Too high to reach

Chapter 54 Everyone has their own thoughts

It was at this time that Li Jing, along with his two concubines and Princess Wenxiu, entered the palace to spend the New Year with the Emperor.

The palace lanterns hung high, illuminating the main hall as if it were daytime.

Dining tables were set up around the main hall, with a platform erected in the center of the space. There might be singing and dancing during the meal.

The Empress was in charge of the decorations and the food, and she arranged everything carefully and meticulously for a long time, striving for perfection.

Consort Dong had already taken over the palace's song and dance troupe, and today's performance was arranged by her.

Such palace banquets were mostly attended by princes, accompanied by their families.

The emperor's elders, peers, and more distant relatives would generally spend the New Year at their own homes. Then, on the first day of the Lunar New Year, they would enter the palace to accompany the emperor in worshipping the ancestors, simply paying their respects.

Li Chang was unmarried and single. After Li Jing returned, he rarely went back to his own residence and spent all his time at the Prince Qi's residence. Today, the two of them came together.

The Crown Prince, dressed in finery, was all smiles. He was extremely busy, having to care for the Emperor and chat with the Empress Dowager. He also had to deal with every other prince, leaving him no free time whatsoever.

Standing beside him was the Crown Princess, Lady Jiang, who was accompanied by her two daughters and her son born out of wedlock. Lady Jiang was the eldest daughter of the heir apparent of the Duke of Protectorate.

The heir of the Duke of Huguo was born out of wedlock.

Empress Jiang's brother married the Crown Prince's older sister.

The Duke of Huguo's family was known for favoring concubines over their wives, a corrupt practice. However, this Crown Princess was a quintessential daughter of a noble family—beautiful, gentle, and, as Crown Princess, very methodical in her conduct and actions, earning her the Empress's favor. Her only regret was that she only bore two daughters and no sons.

It is said that she and the prince were a harmonious couple.

The Crown Prince spoke with Li Jing. The Crown Princess then chatted and laughed with Consort Feng and Consort Tian, ​​and even had her two daughters play with Princess Wenxiu.

The Emperor was furious when he saw Li Jing. Before the New Year, when only he and his son were in the Imperial Study, Li Jing had directly demanded power from him… palace defenses, city defenses, the western suburban camp, the Langfang camp. He wanted whichever was offered to him. The crucial point was that these were all vital positions… He didn't even understand the importance of discretion!

This angered the Emperor so much that he smashed a cup after he left. Although he hadn't agreed yet, the Emperor knew he had to give him something, no matter what!

He snorted as he watched the bastard bow to him.

Consort Feng took out a brocade box containing a New Year's gift for the Emperor. Grand Eunuch Liu opened it; inside was a set of ox-horn cups. They were glossy, heavy, and carved with flowers. "Oh, Your Majesty, such fine quality! This old servant has rarely seen many!"

The emperor nodded casually; the item was nice, but he wasn't particularly interested in it.

The Empress Dowager, as always, didn't recognize Li Jing. The Empress patiently introduced him again. Consort Dong and Consort De, upon seeing him, immediately lost their smiles.

Princess Yu'an, dressed in magnificent robes, sat beside the Empress, her expression haughty. Aside from the four above her, she remained indifferent to everyone else, including Consort Dong. Having had an unpleasant conversation with Li Jing, she had lost all desire to feign politeness with him.

No sooner had the greetings been exchanged than Consort Dong began to pester the Emperor about the song and dance she had arranged, clearly neglecting Li Jing.

Li Chang then took Li Jing to see his mother, Consort Zhu.

Consort Zhu sat in a corner. She was beautiful and dressed in a dignified yet understated manner, always keeping a low profile in the palace.

Upon seeing Li Jing, he smiled and said, "I have received everything that the Prince asked Chang'er to bring. I am doing well in the palace and lack nothing, so you don't need to worry about me!"

"This is Seventh Brother's kind gesture, please don't be shy!" Li Chang said with a smile, never treating himself as an outsider.

Consorts Feng and Tian, ​​being of low status, only greeted others politely and did not actively approach others for conversation. They were relatively close to Consort Zhu. Overhearing their conversation, Consort Feng thought to herself: "Did the Prince send money to Consort Zhu again?" She couldn't help but feel uneasy: "Why doesn't the Prince let me handle these things?"

Today, Princess Feng Cheng also came. Her hair was completely white and somewhat thinning, and she was dressed very richly. Originally, she wouldn't have come to such an occasion again. But for the sake of her granddaughter Feng Xuehua beside her... time and circumstances wait for no one, so she had to come and test the waters herself.

His eyes lit up at that moment because Li Jing had arrived.

"Grandma!" Li Jing bowed to her. "I've been busy since I got back and haven't had a chance to pay my respects to you. Please forgive me!"

"What are you saying! I'm just an old woman, spending my days admiring flowers and drinking tea, I have nothing to do! You have countless national and family matters to attend to. If you don't have time to come, we can talk about it when you do! There's no need for so much talk! Seeing how well you look, I'm relieved!"

Li Jing didn't say much, only nodded.

“Do you still remember Xuehua?! Your little cousin!” Princess Feng Chengzhang’s eyes held a meaningful smile.

"Cousin!" Feng Xuehua bowed with her eyes lowered, trying to hide her embarrassment.

The Empress and the Crown Prince exchanged a glance on the high platform, then both looked at Princess Fengcheng and Li Jing. Li Jing nodded to Feng Xuehua, then said to Princess Fengcheng, "I brought back the account books from Yuling for my uncle. The situation is relatively stable at the moment, so please rest assured, Grandmother."

There's a salt mine in Yuling, owned by the Feng family. A couple of years ago, they were facing all sorts of trouble. The family couldn't collect any money, and it was Li Jing who helped quell the problems.

"Oh, okay, okay..."

"I'll come and pay my respects when I have time," Li Jing said before leaving.

They were all intelligent people; there was no need to spell it out. Princess Feng Cheng was somewhat disappointed, but she didn't show it on her face. She glanced at Li Chang's retreating figure... To be honest, she really looked down on Li Chang. He had no maternal clan, the emperor didn't favor him. He had no property, no important position, and his life wasn't easy.

Feng Xuehua understood her grandmother's meaning and also grasped the meaning of Prince Qi's intentions. Concealing her displeasure, she began chatting with the little girl beside her.

Just then, Prince Yongping arrived. He was the son of the Emperor's elder brother, Prince Xing.

King Xing died young, leaving behind only this one son.

The Emperor treated him only worse than he treated the fifteenth son of Consort Dong, and even better than he treated the Crown Prince!
After exchanging greetings, Prince Yongping smiled and said, "I found something interesting to show my imperial uncle." He opened a brocade box and took out a necklace.

Hanging from the exquisitely carved gold chain is a green plaque, about the size of a woman's palm, without any words. The plaque is a vibrant green, as beautiful as a pool of spring water. Its design has a distinctly foreign feel.

The Emperor took it and examined it. He had plenty of good things, but he had never seen anything like this before. "Not bad! You're quite good at finding novel things!" He had heard that the Prince of Yongping had managed his property quite well.

For someone who lost his father at a young age and was favored by the emperor, it would be difficult not to become a spoiled brat!
It's no easy feat to have achieved what we have today.

The only regret is that he is nearly thirty years old, has lost two princesses, and has not remarried. He has no heir to this day. There are not even concubines or secondary wives in his household! Some say he has homosexual tendencies, but he does not deny it.

Consort Xiao Dong and Princess Yu'an's eyes lit up the moment they saw it.

"Your Majesty, look, this green plaque matches my clothes perfectly!" Consort Dong spoke first. Today she was wearing beige Shu brocade, without embroidery, a very simple style. The fabric had a high sheen, which, reflecting her fair skin and beautiful features, made her look even more youthful and delicate.

The empress, who was standing next to him and had an ordinary appearance, looked particularly old in comparison.

Princess Yu'an was wearing a deep purple skirt today, embroidered with large clusters of peonies in green silk thread. Her neck appeared bare, but no one knew that she was hiding a jade pendant beneath her clothes.

The moment I saw this choker, I felt it complemented the peony design on her body.

She wants it too.

"Father~" she called out sweetly, "You said you owed me a birthday gift last time! I think this necklace matches your clothes quite well..."

Upon hearing this, Consort Dong chuckled and immediately knelt down in front of the Emperor. "Your Majesty, please demonstrate for me..."

The Emperor usually gives Consort Dong too many things, so when her daughter asked for something, she originally intended to give it to Yu'an.

But when Consort Dong compared her breasts to her chest... she was truly captivatingly beautiful.

Such a beautiful concubine is only fit for me in the whole world. He smiled and said, "Beautiful! This one is for my beloved concubine first. Ah Long, find another one for Yu An later!"

The Prince of Yongping smiled, his eyes narrowed, revealing no hidden meaning. He repeatedly agreed, "Uncle, please rest assured! Your nephew will find him as soon as possible!"

Princess Yu'an's face turned red with anger, but the Empress looked at her reproachfully and smiled, "Look at you, why are you still acting like a little girl?!"

Consort Dong put on the necklace and sat there looking beautiful.

After everyone had finished socializing, they sat down in their seats and prepared to eat.

As the music of string and wind instruments began, the dancers took to the stage.

I must say, the dance arranged by Consort Dong was truly impressive. The lead dancer wore a long, bright red dress with narrow sleeves and a slit on both sides. Her long legs and graceful spins filled the stage, and she was even lifted into the air by the crowd, looking like a fairy—simply breathtaking.

Everyone watched intently, even the Emperor stopped eating and became completely absorbed.

So, no one noticed: Prince Yongping and Consort Dong exchanged a deep, affectionate gaze as they passed through the dancers of Taichung...

I was busy yesterday and didn't have time to write. It's late...

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(End of this chapter)