THE FLOWER PALACE'S SECRET

Chapter 31: An Sudden Visit

The sky of Rouwu city, at the end of winter, looked like a long-stretched blue scarf. The moving clouds no longer let down the snow that bleached the entire city of the king. Instead, the previously piled snows slowly melted away and began to disappear bit by bit. The burden of the janitor who always sweeps the snow that blocks the road becomes lighter than before.

In the morning when the sun was just about to leave, the residence of the Queen Mother Guanling Palace was preoccupied with various banquets. Grand Prince Yan or Xiao Yan who was familiarly called Lin Yang, the Crown Prince who was appointed by the Emperor came to visit with his little son, Prince Mu. The Emperor's first son had just returned from Rongyue, a small town on the western border of the Ling mainland. His task as the Emperor's representative in the small town had just been completed. He left at the end of autumn and returned at the end of winter.

Suri's mother gulped down the longjing tea that had just been brewed a moment ago. On the seat of his greatness, he looked calmly at his granddaughter and great-granddaughter who was struggling to pay their respects.

“Wake up, the floor is cold.”

Lin Yang then woke up with his little son. The two sat on a chair to the right of the Queen Mother. The five-year-old boy in Lin Yang's lap then chatted about the gift his father had brought from Rongyue with a cedal and stammered. Sometimes the boy muttered indistinctly and said something that made the Queen Mother anxious. Despite stammering, this brat was already good at talking like an adult.

Little Prince Mu was his real name Xiao Mu Rongzi. He no longer wears the Lin surname like his father and uncle, because it was only specifically given by the Queen Mother as a small name.

“Benwang is grateful to be back and enjoy the end of winter here,” said Lin Yang while staring at the Queen Mother.

“What does winter look like in Rongyue?”

The Queen Mother showed great interest in the story of her granddaughter's journey. During his lifetime, he never took his eyes off of books, servants, offices, and clothes. The Queen Mother had never known the scenery outside the city, other than the walls and walls of the palace that separated her from the outside world since she set foot in this magnificent courtyard. His youth was also spent studying at the academy and very rarely came out of the Han residence, even to simply enjoy the peak spring and autumn festivals that only lasted once a year.

“Winter in Rongyue comes later than Rouwu. The rivers are much bigger than the rivers here,” replied Lin Yang.

“Does my sister come here often?”

“She came several times.”

Lin Yang nodded. Since his return to the capital last fall, he has only met his sister three times. One time when the handover of military badges, the second at the wedding, and the third at the time of the Queen Mother's birthday banquet. The two did not have much time to chat in person like two brothers who were familiar and supportive of each other. The difference in status and standing between him and Lin Zian made their relationship restricted to a thick and high dividing wall.

“An’er fell ill a few weeks ago. The ears of the ministers became sharp, some of them foul-mouthed,”, the Queen Mother said as she sipped the scent of longjing tea that was still hot.

“Someone must have been on alert since his return to the capital. Even though his military badge has been taken over by the kingdom, they remain dissatisfied,”.

Lin Yang looked at the Empress Dowager from the side. The expression the Queen Mother showed pinched her little heart. That face implied something that made it seem as if it was a guilty person. Could it be that the Queen Mother was disappointed and blamed herself? Anyone would not close their eyes and ears to suspicion and prejudice when two brothers who are candidates for royal succession and military officers are in the same neighborhood.

Lin Yang deeply regretted the Empress Mother's expression. In fact, deep down, he was not worried and did not place any suspicion on Lin Zian. He actually felt unfair if his sister continued to be cornered and alienated from the palace's observation. After all, Lin Zian was still his younger brother, a younger brother who was in the same womb.

“I will visit his residence. Your Honor, is there a message you want to send?” Lin Yang tried to melt the atmosphere. Suri's mother turned her head towards him, then looked deeply at him.

“Yang’er, be careful. Sometimes, unfounded words can change your heart.”

Lin Yang nodded in understanding. After saluting, he brought Prince Mu out of Guanling Palace. A eunuch who was always beside him walked hurriedly towards him. The eunuch saluted for a while, then whispered something into Lin Yang's ear. The look of surprise was clearly drawn when the eunuch finished whispering. He then picked up his son, then walked quickly away from Guanling Palace without looking back again.

...***...

The palace of the Prince of Qin's residence was surrounded by many people. At the front gate, a message-giving eunuch knelt down with the other two eunuchs resignedly. It was almost noon the three were left to rest while waiting for Lin Zian's arrival and became a spectacle of people. Their clothes were already full of sweat in the late winter sun preparing to welcome the beginning of spring.

“Easy Wang, go. Our Young Master will not meet you,” drive the gatekeeper.

“No. I have to meet wangye, then I will go,” Kasim Wang replied firmly.

“Basic stubborn eunuch!” The gatekeeper cursed violently.

A few hours ago, Eunuch Wang and his two companions came to deliver a message that the Emperor had fallen ill and requested that Prince Qin the Second Prince come to the palace immediately. However, before the three set foot in the Qin residence, they had already intercepted Xu Chi. The servant said that Lin Zian was unwilling to meet any envoy from the palace, moreover if it was the messenger messenger from the Emperor's palace.

When the three forced their way in, Lin Zian appeared and directly dragged them out until the front gate. After which, Lin Zian turned around without saying a word and covered his ears from Eunuch Wang's cry pleading with him.

“What are they still kneeling?” asked Lin Zian to Xu Chi. While rubbing the ink rod, the servant nodded.

“Young Master, shouldn't you go? Perhaps the Emperor is indeed really sick,” Xu Chi said hesitantly.

“He has quite a number of sons and servants and healers who accompany and treat him,” Lin Zian said calmly.

His hands were busy scraping the brush onto a piece of paper. The arrival of Eunuch Wang and his two companions made his day feel like rotten fruit. Lin Zian really wished that he had no more relationship with the Emperor's palace. The father-son relationship for him is a mere formality.

Now, the relationship that could clearly please people was only the relationship of an Emperor with princes, superiors and subordinates. Although it was said repeatedly that he did not hate his father, but the heartache of something that had gone before could not make him have a good view of the father.

If only Shen Yanzhia had known of his deeds to the three eunuchs, Lin Zian would not have been safe. The woman would definitely scold him all out and mess up the entire residence again. Luck was on his side because the empress was going to Prince Yun's residence to deliver the antidote to Ru Xiaolan.

Therefore, Lin Zian had to make sure the three eunuchs left before Shen Yanzhia came home and had the entire servants in the residence to keep their mouths shut for what happened today. Otherwise, Shen Yanzhia would definitely force and drag him into the Emperor's palace.

“Wangshu!”

Lin Zian was flabbergasted at the sound of a child. Wait, little boy?

“Mu’er?”

A five-year-old boy ran towards her. The boy immediately hugged Lin Zian tightly like he was hugging a large teddy bear. Not long after, a middle-aged woman entered following the boy.

“Sorry to interrupt your time, wangye.”

The waiter was Mi Shaoshi. He came with Prince Mu because the boy kept whining about meeting his uncle. Since the Crown Prince was busy representing the ailing Emperor in court, the Queen Mother asked him to accompany Prince Mu to come for a visit. Mi Shaoshi was shocked when he saw Eunuch Wang and his two companions kneeling before the gate of the residence palace. He then told the three eunuchs to return to the palace and said that his affairs would be settled by him.

“Wangye, I came delivering a message-”

Before the servant finished his sentence, Lin Zian cut him off first.

“I know. Mu’er, you miss me so much huh?” Lin Zian pinched his nephew's gaunt cheek on his lap.

“Wangshu, are we having a hygiene party?” asked Prince Mu slightly stammered.

Lin Zian frowned. A party? What party?

“I saw aunt carrying a broom while walking here,” replied Prince Mu.

Lin Zian and Xu Chi looked at each other. Aunty? A broom? The look on Lin Zian's face turned tense. The disaster! Shen Yanzhia has returned! That woman must have come hand in hand with Mi Shaoshi and Prince Mu. If Prince Mu said that his aunt was carrying a broom and rushed to walk here, it means that she had seen eunuchs kneeling outside the residence.

“Mu’er, can you play for a while with Mi Shaoshi, uncle must go somewhere now,” Lin Zian said as he lifted Prince Mu from his lap.

“Wangshu afraid of aunt?”

This boy, though small but had a sharp mouth. Lin Zian was not willing to waste much time arguing with this nephew of his. He immediately got up, took Prince Mu and handed him over to Mi Shaoshi. Mi Shaoshi tried to hold back his laughter. His face even turned red.

“Lin Zian hick! Who taught you to be rude to the palace's men?”

Shen Yanzhia stood firmly at the entrance of Lin Zian's study room. The woman is like an angel of death carrying a sharp staff. His eyes lit up, piercing sharply at anyone who looked at him. Mi Shaoshi and Xu Chi quietly retreated, giving way for Shen Yanzhia to arrive at Lin Zian. The woman is ready to hit at any time.

Lin Zian sighed. Will his life end today?

...***...

Note: Wangshu, the name for the royal uncle. Wangye, the name for calling the prince.