My Princess Has Been Reborn Chapter 71.2

Chapter 71.2 – It's Time To Drink After All

It was only mid-noon when the sacrificial ceremony ended. Usually, everyone would have some rest before returning to the capital.

However, it seemed to be a bit different this time. After the end of the sacrificial ceremony, the Emperor ordered some ginger soup made to drive away the cold from his officials, and no one told them to return to the capital.

When all the officials had rested and recuperated, only then did they learn that the Emperor had suffered from too much cold wind at the altar before, so now he felt a little cold and unwell. He was probably not going to return to the capital today.

This wasn't a big deal. Although it was rare for people to spend the night at the Circular Mound Altar after offering a sacrifice to Heaven, there was still a palace nearby. It wasn't big because the Emperor rarely stayed there, and was a bit crude, but it was enough to house these royal family members and court officials.

The officials followed the Emperor to the palace and soon settled down, but there were some doubts in their hearts.

“I saw that Royal Father was fine before, why did he suddenly catch a cold and feel unwell?” Some princes were especially puzzled. Obviously, the Emperor and Qi Yang had acted that loving-father-and-filial-daughter scene under the altar earlier. He looked energetic back then, so why did he fall ill now!?

But their request to see the Emperor was fruitless, and they could only suppress their doubts.

Qi Yang took another sip of ginger soup and said, “Sure enough, the winter solstice ceremony is too cold. Drink more ginger soup to ward off the cold.” After saying that, she brought the bowl to Lu Qipei's lips and coaxed her, “This bowl tastes good. Ah Pei should drink more.”

Lu Qipei tried to avoid it in disgust. She didn't like ginger and garlic too much, and couldn't drink ginger soup. Qi Yang had forced her to drink a bowl earlier, and she had sweated and drove the cold out. But now, Qi Yang was treating this ginger soup as if it was tea – Lu Qipei really couldn't keep up.

Unfortunately, the bowl of soup was already on her lips before Lu Qipei could dodge away. She had no choice but to take a sip, and the taste was really different this time. This bowl was filled with sugar, and it tasted sweet and spicy. She couldn't really tell what it tasted like, but it wasn't as spicy as before.

Qi Yang just wanted to laugh when she saw Lu Qipei's disgusted face. Lu Qipei doted on Qi Yang, but was also helpless against her, and could only try to change the topic. “His Majesty has caught a cold and feels unwell, is Your Highness not going to take a look?”

Qi Yang just acted casually when this was mentioned, “Royal Father is fine, so why would I go and make a ruckus?”

When the news first came out, Qi Yang also felt a little surprised and worried, but she soon let go of all her worries once she arrived at the palace. It was for no other reason than that the palace that had been uninhabited for many years had been prepared too well.

Not only had His Majesty's residence been arranged, even the residence for the officials had been prepared well. This kind of arrangement couldn't be completed so quickly; there were too few people in the palace that it might not have been enough to even do a temporary cleanup.

Since the Emperor had already made arrangements, then feeling sick from catching the cold was just an excuse. Moreover, she had already greeted the Emperor before, so she wouldn't feel unfilial and disrespectful if she didn't go to see him right now. It was easy to understand that she had seen through him.

The reality was as Qi Yang had expected; the Emperor had stayed behind on purpose, and couldn't be bothered to pretend being sick in front of others. He didn't entertain the request that some princes and important officials made to see him.

Finally, the important officials withdrew, while the princes stood outside to show their filial piety, but he wasn't moved by them.

But at night, Qi Yang was rewarded with a table of wine and dishes by the Emperor.

A mutton hotpot, several side dishes that were rare in winter, and a small pot of imperial wine.

They weren't precious food, but they were just right to be enjoyed in the winter solstice. Seeing them made them feel warm inside.

Qi Yang stared at the hotpot for a while and couldn't help but sigh, “Today is the winter solstice, Royal Father must feel very lonely eating alone. If it weren't for those Royal Brothers blocking the door, he would be happy to eat this hotpot with you and me.”

In the past, when the Crown Prince was in the capital, the siblings would go to Xuanshi Hall to accompany the Emperor during New Year and other festivities. Although the Crown Prince was already married and had children, he never became estranged from the Emperor because of his small family.

Perhaps it was precisely because of this that the Emperor never suppressed the young and powerful Crown Prince out of fear; rather than defending against him, it was more like keeping a balance.

Qi Yang was a little emotional when she said that, but Lu Qipei had a rare slanderous thought in her heart – seeing the way the Emperor shooed her away today, it didn't seem like he wanted to have dinner with them. It would've been just as good if Qi Yang had gone there alone.

The again, those princes look so pitiful in comparison, almost like they weren't his own children…

Then again, as newlyweds, Qi Yang was not so eager to accompany her ol' father when she could be alone with her prince consort instead. After saying that one emotional sentence, Qi Yang happily pulled Lu Qipei over to her seat.

Glancing at the pot of wine, Qi Yang was a little moved. But considering why the Emperor stayed in the palace today, she was afraid that drinking might cause trouble. Finally, she could only regretfully put away the unopened pot of imperial wine. “I don't know what has happened these past two days, so I won't drink the wine and save it for next time.”

Lu Qipei didn't quite understand what Qi Yang was feeling regretful for. Her Royal Highness The Princess shouldn't be lacking a pot of imperial wine, right? She didn't ask too much and obediently nodded, but said, “His Majesty and everyone else in in the palace. If anything's going to happen, it should be in the capital.”

The Emperor had his own plans and would not easily put himself in danger. What's more, he even took Qi Yang with him on this trip. Obviously, he wasn't trying to drag her into danger, and instead meant to protect her nearby.

So if anything was really going to happen, it wouldn't happen in this palace, but in the capital far away from the Emperor and the important officials. Would things remain peaceful there?

Qi Yang naturally also thought about the key points. She had some doubts, but she didn't want to talk more about it right now. She picked up a piece of mutton with her chopsticks and placed it on Lu Qipei's bowl while smiling, “Mutton has a warm nature. Eat some more so you will stay warm in the winter solstice. You can also taste the royal chef's cooking skills.”

Of course, Lu Qipei did not refuse. After eating it, she also picked up some dishes for Qi Yang. The couple took good care of each other.

It was already hot to eat hotpot in winter, but the room was also warm from the charcoal fire.

After a while, small beads of sweat started coming out from the couple's forehead.

Qi Yang took a sip of tea and turned to look at Lu Qipei. She saw her jade-like face being stained light crimson, adding some color to her countenance. It reminded her of Lu Qipei's drunken look back then…

It's time to take out that pot of imperial wine and drink after all.

Author notes:

Qi Yang (melancholically): Lacking imperial wine? What I lack is a drunk prince consort!

Lu Qipei (drinking three cups in a row): Your Highness, is this fine?

Qi Yang (…): Drink a few more quietly.

After a while, a cute and spoiled kitten of a prince consort can be harvested …

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Chapter end