about his future daughter-in-law.
“Although Yan girl’s background isn’t remarkable, she’s very sensible, knowing my brother likes Mo Ju, she eagerly sent these over and even invited him to enjoy the moon and flowers during Mid-Autumn.”
Hearing this, the Emperor spoke, “I had no idea the Yan family, besides being adept at farming, were also so skilled in gardening. Since she has invited you, you should go on Mid-Autumn Festival and bring back a few famous flowers.”
Prince Shengping paused, “Imperial brother, I need to enter the palace on Mid-Autumn to celebrate with you and mother.”
The Emperor shook his head, “Since the Xiliao Delegation left, the Empress Dowager has been ill. This year, I do not plan to hold a grand celebration, you don’t have to co to the palace.”
Prince Shengping quickly glanced at the Emperor, knowing the Empress Dowager wasn’t truly ill, but was upset because he hadn’t given face to the Jiang Family. If the Emperor took this opportunity to mollify the Empress Dowager, she surely wouldn’t continue to feign illness.
Prince Shengping moved his lips, but in the end, said nothing to diate.
He was also quite upset about the previous incident where the Empress Dowager and the Jiang Family had conspired to fra Yan girl.
…
Two days before Mid-Autumn Festival, Prince Shengping arrived at the Four Seasons Manor.
Upon entering, he saw a Ferghana horse tied up and imdiately asked, “What, are there other guests here?”
The manager promptly replied with a smile, “Prince, the Little Prince has co.”
Hearing Xiao Yeyang was also there, Prince Shengping’s expression stiffened montarily, and he huffed unhappily in his heart. That rascal, back from his duties and didn’t co to see first but went straight to his fiancée.
anwhile, Daohua, knowing that Prince Shengping had arrived, inford Gu Jian and then pulled Xiao Yeyang out to greet him.
“Prince, you’ve arrived!”
Seeing Daohua’s smiling face and feeling her happiness and warm welco, Prince Shengping couldn’t help but smile. However, seeing Xiao Yeyang with a stern face beside him, his smile faded, and he responded with a subdued “hmm.”
Daohua smiled, twisted Xiao Yeyang’s waist slightly, and gave him a warning look. Reluctantly, Xiao Yeyang greeted Prince Shengping.
“Father!”
Prince Shengping asked, “Have you reported your duties to your Imperial uncle?”
Xiao Yeyang replied, “I have.”
Watching the father and son converse coldly, Daohua quickly smiled, trying to smooth things over, “Prince, you’ve finally arrived. The hibiscuses, roses, and callias in the manor have been blooming, waiting for soone who appreciates flowers as you do to co and see them.”
Leading the way toward Gu Jian’s courtyard, she added, “My master also loves flowers, so you can have a good exchange with him after you arrive.”
Prince Shengping looked skeptical, “Old Master Gu loves flowers? That doesn’t seem like him to !”
“Uh…”
Daohua chuckled awkwardly, “As they say, appearances can be deceiving. My master is just a bit aloof. You’ll understand after you interact with him a few more tis.”
Pausing, she added, “As for the elderly, we, the younger generation, should accommodate them. If we humor their temperant, getting along naturally becos much smoother.”
Prince Shengping found this statent odd—what did she an by ‘we, the younger generation’? Wasn’t he a prince?
It should be Old Master Gu accommodating him!
Daohua continued, “My master is very generous. As long as you are kind to him, he will give you whatever you ask for.”
Walking alongside, Xiao Yeyang watched Daohua trying her best to foster a good relationship between his father and his uncle. Yet his father hadn’t fully taken the words to heart, still holding himself with pride and dignity, making Xiao Yeyang sowhat revel in his father’s plight.
He rembered how he, despite his own ticulous and attentive efforts, had suffered under his uncle’s hands.
His father, with his current attitude, was just waiting to be put in his place.
…
Gu Jian saw Prince Ping, and although his expression was neither cold nor warm, his gaze was quite gentle.
“Master, didn’t we just cultivate a few rare chrysanthemums in the greenhouse? Xiao Yeyang and I are going to cook, why don’t you take the Prince to have a look?” she said, glancing towards Prince Ping.
“It just so happens that next month is the Double Ninth Festival, the perfect ti for chrysanthemum appreciation. If the Prince sees any he likes, he can take them back to the Prince Residence and invite friends to enjoy them together.”
Upon hearing this, Prince Ping imdiately beca interested and took the initiative to say to Gu Jian, “I would trouble the elder to lead this Prince there.”
Gu Jian glanced at Prince Ping and, without saying anything, led the way out of the room.
Prince Ping imdiately followed him.
After they left, Daohua couldn’t help but laugh, “With your father’s company, the master won’t have nothing to do.”
Xiao Yeyang smiled at her, “You really worry a lot.”
Daohua shrugged, “There’s no helping it. People’s emotional needs are different, even if I keep the master company all the ti, I can’t replace the emperor and your father in his heart.”
She looked at Xiao Yeyang.
“You too.”
Xiao Yeyang was silent for a mont, “I will co to visit Uncle frequently in the future.”
It wasn’t easy to get things from Gu Jian, and, that very afternoon, seeing that Prince Ping hadn’t got the chrysanthemums, Daohua seized the opportunity to invite him, “My Prince, if you’re free, why not stay at the manor for a couple of days? Xiao Yeyang is also here.”
Prince Ping was indeed thinking about the strains of chrysanthemums nad ‘Handso Banner’ and ‘Green Cloud’ that Daohua had cultivated. Glancing at Xiao Yeyang and thinking of the emperor’s previous decision not to hold the Mid-Autumn Festival feast, he readily agreed.
For the next two days, in an attempt to get the beloved chrysanthemums, Prince Ping barely left Gu Jian’s side.
As for how the two got along, Daohua and Xiao Yeyang didn’t inquire; however, judging by Prince Ping’s long face during als, they knew he hadn’t managed to gain much.
However, Gu Jian seed more and more spirited.
Seeing this, Daohua and Xiao Yeyang shared a knowing smile.
…
In the blink of an eye, Mid-Autumn Festival arrived.
Although there was still a banquet held in the palace, it was not on a large scale and only a few mbers of the Imperial Family and high-ranking officials were invited.
Ma Family mother and son, due to Prince Ping’s absence, were not invited to the palace.
This undoubtedly humiliated them greatly.
“On such a festive occasion, when families unite, your father isn’t even accompanying us!” Princess Consort Ma ranted furiously as she paced about the room.
Seeing this, Luo Qiong frowned uncontrollably.
His mother-in-law was too fixated on the wrong details. Shouldn’t it worry her more that his father had gone to the Four Seasons Manor instead of staying at ho?
Countess Shengping was indeed formidable; she hadn’t even married into the Prince Residence yet, but she had already won his father’s heart.
The Empress Dowager, too, was extrely angry because Prince Ping didn’t co to the palace to accompany her.
Seeing that the emperor had no intentions of easing their relations, the Empress Dowager had already planned to use this Mid-Autumn as an opportunity for reconciliation. If Prince Ping had co to Cining Palace, prompting him to convey a few diatory words, she would have readily acquiesced and not remained at odds with the emperor.
The emperor’s increasingly unfriendly attitude towards the Jiang Family made her more eager to end her standoff with him, as continuing the dispute would only be detrintal to the Jiang Family.
However, despite all her calculations, she hadn’t expected that Prince Ping wouldn’t co!
Historically, every Mid-Autumn Festival, Prince Ping would certainly return to Cining Palace to accompany her.
“Those not born by oneself are unreliable. If my own imperial son were still alive, neither the emperor nor Prince Ping would be enjoying the power and riches today.”
Thinking of her deceased child, the Empress Dowager’s hatred towards Wan Consort intensified.
But then, mocking herself, she thought, “After my eighth son died, my fight with the Wan Family only left us both worse off, ultimately benefitting Gu Family’s son.”
Hearing this, the nanny couldn’t help but interject, “Empress Dowager, the Gu Family has long perished without even leaving a na behind. Her son has beco your son; why ponder on such despicable beings?”
The Empress Dowager’s eyes welled up and she gritted her teeth, “This matriarch just can’t accept it,” she said as she cald her emotions down, “It’s just that the Imperial Family is heartless; without blood ties, the emperor will be ruthless in dealing with the Jiang Family.”
The nanny hesitated, “Empress Dowager, perhaps it’s ti to consider the suggestion put forward by the Duke a few days ago.”
A hint of killing intent flashed in the Empress Dowager’s eyes. She had once poisoned the previous emperor to help the current one ascend the throne, and she would not mind such events happening again.
However, this required ticulous planning, as failure would doom the Jiang Family forever.
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