Chapter 66 - What were you doing with her?!

Ji Minggan didn’t stay long before he asked for leave, saying that since the three princesses and the concubine were here, maybe the Emperor did not have much time to study. As a studying companion, he wanted to go back to serve his parents early, instead of being idle here.

Emperor Chunjia smiled as he agreed, and let him send a warm greeting to Marquess and Marquise Haixi.

Seeing this, Zheng Fengchen also had the intention to leave, but before he mentioned it, the Emperor turned his head to Yun Fenghuang and said, “Aren’t you going to see the turquoise hibiscus? Come on. I will take you to see it.”

Yun Fenghuang was stunned and then said with a smile, “Thank you, My Majesty.”

Hearing this, Princess Jinyun was happy and said, “Brother, is that hibiscus about to bloom? I want to see it too!”

“You have already seen it.” Emperor Chunjia stood up, smiled and said casually, “You can see it later by yourself. As it is the first time that Gui Ren comes here, if I won’t take her there, she wouldn’t even know where the hibiscus flowers are.”

Princess Jinyun wanted to say that although Gui Ren Yun did not know where the turquoise hibiscus was, any eunuch around the palace could lead the way for her. Did he need to take her there in person? Besides, they were just there appreciating flowers. What was wrong if she went there as well?! Could she destroy the flowers by observing???

But her sleeve was pulled by Princess Penglai secretly. In the end, she just pouted and grunted, “Then we are waiting for you here.”

Out of the side hall, Yun Fenghuang asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Great-Concubine Shen feels that the third son of General-in-chief of the Cavalry is reliable.” Emperor Chunjia said casually, “I have never been a matchmaker and don’t know how to match them up. Since I got a chance today, let them get along with each other for a while. Anyway, my sisters often come to Tai Chu Palace, and grew up with my studying companions. Plus, there are a lot of eunuchs around them. It doesn’t matter.”

Yun Fenghuang didn’t quite understand what Great-Concubine Shen thought, “Princess Penglai looked very quiet, and the third childe of Zheng’s Family is also quiet. If we put them together, would they be quite all day?”

Emperor Chunjia chuckled, “Maybe they like quietness.”

When he said this, there was a trace of coldness in his eyes, and he looked very indifferent, completely different from the gentleman he showed himself as in front of other people.

However, it only lasted for a while, and the Emperor soon recovered, saying, “Anyway, we came out in the name of appreciating flowers, so I will take you to see the turquoise hibiscus. In fact, it’s not rare. The gardeners just add indigo into the water and put the mixture on the root of the original snow-colored hibiscus. This year, the flowers are turquoise. If you do not continue to put that mixture next year, the flowers will still be white.”

Saying this, there was a flash of sarcasm in his eyes, “Hibiscus flowers were originally bright white, but were forcibly changed to be blue. So, they would wither in a few years and die for that. The turquoise hibiscus in Tai Chu Palace is very famous. In fact, it has been changed for several times. Since each time it is cut like the former one and its flowers are always turquoise, people would think it is the original one.”

“If you don’t like this, My Majesty, why don’t you tell the servants to move it away?” Yun Fenghuang suggested, “If it is not here, you don’t have to worry about it.”

Besides, there was no need for the servants to “take care of” the hibiscus flowers.

Emperor Chunjia glanced at her, “The turquoise hibiscus was gifted by General-in-chief of the Cavalry when I was enthroned, and he said it was a good omen.”

“Since it is a good omen, it is only a few flowers.” Yun Fenghuang said casually, “It is just a good will of General-in-chief of the Cavalry, why should My Majesty worry?”

She thought for a while and smiled lightly, “Isn’t it that… General-in-chief of the Cavalry had another intention to give this gift to My Majesty? It’s not for free?”

“…” Emperor Chunjia just twitched his lips without any emotion, and smiled indifferently. He didn’t continue this topic, but talked about Princess Minghui and Ji Minggan, “Queen Mother Ji decided to match them up yesterday. And then you get involved in it… Why does Her Highness care about this?”

Yun Fenghuang said, “It’s not her business. I happened to meet Princess Minghui on my way back to Hu Zhu Palace. At that time, she was scared by the toad in the grass, so I helped her get rid of it. Seeing she was scared, I invited her to Xi Xing Building to stay for a while… Maybe she wanted to thank me, so she took me over here to spend more time with you.”

Emperor Chunjia pondered for a while and said, “We are here alone. Tell me the truth. Do you think Ji Minggan can be a good husband of Minghui?”

“… My Majesty?” Yun Fenghuang looked at him with surprise, “Princess Minghui is very noble, and Childe Ji is the legitimate son of Ji’s Family and younger brother of Her Highness. How could I, a humble concubine, talk about their marriage casually?”

Most importantly, these two had nothing to do with her, so whether they could be a good couple or not, and whether they had a good life after getting married… she really didn’t care.

Emperor Chunjia was silent for a while and said, “Although Ji’s Family… Minghui is the legitimate daughter of the previous Emperor. The previous Emperor… I had never seen the previous Emperor when he was alive. But as his heir, his children are my siblings. Regardless of the overall situation, the three princesses, I always hope they could be happy.”

Seeing Yun Fenghuang smiled lightly without a word, he knew that this young concubine looked kind and obedient, but actually she was very indifferent and not easy to be moved. Then he secretly sighed and said, “I can disclose something to you: in fact, Queen Mother Ji is unwilling to set Minghui up with a member of Ji’s Family. However, for various reasons, whether Queen Mother Ji, I, or the Empress Dowager… can’t object it explicitly, understand?”

“Does My Majesty intend to entrust it to me?” Yun Fenghuang raised her eyebrow, “Even you three sisters could not succeed. Am I qualified to do that?”

Emperor Chunjia said calmly, “If you succeed, I promise you a hostess of a palace in front of Queen Mother Ji.”

“Her Highness can handle it.” Yun Fenghuang didn’t really believe this promise, “I have been promoted several times since joining the Imperial Harem. I don’t dare to bother Queen Mother of Honor.”

She didn’t know Queen Mother of Honor. If she tried her best to make it happen, but Queen Mother of Honor broke her promise, and even more ruthlessly, threw her to Ji’s Family to vent their anger for failing to get the marriage settled… What would she do?

“…” The Emperor was silent for a moment, and said softly, “It’s okay if you don’t want to be promoted, but you have to do this.”

Yun Fenghuang frowned, “What?”

“I have recommended you to Queen Mother of Honor to share her worries.” Emperor Chunjia teased her, “So, Minghui came to see you today.”

Yun Fenghuang looked at him for a long while and sighed, “You are the Emperor.”

You did this before I was told. Didn’t your conscience hurt?

Emperor Chunjia didn’t mind her reaction, “Queen Mother of Honor is picky. It is not easy to meet her. Although everything in the Imperial Harem is decided by Her Highness, Queen Mother of Honor still can make the final decision sometimes. If Gui Ren can impress Queen Mother of Honor through this thing, at least, when you are good enough to be a hostess, Queen Mother of Honor will not object.”

You had just guaranteed me to be a hostess. But now, you just said she would not object if I had enough credit to be a hostess?!

Yun Fenghuang took a deep breath and smiled out of extreme anger, “Then I should thank My Majesty’s great grace?”

“Come on, you are my beloved concubine.” Maybe because she framed the Emperor and Yuan Lianniang for many times since she just joined the Imperial Harem, seeing that she was very angry but pretended to be unconcerned, the Emperor was very happy and deliberately said softly, “I am optimistic about your future.”

“But I have to urge Jie Yu Yue to copy the scriptures to pray for Her Highness.” Yun Fenghuang squinted at him, suddenly smiled, and also said softly, “My Majesty knows the tamper of Jie Yu Yue… If I am teased and hurt by Jie Yu Yue after going to Ning Bi Hall, and then I can’t finish the order of Queen Mother of Honor, what should I do?”

Emperor Chunjia froze, and said immediately, “Maybe as you leave Tai Chu Palace later, you will be told that Lianniang is under the supervision of other people and you don’t have to worry.”

Yun Fenghuang still smiled, “Really? That’s incredible. But the matter is always unpredictable. For example, Childe Ji, the youngest legitimate son of Marquess Haixi, younger sib brother of Her Highness, nephew of Queen Mother of Honor, grandnephew of the Empress Dowager, and legitimate descendant of Duke Ye, who just left angrily… He is noble and young, if he dies all of a sudden…”

“If Gui Ren is so capable.” Emperor Chunjia listened quietly to this euphemistic arrangement. His expression remained unchanged, and he only said gently, “I will wait.”

Anyway, he neither supported Princess Minghui to marry Ji Minggan, nor cared about the latter’s life.

In fact, the Emperor had confronted Ji’s Family for many years explicitly and secretly. If Yun Fenghuang really had the ability to kill the most-favored legitimate son of this generation of Ji’s Family, he would be definitely very happy.

Seeing he was indifferent about her threat, Yun Fenghuang secretly clenched her teeth. Then she thought of something else and blurted out, “Since you left the three princesses in the side hall with Zheng Zihuan, are you really trying to match Princess Jinyun up with Zheng Zihuan?”

Seeing Emperor Chunjia frown slightly and look at her, she twitched her lips and lowered her voice, seemingly smiling, “Or, My Majesty’s real intention is to match Princess Minghui up with Zheng Zihuan?”

As for the Emperor’s intention, obviously, he wanted to provoke the contradiction between General-in-chief of the Cavalry and Ji’s Family.

Yun Fenghuang observed the expression of Emperor Chunjia and continued, “Zheng Zihuan also has noble background like Childe Ji. Regardless of himself, his seniors are prominent and aggressive! You don’t dare to do it obviously, even dare not to do it by yourself. So, in the name of Queen Mother of Honor, you want me to take the risk and even bear the blame in the future. Do you overestimate me? Such a big deal, can I afford it?”

“… Why are you so suspicious?” Emperor Chunjia followed her inquiring eyes, and smiled, “Queen Mother of Honor cares about Minghui. If you are indifferent, there will be a decree within two or three days. At that time, you will know whether what I said is true or not.”

He was very determined when he said this, even with a trace of teasing, but Yun Fenghuang was unmoved, “Everyone with clear eyes can see that probably. Childe Ji doesn’t love Princess Minghui. In that case, Queen Mother of Honor is fond of Princess Minghui, and doesn’t want her to marry Ji Minggan. But since they are relatives, she has to agree it temporarily, and it’s reasonable that she would find a way to break up them. Seizing this opportunity, My Majesty uses Queen Mother of Honor to get favor. Although it is also reasonable, My Majesty… I am afraid that is a trap aiming at you. You know I once had a splendid life. If they question me and I can’t afford it, I’m afraid I’ll betray you!”

Yun Fenghuang meant, “In short, if you got me in trouble, I would betray you. If you framed me in front of Queen Mother of Honor, I would immediately drag you down if I was in danger!”

Emperor Chunjia knew her meaning, but he smiled indifferently, and said gently, “It relates to Minghui’s lifelong business. Although it is entrusted to you, as her brother, how can I ignore it? You don’t have to worry about it.”

Yun Fenghuang looked at him suspiciously, and after a moment, she hummed and reached out her hand, “Since you said it…”

The Emperor smiled and gave a high-five to her, “I… will not take it back!”

Right after she said this, there was a loud voice not far away, “Ji! What are you doing with her?!”

The two heard the sound, and were startled. They turned their heads, and saw that Yuan Lianniang was standing angrily behind the moon gate, wearing simple clothes and a hairpin. She was now looking at them sharply.