After Xia Lishuang took a simple bath, she changed into court clothes and entered the palace cleanly.
I followed Eunuch Feng to the imperial study room.
The huge imperial study room was filled with bookshelves, displaying various case files, books and excerpts. Several chamberlains were quietly busy, and the prince and the fifth prince were talking to the tired-looking emperor.
As soon as he entered, the three of them stopped and looked over.
"My son has met my father."
"No gift!"
The emperor stood up and came over, his face full of joy, and his chin trembled. He patted Xia Lishuang's shoulders with his thick hands and took a good look at him.
"Lao Qi, you look much better than at the Dragon Boat Festival!"
The prince put his hands in his sleeves and joked: "The seventh brother's concubine sent a maid to the cell to clean it up, and she served every meal with delicacies from the mountains and the sea."
"Your concubine is really sensible!"
The emperor praised him with great satisfaction.
Xia Lishuang glanced at the prince who was angry when he failed to complain, "Why did the father summon his ministers to the palace?"
"This time you did something wrong. You found the real princess and failed to protect her well. The prince told a group of ministers that they would transfer you to a border town. Of course, there is nothing wrong with the prince acting impartially."
The old emperor clasped his hands behind his back and started to stir up trouble.
The faces of the three brothers present were calm.
The old emperor nodded with satisfaction, looking pleased with his good intentions.
"Yes, you brothers should remain unmoved and not be provoked at will!"
Xia Lishuang and the prince looked at each other very coldly, with "get used to it" written all over their faces.
What has a person gone through to think that driving a wedge between his sons since childhood is strengthening their brotherhood?
"But I think that a war with the guest country is about to begin. Your second brother, the prince, is busy with planning, and your fifth brother is busy with military expenditures. It is unreasonable for you to idle around and enjoy the blessings in the border town. Therefore, I decided to let you stay in the capital for a while and be responsible for the transportation of grain and grass.
.As for the punishment for this dereliction of duty, I will fine you one year’s salary.”
"My son, I obey your orders."
Xia Lishuang accepted the arrangement without hesitation.
The fifth prince smiled meaningfully, "Thank you for your hard work, seventh brother, do your best!"
The prince snorted secretly.
My father really worked hard for Xia Lishuang every day!
However, no matter how hard my father tried, it was impossible for the throne to be transferred to Xia Lishuang!
…
As soon as Xia Lishuang came out of the royal study, she saw Eunuch Fu next to the queen.
"Your Majesty, your Majesty has invited me."
Queen Tao Yuanyuan lives in Shufang Palace.
At this time, she was kneeling on a soft cushion with a pair of tiger-head shoes embroidered on her, with a kind face full of love.
Xia Lishuang saluted.
"My son, please send your regards to your mother."
"Sit down."
Tao Yuanyuan didn't even raise her eyes. She waited for Eunuch Fu to take the rest of the people out of the room, and then handed the tiger-head shoes to Xia Lishuang, passing them on to her son. The devilishly beautiful queen's smile was alluring.
"What do you think of Queen Mother's embroidery?"
"good."
"It's a pity that no one will wear it after it's embroidered!"
Seeing this strange energy, Xia Lishuang smiled and said: "I heard that the Crown Princess is pregnant, and the Queen Mother can give it to the Crown Princess as a congratulatory gift."
Tao Yuanyuan glared at him angrily and put her tiger-head shoes on the table.
"You have the nerve to say that. I have always told you that marrying a minister of the DPRK would ruin your plan to deceive the prince with Buddhism and hinder you from keeping a low profile. Now that you have a concubine, you have broken the precept, right?
Is it time to marry a real concubine?"
Xia Lishuang shook her head and said: "No, my concubine will not agree."
Tao Yuanyuan was surprised and suspected that she had heard wrongly.
"Isn't she just an abandoned daughter of the Wen family? She brought you to make a big fuss in the Wen family before the Dragon Boat Festival. However, the eldest princess informed His Majesty, so His Majesty favored you and suppressed the matter.
From the bottom of my heart, I am very unhappy with you as my concubine!"
"If Wen Ranran were the true eldest daughter of the Wen family, she would be the right concubine to be married to the Prime Minister, but she is not! You must marry a concubine who can help you because of her family status!"
"Mother, don't be upset, listen to me and tell me slowly."