Chen Xuan was rendered speechless by his words.
"Fine," he rubbed his temples. "As long as you have a plan in mind. But the situation is about to get tense soon. You'd better let me know what you're going to do so that I can be prepared."
The only reason he wasn't scared to death by this brat was that he had a strong heart.
Otherwise, given this boy's past records, he would have been bedridden like the emperor long ago.
Chen Tingfeng nodded slightly. "Understood, Father."
He always looked so respectful. Chen Xuan looked at him, hesitating to speak. "You're not going to hide things from Zhenzhen like this, are you?"
Hiding things from one's father and hiding things from one's wife were two completely different offenses. If it were him hiding a huge matter from Madam Bai, he was afraid that once the matter was over, it would be the time for his head to fall.
Chen Tingfeng was silent for a moment. "Father is overthinking."
He would never hide from her the things that he should tell her. As for some minor details that would damage his image, it was better not to mention them.
Chen Xuan sized him up for a while and snorted softly. "I hope I'm just overthinking."
Given his nature of secretly doing big things behind others' backs, he didn't believe that the other party didn't have anything hidden.
"Forget it. This is your business," he said. "Just don't break Zhenzhen's heart."
"I won't," Chen Tingfeng replied immediately.
The late - night wind made the candles in the room flicker on and off. The door opened and then closed, leaving him alone in the room.
The study in the main courtyard was some distance away from the bedroom. Madam Bai didn't usually come here. Sometimes when Chen Tingfeng and Chen Xuan discussed things late, Chen Xuan would just sleep here.
But Chen Tingfeng was very particular. He didn't like sleeping in a bed that others had slept in. No matter how late it was, he would always return to his own courtyard.
The candle flickered and suddenly went out. The room instantly became dark, with only a faint glimmer of candlelight left, making his face look gloomy and mysterious.
He got up. Just as he was about to walk out of the study, he whispered something to Qian Tong who was hiding in the corner. Qian Tong nodded, and with a flash of his figure, he disappeared immediately.
The night wind blew away the dark clouds above, revealing the twinkling stars, which looked exactly like someone's happy eyes.
He stopped, looked up and admired for a while, then turned around and left under the cover of the night.
The weather was getting hotter.
In less than half a month, as Chen Tingfeng had predicted, the national treasury was indeed filling up bit by bit.
The eldest princess stood beside the emperor, grinding ink for him.
Perhaps due to his weak body, the emperor's desire to hold power was getting stronger. After waking up every day, he would even spend two hours on the memorials. It was rare for him to be "diligent in government affairs".
The emperor glanced at the memorial submitted by the Ministry of Revenue and couldn't help laughing out loud. The eldest princess stopped her hand, washed it clean on one side and dried it with a handkerchief, then walked over with a smile and asked, "Father, what makes you laugh so happily?"
The emperor handed the memorial to her. With a relaxed look on his face, he was quite complacent. "The Liu Zhengze you recommended back then is really capable. In just over half a month, half of the silver has been collected. Good!"
The eldest princess read the memorial without changing her expression. Hiding the contemplation in her eyes, she complimented according to the emperor's wishes, "It's still Father who is good at managing his subordinates. Daughter congratulates Father."
The emperor laughed heartily.
After serving him until he was tired and fell asleep, the eldest princess left the Zichen Hall. She stood under the corridor. The arc of the smile on her face didn't change at all, but somehow it made people feel a little scared.
Her personal maid stepped forward to support her. "Princess, the son - in - law has ordered a meal at the Yongchun Restaurant today. He asked this maid to inquire if you would like to go to the Yongchun Restaurant for dinner or have the meal delivered to the Princess Mansion?"
Xie Lingyun came back to her senses. Thinking of the son - in - law, her eyes softened a little. "Have it delivered to the Princess Mansion. I'll go back now."
The maid gave a look to the eunuch beside her. The eunuch quickly went back to report.
Xie Lingyun looked in the direction of the queen's palace from afar and sneered in her heart. She whispered to the maid, "Go and send a message to that person, saying that I've made a decision."
Although the debt - collection situation was full of difficulties, there was still a way to solve it. It all depended on whether Xie Guang put the common people in his heart or valued the throne more.
Now it seemed that he had probably made his choice.
In that case, she didn't need to hesitate any longer.
Would a person who didn't care about the common people in the world treat her well after ascending the throne?
Because of the matter of the national treasury, the emperor was happy for a long time. He was a luxurious and licentious person. Knowing that there was more silver in hand now, he couldn't help but want to hold a banquet to have some fun. It could also be regarded as bringing good luck to himself. Maybe after this, his illness would get better.
As people got old, they always firmly believed in these superstitions.
Seeing this, the eldest princess took the opportunity to say, "It's just the end of spring and the beginning of summer now, and all the flowers are in full bloom. I've noticed that the flowers in the imperial garden are blooming beautifully these days. Why don't you hold a banquet in the imperial garden, Father? Invite the trusted officials and their families. It would also be a good opportunity for our eldest and second princes to choose carefully. If they find someone they like, they can even set the engagement."
The emperor smiled faintly. "You're really caring about your younger brothers as an elder sister."
But the two princes were indeed old enough. It would be a bit inappropriate if they didn't get married. After thinking for a while, he agreed.
"Since it was Yun'er who came up with the idea, why don't you organize it, Yun'er?" He looked at Xie Lingyun with a smile. "You did a great job on Lingqiao's wedding. This time the occasion will be grander. I wonder if you can still handle it well?"
There was a bit of provocation in his words. Xie Lingyun snorted softly. "Does Father look down on Yun'er?"
The emperor laughed. "How could I? I love Yun'er too much."
But then again, Xie Lingyun glanced at him. "But this is indeed the first time for Yun'er to organize such a grand occasion. How about asking Mother and Concubine Rou to accompany Yun'er? It can also prevent Yun'er from being flustered at that time."
If she only mentioned the queen or Concubine Rou, the emperor would definitely not agree.
But she was so even - handed. These two women were now at odds with each other. Putting them together just showed that Xie Lingyun had an open mind and had no intention of taking sides.
The emperor sighed softly. "Fine. Then it shall be as you said."
In the Marquis Mansion.
Madam Bai pinched the gilded invitation card and frowned slowly. "The eldest princess is going to hold a Hundred Flowers Banquet? Why?"
The eldest princess never liked to interfere in such things. Since coming to the capital, most of what she did was serve the emperor. The only thing she had organized was Xie Lingqiao's wedding.
The wedding had a reason, but what was the purpose of the Hundred Flowers Banquet?
Chen Xuan comforted her. "It's just a banquet. Haven't we had them before? Just treat it as an ordinary banquet."
No matter how strange Madam Bai felt, since she couldn't figure it out, she had to let it go for the time being and passed the news to Fu Zhen.
When Nanny Li finished speaking, Fu Zhen, who was flipping through a book, paused for a moment and suddenly tightened her grip on the book pages.
The Hundred Flowers Banquet... It was the occasion where she drugged Chen Tingfeng in her previous life.
After so long, she thought the fate line had been completely disrupted, but could she still not escape such an important node?
Her heart skipped a beat. But in this life, she and Chen Tingfeng had been together early. If she didn't drug him, nothing major should happen, right?
"Second Miss?" Nanny Li asked tentatively. "Are you not satisfied with this dress?"
Madam Bai had sent another new dress. Fu Zhen came back to her senses, suppressing the inexplicable uneasiness in her heart. She said with a faint smile, "Aunt always has good taste. I'm very satisfied. Biyu, take it and put it away carefully."