CH 60

T/N: Here’s an extra update to thank Jessica for the ko-fi! Enjoy~ Next chapter coming up in 10 minutes. 

“Lord He?” The officials of the Ministry of Revenue were sitting together, probably discussing how to reinstate Qi Junwang’s position back to that of a qinwang. When He Tingyu, the Assistant Minister of Revenue, entered, they greeted him and invited him to join them.

“How come you are so late? We will be entering the Palace to attend the banquet in two hours. Have you thought of any good ideas?” 

He Tingyu glanced at the speaker of these words, who was the other Assistant Minister of Revenue1T/N: For reminder- As I had explained before, there were often two people in the same position in the imperial court to balance each other out. They were given the position of left and right ministers, signifying the two hands of the monarch/chief. Just like how Ming Jingzhou and Zhou Rui were the left and right Assistant Ministers of the Ministry of Rites with Li En at the top of that ministry, He Tingyu and the speaker are also like that. But the person at the top is one, like the Emperor and his left and right Prime Ministers and so on., and shook his head without saying a word.

Seeing that he didn’t speak, the other officials continued with their discussion about helping Qi Junwang during the palace banquet.

“His Highness has been smart and studious from childhood. He is benevolent, filial, and virtuous. Whether it’s toward a ninety-year-old man or a three-year-old child, he treats them with great regard. Why can’t His Majesty see his good qualities but favor that arrogant and despotic Chen Wang?” 

“Chen Wang is tyrannical and domineering, even bullying young children. If such a person remains in a high position for long, our Da Cheng will be in danger.”

Upon hearing this, He Tingyu couldn’t help but speak up: “You can’t say that. I don’t think Chen Wang is as bad as you all make him out to be.”

“Lord He?” The officials looked at him in surprise, as if they were looking at a rotten radish. “Are you trying to back out?”

He Tingyu remained silent.

“I know very well that pleading for His Highness Qi Junwang during the palace banquet may provoke His Majesty’s anger. But as court officials, we should always prioritize the people’s well-being, not our own honor and disgrace.” The Assistant Minister of Revenue took a deep breath. “Back then, the three brothers of the Ming family refused to wallow in the mire even when they were exiled for His Majesty. So why can’t we speak up for Qi Junwang today?”

He Tingyu thought of the little guniang comforting the woman on the street and said again: “En, since you all admire the three lords of the Ming family so much, how could you forget that Ming Jingzhou’s daughter is the future Chen Wangfei?”

“As a girl fostered elsewhere, how can she possibly understand the proud and aloof nature of the Ming family?” The Assistant Minister sighed. “The three brothers of the Ming family possess both integrity and talent, and the children they brought up are all talented and outstanding. Unfortunately, this daughter is shallow enough to curry favor with the Demon Consort for wealth and power.”

Glancing at the colleague’s potbelly, He Tingyu thought sarcastically: You are certainly not shallow but quite thick. 

He stood up: “His Highness Qi Junwang’s matter can be discussed at any time. Why insist on bringing it up tonight and spoil the mood? Colleagues have been officials in the court for many years and have experienced countless ups and downs. Why are you all so impulsive today?”

“To pave the way for Chen Wang, His Majesty first suppressed Junwang’s maternal family, demoted him, and even recently sent his birth mother to the Cold Palace. How can Junwang, who is so noble and unsullied, endure such humiliation?” The Assistant Minister’s emotions were stirred up. “Are we going to stand by and watch a virtuous and dignified prince be unjustly treated and end up in a gloomy situation due to them?”

“Assistant Minister Yang.” He Tingyu’s face changed drastically. “I think you’ve gone crazy to dare speak such treacherous words in the Ministry of Revenue.”

“Why would I not dare?!” Assistant Minister Yang straightened his back. “If Assistant Minister He is so afraid of death, then leave this room now.”

“You’re not afraid of death?” Being mocked by his colleagues, He Tingyu’s anger surged. “If you’re not afraid of death, why didn’t you speak up back when all the princes were fighting for the throne?”

“You dare to say these things now, only because you count on His Majesty’s benevolence to not bother with you.” He sneered. “When the late emperor was alive, who among you dared to?”

“Assistant Minister Yang has the audacity to bring up the three brothers of the Ming family?” He Tingyu’s voice slowly lowered. “Back then, this He was too afraid of death and knew that he and the three esteemed Lords of the Ming family could not be mentioned on equal terms. This He understands your concerns about Junwang, but forgive him for being afraid of death once again. This He doesn’t want to participate in tonight’s plan. Farewell!”

Seeing He Tingyu flick his sleeves and leave, the Minister of Revenue sighed and rubbed his forehead. “We can discuss this matter later. Assistant Minister He has a point. It’s not suitable to stir up a row during the palace banquet.”

Several high-ranking officials, who were already reluctant to escalate the situation tonight, heard the Minister’s words and quickly agreed.

Only Assistant Minister Yang, who had argued with He Tingyu earlier, had an indignant and restless expression.

“Wow, the Palace is decorated with new red lanterns everywhere.” Jiuzhu walked on the Palace road, admiring the beautiful red lanterns that were hung everywhere. “Truly beautiful.”

“The palace maids and eunuchs cannot go home for the New Year. Hanging up these lanterns adds a festive atmosphere.” As the red lantern above their heads swayed in the wind, Chen Wang asked: “Feeling cold?”

“No.” Jiuzhu shook her head.

“I don’t believe you. It’s quite windy, you must be feeling cold.” He coughed dryly and swiftly grabbed Jiuzhu’s hand. “Ben Wang’s hands are warm, you can borrow one to warm yours.”

The palace maids and eunuchs following them all lowered their heads, afraid to look up.

Jiuzhu’s fingertips twitched. His Highness’ palm is too big. It could envelop her entire hand.

“Don’t move.” Chen Wang’s ears turned slightly red. He adjusted his stance and his fingers gently moved between her delicate ones.

Their ten fingers slowly interlocked.

He looked up at the lanterns, his ears completely red, as if someone had applied rouge on them. “There will be a lot of people in the Palace today. The imperial relatives, ministers of the third rank and above, and the mingfu2Mingfu [命妇] – For anyone who forgot, mingfu refers to women who receive a rank (it can be through anything- birth, marriage, special favor and so on) from the Emperor. will all attend the banquet. Stay by my side to avoid getting upset by blind and stupid people.”

“Oh.” Jiuzhu stole a glance at their intertwined hands below. When she curled her index finger, it brushed against the back of his hand, causing her to quickly straighten it again.

“What ‘oh’? You are my fiancée. It– it’s only natural for me to hold your hand. No one dares to say anything about it.” As soon as these words left his mouth, a layer of rouge seemed to be applied to his face. 

Jiuzhu felt her cheeks heating up. Her fingers stiffened a little before finally wrapping around his hand.

His hand was indeed warm ah.

Warm enough to make her face start to feel hot.

“Xiangjuan.” Su Guifei had already finished her makeup according to her rank when she saw the two youngsters holding hands outside the courtyard. Jiuzhu was blushing, and Chen Wang’s ears had reddened, dillydallying outside. She asked Xiangjuan, “What are they doing?”

“Niangniang,” Xiangjuan leaned and whispered in her ear, “His Highness is feeling shy. Look at their hands.”

Su Guifei withdrew her gaze and teased, “The person who usually goes around baring his fangs and brandishing his claws now has a red face after holding his fiancée’s hand. How immature.”

“Youthful emotions are like poetry.” Xiangjuan chuckled. “His Highness is like this because he cares a lot about Ming guniang.”

When one is in the presence of someone they like, they cannot help but be shy, wanting to present themselves in the most perfect version.

When the two finally entered, they had already let go of their hands. Su Guifei pretended not to know that her son had intentionally dawdled outside the door and beckoned for Jiuzhu to sit in front of the dressing table. “Jiuzhu, your clothes today are really beautiful. I’ll have someone do a beautiful flying fairy bun3Flying fairy bun [飞天髻] – Looks like this: on you.”

Seeing her son also wanting to come over, she pushed him aside disdainfully. “When a woman is dressing up, a man just needs to wait quietly, no talking.”

Chen Wang: “……”

Helplessly, he sat down on the chair and watched as the palace maid styled Jiuzhu’s soft and dense hair into a flying fairy bun, and then did her eyebrows and makeup. Unable to resist, he spoke up: “Mother Consort…”

“Shut up.” Su Guifei coldly interrupted him. “This is not a place for you men to speak more. If you say a few more words, you can see yourself out.”

Chen Wang obediently closed his mouth.

“Xianzhu, what kind of a huadian would you like?”

Jiuzhu touched her forehead and instinctively turned toward Chen Wang.

“Jiuzhu’s dress is embroidered with intertwined tree branches. Lotus will be good as her huadian.” Su Guifei glanced at the subtle pattern on her son’s clothes and almost couldn’t stifle her laughter. “Intertwined tree branches and twin lotus flowers on one stalk4T/N: Just like how intertwined tree branches symbolism conjugal union, twin lotus flowers on one stalk [并蒂莲 / bìng dì lián] symbolizes a devoted married couple., the meaning behind it is very good.”

“Duqing, you’ve had good drawing skills since childhood.” Su Guifei walked over to Jiuzhu. “Draw a huadian for Jiuzhu.”

The words had just left her mouth but Chen Wang had already walked to her. “What should it be drawn with? Cinnabar or red pigment?”

“Use the reddest rouge, of course. Then outline it with gold powder,” Su Guifei slapped his back in impatience. “What cinnabar? That thing is toxic. Can you put it on the face?”

“Niangniang.” Jiuzhu grabbed Su Guifei’s sleeve and gently shook it. “His Highness just doesn’t understand these things, don’t… don’t hit him.”

Su Guifei looked at her son, who was reaching out to get the makeup brush, and gently tapped Jiuzhu’s forehead with her finger. “Silly girl. You must remember that a man cannot be spoiled.”

Jiuzhu grinned but didn’t let go of the hand holding Su Guifei’s sleeve.

“I’ll go sit on the side and wait,” Su Guifei smiled and shook her head. “Let him paint it for you nicely.”

Only then did Jiuzhu let go of her sleeve and close her eyes, tilting her head back to make it easier for Chen Wang to paint.

The brush gently swept across her forehead, causing a slight itch. Jiuzhu opened her eyes and blinked at Chen Wang, who was so close to her. 

He painted very seriously, as if he was not painting a huadian on a woman’s forehead, but the most beautiful painting in the world.

Two hearts entangled, representing the most beautiful expectations for love and its outcome.

His movements paused and the two pairs of eyes met, their gazes bright like the sun in spring and the moon.

At that moment, he wanted to bend down, kiss her forehead, and embrace her.

But he knew he couldn’t, at least not now, not here.

He just looked at her intently for a moment, then dipped the brush in gold powder and lightly sprinkled it on the huadian, making it even more beautiful.

“Is it good-looking?” He put down the brush and brought a copper mirror to show Jiuzhu the reflection of the huadian.

“Good-looking.” Jiuzhu nodded as she looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. “The flower Your Highness painted is really beautiful.”

“In the future, we…” Chen Wang chuckled softly. “In the future, I will paint it for you again.”

Flowers, birds, insects, fish, grass, trees and plants. All could appear on her forehead through his hands.

“Your Highness, since your painting skills are so good, you must also enjoy painting like me, right?” Jiuzhu put down the copper mirror, feeling delighted as if she had found another hobby that they shared. “Why didn’t you say earlier? We could have painted together.”5T/N: Ahahaha, I was waiting for her to say this. Jiuzhu unknowingly found yet another way to test his affection and hone his acting skills

Chen Wang: “……”

I was afraid that your self-confidence would suffer a blow.

“Your Highness?” Jiuzhu pouted her cheeks. “You don’t want to?”

“Who said Ben Wang is unwilling?” Chen Wang reached out to poke her puffed-up cheeks. “When spring comes and flowers bloom, I will take you to paint a picture of a hundred flowers together.”

Wasn’t it just a matter of painting with him? Why pout? 

He didn’t say he was unwilling.

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