readsfreenovel Chapter 285 Concubine Sun
Chapter 285 Concubine Sun
The atmosphere in Qiulu Palace was still stagnant. Emperor Shenwu had a gloomy face, and the invisible pressure made the concubines in the palace dare not breathe.
It was not until Lan Qingwu stretched out her bare hand and gently grasped the big palm of Emperor Shenwu that Emperor Shenwu glanced at Lan Qingwu and his expression relaxed slightly.
Two rows of palace maids filed into the hall, each holding an exquisite tray with a jug of fine wine on it. They walked to the dining tables of the concubines and placed the wine jugs on the trays one by one.
Lan Qingwu said in a clear voice, "This is the plum blossom wine brewed by the Imperial Wine Bureau using the fallen snow plums picked last year. I invite you all to drink together at the winter banquet today!"
Imperial Concubine Jiang was the first to stand up, followed by the other concubines in the palace who all stood up and saluted in turn: "Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After that, the atmosphere in the hall eased up and gradually became relaxed and lively again.
The wide sleeves of Emperor Shenwu and Lan Qingwu were intertwined, and inside, Emperor Shenwu and Lan Qingwu were holding hands. His face had long since returned to calm, but a hint of darkness flashed in his phoenix eyes.
After finally handling the winter banquet, Lan Qingwu breathed a sigh of relief. Emperor Shenwu took Lan Qingwu and the three children back to Fengqi Palace.
After Emperor Shenwu woke up from his nap with Lan Qingwu in his arms, he gave the order: "Go and summon the third princess."
Lan Qingwu was kneeling on the bed, changing the clothes for the Emperor Shenwu. Hearing this, he paused slightly and said, "Your Majesty, are you still arguing with a child?"
Emperor Shenwu frowned slightly. "What do you mean by 'child'? He's already thirteen years old. Concubine Wen is painstakingly trying to choose a good consort for the Third Princess! Judging from Heshun's words and actions, I'm afraid he has a strong opinion of his father, the Emperor!"
In fact, Emperor Shenwu thought more deeply. If his daughter was like this, then when he couldn't see, didn't his sons compare themselves with their legitimate sons and daughters and feel resentful about it?
Emperor Shenwu asked himself whether he had fulfilled his responsibilities as a father to each of his children, but if they wanted his favoritism as an emperor, then it would be beyond his ability and asking too much of him.
Lan Qingwu thought that girls in the Dasheng Dynasty could get married when they reached the age of 15, and could arrange a marriage at the age of twelve or thirteen. Also, Concubine Wen had always been proud and arrogant, so she would probably choose a son-in-law very early.
But, this cannot go beyond the father, Emperor Shenwu, right?
"Your Majesty, don't you still have us? Besides, there are the eldest and second princesses ahead! This..."
Emperor Shenwu chuckled upon hearing this: "Yes! I'm just worried that Concubine Wen doesn't understand!"
Emperor Shenwu and Lan Qingwu put on their clothes and accessories and headed towards the main hall of Fengqi Palace.
Concubine Wen had led the third princess to stand in the main hall of Fengqi Palace. Concubine Wen stood straight with excellent demeanor. The third princess seemed to have been taught a lesson. She followed Concubine Wen with her head slightly lowered and said nothing.
Emperor Shenwu took Lan Qingwu to the upper throne, and Concubine Wen led the Third Princess to kneel on the ground. "Your Majesty, Your Majesty! Your Majesty, Your Majesty! I have come here to bring the Third Princess to apologize! Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please forgive the Third Princess for her youth and ignorance! I will discipline her strictly in the future!"
Emperor Shenwu ignored Concubine Wen's earnest words. He fixed his gaze on the Third Princess and spoke in a gentle tone, "Heshun, what did you say yesterday? Tell your father!"
The Third Princess expected a savage reprimand from the Emperor Shenwu, and yet another round of punishment. Instead, she forgot all of Concubine Wen's earnest instructions. "Father, I really wanted to go into the plum forest to enjoy the snow yesterday, but the Black Feather Guards stopped me. That's why I complained a few times. I didn't mean to bring you up. It's because of your constant scolding that I'm getting even more angry."
Emperor Shenwu glanced at Concubine Wen coldly. "How difficult is this? Father and your mother are both respected. Yesterday we admired the red plum blossoms together. Today is the winter banquet, and tomorrow I will order all the concubines and the princes and princesses to go to the plum forest to enjoy the snow. What do you think of this, Heshun?"
Concubine Wen only focused on the word "Your Majesty" and felt a slight tremor in her heart. However, the Third Princess heard that they could enjoy the plum blossoms. Although it was a little late, it also made her excited: "Really? Your daughter thanks Father, the Emperor, and Mother, the Empress Dowager!"
Concubine Wen felt extremely upset, but the Third Princess thought it was fair that even the Sixth and Seventh Princes could enjoy the snow and plum blossoms tomorrow.
Emperor Shenwu changed the subject: "Heshun, you were born a few days premature when you were young, and although you were relatively healthy, you did have a few illnesses. Your father would stay by your side until you recovered. You see me doting on your younger sister, but you don't know that you also grew up under my care. Now that your younger sister is still young and immature, it's time for everyone to care for her. Your words and actions today are truly inappropriate. If even a word were to get out, it would not only affect your lifelong destiny, but also bring shame to the royal family. Have you ever considered this?"
The Third Princess was stunned by these words, and Concubine Wen was also sweating profusely. She knew that the emperor was trying to point a finger at her, and it seemed that the emperor knew all her private actions.
After hearing Emperor Shenwu's words, which showed he was putting himself in the Third Princess's shoes, the Third Princess lost her initial indignation. She kowtowed to the ground and said, "I know I was wrong. I will never make the same mistake again!"
"Well, go back today and copy the Tao Te Ching ten times, and you can go to Merlin tomorrow!"
Lan Qingwu watched as Emperor Shenwu used a combination of defense and defense to resolve the matter in a roundabout way. The third princess accepted the punishment and left happily, but Concubine Wen remained somewhat obscure.
After Concubine Wen and her daughter withdrew, the Emperor and Empress had just said a few words when they were interrupted by a palace servant who bowed and entered the hall: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Concubine Sun requests an audience!"
Emperor Shenwu frowned and asked, "Why is she here?"
Lan Qingwu was silent for a moment. "I'm afraid it's the Second Princess's marriage, and she can't make the decision. She has often come to Fengqi Palace to pay her respects in the past six months."
Emperor Shenwu understood that Concubine Sun couldn't reach him, so she was going to attack the Empress. Emperor Shenwu snorted coldly: "Cramming at the last minute!"
Lan Qingwu hesitated to speak: "Why is Brother Heng so..." so dislikeful to Concubine Sun?
Emperor Shenwu's eyes were dark, and he didn't want to say more. "Let her go back to her own palace!"
Lan Qingwu quickly reached out and grabbed the Emperor Shenwu's wide sleeves: "But, the Second Princess is here too, Brother Heng, please come see her for the Second Princess' sake!"
Emperor Shenwu paused for a moment, and though his expression was not very good, he finally relented. Then Concubine Sun and the Second Princess were summoned by the Emperor and Empress again.
When Concubine Sun saw that Emperor Shenwu was also there, her eyes lit up, but then she thought of something and restrained her expression.
The second princess was given the title Changping. She was already fourteen years old and had indeed reached the age for marriage, so it was no wonder that Concubine Sun was anxious.
The Second Princess looked quiet and gentle, without the First Princess's flamboyantness or the Third Princess's arrogance and dominance. She seemed a little nervous when she met the Emperor Shenwu, and it took some effort for her to complete the formalities.
Emperor Shenwu indeed paid the least attention to this daughter. He looked at the second princess who had grown into a young girl and said directly without beating around the bush, "Changping has a gentle temperament. Take her out for walks more often in the future. When the Spring Banquet comes, all the officials' wives will be there. Let Changping stay with Mingzhu. You don't have to worry about anything else!"
Concubine Sun was overjoyed, but then she began to worry whether the son-in-law chosen by Emperor Shenwu would agree with her and the second princess's wishes. However, she did not dare to show it on her face. She just led the second princess to express her gratitude and then took her leave.
Concubine Sun knew very well that the emperor disliked her, so after getting the emperor's promise, she refused to stay even a moment longer.
Lan Qingwu looked at Concubine Sun's back, as if thinking about something.