sirius

There is a banquet in the imperial city.

Tang Ling had been in Yuanjing for many days, and His Majesty seemed to have just remembered what had happened, and ordered the Ministry of Rites to organize a state banquet, and to meet the protégé of Zhou before Qiuwei.

Since it's a state banquet, how about inviting the Ninth Prince and Chu King Qi Xiao who are returning to Beijing together?His Majesty did not say that the adults in the Ministry of Rites did not dare to make decisions without permission, and they did not dare not ask questions, which made the adults in the Ministry of Rites grow a few more gray hairs for no reason.

Tang Ling and Qi Xiao were brought back to Yuanjing by Ji Mingtang, the servant of the Ministry of Rites, and he knew Qi Xiao a little bit. When he first saw Qi Xiao, he felt that he was very different from the three in Yuanjing, and that there seemed to be something missing about him. The noble air of Jinjiao does not seem to have the arrogance of the children of the aristocratic family. He is still young but has no childishness. He always has a slight smile on his face, but there is no softness in his eyes. He is not close to others. Ji Mingtang's feeling seemed familiar, and after several times of thinking, he vaguely felt that Qi Xiao was like His Majesty, and he was more like His Majesty than the other three when he was away from Beijing for six years.

Ji Mingtang said to Chu You, Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites: "For this matter, you might as well ask the Queen for an edict."

"Empress..." Chu You suddenly realized, "Yes, His Royal Highness the Ninth Prince returned to Beijing to inquire about the illness of noble Lin, and he should have asked the Empress about the matter of the harem.

If Your Majesty asks, we can also report back.

Just do it. "

The post from the Ministry of Rituals was delivered by the inner government to Queen Qin Wan. Qin Wan smiled and whispered: "Old fox."

Qin Wan handed the post to the maid beside him, thought for a moment before saying: "Let him enter the palace an hour earlier to accompany Lady Lin."

"Then...the banquet?"

"Ha, he is His Majesty's son, and my Da Chen's King Chu will naturally attend."

"Yes."

In this way, without too much twists and turns, and not too smooth, Qi Xiao finally entered the palace and met his mother, noble lady Lin.

Your Majesty Lin has been in poor health these past few years, and she has been lying in bed for several months. Knowing that Qi Xiao has obtained His Majesty's permission to return to Yuanjing, Your Majesty Lin will be happy to cry. After Qi Xiao left for six years, she really thought that there would be no love in this life. On the day we saw each other, I didn't expect Qi Xiao to come back, Mrs. Lin waited and waited, and finally waited until Qi Xiao entered the capital, Mrs. Lin was looking forward to day and night, finally looking forward to Qi Xiao's entry into the palace.

The majestic palace city seemed to be the same as the day Qi Xiao left, even the sky above the head that was cut off by the palace wall, and the cloud hooked on the corner of the cornice seemed to be exactly the same.

Qi Xiao saw it, as if it had been a lifetime.

The Qiyun Palace where Mrs. Lin lives is not the palace where Qi Xiao grew up. Lin is weak, and even a little bit of cold will be sick for longer than others. It seems that half of the time of the year needs to take medicine, and it will be even worse as time goes on. Her Majesty liked it, so the Queen said she would let Noble Lin rest and recuperate, but she was afraid that her illness would hinder her dragon's body, so she moved to Qiyun Palace, which is farther and farther away from Chengming Palace.

Qiyun Palace is located in a remote place, without visitors for a long time, it is as clean as a cold palace.

Qi Xiao stood at the gate of Qiyun Palace, feeling as if he had been hit by a heavy hammer in his heart, which was painful and stuffy.

Knowing that Qi Xiao was going to enter the palace, noble lady Lin deliberately chose a bright and festive dress, and ordered the maid to dress up to cover up her sickness.

Qi Xiao took a deep breath, and stepped into the threshold of Qiyun Palace. As soon as he entered the inner courtyard, he saw Lady Lin standing at the door with the support of her maid, waiting for Qi Xiao.

Lady Lin had a beautiful appearance when she was young, and was picked by His Majesty at a glance during the draft, but now she is only in her early thirties, the beautiful face in Qi Xiao's memory is still there, but she is already emaciated.

Qi Xiao quickly walked up to Lady Lin and stretched out his hands to support her. The thousands of words he had said in the past six years were suddenly blocked in his throat, but he couldn't utter a single word when he opened his mouth.

Lady Lin smiled at Qi Xiao with tears in her eyes, and raised her hand to gently caress Qi Xiao's cheek, as if he was still that child.

"Xiao'er."

When Lady Lin called softly, Qi Xiao's tears suddenly couldn't stop falling. He bowed his head and knelt down and kowtowed to Lady Lin: "Mother! My son is not filial."

Lady Lin endured everything in the deep palace for 20 years, but at the moment Qi Xiao knelt down, she couldn't bear it any longer, threw herself on Qi Xiao, hugged her son whom she hadn't seen for several years, and cried.

"Your Majesty, my lord, the imperial physician has told you not to worry or get excited."

The maidservant at the side wiped her tears while persuading her.

Qi Xiao nodded, and helped Mrs. Lin into the house.

The mother and son were reunited, all the maids serving in the palace retreated, and no one was left in the house or courtyard. Lady Lin wanted to have a good talk with her son.

But when I really saw someone, the two looked at each other but were speechless, just looking at each other.

Qi Xiao has grown up, and he is no longer what he was when he was a child. Although the mother can recognize him at a glance, she still can't help but look at him again and again, and keep looking at him carefully, as if looking at him twice is enough. I can see back what I haven't seen in six years.

"Look at me, I forgot, I prepared some refreshments for you, which you used to like to eat."

Qi Xiao saw a few plates of dim sum on the table early in the morning. When he smelled the aroma, it was the smell in his memory. He knew that it was made by Lady Lin herself. When he was young, Lady Lin taught him not to reveal his likes and dislikes, no matter whether he likes it or not. All should be restrained, except for the dim sum made by noble lady Lin himself, he can secretly eat two more bites, it is the only bit of noble lady Lin's pampering for him.

Qi Xiao nodded, took a mouthful of snacks, chewed slowly, as much sweetness in his mouth as bitterness in his heart, he endured it, not daring to cry anymore, even if he was crying, noble lady Lin would not be able to hold back.

Lady Lin looked at Qi Xiao, with the corners of her mouth always raised. Her son has grown up, handsome and upright, with a graceful appearance. He is no worse than the few people His Majesty raised by his side, even better than them all, much better.

Qi Xiao originally had a lot to say, and Lin Guiren is the same, but he didn't need to say anything when they met. The two of them sat quietly opposite each other, drinking tea and eating snacks, and spent half an hour in such a hurry But then, the sun slanted and the sky darkened, Qi Xiao was keenly aware of the passage of time, like the six years he couldn't get back, he felt a little sad and couldn't help but sigh silently.

Lady Lin knew what he felt in his heart, because she could feel it, she smiled at Qi Xiao, and shook his hand lightly, she was glad that she was not too sick, and she could take another look at herself The son of her, she has nothing to ask for in her life, just looking at it is enough.

"Mother, follow me back to Yong City."

Lady Lin was stunned, Qi Xiao was not asking a question, but had already made a decision.

"I'm going to ask His Majesty for orders."

Lady Lin was still in a daze, Qi Xiao still called his father "Your Majesty", as if he had been like this since he was a child, and he was extremely alienated from that person.

"No, I'm fine, it's enough for you to come back and accompany me."

"Mom, come back with me.

There is a precedent in this dynasty, His Majesty will allow it. "

Lady Lin frowned, and persuaded, "Don't cause trouble for me...".

Qi Xiao's status is not easy in Yuanjing, one thing more is worse than one thing less.

Qi Xiao's eyes were firm, and noble Lin suddenly couldn't say what he wanted to say. After a long time, she nodded slightly.

She knew that her illness might not get better, she didn't want Qi Xiao to worry, he has been good since he was a child, this time, Lady Lin wanted to follow her son, even if it was just perfunctory.

An hour passed in the blink of an eye, and Qi Xiao had to leave Qiyun Palace. Mrs. Lin was a bit exhausted after sitting for a long time, so she was helped by the maid to send Qi Xiao off, watching him walk out of Qiyun Palace.

Qi Xiao left the harem along the way he came, and was led by the palace servants to the Qingxiang Hall for the banquet. This journey went from holding lanterns to nightfall.

Qi Xiao was silent all the way, and his expression was not good. If Zong Sheng and Bai Xiqiao were present, he would definitely be able to see his displeasure.

The Qiyun Palace is too deserted and the furnishings are old, one can tell at a glance that no one has cared for it for a long time. Mrs. Lin's life is even more difficult than when he was young. She must be so ill because of neglect of care.

Qi Xiao is angry, angry at himself, if he is favored, his mother will be able to live a good life, and he is also angry at himself for not even having a chance to take care of him for so many years, only a few letters of greeting each year... …

The Qingxiang Hall is brightly lit, and can be seen from a distance, the twilight lights in front of Qi Xiao are dispersed, and the sound of silk and bamboo comes through faintly, the noise makes Qi Xiao even more angry, and he can't help but clenched his fists.

***

Tang Ling, Huang Zexian and Zhou Guo's envoy were personally accompanied by Ji Mingtang to enter the palace, and Tang Ling sat on the left.

On the right side, several princes are seated according to their seniority, the first is the first prince, then the fifth prince, the seventh prince, and the ninth prince Qi Xiao.

It was not too early or too late for Qi Xiao to enter the table. The eldest prince had just arrived, and the fifth and seventh princes had not yet arrived. Qi Xiao and the eldest prince greeted each other and sat down after a few polite gossips. Tang Ling watched them all.

The Eldest Prince has passed his thirties, he is quite mature, and he does not look like Qi Xiao at all. Although the Eldest Prince is considered Zhou Zheng, he is not conspicuous. Compared with him, Qi Xiao is much more handsome, with eyebrows like mountains, The eyes are like stars, so that people can't forget them at a glance.

Tang Ling thought, Qi Xiao should look like her mother.

Not long after, the Fifth Prince and the Seventh Prince arrived together, and the four brothers finally sat at the same table, the difference became even more obvious. Even though the Seventh Prince Qi Ting and Qi Xiao were about the same age, he was also handsome with red lips and white teeth, but far less eye-catching than Qi Xiao.

Tang Ling covered her mouth with a cup of tea to hide her smile, Qi Xiao probably hasn't been praised for her beauty.

The author says:

Damn, I almost missed the update again!Forgive my short word count!make up tomorrow