Chapter 99: Chapter 99: Organizing a Birthday Celebration
"The two of them really make a good match. One struggles to conceive, the other exhausts expectant mothers. Well, this will be quite a show."
As Princess Consort Lan thought about it, she ended up here.
She spoke with a bit of smug satisfaction, and Zhuai Yun, who stood beside her, had a look of agreement.
They overlooked the matter here, but in Yao Tai Pavilion, Lin Guifei had a huge outburst!
"Hmph, I knew that wretch Lin Wanyi wasn’t the obedient type. To have coaxed Your Majesty into raising the Second Prince in Huifang Courtyard—what a feat!"
"Your Highness, please calm down."
Jiang Heqing and Qin He stood aside, not daring to console her.
For fear that if they stepped in, Imperial Consort would be displeased, and then they’d suffer a beating.
Lin Guifei was angry for a long while, smashing pieces of porcelain everywhere, before gradually calming down.
The East Cross Courtyard’s reputation has indeed grown this time.
Lin Xingzhi joined the Imperial Armor Army, Lin Wanyi was promoted to Changzai, and the Second Prince is raised in Huifang Courtyard.
Truly a family of "honor."
"Go, have someone inform Grandmother about these things, so she can suppress the First Branch. Can’t have people thinking the East Cross Courtyard is on par with the West Wing!"
In Lin Guifei’s eyes, the East Cross Courtyard’s side of the family is not qualified to be compared with their West Wing.
Even though they are the primary wife’s legitimate son, how can an ordinary lady be discussed alongside a Commandery Princess grandmother?
The Prime Minister’s Mansion owes its current glory, undoubtedly, to Grandmother and Prince Zhan Mansion’s influence behind the scenes.
The First Branch has borrowed so much power, and still think they’ll gain benefits here?
Jiang Heqing and Qin He exchanged glances, then nodded in agreement and withdrew.
Qin He brought another plate of fruits over and then spoke.
"Your Highness, have peace of mind, this matter—I believe you should just sit back and watch the show."
"What do you mean?"
"Think about it, Princess Consort Lan was inexplicably deprived of a prince—could she possibly let Lin Changzai off the hook? And she’s pregnant now, if by chance she has a conflict with Lin Changzai, wouldn’t it..."
The words were left unsaid, but Lin Guifei understood the implication.
Her eyes revealed a trace of satisfying malice, and her smile grew more evident.
"Who could say it isn’t so?"
Then she instructed Qin He.
"Our precious Second Prince, his birthday is coming up, isn’t it? In past years, he was often ill, so they kept it simple. This year, I think we should celebrate it well for good fortune, especially since he lost a cherished nanny, right?"
"What Your Highness says is true. Since we’re to have a grand celebration, we must invite the entire palace. Even the Emperor has moved to Qiqing Hall. I recall there’s a Waterside Pavilion on Lotus Lake—it may not be big, but it can certainly seat ten or so people."
"Very well, in that case, notify the Inner Court Department to start preparing."
Lin Guifei looked at Qin He with a raised eyebrow, full of calculation.
Outside, the winds of change stirred fiercely, yet inside Huifang Courtyard, it remained tranquil.
Lin Wanyi looked at the four or five baskets filled with freshly picked peaches and felt a bit helpless.
"Those in the know would think you’ve been picking peaches. Those not might think you’ve raided a peach forest."
Chunqi still had a smile on her face, while Xiao Luzi was drenched in sweat.
These peaches had indeed been carried back by him, one trip after another.
Though the distance wasn’t far, the sweltering heat left him breathless.
The Second Prince’s face was unusually rosy.
Perhaps because he was in good spirits and had been running around, his cheeks flushed with color.
"Lady Lin has no idea how sweet these peaches are. Chunqi let me taste half a peach, and now there’s a lingering sweetness in my mouth."
With that, he handed one over.
Indeed freshly picked, the peach was covered with a thin layer of fuzz, slightly prickly to touch.
Xia An brought over a basin of water, and Chunqi and Xiao Luzi started washing the peaches.
Being fresh peaches, they’re best eaten right away.
After wiping off the fuzz for a while, Chunqi handed one to Lin Wanyi.
"My lady, try it. It must be very sweet."
Lin Wanyi smiled and took it, noticing the peach had a red tint, clearly ripe.
Biting into it, the aroma of sweetness emanated immediately.
The Second Prince stood by, eyes bright as he watched her, waiting for her to take the first bite, and then immediately asked.
"Lady Lin, how is it? Sweet?"
"Sweet..."
The two exchanged smiles, which the Emperor saw as he walked in from outside.
"The Emperor has arrived."
Dong Yuzhong’s declaration shifted all eyes from the baskets of peaches to the Emperor.
Perhaps celebrating something, the Emperor’s brow carried warmth as he looked at Lin Wanyi and the Second Prince.
Noticing the peaches spread around, he remarked.
"You sure know how to live."
The Second Prince suppressed his laughter, yet tried to keep a serious façade.
After all, he consistently maintained calm and composure before his father, the Emperor.
"This servant pays respect to the Emperor, may the Emperor remain safe."
"Your son greets father, may father stay well."
"This servant greets the Emperor, wishing the Emperor good health."
The entire courtyard sank to their knees in salute, making the Emperor feel he might’ve interrupted at the wrong time.
It seemed he had disturbed the peace.
"Please rise."
"Thank you, Emperor."
Afterward, Lin Wanyi attended to the Emperor in the main room, while the Second Prince went with Qiu Ming to the backyard to change.
The Emperor washed his hands, dabbed the slight sweat from his brow, and then spoke.
"Where’s Nanny Du? I don’t see her around?"
"Nanny Du is in the backyard, Your Majesty knows well, the people around the Second Prince need proper training, so these days she’s been in the backyard teaching them rules."
"Hmph, if not for minimizing trouble, I’d send them all to be criminal slaves directly."
The Emperor showed disdain when mentioning those people.
But Lin Wanyi thought Nanny Du’s way of handling things was more appropriate.
With her methods, she had ways to provoke trouble.
To then eliminate them all at once—that was the real way to eradicate them without leaving traces.
"Since Your Majesty has entrusted this matter to Nanny Du, there’s no need for concern."
After Lin Wanyi said this, she turned to the Emperor to continue asking.
"At this time, shouldn’t Your Majesty be handling state affairs? How come you’re here?"
"Lin Guifei sent word she wants to organize the Second Prince’s birthday. I rarely get involved, so I wanted to hear your thoughts."
She knew about the Second Prince’s birthday.
But hearing it from Lin Guifei, Lin Wanyi couldn’t shake the feeling something was amiss.
She pondered and then refrained from speaking hastily.
"In the end, it’s about celebrating the Second Prince’s birthday—his wishes are most important. Your Majesty should first consult the Second Prince’s thoughts."