Hong'an Xiangzhuang - 17

Hong'an Xiangzhuang - 17

After a three-day hunt, the Khitans left before dawn. There were no horns, no farewells; a dozen or so donkeys trod on the frozen, hard official road, their hooves clattering.

The burly man on the donkey's back was wrapped in a leather robe, his back ramrod straight, yet he couldn't hide the gloom that seeped from his very bones.

Zhao Yunkang stood on the watchtower, watching the Khitans disappear at the end of the official road.

"General, how long do you think they'll stay quiet?"

Liang Qiu tapped his palm with his folding fan, his mind filled with the beautiful image of the woman nestled in the general's arms like a cat when they returned from the forest a few days ago.

All the women in the western suburbs hunting grounds left, except for Yun Yixia.

I heard that if the general didn't come out, she planned to go in and look for him.

He looked at the general with envy, wondering when he would meet a woman like her again.

As expected!

You shouldn't meet someone too amazing when you're young.

"Early in spring, late in winter."

As Zhao Yun and Kang descended from the watchtower, they all knew that Yelü Hong had died long ago in the back alley of the Kang Prince's mansion, and that those who followed the Khitan delegation would fake their deaths and escape not far from the border.

The Khitans were not without clever people. After reviewing the situation, they roughly knew that Yelü Hong had died in Daqing, but they could not say it openly.

They won't swallow this insult!

"General, shall we leave after the New Year?"

Xu Zhihao asked in a muffled voice, a rare look of reluctance appearing on the general's face.

"Go and make preparations!" Zhao Yunkang sighed silently. "We'll return to the Northern Frontier after the New Year!"

He didn't want to be separated from Xia, but his elder brother wouldn't let her go to the northern frontier.

Many people in the hunting grounds began packing their bags. Zhao Yunkang lifted the curtain and saw Yun Yixia yawning, leaning against Mu Jin's shoulder and muttering to herself, looking adorable in a half-dreaming state.

Zhao Yunkang felt a surge of warmth in his heart, took a few steps forward, pulled the person into his arms, and ignored Mu Jin's displeased gaze.

He's embracing his wife; no one has the right to question him.

"Your Highness, you're back?"

Yun Yixia was woken up too late last night and didn't want to get up this morning, but she had no choice but to.

The tent wasn't soundproof, and she couldn't open it, so she could only let him do whatever he wanted.

The joy was genuine, but the exhaustion was also genuine.

"Um!"

Zhao Yunkang gently stroked her smooth cheek with his finger, then couldn't resist taking a bite. It tasted great, so he took another bite.

Are you really that sleepy?

Even though he didn't finish last night, he only took a small "sip," which wasn't satisfying at all.

Who did this?

Yun Yixia glared at him reproachfully, while Zhao Yunkang laughed heartily in a good mood.

The young couple were deeply in love, their atmosphere so sweet and intimate that they returned to the Kangwang Mansion and refused to see any guests until seven days later when things finally returned to normal.

Inside Baoci Palace, the dragon lanterns burned brightly. Zhao Yuankai placed his hands on his knees, his back ramrod straight, his longing gaze constantly drifting towards the door.

Shi Anwan leaned against the pillow, closed her eyes, and slowly twirled the prayer beads, sighing helplessly in her heart.

She understood her younger son; she had good reasons for not liking him.

That woman has already paid the ultimate price for this.

How innocent are the children?

"Yuan Kai, don't you like staying by the Empress Dowager's side?"

Shi Anwan's voice was slightly hoarse, and Zheng An immediately brought her a cup of tea, which she took a sip of and then put down.

The tea meant to clear internal heat is too bitter!

"I love it!" Zhao Yuankai nodded vigorously. "I love my grandmother!"

"Are you homesick?"

Shi Anwan saw that the child was pursing his lips tightly, his eyes were red with grievance, and he was holding back his tears.

"Grandmother, does Father not want me anymore?"

He sat on a low stool, his forehead pressed against his grandmother's knee, large tears falling to the ground.

"Silly child!" Shi Anwan patted his head. "If he really didn't want you, why would he keep your position as heir apparent?"

"Because Father has no other children..."

"presumptuous!!!"

Shi Anwan shouted angrily, and Zhao Yuankai looked up with teary eyes, shrinking back in fright.

Her youngest son died without an heir because of her, and could not have any more descendants. This was a sensitive issue for her that she could not tolerate.

But she didn't know that the woman dared to switch to a more potent drug, which, by a twist of fate, damaged her youngest son's vital essence.

"Grandmother, I was wrong!"

He had never seen his grandmother so angry. He clutched the hem of her brocade skirt with his little hands, looking at her helplessly and bewildered.

"Who said these things to you?" Shi Anwan softened her tone. "Tell me!"

“Granny Chen…Granny Chen said I must remember my mother! I cannot forget her! My father only has me as his child, so the position of heir will always be mine…”

Zhao Yuankai was so frightened that he completely lost his composure. He recounted in fits and starts all the things that Granny Chen had told him in private, including how she had instigated him to cause trouble for Yun Yixia and how she had said some very hurtful things about her behind her back.

"She deserves to die!"

Shi Anwan understood.

Before she died, the woman planted a "seed" in her mind, intending to use the child to bind her youngest son, making him remain chaste for her for life and preventing him from having any other children.

What audacity!

Fortunately, Granny Chen died; otherwise, Zhao Yuankai, raised in such a manner, would have been abandoned by his youngest son sooner or later.

"Grandmother, please don't be angry, okay?"

Zhao Yuankai's voice was timid; he didn't want to lose the only person who cared for him.

"I'm not angry!" Shi Anwan shook her head. "You haven't been back to the Kang Prince's Mansion for a long time, so the nannies and maids must have become unfamiliar with you."

I'll bring a few people back with me; they'll be more handy for you in the future.

"promise!"

Zhao Yuankai obediently agreed, and Shi Anwan glanced at Zheng An, who immediately went to make the arrangements.

"Grandmother, Father hasn't come to pick me up for several months... Can I still go home?"

"Of course!"

Shi Anwan lifted his face, wiped away the tears with a handkerchief, and waited until she had replaced all the people in her grandson's yard before sending them back.

Hopefully, this father and son can get along well and avoid causing any more trouble!

On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, a heavy snow fell, and two carriages stopped one after the other in front of the Kang Prince's Mansion.

Zheng An helped Zhao Yuankai out of the car and entered the mansion through the side gate. Luo Yu quickly came to greet them.

"Your Highness, I will go and report to the Prince immediately..."

"No need!" Zhao Yuankai's little face was red from the cold. "Where is Father?"

"The prince is in his study."

"knew!"

Zhao Yuankai walked straight in, passing through the hanging flower gate to the study.

"Knock knock!"

"Enter."

The study was warm and inviting. Zhao Yunkang sat behind his desk reading the Northern Frontier Military Report, while Yun Yixia sat on a soft couch beside him, reading and occasionally making annotations. The atmosphere was harmonious and pleasant.

"May Father and Queen be blessed with good health and happiness every day."

Zhao Yuankai was like an intruder, an executioner who destroyed everything beautiful.

He pursed his lips tightly, gripped his clothes tightly, and looked at his father with a mixture of longing and bitterness.

"Your Highness, I just remembered I have some things to take care of, so I'll head back to Qinfang Garden first."

Yun Yixia didn't care what Zhao Yuankai called her, and considering that her child might have to take the blame in the future, she treated him with gentleness and tolerance.

"Hand warmer!"

Zhao Yunkang placed the hand warmer in her hands and carefully helped her put on her newly made fox fur cloak, making sure she was wrapped up tightly before letting her go.

"Your Highness!" Yun Yixia whispered in his ear, "You don't have to come tonight!"

After not seeing each other for several months, she wanted the father and son to have a good chat and take a break.

She never got up until almost noon, and the servants in the inner courtyard looked at her with eyes that seemed to hold a story.

"That's impossible!"

Zhao Yunkang didn't hesitate for a moment and resolutely rejected Yun Yixia's suggestion.

He was about to return to the northern frontier and didn't want to be separated from her for even a moment.

"Hmph~"

Yun Yixia gave a soft hum, turned around and walked out of the study. Her ear tips were red and quite adorable, whether from the cold or something else.

"I'm back!"

Zhao Yunkang only looked away when he could no longer see Yun Yixia, and his gaze fell on Zhao Yuankai with scrutiny.

"Father, do you miss me?"

Upon seeing his father, Zhao Yuankai completely forgot what Zheng An had taught him and stared intently at him.

"Hmph!" Zhao Yunkang sat down behind his desk. "You really are just like your mother!"

The woman drugged him, then shamelessly asked, "Do you want it? Do you like it?"

If it weren't for his mother's reputation, he would have had her skinned alive back then.

"Father, why do you hate me?" Zhao Yuankai's eyes instantly reddened. "Is it because you hate my mother?"

He overheard the servants' comments about his mother, and they were all very harsh. Some even secretly called her a madwoman.

He was too young then to understand what "madman" meant.

When he grew older and was taught by a tutor, he finally understood the deeper meaning of those words, and felt even more apprehensive, and longed even more for his father's attention and love.

"Next spring, when you enter the Imperial Academy for classes, once you are able to distinguish right from wrong, I will tell you the whole story to clear your mind."

It's getting late, you should go home!

Zhao Yunkang didn't want to tell a five or six-year-old child how vicious, narrow-minded, and disgusting his birth mother was... It was a small act of love for the child, after all!

He absolutely loathed that woman!

She naturally couldn't like the children she gave birth to.

"promise!"

Zhao Yuankai suddenly felt a little scared. He didn't know what had happened between his parents, but he keenly realized that his mother was probably in the wrong.

Otherwise, why would the father be so disgusted with his eldest son?

Why did his beloved grandmother remain silent about this to his mother?

The king will wait until he grows up and can distinguish right from wrong before discussing their matter.

Isn't that also a way of showing him love and care?

Zhao Yuankai sensed a hint of sweetness in his father's words, a slight smile appeared on his lips, and he quickly walked out of the study.

The door closed gently, and Zhao Yunkang stared at it for a long time before picking up the military newspaper again.

He needs to deal with this quickly!

He hadn't even left Xijing City yet, and he was already missing his queen.

On the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month, just after the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), the lamps in each courtyard of the Kang Prince's Mansion were lit up one by one.

The kitchen was the first to get busy, with several stoves burning at the same time, and steamers stacked higher than a person. White steam mixed with the aroma of food poured out from the cracks in the windows and doors, enveloping the entire back room in a warm, cozy mist.

"The east kitchen specializes in preparing the eight dishes for ancestral worship, while the west kitchen prepares the New Year's Eve dinner..."

Luo Yu's loud and clear announcement was met with enthusiastic responses from everyone.

At Chen Shi (7-9 AM), the first group of guests arrived to offer New Year's greetings.

First came the princes and dukes from the imperial clan, then officials from the Six Ministries and generals of the Beijing Garrison.

The main hall of the Prince Kang's Mansion had its doors wide open, and a red carpet stretched from the steps all the way to the screen wall.

Zhao Yunkang was receiving guests in the front hall, while Yun Yixia was entertaining the female relatives in the back hall. As the congratulatory gifts were brought in, Shaoyao was busy counting and storing them.

Although busy, everything was arranged in a well-organized manner.

Today is Chinese New Year. After giving their gifts, everyone bid farewell and left.

If it weren't for the Prince of Kang's noble status, in previous years when he didn't return, each family would send their stewards to deliver New Year's gifts.

At 3:45 AM, the palace gifts arrived.