By the time Han Yunxi's group returned to Yunning Palace, it was already the sixth day of the new year.
They arrived at night, but Long Fei Ye didn't even have time to rest before heading to the imperial study. There were plenty of memorials to the emperor waiting for him to deal with.
Han Yunxi and Rui 'er had no idea when Long Fei Ye returned to his quarters. In any case, when mother and son woke up the next day, Long Fei Ye wasn't there.
Han Yunxi had long gotten used to his busy schedule, so this wasn't even his busiest time. Even when they were in the same palace, she and Rui 'er wouldn't see him for two to three days.
Han Yunxi walked out the door and looked at the palace. She couldn't help but think of the time when she lived at the Duke of Qin's estate. Long Fei Ye had been busy back then as well, so she often went days without seeing him. Now that she'd finally seen him, he'd come looking for trouble with a cold face.
Yunning Prefecture was the temporary capital city and the liveliest place in Cloud Realm Continent. The inner city was filled with nobles, civil and military officials, while the outer city was filled with commoners.
The madams and young misses of the inner city organized all sorts of banquets to recite poems, compose poems, admire flowers, and write lyrics. Almost every banquet had amusing or scandalous news to spread and become the butt of jokes.
If there were only two kinds of people who were invited to every banquet, one would be the most popular, and the other would be the least popular.
Han Yunxi had been the least popular back in Tianning's capital city. Everyone wanted to see her make a fool of herself. Now she was the woman no one dared to invite.
Since no one dared to invite her, she was happy to stay in the palace and play with her Baby Rui. That was one of life's greatest joys!
On Tang Li's first day in Yunning, he took Ning Jing and little Tang Tang to a temple fair in the outer city.
Han Yunxi didn't go with them. She was waiting for the ten Old Man's men to make trouble.
She hadn't even returned to the palace when she confirmed that the ten empty red envelopes had all been delivered to the Old Man's men. She even specifically asked a maidservant and a eunuch who handled this matter.
The maidservant sent the red packets to Yunning Palace by eagle. The eunuch took over and arranged for them to be distributed.
When the servant girl counted the red packets, she noticed that there were ten red packets without banknotes. When the eunuch went to each manor to distribute the red packets, he also noticed the ten empty red packets. However, the two of them didn't dare to say anything! They all thought that the Empress did it on purpose.
How could Han Yunxi blame them?
Han Yunxi originally thought that as soon as she returned to the palace, the Old Man's people would come to her door.
However, as the days passed, there was still no movement from this matter.
If it was other people who received an empty red packet, they would be terrified and would not dare to say anything. They would only nervously try to figure out the Empress' intentions and reflect on how they had offended the Empress.
However, the ten madams were different!
It would be strange if they didn't seize this opportunity to teach Han Yunxi a lesson!
However, Han Yunxi waited for two days, but there was no movement from the group of madams. Han Yunxi was puzzled and became more cautious.
She also didn't take the initiative to mention this matter. She quietly waited and observed the changes.
The ninth day of the new year was coming. The ninth day of the new year was Xuanyuan Rui's first birthday. It was the first birthday of his life.
Long Fei Ye originally planned to hold a banquet for his first birthday. The invitations were also sent out. However, who knew that a few days after he returned to the palace, bad news came from Northern Li.
Northern Li, an avalanche!
Originally, the disaster had not been alleviated. After the beginning of spring, as the weather warmed up, there were several small-scale avalanches. Many herdsmen were killed or injured. It was unknown what man-made rumors said that the Emperor wanted to give up Northern Li. The entire Northern Li could be said to be shrouded in a pessimistic atmosphere.
On the night of the eighth day of the new year, Tang Li and Ning Jing rushed back from the outer city.
Tang Li directly rushed to Long Fei Ye's imperial study. He leaned on the table and asked, "Brother, tomorrow is Rui 'er's first birthday banquet. What do you plan to do?"
Northern Li had an avalanche. The country was in trouble, and the people were in trouble. If they held a big banquet for celebration, how many people would talk about it? Not to mention Long Fei Ye and Han Yunxi, even little Rui 'er who didn't know anything would be condemned.
Long Fei Ye raised his head from a pile of memorials and asked seriously, "You invited your father?"
"Brother, I'm asking you something serious! The common people outside the city are talking about how the herdsmen in Northern Li can't eat, but you want to hold a banquet for the Crown Prince. Brother, those people are looking for an opportunity to criticize the Crown Prince. Don't harm Rui 'er! "Tang Li said seriously.
Tang Li knew about the open and secret struggle between Baili Yuanlong and his father. However, he didn't know much about the current situation and didn't understand it well enough.
He originally didn't pay attention to this matter and even prepared a very special gift for Rui 'er. However, when he went to the temple fair in the outer city, he heard all kinds of rumors and slanders. He was so angry that he directly rushed back and didn't care about anything else.
Ning Jing chased after him with little Tang Tang. Seeing Tang Li so impudent, she was about to speak when Han Yunxi stopped her.
To have a younger brother like Tang Li who dared to rush here and slam the table with Long Fei Ye was also a kind of fortune for Long Fei Ye!
When fighting for the country, everyone was loyal. When it came to defending the country, those who fought for fame and fortune were also fighting for it with all their hearts.
That was then and this is now. Otherwise, the words "protecting the country" wouldn't be so difficult to write.
As the head of the Tang Sect, Tang Li was also in the circle of interests. However, Han Yunxi knew that Tang Li would never change!
"Do you have any good ideas?" Long Fei Ye asked seriously.
Tang Li thought for a long time before replying, "Cancel the birthday banquet and celebrate it with Rui 'er in private!"
The reason why there were so many rumors outside was because tomorrow was the ninth day of the New Year, and Long Fei Ye still hadn't released the news of canceling the banquet.
Ning Jing couldn't help but step forward and bow. "Your Majesty, this subject's husband thinks of canceling the banquet and donating all the expenses in the name of the Crown Prince to the victims of the Northern Li disaster. This way, all the ministers will have to follow suit."
Canceling the banquet at this time would appear insincere and would show that the Emperor and Empress were afraid of those who spread rumors.
However, in the current situation, the banquet had to be canceled. Thus, Ning Jing thought of this idea as a way to make up for it.
Long Fei Ye raised his eyebrows and looked at Tang Li. "In my opinion, I can rest assured that your wife will be in charge of the Tang Sect in the future."
In front of Tang Li and the others, Long Fei Ye had never put on airs and didn't refer to himself as' Your Majesty '.
Tang Li was proud that Ning Jing could come up with this idea. As long as Ning Jing was willing, he could also hand over the affairs of the Tang Sect to Ning Jing without any reservations.
It was a pity that he didn't have the final say in the Tang Sect. His father still controlled the Tang Sect's elders!
Tang Li sat to the side and muttered, "She and I are both running away. Why should we care about the Tang Sect?"
Long Fei Ye casually threw down two booklets.
Tang Li caught them and looked at them. His face immediately lit up.
One of the booklets was from the Ministry of War and the other was from the Ministry of Works. The Ministry of War complained that the Tang Sect hadn't received the first batch of weapons they were supposed to deliver at the beginning of spring. The Ministry of Works complained that Tang Zijin hadn't returned to the Imperial Capital since he returned to the Tang Sect in the twelfth lunar month. Because of Tang Zijin's absence, the construction of the Imperial Capital had been delayed for several days.
The Ministry of Works and the Ministry of War both pointed their spears at the Tang Sect. However, they didn't take into account how many more booklets would come after these two booklets and how many people would covet the Tang Sect. These two reports were enough for Long Feiye to force Tang Zijin's hand.
Tang Zijin was definitely still busy with the weapons at the Tang Sect. Ning Jing had always been in charge of those weapons. Because they were second-hand modifications, there were many things that Tang Zijin didn't know about. It was very difficult for him to take over.
As for the Imperial Capital, Tang Zijin had to personally oversee the construction of the Imperial City. Without Tang Zijin, there was no progress in the construction of the Imperial Palace.
It was difficult for Tang Zijin to do two things at the same time. He couldn't split himself up!
Tang Li carefully read the two booklets and said, "Big brother, it's time to test my father!"
If Tang Zijin knew that Tang Li had said such a thing, he would probably be so angry that he wouldn't recognize him as his son.
However, this was the truth. It was time to test Tang Zijin.
Now, there were only two paths in front of Tang Zijin.
The first was to compromise with Tang Li and Ning Jing. He would bring the couple back and have Ning Jing continue to be in charge of the weapons while he returned to the Imperial Capital as soon as possible.
The second was to find someone else to take over the Tang Sect's weapons.
Tang Zijin naturally knew that many people in the imperial court were eyeing the lucrative job of weapons. The Tang Sect had made many enemies because of this. If he was willing to give up the profits and find someone else to take over the weapons, the Tang Sect would definitely attract many collaborators and allies. They might even become a major faction.
In fact, if Tang Zijin extended an olive branch to the southern military, many of them would very likely cast Baili Yuanlong aside and cooperate with the Tang Sect.
What choice would Tang Zijin make then?
On one hand, he would accept Ning Jing and leave the Tang Sect without descendants. On the other hand, he would accept foreign aid and form a faction. It had to be said that this was an extremely difficult choice for Tang Zijin!
However, it was precisely such a difficult choice that could test Tang Zijin's sincerity.
Ning Jing's expression turned serious. Tang Li, this heartless thing, was actually still smiling.
Han Yunxi said, "Tang Li, whether you and Ning Jing return or not is the Tang Sect's business. The weapons are an important matter for the imperial court. Now, it can be said that your family's business and the imperial court's business are mixed together. It's up to you to decide how to use these two booklets! "
"I'll do what needs to be done!" Tang Li didn't hesitate. He withdrew his smile and said seriously, "Sister-in-law, I also want to know if my father … will become a second Baili Yuanlong."
Long Feiye had been waiting for these exact words.
He didn't deal with this matter publicly. Instead, he ordered someone to send the two memorials directly to the Tang Sect for Tang Zijin to see.
Tang Zijin was a smart man. He knew what to do as soon as he saw the memorials.
Han Yunxi asked jokingly, "Tang Li, Ning Jing, if the birthday banquet is canceled, will you still give Rui 'er a gift?"
"Of course! I've already prepared it! Tomorrow, we'll celebrate Rui 'er's birthday ourselves. " Tang Li smiled at Rui 'er, who was flipping through a book. "Crown Prince, you'll definitely like tomorrow's gift!"
Rui 'er glanced back and didn't react much before burying his head back into his book. He didn't understand, but he liked reading those words.
"Tomorrow's birthday banquet won't be canceled. The banquet will go on as usual, and the gift will still be received!" Han Yunxi said with a smile. "This is my son's first birthday. I want to make it a big deal. Let's see what those people can do to us!"
Tang Li and Ning Jing were shocked.
Her Majesty the Empress was so willful? Was it really alright?
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