My Reason for Calmness Chapter 7

Feng Jingqian personally took Mingyi and Mingzhan to the Cining Palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager.

Feng Jingqian did not take the imperial chariot, but walked all the way, introducing the various palaces with Julian Mingzhan. Feng Jingqian had a graceful manner and a gentle and pleasant voice. He looked similar to Gavin, but was more gentle. His smile made people feel warm, as if he was just an uncle who doted on his nephew, rather than an emperor who was high above.

"I have ordered people to clean up the Pomegranate Courtyard for Mingzhan to live in," Feng Jingqian also liked to touch Mingzhan's head, and secretly pinched Mingzhan's fat face, his voice full of joy, "Speaking of which, the Pomegranate Courtyard is where your father lived in the past. At that time, the second prince asked me for it, but I was reluctant to give it to him. Now it is appropriate for Mingzhan to live there."

Elijah rubbed his face and stepped over the threshold that was half a foot high.

Feng Julian was the most suspicious. He thought that the Second Prince Feng Minglan was born to c0ncubine Wei, and that c0ncubine Wei and c0ncubine Wei were sisters from the same mother. The Second Prince and Feng Julian were both cousins. After hearing what Feng Jingqian said, he started to think too much.

The royal family likes to play charades. They don't say what's on their mind directly, but put it in their fists for you to guess. Pomegranate Courtyard is sometimes more than just a courtyard, and it was once lived in by Gavin. Why did the second prince want to live in Pomegranate Courtyard? Does Gavin have any deeper meaning?

Unable to figure it out for a moment, Feng Julian had to gather his energy to answer Feng Jingqian's words, and said with a smile, "The weather in the imperial capital is very different from that in Yunnan. Yunnan is humid, while the imperial capital is windy and light. Even the trees and flowers planted on both sides of the street are very different. This journey has broadened my horizons."

Feng Jingqian smiled and said, "Tell me something. I haven't left the palace for some time. I ordered local officials to escort me along the way. This is the first time for you two to go on a long journey. You are young, so have they been slack?"

Feng Julian felt that this question was really difficult to answer. If he said yes, he was afraid that the emperor would think that he was making friends with foreign officials. If he said no, not only would he offend people, but it would also make the emperor look bad. Feng Julian thought hard and said, "This is the first time for my nephew to have such a big experience. But Mingzhan is still young and has an older sister. He didn't dare to stop and take a closer look on the way. He just took a quick look."

Feng Jingqian smiled and said, "Next time I go on a tour, I will take you with me and let you see the scenery in the north."

Feng Julian smiled and replied, "Then I, your nephew, would like to thank you, uncle, for your grace first."

The two of them asked and answered questions, which made Feng Julian exhausted. He was very envious of Mingzhan who was born mute and didn't have to worry about anything.

Empress Dowager Wei in the Cining Palace had received the news long ago. She was over sixty years old, a little fat, with a ruddy complexion, and wore an exquisitely carved jade phoenix hairpin on her head. Her eyes and brows were gentle, and beside her stood a beautiful woman as delicate as a peony.

Feng Jingqian first paid his respects to the Queen Mother Wei, and Julian and Mingzhan followed suit. The Queen Mother smiled like a little daisy, "No need for formalities. This is Julian and Mingzhan, I know you are coming, I have been looking forward to it for several days."

The beautiful lady greeted Feng Jingqian, and Feng Jingqian asked as he sat down, "Is c0ncubine Wei here too?"

It turned out that this was the second prince's biological mother, c0ncubine Wei. Now that the Empress Dowager had passed away, c0ncubine Wei and c0ncubine Ruan were in charge of the harem together. However, c0ncubine Wei was the niece of Empress Dowager Wei, so naturally she was more favored by the Empress Dowager.

However, no matter how favored c0ncubine Wei was, she should not appear in such an occasion according to etiquette. After all, Elijah had nothing to do with her.

Queen Mother Wei smiled, held c0ncubine Wei's hand and said, "When Wanru was at home, she and Wanyue were best friends. I thought that Julian Mingzhan was not an outsider, so I asked her to come and see them."

Julian had naturally heard his mother mention this imperial c0ncubine aunt when he was at home. He knelt down to pay his respects without being asked, and called her "Aunt".

Elijah bent down on one knee, nodded and stood up.

In contrast, Julian was too excited. Julian looked a little unhappy and frowned, "Mingzhan, why are you so rude to your aunt?"

Elijah raised the corner of his lips, looked at Julian, and then looked at c0ncubine Wei. The meaning was self-evident: My aunt's surname is not Wei.

Julian's face turned red, and the faces of Empress Dowager Wei and c0ncubine Wei were not very good either. Elijah sat calmly. Feng Jingqian waved his hand and laughed, "Just now I brought them all the way from the upper study. Elijah's short legs may be tired. Mother, I am hungry, so I was thinking about the good wine and food here." He put aside the embarrassment.

Queen Mother Wei had spent half her life in the palace, and her face changed quickly. She smiled and said, "It's ready. Julian and Mingzhan, please have a taste of the palace's delicacies."

c0ncubine Wei smiled and said, "I will go and see if the tables, chairs and eating utensils are in place first."

c0ncubine Wei floated away like a willow in the wind, taking away a gust of fragrance. Elijah sneezed loudly. He was a little uncomfortable with the smell of such spices. He rubbed the tip of his nose with his hand and looked down at the bright red carpet with gold woven on the ground.

All the questions from Queen Mother Wei revolved around Julian. With Queen Mother Wei's status, there was no one in the world that she could please. Mingzhan had lost c0ncubine Wei's face when he came, which was an indirect slap in the face of Queen Mother Wei. Moreover, the reason why Queen Mother Wei felt at ease and cold to Mingzhan was that you were dumb. I just have something to ask you, can you answer it?

Feng Jinggan occasionally agreed with the empress dowager with a word or two, but more than half of his attention was on Elijah. If nothing else, this kid was quite courageous. Others carried the sedan chair, but he smashed it.

Touching his chin, this kid has some of the airs of a legitimate son of Prince Zhennan's Mansion.

Elijah was calm and composed. He had already lost his inheritance rights. He only had the status of a legitimate son, but people looked down upon him. Now he had to spend his days in the palace. He was too easy to talk to, so people thought he was weak and easy to bully. How could he live in the future?

It is human nature to bully the weak and fear the strong. He just wanted to show off his status as a legitimate son, to let these people know that even if he could not speak, even if he could not inherit the throne, he was still a legitimate son, not a gilded clay figure.

Those who neglect him should first consider their own status.

So what if he is arrogant? His every word and action is within the rules of propriety. Does Feng Jingqian dare to withdraw his fiefdom? If Feng Jingqian does not withdraw his fiefdom, he must be well taken care of and careful not to cause any unexpected events.

During lunch, c0ncubine Wei returned to Yide Palace knowingly.

Queen Mother Wei did not say much, but just looked at Mingzhan meaningfully. Mingzhan was looking down at the dish and did not meet Queen Mother Wei's eyes, which made Queen Mother Wei very upset.

Queen Mother Wei smiled and said, "You brothers, those who are on duty should do their duty, those who are studying should study. I will have a family dinner tonight and invite them to come so that you can meet them. We are all family, so don't be estranged. When you arrive in the imperial capital, this is your home. If you have any dissatisfaction, just tell me, understand?"

Julian smiled and said, "I often heard my father mention my grandmother at home. Before I came here, my father repeatedly told me to be filial to my grandmother on his behalf."

Speaking of her youngest son, Queen Mother Wei could not help but sigh, "I have not seen your father for five years. I miss him day and night, and I don't know when he will come to the imperial capital again. You are a good person, and your father is blessed to have a sensible son like you."

Elijah sat as calm as a mountain, picking up a piece of sea bass sashimi with chopsticks and chewing slowly, as if he didn't hear what Queen Mother Wei said.

Elijah ate very slowly, like an old man, chewing for a long time before swallowing a mouthful, then taking another mouthful, chewing and swallowing again. No matter what Queen Mother Wei said, he was focused on eating, his movements were calm and elegant.

Finally, Queen Mother Wei had to give up and comforted herself, "Why should I bother arguing with a mute?"

Feng Jingqian had to be praised for his great composure!