The mistress is not a cannon fodder, the cold prince falls in love with her every night

He has let go of the past.

But the damage done could never be healed. He couldn't completely forgive Pei Shizong and be as loving and filial to his son as before.

Pei Shizong's heart skipped a beat.

In the end, he was asking for too much.

However, this is in line with Pei Heng's character.

He has always had a clear distinction between love and hate.

After the father and son finished talking about this, they sat in silence for a moment before parting ways.

After returning to Nanshe, Pei Heng said to Su Li:

"Father said he's used to being free and unrestrained, and he might not be used to living in the mansion. After the New Year, he'll go to Lin'an to accompany Grandmother."

After hearing this, Su Li thought that this was a good idea. Otherwise, with an elder living in the house, she, as a daughter-in-law, would inevitably feel restricted.

"Since my father has said so, I'll just listen to him. Have a good New Year and don't think about anything else."

It really is year after year.

Su Li looked at the bustling mansion and counted on her fingers. She had already spent four years in this world.

It really proves the saying that time flies by.

In the blink of an eye, I'm already 21. Back in my day, that was just college, a happy and carefree time. It wasn't even the legal age for marriage yet.

But now?

She has many children and is in charge of this huge Duke's Mansion. She is the most powerful Duke's wife of the first rank in the Great Qi Dynasty.

After four years of expansion, her business empire has spread across the country, and her annual income is more than she can spend in several lifetimes. Money is just a number to her, and she bears more of the responsibility of feeding so many people.

Most importantly, Pei Heng loved her, respected her and regarded her as everything.

For a woman to achieve this, it is considered the pinnacle of life.

Now, Brother Huan is back too.

She was content.

Compared to the Duke's Mansion celebrating the New Year with great joy, the palace was not so happy.

Huan Ge'er fell seriously ill and when he finally woke up he said he wanted to go home, which hurt both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.

For nearly two years, they had all thought Huan Ge'er had already considered them family. Unexpectedly, even after falling ill, they still couldn't compare to Pei Heng and Su Li's position in Huan Ge'er's heart.

"Her Majesty, the things have been delivered."

The nanny reported back.

Seeing the Queen Mother's worried look, Nanny said a few more words.

"Your Highness the Prince of Qin has looked much better these past few days and can even walk. When I went there, he was playing with the young prince! They were having so much fun, I've never seen him smile so much before."

The Queen Mother smiled bitterly and said:

"After all, I can't compare to their thoughtfulness. Anyway, have you asked if you can come back for the New Year's Eve dinner?"

Mammy was a little embarrassed:

"Empress Dowager, His Highness said he would come to pay his respects to Her Majesty on the first day of the new year."

That means I won’t come back for the New Year’s Eve dinner.

"I see. Then the first day of the new year will do. One or two nights won't make a difference."

When the nanny heard the Queen Mother's words, she always felt sour.

Busy said:

"Her Royal Highness the Princess also said that she would bring the little princess to pay her respects to the Queen Mother on the first day of the new year. The little princess is just learning to talk, and can babble quite a bit now. It's just right for her to keep the Queen Mother company."

Speaking of the little princess, the empress dowager finally smiled.

Among the younger generation of the royal family, except for the eldest princess, no one else can give her peace of mind.

Xiaojiu goes out without makeup every day and thinks about taking care of Jishiditang. At such a young age, she looks like she has seen through the world and is even more pure-hearted than this old woman.

The emperor, more so, has spoken less and less with her and her son since Zhong Huai left. He even stopped visiting the concubines in the harem, leaving them with nothing to do all day. A few days ago, they even gathered together to gamble, which she caught red-handed. She was so angry that she punished them by making them copy the palace rules 100 times each.

Hey, talking too much brings tears to my eyes!

There is also the Hengwang family.

Prince Heng and Princess Heng have always been a loving couple, but the two little ones have been making a lot of noise recently.

It is said that Xie An, a member of the Xie family, went out for a trip and came back, bragging to everyone about how great a hero he was. He managed to sneak the criminal Pei Yan around Daqi with his bare hands, and finally captured him in a border town after he got tired of walking around.

Li Xun and Li Shou were envious and had been clamoring to travel and build a career. This caused chaos in Prince Heng's mansion, and Princess Heng would stand guard at the door of the two children with a whip every day.

At least the eldest princess finally came to her senses and found a husband, and now her life is as sweet as honey. The husband is capable, considerate, and family-oriented, and the little princess is cute and well-behaved, which finally makes her feel relieved.

"Okay, okay. I'll wait for them to come."

He sighed again:

"I don't know if I'll ever be able to hold my own grandson in my arms again in this lifetime."

These words were heard by Li Gan who was outside the door. He raised his hand to stop the palace maid from reporting and turned back to his own bedroom.

The Queen Mother complained that she couldn't hold her own grandson, and he also complained that the Queen Mother drove Zhong Huai away!

Zhong Huaida did not come home during the Chinese New Year, and the occasional memorials he sent back from various places were only to report on official business.

Do they think they can force me to submit in this way?

dream!

"Your Majesty, are you not going in?"

Little Dengzi saw the emperor walk around the gate of the Empress Dowager's palace and leave, and asked cautiously.

On New Year’s Eve, every family gathers together for a happy reunion.

The palace was decorated with lights and colorful lanterns everywhere, and the sound of singing and laughter could be heard from time to time in the dark night.

Li Gan felt very lonely.

Everyone has company, except him.

"Let's go for a walk in the plum garden."

The plum blossoms were in full bloom at this time. He and Zhong Huai had buried several jars of wine in the plum forest. Taking them out and having a sip now was just right for the occasion.

But before he could enter the Plum Garden, he heard a bustling commotion inside. A group of concubines had already occupied the garden. Some were drinking, some were playing mahjong, and some were playing cards, all very merry.

"My dear ladies, the Queen Mother has just punished us. It's not good for us to go against the law and commit crimes again! What if we get caught again?"

The concubines of lower rank were terrified.

The high-ranking officials were indifferent, with notes stuck all over their faces and their hands snapping non-stop.

"What are you afraid of? At worst, I can just copy the palace rules 100 more times!"

"That's right! The palace is lonely, the emperor doesn't need us, and our abilities are useless. So what? Are we not allowed to entertain ourselves and find something to pass the time?"

"The Queen Mother is also a human being! How could she not know our suffering? The Queen Mother is kind and merciful. She is only punishing us for show, she won't really do anything to us! Come on, come on, I'm losing, give me money! Give me money!"

"Oh, come quickly! There's such a good thing buried under this plum tree!"

A concubine who was burying flowers with a hoe suddenly shouted excitedly.

Just now he was crying and studying how to mourn the passing of spring and autumn while burying flowers, but now he collapsed under the plum tree, his eyes shining and saliva flowing from the corners of his mouth.

Li Gan frowned behind the wall, but still did not step forward to stop it.

Several concubines rushed forward and dug out all the wine jars without caring about the dirt.

"The Queen Mother is very strict and won't let us drink. Haha, she's buried in this field and she can't do anything about it! Drink! It's New Year's Day, we won't go home until we're drunk!"

Although the concubines had no worries about food and clothing, they all felt aggrieved. Seeing these jars of wine, they all cheered and opened their stomachs to get drunk.

Looking at the concubines in the Plum Garden acting recklessly, little Dengzi said in embarrassment:

"Your Majesty, this, this, do you want to take care of this?"

Li Gan shook his head and smiled bitterly.

"They're not wrong. Let them be!"

At this moment, he finally understood how wise Lin Wantang was.

If Lin Wantang had married him at the beginning, she would have been his queen and the master of the harem.

But so what?

It's just that there is an innocent soul imprisoned behind the high and deep palace walls.

Just like him.

Both body and soul are trapped here.

The next day, Li Gan fell ill.