Rebirth of the Merchant Woman's Revenge

The banquet had already begun. The dance and music prepared in advance by the Ministry of Rites had resounded throughout the hall, and palace servants began to serve food to everyone one after another.

Delicious delicacies from land and sea, rare and precious delicacies were placed in front of everyone.

Concubine Yu's mind was not on these things at all. Even when the Emperor held Concubine Shu's hand and toasted the ministers, she did not feel jealous at all.

Because her mind was now focused on what her father had said in the letter.

About a cup of tea later, Qi Meng returned to her side.

Sure enough, there was an oil-paper bag in his hand.

"The servant who gave me the letter just now, go and pass the message on to me. I'll be behind the rockery next to the Moon-Watching Pavilion in a while."

Yu Fei then arranged for Qi Meng, and she quickly put the oil paper bag into her sleeve.

Qi Meng agreed, looked at Yu Fei with some worry in her eyes, then turned around and walked away.

After three rounds of wine and five dishes, the atmosphere in the hall became more lively, and the ministers who usually followed the rules were no longer as rigid as usual.

Concubine Yu found an opportunity and walked out of the hall. This time she did not take the same route as last time, but held Qi Meng's hand and walked towards the Moon-Watching Pavilion.

The Moon-Watching Pavilion is located in the Imperial Garden. Since it is not far from the Qianqing Palace, some concubines coming out of the palace would come here to get some fresh air.

But now, it is the hottest time of the summer. Although there is shade in the pavilion, it is still very hot, unlike the coolness in the main hall.

However, the people in the palace also put in some ingenuity to surround the Moon-Watching Pavilion with fine gauze, and placed a rockery on the south side where the sun shines to block the sunlight.

Since there is a banquet today, several eunuchs have been arranged to guard the Moon Watching Pavilion.

When Yufei walked here, a thin layer of sweat had already appeared on her forehead. She only stayed in the pavilion for a short while and then left with Qimeng.

"It's too hot here. Let's go over there and see if it can be cooler." Yufei and Qimeng said loudly.

Two young eunuchs wanted to follow and lead the way, but were stopped by Concubine Yu.

"It's not like I don't know the road. I walk it eight hundred times every day. You don't have to go there, sir."

The young eunuch could only nod and return to the Moon-Watching Pavilion.

After a while, Li Xingxian also left the banquet and walked out alone. Relying on his familiarity with the palace, he avoided most people and went to the place where Concubine Yu had arranged to meet him...

Today's birthday banquet went very smoothly. It had been prepared by the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Observatory for more than a month, and with the reasonable arrangements made by Concubine Shu, the Emperor was very satisfied.

It lasted until evening, when the crescent moon reached the zenith, and the birthday party was finally over.

The emperor returned to the imperial study. Although he was very tired, he still asked Eunuch Chengping to take out the painting "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains" for him to appreciate.

"Chengping, tell me, the Crown Prince took so much trouble to send me this gift, does he really have no thoughts about this position?"

"Oh, this..." As a servant, how could he dare to question this topic easily?

"Alas, anyway, I really can't understand the prince's mind, just like I didn't understand the queen's mind at the beginning, ah..."

The emperor cast a deep gaze on the painting. The beautiful mountains and rivers of the Great Chu came alive under Mr. Bai Shi's brush, which made him feel excited.

Eunuch Chengping looked at the emperor's expression and knew that he was thinking of the queen again, so he didn't dare to say another word.

Just when Eunuch Chengping thought that the emperor would definitely not say anything else, he suddenly said to him, "Go and call Sheng'er over. It's time for me to have a good talk with him."

Eunuch Chengping quickly agreed and went out.

The emperor's gaze was still on the painting. This gift was his favorite birthday gift he had received today, no, it was his favorite birthday gift he had received in all these years.

So, when Li Junsheng was brought into the palace by Eunuch Chengping, the emperor was still admiring the painting.

"Sheng'er pays his respects to the Emperor." Li Junsheng saluted the Emperor respectfully, with a calmness that was not typical for his age.

"Well, no need to be polite, Sheng'er, come here and see if you like this painting."

As the emperor spoke, he turned around and sat on his dragon throne, and his gaze finally shifted from the painting to Li Junsheng's face.

"This painting is magnificent, not only is the skill superb, but also the artistic conception is profound. When you look at it, you can feel the painter's love for the mountains and rivers of our great Chu. It is truly a well-deserved masterpiece."

Li Junsheng did not directly answer the emperor's questions, but expressed his own views on the painting.

"Yes, Sheng'er is right. Mr. Bai Shi is a famous scholar in Da Chu and a well-known patriot. He can spend more than ten years to do such a thing. This kind of thought alone is unprecedented."

Li Junsheng nodded repeatedly and looked at the emperor with a puzzled look, not understanding why he called him over so late.

Although I haven't seen him for a long time except for today's birthday party, this is the first time I have been summoned so late.

The emperor sighed meaningfully, "Such a beautiful land, can you protect it, Sheng'er?"

Li Junsheng opened his eyes wide in fear after hearing this, and immediately knelt on the ground in fear, "Father, did this son of yours do anything wrong?"

The emperor looked at his kneeling figure on the ground. He was intelligent, steady, and had a pure mind. Although he was still young, it did not affect his place in the court.

After all, he and Li Junsheng are both grandsons of Minister Si, and he has a mother who can help him plan things for him.

"Stand up..." the emperor said helplessly, "Come forward and play chess with father."

"Yes." Li Junsheng agreed quickly. In the past, it was always his brother the Crown Prince who played chess with his father, and he was very envious. He never expected that today, his father would also play chess with him.

……

On July 11, the day after the Emperor's birthday banquet, many people in some well-informed places in the capital were already discussing the painting "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains".

Especially inside and outside the building, there were many noble children or servants. Some of the descriptions must have come from the officials' descriptions after returning home, which simply described the painting as exquisite and unique.

Gu Qiongsi was wearing a veil and frowned after listening to just a few conversations in the hall.

According to their description, at yesterday's birthday banquet, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince stole the limelight because of this painting, and His Royal Highness Prince An lost again in this round.