"Qiyun pays respects to Her Highness..."
Ming Qiyun had been in the palace for several days, coming to pay respects to Empress Dowager Ming every day. However, to her disappointment, the empress dowager had never allowed her to meet the prince.
Thinking of her father's instructions before entering the palace, she couldn't help but feel anxious.
Empress Dowager Ming stood up, took her hand, and said, "A person is adorned by clothes. This palace dress suits you perfectly."
Being praised by the empress dowager, Ming Qiyun blushed slightly. Then she heard the empress dowager say again, "Today, I've invited Prince Yu and Prince Zhongzhou to have lunch in the palace. You shall accompany us."
Immediately overjoyed, she had once caught a glimpse of these two princes from afar. They were so handsome, truly of celestial appearance.
If she could win their favor, she was sure that her future wealth and honor would be guaranteed.
Seeing her beaming with joy, Empress Dowager Ming hid her disgust and whispered, "Don't forget my instructions." Ming Qiyun remembered what the palace maid had told her yesterday, and instantly a cloud of gloom covered her forehead.
The empress dowager wanted her to secretly put aphrodisiacs in Prince Yu's wine.
But... did she really have to take this step to become a side concubine? She knelt on the ground and agreed. Her father had said that since ancient times, wealth and honor had always been pursued at risk. In that case, she might as well take a gamble!
Prince Yu entered the palace today. First, he went to pay respects to the emperor and the queen. He sat with the emperor for a while. Just then, the queen came to serve the emperor lotus seed porridge and invited Zhongli Mingye to share it, but he politely declined. "Grandmother has invited me to have lunch with her today. She said she has prepared some fresh delicacies."
Hearing this, the emperor frowned. "Why on earth would she invite you to have lunch with her?"
The queen smiled and said, "Maybe mother likes Ye'er..."
Like? The emperor was discerning. He suspected that the old woman was up to something for her beloved son again!
Zhongli Mingye bid farewell and left. The queen also left. As he was heading towards the empress dowager's palace, Prince Zhongzhou also entered the palace to have lunch.
The two exchanged a knowing look at the palace gate and then went to meet the empress dowager together.
However, today the empress dowager didn't seem to want to see Ming Ruyi. But at the moment, there was no reason to refuse him.
For lunch, Ming Ruyi had to be invited as well.
Ming Qiyun dressed up splendidly and took her seat. Her eyes were full of smiles as she kept pouring wine for Prince Yu and Prince Zhongzhou. The empress dowager was in high spirits today and also had a few drinks. But Ming Ruyi was worried about her health, so he only had a few sips and then put down his cup.
The empress dowager, on the pretext of being drunk, asked Ming Ruyi to send her to rest early. Only Ming Qiyun and Prince Yu were left at the table.
Seeing that Prince Yu was a bit tipsy, she was even more delighted. She quietly opened the mechanism of the mandarin duck pot and changed the wine.
"Your Highness, this is Qiyun's first time meeting you. I'd like to offer you this cup!" Zhongli Mingye looked at the wine in his cup thoughtfully. He had seen so many tricks in the palace.
This little trick was nothing! Under his wide sleeves, he took a few sips, and the rest of the wine went into his sleeves.
Afraid that Prince Yu hadn't drunk enough, Ming Qiyun offered him a few more cups. Again and again, Prince Yu finally couldn't resist the alcohol and fell into a deep sleep.
"Your Highness? Qiyun will help you to rest." Ming Qiyun helped Prince Yu up and walked towards the side hall. This scene was seen by a little eunuch in the empress dowager's palace, and he quickly ran outside the palace.
"Mother, you usually have a good capacity for alcohol..." Ming Ruyi helped his mother dutifully and served her to lie on the bed. "Why did you only have a few cups today?"
Empress Dowager Ming looked at her younger son, full of disappointment. "It's very hot today. I feel a bit sleepy. I just want to talk to you."
Ming Ruyi frowned. He could see what his mother was up to. "Is that woman the one you arranged for Prince Yu?"
"Why did you do such a thing!?" He was very dissatisfied. The emperor was becoming more and more impatient with their mother - son pair. His mother was taking a risk!
Empress Dowager Ming was a bit angry. "He will marry a side concubine anyway. If it's someone from our family, then you will have an extra layer of protection in the future."
Ming Ruyi pursed his lips angrily and sighed. "Mother, you're being foolish..." Not to mention that this nephew was scheming and cunning. Trying to plot against him? It would be good if he didn't have them in his sights. His mother's plan today was really a bad move.
"Presumptuous!" Empress Dowager Ming looked at him angrily. "Aren't I doing all this for you!?"
Ming Ruyi was too impatient to coax her anymore. He walked out of the palace directly. "Mother, please think twice." He closed his eyes. This time, he didn't intend to stop his mother. She had to know how powerful Prince Yu was.
Ming Qiyun had just laid Prince Yu on the bed and was about to draw the curtain when she saw that the person who was supposed to be in a daze was looking at her clearly.
"Your... Highness"
Zhongli Mingye gave her a sarcastic look, sat up, and wrung out the wine stains on his sleeve. This scene scared Ming Qiyun to death.
She knelt on the ground tremblingly. "Qiyun only admires Your Highness. I have absolutely no intention of harming you."
Harming him? She wasn't qualified. However, many people in the palace had seen them in the same room. It seemed that it would be hard to explain.
However, he, Zhongli Mingye, was not the kind of person who would submit obediently.
"Uncle, have you watched enough of the show?"
"How much longer are you going to take?" Ming Ruyi walked in helplessly from outside the door and said, "Thank you..."
Zhongli Mingye sighed with his hands behind his back. "There won't be a next time!"
"Okay..."
When the emperor got the news, he rushed to the empress dowager's palace. "Very good! Dare to plot against his son!"
The empress dowager was startled and got up from the couch. After the emperor entered the palace to pay respects, he went straight to the side hall where Prince Yu was resting. The empress dowager was overjoyed, just waiting for this matter to be confirmed. Not only would it damage Prince Yu's reputation, but it would also allow the Ming family's girl to enter Prince Yu's mansion.
Inside the side hall, there were sounds of intimacy. The empress dowager was sure that the two of them were already having a passionate encounter. She said, "These young kids, once they take a fancy to each other, completely ignore etiquette."
However, when she saw clearly that the person inside was Ming Ruyi, she panicked instantly. "Where's Prince Yu?"
The emperor looked at her sarcastically. "Ruyi pays respects to the elder brother..."
Ming Ruyi smiled. "I've always been like this since I was a child. Ye'er drank too much earlier and went back to his mansion directly."
"You! With such a temperament, how could you do such a thing in the empress dowager's palace?" The emperor's indifferent tone made the empress dowager feel uneasy.
After saying that, the emperor was about to leave angrily. Unexpectedly, Ming Ruyi stepped forward playfully. "Please, elder brother, mother, reward this younger sister to Ruyi."
The empress dowager stared at him in disbelief. What was wrong with her son today?
The emperor smiled. "You're really a flirt. Well, I'll reward her to you." After saying that, his smile gradually froze. Ming Ruyi, I can't keep you any longer!