Chapter 315

When the Crown Prince came back, she had just lain down. Her whole body was still wet, her skin as white as jade. The parts that had been soaked in hot water were flushed red, temptingly.

Zhao Changdu came into the yard with a cold face. Only when he stepped into the room did his expression relax a little.

Zhao Changxing had lost his manhood. Cheng was making sarcastic remarks. As for his so-called father, he didn't care at all whether he lived or died. Instead, he reprimanded him for the destruction of the Qilin Army.

In the Zhengte Study, Zhao Huiyan's words were full of insults towards Mrs. Lin.

Listening to this made his heart burn with anger. If it weren't for the bond between flesh and blood, he would have exploded long ago.

Full of anger and killing intent, it was only when he reached Changfeng Pavilion that he gradually calmed down. Walking to the bedside, looking at the little girl softly lying on the brocade quilt embroidered with fish playing with lotuses, the man's eyes darkened. He reached out and hooked her delicate red hand out to hold it gently in his palm, stroking it lightly. The corner of his mouth held a hint of an indulgent smile. "After I change, I'll probably have to go to the palace. Don't forget to eat by yourself. I've already told Hongfen to prepare the fruits, cakes and your favorite sticky rice that you wanted."

The Crown Prince had merit in disaster relief and returned to Bianjing, so he should pay a visit to the palace.

Gu Ying said worriedly, "A-Du, Li Yang wouldn't reveal that I went to Yueyang, would he?"

Zhao Changdu tucked her quilt around her, and gently caressed her belly again, brushing the hair by her temples behind her ears unhurriedly, "He wouldn't dare."

Gu Ying felt relieved to hear this. After the long journey back, although the Crown Prince had deliberately slowed their pace, she still felt exhausted all over. The moment she touched the soft quilt, sleepiness swept over her.

She looked deeply at the man, comfortably closing her eyes, feeling the Crown Prince press a kiss to her forehead. Then, layer by layer, the curtains in the room fell, in the dim light, she fell contentedly asleep.

...

That night, after leaving the Imperial Study, the Tianqi Emperor held a simple palace banquet in the palace to welcome them back early. Not many people attended the banquet.

In addition to Zhao Changdu, Ye Qingchi, Zhou Yan and a few others who were ordered to provide disaster relief this time, there was also Prince Shu, Li Yang, and Prince Duan, Li Hao.

The Tianqi Emperor expressed his deep regret over the loss of thousands of Zhao Changdu's Qilin Army soldiers during this snow disaster, while at the same time trusting him more and promoting him to Vice Minister of the Privy Council of the second rank.

Ye Qingchi and Zhou Yan also got promoted for their merit in disaster relief.

During the palace banquet, the emperor and his ministers had fun together. Only the Tianqi Emperor looked somewhat weak, his complexion pale, and his body seemed not as hale and hearty as before.

Zhao Changdu surreptitiously sized up the Tianqi Emperor several times, lowering his eyes, and calmly drank a cup of wine.

After chatting with them for a while, the Tianqi Emperor only drank two cups of wine and took a bite of food before he couldn't take it anymore. He rubbed his eyebrows and called for Imperial Tutor Guo to support him back to the palace to rest.

As soon as Li Hao heard this, he respectfully got up and reached out to support His Majesty.

His Majesty glanced at him without saying anything, relying on him as he left the palace.

What Ye Qingchi found odd was that Prince Duan, this good-for-nothing idler, didn't usually enjoy the emperor's favor or often attended His Majesty. How was it that after returning from Yueyang this time, he clearly felt that His Majesty was much closer to Prince Duan?

Prince Duan, this sickly weakling...had always kept a low profile and knew his place, seldom attending such banquets with important ministers present.

Naturally, he hadn't missed the subtle interaction between Li Hao and Crown Prince Zhao during the banquet either.

It seemed there was some relationship here that he didn't know about.

After His Majesty left, the others could only take their leave as well.

On the wide imperial avenue of the palace, the palace maids carried exquisite palace lanterns to escort the few nobles out of the palace as ordered.

Li Yang wore gorgeous brocade robes, a gold crown and jade belt. After returning from Yueyang, he had resumed his usual hypocritically elegant and prodigal son attitude.

He arrogantly called out to Zhao Changdu, laughing mockingly, "Crown Prince Zhao, why didn't you tell His Majesty about Gu Ying's achievements in Yueyang? Ask for an imperial decree to reward her?"

In his opinion, Zhao Changdu simply didn't love Gu Ying enough. Otherwise, why would he hide and cover up her achievements, not only not letting the world know about Gu Ying's merit, but also not asking for an imperial decree to reward her? Clearly, he was just being petty and afraid that a woman would steal his glory. Zhao Changdu wore a round-collared long robe with a subtle golden auspicious cloud pattern and a black jade belt embroidered with gold. A pomegranate flower sachet was conspicuously hanging from it. Just standing there under the palace wall, he was tall and straight, noble and handsome, more than half a head taller than Li Yang.

He indifferently tilted his head to coldly look down on Li Yang, "There is no need to trouble Prince Shu with this."

The colder his attitude was, the angrier Li Yang became.

"This was a good opportunity for her, a lowly concubine, to receive an imperial decree of reward. Yet you strangled her glorious path. Zhao Changdu, as her husband, you're too petty."

Zhao Changdu's expression was indifferent. His originally bright and beautiful eyes were now a sheet of bone-chilling ice. "My matters with Ah Ying are none of your concern."

Moreover, a mere imperial decree was something his Ah Ying wouldn't even deign to glance at.

An invisible pressure enveloped them. Li Yang swallowed his next words with difficulty, but still barely maintained the demeanor of a prince. He taunted, "What, did I touch a sore spot? Unhappy now?"

Zhao Changdu's eyes were gloomy and fierce. His gaze lazily swept over the wrinkled space between his brows. How could Li Yang's petty thoughts escape his eyes? But he didn't consider Li Yang worth looking at at all.

"It's precisely to protect her that I'm concealing it. Prince Shu has never truly loved a woman, so naturally you don't understand my kind intentions. If your muddled brain still can't figure it out, I suggest Prince Shu go home—"

He pointed at his head, the corner of his mouth curving up mockingly, "—and have an imperial physician take a good look at this."

"Pfft—" The one who laughed was Ye Qingchi, who was waiting to one side. "Sorry, I don't mean to disturb you, Prince Shu, but I also feel that the Crown Prince makes sense. Instead of poking your nose into other people's family matters, Your Highness, you might as well go home and have your head checked."

Li Yang's eyebrows shot up angrily. "You—"

"Let's go." Zhao Changdu didn't even glance at him as he bid Ye Qingchi to leave with him.

Ye Qingchi smirked and gave Li Yang a pitying look before leaving.

The gall of him, wanting to covet his younger sister when she was already engaged. Did he even think to ask the Ye family's opinion? And with that cold-faced Lord of Hell, Zhao Changdu around, where did Li Yang even get the guts?

Li Yang angrily clenched his fists, violently kicking the little eunuch behind him. The little eunuch didn't dare to make a sound despite the pain, covering his buttocks as he retreated back. "Let you dodge! Let you dodge! Let you dodge!"

Li Yang was furious, his temple throbbing violently. He wished he could kill Zhao Changdu, Ye Qingchi and the others right then.

But he didn't have the power to touch the Zhao clan yet. He could only take out his anger on the servants around him.

"Why make things difficult for these few eunuchs, Your Highness?"