Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 5063 Palace Night Banquet
[Firecrackers bid farewell to the old year, and have a peaceful New Year's Eve]

The discord between the Emperor and the Empress was nothing new. Not only did the people in the palace know about it, but the royal relatives were also aware of it. However, the affairs of the Emperor's family were not something that others could easily interfere in. Although many people spoke up for the Empress, they only criticized her in their hearts.

Besides, it is a man's nature to get tired of the old and love the new. No matter how beautiful the queen is, she is just a wife who has lived through poverty and hardship. How much interest can there be in her? The concubines in the palace are different. They are all beautiful and in their twenties. Their figures are as slender as willow leaves and catkins. If you pinch them, they will be full of water. How can their feelings be the same?
Not to mention the emperors who have three palaces and six courtyards, even ordinary wealthy people have three wives and four concubines. How many men treat their wives consistently?

Generally speaking, once the wife gave birth to a child, she would be neglected and no longer have the pleasure of sleeping with her husband. Therefore, most wives of aristocratic families would eat vegetarian food, chant Buddhist scriptures, and recite scriptures at a young age...

……

It's no big deal that the queen is being neglected.

But once Concubine Shen gave birth to a child, it would be a big deal.

His Majesty's attitude towards the crown prince is very subtle. Although he seems to be fine, careful people can also detect his alienation and indifference. Especially since the Li Tang royal family "thinks that the eldest son has many shortcomings" is almost hereditary. After all, Emperor Gaozu was also dissatisfied with Li Jiancheng. Otherwise, why would he repeatedly rely on the second son and end up with a tail that cannot be removed? In addition, when Li Shenfu and Li Anyan rebelled, His Majesty used the crown prince as bait...

If Your Majesty has another child, one can imagine the situation the Crown Prince will be in.

Royal relatives and clan members like Princess Baling, who have no political ambitions, are extremely reluctant to see such a crisis. They would rather enjoy wealth and prosperity in peace and stability, and as long as they don't commit suicide, their descendants will live with the country. However, once the regime changes and the situation becomes turbulent, they may be involved.

Fang Jun did not continue the topic. He took a sip of wine, his eyes fell on the white, plump, and hidden undulating peaks and ridges exposed at the neckline of the other party, and asked with a smile: "Let's talk about this later. I would like to ask what your highness is planning to do?"

Princess Baling stretched out her hand to cover her collar. She first glanced at Fang Jun, then was slightly stunned: "What are my plans? You mean..."

Fang Jun raised his eyebrows and said with a smile: "Of course, it's about what we plan to do. Are you just greedy for pleasure, or are you deeply in love?"

"What nonsense are you talking about!"

Princess Baling was embarrassed and annoyed, and uttered something coquettishly. After careful consideration, she found that both answers were inappropriate. What "can't extricate oneself" and "obsessed" - are those good words?

He could only kick the ball back and asked, "What about you?"

Fang Jun smiled and said, "I don't have any idea. I can't kill Chai Lingwu and occupy Your Highness, can I? But if Your Highness feeds that guy something to send him off, and then commits himself to me, I won't refuse."

"How could I be such a vicious woman? It's impossible!"

Princess Baling felt a little angry and aggrieved. This man didn't understand her.

At the same time, she felt a little strange. When they were young, Fang Jun had a very good relationship with Chai Lingwu and Du He. They were almost inseparable. But later, they not only parted ways, but also became enemies. Especially from her understanding of Fang Jun, this man was broad-minded and ambitious, not like those petty people. But he was inexplicably indifferent to Chai Lingwu. Not only did he defile his wife, he even didn't care about his life or death...

What kind of hatred and grudge is that?
Fang Jun did not comment, and said calmly: "I am not a heartless person. We are in love, and I will do my best to support you no matter what you plan to do."

……

Looking in astonishment at the man who had put on his clothes and strode away, Princess Baling angrily took a big gulp of wine and was unhappy. It was not because Fang Junzhi's attitude was a little cold and indifferent, but because she didn't know how to make a decision about this evil fate.

If it was just physical pleasure, it would be easy to give it up, but now that she has tasted the sweetness of it, she knows very well that men are not the same. The gap between two men cannot even be measured in miles. It is inevitable that she has an absurd hope - she and Chai Lingwu have been married for a long time and have no children.

Should she divorce Chai Lingwu and find a new husband?

Or maybe I could just go with the flow and borrow some from Fang Jun...

When I thought of this, I couldn't help but blush and my heart beat fast, and I spat.

It's fine now, because Chai Lingwu tacitly agreed to it. But if she got pregnant with someone else and it was recorded in the Chai family tree...

The guilt was so great that Princess Baling knew it was difficult for her to be so decisive.

*****
The palace did not deliberately conceal the fact that Concubine Shen was pregnant. Once the news spread, it spread throughout Chang'an in an instant, and public opinion was in an uproar.

Ever since Emperor Taizu entered Chang'an, there have been no secrets in the Tang Dynasty Imperial Palace. In particular, the Guanlong clans controlled the government at the time and infiltrated the palace like a sieve. Any disturbance could be spread out of the palace at the fastest speed. Although Taizong and Your Majesty have carried out continuous purges since then, they have never been able to eradicate such malpractices.

Therefore, rumors spread that the emperor and empress were not in harmony and the prince was not favored, and for a time, the court and the public were in an uproar...

However, for the royal relatives and meritorious ministers, no matter what they were thinking, or what they hoped or worried about the future, the birth of His Majesty's child must be a great event. So the princesses, princesses, and ladies of honor entered the palace one after another and went to Concubine Shen's bedroom to present a gift and congratulate her.

Inside and outside the palace, Concubine Shen's popularity was rising for a while.

Li Chengqian was very pleased with this. After all, a mother's status depends on her son. Only then will the prince be recognized by more people after his birth. So he issued an edict to hold a banquet in Liangyi Hall to entertain relatives and friends.

……

In the summer evening, the breeze blows across the willow branches and the water surface, bringing cool breezes and the sound of cicadas chirping.

The lights in Taiji Palace were just beginning to light up, and there was still some time before the banquet was to begin. Many eunuchs and maids were busy making various preparations. The royal relatives, high-ranking officials and their wives who arrived one after another gathered in groups of three or five, found a secluded place to sit together and talk in low voices.

As soon as Fang Jun and Princess Gaoyang arrived, the latter was dragged by Princess Jinyang to Princess Changle's Shujing Palace, while Fang Jun himself was dragged to a side hall by Prince Jin Li Zhi. Except for Prince Wei Li Tai who was in Luoyang, all the other princes of Taizong's line were there.

Fang Jun clasped his fists and bowed, looking at the princes with a smile: "I am here to pay my respects. Your Highnesses, you are all looking at me with rosy glows and good fortunes. This is cause for celebration."

This was probably the first time that the princes made a collective public appearance after the Prince of Jin's mutiny. Li Chengqian certainly had ulterior motives. On the one hand, he wanted to tell the princes that they should be united and put aside their past grudges. On the other hand, he wanted to announce to the world that no matter what, they should stop trying to sow discord between him and the princes, as the brothers had a good relationship.

Although it was impossible for him to have no grudges in his heart, Li Chengqian's move did indeed completely calm the royal family.

After all, since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, not only has the throne been stable, but Taizong's line has also been recognized by people all over the world. Only Taizong's sons are qualified to sit on the throne. As long as the kings are stable, the throne and the country will naturally be stable.

Although the kings were of noble blood and respected status, none of them dared to accept the gift in front of Fang Jun, and they all stood up to return the gift.

This person was not only their brother-in-law, but also the Grand Marshal and the most powerful official of the dynasty.

……

When Princess Baling and Chai Lingwu arrived at Liangyi Hall, they happened to meet Princess Fang Ling and her husband. Dutch Sengjia then pulled Chai Lingwu aside and whispered to him, which made Princess Baling frown slightly. The Helan family is not well-received in the court now, especially the sister of Fang Jun's favorite concubine Wu Meiniang, who married into the Helan family and lived as a widow for many years and suffered bullying. Helan Chushi was even more deceived by Fang Jun and stayed in his mansion all day long, not daring to show up, for fear that the Weiwei Temple would come to punish him for corruption.

Everyone in the Helan family was avoiding them, but Chai Lingwu was still trying to get close to them. It was really speechless...

Princess Fangling observed the princess's expression, swayed her plump waist, walked forward and held Princess Baling's hand, and said with a smile: "Let the men go. We haven't seen each other for many days, so we should have a good chat."

Princess Baling was reluctant in her heart, but it was not easy to refuse, so she could only nod slightly and went to a water pavilion in the side hall with Princess Fang Ling and sat in the pavilion.

A sharp-eyed eunuch saw this and brought tea and cakes before leaving.

Princess Fang Ling drank a sip of tea and asked curiously, "I heard that your brother is back?"

Princess Baling hummed and said softly, "The Hanhai Land is too cold and bitter. I got seriously ill and had no choice but to return to the capital for treatment. But after I recover, I will still go back to the Hanhai Land."

"Oh, isn't it just his own fault? He gave up his wealth and glory and insisted on getting involved in those private and treasonous affairs. Your Majesty did not want to kill Chai Zhewei out of consideration for Sister Pingyang's kindness, but if he had any backbone, he would have just died in the vast sea and put an end to it. Why did he come back? Could it be that he still cared about the Chai family's property?"

Princess Baling lowered her eyebrows and eyes, picked up the teacup, put it to her lips and took a sip, without saying a word.

Princess Fang Ling glanced at her, her eyes lingering on her red lips that were sipping tea for a moment, and said disapprovingly, "The one in your family is also a coward. Chai Zhewei committed the crime of treason, so just let him die in the vast sea. Why bring him back? Fighting for the family property is fine, but I'm afraid he will be unwilling to be lonely and cause trouble again, which will implicate you and your wife."

Princess Baling pursed her lips but did not respond. Even though she had some complaints about Chai Zhewei in her heart, especially because Chai Lingwu had instigated her to find Fang Jun, it was not good to talk about her uncle behind his back.

Princess Fang Ling's eyes turned and she acted as if she had realized something: "Aunt, you really worried for nothing. You have nothing to fear and you have someone to back you up!"

As he spoke, he moved closer to Princess Baling and asked mysteriously, "Fang Er has strong bones, ape arms and a wasp waist, a heroic appearance, and a strong spirit. He also has a straight nose and a high nose bridge. He must be a man with amazing hip strength and extraordinary talent, but I wonder how much fun he has under the bed?"

Princess Baling: “…”

Her face flushed with shame and she looked at her aunt speechlessly.

What is "amazing hip strength"?
Is there such a word?