The Lantern Festival started in the evening. Lin Qingyu wanted to bring up Cui Lian’s matter with the Empress Dowager and thus, went to the palace early.
Nowadays, there was no shortage of filial piety from the emperor and Ci’an Palace was given the best of the best. Knowing that the Empress Dowager liked chrysanthemums, the emperor had especially ordered dozens of lanterns in the style of chrysanthemums to be placed in Ci’an Palace’s courtyard. The sky was only beginning to darken and the lanterns created a magnificent sight, it looked like a spring blooming amidst the snow.
Lai Fu looked at the sea of flowers and said with a smile, “Empress Dowager, the emperor regards you with such thoughtfulness.”
The Empress Dowager was completely disinterested. “Although I am the emperor’s imperial mother, there has been no motherly affection between us for the past two decades. He is merely making a show of all this. Besides, given the emperor’s temperament, how could he possibly come up with tricks like these? Most likely, it was that eunuch who once again gave him the idea.”
When Lin Qingyu arrived at Ci’an Palace, the palace kitchens had just cooked a pot of sticky rice dumplings. The Empress Dowager was just having a taste of it with Little King Huai when Lai Fu came it to report Lin Qingyu’s arrival. Treating Lin Qingyu as one of her own, she immediately told Lai Fu to usher him in.
Lin Qingyu entered the inner hall and saw the Empress Dowager and Xiao Li sitting at the table. It was apparent that Xiao Li had been meticulously dressed. He was wearing a royal robe embroidered with a five-clawed dragon, a jade ornament hung around his slender waist. The young man’s features were of exquisite elegance; it could be said that he possessed unparalleled good looks, that his attractiveness came second to none. However, this young man who was supposed to be of that cool breeze and bright moon, remained dull and sluggish, no trace of vitality could be found on his body.
Lin Qingyu saluted the two of them, “Greeting to Her Highness the Empress Dowager and His Highness the prince.”
The Empress Dowager said amiably. “Qingyu, you’re here. Come sit down. Give Imperial Physician Lin a plate of dumplings.”
Lin Qingyu was not used to being called him by his name by people apart from his family and husband. This year, he and the Empress Dowager had found themselves on the same boat and they have worked together to handle several matters that must be kept secret from outsiders. It could be said that the glory of one was the glory of both and that the loss of one was the loss of both. Whether the Empress Dowager truly regarded him well or whether this was all hypocrisy, it mattered not. She treated him better than even when he was Lu Wancheng’s wife.
Lin Qingyu declined, “This official has already eaten before leaving the house. I would not wish to disturb the Empress Dowager and the prince.”
The Empress Dowager said, “Then you can just eat again. How can a man such as yourself not be able to even finish a bowl dumplings? Ci’an Palace has only me and Li’er and it’s always a little lonely. In any case, you were once my sister’s daughter-in-law, you’re Li’er’s cousin. You could say that we’re family. There are no outsiders in Ci’an Palace, there’s no need for you to be polite.”
Being that the Empress Dowager had gone so far as to say all this, Lin Qingyu then decided to sit down as she had bidden him to do. The dumplings in front of him were steaming hot and Lin Qingyu tasted a piece. The outside layer was sweet, soft and sticky; the sesame filling though was a little too cloyingly sweet for him.
The Empress Dowager was attending to Xiao Li and she herself couldn’t spare a thought about eating. If Xiao Li was to left to eat by himself, he would grab it with his hands and stuff it into his mouth. In Ci’an Palace, there was a momo who was tasked specially with feeding Xiao Li; the Empress Dowager too often fed him herself.
As soon as the dumpling was brought to his lips, Xiao Li opened his mouth and took it in. He then chewed it slowly. Though mentally deficient, he did not at all appear clumsy or awkward when eating.
Seeing Xiao Li eat one dumpling after another, the momo who looked after Xiao Li smiled and said, “Our little prince sure does like to eat dumplings. Look at how happy he is.”
Listening to the momo’s tone, one would think she was talking about a baby under a year old. How could Xiao Li be happy? His face clearly did not show any sort of expression. These kind of words were said only to coax the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager loved her son like life and sure enough, she was coaxed by the momo’s words. She asked softly, “Does Li’er like to eat sticky rice dumplings?”
Xiao Li opened his lips slightly, staring at the spoon in the Empress Dowager’s hand.
“Call me mother and I’ll feed you, okay? Li’er, say ‘mo-ther’, ‘mo-ther’.” The Empress Dowager said patiently, “Li’er, here, listen. ‘Mo—-ther’.”
Xiao Li seemed to be in another world, unable to hear the Empress Dowager’s voice or respond to her words.
Lin Qingyu said, “Although dumplings are good for you, one mustn’t eat too much of it.”
The Empress Dowager dropped her hand in frustration, “Then, forget it. Take all these away.”
Though unable to eat any more dumplings, Xiao Li didn’t cry or make a fuss. He slowly lowered his head and once again immersed himself in his own world.
The Empress Dowager sighed softly and couldn’t hide her disappointment. “Li’er will be turning sixteen this year. But hs mind is still like that of a three of four year old. He doesn’t know how to speak like other children…I don’t even know whether I will ever hear Li’er call me ‘mother’ in this lifetime.”
Lin Qingyu asked, “Is His Highness able to speak?” It seemed he had never heard Xiao Li’s voice before.
“The National Teacher said that Li’er has all five senses. He shows no reaction because his soul is not in his body.” The Empress Dowager smiled bitterly, “He also said that most people with condition have a bewitching appearance. It is fortunate that Li’er is of the Imperial family. I hate to think what injustices he would have suffered were he a no name commoner with such a face.”
Lin Qingyu said, “The little prince is indeed very handsome.”
The Empress Dowager glanced at him and said, “Not quite up to par with you though.”
“The little prince is young and has yet to mature.”
“No matter how good his appearance is, what’s the use? I would have rather he look plain.”
The palace maid took away the dumplings and served fruit to cleanse the palate and aid in digestion. Lin Qingyu brought up Cui Lian and asked, “Has the Empress Dowager seen Cui Xiang’s recommendation regarding command of the Northwest?”
The Empress Dowager thought back carefully and said, “I haven’t. As far as I can recall, whenever Prime Minister Cui attended court, his attitude towards this matter was ambiguous, his words vague. It was difficult for anyone to get a good grasp on his stand.”
Lin Qingyu said, “I have read every letter regarding the Northwest but I have not seen one from Prime Minister Cui. It seems that someone deliberately hid it in order to use Prime Minister Cui to fuel the flames among the military officials. ”
Lin Qingyu and the Empress Dowager were well aware of who this person was.
“In the end, he is still unreconciled with being controlled.” The Empress Dowager took off her finger guards and started peeling the citrus with her own hands. “There is one thing that I have never quite understood.”
“I ask Her Highness to speak freely.”
“It seems you knew early on that he’s the restless type. Why’d you give him a chance?”
Lin Qingyu said, “Among the three sons of the late emperor, apart from the deposed crown prince, only the current emperor remained – I am sorry, if we were to support the little prince at that time, not to mention it is unlikely the civil and military officials would have believe the late emperor’s edict, if the Xixia learned that the future emperor is mentally deficient, what sort of impression would it have made? And thus, our only choice was His Majesty. However, His Majesty had no ambition towards the throne. I needed Xi Rong to make his political achievements for him so that he could be pushed onto the throne without disturbing the situation in the imperial court.”
“I understand.” The Empress Dowager gently wiped the corner of Xiao Li’s mouth with a handkerchief. “You have done a good job. The Emperor has successfully ascended the throne. In the future, His Majesty will have you and I to help him look after the country. There’s no need for Xi Rong to continue living now is there?”
Lin Qingyu smiled, “What the Empress Dowager said is very true. But Xi Rong is not someone to be trifled with. He has already drawn Prime Minister Cui to his side and he is highly valued by the Emperor. By rashly moving against him, we might be beating the grass and startling the snake.”
The Empress Dowager snorted coldly, “A thing without roots. If I startle him, then what of it?”
In the Empress Dowager’s eyes, Xi Rong was nothing more than someone who’s a little clever. Disposing of him wouldn’t make any waves. She didn’t know that Xi Rong and Xiao Jie had been mutually dependent on each other for many years. Killing Xi Rong wasn’t difficult. But if they were to lose Xiao Jie over this, who they would sit on the throne would become a problem.
Lin Qingyu raised his eyes to look at Xiao Li. His eyes darkened a little.
It was true that Xiao Li would easier to control than anyone else but in the end, he was a dullard, after all. Right now the Northwest was in turmoil. If he and the Empress Dowager supported another fool to ascend to the throne, he was afraid it would be difficult to reassure the army and the populace.
At least, he had to wait for Gu Fuzhou to come back.
“Empress Dowager,” Lai Fu stepped forward and said, “All the princesses of His former Highness have come to the Ci’an Palace to pay their respects.”
“I shall go and see them.” The Empress Dowager said, “Xiu Jiao, you can feed the prince some more fruit.”
The momo named Xiu Jiao peeled another tangerine and fed it to Xiao Li. Xiao Li pursed his lips. It seemed he had no interest in citrus. Xiu Jiao momo coaxed softly, “Your Highness, please have another one.”
Apart from his family and Gu Fuzhou, Lin Qingyu has always been cold and unapproachable, keeping others at a distance. But for some reason, though he had only met Xiao Li a few times, he felt that this dullard prince was amiable, giving off an indescribable sense of familiarity.
Lin Qingyu said, “Allow me to try.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Xiu Jiao stepped back and gave Lin Qingyu her spot beside Xiao Li.
Lin Qingyu picked up a tangerine segment and said, “Little Prince, open your mouth.”
Xiao Li stared at him for a while and then opened his mouth obediently. He let him put the tangerine into his mouth, a small bulge forming on his cheek.
“Is it sweet?”
Lin Qingyu had just asked casually. Unexpectedly, Xiao Li revealed a reaction.
— He smiled.
Xiao Li’s countenance was excellent and when he shows a smile, the dullness in his eyes faded and they shone like stars. They could fascinate someone who had yet to see the world to lose their souls in them. Something usually not seen rose up below the boy’s eyes. Gu Fuzhou had told him about this thing, the so-called “plump lower eyelids”. Jiang Gongzi had said that in his original body, he too had this when he smiled. Unfortunately, neither Lu Wancheng nor Gu Fuzhou had this.
Having this layer under the eyes when he smiled… it really does look good.
Xiao Li only smiled for a very short moment and his lifeless expression soon returned. It was as though that smile was an illusion seen by onlookers through dazzled eyes.
Xiu Jiao was stunned and it took a long while for her to react. She hurriedly ran to tell the Empress Dowager. “Empress Dowager, His Highness smiled!”
When the Empress Dowager heard this, she lost all thought of receiving the princesses. She immediately stood up, “Is this true?”
“It’s true! This servant saw it very clearly and Imperial Physician Lin saw it too.”
The Empress Dowager immediately grew excited. “Quickly, go and call the National Teacher!”
The author has something to say: Sit down and sit down. It’s not time for the third transmigration yet! Some remaining fragment of his soul was probably influenced by its master and felt like smiling when it saw the great beauty.
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