Chapter 418

Consort De's words were basically a waste of breath.

Heng Xian and Ji Yaoyue's engagement had been for five or six years, and they had experienced many things together; it was impossible to shrink back when encountering trouble now.

Moreover, in Heng Xian's view, the so-called "trouble" in the Imperial Capital was nothing. At the very least, after wishing the old Empress Dowager a long life, running away with Ji Yaoyue wouldn't be a problem.

Of course, Consort De just needed a statement.

Heng Xian immediately said with a serious face: "I share weal and woe with Princess Taiping, we are bound by life and death, and will never leave each other!"

Ji Yaoyue, who was slightly nervous, said with a slightly red face: "Since Brother Heng has this heart, I also have this heart!"

"So cheesy!" Ji Yaofan muttered.

Consort De looked at the two and smiled slightly: "If you have no regrets, that's good. His Majesty has already issued an edict for us to go to the Huanglan Garden for the New Year banquet tonight. He must be setting the date for your wedding!

This is the first time His Majesty has announced a public appearance in over a decade!"

Ji Yaoyue's face turned even redder; she glanced at Heng Xian and blinked.

Heng Xian returned the look, then thought of the Emperor's health. Was the prescription taking effect?

"Congratulations, Princess!"

"Congratulations, Consort!"

At this time, the palace maids with rank and status around them offered their congratulations. Moreover, these people were very good at speaking; first, they congratulated the Princess on getting married, and second, they congratulated the Consort on being able to see His Majesty, who hadn't appeared for a long time.

Sure enough, Consort De and Ji Yaoyue waved their hands, and large amounts of rewards were distributed.

For a time, the whole hall was filled with joy.

Half an incense stick later, the banquet ended, and the palace maids and eunuchs brought up thirty-six plates of after-dinner snacks, twenty-eight types of tea, and seventeen types of fruit.

Every one of them was a boutique!

The food couldn't be finished, but the royal rules had to be met. Besides extravagance and waste, there were no other words to describe it!

Consort De stood completely from the perspective of a mother-in-law, talking about Heng Xian's family affairs, cultivation, future plans, and so on, before leaving.

The brother-in-law Ji Yaofan had been waiting impatiently and hurriedly ran out to find his former subordinates to play polo.

Only Ji Yaoyue and Heng Xian remained. The two left the palace and walked slowly along the corridors, which were carved and painted, reaching the pinnacle of royal majesty and beauty.

Ji Yaoyue looked at him: "If Father really asks you about the wedding date, what will you say?"

Heng Xian said: "That's a question worth deep thought. If I really have to say it, it's best to be tonight, sleeping while holding my wife."

"Pah!" Ji Yaoyue spat, her face flushed red, but her eyes held an irrepressible joy. She thought for a moment and asked: "Then... what if it's formal?"

Heng Xian said: "First, parents and family must be notified. In this world, it's better to have family!"

"What do you mean by 'this world'?" Ji Yaoyue asked curiously.

Heng Xian paused: "If I say... I'm actually not from this world, would you believe me?"

Ji Yaoyue blinked: "I'm also not from this world, would you believe me?"

Heng Xian shook his head and smiled, walking forward.

Ji Yaoyue followed behind and said: "There are thirteen days left until the Empress's birthday!"

Heng Xian turned back to wait for her: "I don't like court power struggles. After the Empress's birthday, you come with me, and we'll travel around and see the world, how about that?"

Ji Yaoyue smiled sweetly: "I'll listen to you!"

Heng Xian felt a warmth in his heart, grabbed her hand, and pulled her along.

Ji Yaoyue's face blushed again, and she let him hold it.

The group of palace maids and eunuchs following far behind couldn't help but lower their heads and giggle.

Heng Xian suddenly asked: "For the Empress's birthday, what kind of birthday gift should I prepare?"

Ji Yaoyue chuckled: "The Empress possesses the four seas and is the mother of the world; she lacks nothing. Everything depends on your heart. If you don't have one, take it from me; I have prepared many good things!"

"Good!" Heng Xian nodded.

At the end of the corridor was a waterfall on the ridge of the Imperial City. The water flowed rapidly. Even in the middle of winter, the surrounding flowers and plants were still lush, and there were colorful winter butterflies dancing with the wind and the water. It was truly a wonderful land.

Neither of them spoke anymore, watching silently.

At dusk, a head eunuch hurried over: "Princess, Master Heng, His Majesty has sent someone to convey an oral edict. The Consort urges you to hurry over!"

The two then walked back.

When they arrived at the main hall, Consort De and Ji Yaofan were already dressed and ready, just waiting for the two. They didn't need to dress up, so they could set off immediately.

The group of four, surrounded by palace ladies and head eunuchs, headed straight for the Huanglan Garden!

"Huanglan Garden" is His Majesty the Emperor's private garden, located in the west of the Imperial Palace, between the inner palace and the main hall where government affairs are handled.

As soon as the group left the "Xianqing Palace" area, they saw other concubines and consorts dressed in colorful finery, surrounded by palace maids and eunuchs, also heading to the "Huanglan Garden."

Consort De, sitting on a luxurious palanquin, said lightly: "It seems His Majesty invited more than just us!"

Ji Yaoyue and her brother looked at each other, not knowing how to respond.

Consort De said in a voice that only she could hear: "It's been a long time since he saw anyone. Now that he's seeing them, shouldn't the big and small wives see enough of him..."

Her face was full of jealousy.

Heng Xian and Ji Yaoyue and her brother pretended not to hear.

When Heng Xian was free, he had heard Xu Youzhi and others say that the concubine most favored by the current Emperor was Consort De. It was no exaggeration to describe her as the most favored in the six palaces.

Consort De even often overstepped her bounds, using the Empress's ceremonial equipment and pomp, and her son, Prince Wu, was already an adult but still lingered in the palace.

The Empress had always been virtuous and kind and didn't want to say anything, but the Crown Prince had many complaints about Xianqing Palace, which was also the biggest conflict between the Eastern Palace and Prince Wu!

Seeing Consort De's jealousy, he couldn't help but think of the Emperor's thin and withered appearance. If something went wrong, he might pass away in a few days, right?

"What are you thinking about?" Ji Yaoyue walked over at some point.

Heng Xian came back to his senses and said: "It's the New Year, I'm a bit unaccustomed to it!"

Ji Yaoyue showed a young daughter's posture: "I'll accompany you, I'll always accompany you!"

Heng Xian was just about to express his feelings when Ji Yaofan said lightly from the side: "The fireworks aren't bad!"

Heng Xian looked up and sure enough, as the lanterns were lit, dazzling fireworks and firecrackers were set off inside and outside the Imperial City, with "Booming" sounds continuously, a colorful scene.

There were even cheers from the palace maids and eunuchs, and the laughter of the common people faintly coming from outside!

In the flickering light.

The New Year atmosphere arrived unknowingly!

"The sound of firecrackers bids farewell to the old year, the spring breeze sends warmth into the Tusu wine.

Thousands of households under the bright sun, always replacing old peach wood charms with new ones."

Heng Xian felt like he was in another world and couldn't help but recite a poem.

"Good poem! Worthy of being the Shī Shèng!"

Ji Yaofan couldn't help but applaud loudly.

Ji Yaoyue's eyes were also full of admiration.

Consort De recited it softly and smiled: "It really is a good poem!"

The surrounding palace maids and eunuchs looked at Heng Xian as if he were a literary star.

"It's Master Shī Shèng!"

All around, the low-ranking concubines who were in the Imperial Palace, could not see the Emperor, and spent their days with music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and poetry, had regarded Heng Xian as an idol in the last ten days.

Hearing someone reciting poetry here, and some who recognized Heng Xian, they gathered around in a flurry as soon as his name was mentioned.

(End of chapter)