Free Web NovelChapter 2356: Chapter 2331: Why
Princess Mingda and Princess Changyu took over an hour to send them off. If not for the palace staff repeatedly urging them, hinting that it was lunchtime and the emperor, empress, and crown prince were waiting for them to dine, they wouldn’t have wanted to part with Manbao and the others.
Mingda was very envious of their trip to the Western Regions, wondering when she could also make such a journey.
Changyu was only interested in the gems and spices of the Western Regions, as well as the delicious lamb soup and flatbread Manbao described, but had no desire to go there to sunbathe and endure the sandstorms.
She said, "When I establish my residence in the future, I will send someone to find a chef from the Western Regions and buy lamb from there. I will also try the lamb soup and flatbread from there."
Manbao and Mingda said, "Today, His Majesty asked us about our future plans. Bai Er said he will take the imperial examination this year. If he doesn’t pass, he’ll take the Ming Classic exam next year and then be placed away like us."
Mingda’s forehead twitched. She glanced at Bai Erlang thoughtfully.
Manbao then said with a smile, "His Majesty is not very pleased about it."
Mingda nodded at her, "I understand."
Whether she can travel all over the mountains and rivers in the future depends on whether Bai Erlang can be placed away.
Thinking this, Mingda returned with ambition and vigor.
The emperor was playing with the little crown prince, while the crown prince and Prince Gong sat nearby, and the crown princess and Princess Consort Gong sat closely whispering together.
The relationship between the crown prince and Prince Gong wasn’t great, but the relationship between the crown princess and Princess Consort Gong was okay. Although not very close, it wasn’t bad either. In front of the emperor and empress, with children as the topic, they appeared more intimate.
As soon as the two princesses entered, the two stopped talking immediately, smilingly greeted them, shifting their attention to them.
The emperor was slightly displeased and turned to the palace staff as soon as they entered, saying, "Serve the meal."
Mingda hurried forward and presented the box Bai Erlang gave her, "Father, have a look."
"What’s this?" The emperor was momentarily speechless upon seeing the cat’s eye stone in the box. He naturally recognized it, having one in his private collection from earlier years given to the empress, who planned it for Mingda’s dowry as she wasn’t fond of such things.
But that gem was not better than this one. The emperor picked up the cat’s eye stone and looked at it in the sun, smilingly asking, "Did Bai Er give it to you?"
Mingda nodded with a smile, slightly blushed, "Father, is it beautiful?"
The emperor nodded with a smile, "Beautiful. Have the people at the Bureau of Apparel make a crown for you."
The crown prince and others looked up at Mingda upon hearing this. Was she being conferred a royal title?
Even Mingda was momentarily stunned and turned to look at her mother.
The empress smiled and said to her, "Why don’t you quickly thank your father?"
Seeing this, Mingda smiled broadly, curtsied to thank her father.
The emperor laughed heartily, and the little boy in his arms saw his mustache twitching, reached out quickly to grab...
The emperor quickly exclaimed, "Oh!" and bent forward to prevent his mustache from being pulled off.
Gu Zhong was shocked, hurried forward to help, while the empress laughed, took the little boy’s hand gently coaxing him to release the mustache. The crown prince took the child over. The emperor couldn’t help tapping the boy’s butt gently, "Only your Aunt Mingda has pulled my mustache before..."
Mingda blushed, protesting, "Father, that was when I was little."
"Alright, alright, I won’t mention it anymore."
The status of a princess also has ranks, just as the emperor’s sons are all princes but differ between dukes and royal princes.
The initial title for sons is usually Duke, but upon achieving merit or when a new emperor ascends the throne and grants favors, they become royal princes.
Only then can titles be conferred, otherwise, upon the new emperor’s ascension, without going through such processes, there are no ranks to confer, leaving no incentives.
Princesses are treated the same way.
The emperor’s daughters are granted the title of Duke Princess upon marriage, first-ranked, equivalent to noble concubines.
There are currently two exceptions, one being Prince Gong, initially titled as a royal prince, not only with a favorable and nearby fief but also prosperous; however, now demoted to Duke.
And now, from the emperor’s words, Mingda would be the second exception.
However, the crown prince had objections to Prince Gong’s immediate royal prince title, but not to Mingda, and suggested to the emperor, "Grant the title after the mourning period, so the palace can organize a celebration."
The emperor thought for a moment then nodded, "Right, this is a joyous occasion, naturally needing a celebration."
Changyu envied her, privately nagging Mingda, "You must invite me to a celebration feast."
Mingda said, "We are still in mourning. Although not strictly prohibiting meat, it’s not good to indulge too much. I’ll invite you after the mourning period."
"No, that’s too long, what if I forget?" Changyu said, "Why don’t you invite me out of the palace once? I won’t indulge or feast, just visit Zhou Man’s house, how about that?"
Mingda pursed her lips, smiling, "You still want to see what Zhou Man has brought back, don’t you?"
Changyu pouted, "You’ve got the cat’s eye stone, while I don’t even know what she brought back."
Mingda thought for a moment, "I can ask Father for permission to go to the Guardian of the Nation Temple on the sixth day to worship, and mourn the grandmother, and stop by Zhou’s house."
Changyu’s eyes lit up, hugged her arm, "Mingda, you’re really nice."
Mingda couldn’t help but laugh.
Prince Gong, however, felt somewhat depressed. He had returned to accompany his parents for the New Year, and would return to his fief after the Lantern Festival. With his leg now lame and the crown prince having a son, he had almost given up on pursuing the throne, focusing instead on attaining royal prince status.
He didn’t think the crown prince would elevate his status upon ascension, so he must secure it while his father is still in power.
Yet before he could speak his mind, his father had promised Mingda a royal princess title.
Prince Gong was suddenly at a loss, feeling distressed.
The empress observed the expressions of the children keenly, sighed quietly, later called Princess Consort Gong to instruct her, "I noticed Prince Gong hasn’t had much appetite lately, have someone make him some meat broth mixed with noodles to eat. If he feels stifled in the palace, let him go out for some air."
Walking and seeing more broadens the mind.
Princess Consort Gong softly agreed.
Meanwhile, Manbao and the others had just reached the fork outside the palace, Bai Shan and Manbao sympathetically told Liu Huan, "You should go home and talk to Lord Liu properly, if..."
Bai Shan hesitated, "If you’re scolded, have Ji Yu come find us quietly, we’ll immediately bring gifts to pay a New Year’s call."
Yin Huo said, "Come find me, my house is nearby, just a quarter of an hour’s walk, and I’ll send someone to fetch you."
Liu Huan couldn’t help but feel like crying, "Why?"
Why would the emperor treat him like this?
