After a day of banquets, although it was just a small gathering in the palace, I was exhausted.
The main reason was that Ning Chen took time out in the afternoon to go to Jiuchen Palace to meet the royal relatives who came to the palace for an audience.
In the evening, Ning Chen came to Zhaochun Palace as usual, only to see the Fourth Princess playing with rice cakes in the yard with a small wooden sword.
"Yuan'er, where is your sixth brother?" Ning Chen looked at his little daughter with smiles in his eyes.
The fourth princess was sweating from running. She turned around and saw her father smiling. She threw the sword in her hand to the servant and ran over to ask him to hold her.
"I went to Ruyi Pavilion, following my fourth brother. Mother said they have similar interests." said the fourth princess.
As he said this he rolled his eyes, and there was no doubt that he was a child taught by Ye Jun.
Ning Chen felt amused. Well, these three all had Ye Jun’s personalities, and their looks were like his.
"Birds of a feather flock together. Do you know what that means?"
"It's just... my brothers all smell bad." The fourth princess couldn't explain it clearly, so she was vague.
Hearing the noise outside, Ye Jun came out and saw the father and daughter talking.
After a brief half-bow, he used a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his daughter's forehead.
"Your brothers are not with you, so you mess with the rice cake. It's not young anymore, how can it stand your nonsense?"
Nian Gao is two years older than the Fourth Prince, so he is considered a grandfather among dogs.
But the advantage is that he has been well taken care of, and now he seems to be in good spirits, but he doesn't like to run around anymore. He usually likes to lie at Ye Jun's feet, or go to Ruyi Pavilion and stay with the Fourth Prince for two days before coming back.
"Go find your fourth brother, and bring your sixth brother back. Your fourth brother has to write an article tonight, so don't make too much noise. Come back after dinner." Ye Jun touched his daughter's head.
The fourth princess nodded and went there immediately.
Since the children were not there, Ning Chen took Ye Jun into the house.
It seems that they had dinner by themselves today.
As for Ye Jun, the Fourth Prince has grown up now, and his brother has to take on the task of raising the baby.
The fourth prince of Ruyi Pavilion was feeling overwhelmed when he saw his younger brother looking around the room. Then he heard his younger sister's voice coming from the yard, which made him even more overwhelmed.
"Ask the kitchen to prepare a lighter dinner. They can't eat spicy food." The Fourth Prince ordered.
Bai Zhu smiled, nodded, and went to do it.
Although the Fourth Prince seemed disgusted, Hui Hui had made all the arrangements very carefully, after all, they were still relatives.
On the other side, without having to consider the children's taste, Ye Jun pulled Ning Chen to eat the hotpot together.
Although it is summer now, eating hot pot is still very comfortable, and it has a unique taste when paired with chilled fruits.
Ning Chen gently picked up a piece of mutton with his chopsticks.
"You should eat more now. The journey to Zasak will take about a month and it will be hard."
"But we can eat barbecue when we get there. The barbecue there is different from the one in Kyoto. It has a unique flavor." Ye Jun said with a smile.
And the first thing Ning Chen thought of was drinking.
That's really annoying. The cups and bowls used by the Zasak people to drink are several times bigger than those in Kyoto. I have to bring a few more people who can drink this time.
Thinking of bringing people, Ning Chen asked.
"Who are you going to ask to go this time? Take the children with you. It's a rare opportunity to go out."
Ye Jun raised her eyebrows and said deliberately, "Your Majesty, I'm afraid you want to talk about more than just the children. I'll arrange for a few more young and beautiful concubines to follow you. Concubine Cui, Huo Xiurong, and Ying Wanrong are all good."
"Mischievous."
Ning Chen looked at her helplessly.
"That's not what I meant. I just want to tell you not to bring too many people with you. The situation in Zasak is a little unstable. Enhejin is ambitious. It would be bad to involve too many people. Just bring a few obedient and sensible people."
Ye Jun nodded and put away his playful look.
"Then why not let the mothers of the princes and princesses go, and bring Huo Xiurong with them. Her brother will definitely accompany the emperor this time, so we have to give General Huo some face."
"Well, let's arrange it this way." Ning Chen agreed, but added, "But there should be someone in charge of the harem. Who do you think is suitable?"
"Your Majesty, there is no need to worry about this. Concubine Huide came to see me today and offered to stay in the palace to manage matters. Her family members are not in the north, and I cannot see them even if I leave the palace, so I will not go out." Ye Jun said.
Speaking of which, Concubine Rong was from Yuzhou. She was sent back to the palace many years ago and never saw her family again. This time she finally had the chance.
Ning Chen nodded, "Okay, Concubine Huide is a steady and sensible person. At the end of this year, I will ask her father to report on his work and let her meet her family."
Concubine Huide's family held a low official position and she had no chance to report to the capital. Ning Chen's move was a special favor to her.
"Then I would like to thank the emperor on behalf of Sister Hui. She must be very happy." Ye Jun smiled faintly.
At last, she added, "I have another favor to ask of Your Majesty. I wonder if Your Majesty can agree to it."
Ning Chen waved his hand nonchalantly, "Just tell me, when will you start being polite to me?"
After three years of living together day and night, the two have become more casual with each other.
Ye Jun said, "I want to bring Shu Ran with me. She hasn't seen her parents for three or four years."
She is Ye Shuran, the eldest daughter of his elder brother Ye Zhe. This girl is also twelve years old this year, a little older than the Fourth Prince.
It is difficult for generals at the border to return to Beijing, and when there is a national mourning, they may not come back for three years. It is not good for the family to never see each other.
However, my sister-in-law Yin was found to be pregnant before the Queen Mother passed away, and gave birth to a boy, who is now over three years old and was named Ye Zeqian.
Ning Chen allowed this youngest son to be raised with his parents until he was twelve years old before returning to Beijing.
It was also a grace given out of consideration for Ye Jun's sake.
"These are all trivial matters. Since you feel sorry for the child, just take him with you." Ning Chen said.
Suddenly he started thinking about something else and said something unexpectedly.
"That girl is only one year older than Jing'er. I have seen her a few times. She is beautiful, well-mannered, and has a good temper. If we are destined to marry her in the future, it would be great."
These words startled Ye Jun so much that she choked. It just so happened that she was eating spicy food, and she felt so uncomfortable that tears kept flowing.
Ning Chen hurriedly handed over the herbal tea in front of him, and Ye Jun drank several cups in a row before stopping.
"Ahem, ahem, Your Majesty, please don't match them up randomly. I don't want that child to marry Jing'er. Siblings are siblings, so why should they be married?"
What's more, this involves blood relationship, and it is not good for close relatives to marry.
"Okay, okay, I'm just saying. Don't be anxious. Does your throat hurt? Look, your face is flushed." Ning Chen said worriedly.
Ye Jun waved his hands to indicate that he was fine, and asked Huiyue to bring him some ice watermelon. After that, he ate a piece, and then he felt better.
Ning Chen put down his chopsticks and sighed, "Jing'er is not old enough yet, but Jiayu's marriage needs to be arranged. Concubine Rong is not very reliable, so you can help to arrange a marriage."
"The eldest princess has just come of age, there is no need to be so anxious. The darling of heaven must be carefully selected and the best one must be chosen." Ye Jun said while eating, "There are many young men going to Zasak this time, and I will keep an eye on them carefully."
Ning Chen nodded. He was confident in Ye Jun's work.