Eavesdropping on Fu Bao's inner thoughts, emptying the stored grain and fleeing the famine

Following the dazzling display of ink and dance, Mingyue Hall presented another unique fashion show.

Nangong Jin's designs made every girl in Mingyuetang shine.

Cheers and applause rose and fell; this New Year's Eve banquet truly made Mingyuetang and Lian Rongrong the center of attention.

As for Hua Ling's dance, with such outstanding examples before her, her performance was nothing special.

The design failed, and her own brilliance was completely stolen. How could Hua Ling be willing to accept this?

Hua Ling touched the elixir in her sleeve. Ever since the Empress Dowager bestowed this item upon her, she had carried it with her at all times.

Although Hua Ling still had reservations about this matter, given her proud nature, she naturally hoped to win Li Yuanqi's affections.

But now, after repeated defeats, Hua Ling has lost her patience.

Her desire to win Li Yuanqi reached its peak after the failure at the New Year's Eve banquet.

Hua Ling leaned close to the Empress Dowager and whispered a few words in her ear. The Empress Dowager lowered her eyes to look at the bottle of the elixir, pondered for a moment, and finally nodded in agreement.

As the banquet drew to a close, the Empress Dowager, who had been sitting upright in the main seat, suddenly spoke.

"I haven't spent many years keeping vigil in the palace for the New Year. This year is lively, and the young people have stirred my heart."

It's rare that everyone is here this year, so the younger generation will keep this old woman company again to celebrate the New Year. As for the others, they will all receive a reward!

Upon hearing this, everyone took their leave, except for Prince Ling, Li Yuanqi, Li Yuanyi, and others who stayed with their families.

After all, the younger generation mentioned by the Empress Dowager could not be considered anyone other than these royal descendants.

"I have never spent New Year's Eve with you children in all these years. This year, since we are happy, none of you need to leave the palace."

"Spend some quality time with this old woman, Your Majesty. Would you grant me that request?"

According to the rules, adult princes were not allowed to stay overnight in the palace at will. But since the Empress Dowager had spoken, the old emperor naturally couldn't say anything more.

"If the Empress Dowager wants the children to be with her, how could I refuse?"

"Alright, alright, alright! I have the children to keep me company. Your Majesty's health has just improved recently, so please return to your palace and rest early."

The Empress Dowager sent the old emperor away, naturally to make things easier for her.

However, even if the Empress Dowager hadn't done that, the old emperor wouldn't have been able to stay in Cixi Palace for too long.

Although the old emperor had sensed a conspiracy, he believed the children could handle it themselves.

"Very well, I'll take Fu Bao with me. Qi'er, you two should keep Grandmother company during the New Year's Eve vigil."

The old emperor gave Li Yuanqi a word of instruction, then carried Fu Bao and walked out of Yong'an Palace without looking back.

Lian Rongrong looked at the old man's resolute back and couldn't help but smile sadly.

She leaned close to Li Yuanqi's ear and whispered, "It seems only your son is your biological son. You were probably adopted, weren't you?"

Li Yuanqi shook his head speechlessly. His father had taken his grandson away as soon as he saw danger. What a deep bond between grandfather and grandson!

"There's nothing I can do. Who told you to give birth to a child who competes for my favor?"

The couple exchanged a glance, finding it somewhat amusing.

"Let's go, let's keep Grandmother company on New Year's Eve." Li Yuanqi took Lian Rongrong's hand and followed behind the Princess Consort and her husband at a leisurely pace.

"Who knows what kind of trouble that old hag will cause this time?" Lian Rongrong whispered to Li Yuanqi.

"Who cares? We'll deal with whatever comes our way. We can't let the two of us be outsmarted by her alone."

"Why is there only one person? Look closely, apart from the two of us, they're all in cahoots."

The Prince Ling and his wife, Li Yuanyi, and that Hua Ling who makes your mouth water the moment you see her. That's a total of five people.

"Can those few... even be considered people?"

"Tsk tsk tsk, when it comes to sharp tongues, His Highness Prince Qi is the best."

"Your Highness is too kind!"

The two walked ahead, chuckling, creating a surprisingly harmonious scene.

However, this scene was somewhat jarring to Li Yuanyi, who was watching from behind.

"Rongrong, how could you fall in love with another man? You clearly love me so much! You clearly love me so much!"

As Li Yuanyi thought to himself, his fists involuntarily clenched tighter and tighter.

After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the group finally arrived at Cixi Palace.

The layout of Cixi Palace was clearly more luxurious than that of the other palaces. The charcoal fire inside was also burning brighter.

After entering the inner hall, everyone took off their cloaks. The Empress Dowager sat in the main seat, and the others sat down in order of seniority.

"I'm afraid it will be boring for you to keep an old lady company on New Year's Eve," the Empress Dowager said casually as soon as she sat down.

Upon hearing this, Princess Ling immediately retorted, "How could that be? It is an immense blessing for us to be able to accompany the Empress Dowager."

"You're so good at talking!" The Empress Dowager was clearly very satisfied with Princess Ling's attitude.

However, keeping everyone here wasn't to listen to their flattery.

The Empress Dowager glanced at Li Yuanqi and Lian Rongrong, then turned to look at Hua Ling, before speaking again:

"Prince Qi, you and your wife only have one son, Fu Bao. You two have been married for a long time, why is there still no sign of a child?"

"You are the eldest son of the Great Sheng Dynasty, and it is one of your responsibilities to have many descendants."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanqi immediately laughed. He truly hadn't expected his imperial grandmother to be so direct.

Seeing that neither Li Yuanqi nor Lian Rongrong spoke, the Empress Dowager seized the opportunity to continue:

"I've heard that Princess Qi is very busy, running both shops and schools."

Today's performance was indeed wonderful, but has Princess Qi forgotten what her duties as a princess are?

Lian Rongrong was about to speak when the Empress Dowager raised her hand to signal her to shut up.

"No need to explain, I don't mean to blame you. However, since you're so busy, there should be someone who cares about Prince Qi."

"I think Ling'er is quite good. Why don't I, in my own words, bestow her upon Prince Qi as a concubine today?"

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanqi's expression immediately changed. In contrast, Lian Rongrong remained much calmer.

After all, the Empress Dowager's desire to give Hua Ling to Li Yuanqi was not a recent development.

Lian Rongrong slowly stood up, this time she didn't care whether the old hag let her speak or not.

"Grandmother, I disagree!"

"What did you say?" The Empress Dowager seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world. "Princess Consort Qi, are you trying to defy the imperial decree?"

"Your Majesty, I dare not." Lian Rongrong said she dared not, but her expression showed no sign of submission.

"You don't dare? I think you'd be very brave!"

"Grandmother, I know you are doing this for the good of the royal family and for the good of Prince Qi."

"My objection is not out of jealousy; in fact, I am only thinking of my grandmother."

"Considering my interests? Then tell me how you're considering my interests?"

The Empress Dowager looked mocking, while Lian Rongrong looked completely at ease.

“Grandmother, although Prince Qi and I only have one son, we still have a son after all, don’t we?”

But look at His Highness the Prince of Yi, he not only has no son, but he has also lost his principal wife.

If you blindly favor Prince Qi while neglecting Prince Yi, wouldn't others think you're biased?

The Imperial Concubine must be feeling bad about it. Besides, what is Miss Hua's status?

She's your goddaughter. It's truly a waste for her to be someone's concubine! So, this marriage just doesn't seem right.

Why doesn't the Empress Dowager go all the way and bestow Miss Hua upon the Prince of Yi as his principal wife?