If only one person behaved like this, it could be regarded as an accidental incident. However, every single person did the same. Xiao Hanzhi was no fool. It was obvious that everyone had made an arrangement beforehand. But Xiao Hanzhi could do nothing about it...
Although he was a prince, he couldn't force a seriously ill minister to attend his banquet. If he did so, it would easily arouse the emperor's suspicion, making the emperor think that he was secretly forming a clique for personal gain. This would make his already precarious situation even worse.
Having no place to vent his anger, Xiao Hanzhi could only smash things in his prince's mansion to relieve his rage.
...
Days passed by. Before long, it was almost time for the seventh princess of the Western Yue Kingdom to visit the Eastern Ling Kingdom.
However, the Western Yue Kingdom had not given an exact arrival time for the princess. Therefore, those involved in this matter were carefully preparing every day to avoid any mistakes and humiliation in front of other countries!
After reporting the affairs in the harem to the emperor, Eunuch Li hesitated for a while before saying, "Your Majesty, there's another thing I need to report."
Xiao Huaishi leaned forward slightly and asked, "What else? Speak quickly."
Eunuch Li immediately knelt down and replied respectfully, "I heard that the seventh princess of the Western Yue Kingdom has already arrived in our country. She may arrive at the palace soon. I'm not sure if Your Majesty is aware of this. I'm afraid Your Majesty has been dealing with too many memorials every day and might have forgotten this small matter."
Xiao Huaishi nodded. The hand that had just picked up the pen paused slightly. He said indifferently, "It's okay. I know. You can arrange this matter. Although they may stay in the post station, rooms for the princess and the princess consort should still be reserved in the palace."
Eunuch Li immediately nodded and said, "Yes, Your Majesty. I was afraid that the seventh princess of the Western Yue Kingdom would come early, so I've been working non - stop to prepare since Your Majesty gave the order. Everything is arranged according to the princess's standard."
The emperor was quite confident in Eunuch Li's work. Otherwise, he wouldn't have let Eunuch Li stay in his current position. Those who could hold such a position must have some extraordinary abilities.
"You've done a good job on this matter, Xiao Li. You've really saved me a lot of trouble. I'm afraid I wouldn't be so confident if I assigned this task to someone else!" Xiao Huaishi said happily. He was very satisfied with his eunuch - in - chief.
Eunuch Li signaled that he understood and then quietly withdrew.
After reading memorials for a long time, Xiao Huaishi felt a bit mentally fatigued. He closed his eyes and rested on his couch for a while. After feeling refreshed, he got up to take a bath and change clothes. Then he prepared to deal with the matter of the seventh princess's marriage alliance. The visit of a princess from another country was a major event.
By the way, he also sent someone to inform Prince Xiao Hanzhi. After all, this was a good opportunity to strengthen the relationship with the seventh princess of the Western Yue Kingdom. The two countries were not in the relationship of a victorious country and a defeated country, so everything should be treated with equal courtesy.
Today, Concubine Chen didn't know what had happened or what had stimulated her. She actually chose to make a bowl of rock sugar Sydney pears with her own hands and planned to take it to the imperial study for the emperor to taste.
But it was already long after noon when Concubine Chen rushed to the imperial study in a hurry. Due to the problem of boiling, she was delayed for some time.
When Concubine Chen arrived at the door of the imperial study, she didn't see the familiar eunuch - in - chief. She could only walk up to a guard and ask, "Is the emperor in the imperial study?"
Under normal circumstances, Concubine Chen would never deign to talk to these ordinary soldiers. It was really beneath her dignity. But since she was going to the imperial study to see the emperor, doing it herself would show more sincerity.
The guard, who had a serious look on his face at first, suddenly looked at the woman who was speaking. When he found out that it was the imperial concubine, his whole expression changed immediately. He immediately put on an obsequious smile and said to Concubine Chen flatteringly, "I didn't expect it to be the imperial concubine. But unfortunately, the emperor just left!"
After hearing this news, Concubine Chen frowned. Based on her understanding of Xiao Huaishi, the emperor should definitely be in the imperial study at this time and couldn't be anywhere else. That was why she chose this time to bring the food.
But the guard didn't seem to be lying. For a moment, Concubine Chen felt that the bowl of rock sugar Sydney pears in her hand was really a burden. But this was something prepared for the emperor, and she couldn't just throw it away in public.
So she looked at the guard with a gentle smile and asked, "I wonder when the emperor will come back. I made this rock sugar Sydney pears for the emperor specially. If it's left for too long, the taste might be affected."
The guard quickly shook his head and said, "Sorry, imperial concubine. I really don't know the emperor's whereabouts."
Concubine Chen thought it made sense. How could a guard easily know the emperor's whereabouts? So she didn't make things difficult for the guard anymore. After all, she still had to maintain her good image outside, especially in front of the imperial study.
Just when Concubine Chen was standing there in a daze in front of the imperial study, not knowing what to do, Eunuch Li suddenly appeared.
From a distance, Eunuch Li saw Concubine Chen standing in front of the imperial study but not going in, with something in her hand. He guessed that she had been stopped by the guard because the emperor was not there. Generally, ordinary people couldn't enter.
He also thought that Concubine Chen was the apple of the emperor's eye. After the crystal item that the emperor had ordered him to make was completed, it was probably going to be given to the imperial concubine.
So Eunuch Li immediately stepped forward and asked, "Is the imperial concubine here to see the emperor?"
When Concubine Chen saw Eunuch Li coming, she smiled and said, "It's Eunuch Li. I saw that it was hot today, so I specially boiled a bowl of rock sugar Sydney pears for the emperor. I was just about to bring it to the emperor to eat. But I heard from the guard that the emperor is not here. I can only wait outside the imperial study. After all, this is for the emperor, and I don't dare to hand it over to others."
"The sun is so hot outside, imperial concubine. You can't wait outside. If you get heat - stricken, the emperor will surely blame me."
Concubine Chen was a bit embarrassed. She looked at the rock sugar Sydney pears in her hand and then at Eunuch Li. "But I hope to bring this to the emperor to taste in person. So I'd like to ask, Eunuch, do you know where the emperor has gone and when he will be back?"
Seeing Concubine Chen's expression, Eunuch Li couldn't help but think of Prince Xiao Hanzhi's situation. So his tone softened a bit. "Oh, imperial concubine, don't wait anymore. I heard that the princess of the Western Yue Kingdom has already arrived. The emperor is preparing to meet the envoys of the other country. So he probably won't be back for a while. So, imperial concubine, please go back quickly. I'm afraid the emperor won't have time to eat the food you made today."