Chapter 208 Banquet
"I need to be more restrained during this period." Zhao Xing muttered to himself as he looked in the mirror and saw that his face was a little pale.
He took in four concubines at once, plus Zhang Guifen and the other three, making a total of seven.
In the past few days, he had to favor the four newly-acquired concubines, and he couldn't neglect Zhang Guifen and Yu Yanran. Even though Zhao Xing had practiced martial arts since he was a child and was full of energy, he was a little overwhelmed.
Zhao Xing was thinking about whether he should ask Imperial Physician Wu to come and ask him for advice on how to stay healthy.
That guy is so old, but he can still give birth to a son. There must be research on this.
Otherwise, if I have too many concubines in the future, I won’t be able to handle it.
No wonder not many emperors in ancient times lived long lives. They were busy with government affairs every day and had to work in the harem at night. It would be strange if they could live long lives.
"Your Highness!"
Zhang Guifen walked in, followed by a palace maid holding a tray with small bowls on it.
"This is the ginseng, deer antler and black chicken soup that I cooked myself. Your Highness, please try it." Zhang Guifen came to Zhao Xing's side, picked up the small bowl of chicken soup from the tray, and placed it on the table.
Zhao Xing: "..."
The ingredients sound very nutritious. Am I already at the age where I need to take supplements at such a young age?
Zhao Xing stretched out his hand and pulled Zhang Guifen into his arms. He held her in his arms and said with a smile, "Feed me."
"Your Highness, there are still people here." Zhang Guifen said with a red face.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Xing looked at Sanshui who was standing beside him. Sanshui understood, bowed, and retreated with the palace maids and eunuchs who were standing beside them.
"There's no one here now." Zhao Xing pinched Zhang Guifen's face and smiled.
Zhang Guifen glared at Zhao Xing in reproach, but still obediently picked up the soup and started feeding him with a spoon.
She has been in the Eastern Palace for nearly half a month, and during these days, she has gained a deeper understanding of Zhao Xing's temper.
Normally, Zhao Xing always had a warm smile on his face, was approachable and polite.
But in private, Zhao Xing was actually a bit of a scoundrel.
But this also made her feel more intimate. Zhao Xing like this was more like a human being, her husband, and not the high and mighty Crown Prince.
Zhang Guifen's face flushed, she looked so beautiful, she put down the bowl of soup, held down Zhao Xing's hand that was doing something strange on her waist, and said, "My husband, I have something to discuss with you."
"what's up?"
Zhao Xing stopped with some lack of interest, as the ancient clothes were too much of a nuisance.
Later on, I can let Yu Yanran try to make some cheongsams.
Zhao Xing's eyes lit up when he thought of this. It would definitely not be okay to wear the cheongsam outside, but it would be okay to wear it in private for him to see.
Zhang Guifen didn't know that Zhao Xing was up to something bad, so she said, "I want to invite the two sisters of the Sheng family to visit the East Palace."
"Ok?"
Zhao Xing was stunned when he heard this, and quickly understood Zhang Guifen's intention.
Zhang Guifen invited Rulan and Minglan to visit the East Palace, probably because of what he said a few days ago.
Another reason might be that he was worried about Minglan, but it was not convenient for him to visit her, so he just invited someone over.
Thinking of this, Zhao Xing was moved.
Zhao Xing patted Zhang Guifen on the back, and Zhang Guifen understood and stood up.
Zhao Xing stood up and picked up Zhang Guifen as she exclaimed.
"Husband, it's still daytime." Zhang Guifen said with a red face.
"Who told you to feed me something so nutritious? Since you fed me, you must be prepared to put out the fire."
Zhao Xing said this and carried her into the inner room.
There is a rest room behind the study, which Zhao Xing uses to rest when he is tired of making ties.
"Well…"
Zhang Guifen wanted to say something but her mouth was blocked.
…………
"Sixth sister, why do you think the Crown Princess would suddenly invite us to a banquet?" Rulan asked puzzledly.
Minglan had just come out and was still a little weak. She leaned against the carriage and shook her head when she heard this.
She had some guesses in her mind as to why the Crown Princess suddenly invited them here.
After waking up, Old Lady Sheng told her what happened after she was poisoned and fell into a coma.
When Minglan learned that she was in a coma, Zhao Xing sent two imperial doctors to treat her and even ordered someone to investigate the murderer behind the scenes. Minglan was deeply moved.
Although His Royal Highness the Crown Prince never visited her from beginning to end, Yu Yanran went there often.
Without the permission of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, it would be impossible.
Although Old Madam Sheng didn't say it, Lin Xiaoniang's death was related to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
But Minglan was so smart that she realized after a little thought that this matter had a lot to do with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
Otherwise, Sheng Hong might punish Lin Xiaoniang, but he would never execute her.
At most he would be sent to a village and locked up.
And if His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had not sent the imperial physician to treat her, it would have been difficult for her to survive.
It can be said that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince saved her life and avenged her.
Apart from her grandmother and her mother, there are actually people in the world who care about her life or death, which makes Minglan feel more complicated.
This time, the Crown Princess invited her and Rulan to the Eastern Palace for a banquet. Old Lady Sheng guessed that it was because His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was too concerned about her, which made the Crown Princess unhappy, and she told her to be careful when she went to the Eastern Palace.
Could this be the case?
Minglan had only met Zhang Guifen once, and she felt that Zhang Guifen was not that kind of person.
But who can tell for sure about this kind of thing?
She doesn't even have a formal status and can only marry into the Eastern Palace as a dowry. However, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince cares so much about her, it is normal for the Crown Princess to be unhappy.
By the way, she was poisoned this time because of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
If she didn't have to follow Rulan as a dowry, Lin Xiaoniang would not have done anything to her.
This was also the reason why she felt touched by the Crown Prince's concern and care for her, but she also had complicated feelings.
Because the more His Royal Highness the Crown Prince cared about her, the more troubles it brought her.
Lin Xiaoniang is, and so is the Crown Princess. After she goes to the East Palace, will the Crown Princess be able to tolerate her?
"What's wrong with you?" Rulan asked in surprise.
"Nothing... nothing. I just haven't recovered yet and feel a little listless." Minglan said.
"Then you should take a rest and recuperate. You can't do this when you meet the Crown Princess later." Rulan said.
"Yeah." Minglan nodded and closed her eyes.
After about an incense stick of time, the carriage stopped.
"Miss, Sixth Miss, we have arrived at the East Palace." said the magpie.
Rulan was about to call Minglan when she saw Minglan opened her eyes and said, "Sixth sister, we're here, let's get off the car."
"Yeah!" Minglan nodded.
Rulan got out of the carriage first, and Minglan followed behind.
"Girl, slow down!" Xiaotao helped Minglan get off the carriage.
Liu Sanshi, who was waiting at the door, stepped forward and saluted, then led the two into the East Palace.
Entering the East Palace, there were two sedan chairs at the door.
Liu Sanshi smiled and said, "The two girls please get on the sedan chair. The Crown Princess knows that Miss Sheng Liu is not fully recovered yet and is not fit to walk, so she specially ordered someone to prepare a sedan chair."
"Thank you, Princess!"
The sedan chair was something that only the empress, the crown prince and the crown princess could ride in within the imperial palace.
Some wealthy families actually have them. After all, the house is so big that it is impossible to rely on walking all the time.
It's just a different name.
Normally speaking, the rest of the people from the Eastern Palace could only walk when they came, but the Crown Princess had sedan chairs prepared for them, which was already a great honor.
Even if the Crown Princess is not here, you still have to express your gratitude.
The two men got on the sedan chair, with Liu Sanshi leading the way, and they stopped outside the main hall of Chunhe Palace.
After the two came down, Liu Sanshi led them into the hall.
"Reporting to the Crown Princess, the two young ladies from the Sheng family have arrived!" Liu Sanshi saluted.
"Well, you can leave." Zhang Guifen waved her hand.
After Liu Sanshi bowed and left, Rulan and Minglan bowed and said, "Your servants pay their respects to the Crown Princess!"
"No gift!"
Zhang Guifen smiled and said, "I have met you two sisters before. You two sisters will enter the Eastern Palace in a few days. We will all be sisters by then. There is no need to be so distant. Please take a seat!"
"Thank you, Princess!" After expressing their gratitude, the two were led by the palace maid to the right and sat down.
Zhang Guifen looked at Minglan for a while, and seeing that she looked pale and not very well, she asked with concern: "Is the Sixth Miss still not well? I will call the imperial physician to check the Sixth Miss's pulse."
"Thank you for your concern, Princess. The imperial physician said that I would need to recuperate for a while before I could recover. Now I am fine." Minglan stood up and saluted.
"Sit down and talk." Zhang Guifen waved her hand and said, "There are no outsiders here today. I asked you to come here to chat and relieve boredom. There is no need to be restrained.
I am still waiting for you to get better and play polo with me.
You are the best polo player among all the women in Bianjing."
"Your Highness, you are too kind. My humble skills cannot compare with yours."
Minglan was a little confused, as Zhang Guifen didn't look like she was looking for trouble.
On her way here, she anticipated many things that Zhang Guifen would say when she saw her, but none of them happened.
At this moment, a palace maid came in and saluted, saying, "Crown Princess, Yu Liangyuan and Sheng Zhengpin are here."
"Please come in quickly." Zhang Guifen said.
"Yes!"
The palace maid bowed and left. After a while, Yu Yanran and Sheng Shulan walked in.
"Greetings, Crown Princess!" they both bowed.
Zhang Guifen smiled and said, "Sisters, please take a seat."
"Yes!" The two of them bowed and sat down.
With the arrival of Yu Yanran and the other person, Rulan and Minglan felt a little relieved.
Rulan came because she had acquaintances there, while Minglan was sure that Zhang Guifen did not ask them to come to make things difficult for them.
After chatting for a while, Zhang Guifen smiled and said, "The peach trees in the garden are in full bloom now, and the scenery is nice. Let's go for a walk together. Your Highness asked someone to make something called mahjong a few days ago, which is very interesting. After lunch, let's play together."
Zhang Guifen was the Crown Princess, so naturally no one disagreed with what she said.
The four of them, together with the maids, palace maids and eunuchs who accompanied them, a group of more than ten people went to the garden.
"I was negligent and forgot that Sixth Miss Sheng has just recovered from a serious illness and cannot bear the fatigue. Sixth Miss, please go to the pavilion over here to rest. I and a few others will go for a walk in the peach forest first." Zhang Guifen said apologetically.
"Thank you for your concern, Princess Royal. I'm fine. The imperial physician has also told me that I can exercise appropriately." Minglan shook her head.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Guifen insisted that Minglan go to the pavilion to rest.
Sheng Shulan wanted to stay and accompany Minglan, but Yu Yanran held her back and shook her head slightly at her.
Minglan didn't want to refuse Zhang Guifen's kindness, so she could only stay in the pavilion to rest.
Zhang Guifen left two maids to serve her and left with her people.
Inside the pavilion, two palace maids served tea and snacks, then stood outside the pavilion.
Minglan sat by the pavilion, watching the koi fish swimming leisurely in the pond.
"Girl, the fish here are so fat, they must be delicious." Xiao Tao said in a low voice.
"Don't talk nonsense, this is for viewing only, you can't eat it." Minglan said angrily.
"Aren't fish meant to be eaten?" Xiao Tao muttered.
Minglan was about to say something when she saw Zhao Xing coming over and quickly stood up.
(End of this chapter)