The Emperor Chu left the hall to change clothes, and while drinking tea in the side hall of the official residence, he had already heard the ins and outs of Gonghe Hall, chuckling softly.
"Such a hero rescuing beauty, Prince Zhou indeed has the deanor of a prince."
In these words, each was clearly praising, yet the people in the hall felt a chill, breaking out in cold sweat.
The palace maids buried their heads into their chests, not daring to breathe heavily, for fear of incurring the master’s bad mood.
Eunuch Zhou saw the young eunuch at the door make a gesture, then bent low and whispered, "Emperor, Pri Minister Song has arrived."
The Emperor Chu paused while holding his teacup and said, "Go and prepare a cup of Wuyi Big Red Robe, Pri Minister Song favors this taste. Oh, brew it with the birthday gift presented by the Jiangxi governor this year."
"Yes." Eunuch Zhou pursed his lips and smiled.
Song Zhiyuan walked over, first perford a grand salute to Emperor Chu, bowing respectfully, thrice calling long live, wishing a happy birthday.
The Emperor Chu was stunned for a mont but then recalled the past; every year for his birthday, this fellow would privately wish him well, no change this year.
"Rise, you do this every year, aren’t you tired of the lack of novelty?" The Emperor Chu spoke disdainfully, yet his eyes were smiling, gesturing to a seat beside him to indicate he should sit.
Song Zhiyuan sat down and said, "How else could wishing a birthday be novel, should the minister perform too?"
The Emperor Chu’s eyes lit up and said, "It has been a long ti since I last heard you play the xun."
Other refined scholars mostly played the qin or blew flutes or xiao; Song Zhiyuan did not care for those but liked the xun. He had collected several fine xuns, each producing a different tone, with a unique artistic conception.
Song Zhiyuan glanced at him: "Emperor, this year I also gave a birthday gift, drank a few cups at the banquet, feeling a bit breathless." aning he had already given a gift; he shouldn’t be made to play, feeling stuffy and tired.
However, the Emperor Chu thought he was talking about Prince Zhou and felt sowhat awkward.
Song Zhiyuan slled the scent of Big Red Robe, looked towards Eunuch Zhou, stood up, and personally went to receive it, saying, "Why trouble you to co."
Eunuch Zhou avoided him, smilingly said, "Those young fellows brewed it wrong, can’t waste such good tea, you just sit and let us servants serve you."
Song Zhiyuan had no choice but to sit down. Once the tea was served, he looked at Emperor Chu and said, "I vaguely heard it’s the birthday gift sent by the Jiangxi governor?"
The Emperor Chu nodded with a smile: "Yes, half a pound has been set aside for you, later Eunuch Zhou should rember to remind to take it back."
Song Zhiyuan smiled, stood up, cupped his hands in salute, and said, "Minister would be impolite to decline, thank you, Emperor."
The Emperor Chu curled his lips and added, "Well, I did indeed hear the Empress praise Governor Wen’s eldest daughter as dignified and gracious, virtuous and talented, suitable to be the first lawful wife, which is why I passed the word to you, but unexpectedly, Prince Zhou got the peach."
Song Zhiyuan said, "I understand, Madam has also t several tis, praising constantly, but marriage is determined by fate, truly not wrong. Congratulations, Emperor, for getting a good daughter-in-law."
The Emperor Chu’s smile faded and said, "What kind of daughter-in-law is this, only legitimate daughters are called daughters-in-law."
Song Zhiyuan made no comnt, lowered his head to drink tea.
"I heard they had been privately interacting long ago, even before your Madam invited Madam Wen to the temple to offer incense, and why agree on the eting then?"
Song Zhiyuan said, "In the end, they aren’t a lone man and a single woman, it’s not out of bounds. Besides, as the saying goes, ’When the Emperor wants a minister dead, the minister cannot but die.’" The Emperor Chu choked, is this traitor hinting at ?
"Are you foolish, whether alone or not, this young lady clearly holds improper thoughts, you still don’t mind?" Indeed, if a noble lady was upright, wouldn’t she know the difference between n and won?
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