Drunk Bamboo

The Queen's palace, Changle Palace.

After the emperor's morning court session, he had breakfast with the empress in Changle Palace.

Hua Qinfeng and Xie Yuzhu greeted each other: "Your son greets the emperor, father, and the queen mother."

"Get up and give me a seat."

"Thank you, father, emperor and mother."

As soon as he sat down, the emperor poured cold water on him: "In the morning court today, Minister Han of the Ministry of Works and several court officials reported that Prince Feng was drunk and behaved inappropriately last night, which was a loss of face for the royal family."

Hua Qinfeng explained, "I, your son, just drank two more glasses of wine, lost my balance and knocked over a table of wine and food. Did I lose face for the royal family? Yesterday was my son's big day, and it would be disrespectful not to drink. Those ministers like to stare at me and find faults with me. I don't like to be pedantic and speak in a roundabout way. Father, please let me return to the western frontier as soon as possible to avoid being displeased by them."

The emperor's slightly plump body trembled, his eyes were sharp, intimidating but not angry: "You just got married yesterday, and you are in a hurry to return to the west. Did you let your princess go with you?"

"She doesn't have to go to the West Frontier. She can stay in Zhongdu."

As soon as Hua Qinfeng said this, the emperor was furious: "That's outrageous! You want to abandon your wife on the first day of your marriage. Is this what a husband should say? The court officials are right. I should discipline you. I have left you unsupervised in the western frontier for many years, and your words have become more and more outrageous!"

The emperor's anger shocked everyone.

The servants in the hall knelt down one after another, feeling uneasy. Xie Yuzhu lowered her head, feeling uneasy. She wanted to kneel together, but she saw Hua Qinfeng sitting stubbornly without moving. As his princess, it would be too conspicuous to stand out at this time.

I had only heard that the emperor didn't like Prince Feng, but I didn't expect the relationship between father and son to be so bad. It was also Hua Qinfeng's fault for being straightforward. As soon as the emperor asked a question, he rushed out and said everything in his heart. How could he not anger the emperor?

The emperor and his court officials targeted him because of his mouth.

Xie Yuzhu sighed secretly in her heart. Hua Qinfeng gave her a feeling that she couldn't stand being praised. When they got married, she thought he was reliable, but he got drunk at night. Just now she said it was good to marry him, but now he put her in a world of ice and fire.

The atmosphere suddenly reached a deadlock.

The dignified and gentle queen glanced at the emperor and said gently, "Your Majesty, this is the first time Yuzhu has come to the palace to pay respects. I have prepared plum blossom pastry and five-color square cakes for her to try."

"The Queen is thoughtful." The Emperor then softened his attitude and said to Xie Yuzhu in an approachable tone, "The plum blossom pastry and five-color square cake are the Queen's specialties. Yuzhu, you should try them carefully."

Xie Yuzhu stood up and bowed to express his gratitude: "Thank you, father, for your concern."

The emperor and empress turned their attention to Xie Yuzhu.

She has a petite figure and fair skin. Although she does not have a striking appearance, she has a calm demeanor and a polite attitude, giving people a fresh and comfortable feeling.

Although the Xie family did not enter the government, their students were all over the world, and their influence was great. As a century-old family, only this generation had several daughters, so the shrewd emperor certainly could not miss the opportunity to win them over.

Xie Yuzhu tasted a bite of the pastry generously, smiling: "Just hearing the name of the pastry makes me feel elegant and refined, and seeing it is even more pleasing to the eye. Only after tasting it can I know that the world's delicious food is just like this. Mother, the queen mother is a model for the world, with kind eyes and a heart of a bodhisattva, so she can make pastries that are both beautiful and delicious. More importantly, it is because of the emperor's wisdom and bravery, and the peace in the world, that I can sit here and enjoy the delicious food in peace."

The Queen smiled and said, "Your Majesty, look at Yuzhu's clever words. I am so happy to hear them. You have a keen eye and have given Feng'er a good princess."

"The Xie family is indeed full of talented people." The emperor said to Hua Qinfeng in a meaningful tone, "After the rest, go to court and explain and apologize to all the officials."

Xie Yuzhu glanced at Hua Qinfeng, signaling him not to talk back.

For some reason, Hua Qinfeng suppressed his impulse and responded to the emperor's words.

The emperor saw all these details. When his eyes fell on Xie Yuzhu, they suddenly became deep, but with a smile on his face, he asked with concern, "I heard that Dean Xie was unwell, and all the children of the Xie family were at his bedside to show their filial piety. No one attended the wedding banquet. Do you feel wronged, Yuzhu?"

Hua Qinfeng was stunned and was about to speak, but Xie Yuzhu took the lead, slowly stood up, bowed deeply, and then answered respectfully.

"The emperor has granted me the marriage, and my father was overjoyed. He took all the children of the clan to the mountain to worship at night despite his illness. There was no moon that night, but clouds of green smoke came out of the ancestral temple, as if it were a fairyland on earth. This is not a gift from heaven, but a gift from the emperor, a gift from the Son of Heaven. My father and the Xie clan fasted for 49 days in the ancestral temple to thank the emperor for his grace, and only wished the emperor a long life. I have my father, my mother, and my prince in the temple. My closest family members are all here. I am so honored and don't feel wronged."

The Queen was moved after hearing this: "The best plan for a year is to plant grain; the best plan for ten years is to plant trees; the best plan for a hundred years is to cultivate people. The Xie family has made great contributions to educating people and is loyal to Your Majesty."

"Hahaha! The Queen said exactly what I was thinking." The Emperor laughed loudly, the deepness in his eyes gradually faded, "In the past, I only heard people say that the eldest daughter of the Xie family is good at playing the piano, and the second daughter is good at chess. They are both rare talents, but I didn't know there is also a third daughter who can say happy words. It seems that Dean Xie loves you very much. He hides you from outsiders because he is afraid that someone will snatch you away."

This loud laugh gave Xie Yuzhu peace of mind.

"I have no talent or looks, and cannot compare to my elder and second sisters."

"Yuzhu, don't underestimate yourself. You have a very good bone structure, even though you are a little thin. You will definitely be a beauty when you grow up." The queen encouraged Yuzhu like a kind elder, and also took care of Hua Qinfeng, "Feng'er, you must take good care of Yuzhu. The weather in Zhongdu is not as warm as that in Nanmi. There is a white fox cloak presented by the Bai Kingdom in Changle Palace. It is the best for keeping out the wind and cold. Give it to Yuzhu."

The emperor was in a rare good mood. "A few days ago, the East Island country paid tribute to us with some delicacies from the mountains and the sea. I will have someone send them to the palace later to nourish Yuzhu."

Hua Qinfeng was stunned for a moment and nodded.

Xie Yuzhu gently touched his hand, and then he came back to his senses. They both said, "Thank you, father, emperor, and mother, for the reward."

The emperor glanced at Hua Qinfeng who was in a trance. He really had no idea what this son was thinking. He did not fight or compete and had no ambition at all.

As he watched, he unknowingly overlapped with someone else's figure. His eyes suddenly became dark, even fierce.

At this time, someone suddenly came to report: "Your Majesty, the Imperial Noble Consort of Fu'an Palace sent someone to give a gift to the princess."

"Xuan."

A pretty palace maid saluted: "Your servant Xuan'er pays respects to His Majesty, the Queen, the Prince, and the Princess."

The emperor asked, "Ji'er has always wanted to see Yuzhu, why didn't she come?"

Xuan'er held the gift in her hands and knelt on the ground with a worried look on her face: "The Imperial Concubine has had a stuffy chest since yesterday, and has been lying in bed unable to get up. In order not to worry His Majesty, I did not attend the prince's wedding banquet yesterday. Today, I learned that the prince and the princess entered the palace, so I specially ordered this servant to deliver the gift."

"Why didn't you inform me that Ji'er was ill? Has the imperial physician examined her? I will go see Ji'er now." The emperor's face suddenly became nervous, and he immediately stood up and said, "Immediately summon Gao Fengyu to Fu'an Palace!"

The emperor walked so fast that Hua Qinfeng and Xie Yuzhu didn't have time to salute.

The queen stopped laughing, looked at the departing figure and bowed slowly: "Farewell, Your Majesty."