socalfunplaces Chapter 303 Rui Ge'er Enters the Palace
Chapter 303 Rui Ge'er Enters the Palace
Last year at the palace banquet, Pei Rujing was pregnant and did not attend. Wen Zongji accompanied her, so naturally he did not attend either.
This year, he still couldn't be absent. Not only that, but even Rui Ge'er was wrapped up tightly and rode into the palace in a carriage with Wen Zongji.
Pei Rujing held Rui Ge'er's little hand, her tone helpless: "I don't know what Uncle is thinking. He can't see Rui Ge'er whenever he wants, but he insists on making us bring him to the palace to attend the banquet. He's still so young."
Wen Zongji said, "Perhaps His Majesty suddenly wants to see Rui Ge'er. I will take him to Linhua Palace first. After we have met His Majesty, I will have Qinghe and the others take Rui Ge'er to you."
Pei Rujing nodded: "Okay."
The carriage stopped outside the palace, and a group of people entered the palace as if they knew the way well.
Linhua Palace
Wen Zongji carried Rui Ge'er into the palace, and everyone else looked over.
Among all the people attending the palace banquet, Wen Zongji was quite unique in bringing in a child.
Because we were going to attend a palace banquet, I made sure to coax Rui Ge'er to sleep for a long time during the day, and he's wide awake now.
Rui-ge'er opened his bright eyes and looked around. He wasn't shy at all, looking at this and that, very busy.
Wen Zongren laughed and said, "I thought Rui-ge'er would be scared, but suddenly seeing so many people..."
Rui Ge'er has always given people the impression of being well-behaved, which subconsciously makes people think that he might be stage-frightened.
Wen Zongji held his little hand: "I didn't expect it either. Maybe ignorance is bliss."
A few days before the Lunar New Year, he and Pei Rujing returned to the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence. They came to the palace banquet together.
Soon after, officials from the Ministry of Revenue came over to greet Wen Zongji.
"Is this your son? He looks intelligent, just like Lord Wen."
"Who knows, he might surpass Lord Wen in the future and become the top scholar in the imperial examination."
Wen Zongji accepted all the praise from everyone; who doesn't like others praising their child?
After exchanging pleasantries with everyone, he went to greet Zhou Shiyue.
Zhou Shiyue glanced at Rui Ge'er and said, "You're quite popular."
Wen Zongji humbly replied, "I am fortunate to have earned your high regard."
The officials in the Ministry of Revenue were close to him, partly because of his outstanding abilities and achievements, and partly because of Zhou Shiyue's high regard for him.
Zhou Shiyue waved his hand: "It's because you're so capable... Your son is quite like you."
That's what everyone says.
As Ruige'er grows up, he does indeed look more and more like Wen Zongji.
At this moment, Emperor Shun'an and the Crown Prince appeared.
Wen Zongji immediately returned to his seat.
Emperor Shun'an walked to the main seat and sat down.
The crowd said in unison, "Your Majesty, we pay our respects."
Emperor Shun'an raised his hand: "Today's palace banquet transcends the distinction between ruler and subject; everyone should enjoy themselves to the fullest."
After that, the court song and dance began.
Emperor Shun'an glanced in Wen Zongji's direction and said in a low voice, "Have Wen Zongji bring Rui'er over."
Emperor Shun'an wanted to see Rui Ge'er, but he was worried that Rui Ge'er would cry if he left his loved ones, so he asked Wen Zongji to come along.
After saying this, Emperor Shun'an glanced at the Crown Prince: "You should pay close attention to the Crown Princess's affairs."
His children are all quite young, so if he wants to enjoy the pleasures of grandchildren, he can only find it in his son, Rui Ge'er.
Wen Zongji carried Rui Ge'er over: "Your Majesty—"
Emperor Shun'an stopped him from paying his respects: "I've already said there are no subjects between the emperor and his subjects today. Did you keep Rui'er warm on the journey?"
"No. The wet nurse dressed Rui-ge in very thick clothes before he left."
Emperor Shun'an reached out his hand: "Come here, Rui'er, let your maternal uncle hold you."
Rui Ge'er wasn't afraid of Emperor Shun'an, he just glanced at Wen Zongji.
Wen Zongji stepped forward and said, "Your great-uncle likes you."
Rui Ge'er felt Wen Zongji's movement and then opened his arms to let Emperor Shun'an hug him.
Emperor Shun'an immediately beamed with joy: "As expected of Anhe's son, he's quite bold. When Anhe was little, she dared to urinate on me while I was holding her."
Wen Zongji: "..."
Is it appropriate to say something like this in front of him?
Wen Zongji looked at the Crown Prince.
The prince kept his eyes straight ahead, as if he hadn't heard anything.
Wen Zongji withdrew his gaze, pretending not to have heard anything.
Rui Ge'er was indeed a bold boy. Sitting in Emperor Shun'an's lap, his little hands never stopped moving. He would touch Emperor Shun'an's casual clothes one moment and tug at the jade pendant hanging from Emperor Shun'an's waist the next.
Emperor Shun'an watched his actions with amusement, and even tore off the jade pendant for Rui Ge'er to play with as he pleased.
The princes and ministers below watched this scene, exchanging glances with complex expressions.
"As expected of Princess Anhe, not only is she favored by the Emperor, but even her children receive his special favor."
"Isn't it because the Emperor and the Princess have a deep sibling bond that they extend their affection to each other?"
"The Princess doesn't only have Princess Anhe as a daughter. The eldest son of the Pei family also had a son, and the Emperor only bestowed some gifts upon them; I haven't heard of anything else. When Princess Anhe gave birth, the Emperor personally went to the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence. Who else can receive such imperial favor?"
"Because they've been spoiled since they were little, they're just different."
Everyone sighed in unison, ultimately envying Pei Rujing's imperial favor.
When Pei Rujing was born, the relationship between the eldest princess and the Duke of Pei broke down, and their marriage existed in name only. From then on, Emperor Shun'an took the place of Pei Rujing's father.
Over the years, Emperor Shun'an has shown more affection for Pei Rujing, and naturally became more attentive to her, which led him to extend his affection to Rui Ge'er as well.
This level of divine favor is something others can only envy, but none can match.
Emperor Shun'an not only held Rui Ge'er for a while to his heart's content, but also forcibly handed him to the Crown Prince: "Crown Prince, you should also hold him. In the future, you must give me a grandson as smart and well-behaved as Rui Ge'er."
The Crown Prince and Rui-ge'er stared at each other, suddenly at a loss for what to do; he had never held a child before.
Rui Ge'er was completely at ease, sitting in the Crown Prince's lap and grinning at him.
The prince's body became even stiffer.
He really had no experience.
In the end, it was Wen Zongji who saved the Crown Prince: "Rui-ge'er is very active, and I'm afraid the Crown Prince won't be able to handle him."
After saying that, she picked up Rui Ge'er and carried him over.
The crown prince breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
Wen Zongji checked the time and said, "Rui-ge'er has been away from the county princess for too long. To prevent him from crying, I must send someone to take Rui-ge'er to the county princess."
Emperor Shun'an nodded: "Go ahead, from now on let Anhe bring Ruige'er to the palace more often."
"Yes."
Then, Wen Zongji carried Rui Ge'er down the steps, and Qing He led the way while the wet nurse carried Rui Ge'er to find Pei Rujing.
Emperor Shun'an watched as the wet nurse carried Rui Ge'er away, then looked at the Crown Prince again.
A deep, brooding gaze—
Heaven help me, the Crown Prince is not even eighteen years old yet, and he is already being pressured to get married, and the worst part is that he can't refute it.
Under Emperor Shun'an's gaze, the Crown Prince said, "Your subject will pay close attention."
Emperor Shun'an then withdrew his gaze with satisfaction.