Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

Chapter 489: The Beginning of the Yin

It was just a small incident, and no one took it seriously.

Because the people whom Wan Fu loudly ordered in front of everyone were the idle royal family members. Usually, they were invited by the Supreme Lord and Emperor Zhaoming to sit at the top as decoration during the New Year.

After Wan Fu had arranged all this, he slowly walked towards the side hall. When he met the Third Prince, he simply bowed and called himself "the King's uncle". Then he recited a long sutra to the Third Prince for a quarter of an hour.

The Third Prince was only a child after all, and fell into the hands of this old fox. Although he knew it was wrong, he could not find Minister Wan's outlet to get a word in, so he could only listen with a lot of anger in his heart.

As Yinchu approached, the ministers gradually began to arrive.

The head of the Ministry of Rites came over to inform Wan Fu, and the nagging old monk in the eyes of the Third Prince smiled and bowed again, bowing and saying goodbye:

"You will have to sit there for a while, Third Prince, please don't be greedy and be patient. It won't be too late to have breakfast after the court meeting is over."

After saying this, he winked at the officials from the Ministry of Rites who were serving nearby, signaling them to take a look, then he waved his sleeves and left.

The Third Prince was already extremely hungry, and he became even more dizzy and dazed by his words.

At this moment, a gatekeeper of Hanyuan Hall came over and timidly asked the Ministry of Rites and others, "The kitchen has brought some hot drinks for you gentlemen. Can you please pass them in now?"

The third prince was so angry that he raised his hand and smashed a mahogany paperweight.

The officials from the Ministry of Rites exchanged glances with each other - they couldn't really eat snacks and drink hot tea in front of the Third Prince, could they?

Then this delicate little master who can’t eat or drink, won’t be angry to death?

A few people obediently lowered their heads and quietly retreated, going outside to find a secluded place to eat and drink.

Deep in the side hall, for a moment, only the Third Prince, his personal eunuch, and the eunuch guarding the gate of Hanyuan Hall were left.

The gatekeeper glanced back, then took out two still slightly hot meat patties and a kettle from his bulging arms and handed them over with both hands.

She whispered, "I am the disciple of the great eunuch Tao who is by your majesty's side.

"Your Majesty loves his own children the most, how could he bear to let you attend the ceremony on an empty stomach in such a cold weather?

"These are the breakfasts I prepared for myself. If Your Highness doesn't mind their simplicity, please fill your stomach with them!"

"Before going to the main hall, just change your clothes."

The third prince's personal eunuch was a boy of about ten years old, who at this moment could only thank the other party with tears in his eyes, and hurriedly took the meat pie, took a bite himself, and then drank a sip of the drink in the kettle.

After a moment, he stuffed it to the Third Prince: "Master, please enjoy! It's mutton pie! You like it! Hot milk tea is salty! You like it too!"

The third prince's eyes turned green. He swallowed the tender and juicy mutton pie in big mouthfuls, and then drank half a pot of milk tea. Only then did he wipe his mouth with satisfaction:

"What's your name? When Father and Prisoner Tao come back, I'll praise you to them!"

The gatekeeper touched the hat on the back of his head and laughed: "Thank you, Third Highness! My name is Xie Changqing!"

The third prince suddenly realized: "Oh, you and Lu Changqing are of the same generation!"

"That's right!" Xie Changqing saw the Third Prince handing the kettle back and quickly stretched out his hands to take it.

Then he turned and stuffed it into the young eunuch's pocket, "Little brother, you have to follow the Third Prince all morning, how can you do it without something in your stomach?"

As he spoke, he took out two more candies from his sleeve pocket and stuffed them into the little eunuch's hand, "Keep these, just in case."

Seeing how well prepared he was, the Third Prince couldn't help but sigh, "It shows that both mother and we are ignorant of worldly affairs. We haven't thought of these things."

Three people were whispering in the hall when they heard footsteps outside.

The third prince quickly returned to his seat and sat down, with his personal eunuch standing beside him.

Only Xie Changqing walked quickly, turned around a few times, and disappeared.

The third prince stretched his neck and looked for a long time, but couldn't find out from which corner he had slipped out.

In addition to the officials from the Ministry of Rites who were scolded again, there also came Prince Duncheng with a look of heartache, Cao Feng with a look of anger, and Prince Dongping with a look of coldness.

It was obvious that the Minister of Rites was caught eating and drinking outside by the three regents.

The Third Prince was in a good mood, and smiled and said to Wan Fu: "Don't worry about me, Lord Dun. Minister Wan is right.

"I am just a small prince, and I have never been in the eyes of the public. How could I have the courage to take care of such a big event on behalf of my father?

“Even if I’m given food and drink, what if I poop or pee during the ceremony?!

“I’ll just starve.

"Even if you eat a little bit, you won't starve to death!"

Prince Dun was so angry that his face turned blue, the veins on his forehead were throbbing, and he gnashed his teeth:

"If this was a prince born from the Empress, would Minister Wan also force the child to starve for three hours!?"

The East King's eyes slid indifferently from the Third Prince to the Dun Prince, and finally looked at Wan Fu himself, who had just hurriedly stepped over the threshold of the side hall door and was about to retract his feet after hearing these words.

He raised his lips and pointed, "Minister Wan, did you hear what Prince Dun said? Come on, answer it!"

This feeling of being roasted on a fire...

Very familiar.

Wan Fu habitually said decisively: "Of course! The Shangyuan Ceremony is the face of the court! No matter which prince comes, it must be done this way!"

Cao Feng then nodded vigorously: "The Queen is wise!"

Everyone was stunned.

Then the third prince was the first to feel upset and burst out laughing.

Everyone was at a loss.

Wan Fu didn't understand either, and looked at the Third Prince suspiciously.

The third prince pretended to be deaf and dumb and turned away without looking at him.

Seeing Wan Fu's embarrassed look, a clever official from the Ministry of Rites stepped forward and whispered Cao Feng's intention into his ear:

"Your Majesty is wise and wise. You have not given birth to a prince for me to bear the punishment of your uncle..."

Although the sound had been lowered to the lowest level, everyone could still hear it clearly in the silence all around.

This time, even the palace maids and eunuchs who were standing nearby as decoration couldn't help themselves and they all lowered their heads and pursed their lips to hold back their laughter.

Wan Fu took a deep breath, pretending not to hear any ridicule, and bowed to the three regents and the third prince with a serious face, saying:

"Everything is ready in Hanyuan Palace. Please ask the three regents to go ahead. I will stay here to accompany the Third Prince and wait for the time."

Seeing that he did not accept those insults, Prince Dun and Cao Feng stopped making fun of him.

The two were about to nod, but the King of the East narrowed his eyes slightly, put his hands on his waist, and the sword was touched, and the long sword tassel shook fiercely:

"I still remember—

“More than thirty years ago, when the Supreme Lord was ill, he ordered the prince to preside over the Winter Solstice Ceremony and to give a banquet to the princes and nobles.

“I was standing facing upwards at the time.

“I remember it very clearly:

“The Ministry of Rites is supposed to sing praises outside and guide the ceremony.

"The one waiting with the prince in the back is a prince from the royal family.

"how?

"I haven't been back to Beijing for more than 20 years, and the etiquette and rules have all changed?!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Prince Dun and Cao Feng's faces changed drastically at the same time!