Chapter 539: Chapter 30: Hundred Days Banquet

The Crown Prince chuckled, truly it’s one scheme after another.

"Indeed impressive! With Mr. Zeng assisting this Crown Prince, Da Wei’s future is boundless. Yet you are an external minister. If only there could be a Crown Princess Consort like Lingshuang by this Crown Prince’s side to assist, surely with time we could reach higher grounds."

Zeng Konghou didn’t even raise an eyelid and straightly said.

"If Your Highness doesn’t mind, this minister could enter the Eastern Palace alone, like Lin Ying and the others, to accompany Your Highness day and night in assistance."

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince broke into a cold sweat down his back. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

With an awkward chuckle, he temporarily dismissed the thought.

In the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince’s obsession with having Miss Zeng enter the Eastern Palace grew even more persistent under Zeng Konghou’s "torment".

Meanwhile, far in Jiangnan at Lu Mountain Women’s Academy, the Emperor and others were amusing themselves over their grandson who was born more than half a month ago.

A month ago, they had just accompanied the Empress Dowager from Wutai Mountain.

Lin Xiruo remained at the traveling palace due to her pregnancy.

They, however, were concerned about Ming Ruo’s near childbirth at Lu Mountain Academy, thus they arrived a few days earlier.

Time is always generous to beauties.

Thus, over the years, Ming Ruo has grown from a slightly troubled child to the poised headmistress of Lu Mountain Women’s Academy.

The last time they saw her was when the Emperor and others went to visit the Empress Dowager and she happened to be there, very composed and graceful.

Now, having become a mother, she exudes even more of a woman’s presence, making her appear even more stable and capable.

The Emperor and Lin Wanyi were very pleased watching her.

The Emperor still felt guilty about Ming Ruo not being raised in the palace and taken away by the Empress Dowager.

Yet seeing her now with such open-mindedness, living lovingly with her husband, and doing what she excels at, also delights him.

The Third Princess was originally envious of her Fangfei Pavilion and having arrived, feels utterly at ease, burying herself there every day, unwilling to leave.

Were it not for the fact that eldest sister Ming Ruo was not to be overworked, she might have stayed up all night to talk.

As such, the people Ming Ruo saw the most during her confinement were Lin Wanyi and Princess Pei.

As for the Emperor and Prince Pei, they spent their days outside, amusing that delicate child.

Her childbirth was smooth, without much suffering.

When Lin Wanyi arrived, she specially brought many beneficial pills from Aunt Mrs. Yun’s place, especially those effective for postpartum women.

Ming Ruo took them continuously for half a month, feeling her body significantly stronger than before.

Her complexion even became rosy and bright.

Ming Ruo originally resembled Lin Wan Zhou greatly, but now somehow she increasingly bears the Empress Dowager’s likeness.

In terms of looks, even if the Empress Dowager were sixty years younger, she would not compare with Ming Ruo’s beauty now.

Yet her charm is the top in Da Wei, naturally the most outstanding.

Past matters, Lin Wanyi no longer remembers much.

Or rather, she let go.

Thus, when facing Ming Ruo, a sense of affection grew.

After all, they share some blood ties, only mixed with too many things, causing the kinship to once be severed.

Several times Lin Wanyi wanted to say something but invariably couldn’t utter a word.

It was Ming Ruo who comforted her instead, saying.

"Mother Consort, people must look forward, past matters in my heart have been forgotten, please don’t linger on it, back then when I chose to leave the Capital City, first was due to attachment to the Empress Dowager, second was not wanting to forcefully integrate into Yihua Palace, naturally leaving was saddening, yet this sadness was healed by the Grand Empress Dowager."

"What I have now is all I wished for, this has been heaven’s grace, if I continually cling to the fragments of sadness from before, wouldn’t that lower the splendid fortune?"

"Don’t you think?"

Lin Wanyi nodded appreciatively, smiling at Ming Ruo.

Many words need not be explicitly stated, the understanding comes to those who understand, and those who do not, don’t.

"Now the Crown Prince oversees affairs well, your father said the southern tour could be delayed further, coincidentally you have given birth to little Rui, so we will stay to accompany you more."

"That sounds great, not to mention, I see my third sister is quite fond of the books in Fangfei Pavilion, let her stay a few more days and indulge sufficiently."

Upon mentioning her young daughter, Lin Wanyi wore a helpless look.

Ever since arriving, she has scarcely left the pavilion door.

Her level of abstinence from food and drink surprised her.

However, it’s only the beginning.

When the autumn rain falls, the Third Princess has an even bigger "surprise" in store for everyone.

One day, Ming Ruo’s Princess Mansion was adorned with festive decorations everywhere.

To celebrate little Rui’s hundredth day.

The child resembles both his father and mother and exudes a deep scholarly air at a young age.

His brows and eyes reflect Ming Ruo’s liveliness and grace, while his face and nose inherit his father’s sincerity.

One glance and it’s clear he is a person of fortune.

Everyone gathered around, uttering auspicious words, giving blessing gifts, and praising the child’s cleverness, everything was there.

The Emperor, albeit not his first grandchild, held an unusual affection for Ming Ruo’s grandchild due to lingering guilt toward her.

Thus, on the child’s hundredth day, he ordered little Rui to be titled Commandery Prince and named "Hua Zhang", entitling him to equal treatment as all royal Princes.

Such favoritism surprised Ming Ruo.

This matter did not align well with palace rules, children born to married Princesses may enjoy some benefits, but one such as little Rui is unprecedented.

Therefore intended to speak up and stop it.

Yet Lin Wanyi prevented her, smilingly saying.

"It’s just a gesture from your father, accept it."

Upon hearing this, Ming Ruo stopped dwelling on it and accepted it calmly.

After the hundred-day banquet, the temperature at Lu Mountain Academy began to turn from warm to cold.

Rain after rain, from autumn to winter, fell one after another.

The Emperor with Lin Wanyi openly resided at Ming Ruo’s Princess Mansion, unwilling to leave.

Meanwhile, the Prince Pei couple, after attending the hundred-day banquet, embarked on their journey back to their domain.

They naturally have their responsibilities, couldn’t easily just enjoy leisure with the Emperor.

Snow is rare in the south unless it reaches extreme cold.

Thus Lu Mountain Academy wasn’t covered in snow like Shengjing City was.

The Emperor and Lin Wanyi initially planned to depart after the New Year, but Lin Xiruo couldn’t wait, and the child was born.

News reached Ming Ruo’s Princess Mansion, everyone was delighted.

It’s reportedly an equally adorable and clever daughter as Lin Xiruo.

The Emperor and Lin Wanyi over the last half-year, having gained a grandson and a granddaughter, couldn’t close their smiling mouths.