Raise an emperor as a villain

"Your Majesty, in a few days it will be the Empress Dowager's birthday, look..." Eunuch An beside Emperor Rui carefully reminded.

"Isn't this matter already handed over to the Ministry of Rites? The Empress Dowager is at least my nominal mother-in-law. Now that I have a bad reputation, how dare I neglect her? If another charge of unfilial piety comes to me, how can I bear it. "Emperor Rui said with a wry smile.

"That's not it, it's just...the Shoukang Palace just sent someone to deliver a letter, saying that the Queen Mother is in the Buddhist hall and has not seen His Highness the Crown Prince for a long time. I hope the Emperor will allow the Crown Prince to attend the birthday banquet."

"The prince should have gone. What is she sending someone to tell her in such a serious manner now? Don't you want her to see her grandson? Hmph." Emperor Rui said this on the face, but naturally he didn't want to let her go. When the grandparents and grandchildren met, although the prince was young and ignorant, the queen mother was not a fuel-efficient lamp.What's more... Yesterday I came to report that the prince is not useless, but he can answer Mr.'s questions fluently.

Tranquility Palace

"Your Majesty, I heard that the Emperor allowed His Highness the Crown Prince to go to the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet. At that time, Your Majesty will also go to see His Highness the Crown Prince." Pei Xin said.

"Why don't you want to see your own child? It's just that I heard from Xue Lan that he was showing off his talents in the school yesterday. I'm afraid there are so many people staring at him. He is in danger now, and I can't take the risk to get close to him. If Lang'er gets involved again..." Empress Zhou said in embarrassment.

"My lady is thinking that it's better to wait for the Second Highness to become the king when she becomes an adult, and then go to the fiefdom instead of being cautious in the palace now."

"Don't you think Ben Gong is too cold and eccentric?"

"The servants dare not, but the servants understand the empress's difficulties."

"It's just that the queen mother's birthday banquet is still going. As for the birthday gift, just go to the warehouse to find some interesting items. Don't be too outstanding. You must not overwhelm any queen in Kunhe Palace."

"Your servant understands, Madam, please don't worry." After saying that, Pei Xin stepped back to do business.

After Zhou Queen finished explaining everything, she leaned a little tiredly on the couch covered with mink fur behind her.Turning around, he saw Ming Lang standing behind the bead curtain, he was small and not easy to be found, and he did not know when he came.

"Lang'er, why are you here? When did you come?" Empress Zhou couldn't hide the panic in her tone, and he hurried over to pick up Ming Lang.

"Queen, is the prince really my elder brother? Why don't you want to see him?"

Empress Zhou looked at her son's immature face, tears flowed down before she could speak. "My son, the queen mother is not for you. Now you are the only hope for the queen mother. The queen mother must keep you safe."

Ming Lang was only four years old, how could he understand the painstaking efforts of his mother and the ruthlessness of the court struggle.However, seeing his kind mother in the past crying so hard now, he comforted obediently, "Queen, don't cry, I understand." He said while wiping the tears on Queen Zhou's face with his little hands.

East Palace

"In short, someone told me just now that I will also go to the emperor's grandmother's birthday banquet." Ming Jue excitedly went to tell Lu Hengxiu when he got the news.

"Your Highness is happy. I think His Highness may not have seen the Empress Dowager for a long time." In fact, Ming Jue had never seen the Empress Dowager since he could remember, but the Empress Dowager often sent people over to deliver something.So Ming Jue, who was not cared about, thought of the kindness of this imperial grandmother whom he had never met in his heart, so he got closer to the Queen Mother.As for his own biological mother, Empress Zhou, not only did she not come to visit, she never even gave anything away, so Ming Jue didn't have much enthusiasm for her mother.

"In short, what do you think I should wear?" Ming Jue was still a child after all, and when he encountered something that pleased him, he was overjoyed, and happily went to dress.

Queen Mother's Birthday Banquet at Shoukang Palace

"It's rare that the emperor is willing to hold this birthday banquet for Ai's family." The queen mother usually lives in seclusion and eats fast and worships Buddha in the Shoukang Palace, but today it is rare to attend in full dress.She wore a bright red palace dress with a phoenix wearing a peony, with dark patterns embroidered with gold thread on the sleeves, and the golden light shining under the candlelight made her look even more graceful. The 50-year-old looks like he is not even forty, and he does not have the decadent look of living in a deep palace.

"The queen mother is being polite, a son should be filial." Emperor Rui replied with a distant and polite tone.But in the eyes of outsiders who don't know what's going on, it looks like a scene of deep love between Tian's mother and child.

"It's almost time for people to arrive, why don't we have a banquet!" Emperor Rui's Empress Li was responsible for the birthday banquet this time, and she suggested now that everyone has arrived.

"Let's start the banquet." Emperor Rui waved his hand, and then Empress Li clapped her hands.A group of singing and dancing girls came on stage and started the opening dance, and the palace people also praised Ming Zhenjia one after another.After some heat, the singing ceremony began.

The first thing that came up was naturally Ruidi's gift, Ruidi's gift was organized by the Ministry of Rites, and he didn't care about it himself.The things are naturally good, and the quantity is very large, but the heart is missing.

Empress Zhou was afraid of showing off too much and attracting hatred, so the gifts were all flashy and dirty things.Instead, Empress Li gave a coral tree, the color was beautiful and tight, which was very favored by the Empress Dowager.

The other princes and princesses and the ministers gave only passable things. After all, the emperor and the queen mother were at odds, and they were not their own mother and child, and there was still the matter of Yingzong in between.Everyone just dared not offend the queen mother, let alone try to please her sincerely.

"His Royal Highness, what did you bring to the Empress Dowager?"

The queen's question caused everyone to look at Ming Jue, who had been ignored all along.This time Mingjue didn't panic anymore, he calmly stood up and saluted first, and said, "Xiao Luzi, take out the gift I prepared for the imperial grandmother." It was the queen mother who suddenly changed her face when she saw Mingjue get up , but soon returned to normal

The crowd didn't notice the Queen Mother's expression, but they were all secretly surprised. They all knew that the Crown Prince Mingjue lived in seclusion in the East Palace all year round. They were afraid that even their own food and clothing would be difficult to sustain. How could they still have the energy to buy the Queen Mother's birthday gift.I saw Lu Hengxiu held out a pair of scrolls, and walked forward respectfully.A servant from the queen mother's side immediately came to pick it up, and the two of them faced the guests and slowly opened the scroll.I saw a big "Shou" character on the scroll, but upon closer inspection, there was something unusual. It turned out that the big "Shou" character was composed of many smaller "Shou" characters.All the people present couldn't help but admire: it's such a clever idea.

"Grandmother, this picture was drawn by my grandson himself. It is composed of 1 small 'shou' to form a big character 'Shou', named 'Longevity Picture', implying that the emperor's grandmother will live forever." Ming Jue said slowly, looking He is personable and does not seem to invite credit at all.

"It's no wonder that your child has such ingenious ideas. It's just that there are so many small characters, so don't spoil your eyes. Come over to the emperor's grandmother." The Queen Mother waved to Ming Jue, and Ming Jue walked over obediently.

Emperor Rui, who was watching from the side, had an ugly expression on his face, he had only heard that the crown prince had not become an incompetent person, but now he saw it with his own eyes and realized that it was actually a serious problem.He originally planned to push the crown prince out to disappoint the first emperor's party, and then abolish him logically, but now it seems that he has been given a chance to make a difference.

Emperor Rui couldn't help clenching his hands, "I dared to fight in the bloody storms in the past, but now I am afraid of a child?" Thinking of this, he felt more at ease.

Afterwards, there was nothing to say. Everyone present had their own thoughts, and no one really enjoyed this luxurious birthday banquet.After a while, the queen mother left first because she was unwell, and Emperor Rui would naturally not stay after the queen mother left.Then the officials saw that the master was gone, so naturally they dispersed one after another.

Empress Li carefully prepared the Queen Mother's birthday banquet for more than a month, and it ended in a hurry.Just like the beautiful fireworks blooming in the sky, no matter how grand they are, they are only for a moment.

The Empress Dowager who returned to the back hall was full of energy and showed no signs of discomfort.

Naturally, the queen mother is not really unwell, but just wants to take this rare opportunity to give some instructions.The queen mother dismissed all the servants, leaving only the crown prince Mingjue and Lu Hengxiu.

"Imperial Grandmother." Seeing that there were no outsiders around, Ming Jue threw himself into the arms of the Empress Dowager.

"Good boy, I'm sorry for you." The queen mother took Mingjue into her arms and gently stroked Mingjue's back. "It's not rash to call you here now." The queen mother took out the An item was handed over to Ming Jue, "This jade talisman was given to the Ai family by your father when he went out to fight. You can use it to mobilize the hidden guards left by your father."

Ming Jue tremblingly grasped the jade talisman handed over by the Queen Mother, feeling a little clear and a little scared in his heart.

The queen mother continued, "The Ai family doesn't know how long it will last, but it's better not to wait until the emperor does it himself. So the Ai family plans to find a reason to send you out in a few days. Even if you go out, you can only be a vassal king." It’s better than being a prince trembling in the palace.”

Lu Hengxiu listened quietly behind, and couldn't help marveling at the queen mother's scheming methods.Looking at the current situation, the Empress Dowager sincerely protects this eldest grandson. If she can go out with Ming Jue, then... Lu Hengxiu can hardly restrain his excitement.If he really got out of this deep palace, he wouldn't have to pretend to be a humble eunuch anymore.

"Jue'er, you go out first, the Ai family has something to say to him." The queen mother somehow fixed her eyes on Lu Hengxiu who was behind Ming Jue.

Mingjue turned his head suddenly when he heard the words. He didn't know the Queen Mother's intentions, and thought that the Queen Mother didn't want Lu Hengxiu to follow him.People close to him left him one by one, he really couldn't accept that even the last Lu Hengxiu would leave him. "Grandmother, Xiao Luzi has served you very well. My grandson doesn't need anyone else, as long as he is enough."

"You go out first." The queen mother did not reprimand, but her calm voice was full of majesty.

"Imperial Grandmother..." Ming Jue wanted to say more, but was stopped by Lu Hengxiu with his eyes. He suppressed the uneasiness in his heart, clenched the jade talisman in his hand and retreated.

Seeing Ming Jue leaving, the queen mother said slowly, "As expected, the Ai family did not misunderstand you, but you have taught Jue'er who has no foundation so well in a year. It's just that Jue'er is too dependent on you." The queen mother stared at Lu Hengxiu's cold eyes were as piercing as the cold wind in winter.

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