Chapter 1780: Chapter 1780

Chapter 1780: 069. Meeting and Chatting

On the first day of the month, Lin Yuan lazed around the mansion all day, either joking with Xiao Linshuang and some others or watching Liu Limin laugh foolishly, and found it quite enjoyable.

Speaking of it, Lin Yuan was a newly appointed princess, and Lady Liu had a court title, so typically during New Year’s, they wouldn’t be idle.

However, since He Lienuo had previously proposed to Princess Cuiwei and Cheng Yuexiu suddenly became Princess Hexiu, many people in the Capital City hadn’t yet reacted, spending the first day either visiting their superiors or delivering gifts to Cheng Mansion.

This gave Lin Yuan’s entire family a leisurely day, until after dinner when Xia Zheng arrived with slightly flushed cheeks.

Smelling the faint scent of alcohol on him, there was no need to ask to know this guy had surely just returned from a banquet.

Rarely had she seen Xia Zheng drink before, and even if he did, he had never been slightly weary like today. It was evident he’d had quite a bit to drink.

Lady Liu quickly instructed Hai Tang to prepare some sobering soup in the small kitchen, while Lin Yuan sat beside him with furrowed brows, feeling a slight stir in her heart.

As if sensing Lin Yuan’s unusual gaze, Xia Zheng chuckled, leaned in, and whispered, “Is Madam upset? Don’t be angry, Madam. I drank a few more cups today not because I’m a glutton, but because I’m in good spirits.”

Lin Yuan subconsciously pursed her lips. Men always liked to find various reasons to drink. Today, they’re in a bad mood to drink, and tomorrow, they’re in a good mood to drink too. In short, alcohol is the indispensable good stuff.

Hai Tang’s actions were swift, and she had already brought over the sobering soup. Lin Yuan held it, blew it cool for him, and casually retorted, “What’s this ‘Madam’ and ‘for my husband’ nonsense? Just a few more cups and you’re talking gibberish! Why are you in such good spirits? Did you come across a profitable shop this year?”

For Xia Zheng, who loved money as if it were life itself, the only thing Lin Yuan could think of that would make him happy was earning money.

“How is it gibberish? Anyway, in a few months, we’ll be getting married, so there’s no harm in getting accustomed to it early!”

When Xia Zheng said this, he didn’t avoid saying it in front of Lady Liu present, hearing which made Lady Liu amused and somewhat annoyed, considerably diminishing Lin Yuan’s earlier slight reproachfulness due to his indulgence in drinking.

“Alright, hurry and talk business!”

Lin Yuan gave him a playful glance, pushed the now perfectly warm sobering soup into his hand, gesturing for him to drink it quickly.

Given Lin Yuan’s understanding of Xia Zheng, she knew he wasn’t the type to drink recklessly just because of a whim. As she listened to his words, she guessed it was indeed something significant.

Sure enough, when Xia Zheng finished the sobering soup and placed the bowl aside, he winked and said, “Do you know, today something major happened in the palace?”

Lin Yuan blinked her eyes. Her first reaction was that the Emperor had agreed to Princess Cuiwei’s distant marriage to Xiliang.

But upon second thought, this was not right. Although Xia Zheng didn’t have great relations with Empress Su and Su Zhe, he was quite close to this cousin, Cuiwei. If she were to marry far away to Xiliang, he wouldn’t happily say he was in good spirits.

Could it be that it was not agreed? But such matters had been discussed in front of so many people, and Cuiwei had accepted the proposal too. If the Emperor didn’t agree, the decision wouldn’t be made so early. Follow current novels on ɴovelfire.net

Seeing Lin Yuan frowning and guessing, Xia Zheng wasn’t anxious, merely narrowing his eyes watching her, causing Lin Yuan to feel annoyed and increasingly impatient, urging him to speak quickly with a knitted brow.

Xia Zheng chuckled and said, “Madam, why rush? If I told you now, Madam would certainly be happy too. Do you remember Consort Liu being sent back to the palace ahead of schedule at the imperial banquet?”

Of course she remembered, not only that, she also remembered Consort Liu indirectly inciting and slandering at the palace banquet!

“Today, early morning, His Majesty led the kin to the ancestral worship. Logically, all of the concubines in the palace should attend. But wouldn’t you know it, Consort Liu was ordered by His Majesty to reflect in her own palace, forbidden to leave without a decree. Tsk tsk, what does this mean, you should understand, right?”

Seeing Xia Zheng’s eyes carrying a semblance of a smirk, Lin Yuan’s heart pondered over the matter.

The New Year’s ancestral worship is no small matter, anyone with a significant status in the Royal family generally has to participate, even newborn princes and princesses have to be carried by the nurses to the ancestral worship.

Yet, Consort Liu, despite her concubine status, didn’t get to attend, reflecting how much the Old Emperor detested her.

The Emperor’s disgust is one thing, but Consort Liu’s losing face is most crucial. Reflecting in her own palace, forbidden to venture out without a decree – that certainly rankles more than a demotion.