I am a prince in Zhutian Films

Chapter 41 Uninvited Guest

After coming out of the pleasure boat, Li Chengzong went straight into the palace.

It was only after he said that there would be a good show tomorrow that he remembered that there was actually a good show in the palace today.

That is, Li Yunrui was beaten.

Unfortunately, after waiting in the Empress Dowager's bedroom for a long time, it was almost dark and Li Yunrui had not come. After careful recollection, I remembered that Li Yunrui seemed to have come at night.

But if he really waited until dark, the old lady probably wouldn't let him go. It was totally not worth it just to watch Li Yunrui get beaten and not see his mother, so he could only return to Yuxiu Palace with a little regret.

Before entering the palace, I heard the sound of mahjong tiles colliding.

Mahjong was banned in the palace. It was invented later when the martial arts progress slowed down. For fear that gambling would affect the moral atmosphere, it was not spread to outsiders. The only thing he played was when he had nothing to do with several stewards in the palace.

During the Chinese New Year last year, Qin Yu went out of the palace and came to the prince's mansion, and happened to see them playing mahjong. Thinking that my mother was bored in the palace, she gave her a set of mahjong. Unexpectedly, when she entered the palace today, she saw her mother playing mahjong.

As soon as I entered the door, I saw four women playing mahjong on the table. A young man was huddled in the corner doing his homework. He looked around from time to time, and it was obvious that he couldn't sit still.

Glancing at the young man in the corner, and then at the four people at the card table, or to be more precise, at one of them, Li Chengzong was stunned for a moment before bowing and smiling, "Hello, Aunt Ning, Aunt Lin, Aunt Liu, who won?"

It was not surprising that Concubine Ning and Concubine Liu were playing mahjong in Yuxiu Palace.

After giving the martial arts secret book to his eldest brother Li Chengru, Ning Cairen gradually became close to his mother, and Liu Guipin had known his mother since childhood and would visit her whenever she had time.

This Aunt Lin is different.

Oh, by the way, the Aunt Lin that Li Chengzong mentioned is the second prince’s biological mother, Concubine Shu. Although her surname is Lin, she has nothing to do with Lin Ruofu’s Lin family. She was the jewel in the crown of the previous dynasty’s Grand Secretary Lin.

If he remembered correctly, this Aunt Lin was a bookworm who never left the house and had no contact with his mother. How did these two get together?

Ning Cairen has always liked Li Chengzong, a child who has been able to eat since childhood, and immediately smiled and said, "Your Aunt Lin won. Why did Zonger enter the palace today?"

"My confinement period has ended, so I came to see my mother."

Upon hearing this, a look of envy flashed across Concubine Ning's and Concubine Shu's faces.

One is that his son lives far away at the border and he rarely sees him all year round.

One is that his son often goes to the palace but rarely comes to visit him.

Qin Yu was an expert after all, so he naturally noticed the fleeting look between the two. He smiled and said with emotion, "My son, I miss you when I don't see you often, but it's annoying to see you so often. He always makes things difficult for you."

Concubine Liu felt that she had the most say on this point, and immediately took over the conversation: "That's right, Li Chengping, that brat, has been irritating me every day, and today the master reported it to me again, which made me so angry... No, I have to beat him up when I return to the palace to vent my anger."

"Mom, didn't you fight?"

Li Chengping's weak voice came from the corner.

Concubine Liu stood up suddenly and was about to start a fight, but fortunately Qin Yu and Concubine Ning who were nearby held her back.

Qin Yu: "Ping'er is a good child, don't hit him all the time, you scare him so much."

Ning Cairen: "Yes, yes, let's play mahjong, play mahjong."

Li Chengzong quickly agreed, “Yes, Aunt Liu, don’t be angry, you guys play mahjong, I’ll teach him a lesson for you.”

"Hmph, I'll spare you today for the sake of your three aunts and Zong'er, but next time, watch out for your skin." Concubine Liu also took advantage of the situation to back off. As the most discerning woman among the concubines, she had only tried to comfort Concubine Ning and Concubine Shu. Of course, she was really angry, especially after Li Chengping started talking, she was really furious and wanted to beat them up again.

The four women started playing mahjong again, and the two brothers left the main hall.

After taking a look at the sky, Li Chengzong went straight to the small kitchen to prepare dinner.

While looking for ingredients, he asked Li Chengping.

"Why did you offend your mother again today?"

Li Chengping rubbed his butt and said sullenly, "I sneaked out of the palace."

Li Chengping was indeed miserable when it came to studying. He was sent to the Imperial Academy by Concubine Liu when he was four or five years old. You have to know that as a prince, he didn't just learn what the ordinary nobles learned in the Imperial Academy, but also learned etiquette, manners, and so on. Even the smallest things like gestures were taught by special lecturers and etiquette officials. Just in terms of studying, the prince could be said to be the most miserable child in the world, and he had almost no childhood to speak of.

"You wouldn't be so angry if you sneaked out of the palace, right?"

Li Chengzong knew that Concubine Liu would at most scold him for sneaking out of the palace. After all, the child was older, so she would give her son some face.

"I went to the brothel secretly."

Li Chengzong said, "Hurry up and get to work."

He was only fourteen or fifteen and he went to a brothel. He was a prince, so he deserved to be beaten and he didn't deserve sympathy.

Li Chengping hugged Li Chengzong's arm and said pitifully, "Third brother, can you talk to my mother and let me stay at your house for two days?"

"Let's see how you behave next."

"Thank you, third brother!"

"Get to work quickly."

With Liu Guipin as his strict mother, Li Chengping's academic performance is still good, so it is no problem to give the child two days off.

The two brothers worked hard for a while, and when it was completely dark, the food was finally on the table.

It is worth mentioning that Li Chengping was a very smart boy. When he was helping to wash vegetables and make fire, he deliberately wet his clothes and secretly smeared some ash on his face. People who didn’t know would think he was exerting a lot of effort.

"Mom, Aunt Ning, Aunt Lin, Aunt Liu, you guys can fight later. It's time to eat."

"Let's eat after we finish this fight. If you're hungry, eat first."

Li Chengzong: “…”

After walking around the card table and returning to his mother, Li Chengzong began to give advice.

"Mom, make two cakes."

Concubine Shu: "That's ridiculous!"

"Mom, three of a kind."

Ning Cairen: "That's nonsense."

"Mother..." "Don't be a mother. I'd be stupid to listen to you, Santong."

Concubine Liu: "That's ridiculous."

Qin Yu immediately glared at his son, and even the great grandmaster was trembling with fear.

"It's not my fault. You hit me yourself."

"I don't blame you, but who else can I blame? If you don't let me play two tubes, I can play three tubes."

Qin Yu was so angry, but unfortunately her stomach started to growl. She could only hum, "Forget it. I don't want to argue with you. Let's eat!"

There was no tradition of sitting and eating separately in Yuxiu Palace; everyone sat at a round table.

Li Chengzong has good cooking skills and prepares rich and fragrant dishes.

The four women sat next to each other, without any distinction of importance. Li Chengping sat next to Concubine Liu. As soon as she sat down, she subconsciously moved towards Li Chengzong who was sitting next to her.

Qin Yu served food to the three poker players. "Come, have a try. This brat's only decent cooking skill is good."

Ning Cairen took a bite and immediately laughed, "I thought Zong'er could eat it, but I didn't expect he could cook it."

"Well, it tastes great, better than the imperial chef's cooking." Concubine Shu is indeed a bookworm, and her tone of voice carries a slow, scholarly air.

"Zong'er, that's great. I didn't know you had this skill. Aunt Liu, please eat more today."

Li Chengzong smiled modestly and said, "As long as the three aunts like it, I'm afraid it won't suit your taste. If you like it, please eat more. Don't be polite."

Looking at the five people at the table chatting and laughing, Li Chengping suddenly felt that he was a little redundant.

Of course, it was impossible for him to leave. He was drooling over the delicious food in the small kitchen just now, and now he had to eat more quickly.

Just as they were enjoying their meal, a little palace maid hurried in.

"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the Princess are here to visit."

"Why are they here?" Li Chengzong asked.

"Who knows? Please come in."

Soon, Li Chengqian and Li Yunrui appeared in everyone's sight.

Li Chengqian was the crown prince, and his status was only second to Emperor Qing. Even elders had to greet him when they saw him, so as soon as Li Chengqian entered the dining room, several people at the table stood up and saluted.

"I have met His Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Chengqian returned the greeting, but instead of calling her aunt like Li Chengzong did, he addressed her by their respective titles.

After the two sides exchanged greetings, Qin Yu asked directly, "How come Your Highness the Crown Prince has the time to come to my Yuxiu Palace today?"

"My third brother has been under house arrest for a year, and we haven't seen each other for a long time. Today I heard that my third brother entered the palace, so I came to see him. I'm sorry to bother the virtuous concubine."

"Your Highness, please take a seat."

Inviting Li Chengqian to sit down, Qin Yu looked at Li Yunrui and his expression suddenly changed.

"Li Yunrui, what are you doing here?"

"I heard that Zong'er entered the palace, so I came to take a look. I remember the last time I saw Zong'er was when he was crowned king. It's been several years now."

As Li Yunrui spoke, he looked at Li Chengzong who was chatting and laughing with Li Chengqian. His eyes lit up instantly, and then turned into a burning heat as if a long drought had finally brought him rain. A strong desire to possess him arose in his heart.

Fortunately, she quickly withdrew her gaze, collected her thoughts, and smiled at Qin Yu: "Wouldn't you like to invite me to sit down? Come to think of it, we haven't had dinner together for many years?"

Qin Yu snorted, but didn't chase him away.

Li Yunrui didn't care about her attitude. He sat down next to Li Chengzong with a smile, and looked at the Imperial Concubine Shu opposite him and said with a smile: "Talented Ning and Imperial Concubine Liu have always been good friends with Sister Qin. I'm not surprised. How can Imperial Concubine Shu have the time to come to Yuxiu Palace?"

"Look at what your aunt said. My second brother and I have a good relationship. It's not strange for Aunt Lin to come visit my mother."

Li Chengzong said, looking at Li Chengqian: "Your Highness, I know why you came here today. You don't have to test me. I will reiterate to you one last time that I have no interest in the throne. This old man also knows that he has no intention of training me, so you can rest assured and you and my second brother can fight your own battles."

"Old man?"

Li Yunrui was confused.

"Yes, Your Majesty. This is how my third brother usually addresses Father."

Li Chengqian explained and said with a smile: "What are you talking about, Third Brother? I am not here to test you today. I just missed you so much after not seeing you for a year that I came here to bother you, the virtuous concubine."

Li Chengzong laughed: "Whatever the Crown Prince says, my mother is my bottom line anyway. If anyone plots against her, don't blame me for not giving face. Even an old man can't do anything about it."

Compared to when he was young, Li Chengqian is now much more shrewd. Even if he is unhappy, he still smiles: "I know you have a good relationship with my second brother, but you can't look at my brother like this, right?"

Li Chengzong shook his head: "Wrong."

"Where is wrong?"

"Among the brothers, I have the best relationship with the eldest brother and the fourth brother, and my relationship with you and the second brother is about the same."

"It seems so."

Li Chengqian laughed loudly, patted Li Chengzong on the shoulder happily, and asked in a low voice: "That palace maid?"

"Don't worry, Your Highness. She knows nothing."

With the presence of two uninvited guests, Li Yunrui and Li Chengqian, the atmosphere at the dinner table became weird.

Although we were still talking and laughing, I always felt a little restrained.

Coupled with the presence of a woman named Li Yunrui, it is inevitable that people feel a little depressed.

Just as Concubine Liu said, there seemed to be another her living in Li Yunrui's heart, who was trying hard to suppress her emotions and roaring silently. Although it could not be heard, it always made people feel uneasy. Standing with her, one always felt that there was a ferocious beast in his heart that would break out of the cage at any time.

So the dinner ended hastily.

(End of this chapter)