Since Yongning Palace and Yonghua Palace were only two steps away from each other, Concubine Wei had to make a living under the watchful eye of Empress Dowager Xiao.
Wei Zhenfeng got up earlier than the rooster every day. After carefully washing and dressing, he took the little prince to Yonghua Palace to pay his respects to Zhao Qi and Xiao Shiqing, under the pretext of showing filial piety and taking the child out for a walk.
The little prince had no opinion on this. The only important things in a baby's life are eating and sleeping, and sleeping in a cradle is the same as sleeping in his father's arms. And according to Zhao Mian and Wei Zhenfeng's initial observation, Zhao Fan seems to be a little baby who likes outdoor activities. Every time he goes out, he will open his big eyes and look around curiously. After returning to the palace, he will drink more milk.
Xiao Shiqing had no objection. He always got up early, and when Wei Zhenfeng brought the little prince to pay his respects, he should have gone to court or to the Qinzheng Palace. It was really good to be able to see the little prince before starting a busy day and then scold Wei Zhenfeng.
Zhao Qi was very dissatisfied with the greeting. He gritted his teeth and held on for a few days, but couldn't help but talk to Zhao Mian privately.
"Mianmian, please tell Wei Zhenfeng not to come and pay his respects to me." Zhao Qi complained to his son sadly, "I finally got a chance to retire, just to sleep a little longer in the morning. Wei Zhenfeng comes to Yonghua Palace every day in fancy clothes, and I have to get up and prepare to see him. This is killing my father."
Zhao Mian said: "Wei Zhenfeng said he was showing his filial piety to you."
Zhao Qi teased, "Forget it. If he really wants to show his filial piety, why not wait until my birthday and sing a song "Father" with you."
"Father?" Zhao Mian was full of curiosity. "Father, is this a song?"
"… In short, I don't care how Wei Zhenfeng treats me. I only care how he treats you and Fanfan."
Zhao Mian felt sorry for his father, so he cancelled Wei Zhenfeng's morning and evening visits.
With one less thing to do, Concubine Wei used her free time to "serve" His Majesty. She would find excuses to go to the Qinzheng Palace whenever she had something to do. Today's excuse was that the little prince wanted to have some snacks with his father. Wei Zhenfeng held the little prince in one hand and some snacks in the other, and appeared in front of the Qinzheng Palace in a dignified manner.
When Jiang Dehai saw him, he apologized, "Your Highness, you came at a very bad time. The Emperor is meeting the new champions, runner-up and third place winners inside."
Wei Zhenfeng understood, he knew that Zhao Mian was busy with the spring examination preparations recently.
"Nanjing is a city full of talented people, a gathering of heroes, it is really the envy of others." Wei Zhenfeng said nonchalantly, "I heard that in addition to literary talent, Nanjing also has certain requirements for appearance when selecting the third place winner. Is this true?"
"That was a long time ago. When the emperor was still in power, Nanjing no longer had this custom." Jiang Dehai smiled and said a few more words, "However, our new third place winner is indeed a handsome man. He wrote several poems for the emperor at the Qionglin Banquet, and the emperor also admired his literary talent."
Wei Zhenfeng said "Oh" and looked inside the palace. The little prince in his arms also turned his eyes away like his father. Wei Zhenfeng asked, "How does this prince compare to the third place winner?"
Jiang Dehai said hurriedly: "Your Highness is a man of unrivalled talent, and no one can compare to him."
Wei Zhenfeng laughed: "Eunuch Jiang, what you said is pleasing to me, but Nanjing Tanhualang is not an ordinary person either."
Jiang Dehai regretted his words. He had also witnessed the spectacular scene of jealousy in the palace before. Perhaps because he had lived a peaceful life for too long, he had forgotten that there were some things that he should never say in front of a male concubine with a strong possessiveness.
Jiang Dehai was just feeling worried when three new top-ranking scholars came out of the Qinzheng Hall one after another. The talented scholars who had just met the emperor had absolute respect and awe on their faces. When they saw the young man holding a baby at the door, they were all stunned.
The young man was tall and slender, dressed in a gorgeous suit that did not reveal his official rank. He had a handsome face rarely seen in the world, but he was holding a baby in his arms.
He didn't seem to think there was anything wrong with a grown man holding a baby outside the Qinzheng Palace. He behaved in a generous and free-spirited manner, and his temperament was far superior to those romantic and talented men in the capital who could make women throw fruits into their cars with their folding fans.
The baby in his arms was born with a delicate and pretty face, and had eyes that were almost exactly the same as his.
Looking at the picture of Wei Zhenfeng and the three people in the same frame, Jiang Dehai couldn't help but sigh secretly. He really wasn't flattering Wei Concubine just now. No matter how handsome the third place winner was, he was still inferior to someone who was favored by the harem. What's more outrageous is that this happened when he was holding a child.
Wei Zhenfeng recognized the person who wrote the poem for Zhao Mian. He glanced at the other person and found that he didn't need to take such a small person seriously. He nodded politely and went straight into the palace with his son in his arms without waiting for Jiang Dehai to report.
The three of them looked at his back, looking at each other in bewilderment. The runner-up couldn't help but ask, "Eunuch Jiang, who was that just now?"
Jiang Dehai smiled and said, "Of course it's our little prince."
Tanhua asked: "Who is the young man holding the little prince...?"
Jiang Dehai just smiled and didn't answer.
In the Qinzheng Palace, Zhao Mian was still busy. When he heard the little prince's babbling, he knew that Wei Zhenfeng had brought his son to "harass" him again.
Wei Zhenfeng poked his head over: "Are you busy?"
Zhao Mian looked at the memorial without raising his head: "Yes."
Wei Zhenfeng found a chair and sat down, and Jiang Dehai brought a cradle. Wei Zhenfeng put the little prince in it, rocked the little prince's ball-like hand, and said, "Zhao Fan, look at your father. We came to him on purpose, and he just said 'hmm' to us. This indifferent attitude, looking down on everyone equally, really makes your father and me suffer."
Zhao Mian glanced at Wei Zhenfeng and said calmly, "Are you free, Weipin?"
"How could that be." Wei Zhenfeng said with a smile, "You and Fanfan are my business."
Zhao Mian's hand holding the pen paused, and the tip of the pen left a light red ink halo on the memorial.
There were still countless things waiting for Wei Zhenfeng to deal with in Beiyuan. But in Nanjing, it seemed that Wei Zhenfeng only had him and the little prince to deal with.
Wei Zhenfeng had been in Shangjing for a month. During this month, no less than five secret letters were sent to Wei Zhenfeng from Beiyuan, and each letter Wei Zhenfeng replied was longer than the last.
A few days ago, he returned to the palace early from the Qionglin Banquet and saw Wei Zhenfeng alone, looking at a secret letter that had just been delivered by Beiyuan. He frowned and thought for a long time. He also stood at the door and looked at Wei Zhenfeng for a long time.
Wei Zhenfeng rarely mentioned Beiyuan in front of him, as if his heart and eyes were filled with him and the little prince. But he knew Wei Zhenfeng, and he knew that Wei Zhenfeng was never someone who would ignore national affairs.
Where he couldn't see, Wei Zhenfeng was still trying his best to control Beiyuan.
Thinking of this, Zhao Mian stopped writing and looked at Wei Zhenfeng.
Wei Zhenfeng was also looking at him, and said without reason: "Zhao Mian, you will always like me, right?"
Zhao Mian's chest tightened, and his eyes revealed a confused look of worry and fear.
Wei Zhenfeng would ask this question, is... you're leaving again
Wei Zhenfeng noticed that something was wrong with Zhao Mian and immediately walked towards him.
"What's wrong?" He leaned over in front of the dragon throne and held up Zhao Mian's face with one hand. "Why are you suddenly unhappy and looking so downcast?"
Zhao Mian whispered, "Are you leaving again?"
Wei Zhenfeng was stunned. He didn't expect that a joke of his would make Zhao Mian think so much. Wei Zhenfeng hid his distress and smiled: "No, what are you thinking about."
Zhao Mian sneered: "You asked me this question, don't you want to get the answer that I will always like you, so that you can go back to Beiyuan without worry?"
Wei Zhenfeng quickly explained: "No, I just..."
"Yes." Zhao Mian looked at Wei Zhenfeng steadily, "I will always like you. Go away, as long as you come back, I can wait for you again - I can wait for you many times, as long as you come back."
Wei Zhenfeng was quite moved: "Mianmian..."
Zhao Mian chuckled: "Are you satisfied now?"
"I'm so satisfied." Wei Zhenfeng lowered his head and kissed Zhao Mian, then said rudely: "Actually, I want to ask, if I was disfigured, would you still like me?"
Zhao Mian: “…?”
"After I recovered from my injuries, I had to be taught by Fu Zi every day. He was merciless and I already had several bruises on my body." Wei Zhenfeng sighed, "If this continues, I don't know when I will get hurt on my face."
Zhao Mian's expression became complicated, and he seemed to know what Wei Zhenfeng was trying to do.
Wei Zhenfeng pleaded, "So Mianmian, can you help me ask Xiao Xiang for mercy and ask Fu Zi to be gentler?"
What the hell is this? He is already feeling uncomfortable in advance. Is Wei Zhenfeng doing this for this
Zhao Mian was speechless for a while, and said: "It is normal for people who practice martial arts to have bumps and bruises. Don't you want to make progress?"
"It seems that His Majesty is unwilling to ask for this favor. Forget it, it's just me who is a concubine." Wei Zhenfeng was sad, "It's normal for the Queen Mother to look down on me."
Haha, after all this time, it turned out to be a self-torture tactic.
"Okay, stop pretending." Zhao Mian said, "I will restore your position as concubine."
Wei Zhenfeng smiled brightly: "Your Majesty is so obedient."
Zhao Mian was displeased: "You should say 'Thank you, Lord.'"
"Thank you, Lord." Wei Zhenfeng said perfunctorily, "But, since we are talking about returning to Beiyuan... are you willing to go back to Beiyuan with me and stay for a month?"
Zhao Mian was slightly startled.
"Do you remember our agreement?" Wei Zhenfeng said, "I said that I hope you can be by my side on the day I kill my king and my father. The reason I have kept Wei Zhaoxiu alive until now is because I want to take this last step with you."
Without waiting for Zhao Mian to respond, Wei Zhenfeng continued, "I have discussed this matter with your fathers, and they said that your wishes should prevail."
In fact, Zhao Qi really wanted Zhao Mian to go out for a walk. Zhao Mian's mood was very unstable after giving birth, and he was worried that Zhao Mian would fall into depression. After waiting for Wei Zhenfeng to come, Zhao Mian's condition improved. It would be better to take advantage of the spring weather in March and let the couple travel from south to north, just as a maternity leave.
"I thought about taking Fanfan back with me, but he is only two months old, so it is not suitable for him to travel far." Wei Zhenfeng said, "Fanfan is in the palace with your fathers and wet nurse to take care of her, so she will be fine. You can rest assured to leave the government affairs to Prime Minister Xiao."
Zhao Mian remained silent.
Wei Zhenfeng smiled and said, "Of course, it doesn't matter if you don't want to go. I can bring the person to Nanjing and kill him."
Zhao Mian shook his head: "We already have one regret, I don't want to have another one." He made up his mind, "I will accompany you on this trip."
(End of this chapter)