Li Seung-kyung's neck was fair and slender, and his Adam's apple was very obvious. His Adam's apple moved up and down, which was especially conspicuous.
Li Seung-kyung suddenly opened his eyes and held her delicate hands. Cheng Yujin was so focused on massaging his temples that she didn't notice anything else. She was startled when her hands were suddenly held.
"Your Highness, what's wrong?"
Li Seung-kyung didn't say anything. He turned to hold her wrist and led her to sit next to him. It was broad daylight, so he couldn't recklessly test his patience. Cheng Yujin sat next to Li Seung-kyung. Li Seung-kyung very naturally wrapped his arm around Cheng Yujin's waist and asked, "How about you? Is everything going well in the palace?"
Cheng Yujin sighed softly. She felt a kind of solid friendship between fellow sufferers.
Cheng Yujin said, "It's going well. Today, the Ceremony Directorate sent over the Mid-Autumn Festival records from previous years, but it doesn't seem to be from recent years. "
Li Seung-kyung was very intelligent. He understood everything with just a simple point. "Those records are different from the ones from the past two years?"
Cheng Yujin nodded lightly. The two of them looked at each other. There was no need to say anything. Everything was understood without words. Li Seung-kyung was silent for a moment. He sighed and said, "It's my fault. If I hadn't been absent for so many years, you wouldn't have been restricted everywhere."
"Your Highness, what are you saying?" Cheng Yujin said, "You just returned to the palace this year. It's already very difficult for the palace people to arrange things to this extent. If Your Highness had grown up in the palace, your connections would indeed be deeper. But if that's the case, why would Your Highness need to marry me? "
Cheng Yujin wasn't lying. She had just entered the palace and didn't have any connections. If Li Seung-kyung hadn't allocated people to her, Cheng Yujin's first step would have been much more difficult. Li Seung-kyung couldn't reveal that he already knew that he was the Crown Prince. Naturally, he couldn't bring people in from outside the palace. Otherwise, it would be easy to explain to the maidservants, but what about the eunuchs?
Fortunately, the Emperor was firmly on Li Seung-kyung's side. With the Emperor's cooperation, Li Seung-kyung had slowly sent his own people into the Palace a year ago and placed them in various positions. However, most of his people were outside the Palace. From the day Cheng Yujin entered the palace, Li Seung-kyung had handed over this part of the palace to her.
Without Li Seung-kyung's foreshadowing, Cheng Yujin definitely did not have the confidence to fight against Empress Dowager Yang today. Although it was difficult now, as long as he planned carefully and made careful arrangements, he would still have the strength to strike. It was unreasonable for Li Seung-kyung to blame him for not arranging everything properly. It was true that Cheng Yujin was unprincipled and partial to him, but she was rational. She wouldn't make trouble for no reason and didn't know what was good for her.
Li Seung-kyung couldn't say anything to refute. It was also true. If he hadn't been lost in the mountain flood and hadn't been stranded among the common people, he naturally wouldn't have gone to the Cheng Family and wouldn't have known Cheng Yujin. Perhaps their fates would have been completely different. In Li Seung-kyung's entire life, he wouldn't have known that the Marquis of Yichun had a young lady named Cheng Yujin.
Li Seung-kyung seemed to have lost something in his disappointment, but more than that, he was rejoicing. He suddenly had an extremely thrilling and mysterious feeling. It was clearly something that hadn't happened, but he had an intuition that there had been too many coincidences along the way between him and Cheng Yujin. If he had been one step slower, perhaps he wouldn't have met Cheng Yujin, and she wouldn't have become his wife.
For example, in the early spring of that year in Jianwu, he braved the wind and snow to rush to see Marquis Cheng. The road he took usually didn't allow him to meet women. If Cheng Yujin and Huo Changyuan hadn't been there, Li Seung-kyung wouldn't have met Cheng Yujin, and Cheng Yujin wouldn't have chased after him to Marquis Cheng's room. After that, Marquis Cheng asked the two of them to work together to make a screen, but it was naturally impossible. Due to Li Seung-kyung's relationship with Old Lady Cheng, he didn't often go to Shou 'an Hall. Cheng Yujin, on the other hand, rarely went anywhere other than Shou' an Hall. Even if they met by chance in Old Lady Cheng's courtyard, it was most likely that they would become uncle and niece who nodded at each other.
After that, because he was often away from the Cheng Family because of palace matters, Cheng Yujin was arranged to be married early on by her family. From then on, they completely walked the path of estrangement. Perhaps when he regained his status as the Eastern Palace Master, Cheng Yujin, as the wife of a noble family, would visit the Eastern Palace during the New Year Festival. However, one of them was the Crown Prince, and the other was the wife of a subject. Even if they met in the Eastern Palace, they would stay far away from each other and wouldn't meet each other.
Li Seung-kyung suddenly became extremely emotional. He originally thought that fate was unfair to him, but he didn't expect that he would be where he was today. It was already the greatest bias of fate. The position of Crown Prince had been unstable for fourteen years, but in the end, it still belonged to him. He drifted alone for fourteen years, but in the last year of the Cheng Family, he met the wife of this life.
Cheng Yujin saw that Li Seung-kyung was deep in thought and didn't speak for a long time. She quietly raised her eyebrows and asked with a smile, "Your Highness, what are you thinking about? Why do you look so serious? "
"I'm thinking that Huo Changyuan and Zhai Yanlin, these two people, should be sent far away." Li Seung-kyung seemed to be joking, but when he lowered his head to look at Cheng Yujin, his eyes were deep and calm, without any hint of a joke. For a moment, people couldn't tell whether he was joking or not.
Lin Qingyuan came to the Cheng Family because of him. He shouldn't have met Cheng Yujin, but Huo Changyuan and Zhai Yanlin, these two people were very likely to be Cheng Yujin's original husbands.
Just thinking about it made him feel unhappy. She was clearly right next to him, but Li Seung-kyung couldn't control his jealousy and hatred whenever he thought about how Cheng Yujin should have been married to Huo Changyuan or Zhai Yanlin.
Cheng Yujin hesitated for a moment, then thought about how it was possible. Other men might take the opportunity to suppress their former love rivals, but Li Seung-kyung wouldn't do such a childish and extreme thing. Cheng Yujin thought he was joking, so she laughed and said, "Your Highness, you're wrongly accusing me. When I was in the Cheng Family, I was always under your nose. Others might not know, but don't you know my actions? I've never interacted with these two men, and I avoided meeting them as much as possible. Even if I met them by chance, I never spoke to them politely. "
"I know." Li Seung-kyung held Cheng Yujin's hand. Her fingers were long and slender, and her skin was smooth. Li Seung-kyung could hold them all as long as he retracted his hand. His words seemed to be hinting at something, but also seemed to be hinting at nothing. "I've never doubted you. They're the ones who are scheming."
Li Seung-kyung forcefully ignored the fact that Cheng Yujin had tried to find a marriage for him. No matter what, Cheng Yujin wasn't wrong. The other men must be the ones at fault.
This topic was dangerous, so Cheng Yujin didn't answer. She couldn't be blamed. At that time, she didn't even dare to think about marrying the Crown Prince. Who knew that Li Seung-kyung would have such thoughts.
Li Seung-kyung squeezed the smooth jade-like hand in his palm and suddenly said, "When I was young, I complained that the heavens were unfair and wantonly deprived me of my destiny. But now that I think about it, I should be thankful for my good fortune. If it wasn't for the heavens' arrangement, how could I have met you? "
Cheng Yujin inwardly raised her eyebrows when she heard this. She didn't believe these words at all. She pulled her hand out and poured Li Seung-kyung a new cup of tea. She personally handed it to Li Seung-kyung and said with a smile, "Your Highness thinks too highly of me. Thank Your Highness for your favor. Your Highness didn't eat much for lunch, so I prepared a few snacks. Your Highness will have to put up with it for the time being. I'll prepare another meal for Your Highness tonight. "
Li Seung-kyung took the tea and glanced down. He couldn't help but laugh, "If you call this putting up with it, then I'm afraid that the snacks made by the Catering Department can't be eaten."
Whenever Cheng Yujin made a move, she would always do it to the extreme. The snacks she brought out were exquisite and beautiful. They looked, smelled, and tasted good. Anyone who saw them would have a good impression of them. Li Seung-kyung picked up one of the snacks and asked curiously, "How is this snack made?"
The snack in Li Seung-kyung's hand was blue and white. The blue gradually transitioned to a porcelain white, and the color gradually became natural. Because it was kneaded together with the dough, the pattern changed many times, and the shape was very natural. It looked like high quality blue and white porcelain.
This was a recipe that Cheng Yujin had come up with by chance. She tasted it and found that it tasted okay. What was rare was that it looked good, so she brought it along.
She didn't expect that Li Seung-kyung would pick this out. There was no other reason. A snack that looked like blue and white porcelain was too eye-catching.
Cheng Yujin said, "This is the color that I came up with by chance after soaking it in butterfly tofu pudding. I didn't expect it to have a gradient. I was also very surprised."
Li Seung-kyung nodded slightly. He looked at it again and said, "In your opinion, how about using it to make mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival?"
Cheng Yujin was stunned for a moment. Then, she really frowned and thought about it. Because it was also an accidental product, she just wanted to be fresh and didn't think of a deeper use. However, if she used this recipe to make mooncakes, the mooncakes would mean reunion and would have blue and white porcelain patterns. It could be said to be auspicious and elegant, and it was the essence of the palace's pastries. Moreover, she was hosting the Mid-Autumn Festival this year. What could be more outstanding than presenting a plate of exquisite mooncakes in front of the officials?
Cheng Yujin was enlightened and many ideas came to her mind. Cheng Yujin stood up and was about to bow to Li Seung-kyung. Li Seung-kyung stopped her with one hand and asked with a smile, "What are you doing?"
"Thank you, Your Highness, for your advice. Your Highness' words can be said to have solved my urgent problem. This is a great help." Cheng Yujin's words were sincere. Li Seung-kyung was indeed a member of the imperial family. Even though he hadn't been in the palace for many years, his innate keen sense of smell had not faded. Cheng Yujin needed a chance to make a name for herself, but she couldn't be too ostentatious and steal Empress Yang's limelight. This was the perfect starting point.
Li Seung-kyung said, "I just mentioned it casually. You still have to rely on yourself to make it." Before he finished speaking, his tone suddenly changed and took a big turn. "However, there are many fine steeds, but there aren't many who can recognize talent. I can't forget the kindness of giving me advice. How do you plan to repay me?"
There it was again. Cheng Yujin glared at him and stood up to put away the empty food box. "Your Highness is noble and unquestionable. You are willing to help others but never ask for anything in return. I admire Your Highness' righteousness very much. Naturally, I will remember Your Highness in my heart and use Your Highness as a role model. This is the best repayment. "
After Cheng Yujin finished speaking, she didn't give Li Seung-kyung a chance to argue and left. "Your Highness is busy with government affairs, but I have disturbed you for a long time. This concubine is ashamed and will leave first. "
In the afternoon, the Minister of Works came to discuss matters with Li Seung-kyung. The Minister of Works had been in the bureaucracy for many years and had long been trained to grasp the important points without batting an eyelid. As soon as he came in, he noticed the exquisite pastries in front of the Crown Prince's table.
He vaguely remembered that they weren't there in the morning. When Li Seung-kyung saw that the Minister of Works had come, he didn't make any small talk and quickly cut to the chase. The Minister of Works hurriedly gathered his thoughts and seriously discussed government affairs with the Crown Prince.
When Huo Changyuan arrived, a eunuch stopped him. "Marquis Jingyong, please wait. The Minister of Works is still discussing matters with His Highness. Marquis Jingyong, please wait."
"Of course. Thank you for your reminder." Huo Changyuan didn't refuse. Whether it was the Minister of Works or the Crown Prince, neither of them were people he could neglect. Huo Changyuan could only wait outside.
Not long after, two Eastern Palace officials came in. They were here to deliver files to the Crown Prince, so they could only wait on the side. Waiting was boring, and the eunuch was standing far away. The two civil officials knew each other and couldn't help but whisper to each other.
One of them asked, "When I came out just now, I saw that the pastries in front of the Crown Prince's table looked strange. I've never seen them before. Did the eunuch from the Catering Department come up with a new trick? "
The other shook his head. "The Catering Department always sends food at a fixed time. The Crown Prince is strict, so why would he send someone to deliver pastries during his administration? I didn't see anyone from the Catering Department in the afternoon, but the Crown Princess came in at around five in the afternoon. "
The subordinate was shocked. "The Crown Princess personally delivered pastries to His Highness?"
"What's so strange about that?" The other person had been called in by the Crown Prince many times over the past few days, so he knew a little more about Wenhua Hall. He said, "It's not just pastries. The Crown Prince has his own set of food and clothing and tea. He doesn't eat official meals with others."
The subordinate sighed with sincere envy. They stayed in the Imperial City to work in the afternoon and didn't go home at noon. Instead, they all ate at Guanglu Temple. Guanglu Temple's cooking … Sigh, there were ten laughable things in the capital, and Guanglu Temple's tea was one of them.
However, they couldn't not eat it. It was obvious that the important people also found it unpalatable. The Emperor had his personal eunuch to cook alone, which was the "internal" Catering Department. The cabinet elders could cook in private. However, these ordinary civil officials didn't have such magical powers, so they could only eat from the same big pot.
At noon, the Crown Prince didn't eat much. Not to mention the Crown Prince, even the subordinate couldn't eat. When the subordinate saw that the Crown Prince had extra food, he was very envious. He thought that it was the eunuchs from the Catering Department who were considerate. Now that he asked, he found out that it wasn't the eunuchs who sent the food, but the Crown Princess.
The subordinate felt even sadder, thinking that he might as well not have asked. The other person understood his feelings very well. He patted him on the shoulder and sincerely advised, "Don't be envious. We can't be envious. Just do your job properly and go eat at a restaurant tonight."
The subordinate sighed and could only hope to have a good meal after the court was dismissed. He saw that Huo Changyuan was also there, so he greeted Huo Changyuan. "Marquis Jingyong, you're also here."
"Yes, I have something to report to the Crown Prince."
The subordinate nodded. One of them was a civil official and the other was a military official. One was an upright official and the other was a noble official. They didn't have many interactions, so greeting each other was the limit. Fortunately, the Minister of Works came out not long after. He and Huo Changyuan cupped their hands in greeting, and Huo Changyuan entered the Hall of Literary Splendor with a solemn expression.
Huo Changyuan didn't specifically listen to the conversation between the two subordinates, but since they were in the same room, he couldn't help but listen in. After he entered the hall, he saluted Li Seung-kyung. When he got up, his eyes subconsciously searched for the strange-shaped pastries.
He really did see them by the table. Looking at the size of the plate, these pastries had already been used, and there were only a few left. Huo Changyuan recognized at a glance that they were Cheng Yujin's work.
In the beginning, he was engaged to Cheng Yujin, and later married to Cheng Yumo. He often interacted with the Marquis of Yichun, so he more or less knew about the Cheng Family. He had seen a few plates of exquisite pastries at Old Lady Cheng's place. At that time, he and Cheng Yujin hadn't broken off their engagement yet. The other party's mama proudly said that these pastries were personally made by the eldest daughter.
At this moment, the pastries in front of the Crown Prince's table were exactly the same as they had been at that time. It wasn't that the pastries looked the same, but the elegant and exquisite style clearly showed that they were made by the same person.
However, Huo Changyuan had clearly heard from the Cheng Family that Cheng Yujin didn't often cook. Just like how she was very good at needlework, she was also very good at cooking, but she rarely cooked. Outsiders rarely saw her cook.
Huo Changyuan couldn't help but think, didn't they say that she rarely cooked? Why did it seem that the Crown Prince's pastries these past few days were all delivered by Cheng Yujin?
There was such a big difference between an outsider and her husband. Huo Changyuan felt that it was inconceivable. Cheng Yujin had such a cold personality, but after marriage, she was so attentive and considerate. She was simply the model of a good wife and loving mother.
For a moment, Huo Changyuan's thoughts were complicated. At this time, Li Seung-kyung's voice came from the seat of honor. Huo Changyuan immediately held his breath and didn't dare to let his thoughts wander.
When the sky darkened slightly, it was time to leave. Huo Changyuan didn't know why, but because of what he saw in the Wenhua Palace Hall in the afternoon, he was inexplicably irritated. He wasn't in the mood to drink with his colleagues, so he rejected social engagements and led his horse home alone.
As soon as he entered the residence, the servant waiting at the door came up to him and said, "Marquis, ah, you're finally back! Old Madame was originally very happy that Miss Biao came today, but I don't know how she got in Madame's way. Right now, Madame and Old Madame are arguing in the upper room. You should quickly go and take a look! "
Cheng Yumo and Mother were arguing? How could she be so noisy? Huo Changyuan subconsciously frowned. He forcefully lifted his robe and quickly walked to the upper room.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
