Chapter 399 - All With Their Own Ideas in the Princess Royals Manor (1/2)
It was spring. All the followers bloomed in the Princess Royal’s Manor. Along the corridor, flowers blossomed in a riot of color. What a unique scenery among the corridors and pavilions. Six of them walked into the mall, as they laughed and talked.
Princess Royal arranged the banquet in the inner parlor. Because a few people attended it, and most were close relatives, there was no need to avoid any inconvenience. So the guests were served around one table in the middle of the parlor, chatting and talking with happiness.
Princess Royal sat at the head of the table, with Feng Yuxuan, Feng Yuzhen, and Feng Yuran sitting successively on her right hand while Ling Fengyan, w.a.n.g Yueyue, Mo Xuetong on the left. It was proper arrangement in the age order. Feng Yuran was most satisfied with it, because he and Mo Xuetong were the youngest, that was to say, sitting around the table, they could sit side by side finally according to the arrangement.
Feng Yuran said to Princess Royal smilingly, while he was serving Mo Xuetong’s favorite dish for her. “Aunt, you asked us to come here. Is there anything delicious today?”
Princess Royal pointed at the plate of watermelons in the middle of the table and said, “I know you like it. See, it is the fresh fruit given recently. Well, I give it to you first.” It was spring with blooming followers. Although it was late spring, it was not summer, and it was rare to have watermelons to eat.
“Father treats aunt so well. The fruit sent from the south is not easy to transport. It’s said that there are only a few baskets in the capital. And we even don’t have any of it, but aunt has. So please do not hide it today and just let us taste it.” Feng Yuran reached out his hand to take a slice from a little eunuch, gave it to Mo Xuetong, and then, he took another, took a bite and admired. “It does taste good. Father is so partial to aunt.”
“Has Feng Yuran not been given the watermelon?” Feng Yuxuan quietly withdrew his eyes. Although there were just a few watermelons sent from the south, Feng Yuxuan also got two. “How could Feng Yuran, the most favored prince not receive any? Would it be possible that Father Emperor did not like Feng Yuran, so he forgot to bestow Feng Yuran deliberately?”
At that moment, Feng Yuxuan could not guess what Emperor Zongwen thought.
On the other side, Feng Yuzhen also cast his skeptical gaze on Feng Yuran. But Feng Yuran, totally ignorant of the gaze, just ate the watermelon slice by slice bluntly. And only for a while, except several slices he took out for Mo Xuetong, he finished almost half of the watermelons in the plate.
“Eat as you wish. Is your father too serious? Even if he punishes you, he should not deduct your fruit.” Princess Royal shook her head smilingly and asked a servant to send the plate of watermelon in front of Feng Yuran.
“Aunt, when you go to the palace, you should tell Father how poor I am now. Just tell him I cannot eat or sleep well. I am so desperate for fruits that blisters appear in my mouth.” After putting the watermelon, Feng Yuran took on a pitiful look on his handsome face, his eyes flas.h.i.+ng. What a poor look he pretended!
Mo Xuetong secretly jerked the corner of her mouth, thinking that the man was really an actor.
Yesterday it was Feng Yuran himself who finished half of a watermelon and still claimed it was not enough!
“I dare not tell your Father that you have blisters in the mouth. If you Father sees what you are now, perhaps he will beat you till you have blisters in the mouth.” When she Feng Yuran act like a spoiled child, Prince Royal’s heart softened and she teased him involuntarily. Although Prince Royal got used to living alone and was not close to people because of the secret of her life, Feng Yuran was a high-maintenance boy who got around her since childhood. So in Prince Royal’s heart, she thought more highly of Feng Yuran than Mo Xuetong, her natural niece.
“Aunt, I know you love me the most. Why don’t you help me? I will listen to Father from now on. When I recover, I will go to the imperial court and help Father deal with the political affairs, so that Father won’t punish me, then?” Feng Yuran looked pure and innocent, as if he had irritated Emperor Zongwen just because Feng Yuran was fun-loving.
Prince Royal scolded smilingly. “Look! Just as you are now, how can your Father set his mind at rest for you? It is not a game to learn to administer affairs of state. Be careful not to ruin it. It will be terrible!”
“Aunt, rest a.s.sured, I will study hard in the future, as long as Aunt puts in a good word for me to let Father grants me two watermelons.” Feng Yuran gave a suave smile, and his dark eyes gleamed s.h.i.+ningly with charm. Ling Fengyan sitting beside could not help but set her eyes on his unparalleled and handsome face and fall into a trance for a moment.
But immediately she lowered her head, covered all the thoughts in the corners of her eyes, and regained more chills between the eyebrows.
“Since Eighth brother loves eating watermelon so much, and I have two in my manor, you don’t have to bother Father, and I will send them to you.” Feng Yuxuan smiled elegantly and signaled his servant to come.
“Eldest Brother, don’t trouble to do so. You just keep what you have. Since Father still has some in the palace, how can Father be so partial?” Feng Yuran smiled bewitchingly, reached out his hands to stop Feng Yuxuan, and blinked to him. The bantering look on Feng Yuran’s face seemed to tell that no matter how, he would get two watermelons from Emperor Zongwen. His childish expression could ease people down.
Since Feng Yuran got used to living a free life, how could he bear any responsibility? How?
“Fine, you…” Feng Yuxuan shook his head helplessly, and said with a smile to Feng Yuzhen beside, “Cousin, Eighth Brother is in poor health. Since you live closer to him, please see him at your convenience so as to avoid his making trouble usually and annoying Father.”
“Eldest Brother, don’t worry. Eighth Brother is favored by the Emperor. As long as he doesn’t commit any major matters, the Emperor will let go of Eighth brother, and at most give some light punishment.” Feng Yuzhen replied also with a smile.
They showed love and respect as good brothers should. What a merry scene filled with cheerful chatting and laughing, as if there were no grudges among them!
The king’s consorts joined the conversation occasionally, and the atmosphere was very friendly.
w.a.n.g Yueyue and Ling Fengyan sat close to each other and got along well. So seeing Ling Fengyan was not well today, w.a.n.g Yueyue occasionally helped Ling Fengyan to the food.
After dinner, the brothers went to the pavilion outside to have some talks and help to digest. Princess Royal left there temporarily, and three of the princes’ consorts chatted in the parlor about what had happened in the capital. However, Mo Xuetong was not familiar, so she stood up after listening to them for a while. She smiled at Ling Fengyan and w.a.n.g Yueyue. “Royal sisters-in-law, I will go to see Mother and then, to serve His Highness. So I am sorry that I cannot accompany you now.”