Chapter 104

Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.

Whitelist us. Ad revenue gives additional support to the translator and keeps the site running.

Interested in being a part of the Nocturne TL team?

We are looking for Editors and Chinese, Korean, and Japanese translators to join our team. Join us on Discord and look for Picky Reader#7543 to guide you through recruitment if you are interested.

==============================================================================================

The result was really like how Qin Duofu had guessed. When the noble consort came, she really didn’t want to raise the fifth princess.

The emperor and Qin Duofu listened to the noble consort’s crying with expressionless faces, hearing her say how the fifth princess would cry, and the noise made her uneasy through day and night.

When it was over, the noble consort said that she did not want to raise the fifth princess, and she asked Emperor Zhengwu if he could take the fifth princess away.

The emperor patiently listened to the noble consort, his face full of displeasure. “I said it at the beginning—if it’s boring, just raise a cat or dog to pass the time. You didn’t want to and insisted on raising a child. I followed your wish, and now you are complaining about the fifth princess’s crying. How could a child not cry?!”

The noble consort murmured, “But Er Lang rarely cried when he was a child!”

“Er Lang is calm!” Emperor Zhengwu said, “I see. You can go back.”

The noble consort wanted to say something, and Emperor Zhengwu’s expression sank. “If there is more trouble, there will be no need for Er Lang to come back to the capital for this year’s Longevity Festival.”

[The emperor’s birthday is called the Longevity Festival, a national festival with the meaning of longevity without boundaries. Celebrating the emperor’s birthday was an important ritual activity in the ancient court]

The noble consort had no choice but to leave angrily.

The emperor felt a headache. Among the princes, he valued Er Lang the most, but the noble consort’s temperament…

That night, Emperor Zhengwu went to Fengyi Palace. “Zitong, you have to take good care of your body.”

The empress looked at Emperor Zhengwu with an inexplicable look. Everything is fine; what nonsense are you talking about! But now, she was indeed taking care of herself because she saw another option from the empress dowager. She and the empress dowager were the same, both trapped in this imperial city. But the empress dowager went out in a dignified manner. What the empress dowager could do, she could do too. Of course, before that, she must have a strong physique. Otherwise, things would be like Prince Fu—with great opportunities in front of him, but unable to go.

Therefore, the empress changed her past decadence and focused on health preservation and physical exercise. Just in order to become the empress dowager one day. And then, like her mother-in-law, she would travel around the great mountains and rivers and take a look at them.

Before the Longevity Festival, the empress dowager and Li Huairou returned to the capital.

The emperor complained for a while. Li Huairou squatted down, poured tea and water for him, pinched his shoulders and massaged his back, and finally coaxed Emperor Zhengwu into a wide-eyed smile.

“Okay, okay, Uncle is not angry anymore. Uncle left you a lot of good things. Let Lao Qin take you to see it.”

Li Huairou knew that Emperor Zhengwu had something to discuss with the empress dowager, so she considerately followed Qin Duofu.

“Empress Mother, this son thinks that we should take advantage of this Longevity Festival to set up a crown prince, so as to reassure the people,” Emperor Zhengwu said.

The empress dowager nodded. “Since you have made up your mind, you must be prepared.”

The emperor nodded. “My son knows. Besides, my son wants to make Minghua a true princess. Minghua is filial and sensible, and the title of Third-Rank Princess was too wrong for her.”

The empress dowager frowned.

“This son also remembered what the master said at the beginning. I thought that when I designated Minghua as a princess, I would also announce that Minghua was inspired by the Buddha, would practice without shaving her hair, build a Buddhist hall in Ningshou Palace, and ask Minghua to read the scriptures every day. If Minghua changes her mind in the future, it will be the same as if she returned to the mundane world,” Emperor Zhengwu said.

[Dai fa chu jia (带发出家): This “practicing with hair” is generally suitable for females. Some Buddhist disciples are immature because of karma, or because they have a family, or they cannot afford to be lonely through their entire life. Although practitioners with hair may not shave, they still have to abide by some Buddhist precepts, such as: no killing, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, no lying, and no drinking alcohol]

“Did someone whisper something in your ear?” the empress dowager asked.

The emperor nodded. “Minghua is also getting older. These days, courtiers are constantly chattering in this son’s ears. I do not want to wrong Minghua. Of course, if Minghua has someone she likes, this son will not say anything.”

The empress dowager thought for a while. “Then do as you wish! Minghua, that child, has no intention of marrying. However, after becoming a monk, she won’t be able to wear those gorgeous clothes and beautiful jewelry.” The empress dowager felt a little regretful; there was no girl who didn’t love beauty.

“What’s the harm? Just wear it in private, and who’d dare to openly talk about it? Besides, after the Longevity Festival, aren’t you planning to take Minghua to have fun in the Suzhou and Hangzhou area?” Emperor Zhengwu’s tone was a bit sour.

The empress dowager couldn’t help laughing. “Is the emperor jealous?”

“Empress Mother should stay in the capital for a while so that your son can also be filial?” Emperor Zhengwu said with a smile.

“That’s it, stay for a month. Then go to Jiangnan to escape the summer heat.” The empress dowager knew that Emperor Zhengwu was thinking of Minghua, and, thinking that the emperor had always worked hard, he should be comforted.

“Then the son will thank his mother very much,” Emperor Zhengwu said with a smile, and then he wondered whether he should take Minghua to the hunting grounds to play?

The emperor just thought about it—there were so many things to prepare, and he was so busy that he didn’t even have time to eat. Seeing this, Qin Duofu quietly ran to the empress dowager to discuss and seek the princess’s help.

“Empress Dowager, you know, His Majesty loves Princess Minghua the most. Seeing the princess, he can eat a few more meals,” Qin Duofu said crookedly.

The empress dowager couldn’t help laughing. “It’s alright, it’s alright, aijia knows.”

Then, from the next day, Li Huairou had another task to accompany Emperor Zhengwu for a meal.

Although this task was strange, Li Huairou didn’t take it to heart. She defined herself as the mascot of the empress dowager and emperor. What did it matter to just accompany him for a meal?

So she happily ate three meals a day with Emperor Zhengwu.

The emperor was really happy, and the rice was fragrant.

Prince Qi—Li Deqian—returned to the capital. Emperor Zhengwu immediately summoned him to the palace, just in time for lunch.

The emperor kept him dining with him.

It was just that the food was on the table, but Emperor Zhengwu didn’t move his chopsticks. Li Deqian was still wondering, only to hear Emperor Zhengwu ask, “Where’s Minghua? Why hasn’t she come yet?”

Qin Duofu was about to speak when Li Deqian heard a sound from outside the door. Huairou’s voice said, “Here, here, here. Oh, what’s the delicious food for today?”

Qin Duofu’s face blossomed with a smile. “The sauerkraut fish that the princess spoke about before is delicious, but it’s not sour enough. The kitchen has improved it today. Might the princess try it?”

“Have you washed your hands? Hurry up and help the princess wash her hands.” Emperor Zhengwu said, “Where did you go to play? Look at your face—what is that white thing?”

Immediately, there were palace servants around to help Li Huairou to wash her hands. Li Huairou said with a smile, “Uncle, don’t ask. It’s a secret.”

“Okay, alright, I won’t ask, I won’t ask.” Emperor Zhengwu said with a good temper, “Eat, eat.”

Li Huairou turned around, saw Li Deqian, and said with a smile, “Hey, Second Brother is here too! I haven’t seen you for a long time! Why is Second Brother growing a beard? It doesn’t look too good!”

The emperor also looked over. “What Minghua said is right! How old are you? Why do you have a beard? Shave it tomorrow!”

Li Deqian touched his mustache. “Does it really not look good? The princess also said it wasn’t good, but my son thinks this makes me look more stable.”

“Second Brother, how old are you? When you were young and energetic, you had Uncle behind you in everything! What do you need to be steady for? Am I right, Uncle?” Li Huairou asked Emperor Zhengwu.

The emperor nodded with a smile. “Minghua’s words are very reasonable.”

Li Deqian’s heart moved. What did the emperor say? He looked up at Emperor Zhengwu, and Emperor Zhengwu’s eyes did not evade him. Li Deqian’s heart felt hot. As a prince, especially when his eldest brother passed away early, he was the eldest son, and it was impossible that he had no idea about that position. But Li Deqian also knew that his father emperor’s attitude was the most important.

Li Deqian smiled. “When this son goes back, I will shave off my beard.”

The three of them chatted and laughed, and they had lunch together.

After that, Li Huairou took the initiative to leave, giving the father and son time to talk. Besides, she still had things to do, and her cake was still in the research and development stage. This body hadn’t done a day of housework in its life; although she knew the steps to make a cake, the result was difficult to describe.

“I plan to present you as the crown prince on the day of the Longevity Festival.” Emperor Zhengwu said bluntly.

Although Li Deqian had made a guess, he was presently still shocked. “Father Emperor!”

“Minghua is right. You are still young, so it doesn’t matter if you are impulsive and reckless. Father Emperor can support you for a few more years,” Emperor Zhengwu said. Then he raised his hand, signaling for Li Deqian to follow.

He continued to listen to him. “I don’t have to worry about the affairs of the court. For the inner palace matters, you also know your concubine mother’s temperament. Therefore, you must respect your empress mother and treat your empress mother with kindness. If there is a dispute between the empress and your concubine mother, you can’t show favoritism.”

Li Deqian nodded solemnly. “This son knows. Father, don’t worry!”

“Also, I plan to appoint Minghua as a princess,” Emperor Zhengwu said again.

“Didn’t the master say that?” Li Deqian asked in confusion.

“I intend to let Minghua cultivate without shaving her hair, and, after she practices Buddhism, the situation will naturally be broken. Although Minghua is not my own child, she is the person I value most. In any case, you must treat Minghua well!” Emperor Zhengwu solemnly said.

“Don’t worry about this, Father Emperor! It’s just that, to become a monk, isn’t this inappropriate?” Li Deqian said with a frown.

“You don’t know it, but that child is stubborn; she didn’t want to get married and is unwilling to marry. Those old officials have their own thoughts, and they chatter in my ear all day long. Neither I nor your imperial grandmother want others to plot against Minghua. Of course, if Minghua changes her mind in the future, let’s talk about it. If she is reluctant to marry, you can find a suitable child for her to adopt. The only thing is that the child must be obedient and filial. Don’t make Minghua angry.” When Emperor Zhengwu talked about the inauguration of the crown prince, he used a few hasty words, but when it came to the arrangements for Li Huairou, he began to speak at length.

Li Deqian was also used to it, and he stood meekly on the side and nodded in agreement. “Yes, this son understands. Father Emperor can rest assured!”

Finally, Emperor Zhengwu said, “Oh, I’m still worried.”

Li Deqian was so scared that he almost knelt down and swore to heaven that he would take good care of Huairou-meimei in the future.

When the noble consort heard that her son had entered the capital, she had been waiting in her palace for a long time. Later, she heard that her son was called away by Emperor Zhengwu. She was happy and proud. The rest of the princes hadn’t been treated like this when they came back. Her son was awesome! But after waiting for a long time, she didn’t see her son coming. The noble consort was a little impatient, and she was ready to go grab her son in person.

Then Li Deqian came.

The noble consort cried as soon as she saw Li Deqian.

Li Deqian thought that his mother was missing him, so he quickly stepped forward to support his mother, ready to comfort her. As a result, the noble consort avoided Li Deqian’s hand and said with disgust, “Too ugly!”

Li Deqian’s hand stopped in mid-air. Well, here was another person who disliked his beard.

When Li Deqian cleanly shaved his beard and turned into that handsome young man again, the noble consort’s absent motherly love also came back, and she began to pull her son to greet him.

Li Deqian felt that it was better not to tell his mother about the crown prince matter. With his mother’s shrewdness, she didn’t seem like someone who could hide it from others.

==============================================================================================

This translation is presented by Nocturne Translations.

Related