The court was soon dismissed, so everyone was seen walking down the steps of the palace.
Li Changsheng caught up with Liu Feng.
"Is there a problem, Minister Li?" Liu Feng asked.
"There is no problem. I just wanted to thank you for saving the court from public outrage," Li Changsheng said.
"There is no need for that. It's my duty," Liu Feng responded dismissively.
"I would also like to remind you that the court is full of dangerous bricks. Be careful which ones you step on"
Liu Feng turned to him, "Thank you for the reminder, Minister Li, but you need not worry about me," he said and went his way.
On the other hand, He Rui was conversing with He Yan.
He sighed, "Minister Liu really saved the court from a major disaster. Wouldn't you agree, First Brother?" he asked He Yan.
"Minister Li is upright and responsible. I am glad he spoke up at the time," He Yan responded.
"But his speaking up will give you a hard time. Good luck with that," He Rui said and walked on.
[Grand Prince Residence]
The table was filled with different small plates, each containing different types of woods, flowers, herbs, spices, resins, and natural binders.
Lingxi was busy making incense for her room. She was grinding each material carefully when He Yu walked in.
She noticed him because of the scented pouch she had given He Xuan which somehow ended up with him.
As she ground the materials, she wondered why she couldn't hear his approaching footsteps. His movement was silent not like an ordinary one. If not for the scent, she probably wouldn't have noticed his presence at all. Was he truly as sickly as they said?
He Yu stood behind her, watching. Lingxi, on the other hand, pretended not to notice him.
"Your highness seems busy", he commented lightly.
Lingxi stopped grinding. There was a short pause before she replied, "Your highness seems busier".
She turned her head to see him clearly, "has your highness gotten any better?"
Their eyes met for a long while and He Yu smiled, "Thanks to your scented sachet", he replied.
The eye contact did not break and Lingxi's gaze fell on the sachet on his waist then back at him.
"If your highness likes it, I could make a better one", she said with a smile.
"This one is enough, I especially like the design on the sachet"
At the mention of the pattern, Lingxi's heart brewed a bad feeling that she could not explain.
Before she could respond, He Xuan barged in ruining the moment. He was met with the scene of their focused gaze and He Yu's slightly leaned body towards Lingxi who was seated sideways.
He closed his eyes dramatically with his hand, "am I interrupting something?"
He Yu straightened up and Lingxi returned to her grinding.
"Why are you here?" he asked but He Xuan ignored him and turned to Lingxi instead, "grandaunt, are you not happy to see me?"
"You gave my gift away to someone else. How could I not be happy to see you?" Lingxi answered without looking up from her work.
He Xuan walked up to her feeling wronged, "grandaunt, how could you say that?"
"Am I wrong?"
"I did not willingly give away the sachet. It was him", he said pointing at He Yu accusingly in full arm's length.
Lingxi couldn't be bothered with He Xuan.
"You don't believe me? He forcefully took it from him saying you were his consort and your gifts are meant for him alone" Lingxi looked back at He Yu.
He didn't confirm nor deny the accusation
He Yu's expression remained unchanged. Calm. Unbothered. As though the accusation meant nothing at all.
In that moment, Lingxi understood—He Xuan's words were not to be taken seriously.
He Yu did not even bother to deny it because there was nothing to deny.
"See? He didn't deny it", He Xuan said with satisfaction.
"Why are you here?" He Yu asked again.
He Xuan straightened up, "I'm here to bid the both of you farewell"
"Farewell?" Lingxi asked.
"Yes. I came for the mid-autumn festival and yours and granduncle's wedding. It's about time I returned to my official duties", he said looking serious in contrast to his previous demeanor a minute ago.
"I never knew Prince Ning was so dedicated to his duties"
Lingxi began to see him in a new light however, He Xuan chuckled loudly ruining the moment, "nobody knows".
Lingxi sighed to herself and went back to her work.
He Xuan soon left and He Yu went to the study. Lingxi was almost done with the incense and was molding it to a big lotus shape when a maid brought a message that He Xuan was outside and wanted to see her.
"His Highness, the First Prince said he is here to deliver pastries to Your Highness", she said.
"Pastries? Receive them for me then", Lingxi said without looking up.
"He insists on giving them to Your Highness in person"
Lingxi did not hurry to meet him but instead continued her work.
"I'll be right there"
She soon went outside to meet He Yan.
He Yan greeted her with a bow, "grandaunt"
"First prince, may I ask what brings you here?"
He Yan smiled, "grandaunt has only just joined the imperial family and we have not talked much. I thought this would be a good time to get to know you better"
Lingxi smiled back, "First prince, you overestimate me. There is nothing special about me. I am just and ordinary noble girl who has travelled far and is now the grand consort. "There is nothing remarkable about me, Your Highness"
"Grandaunt, you must be joking. From a noble girl to grand consort is no easy feat", he said taking the box of pastries from his attendant.
He stretched it towards her, "I hope you will fulfill your responsibilities towards this grandnephew of yours"
Their eyes met and there was a very short pause.
Then, Lingxi smiled brightly, "then First Prince must be filial first", she said and reached to collect the pastry box.
Both their hands were on the pastry box when she paused and looked at him, "I make no promises"
"No problem", he responded and she accepted the box with a cheerful smile, "thank you for the pastries. I'll surely try all of them".
She turned to leave but paused and turned back, "I didn't expect you to like osmanthus flowers", she commented before leaving.
"Osmanthus flowers?" He Yan wondered to himself.
He lifted up his sleeves and inhaled the fragrance. There was indeed trace scent of flowers. Was she keeping an eye on him?
[Fengyin Hall]
Gu Wenlan was not pleased as Gu Zi recounted the events at the court.
"Sister, He Rui is too impulsive. I was going to secure that position for him but he had to go against me in court", Gu Zi was not looking any better than her.
"I feel it's actually not a bad thing", Gu Wenlan had thought things through.
"Meaning?" Gu Zi asked.
Gu Wenlan stood up, "right now I don't think He Yan is faring any better. As far as I know the grand prince, he may appear detached but is not easy. He Yan is going to have a hard time gaining his approval. He Rui should focus on gaining a foothold in the ministry of justice in the meantime"
Gu Zi thought for a moment and nodded in agreement, "you're right. I don't see any good benefit in the military for second prince. He is already rising in the ministry of justice and there are now many officials wary of him ready to attack him at any given chance. It is indeed a good thing"
Gu Wenlan turned to Gu Zi, "He Rui has been facing some difficulty in the case. I ask you to please lend out resources to help him", she said.
"Don't worry about that. As his uncle, I'll definitely help him", Gu Zi responded. Gu Wenlan nodded relieved. She had to secure her son's future.