Sharing a Pavilion With You
Chapter 138: A Nudge for Prince Haoran

Chapter 138: A Nudge for Prince Haoran

"Noble Consort Ling is here to see you," called Prince Haoran’s eunuch.

"Show her in, show her in," slurred the former Crown Prince expansively. "Leave us for a moment lovelies," he pushed on the backs of the two concubines who were accompanying him drinking wine before lunchtime.

The women looked back at him reproachfully as they were chased out of his room for the Consort’s visit.

The Prince rose unsteadily to his feet to greet the lovely Ling Lumei.

"Noble Consort!" he cried. "To what do I owe this delightful pleasure? You’re the only member of my Father’s harem to visit me since I was imprisoned here. Sit down! Sit down and have a drink with me."

"It’s too early for me to drink with you, Prince Haoran," she demurred, "but I will take tea with you," she smiled prettily.

"Bring the beauty some tea," the Prince loudly ordered his servants.

While waiting for the arrival of the tea, Ling Lumei watched as he poured wine directly from the jug into his mouth in a steady stream.

As soon as the tray was placed before her, she poured him a cup of warm tea and pushed it towards the inebriated man.

"Will you have some tea, Prince?"

"I don’t think I will, Noble Consort," he drawled. "No thank you. I think I will continue with this wonderfully brewed peach blossom wine."

The Consort sipped delicately on her tea, watching the man surreptitiously from underneath her lashes.

"My apologies it has taken me so long to visit you, Prince," she turned the full force of her beauty on him. "How have you been? I was most upset to hear the news of your imprisonment," her voice was filled with pathos.

"No matter, no matter. You’re here now aren’t you, and that’s more than can be said for your ’sisters’," he was clearly resentful. "I’ve been excellent! Perfect! A picture of good health and happiness!" he waved his arms around like a windmill.

"I’m pleased to hear you’re doing as well as can be expected in such trying circumstances," she said with sympathy. "I have never thought for even a moment that you committed those crimes you were accused of. What need does the Crown Prince have for theft? You were clearly set up by your enemies. I’m not sure why His Majesty couldn’t see through their evil scheme."

"Exactly! If even you can see this, Noble Consort, I don’t understand why my Father cannot," he spoke bitterly.

"He has long favoured your second brother. Perhaps he was just seeking an excuse to set you aside?" she whispered, looking furtively around them for unwanted ears.

"My thoughts exactly!" he roared. "He never wanted me to be the Crown Prince. He was stuck with the tradition of primogeniture, and he didn’t want to face criticism for overturning it. So he worked with his crony the Prime Minister, and my overly ambitious upstart of a brother, to besmirch my reputation and tear me down. What have I done wrong?" he cried pathetically. "What have I ever done except work for the betterment of the people and to help my Emperor Father! And this is the thanks I get!"

He waved his hands dismissively at the luxurious surrounds of the Palace of Purity, where gold leaf adorned the columns, and precious jade and porcelain objects covered every surface.

"It does seem terribly unfair," Ling Lumei nodded in commiseration. "But perhaps even from your sidelined position, you can at least get the satisfaction of a small mixture of pleasure and revenge..."

"Pray tell how I can do so, dear Aunt?" the Prince leaned forwards with muddled interest.

Not too far away in his own palace, the new Crown Prince was taking tea with the Prime Minister.

"Father-in-Law," he spoke respectfully, "this is my first time seeing you since my investiture. I trust you are well?"

"Very well, thank you son-in-law. How is married life treating you and my Feng’er?"

"Very good, Father-in-law. We are perfectly compatible and living harmoniously."

"Excellent! I will wait for your good news then, of the arrival of my first grandchild."

"We will certainly do our best to do our duty in that respect, Father-in-law," the Prince gave a small smile.

"You must, you must! My wife is badgering Feng-er every time she sees her," he laughed heartily. "You will struggle to keep her out of your palace once there are grandbabies for her to dote upon."

"That will be a blessing for my wife, I am sure, Father-in-law."

"Quite, quite, though a distraction for my Son-in-law," the Prime Minister smiled broadly.

"Not at all. My Mother-in-law is welcome to drop by and visit at any time. Matters of the inner courtyard are well-managed by Fengfeng. She bothers me with nothing, and has the whole place working like a well-oiled machine."

"Does she now?" her father mused. "She was always a very capable girl, my Feng-er. Sometimes too capable... I often thought she should have been born a boy. She would have made a very competent heir."

"She certainly has the skills and talent of a good man, with the looks and virtue of a good woman," the Crown Prince said diplomatically, stroking his father-in-law’s ego.

"Quite, quite," said the Prime Minister, stroking his beard thoughtfully.

Where was his Son-in-law going with this empty flattery? It was most unlike him...

"If you ever need my help correcting my Feng-er, Son-in-law, you need only ask," the Prime Minister fished.

"I’m sure I can manage my own wife and household affairs, Father-in-law, I won’t seek to bother you with minor matter of the inner courtyard, which are mine to manage."

"Nonsense! Though she is your wife, she remains my daughter, and she will obey her Father in all things, just as she must learn to obey her new husband without carping. A disobedient wife is not to be tolerated!"

"It is indeed, the second of the three obediences," the Prince said sagely.

"You must punish her if she’s disobedient. She will quickly learn that her place is behind you, Son-in-law. Don’t mind me, I won’t interfere."

"Fengfeng is not disobedient, Father-in-law, there is nothing to punish. Rather, I am concerned that she might be struggling with that emotion, which is beneath the legitimate wife... of jealousy."

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