Chapter 673: Cuscuta Cousin 36
The next day, noon.
Sheng Huan had just woken up from a nap when someone came to Chunhuayuan.
"My cousin, Madam asks you to go to the main hall." Nanny You bowed.
Sheng Huan was washing his hands. Hearing this, he looked at her and said softly, "Aunt is looking for me. Aunt You, wait a moment. I'll be there soon."
As she spoke, she took the handkerchief handed to her by Furong and wiped her hands. Her hands were white, tender, and smooth like water, and every move she made was beautiful.
Nanny You was stunned and thought to herself, this girl is indeed pretty as expected of a girl raised by the madam.
Sheng Huan didn't notice that Aunt You was distracted, and asked casually: "Aunt You, do you know what happened to my aunt?"
At this time of day, Madam Fu should be very busy, and yet, she was asked to go to the main hall.
Aunt You looked at her cousin, came back to her senses, and said with a smile: "My cousin guessed correctly, there is indeed something wrong."
She paused and said, "It's Madam Xiao who is here."
"Oh?" Sheng Huan looked up in surprise when he heard that.
The Xiao Mansion and the Fu Mansion of Duke usually do not interact with each other and their relationship is average. Moreover, due to the suspicion from above, the lady has never visited them alone when socializing.
-
main hall.
When Sheng Huan arrived, Lady Xiao was talking to Lady Fu II.
Sheng Huan came in from outside and bowed slightly: "Ying'er greets aunt, the Duke's wife."
When Lady Xiao, the Duke's wife, saw Sheng Huan, her eyes lit up immediately, but she was dazed for a moment, obviously thinking of the look her son had given the girl that day.
She thought to herself, this turned out to be Ye Ze’s sweetheart, but when she thought of the poison her son had been poisoned with, she suppressed her bitterness and didn’t let herself show any abnormality.
"Oh, this is your niece, Madam Fu. She is such a pretty girl. No wonder she is so kind. I like her just by looking at her."
Sheng Huan felt embarrassed by the compliment, her cheeks flushed, and she walked over to Madam Fu.
Madam Fu patted Sheng Huan's hand and smiled reservedly: "Our Ying'er has always been kind-hearted."
"Yes, otherwise I wouldn't have saved my Ye Ze." Madam Xiao knew she couldn't stay here for long, so she didn't say much and went straight to the point, saying, "Ye Ze's matter was solved thanks to Madam Fu and Miss Shen's help this time."
"Ye Ze is injured and cannot come here in person. Please don't mind."
When Lady Xiao, the Duke of Xiao, said this, she looked at Sheng Huan with some guilt.
This time, she actually came here secretly without telling her son.
Madam Fu II: "It's just a small favor, not worth mentioning."
Sheng Huan also shook his head slightly.
"Madam Fu, you are too modest." Lady Xiao Guogong's eyes fell on Sheng Huan. The more she looked at him, the more she liked him. She looked away with difficulty and turned back to Madam Fu: "Here are some thank you gifts. Please accept them, you and Miss Shen. This time, it is really thanks to you."
As Lady Xiao was speaking, her eyes fell on the thank-you gift she had prepared, but suddenly, she saw something and was slightly stunned.
Apparently, she had prepared an extra box as a thank-you gift.
Madam Fu Er did not notice anything unusual about Lady Xiao. After thinking about it, she decided to accept it.
So many people saw what happened in Zhuangzi, so instead of doing favors, it would be better to pay them off with gifts and deal with them in an open and aboveboard manner. Even if the higher-ups have any opinions, the Fu family will not feel guilty.
"You're welcome."
Madam Xiao looked at a box among the thank-you gifts, suppressed the bitterness in her heart, and stood up: "It's getting late. I've delivered the gifts, so I'll go back first."
Upon hearing this, Sheng Huan and Madam Fu stood up to see the guests off.
Lady Xiao smiled and shook her head, resisting the urge to look at Sheng Huan again.
-
After Lady Xiao left, Madam Fu looked at the thank-you gift she had brought and fell into a rare state of deep thought.
"Aunt..." Sheng Huan followed her line of sight, puzzled, and waved his hand in front of her: "What's wrong with you?"
Madam Fu came back to her senses and shook her head: "Ying'er, you were the one who discovered this Xiao Shizi. Since the Xiao Mansion has sent a thank-you gift, it's naturally yours."
Maybe I was overthinking it. The Xiao family is wealthy and powerful, and Xiao Ye Ze is the heir to the Xiao family. The gift they sent to save him was nothing big.
Sheng Huan heard this and held her hand: "Aunt, I didn't do anything."
She smiled coquettishly: "If my aunt hadn't been here, I wouldn't know what I would do. This thank-you gift can't be all mine."
Madam Fu laughed and tapped Sheng Huan's forehead: "We Ying'er accept all of them. It will be more considerate and aunt will be happy."
"The Emperor's Thousand Years Banquet will be held soon. These pieces of jewelry are just right for the occasion. You can pick one to wear then."
-
At the same time, in the Grand Prince’s Mansion.
"I have failed to do my job well, Your Highness, please punish me."
The secret guard knelt on the ground, his voice dull.
The eldest prince had a gloomy face.
The staff bowed and said, "Your Highness, Xiao Ye Ze is Xiao Ye Ze after all. He is a man who fought his way out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. Now he is in charge of the Xu Ling Guard. He is not so easy to kill. He is injured now, which is also a good thing for us."
As long as it doesn't affect the Qianqiu Banquet, it will be the best.
The eldest prince frowned and said, "He is lucky. It was such a coincidence that he met someone from Duke Fu's mansion."
"The people from Duke Fu's Mansion are also meddling in other people's business!"
The eldest prince was so upset that he slammed the table with his palm, and the table shook.
The servant knelt down in fear.
"Your Highness, calm down."
"Go down and receive the punishment yourself."
The eldest prince looked coldly at the secret guard, not paying attention to the guard's dejected look. It was unknown what he was thinking of, and his expression became even uglier.
"Recently, Father has been very good to my third and fifth brothers."
The staff's expressions became serious.
-
The Third Prince's Mansion.
"Your Highness, the Emperor has summoned you to the palace frequently in the past few days. It is obvious that he has high hopes for you."
The staff were beaming with joy. Even though the emperor's health had improved recently, they had seen the imperial physicians going in and out of Guangming Palace from time to time. They thought that it wouldn't be long before the prince would be able to rise to great heights.
As for these staff members, seeing the achievements of following the emperor were right before their eyes, how could they not be excited?
The third prince's eyes were full of ambition and determination: "Father is indeed very optimistic about me..."
He paused: "But fifth brother... Father seems to be very interested as well."
He opened the document and said, "I underestimated my fifth brother. I recently discovered that he has quite a few followers."
The staff members pondered, and one of them cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness... If we can get the support of the two Dukes of Fu and Xiao, I think everything will go more smoothly."
"These two old fellows are like hard rocks in a toilet, standing still!" The third prince frowned. These two dukes were old foxes and never accepted his olive branch.
The aide paused, and then came up with a plan: "Your Highness, isn't there another position for your concubine?"
The third prince suddenly looked at him.
The staff member bowed and smiled subtly: "Duke Xiao's Mansion has no daughter, but... Duke Fu's Mansion has a cousin."
Although Emperor Daqian did not allow the princes other than the emperor to marry women from the Fu and Xiao families, that cousin was not the biological daughter of the Fu family, so she was naturally not considered a daughter of the Fu family.
But, after all, she is a girl raised by the Fu family since childhood. As long as she enters the Third Prince's Mansion and operates properly, the Fu family will be on board their ship.
It’s not that easy to think about it!
-
Outside Duke Fu’s mansion, in a low-key carriage.
When the wife of Duke Xiao came out, Xiao Ye Ze saw her.
"Prince, the lady is out." Mo Tian bowed.
When Xiao Ye Ze heard this, his eyes fell on the plaque of Duke Fu's Mansion and he was absent-minded for a moment.
He put down his hand and the curtain fell: "Go back."
He actually wanted to go in and thank them in person... But if he showed up in person at this time, it might be disadvantageous to both of their families, especially her...
Xiao Ye Ze didn't want to cause her any trouble.
-
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, half a month has passed and the Qianqiu Banquet is here.
In the palace, there were singing and dancing, and ministers were congratulating each other on the birthday. It was simply a large-scale flattery scene.
Sheng Huan sat obediently beside Madam Fu Er. She held the teacup and glanced at the eldest prince not far away without leaving a trace. She was already secretly alert in her heart.
I turned my head slightly and unexpectedly met a pair of peach blossom eyes.
The man was still dressed in red, but it was not his usual casual clothes, but his official uniform. He looked dignified and majestic in that robe, but perhaps because of his injuries, his face looked a little pale.
Seeing Sheng Huan looking at him, Xiao Ye Ze did not hide. Instead, he nodded and seemed to smile.
Sheng Huan also nodded slightly.
Afterwards, the two of them looked away inconspicuously without anyone noticing.
The third prince has arrived to celebrate the birthday.
"I wish you a long life, my father."
He raised his hand, and the palace servant brought up a huge coral. The coral had a beautiful shape and shone with golden light. Inside it was the outline of the word "Shou".
Emperor Zhenghua had seen many things, but when he saw the shape of this coral, he thought it was clearly a good omen and was overjoyed.
"It's a good thing!" Emperor Zhenghua.
The Third Prince acted like a good son: "This is a gift I specially found. I didn't expect it to be the outline of the Chinese character 'longevity'." He cupped his hands and said: "I think it must be God's blessing on our Daqian and God's blessing on my father that the shape of this coral is so amazing."
“Hahahahahaha!” Emperor Zhenghua laughed: “The third brother is really thoughtful.”
When the other princes saw this scene, their eyes dimmed.
The eldest prince glanced at the third prince. He was not angry, but rather very patient.
Emperor Zhenghua was in a good mood and waved his hand: "I am very happy today. Third brother, tell me if there is anything you want. I will grant your wish."
What do you want? ! The throne, of course!
The Third Prince suppressed his restlessness and shook his head: "Thank you, Father, but I am here only to celebrate your birthday today."
Emperor Zhenghua was even happier.
Others looked at the deep love between the father and son and complimented them.
As for Sheng Huan, she lowered her head and continued to eat boredly.
At this moment, the Third Prince's mother, Concubine Shu, suddenly said with a smile: "Your Majesty, although the Third Prince does not want it, I dare to ask for mercy for him."
"Oh?" Emperor Zhenghua looked at her: "What grace?"
Concubine Shu still looked gentle: "Your Majesty, the Third Prince is still in need of a concubine. The Third Prince's wife is not in good health, and I am always worried that he has no one to take care of him."