The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

Chapter 68: Heavenly Family Love 2
At this moment, the voice of a palace maid came from outside the warm room: "My Lady, the Lantern Festival is ready."

The Queen said, "Then serve the meal." Then she said to the Prince, "Let's go. Your father should be here soon."

The prince: "Yes." He accompanied the queen to the kitchen.

As soon as I sat down, I heard shouts of "Long live!" from outside the kitchen.

The prince was startled and thought to himself, "He really came."

"You don't even know to call me when you are eating Yuanxiao." Emperor Yongchang strode in.

The Queen and the Crown Prince: "Your Majesty, Father."

Emperor Yongchang waved his hand and said, "Sit down, sit down. Let's forget about all the formalities. Today is the Lantern Festival. Let's have some Lantern Festival dumplings together as a family of three." Then he sat down in the main seat.

The empress personally served a bowl of Yuanxiao to Emperor Yongchang, and said to Dai Quan, "Bring another pot of wine, I will drink with the emperor!"

Dai Quan: “Yes.” But his eyes were looking at Emperor Yongchang.

Emperor Yongchang: "You are weak, so don't drink."

The queen smiled slightly and said, "Your Majesty doesn't remember, but when I first entered the palace, I could even drink a large glass of liquor."

Emperor Yongchang was stunned for a long time before he came to his senses, with guilt flashing in his eyes. He was not favored back then, and the whole palace suffered with him. The Ministry of Internal Affairs dared to deduct the money that should be given to the palace. The longest time was three years without payment. The family relied on the queen to pawn her dowry to survive until the annual gift was paid. During this period, the queen fell seriously ill. The family was already very frugal, so there was no money for ginseng and cinnamon, and since then, their vitality has been damaged.

Dai Quan saw this and turned around and walked out.

There was silence.

Dai Quan came in with a tray, a pot of warm wine, and three yellow-glazed wine glasses from the official kiln.

The prince took the thermos, filled it with wine for the emperor first, poured a thin layer for the queen, and then poured himself a glass of wine.

Emperor Yongchang drank the wine in one gulp, then picked up the Queen's glass and drank it too, and then the Crown Prince also drank it.

Emperor Yongchang smiled and said, "Come, eat Yuanxiao, eat Yuanxiao!" Then he picked up the spoon in the bowl, scooped a Yuanxiao and brought it to his mouth.

"It's hot. Your Majesty, eat slowly." The Queen instructed.

Emperor Yongchang said obediently, "Yes, yes." He picked up the bowl and started eating.

The queen stared at him in amazement.

Emperor Yongchang was suddenly startled: "Isn't this Yuanxiao made by the imperial kitchen?"

The Queen looked at him.

Emperor Yongchang's eyes lit up and he looked at the queen: "This, this is what you did."

The Queen smiled and said, "It's amazing that the Emperor still remembers it."

Emperor Yongchang put down the bowl and recalled, "Life was hard during those days. Not only did you have to sew until midnight, but you also had to cook for me and the prince. The day-to-day fatigue made you seriously ill."

The queen interrupted him and said, "Yuanxiao should be eaten while it's hot. It won't taste good if it's cold."

Emperor Yongchang came back to his senses and said, "Hmm." Then he started eating with big mouthfuls.

"There are more in the small kitchen, eat slowly." The queen scooped two Yuanxiao from her bowl and put them into the emperor's bowl.

"Well, you eat too!"

"."

The prince and Dai Quan looked at each other and went offline.

Emperor Yongchang finished the Yuanxiao in his bowl, then gulped down the noodle soup, put down the bowl, leaned back in his chair, and burped contentedly.

Dai Quan wrung out a hot towel and handed it over.

Emperor Yongchang wiped it, smiled and said to the queen: "Make me a bowl of rock sugar lotus seed soup tonight. I haven't eaten it for a long time."

The Queen nodded. Emperor Yongchang looked at the Crown Prince and said, "You know everything about Hetao, right? What do you think?"

The queen spoke: "The prince just said that he would go to the study to meet the emperor after eating Yuanxiao. It's a coincidence that he is here." As she spoke, she glanced at the prince.

Emperor Yongchang: "Oh?"

The prince understood immediately, stood up and said, "Father, I have a request, please approve it."

Emperor Yongchang looked at him scrutinizingly and said, "Go ahead."

The Crown Prince: "I want my father to send an urgent message to my second brother, telling him that 'a son of a wealthy family should not sit in the hall'. Don't pursue the enemy. The main force of the Yik Zhao League is still there. Don't leave the support range of the Princess Shanguo's army."

Emperor Yongchang listened to this and showed his admiration on his face. He said to Dai Quan, "Listen, listen to what the prince said. This is the mindset of a crown prince and what a brother should say. Just do as the prince said!"

Dai Quan answered loudly, "Yes."

Emperor Yongchang stood up and said, "The Prime Minister is still waiting in the study, so I won't stay any longer. It's snowing hard outside, so please don't see me off." After that, he strode out.

After walking less than three or five steps, Emperor Yongchang stopped and said, "Ask the Crown Princess to bring the grandson here so that we can celebrate the festival together as a family."

The prince's eyes were wet: "Yes." He bowed deeply.

The footsteps outside the door became farther and farther away, until they disappeared completely, and then the prince straightened up.

The queen looked at him and asked, "Are you moved now?"

Without waiting for the prince to speak, the queen continued, "You should have understood the situation just now. Your father wants a crown prince who is loyal to the country and also considerate of the brotherhood. You will play the role of such a crown prince next, so that he has no reason to depose you. In addition, you must take good care of yourself and make those who are eyeing the crown prince position anxious. When people are anxious, they will make mistakes!"

Prince: "Yes."

The queen stood up again, walked slowly to the window, looked at the falling snow outside, and said, "Tomorrow Li Hu will come to visit and ask about your health. Don't see him. It will be good for both you and him."

The prince was stunned for a moment.

Queen: "The soldier who delivered the victory message has been detained in the Silijian's duty room."

"I understand, son." The prince replied.

The queen turned around and said, "Ask Zhao Tong to ask Li Hu to leave the palace."

The prince nodded. With Zhao Tong as a witness, if the news leaked out, he and Li Hu would be able to cut off their relationship immediately!

"You don't have to go back to Yuqing Palace. Go to the west warm pavilion and rest. I'll send someone to bring the Crown Princess and the Emperor's grandson." With that, the Queen walked out.

The prince walked to the window and looked at the falling snow outside, thinking: Will someone leak this news to the Mongols? There should be someone!
It was snowing heavily. Emperor Yongchang, wearing a fox fur coat, walked out of Kunning Palace. As he walked, he asked, "Am I too impatient about what you said about Hetao?"

Dai Quan followed closely with an oilcloth umbrella and replied, "How can the emperor be blamed for being too impatient? The imperial edict clearly states that the battle is fully handed over to the Duke of Shan Guo. He will independently formulate a battle plan based on the actual situation, dispatch troops, and command the battle. If anything unexpected really happens, he will be unforgivable!"

Emperor Yongchang stopped walking and said, "Nonsense! How dare a duke like him control the prince? The fault in this matter is that the second son was eager to take credit!"

Dai Quan: “Yes.”

Emperor Yongchang: "Keep an eye on the soldier who delivered the victory report. Don't let him see anyone."

Dai Quan: “Yes.”

Emperor Yongchang paused and said, "Tell me, how sincere are the prince's words?"

Dai Quan was in a dilemma. He hesitated for a long time before answering carefully: "I think the prince is still very filial to the emperor."

Emperor Yongchang took another step and said, "Tomorrow when the seal is issued, Li Hu will definitely go to visit the crown prince and ask about his health. Let Zhao Tong pay attention and listen to what they say."

Dai Quan: “Yes.” He quickly chased after him.

"And there is Jia Yucun." The voice of Emperor Yongchang was heard again in the heavy snow.

(End of this chapter)