The Crown Prince Returns to the Palace (2)

The crown prince returned to his own palace, meticulously washing up. The people originally serving him have already gotten switched out, but there wasn’t anything he wasn’t used to, because he brought back a person, a woman that has followed by his side for almost two years.

Of course, this woman wasn’t for warming the bed. She was just like another Gong mama, attentive, thorough, smart, and had outstanding capabilities.

Li Hong Yuan and Jing Wan were in the imperial study discussing politics with the court officials. Dressed in formal robes, the crown prince idly strolled towards the imperial study.

“Your Majesty, your Highness, his Highness the Crown Prince requests and audience.”

The eunuch came in to report. The court officials were all shocked. His Highness has returned to the palace? They previously didn’t hear the slightest news at all.

“Summon.” Li Hong Yuan calmly said, appearing still that way, seemingly as if he wasn’t meeting with his son that he hasn’t seen in five years, but rather the son that has been swaying under his eyelids the whole time, making him disdain.

Jing Wan was actually somewhat excited, but having been the empress for this many years, she long didn’t show her surprise on the surface. As such, the emotions in her eyes also just flashed by, quick to the point where others couldn’t see.

Li Tian Lin confidently walked in. Seeing him easy-going and confident, Jing Wan revealed a warm smile. That mischievous troublemaker son has also completely grown up.

Li Tian Lin lifted the hem of his gown, first firmly kowtowing three times, “This son greets imperial father and imperial mother. Having been out for several years, unable to carry out one’s filial duty under imperial father and imperial mother, it’s this son’s fault.”

Li Hong Yuan had the memorandum in hand casually tossed aside, “Without you, it’s peaceful.”

Facing Li Hong Yuan’s usual disdain, Li Tian Lin actually wasn’t that sad, instead feeling exceptionally warm. And as he aged, his fear towards Li Hong Yuan was also constantly reducing. His imperial father although didn’t like him that much, but in reality, he didn’t really do anything to him either. Compared to certain fathers he has seen these last few years, he was absolutely considered a good father.

“Then, how about imperial father have this son thrown out for a few more years?” Li Tian Lin was still kneeling, his posture upright, saying with a smile.

“Heh.” Li Hong Yuan slightly carried a bit of mockery in his voice. Looking at this son, although their experiences were completely different, the things in his bones were still somewhat identical to that other him.

For a time, he’d underestimated that one, but it didn’t mean that he will also misjudge now.

Li Tian Lin was a bit embarrassed inside. Alright, to want to arm wrestle with his imperial father now, sure enough, he was still too tender.

What was the reason for not wanting to return from the outside? One of the reasons was because of the vast world outside, having many shapes and colors, and secondly, it was because after coming back, he will certainly get suppressed by his imperial father. However, it was very obvious, some things, he was unable to make the decision on his own. That’s why, he was long prepared mentally. His thoughts and awareness were quite high.

“Tian Lin, why don’t you get up first.” Jing Wan said with a smile.

TN: All

“Many thanks imperial father, imperial mother.” Li Tian Lin stood up, quietly glancing at Jing Wan for a moment. She seemingly wasn’t any different from when he’d left. The years for the most part didn’t leave behind any marks on her, and his imperial father was also for the most part the same. En, this was very good. All say that the reason why the emperor didn’t live long was mainly because of being too overworked, or too licentious. However, clearly, these two points all won’t appear on his imperial father, because he had imperial mother, and although imperial mother did quite a few things, it nevertheless won’t make her feel physically and emotionally exhausted. In addition to appropriately looking after their body, in this way, they can certainly live a long life. Even though, the longer his imperial father lived, the longer his days of getting suppressed will be, but it wasn’t anything he can’t endure.

Li Tian Lin’s former seat in the imperial study was still there. After taking his seat, the court officials finally bowed to him.

“Everyone, please rise.” He roughly swept a glance. There were both new and old faces. His maternal grandfather was also standing among them. The great majority were all much younger than the ones many years ago.

Afterwards, Li Hong Yuan just let Eunuch Mu bring a few memorandums over for him.

He’d just returned, and didn’t even get to reconnect with his imperial father and imperial mother, yet already getting put to work.

Li Tian Lin was rather calm, taking the memorandums and flipping through, quickly reading. After glancing through once, he already had an understanding inside, successively having the memorandums all read through. And without waiting for Li Hong Yuan and Jing Wan to ask, he just calmly and thoroughly voiced his views and opinions.

Never mind the court officials uncontrollably nodding their heads, even Li Hong Yuan didn’t nitpick anything, even adding, “Just handle it according to the crown prince’s way.”

Li Tian Lin didn’t know whether the matter was already decided or not, but since it was handling according to his way, then he also won’t say anything either.

After handling the official matters, “Ministry of Rites, select an auspicious date for the crown prince’s crowning[1].”

“Yes, your Majesty.”

Qi Yuan’s imperial princes for the most part all receive their crown at sixteen. That’s why, the crown prince getting his crown now was also nothing more than following the usual custom.

However, things clearly weren’t over. Li Hong Yuan turned his head and looked towards Jing Wan, “Empress will also be troubled. It’s time for the crown prince to select a crown princess.”

Yuan Qi Emperor will always drop a bomb without notice, frequently making one be caught off guard. However, Jing Wan was rather calm, “Sixteen is still a bit early.”

“Not too early. After selecting the person, the three documents and six rites will also need a year or two to complete. By the wedding, he will also be eighteen, more or less old enough.”

“Fine then, all according to your Majesty’s meaning.” Jing Wan nodded.

That’s why, such an important matter was just decided in a few words.

After the meeting ended, Li Tian Lin returned to his palace. He didn’t have anything to chat with Li Hong Yuan about, but it was different with Jing Wan.

Jing Wan directly went over to look for him.

At this time, the childlike feelings of admiration in Li Tian Lin’s eyes were very distinct, but he ultimately wasn’t small anymore, so naturally can’t casually run into his imperial mother’s arms, “Imperial mother.” His nose was a bit sour.

Jing Wan looked at him, shallowly smiling, also feeling very emotional inside, “My son has grown up.”

“This son actually doesn’t want to grow up. Right now, all unable to let imperial mother hold me.”

“What nonsense are you saying. You’re already someone that’s about to pick a consort. However, speaking of this, imperial mother also want to ask you, what kind of girl do you like, just tell imperial mother. When time comes, imperial mother will pick for you, or perhaps you have someone you like already? Your imperial father doesn’t need to use the imperial harem to balance the imperial court, so you also don’t need to either. Even if not that suitable, imperial mother can also help you. However, Tian Lin, you need to know, you are the crown prince, the future ruler, so for some things, you need to be rational.”

The matters outside, Li Tian Lin for the most part all wrote back to tell Jing Wan about. However, regarding his ‘first awakening of love’, he actually didn’t say. After all, it was a bit embarrassing. But, his imperial mother knowing this, he also didn’t feel it was anything strange. “Imperial mother, you can just pick for this son. This son isn’t imperial father.”

Li Tian Lin’s words at the end actually had a double meaning, both saying that he won’t have deep feelings like Li Hong Yuan, and also won’t be like Li Hong Yuan, being willful in governmental affairs.

“After all, in this world, there isn’t a second imperial mother.”

“As long as you feel it’s good.”

“This son doesn’t feel there’s anything bad about it, even though, these years, have gotten schemed against by imperial father quite miserably.”

“You already know?”

“At first didn’t know, but gradually, one will eventually figure out.”

“Don’t blame your imperial father.”

“How could I, this son feels that imperial father is actually quite good.”

[1] When boys come of age, they will go through a crowning ceremony, similar to how girls have a hairpin ceremony when they come of age. For boys it’s usually around 18-20, although it’s mostly at 19-20, depending on whether they are counting by traditional age or not. Historically when someone is referred to as of ‘弱冠 (ruo guan)’ age, it means they’re 20.

Below is reference illustrating the change in hair style for the Western Zhou Dynasty.