Chapter 1025: 1041
The Empress glanced at him, aware of why he spoke that way. Ultimately, it was because his ascension to the throne was sowhat illegitimate, so he was very concerned about his reputation.
He wished to make use of the “proclamation drum” to legitimize himself and needed it to shield him.
With a sigh, the Empress said, “It would be good if that punishnt could be avoided.”
The Emperor snorted, “Unless they achieve great rits, from where should I grant them exemption? If I use any trivial excuse for exemption, wouldn’t the world beco chaotic?”
The Empress pondered silently.
Seeing her worried expression, the Emperor took her hand and asked, “Are you still worried about the affairs of the two princes?”
The corners of the Empress’s mouth twitched, but she found she couldn’t smile. Tears unexpectedly fell, and after wiping them away, she said, “Your Majesty, after the late Empress’s anniversary passes, let Sanlang leave the capital to govern his fief.”
“His consort just gave birth to their first child not two years ago, and the child is still young. Why rush this?”
The Empress shook her head, “Not too young anymore. The Prince of Hejian was only twelve when he went to govern his fief. If you are concerned about the grandchild, you can let him go to his fief first to get acquainted with the affairs there. Once everything in the palace is arranged, you could then have his wife and child join him.”
She said, “He’s grown up; staying continuously in the capital is unseemly.”
The Emperor fell silent for a while. Seeing the Empress’s firm deanor, he nodded, “Alright, I’ve noted all you said.”
After classes at the Imperial Academy, Manbao leapt off the carriage, joyfully waving to Bai Shan and a few others who were coming out of the door.
Bai Shan, bidding farewell to his classmates who were boisterously waving back, saw him running towards the young girl with his book basket and couldn’t help but smile.
Bai Shan ran up and asked with a laugh, “Why did you co to pick us up today?”
“I replied to Madam Tang’s note today, and this afternoon her servant ca saying she’s free and will go out for a stroll, asking if we’d like to join her. So I ca to pick you up.”
After Manbao finished speaking, she saw Yin Huo approaching leisurely, waved at him, and then asked, “Tomorrow we need to change the dressing, are you coming directly to my house, or shall we go to the pharmacy?”
Yin Huo smiled, “I’ll go to your house.”
He hesitated, then asked, “By the way, have you sold those flowers at your house? My older sister’s flowers have blood, and she likes them a lot. She even cut a branch for to keep in the room because it slls very nice.”
“They were sold out yesterday.”
Yin Huo looked sowhat regretful, “You acted quickly, I only ntioned two buyers to you. Didn’t leave any traces, did you?”
“Don’t worry, Bai Shan and I carefully planned it; they won’t trace it back to us.”
Yin Huo nodded with a smile. Seeing Bai Shan waiting, he hesitated before asking, “Aren’t you guys heading ho?”
Bai Shan nodded, “We’re going to et a friend.”
Yin Huo waited a mont, didn’t hear an invitation from them, felt a bit disappointed, nodded, and said, “Then you go ahead with your business; I’ll head ho.”
Manbao and Bai Shan nodded, and after he boarded the carriage, they turned back to look at the Imperial Academy, complaining, “Why is Bai Er taking so long?”
“He’s probably playing with his classmates. If he doesn’t co out soon, I’ll go in and find him.” Bai Shan asked her, “Have you thought about how to handle Madam Tang later? She was really curious about our dealings when she was residing in Luojiang County.”
“I’ve decided to tell her outright that I can’t say.”
Bai Shan: …
Yin Huo boarded the carriage, and Changshou asked, “Young master, are we heading ho?”
“No rush, let’s walk down the main street a bit.”
Changshou waited, and seeing he did not specify a destination, simply acknowledged and started the carriage.
As Manbao and her companions leaned against the carriage discussing, it took a full quarter hour before Bai Erlang walked out arm-in-arm with his friends.
The mont he stepped out the main entrance and saw the two waiting by the carriage, he imdiately withdrew his arm, bid his friends farewell, scampered over cheerfully asking, “Why are you here to pick up instead of Gao Song?”
Bai Shan turned, let down the carriage step, and helped Manbao board, saying irritably, “Madam Tang invited us for a al, Manbao ca to fetch us, and you took so long anyway. Tomorrow is a holiday, aren’t you eager to get ho?”
“That’s exactly why I’m not in a hurry to go ho.”
Bai Erlang waited for Bai Shan to board the carriage, then hopped on himself with high spirits, asking, “Where are we eating? Is the teacher coming too? No, the teacher is too old, Madam Tang probably wouldn’t feel comfortable dining with him…”
Daji put back the carriage step, turned the horse around, and they started off.
Madam Tang invited them for dinner. Since they were all quite familiar, she obviously wouldn’t choose the expensive Primus Pavilion but took them to Fragrant Full Pavilion, known for its delicious fish dishes.
Madam Tang chose a large private room by the window. Leaning against the window, she saw their carriage arriving and waved cheerfully at the people downstairs. Seeing them smile back, she hurriedly ran into the pavilion and then smilingly settled into the main seat.
The waiter quickly led them inside.
Madam Tang looked at them and laughed, “I thought you might play a ga of pretending not to recognize each other, but who knew that after a month and a half, you’d still write a note.”
The three, feeling sowhat sheepish, all chuckled uneasily.
Madam Tang waved her hand, “Alright, no need to be embarrassed. Sit down, and tell what you’d like to eat.”
Manbao said, “We’re not familiar, just order for us.”
“Alright,” Madam Tang instructed the waiter standing by, “Serve the dishes I ordered earlier.”
The three: …
Once the waiter left, Madam Tang looked at them and smiled, “Tell , what did you want to discuss with ?”
Madam Tang’s maid stepped forward with a smile, poured tea for the three, then stepped aside.
Feeling slightly sheepish, Manbao chuckled and then directly asked, “Madam Tang, we’re quite unfamiliar with the capital and not well-inford, so we wanted to ask if sothing recent happened in the capital?”
“Sothing happened?” Madam Tang tilted her head and thought, “The Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon, perhaps a palace banquet?”
The three shook their heads.
“Then is it that the late Empress’s anniversary is approaching, and the Prince and his family have all co to the capital?”
Bai Shan: “We know these pieces of news.”
“Yes,” Madam Tang pursed her lips, “These aren’t secrets, everyone knows them in the streets; moreover, with the three of you, one in the Imperial Academy, one in the Highest Institute, and one in a chaotic pharmacy with mixed news, you should be the last to be kept in the dark. So what kind of news do you want to know?”
Bai Erlang, who had been shivering since he saw Madam Tang, regretted coming. He felt that this Madam Tang was nothing like the one he had t before, except in appearance.
He thus turned to look at Bai Shan.
After Bai Shan pondered for a mont and was about to speak, Manbao suddenly spoke up before him, “We want to know the news about the Prince of Yizhou.”
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