The palace banquet did not end until Xu hours ^[1]7 to 9 PM.

  Emperor Yongjia still took care of Empress Qiao’s dignity and stayed in Jiaofang Palace.

   Concubine Meng had the usual smile on her face, and after returning to Yanxi Palace, her face sank. The maids around her all knew the temper of the master, and they were trembling and did not dare to say anything at will.

   It was not until the first prince and his wife came, that Concubine Meng had a smile on her face.

  The Eldest Prince was the eldest son and the child of the woman he loved. So, Emperor Yongjia loved him very much. Among the princes, the eldest prince looked the most like Emperor Yongjia, with a slightly darker complexion and square eyebrows that were more than handsome.

  The first Princess Consort Liang had a slender figure, bright eyes, and white teeth. She may not be a top-notch beauty but was beautiful in her own way. 

   “It’s so late, why didn’t you go back to the residence earlier to rest.” Concubine Meng scolded the eldest prince with a smile.

   The eldest prince drank a lot of wine tonight, his face was slightly red, and he said with a smile: “Mother concubine always speaks so wrongly, isn’t she happy when she sees her son?”

   Concubine Meng slapped her son with a smile.

  The mother and son were very affectionate and had nothing to say.

   Concubine Meng did not make any detours and asked bluntly: “I didn’t have time to ask in detail before. Did you make military exploits this time? How about the second prince?”

  The First Princess Consort is also concerned about this issue, with a pair of beautiful eyes, Yingying stared at her husband.

   The eldest prince raised his brows, showing confidence and arrogance: “I personally led the troops into battle, fought a few victories, and beheaded the enemy of more than 20 ranks. As for the second brother, the father ordered him to follow General Li and did not go into battle.”

   Great Wei occupied half of the territory of the Central Plains. Dayan and Chu formed an alliance, still, they could barely compete with Great Wei. Emperor Yongjia led an army of tens of thousands to go out on an expedition to suppress a few “chaotic bandits” who were not well-known, and they were easily captured.

  The eldest prince is guarded by hundreds of personal soldiers, as well as the elite soldiers of the Marquis of Guangping accompanying him. On the battlefield, it is not difficult to make military exploits.

General Li is in charge of the logistical munitions. It was the first time that the Second Prince went out with the army, and he had no chance to go to the battlefield at all. On the way back, he fell off his horse and was slightly injured.

   No wonder he didn’t even come to the palace banquet, he was ashamed to face them!

   Concubine Meng raised the corner of her mouth, and a contemptuous smile flashed in her eyes: “For the past few months, the Empress has been thinking about the safety of the Second Prince. She didn’t even think about the risks of logistics and planning military rations.”

   The First Prince pursed his lips and laughed lightly.

   Concubine Meng Gui expressed her sullen breath and asked casually, “I heard that the second prince was injured when he was returning, is it serious?”

The eldest prince said casually: “I don’t know either. After the second brother was injured, he recuperated in the carriage and stayed in the tent at night, and he refused to see anyone. I went there twice, and both times was denied entry, and I didn’t even ask for it. This is boring.”

   Concubine Meng Gui whispered: “He is self-conscious because he was embarrassed, and he is afraid that you will make fun of him.”

  The eldest prince is conscious of his broad-mindedness: “People fail, horses fail. Occasionally falling off the horse is not a big deal. How could I make fun of him.”

   Concubine Meng’s eyes flashed slightly, and she said meaningfully: “The heart is separated from the belly. Of course, you don’t know what he thinks in his heart.”

   Mother and son looked at each other and didn’t say any more.

   Emperor Yongjia was in his prime and often led troops to fight. The ministers wisely did not mention the matter of establishing the Crown Prince, and Emperor Yongjia had no intention of establishing the Crown Prince at all.

   Several princes, on the surface, got along fairly well.

  As the princes grow up day by day, the people in the palace have their own thoughts, and it is only a matter of time before the battle for the throne starts.

   First Princess Consort Liang said softly, “It’s getting late, Concubine Mother should rest earlier! Daughter-in-law will come back tomorrow to greet Mother.”

   Concubine Meng’s smile faded, and she gave a lukewarm hum.

   Liang is the daughter of General Liang, and in terms of identity, she is just good enough to become the First Prince’s consort. 

   However, the Wei Dynasty was only eight years old, and Concubine Meng and Emperor Yongjia grew up together as childhood sweethearts. The origins of the identities of the generals of the Great Wei were very clear.

   General Liang was the personal soldier of Emperor Yongjia and once blocked arrows for his master. Emperor Yongjia was grateful for General Liang’s loyalty and made him his own commander-in-chief.

   When Emperor Yongjia was enthroned as emperor, General Liang became the general of the Imperial Guard and took on the important task of guarding the city palace.

   The daughter of a mud-legged guard turned out to be her own daughter-in-law. How could Concubine Meng be satisfied?

   However, the mud-legged guard has now become a fiery general of the imperial guard, a confidant of the emperor, who holds military power. This marriage was also decided by Emperor Yongjia himself. No matter how unhappy Concubine Meng was, she would have to hold her nose to recognize her as her daughter-in-law.

   In front of people, you have to pretend to praise your daughter-in-law for being respectful and filial.

snort!

   The Eldest Prince Consort just pretended not to see her mother-in-law’s disdainful eyes and said goodbye respectfully. When she got up, she quietly leaned toward the eldest prince.

   The Eldest Prince took his wife’s hand affectionately and scratched his fingertips in the tender palm.

  The husband and wife have been separated for a long time, and their hearts are inflamed. The Eldest Princess Consort glanced at her husband shyly and timidly.

   Concubine Meng: “…”

  Ungrateful bastard!

   Concubine Meng Gui got angry when she saw her son’s unpromising virtue and waved her hand impatiently: “Okay, leave the palace and go home soon!” Don’t get in the way of her here.

   The eldest prince was unaware of the turbulent waves between the mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law, and happily took the Eldest Princess Consort’s hand and left.

   Concubine Meng glared at her daughter-in-law’s back, and couldn’t help but snort from her nose.

  …

   In the Chengqian Palace, there was silence and tranquility.

  A handsome 17- or 18-year-old servant walked quietly to the door and knocked gently: “Your Highness, it’s time to drink the medicine.”

  This is the second prince’s bedroom. This handsome and lovable, round-faced waiter, called Xiaoxi, usually took care of the second prince’s clothing, food, and daily life.

   In the past few days, the master was in a bad mood and is not happy to talk to people.

  Xiaoxi also served with extra caution.

   After a while, a voice came from the door: “Put the medicine first!”

   This voice is warm and melodious, extremely pleasant.

  All princes have different temperaments. The Eldest prince is the most favored, and his temperament is also the most direct.

   The birth mother of the Third Prince was born from a humble background, so he was not favored. Although he is excellent in both civil and military affairs, he usually speaks and acts very low-key.

  The Fourth Prince was smooth and lovable.

  The fifth prince was young and mediocre everywhere. The only thing he was better at than the other brothers was his appetite.

  The Second Prince is different from them.

  The Second Prince’s maternal family was famous as a scholar family. Empress Qiao was dignified, elegant, and self-controlled, and deeply influenced the temperament of the Second Prince. He was also a gentleman who is upright and polite.

 Knowledgeable and modest, amiable and gentlemanly, that was the Second Prince.

  Unfortunately, Emperor Yongjia, who conquered the world with his might, did not like such a son.

  Xiaoxi gently opened the door and put the medicine bowl on the table. Then, bowed his head and stepped back. When he was about to go out, he looked up at the master.

  The light of the candlelight cast a faint layer of light and shadow on the second prince’s face. He couldn’t see his face, only those eyes that were deep and unpredictable.