HMAM CH 55 Lu Baizang's Return
Lin Xiao Dun's words struck a nerve with Jing Xiao Yun, causing his tears to flow uncontrollably. The palace attendants hurriedly sent someone to summon Jing Ye.
Jing Ye had just finished his lunch and was about to take a nap when he heard from the attendants and rushed to the side hall to check on the situation.
Lin Xiao Dun was crying vigorously when he suddenly heard the palace maids greeting, "Your Majesty." He peeked out from behind his hand, seeing the maids part the curtains as someone dressed in a black and red brocade robe embroidered with a dragon entered.
That person was very handsome, although not quite as good-looking as his older brother.
Jing Ye bent down to look at Jing Xiao Yun and asked, "Yun'er, why are you crying?"
Seeing him arrive, Jing Xiao Yun stretched out his arms, wanting to be held.
With a strong lift, Jing Ye picked him up and held him in his arms, saying, "Yun'er, you are a boy; you can’t always want your uncle to carry you, you know?"
Jing Xiao Yun pouted, using his chubby hands to wipe away his tears.
Jing Ye glanced at Lin Xiao Dun, who was looking up at him, and gently asked, "Tell Uncle, why are you crying?"
Jing Xiao Yun replied, "I don't want an empress, I don't want little brothers and sisters."
Jing Ye furrowed his brows and turned to the attendants: "Who mentioned the matter of appointing an empress to the prince?"
The head palace maid stepped forward and bowed, saying, "We dare not say much; it might be that little Lin Gongzi heard something from other palace servants."
Lin Xiao Dun immediately shouted, "I didn’t mishear! The palace maids told me on the way here!"
Jing Ye turned to look at him, and Lin Xiao Dun, feeling a bit intimidated, still held his ground and made eye contact.
Jing Ye chuckled, tightening his embrace around Jing Xiao Yun as he said, "Yun'er, don’t listen to them; Uncle won't marry an empress."
Jing Xiao Yun looked at him and wrapped his arms around his neck, saying, "I’ll listen to Uncle, don’t marry an empress."
Jing Ye rubbed his tender cheek and smiled, "Okay."
Jing Xiao Yun then glanced at Lin Xiaodun and said, "I don’t want him either!"
Lin Xiao Dun immediately wilted.
After some thought, Jing Ye agreed, "Alright then. You haven’t seen your teacher and older brother for a while; how about going to the Xiaoyi Pavilion to stay with your teacher for a few days?"
Jing Xiao Yun bit his finger and hesitated, "I want Uncle…"
Jing Ye coaxed him, "Uncle will come to see you every day, okay?"
Jing Xiao Yun looked at him and nodded, then giggled.
Jing Ye placed him back on the bed and patted Zhao Yue's head. Accompanied by the palace attendants, he then rose to return to his sleeping quarters.
Ye Mao followed him closely, saying, "Your Majesty, someone came to report during lunch that Lu Gongzi has arrived at the northern gate of the capital and is currently on his way to the palace."
Jing Ye's brows raised slightly: "He’s back?"
Lu Baizang was riding slowly on a crowded street, accompanied by his trusted aides. As they passed a shop, one of the attendants suddenly said, "Villa Master, look…"
Lu Baizang glanced over, raising an eyebrow: "Madam Lin?"
It wasn’t the shop that stood out, but the sedan chair surrounded by servants in front of it.
Though it was just a common two-person sedan, a closer look at the intricately carved designs on the sedan's body, in combination with the dark gold and fine pattern wood, showed that only exceptional craftsmen could create such work. The wood used for the entire sedan was made from the fragrant wood that affluent families used for making tables and chairs—a rare material.
Such a sedan would likely only be afforded by the wealthy head of the Lin family. Although Lady Feng, as the widow of old Mr. Lin, couldn't yet hold the head’s position, she had inherited almost all of old Mr. Lin's estate and naturally had the right to use this sedan.
The Lu Villa had business dealings with the Lin family, and Lu Baizang was certainly aware of Madam Lin's cunning nature.
After studying it for a moment, Lu Baizang laughed softly: "If Lady Feng has personally come to the capital to offer silk, there must be something going on."
One attendant cautiously approached, weighing the news he had received from below to report it to him.
Upon hearing it, Lu Baizang's brows furrowed: "Appointing an empress?"
The attendant replied carefully, "Master, should we go to the Lu residence first?"
Lu Baizang tightened the reins and urged his horse forward: "No need, head directly to the palace!"
Meanwhile, in the shop, Lin Min emerged, surrounded by maidservants. She was there on behalf of Madam Lin to inspect the family’s properties.
Amidst the common folk, her close maid had already placed a veil over her face, just as she was about to step into the sedan when she suddenly heard the sound of rapid hoofbeats.
Having grown up deep in the inner courtyard, her curiosity finally got the better of her, and she lifted a bit of her veil to look out.
She saw a man in his late twenties riding his horse, who inadvertently glanced over in this direction.
He was accompanied by two or three attendants, wearing a silver crown to tie back his hair, dressed in a deep teal cloak with silver embroidery, exuding an air of nobility. What was most striking was his handsome features, with a smile in his eyes—his appearance was above average but with an alluring charm that elevated him.
Lin Min froze, finding that none of the noble offspring she had met with her mother could compare to this man.
Noticing that she had stopped moving, the maid quickly took her hand and whispered, "My lady."
Lin Min returned to her senses and hurriedly covered up, saying, "Let’s return home."
Even after she boarded the sedan, her thoughts were still in disarray; she couldn’t help but peek outside, but the thick drapery blocked her view.
Jing Ye was at the imperial study reviewing memorials until dinner time. As he returned to the palace, Ye Mao casually remarked, "Your Majesty, Lu Gongzi just sent someone to inform me that it's late, and he will stay in a residence outside the palace for the night, coming in tomorrow morning."
"Oh." Jing Ye paused slightly and added, "Zhen remembers he made zhen a pastry once. What was it called…?"
Ye Mao suggested cautiously: "Was it creamy cheese? Coconut cups? Or whipped lotus cake?"
Jing Ye replied, "Whipped lotus cake—do we have that in the palace?"
Ye Mao smiled: "Those are seasonal pastries, so naturally, the palace chefs can make them."
Jing Ye said, "Then after dinner, have them send some up."
Ye Mao responded, "Yes."
After dinner, indeed there were pastries. Jing Ye tasted them and could not help but admit that, compared to a certain someone’s creations, the imperial kitchen’s pastries felt a bit bland in his mouth.
Gu Hong was at Qingyu Pavilion, where Lin Xiaosheng was reconciling accounts. Jing Xiao Yun had been sent to Xiaoyi Pavilion, leaving the other two children to sleep soundly. It was unusually quiet that night.
After washing up, Jing Ye entered his inner chamber. As he lifted the bed curtain and was about to sit down, he suddenly became alert: "Who's there?"
Just then, a familiar figure suddenly hugged him and pushed him down onto the bed, using a tone that was half complaining, half sulking to say, "How can Your Majesty eat someone else's food after trying my cooking?"
The next morning, the emperor rose on time, bearing dark circles under his eyes.
The palace attendants entered with silver basins for rinsing. Seeing the handsome man with disheveled hair leaning closely to the emperor, whispering into his ear, they averted their eyes and ears, standing at a distance.
Jing Ye felt his lower back ache, already knowing without looking that beneath his collarbone, there were marks on his neck that could not be described. Lu Baizang, who had benefited and was now acting coy, was pushed away by Jing Ye. Turning to the palace attendants, he said, "Why are you still standing there? Time waits for no one!"
The attendants hurriedly bowed and came forward to help him change clothes and cleanse his face.
During that day’s morning court, more and more officials raised the issue of appointing an empress. Conversely, there were those who believed this matter could be deliberated at a later time, alongside a neutral group that preferred to muddy the waters, making the court increasingly lively.
In fact, many officials did not support the idea of appointing an empress. It was clear that the emperor preferred men over women; just looking at Prime Minister Gu’s son was evidence of that. He not only often accompanied the emperor but also did not shy away from participating in political discussions. With the Gu family's reputation in play, who would dare to stir up trouble?
Jing Ye patiently listened to the heated arguments below, then called out: "Everyone."
The court fell silent immediately.
Jing Ye considered for a moment and said, "Zhen has been thinking day and night about Minister Fang's suggestion the other day, which does hold some merit. The matter of appointing an empress must be put on the agenda."
At his words, the officials who supported the appointment eagerly proclaimed, "Your Majesty’s wisdom is evident!"
Jing Ye said, "If that is the case, then zhen invites the ministers, all noble families and local gentry to recommend worthy young ladies to enter the palace, from whom I shall personally select amongst."
Was it decided just like that?
The officials exchanged glances. Just then, the left and right prime ministers, who had been dozing off, stepped forward and bowed, saying, "This subject humbly obeys your command."
Realizing what had just been declared, the rest of the officials bowed in agreement: "We humbly obey your command!"
Once the imperial decree was issued, it was announced to the world.
Of course, the first to be informed were the three present gongzi in the palace, followed by the Hanlin Academy, then to the southwestern city of Bixue, and even to the ears of the little lord of Pingyue City, who was captured by the old lord and imprisoned in the dungeon.
In the Xiaoyi Pavilion, news was brought by the attendants delivering lunch. Jing Le, always keeping his sword strapped to his back, looked at his younger brother, who was sound asleep after lunch, and worriedly asked, "Teacher, His Majesty agreed not to marry an empress, right? He won't go back on his word, will he?"
The man, resting with his eyes closed, replied, "Your heart is restless."
Jing Le said, "This student is worried. If an empress truly comes into the palace, will Yun'er be bullied?"
Lin Hangyu advised, "When your heart is turbulent, it's best to practice your sword skills. Go out and practice sword thrusts for an hour."
"…Yes." Jing Le bit his lip, stood up, and glanced at his teacher, who remained still like a mountain, dressed in white with black hair.
He carried his sword to the courtyard, drew the wooden sword, took a deep breath, and forcefully slashed downward.