Chapter 144

Chapter 144: Palace Banquet

Empress Wang was playing with Little Xing Hui when she used the corner of her eye to study Chun Zhi.

When Chun Zhi first came to Phoenix Perch Palace, Empress Wang had still been thinking about letting Wang Yi Yue become Huo Zheng’s secondary consort.

Back then, even though it was Chun Zhi’s first time in the palace, she faced several Highnesses without fear and flatly refused the tea Miss Wang offered her.

She also knew Huo Zheng cared for her and did not act spoiled.

Empress Wang remembered the news that came from outside the palace yesterday: as Wang Yi Yue entered the Lu Clan’s gate, she fought with Ji Ru Zhen and accidentally hurt Lu Jing Yun.

Who would have thought that a young lady from the Chancellor’s Manor and the Grand Preceptor’s legitimate daughter, a noble girl pampered for years, would cause such a scene?

When Empress Wang heard it, her first thought was: [Good thing Huo Zheng did not marry Wang Yi Yue.]

Her niece from her maiden family had always acted gentle and proper in front of her. Who knew she could fight out of jealousy?

Because of this, Empress Wang now found Chun Zhi much more pleasing to the eye. At least Huo Zheng had married the girl he liked, and the household would be harmonious. That was worth more than anything.

Little Xing Hui did not know why he was laughing. He waved his hands and feet a few times and soon coaxed his Imperial Grandmother into a good mood.

Chun Zhi and Huo Zheng sat in Wutong Palace for quite a while. When it was time for lunch, they went with Empress Wang to the Imperial Garden to attend the banquet.

Empress Wang noticed that Huo Zheng, holding Little Xing Hui, still seemed unwilling to put the child down.

At the palace banquet, many imperial relatives were already seated.

Before her marriage, Chun Zhi had seldom gone out. Most people had only heard about the Princess Consort of Chang’an whom Huo Zheng had insisted on marrying, but had never seen her. Today they had come especially to see what she looked like.

People whispered about it around the seats.

The eunuch attendant called out in a loud voice: “Her Majesty the Empress arrives. Prince Chang’an and the Princess Consort of Chang’an arrive!”

Everyone rose together to welcome the Empress.

Empress Wang said as she walked to the main seat and sat down: “Be at ease, all of you.”

After the bows, people lifted their eyes to look at Chun Zhi.

The Princess Consort of Chang’an was indeed a rare beauty.

But this was the Capital, and everyone here was royal kin. Whose household did not keep a few beauties?

So, after seeing her face, many still felt she must have something beyond looks to make Prince Chang’an fall so hard for only her.

Afraid Chun Zhi might be nervous, Huo Zheng freed one hand to hold hers.

Hand in hand, they walked forward and sat to the right below the main seat.

Little Xing Hui lay on his father’s shoulder, looking at all the unfamiliar faces. He was not shy at all and even liked this lively scene.

Ninth Prince Huo Yan spoke first with a grin: “At last we get to meet Seventh Sister-in-law. Yesterday Seventh Elder Brother would not let us tease the bridal chamber and drove everyone out. We never got to see the new wife’s beauty, and I felt sorry about it for a long time.”

Prince of Rui Huo Yang laughed and said: “Listen to you, Ninth Younger Brother. You kept trying to sneak a look at Seventh Younger Brother’s new wife. The only reason he did not hit you was because of so many years of brotherhood.”

Everyone could not help laughing.

Princess Royal of Anyang joked with Huo Yan: “Since you like peeking at new brides so much, why not marry early yourself? When others come to tease your bridal chamber, it can be as lively as you want.”

Huo Yan said: “How is that the same?”

Huo Qiong Hua said: “Why is it not the same? If you like the noise, then make your own wedding lively.”

Huo Yan wanted to say more, but just then the eunuch attendant announced: “His Majesty the Emperor arrives!”

Everyone stopped talking and rose to bow: “We welcome His Majesty the Emperor.”

Huo Yuan said as he took the main seat: “Rise, all of you. Be seated,” then he smiled and asked: “What were you laughing about just now?”

Huo Qiong Hua answered with a smile: “Ninth Brother is old enough to marry. Yesterday he kept shouting about teasing the bridal chamber. Since he failed, he was just talking to Seventh Brother about it again. I told him to marry early so he can make his own wedding as noisy as he wants.”

Huo Yan’s smile froze.

For a prince, marriage was a serious matter. He had not yet set a match because he wanted the most useful in-laws.

He had thought Huo Zheng was crazy for wanting to marry a merchant’s daughter, but that “merchant’s daughter” turned out to be the Vice Minister of Revenue’s legitimate daughter. Mu Qing Shan, though only Vice Minister now, was acting minister and might become Minister of Revenue any day. Hearing the Princess Royal of Anyang joke in public, Huo Yan feared the Emperor might get interested and casually assign him some noble lady.

Huo Yuan smiled and asked: “Ninth, you are indeed of age to marry. Do you have a young lady in mind?”

Huo Yan hurried to say: “Your son only just entered court and has much to learn. I have no mind to marry yet. Two more years will not be late.”

Consort Shu spoke up for her son with a smile: “Seventh married at twenty-five. Ninth just had his capping ceremony. Two more years will not be late.”

Huo Yuan glanced at the mother and son with a smile and did not continue the topic.

The dishes and pastries at the palace banquet were all very fine and beautiful, and Little Xing Hui kept trying to grab them.

Huo Zheng held the boy and said in a low voice: “You are still small. You cannot eat these.”

Little Xing Hui did not understand and reached for them again and again.

Chun Zhi said softly: “Let me hold him.”

Huo Zheng said: “No need. You just eat.”

Across from them, the Princess Consort of Rui saw this and gave her Prince of Rui a look. She had given birth to three children, yet he had never doted on their children like this.

Others also found it new to see Huo Zheng hold his son. In most homes, wet nurses raised the children. Mothers rarely held them while eating, and fathers only played with them when they felt like it.

Huo Zheng was different. He kept holding the child.

Chun Zhi tasted a few dishes and thought they were all good. She wondered how Huo Zheng, used to rare delicacies, could love her simple home-cooked food so much.

Holding the child with one arm and chopsticks with the other, Huo Zheng tasted what he liked and still remembered to place some good bites into Chun Zhi’s bowl.

Many ladies of the imperial clan saw this and felt sour in their hearts. They looked at Prince Chang’an, then at their own husbands who did not know how to care, and felt the difference was like sky and ground.

Who said the Imperial House had no devoted men?

They had just not met one.

By the end of the banquet, the emperor and empress were pleased, and everyone had seen the true face of the Princess Consort of Chang’an. When the gathering ended, people left the palace one after another.

Princess Consort of Rui stepped up to Chun Zhi and said: “Since we are sisters-in-law now, we should visit each other often.”

Chun Zhi answered warmly: “Imperial Sister-in-law is right.”

Princess Royal of Anyang came over, stuffed a Luminous Pearl into Little Xing Hui’s hand, and said: “Take it and play with it.”

The pearl was so big that Little Xing Hui could not hold it. Huo Zheng quickly reached out to catch it. He was about to speak when Huo Qiong Hua pinched Little Xing Hui’s cheek and said with a laugh: “Seventh, you are handsome, but your son is even more handsome than you.”