Chapter 1239: Temporary Imperial Residence (1)

When Qi Xiuyuan saw that she did not trust the Imperial Court under his leadership, he could not help but glare at her.

However, this did save them a lot of money. The donations they received in the past two days were already one-third of the donations they planned to give to the western region.

Thus, Qi Xiuyuan felt that he could allocate more funds to buy plowing oxen, farming tools, and build houses for the western region.

Thinking of this, Qi Xiuyuan’s mood lifted and he ignored Mu Yangling’s distrust of the Imperial Court. Since they had a three-day holiday, he announced that the entire family would go to the temporary imperial residence to avoid the summer heat.

This not only included the Empress, the princes, and princesses, but also their mother consorts, Qi Haoran’s family, and Fan Zijin’s family.

The three families set off in light carriages from the capital to the temporary imperial residence 30 miles away.

After Fan Zijin’s family met up with Qi Haoran’s family, they went to the city gate. The palace guards were already waiting here with the Emperor and the others.

Qi Wenjin rode a horse like Tiger Head and the others. When he saw them coming, he waved from afar. Then, he looked at their butts and asked, “I heard that you were spanked by Uncle Fan again. Can you still ride a horse?”

The three children’s expressions darkened, and they decided not to talk to him until the sun rose.

The Emperor and the Empress also heard the commotion and asked someone to call the children over for questioning.

Tiger Head and the rest walked from the back to the front. Since they passed by the Empress’ palanquin first, they went to see her first.

The Empress held their hands and sized them up, then said with a smile, “I heard that you were spanked. You look fine to me though.”

The three children: “…”

Qi Haoran and Fan Zijin had already ridden to the front to meet the Emperor. Seeing the three children come over dejectedly to pay their respects, Qi Xiuyuan exclaimed, “You really got beaten up? Where? Come over and let Royal Uncle see if you can still play when we get to the temporary imperial residence.”

The three children pouted and looked at the Emperor, incredibly annoyed.

Qi Haoran lowered his head and chuckled.

Qi Xiuyuan couldn’t help but smack his head with the fan in his hand. “What’s so funny?”

Qi Haoran immediately retracted his smile and blushed. “Well, I’m happy. This is the first time I’m going to the temporary imperial residence to avoid the summer heat on such a hot day.”

Qi Xiuyuan didn’t even need to look into his eyes to know that he wasn’t telling the truth, so he simply chased him out.

Qi Haoran actually obediently jumped out of the carriage while Fan Zijin quietly followed behind him.

Qi Xiuyuan asked the three children in surprise, “Why is your father so quiet today?”

Little An lowered his head and didn’t say anything. With a sigh, Tiger Head looked sadly at the morning light outside. “Yesterday, Second Uncle twisted his arm again while spanking us, and my father applied some medicinal wine on him. I wonder if he’s better today.”

Qi Xiuyuan opened his mouth wide and asked, “Did he beat you up very badly yesterday?”

Tiger Head and Little Lion looked at Little An together and said, “Second Uncle only beat up Little An yesterday.”

How painful would it be for Little An if Fan Zijin twisted his arm doing so?

Frowning, Qi Xiuyuan pulled Little An over. “Are you still able to ride a horse?”

Little An coughed lightly and whispered, “Father didn’t use much strength, so it only hurt at that time. It didn’t hurt anymore after applying the medicinal wine last night.”

So, beating someone up was worse than being beaten up?

Qi Haoran rode a horse while Fan Zijin took the carriage. Not long after the team set off, he received two bottles of medicinal wine from Eunuch Wan. After the initial surprise passed, he immediately lifted the carriage curtain and yelled at the three children, “The three of you, come here. What did you say to His Majesty just now?”

The three little fellows lowered their heads and muttered, “We told the truth.”

Fan Zijin was so mad that he glared at them and shouted, “When did I sprain my arm?”

Tiger Head said in a low voice, “If you didn’t, why did you get my daddy to apply medicine for you?”

Little An also comforted his father. “Daddy, we definitely won’t cause trouble again. Don’t hit us again in the future, lest you twist your arm again.”

Fan Zijin opened his mouth and turned to shout at Qi Haoran, “Did you say that I sprained my arm? My arm is merely sore from beating him up!”

Qi Haoran was puzzled. “Isn’t that pretty much the same thing? Anyway, just don’t beat them up in the future. Next time, just tell me to do it. If I’m not around, you can look for Ah Ling.”

So he was not even comparable to a woman!

Fan Zijin was so incensed that he threw down the curtain and decided to work hard to train his body from today onwards. He, too, had practiced the horse stance and martial arts in the past. Although he hadn’t practiced for many years, he was still much better than ordinary people, right?

Fan Zijin had made up his mind to train his body, so he requested to hunt as soon as they arrived at the temporary imperial residence.

Qi Xiuyuan and Qi Haoran: “…”

They were here to avoid the summer heat, not to hunt.

The temporary imperial residence was left behind by the previous dynasty. Qi Xiuyuan had renovated it once, but this was the first time he had brought his family here to avoid the heat.

When Mu Yangling carried Baozhu out of the carriage, she looked at the temporary imperial residence curiously.

The temporary imperial residence was built halfway up Daming Mountain. There was a small waterfall flowing down from the mountain, cascading into a large pool before running through a man-made channel that circled the palace before continuing downhill. Because of the abundant moisture in the air, the entire palace remained cool.

Mu Yangling inhaled deeply. Qi Haoran dismissed a few older children and carried Little Leopard over to pick Mu Yangling up. “Because Little Leopard and Baozhu are still young, they should avoid catching a cold. I’ll send you back to our courtyard first.”

Mu Yangling nodded with a smile and left after bidding farewell to everyone.

Meanwhile, the Emperor and Fan Zijin had long disappeared with the children. No one knew what they had gone to do. The Empress smiled at everyone and said, “You may go to your courtyard and tidy up.”

Noble Consort Duan-Xian went forward and pulled Little Madam Xia away. “Come with me to take a look at my courtyard first before returning to your courtyard.”

Noble Consort Duan-Xian and Little Madam Xia were best friends. She typically did not participate in such events, but when she heard that Little Madam Xia would be here, she came along.

The Empress had long known that they were on good terms. Every time Little Madam Xia entered the palace, she would visit Noble Consort Duan-Xian whenever she had time.

Although the Empress did not mind, it did not mean that the other Concubines would also be so magnanimous. Noble Consort Duan-Xian was the most senior among the concubines and consorts just because she was a princess of Dali. The Emperor and the Empress also respected her. Although they did not say it, they were more or less jealous.

Even though Little Madam Xia was the wife of Prince An, she was on better terms with Noble Consort Duan-Xian over the Empress, thus the imperial concubines felt that she deserved to be targeted.

Hence, the imperial concubines said one after another, “Princess Consort An and Noble Consort Duan-Xian are quite close. They’re constantly together even after reaching the temporary imperial residence.”

“Yeah, I wonder how they got so chummy. It’s as though they’re biological sisters.”

The Empress glanced at them indifferently and said, “We have to hold a banquet in the Qu River Pavilion at noon. If you don’t go back and pack your things now, I’m afraid we won’t be able to make it in time at noon. If you have time on your hands, why don’t you go to the Qu River Pavilion to help?”

The imperial concubines immediately did not dare to speak.

Noble Consort Duan-Xian, who had not gone far, sneered and turned to Little Madam Xia. “If not for the fact that the Empress is virtuous, I wouldn’t dare to be on such good terms with you.”

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