Deep Palace Pet Peach Blossom Flawless

Chapter 524 Integration

In the afternoon, the prince went to Qiling Mountain with everyone else, and in the evening, as expected, they brought back a lot of prey.

In the evening, Emperor Shenwu simply held a dinner in the back garden. Princess Yuhua and the eldest son-in-law also rushed over. Everyone spent this cold day watching singing and dancing and drinking fine wine.

During the banquet, Prince Kang held up his wine glass and secretly glanced at the Queen, who was sitting at the highest position, through Prince Ding who was sitting in front of him.

He only dared to take a furtive look. If the people around him made any slight movement, King Kang would be so startled that he would immediately withdraw his gaze and pretend to take a sip or two of the wine in the glass.

The singing and dancing at this time sounded dull and unoriginal to King Kang. He recalled the Queen's unparalleled singing grace at Mount Qiling, and he felt even more eager to sing.

Unfortunately, His Majesty is now keeping a close eye on the Empress, and Prince Kang has not heard that enchanting and dreamlike singing for many years.

The honorable emperor and empress were toasting each other at the highest point. Emperor Shenwu had actually instructed the palace servants to replace Lan Qingwu's wine glass, which actually contained some fruit juice.

After all, Lan Qingwu really couldn't handle alcohol. Emperor Shenwu didn't want anyone to see her charming drunken appearance.

On the second day, the ice sculptures of hundreds of blooming flowers in the back garden amazed everyone. Palace servants kept bringing in new ice sculptures—the twelve zodiac animals, a majestic tiger, a cute rabbit, a giant dragon circling with its head held high...

Everyone was so dazzled by the sight that in the afternoon many important civil and military officials came.

At nightfall, Emperor Shenwu directly ordered everyone to leave the next morning.

Even the prince was no exception. He curled his lips imperceptibly and said that two days was really two days and he would not be allowed to stay for even one more day.

He was in a slightly bad mood and told his men, "Send any memorials here."

The Crown Princess and other female members of the royal family rode in carriages. Most of them returned to their own farms, and a few followed the Crown Prince back to the imperial city.

The Crown Prince rode a tall horse beside the Crown Princess's carriage, and the group returned to the imperial city in a grand procession.

In the Hot Spring Imperial Manor, Lan Qingwu thought that it would be bustling for many days, but he did not expect that Emperor Shenwu would "drive away" everyone so quickly and decisively.

Princess Yuhua, used to acting on her own whim, felt she had been the worst offender. She had just arrived for the day and was about to be driven away by her own brother, and she hadn't had enough fun yet! It took her husband's persuasion for a long time before she finally took her two children and a group of palace maids back to her own hot spring villa not far away.

Lan Qingwu was still very surprised: "I thought it would be lively for several days! Brother Heng, look at Princess Yuhua, her eyes are wide open and she doesn't want to leave!"

Emperor Shenwu said, "Let them toss around on their own! I still want to have some peace and quiet for a few days! Yuhua and her husband are not people who can be easily worried about!"

Lan Qingwu nodded. Princess Yuhua and her husband had been quarreling for many years, which was indeed a lot of trouble.

Emperor Shenwu extended his arms and embraced Lan Qingwu: "I am too lazy to deal with them, let's just stay here quietly for a few days!"

Lan Qingwu naturally agreed, "After a few days, I want to go back to the Lan Mansion to take a look!"

Lan Qingwu could go to the Lan Mansion to see the letters that his parents were not convenient to send to the palace, as well as various seasonal foods that his parents had sent from thousands of miles away.

Emperor Shenwu naturally agreed.

When the emperor and empress returned to the imperial city, Emperor Shenwu personally sent Lan Qingwu back to the Lan Mansion.

Lan Qingwu has been leaving the palace quite frequently in recent years. Every month, she would take time to stay in the Lan Mansion for one or two days, and later in the evening, Emperor Shenwu would come to pick her up in person.

When Lan Qingwu returned to Fengqi Palace, the palace had already begun preparing for various New Year matters.

Even though he has become familiar with the palace affairs over the years, Lan Qingwu still has to work hard for a few days during the New Year. But this year, with the Crown Princess as his legitimate daughter-in-law, Lan Qingwu simply lets the Crown Princess stay by his side and learn as much as she can!

The Crown Princess watched Lan Qingwu issue one order after another, feeling quite confused.

While Lan Qingwu could hold onto power, her mother-in-law divided it up. Lan Qingwu directly supervised several high-ranking concubines. If they made a mistake or anything happened, Lan Qingwu, the head of the six palaces, would immediately strip them of their authority to assist in managing the six palaces and choose a more capable concubine to take the position.

Lan Qingwu also governed the six palaces in the same way that Emperor Shenwu governed the previous dynasty. The most similar thing was that one of them held the jade seal and the other held the phoenix seal, and anyone who saw the order could pass.

In this way, the token of supreme power is in their own hands.

Instructions were issued one after another and things were arranged one after another.

After a busy half day, Lan Qingwu finally arrived at Li Xiang's place beside Emperor Shenwu. Li Xiang bowed and saluted before saying respectfully, "Empress, His Majesty has asked you to go to Qianzheng Hall later."

Lan Qingwu nodded, and said to the Crown Princess beside him: "Come with me!"

As the year was coming to an end, Emperor Shenwu was very busy, but he still took some time out to summon Lan Qingwu and several children to have lunch with him.

When Lan Qingwu arrived, the prince was also there. It was obvious that he had just finished discussing political affairs with Emperor Shenwu.

After the Crown Princess paid her respects, she sat down feeling rather nervous. She had attended many large family banquets and palace banquets, but this was the first time she had attended such a warm and simple family banquet.

Finally, the Seventh Princess arrived in a hurry. She was still young and still studying in the palace. Lan Qingwu watched her skipping into the hall and sighed, "Walk slowly."

The Seventh Princess immediately became dignified, and walked gracefully and elegantly to them, "Greetings to Father, Mother, Crown Prince, and Crown Princess! Greetings to Seventh Brother!"

Emperor Shenwu looked at his little daughter and seemed to see what Lan Qingwu looked like back then.

The little girl who had been running and jumping under the big peach tree, became a dignified lady again as soon as she left the peach orchard.

Emperor Shenwu laughed immediately and glanced at Lan Qingwu with a hint of ridicule: "My little princess can do whatever she wants, who dares to object!"

Lan Qingwu's mouth twitched slightly: "Your Majesty, Yueyue is a princess of the royal family. She can be spoiled a little in front of us, but not too much. She should set a good example for the royal family!"

Emperor Shenwu disagreed: "It's okay to be a little spoiled, she still has two brothers!"

The prince said to the Seventh Princess, who lowered her head, "Come and sit down!"

The prince felt that what his father said was right. In the future, he would be there to support the seventh princess and let his younger brothers and sisters live a carefree life, which would make his and his father's hard work worthwhile.

The Seventh Princess immediately regained her energy and ran directly to Lan Qingwu, almost burying herself in Lan Qingwu's arms, and said coquettishly: "Mother, Yueyue is very well behaved! You see, my manners are very good! Father, do you have the white jade fish soup that Yueyue likes? Yueyue wants some!"

"Of course there's Yueyue's favorite fish soup!"

Lan Qingwu shook his head helplessly, and the family began to have lunch.

The Crown Princess's slight nervousness was largely dispelled by the Seventh Princess and the Seventh Prince's constant teasing. The Emperor Shenwu always had a powerful aura; even a glance from him made the Crown Princess feel so overwhelmed that she could barely breathe. Furthermore, the stories her family elders had told them about his deeds only instilled in her both fear and respect for him. Since entering the Eastern Palace, she had rarely faced the Emperor alone.

Now, in this almost joyful scene, the Crown Princess felt even more incredible. However, she also understood that this was an opportunity given by Lan Qingwu and the Crown Prince to integrate into their group.