Chapter 41
After a series of chaotic, clattering sounds, Lu Hanzhi slapped the peanut shells off his clothes and climbed out of bed. He turned around and saw several people entering his room.
One of them was Yuwen Min, and the other was Imperial Concubine Rong, who was dressed in plain, common women’s attire.
The attendants around them were also in plain clothes, but their stature made it clear that they were followed by a eunuch.
Without a word, Lu Hanzhi fell to his knees with a thud, his head bowing down as he loudly said, “I bow to Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine!”
It was over. It was over. The first impression of his new mother-in-law was ruined.
Imperial Concubine Rong couldn’t help but chuckle and turned to instruct the maid behind her, “Er Ya, you may leave now.”
The leading young woman stepped forward, bowed, and answered, “Yes, Your Highness.”
Once the attendants had left, Imperial Concubine Rong came forward to help Lu Hanzhi up, saying, “You are giving such a great display of respect, I truly can’t accept it.”
Lu Hanzhi, who was always sweet-talking, especially when trying to win over the elders, immediately responded, “If Mother Concubine cannot accept such respect, then who in this world can?”
Imperial Concubine Rong looked at Lu Hanzhi carefully, her face smiling, and said, quite satisfied, “You are such a well-behaved child. Your temperament is completely different from my son’s. But that’s a good thing; my son is too quiet. With you two together, life will be much more lively.”
Lu Hanzhi also sized up Imperial Concubine Rong, and he was taken aback by her beauty.
In the books, Imperial Concubine Rong was described as gentle, virtuous, and dignified.
But Lu Hanzhi felt that Imperial Concubine Rong’s appearance had a gentle charm, mixed with a hint of boldness.
No wonder she came from a general’s family; she looked capable and free-spirited.
Perhaps, it was because she had spent so much time in the palace hiding her true self that she had to adopt a gentle and obedient demeanor.
Lu Hanzhi looked up and glared at Yuwen Min, his eyes nearly spitting fire.
Damn you, Yuwen Min! Didn’t you think to inform me when you brought Mother Concubine over?
Well, it can’t be helped. A bride must meet her in-laws sooner or later.
Besides, Lu Hanzhi was not ugly.
Sure enough, after Imperial Concubine Rong sat down, she began to compliment him, “I heard that Hanzhi is known as the most beautiful person in the capital. Now that I see you, it’s truly well deserved. I didn’t expect my son to have such abilities, that he could win the heart of the capital’s most beautiful person.”
Lu Hanzhi wanted to cover his face. The title of “most beautiful person in the capital” had been greatly exaggerated.
The original owner was indeed considered the most beautiful in the capital, not only because of his naturally stunning appearance but also because of his clothing, manners, and speech.
Xiao Langjun had been taught by a governess from a young age how to walk, speak, and interact with others. He had a set of standards for everything.
Lu Hanzhi, however, was different. He was carefree and did whatever he wanted, never bound by any rules.
Although the original owner had a free-spirited nature at home, he maintained a good reputation outside.
Lu Hanzhi felt ashamed and cleared his throat, saying, “It’s probably just a misinterpretation from outsiders.”
Imperial Concubine Rong was not one to care much about such things. She had grown up in a military family, so she disliked the etiquette and manners of the boudoir.
Had it not been for her marriage into the Crown Prince’s household, she would have preferred to live a more unrestrained life!
Imperial Concubine Rong took Lu Hanzhi’s hand and said, “Where is my little grandson? May I see him?”
Lu Hanzhi immediately replied, “Of course, of course. Qin Se, bring the young master over here.”
In truth, it had been two days since he last saw Ah Chan. The past couple of days, Ah Chan had been cared for by his personal maid, Qin Se, and Luan Feng.
He had wrapped up some powdered milk in oiled paper and instructed the two maids on how to feed him.
Ah Chan, who was four months old, could now be given rice porridge and similar food.
However, Ah Chan was very picky. He insisted on eating milk beans and drinking sweet milk powder before he would eat properly.
At four months old, Ah Chan already weighed as much as a one-year-old baby, and his chubby little face was incredibly cute.
Although his features were exceptionally good-looking, they didn’t make him seem awkward at all. Instead, he was absolutely adorable.
Now, he could sit up on his own, roll over, squirm, and even eat his fingers—he was capable of so much.
Lu Hanzhi stepped forward and took Ah Chan from Luan Feng’s arms. He pulled his little hand out of his mouth and sternly said, “Hmm? No more sucking on your fingers!”
Imperial Concubine Rong smiled and came forward to take the child from Lu Hanzhi’s hands. She said, “There was once an attendant in the Crown Prince’s household, but unfortunately, she had a difficult birth and passed away. If that child were still alive, they would be a year older than Ah Jue. Later, the Emperor was so heartbroken that he didn’t take another concubine. Giving birth to a son is not easy. Ah, you must take good care of Hanzhi and never let him suffer.”
As soon as Ah Chan was in Imperial Concubine Rong’s arms, he giggled a couple of times and reached up to touch her head.
Imperial Concubine Rong was surprised and said, “This child truly has a noble fate. He grabbed jade the moment he touched it. His future is bound to be bright!”
The ancients believed that whatever a child grabbed during the “Grabbing Ceremony” foretold their future fortunes.
That’s why there was the tradition of the “Grabbing Ceremony,” where the items a child grabbed would determine their life’s fate.
Lu Hanzhi found it amusing. How could a child understand such things? Could grabbing something at random really determine their destiny?
But Imperial Concubine Rong added, “I think this child looks more like Ah Min. With those thick eyebrows and phoenix eyes, he has an imposing presence even without showing anger! But his personality is like Hanzhi’s—he loves to smile. Smiling children are always loved, and that’s a very good thing.”
As Imperial Concubine Rong showered praises on the child, Lu Hanzhi felt a little embarrassed.
A little baby, and people could read so much into it?
Finally, Imperial Concubine Rong took out a small jade ruyi and hung it on Ah Chan’s clothes, saying, “May his heart and wishes be fulfilled in this life, and his grandmother can rest easy.”
It was clear that Imperial Concubine Rong really liked this child. Lu Hanzhi suddenly thought of his second brother and Prince Chu’s child.
Surely, Imperial Concubine Rongdidn’t know yet that Prince Chu was expecting a child, right?
He wondered how she would react when she found out.
After spending a long time in the room with Lu Hanzhi, Imperial Concubine Rong finally got up to leave.
As she left, she was reluctant to go, repeatedly instructing, “I heard from my son that you came to this estate to do business. It’s good for young people to want to develop their careers, but you must take care of your health and not overexert yourself. When you have time, come to the palace to visit. I can’t come out of the palace easily, but as my daughter-in-law, you have three opportunities a month to visit the palace, just like Prince An.”
Lu Hanzhi was startled, realizing that being in the deep palace truly meant being unable to control one’s own actions.
Even visiting his mother was limited to a set number of times.
Lu Hanzhi nodded repeatedly, “Rest assured, Mother Concubine. I promise I will visit you three times a month. Spending time with you is the filial duty of a son. I may not be able to do anything else, but I can at least be with you more.”
Lu Hanzhi had coaxed Imperial Concubine Rong into a very happy mood, even making her feel as though she had gained another son.
Before boarding the carriage, he repeatedly reminded Yuwen Min, “Take good care of Hanzhi; he’s a good child. If you both live happily, Mother will be at ease.”
Yuwen Min nodded in acknowledgment, assisting Imperial Concubine Rong into the carriage.
Only after watching the carriage with Imperial Concubine Rong go out of sight did Yuwen Min turn to look at Lu Hanzhi. “What did you give Mother?”
Lu Hanzhi’s face was full of smugness as he replied, “Oh? Prince An is jealous?”
Yuwen Min didn’t speak.
Lu Hanzhi chuckled and said, “Prince An, you should smile more. Older people love children who smile! Just look at Ah Chan—he loves to smile, and everyone likes him!”
Little Fatty Chan: “…Mm, ah!”
Yuwen Min carefully took Ah Chan from Lu Hanzhi’s arms, examining his face closely before asking, “Does he look like me?”
Lu Hanzhi was startled, realizing that Yuwen Min had been thinking about this. He quickly avoided his gaze, deflecting, “Are you foolish? The Imperial Concubine just casually complimented him. Right now, he’s so young, it’s hard to say who he looks like.”
Yuwen Min continued to observe Ah Chan closely. Just as Lu Hanzhi was about to interrupt him, fearing he might come to some conclusion, Yuwen Min spoke.
“That big pig trotter you speak of, the one with the gentlemanly demeanor, doesn’t look bad.”
Lu Hanzhi: …
It’s obviously our Ah Chan who looks good!
But you spent all that time complimenting yourself—does that seem appropriate?
As the day grew later, Yuwen Min showed no intention of staying. He handed Ah Chan back to Lu Hanzhi and said, “There are important matters tonight. I will return tomorrow. Whether our plan succeeds or not depends on tonight.”
Xiao Langjun looked at Yuwen Min in surprise and asked, “We? What plan do we have?”
Yuwen Min merely hummed and replied, “Wang Fei’s clever plan to have County Princess Zhaoyun marry into the Crown Prince’s residence as Crown Princess is truly the best choice.”
Lu Hanzhi: Meow meow meow?
Didn’t you ask the female lead Su Wan’ning about this? Hasn’t she voiced her opinion?
Things were about to get interesting in the Crown Prince’s residence.
At the Princess Mansion, Princess Mingxi’s personal maid entered carrying a bowl of tonic soup and whispered something in her ear.
Soon, a lively young girl’s voice came from outside, “Mother! What do you need from me?”
County Princess Zhaoyun was the only daughter of Princess Mingxi and Prince Zhenbei. Their marriage had been lukewarm, and Zhaoyun’s birth was the result of Princess Mingxi’s great patience after much suffering.
Princess Mingxi loved her daughter dearly, hoping that she would not follow her footsteps in life.
Seeing her daughter’s innocent and bright face, Princess Mingxi could not bear to see her suffer.
However, if she did not take action now, once the issues with the eastern coastal and northern tribes were settled, the matter of marriage would inevitably be raised again.
How could she not understand her daughter’s feelings?
Zhaoyun loved Yuwen Min, but her older brother, the Crown Prince, would never allow her to marry Yuwen Min.
The little wolf cub must be isolated, while the Eldest Prince, with his mild nature, would be forced into action.
As long as he married Zhaoyun, it would place Prince Zhenbei’s faction in conflict with the Rong family, causing a rift.
Breaking up the relationship between the Eldest Prince and General Rong was only one step in the plan.
With that in mind, Princess Mingxi steeled herself, smiled at County Princess Zhaoyun, and beckoned her. “Yun’er, come here. I’ve prepared a nourishing soup for you. Drink it, and it will make you look radiant and loved by all!”
County Princess Zhaoyun pouted, “Mother, why do you always tease me?”
Princess Mingxi smiled and handed the bowl to her daughter without hesitation. “Oh, is my Yun’er shy now? I wonder which prince or king the Emperor will marry my precious daughter to?”
County Princess Zhaoyun reluctantly drank the soup, but kept her worries hidden deep within. Before long, she fell into a deep sleep.
Once County Princess Zhaoyun was asleep, two maids entered the room, helping her into the inner chamber and undressing her.
Soon, the personal maid returned with a message. “Princess, the Crown Prince has been waiting in the front hall for some time. Should we let him in?”
Princess Mingxi glanced back at the half-open door, nodded, and said, “Then please let the Crown Prince in.”
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