Ch 20 “I’ll show you the fireworks at night.”

Xie Chaoling walked to the table and poured a glass of warm water, took a sip slowly, and calmly said: “I’m thirsty, so I got up to drink some water.”

Xie Chaoyuan also got off the bed with bare feet, went over to him, and helped him tuck the clothes draped over his shoulders.

“Hurry up and go to sleep.”

Xie Chaoling’s throat rolled, and Xie Chaoyuan looked calm in front of him, as if he didn’t notice anything, yet seemed to know everything. He finally swallowed the words, without asking.

Being brought back to bed by Xie Chaoyuan, the man’s warm breath overwhelmed him. He wrapped him in his arms, and gently rubbed his lips against the back of his neck. At that moment, Xie Chaoling seemed to have an illusion. He seemed to be grabbed by the neck by this man, and he might be bitten by him at any time and lose his life.

Weird.

In the middle of the night, Xie Chaoling was held in Xie Chaoyuan’s arms, unable to move easily. Knowing that he would never go out again, he could only give up. Before falling asleep in a daze, he thought, let’s find another chance tomorrow.

But early the next morning, Xie Chaoyuan said he wanted to go back and asked someone to pack up his things.

“Your Highness, are you really bored? I thought you liked playing here.” Xie Chaoling asked him calmly.

Xie Chaoyuan asked someone to wait on him to change his clothes, and said lightly: “It’s not interesting, Royal Uncle called too many people, and I am impatient to deal with them.”

Xie Chaoling stepped forward and helped him tie his belt, without saying a word.

Xie Chaoyuan went to say goodbye to Xie Fengzhen. Xie Chaoling got into the carriage first and waited, it was impossible to leave alone under the eyes of a bunch of people, so he didn’t think about it anymore. He leaned on the carriage and closed his eyes to sleep.

Xie Chaoyuan came back soon. Hearing the sound of him getting into the carriage, Xie Chaoling opened his eyes and looked over. Xie Chaoyuan took some snacks from his uncle, ordered someone to put them in the carriage, and fed them to Xie Chaoling with his own hands.

“Milk honey bean fruit, is it delicious?”

Xie Chaoling chewed a few mouthfuls and felt that this snack tasted really good, he seemed to have eaten it before, and nodded: “Give me another one.”

Xie Chaoyuan smiled and continued to give him some.

When he came out from Xie Fengzhen’s place earlier, Xie Fengzhen specially asked him to take this fruit, saying that only the cooks in his house could make this kind of fruit, and allowed Xie Chaoyuan to taste it.

Xie Chaoling’s expression clearly liked it.

A few days later, the Empress Dowager held a family banquet in the palace, announcing all the princes and daughters to enter the palace.

Xie Chaoyuan went late, and just after greeting and allowed to get up, he found a person who should not have appeared there. It was the Empress Dowager’s grandniece. She was sitting beside the Empress Dowager with a smile, and shyly turned her eyes away when Xie Chaoyuan raised his eyes. 

This little lady was no stranger to visiting the Empress Dowager Zhao in the palace from time to time, but this time it was a family banquet, and she was the only outsider.

“Wanniang came to see me in the palace yesterday, so I let her stay in the palace for one night. We are all one family, and you all know each other. We don’t need those taboos, let’s all sit down.” The Empress Dowager smiled and signaled.

Everyone sat down and exchanged glances tacitly, Xie Chaoyuan didn’t take it seriously, and calmly ate some snacks.

After a few words, the Empress Dowager mentioned the marriage of Xie Chaohui and Xie Chaoqi: “The matter of Chaohui and Xie Chaoqi has been settled. Your father ordered the Ministry of Rites to take care of it. It is estimated that the matter will be settled in the spring of next year. This is good, you two are not too young, you should get married sooner and spread your branches and leaves sooner.” 

Having said that, the Empress Dowager’s tone was neither salty nor weak, the two marriages were obviously not up to her expectations. But Emperor Qianming had made up his mind, and she couldn’t object.

Both Xie Chaohui and Xie Chaoqi were silent. It was clearly something good, but there was not much joy on their faces.

Especially Xie Chaohui, the concubine that Emperor Qianming bestowed him was the daughter of the Yang family. Speaking of this incident, people can’t help muttering. The East Palace has been recuperating behind closed doors, the marriage was postponed, and the prospective princess died of a cold, yet the emperor pointed out another daughter of the Yang family to Xie Chaohui. However, the Yang family still had another daughter of the right age? Anyway, they hadn’t heard of it before, and if they suddenly said that there was, then there must be.

Who knows if the emperor wanted to hold onto the Yang family, and he was too embarrassed to let their daughter marry to be a widow in the East Palace, so he just hoodwinked the people. In this way, what is even more surprising was that Emperor Qianming appointed the person to Xie Chaohui instead of Xie Chaoqi.

Xie Chaoqi’s fiancée was of course not of low birth, she was the daughter of the official of the household department. This official was a student of the former Crown Prince Grand Tutor. He was implicated in the East Palace conspiracy case and was silent for a while. After rehabilitating two years ago, he was promoted to second-rank official, won the favor of the emperor and had a bright future.

Now everyone can understand that the emperor was adding chips to Xie Chaohui and Xie Chaoqi respectively, forming a three-legged confrontation with Xie Chaorong and the Zhao family henchmen behind him. After all, if the crown prince really wasn’t that well, then it would be unclear who would be the heir and the emperor can still sit firmly on the stage.

It’s just a pity, seeing Xie Chaohui and Xie Chaoqi’s indifferent attitude. Those two young ladies marrying over, it’s impossible for them to have a loving relationship.

Of course, as long as these two have a little brain, they shouldn’t be too bad to the other party.

“Speaking of which, Chaoyuan is not young anymore. Two days ago, I told your father about you so that he would not forget you. Today there are no outsiders here. Tell me, what kind of person do you want to find? Grandmother can help you find someone.” The Empress Dowager changed the subject, and suddenly brought up Xie Chaoyuan.

She held this family banquet today to promote good things between her grandniece and Xie Chaoyuan.

When Xie Chaoyuan looked away, Zhao Wanniang held her handkerchief and lowered her head shyly. Xie Chaoyuan didn’t look at her, and said with a half-smile: “I never thought about it. Grandma, me being like this, if I marry someone, wouldn’t it be a disaster for others? “

The Empress Dowager disapproved and said: “How can you say that? You are the son of Hos Majesty, the prince of my great Liang, and you are born with a handsome appearance. If you fancy someone, it is the blessing of that girl’s family. You are just too playful. You temperament has not calmed yet, that’s why you think like this. This is why you have to marry a princess as soon as possible to improve your temperament. If you have no idea, grandma will choose for you first.”

If Xie Chaoyuan was sensible, he would thank her at this time, but he wasn’t, so he refused: “Grandmother doesn’t need to worry about my affairs, I don’t want to marry a wife yet, let’s talk about it later.” 

The empress dowager’s face changed. Zhao Wanniang twisted her handkerchief but Xie Chaoyuan had always thoughtlessly spoken like that according to his personality.

Xie Chaoyuan ignored them, lowered his head and ate his own food.

After the family banquet was over, Xie Chaoyuan left first. He walked out of the Empress Dowager’s area, and was stopped by Zhao Wanniang who was chasing after him.

Zhao Wanniang bit her lip lightly, and said in a low voice: “You should know, the empress dowager intends to appoint me to you. I know you don’t like it, but the empress dowager has made up her mind, this will be done, and there is nothing I can do about it. Even if you are really unwilling, it is best not to disobey the Empress Dowager’s wishes. After we get married, we will live our own lives at worst. I will not interfere with you. I can assure you…”

Xie Chaoyuan was unmoved: “You told me this specifically because you want me to agree to this marriage? Since you are sure that I can’t resist the Empress Dowager’s order, why bother? Were you planning to retreat to advance and wanted me to take pity on you because of it?”

Being poked in the heart, Zhao Wanniang’s face turned pale for a moment. Xie Chaoyuan sneered: “Me not marrying you is letting you live. If you enter King Ke’s mansion, I can’t guarantee whether you will survive in the future. You should think about it yourself.”

Zhao Wanniang was stunned. Xie Chaoyuan didn’t want to talk to her anymore, so he turned and left.

When he left the palace, he deliberately went around to the east palace. At the gate of the east palace, he saw Princess Shurou who was blocked by the guards.

Third Princess Shurou was the twin sister of Xie Chaoling, who married the great-grandson of the first assistant Shen Chongdao. Today, she also entered the palace to participate in the family banquet. She did not show anything particularly out of the ordinary, but later she was blocked by guards not letting her in the east palace. Her eyes were red, and she asked sharply why she couldn’t go in.

The guard bowed his head and said respectfully: “Your Highness, please calm down. This is His Majesty’s intention. He said that no one should disturb His Highness the Crown Prince’s recuperation. This lowly official is only following orders.”

“Third Sister.” Xie Chaoyuan called out to her.

Shurou turned her head and saw Xie Chaoyuan, quickly suppressed her sullen face, and asked him: “Why did Sixth Brother come here?”

“The fragrant leaves in front of the gate of the East Palace grow better than other places. I came to pick some back to make spices.” Xie Chaoyuan was speaking the truth. Xie Chaoling liked this kind of spice very much. There were ready-made spices in the East Palace. He just happened to enter the palace today, so he came to pick it himself.

Shurou frowned, her expression becoming cold. Even the weeds in front of the East Palace Gate belonged to the Crown Prince of the East Palace, how could anyone pick them off at will.

The words of admonishment reached the tip of her mouth but she didn’t say anything. Shurou didn’t say anything, got on the sedan chair and left straight away.

Xie Chaoyuan bent down and picked one with his own hands, smiled nonchalantly, and looked up at the majestic East Palace in front of him.

Behind him, Wang Rang lowered his head and reminded him in a low voice: “Your Highness, it’s time to go back.” 

Xie Chaoyuan turned his gaze back: “Let’s go.”

Inside Xile Tang, Xie Chaoling just took down the note from the white pigeon’s leg.

“Ten days later, at Si Shi, Nanshi Tea House.”

This white pigeon was clever and human. It followed him from King Ding’s manor and recognized the way.

After reading it, Xie Chaoling threw the note into the brazier beside him.

Wang Jin stood by his side, with his head down, not daring to say a word.

Xie Chaoling thought for a while, and told him: “After a while, I will find a way to get His Highness to allow me to leave the mansion alone, and then you can help me lure the other people away.”

Wang Jin knelt down on the ground, prostrated, trembling constantly: “Your Majesty…”

Xie Chaoling took out the dagger in his hand and casually played with it in his hand: “You didn’t tell His Highness what happened last time, so this time you won’t say it, or you won’t be able to please both sides. I know you know who I am, and I won’t force you if you don’t dare to say it, I will find the answer by myself.”

After waiting for a while, he heard Wang Jin lower his voice, word by word: “…servant obeys the orders.” 

The blade returned to its sheath in response.

Xie Chaoyuan returned to the mansion after the Shen Shi (3-5pm), and first ordered someone to wash and dry the fragrant leaves he had picked back, and then went to see Xie Chaoling.

Xie Chaoling was reading a book when he saw Xie Chaoyuan coming back. He got up and went to help him take off his cloak.

“Your Highness has been in the palace for a long time today.”

“Were you bored by yourself?” Xie Chaoyuan asked him.

“Yeah, it’s quite boring.” Xie Chaoling didn’t deny it. Although the little highness was a little annoying and unreasonable, at least he wouldn’t be bored.

Xie Chaoyuan laughed softly: “I’ll take you to watch the fireworks at night.”

Xie Chaoling blinked. Today didn’t seem like a big day like new years, right?

It was only later that Xie Chaoling knew what the fireworks meant.

When it was completely dark after You Shi, Xie Chaoyuan took him to the back garden and climbed up to the watchtower.

“If we’re higher, we can see further.” Xie Chaoyuan said.

Xie Chaoling looked up, the bright moon was hanging in the sky. The moonlight was really nice tonight.

Xie Chaoyuan asked someone to serve tea, and they sat down and spoke while drinking tea. Xie Chaoling didn’t know what kind of medicine was sold in Xie Chaoyuan’s gourd, so he waited patiently.

When the wind picked up later, Xie Chaoling gathered his clothes, and finally asked Xie Chaoyuan, puzzled: “Is there really fireworks today? Are there any fireworks from the palace? What’s the big day today?”

Xie Chaoyuan poured tea for him, smiled and said, “Of course not, Linlang will know it just by looking at it.” 

At Xu Shi, there was a sudden loud noise from the southwest corner of the inner city. Xie Chaoling looked up in surprise, and saw a dazzling fire bursting into the sky. Suddenly, there was a loud bang, and the exploding fireballs dyed half of the night sky red with flames.

Overwhelming.

Xie Chaoling turned his head to look at Xie Chaoyuan in astonishment. The fire light was reflected in Xie Chaoyuan’s black eyes, and there was a faint smile inside.

Xie Chaoyuan turned his head and asked him with a smile, “Does it look nice?”

“Your Highness, this is…?”

Xie Chaoyuan opened his lips lightly, and said slowly, “The firearms depot of the Ministry of War has exploded.”