Happy Spring Every Year

The palace banquet ended peacefully, and everyone went home.

Prince Rui went to Lanxin Palace with Concubine Shu.

Concubine Shu was born with a bright and beautiful appearance. She has taken good care of herself over the years. She still looks beautiful with her hair covered with pearls and emeralds.

Emperor Sheng rarely lingered in the harem, but he still went to Lanxin Palace the most times every month.

As soon as she entered the main hall, Concubine Shu started to get busy and asked the people around her to take out the cakes and snacks that had been prepared long ago.

"Lang'er, come here, these are all your favorite foods."

After the prince is crowned king, he must move out of the palace. According to the rules, he is not allowed to enter and leave the harem at will.

Therefore, Zhao Huailang only comes to Lanxin Palace a few times a month.

He sat behind the desk and saw his mother busying around for him. A warm look appeared on his face and he relaxed. He bent his right leg lazily and supported his chin, looking rare and relaxed.

"Come, Lang'er, your favorite butterfly cake."

Concubine Shu smiled and personally handed the cake plate to Zhao Huailang.

Zhao Huailang glanced at it and said helplessly: "Mother, I am already grown up. This is what I loved to eat when I was a child."

Even as he said this, he still picked up a piece and put it in his mouth.

Seeing this, Concubine Shu pursed her lips and smiled. Then she waved to the palace servants beside her and said, "Everyone, leave."

The palace maids left quietly, and when there was no one else in the palace, Concubine Shu slowly straightened her expression and said softly:

"If Princess An Ning really has her eyes on Jiang Xun, what will you do, Lang'er?"

Zhao Huailang still looked casual and shook his head at Concubine Shu, "Mother, I have my own plans for these matters. Don't worry. Bring me that bowl of sweet soup and let me try it."

Concubine Shu followed her instructions and went to serve the sweet soup on the table, but she continued, "Jiang Xun was completely devoted to Crown Prince Xianhuai, and later the Emperor made him the tutor of His Royal Highness the Grandson."

"If Jiang Xun really marries Princess An Ning, Lang'er, you should know what this means."

Zhao Huailang scooped a mouthful of sweet soup and put it into his mouth, then frowned slightly.

Not sweet enough.

But he didn't say much. Instead, he drank the sweet soup in a few gulps and then spoke: "Mother, Mingjue has taken a fancy to the young lady of General Dingguo's mansion."

The topic changed too suddenly, but Concubine Shu understood immediately, "Look at you, you support Mingjue?"

"Could it be that there is something so unusual about the Miss Shen family that she is more valuable than Princess An Ning in your eyes?"

If General Shen could be won over, it would indeed be a good thing, but Miss Shen had broken off an engagement after all, so she was worried that Mingjue would be wronged.

Zhao Huailang shook his head and said gently, "Mother, the young lady of the Shen family is not like ordinary girls in the boudoir. She has some special qualities. She is a good match for Mingjue. This is one of them."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Shu couldn't help but show curiosity, "What about the second one?"

Zhao Huailang stared at the empty bowl of sweet soup in a trance, then said, "Mingjue is different from others after all. I'll make him happy."

Seeing Zhao Huailang suddenly look lost, Concubine Shu's face changed with fear. She looked around subconsciously and then said angrily:

"Lang'er, the beautiful and gentle Zhen that your mother chose for you couldn't make you forget that person?"

Zhao Huailang lowered his eyes, but chose to remain silent at this moment.

Concubine Shu opened her mouth, but no matter how many words of blame she wanted to say, she felt helpless.

"Lang'er, all these years have passed..."

When Zhao Huailang heard this, he smiled.

"Mother, let's not talk about anything else. Mingjue is a good person. I told him that if Miss Shen doesn't work out, he must try his best to win over Princess An Ning."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Shu frowned, "How could it be otherwise? If that's the case, Mother would like to meet this Miss Shen and see just how beautiful and talented she is. She can't even catch Mingjue's eye."

Zhao Huailang didn't care whether his mother met Shen Jiasui or not, but even he didn't expect that Princess An Ning had become curious about Jiang Xun so early on.

In this way, Mingjue seems to have no chance with Princess An Ning.

No matter what, Princess An Ning cannot marry Jiang Xun. Just as her mother said, Ye'er cannot have the help of the eldest princess by his side.

However, he doesn't need to be too nervous.

Thinking of this, Zhao Huailang calmly straightened his sleeves.

After all, he wasn't the only one who was eager to take action.

----

At the same time, Ningxin Palace.

Concubine Chun sat behind the desk. She was not beautiful, but she had fair skin and a restrained elegance.

But for some reason, she looked very indifferent at this moment.

Zhao Huaixiang was sitting opposite Concubine Chun, but seemed a little reserved.

"Mother, please have some tea."

Zhao Huaixiang respectfully pushed the tea in front of Concubine Chun.

But who knew that the next moment, Concubine Chun suddenly flicked her sleeves and swept the teacup and the teacup to the ground.

crackling-

The palace maids who were waiting outside the hall with their heads bowed jumped in fright.

Zhao Huaixiang turned his head and looked at the broken cups on the ground. His brows furrowed slightly, but soon relaxed.

He stood up as if nothing had happened and said softly, "Mother, my father has said that he will hold a welcoming banquet for the eldest princess and the county princess in the Southern Suburbs Imperial Garden."

"My child remembers that Mother loves the wintersweet there the most. I will pick a few branches myself and bring them back for you to keep in a vase. It will be nice for you to enjoy them for a few days."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Chun raised her eyes to look at her tall and handsome son standing beside her and said coldly, "No need."

Zhao Huaixiang, however, pretended not to hear anything, his face still full of warmth, and said with a smile, "I'll take my leave."

After he finished speaking, he strode out.

The moment Zhao Huaixiang turned around, the coldness on Concubine Chun's face gradually faded, and a hint of unspeakable bitterness overflowed.

She lowered her head to look at the fragments on the ground. She didn't know what she was thinking about. Suddenly her eyes became red and she stood up and reached out to pick them up.

As a result, the fragment pierced the fingertip, and blood instantly fell to the ground and mixed with the tea.

But even so, Concubine Chun did not call the palace servants outside the hall. Instead, she picked up the fragments silently until her hands were covered in blood.

----

East Palace.

"Mother, this soup is too sweet. Ye'er doesn't like it."

Zhao Yuanye raised his head and spoke softly to the Crown Princess opposite him.

Upon hearing this, the Crown Princess leaned forward, scooped a small spoonful from the cup beside her, put it to her lips and tasted it, and found it just right.

However, she did not refute Zhao Yuanye, but moved the sweet soup in front of him and said with a smile:

"If it's too sweet, then don't eat it. Come, rinse your mouth."

Zhao Yuanye obeyed and rinsed himself clean before suddenly asking, "Mother, do you think my cousin will choose Mr. Zhong Jiang?"

The Crown Princess was stunned when she heard this, and at this moment she couldn't help but think of Miss Shen whom she met in Prince Rong's mansion.

She saw that Miss Shen was bold, careful, and skilled in martial arts, while Lord Jiang was upright, calm, and composed. The two were simply made for each other.

Furthermore, Lord Jiang has a difficult road ahead. I think only a woman like Miss Shen can be a perfect match for Lord Jiang and they can move forward hand in hand.

It’s a pity that Miss Shen has no interest in Lord Jiang, so she can’t force him.

After gathering her thoughts, the Crown Princess shook her head at Zhao Yuanye, "This... Mother doesn't know either. Why did Ye'er suddenly ask this?"

At this time, Zhao Yuanye slowly straightened his expression, and a hint of maturity appeared on his delicate little face.

He lowered his voice, approached the Crown Princess, and whispered:

"Mother, Ye'er knows that if Mr. can marry my cousin, it will be a good thing for us."

"However, how can we measure the world's affairs only by benefits? Sir is really good to Ye'er, so mother, Ye'er also hopes that Sir will be well."

"Yer still hopes that you can spend your life with the person you truly love."

The Crown Princess' eyes widened slightly upon hearing this.

She stared at Zhao Yuanye's sincere and innocent expression, and vaguely saw the shadow of the person she had been thinking about day and night in him.

At this moment, the Crown Princess' eyes became hot and she couldn't help but burst into tears.

Husband, Ye'er is really becoming more and more like you...