Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Palace's Delicate Branch Cannot Bear the Weight

  The palace has been gloomy lately due to the crown prince's affairs, but the Yu Le Fang by the Chu Yan River is still filled with the sounds of silk and bamboo, light songs and beautiful dances, cups and plates clinking together, guests coming and going like fish.

  By the window, a screen with golden and red paintings separated us, it was an excellent location. The surrounding silver incense added fragrance, warmly releasing the scent of wood hibiscus. The young wine servant was only twelve or thirteen years old, his words were quick-witted: "Honey juice crispy pigeon, emerald green silk, white jade double yellow, Longjing shrimp kidney, plus a seasonal soup, will the county master not try our red willow lamb chops and mantou meat today? The flavor is quite good."

  "What's this new dish?"

  The bright-eyed and handsome young man smiled and replied, "This red willow lamb chop is a new dish that has recently been introduced from the Hu region. Not only does it have a unique flavor, but no matter how it's cooked, the skin and meat are always connected and never separate, so it's also known as 'Red Willow Mandarin Duck'. The crispy outside and tender inside of the flatbread-wrapped meat is crunchy when you take a bite, and the delicate texture is smooth and silky, leaving you with an aftertaste that's hard to forget."

  "Is there such a saying? It sounds pretty good, let's all have it then." As he spoke, the soft voice of a female musician could be heard from the doorway: "Your Highnesses Eleven and Twelve!"

  Eleven and Ye Tianyi walked in together, and Qing Chen subconsciously looked back at them. Eleven raised an eyebrow: "Fourth Brother is delayed with something, he'll come over himself later."

  You were immune to his sarcastic tone and expression, which seemed to be laughing but not quite. You immediately became nonchalant, making him defeat himself with his own weirdness. Seeing her intentionally nonchalant appearance, he couldn't help but secretly laugh in his heart.

  Ye Tianlie sat down in front of the case, instructing: "The wine last time was not bad, today is still that one." After finishing speaking, he turned his head to look out the window: "Ah, Tian Wu Zui Fang is so lively again."

  Opposite the Music Pavilion is the Heavenly Dance Drunken Pavilion. At this moment, all the Hu women in the pavilion are gathered on the platform in front of the gate to practice dancing. After a short performance of "Breaking Array Melody", the crowd of Hu women swayed their waists and shook their sleeves as they entered the pavilion, not forgetting to throw flirtatious glances at the surrounding onlookers. The wine server said by the side: "The Heavenly Dance Drunken Pavilion is now performing songs and dances in front of the gate every day. Although it's just a short while, it attracts many customers to come one after another. It's still okay during the daytime, but at night, there are thousands of people who come to admire."

  "Right now, I'm afraid there's no other song house in Yige City that can match this grandeur. Previously, it was sealed due to some reason and people thought it would never recover, but who would have thought that this place is actually a treasure trove, and once again, the wind and water are rising."

  Shi Xiao said, "The person running this place is shrewd, every inch of land is precious. Tian Wu Zui Fang just daring to use Hu Nu Hu Ge is already eye-catching, and they keep coming up with new tricks like this, so many varieties to attract the crowd, it's hard not to be popular. I wonder who's in charge now, must be someone extraordinary."

  You dusted your lips and looked out the window without saying a word. The eleven of them all knew she had a connection with Si Mian Lou, but Tian Wu Zui Fang was completely unaware.

  "The boss of Tian Wu Zui Fang is a woman named Su Niang, and she's often seen coming and going. She's a formidable person."

  Ye Tian Lie casually said: "The business of Heavens Dance Drunken House across the street from you, haven't the two families had a falling out?"

  Who would have thought that the wine shop owner pointed outside: "At first, it was a scramble to get in and out, but later on, I don't know how it got better. Now the two families are almost connected as one. Your Highness, look at the overhead passageway across the street, once it's fixed, people can go back and forth without even having to leave the door. Speaking of which, many of our wine dishes were actually thought up by Tian Wu Zui Fang, they're all very popular."

  Eleven and Ye Tian were both slightly surprised. The Shang Le Fang was the leader of the many years of song and dance, and now it had merged with the Tian Wu Zui Fang. In the city of Yi Ge, which family could compete with them? Qing Chen narrowed his eyes slightly. With such intense competition in the song and dance industry, if they didn't join forces, wouldn't they be defeated one by one? The boss of Shang Le Fang was not an easy person to deal with, and it wasn't easy to get to this point. However, looking at it now, it seemed that Eleven's daily visits to Shang Le Fang hadn't been in vain, despite being teased by others for being greedy, always wanting to leave the palace to eat honey-glazed crispy pigeon. After all, knowing oneself and knowing one's enemy was a timeless principle that would never change. Thinking back to when Su Niang met with the boss of Shang Le Fang, Qing Chen smiled lightly. This boss was actually a clever person who understood things easily.

  "Your Highness!" The servant beside him suddenly bowed, and several people turned their heads to look. In white robes with a jade crown, elegant as a jade tree in the wind, Ye Tianyun was smiling as he walked towards them, accompanied by Yin Caiqian but without any attendants. He chuckled, "What a coincidence, you're all here too."

  "Seventh Brother, since we've met, why don't we sit together?" Ye Tianlai called out.

  Ye Tianzhan had no objection and sat down at the table, looked at the dishes already served in front of him and asked: "Why does it seem like a dish of honey sauce crispy pigeon is missing?"

  "You won't be telling me everyone knows I love eating this?"

  "Who made you so greedy?"

  Yin Caiqian sat beside Qingchen, but she obviously didn't like this arrangement. Since learning that Qingchen was a member of the Feng family, her previous warmth towards him had grown increasingly cold, and after the Crown Prince's affair, she had become downright hostile. At this moment, she looked extremely displeased, silently listening to the others' chatter with a sullen expression.

  After the servant presented the wine cup, he retreated. Yè Tiān Zhuàn saw Xīng Chén pour wine into the cup and raised his hand to stop him, saying: "You can't drink, let's forget it."

  "You just enjoy your own, don't mind me."

  Ye Tianxuan smiled and withdrew his hand, suddenly hearing Yin Caiqian say in a lukewarm tone: "The Feng family might be having good news soon, we should drink two cups to celebrate."

  This remark was obviously directed at Qing Chen, who furrowed her brow: "What do you mean by that?"

  Yin Caiqian said: "When Feng Luan became the crown princess, the Feng family's hundred-foot pole head went further, isn't that a joyful event?"

  As soon as these words came out, Ye Tian Xuan's voice was stern and he shouted: "Cai Qian!"

  Yin Caiqian snorted, "Am I wrong? The Crown Princess has been crying for days, looking haggard, all because of Feng Luan's seduction of the Crown Prince!"

  Your delicate eyebrows slightly raised, and you said faintly: "This kind of thing has always required mutual consent to work out; if one person is not willing, it will never reach this point."

  Yin Caiqian's eyes turned cold: "That was also Feng Luan flying first not being careful, last time during the flower petal shooting game, with her riding skills, couldn't she have dodged that arrow? She clearly intentionally fell off the horse to get the prince to save her, and then accompanied the prince to see Doctor Yu, fawning over him, asking if he was cold or hot. The prince already has a princess consort taking care of him, what's the point of her being so attentive?"

  That day's matter was actually somewhat suspicious, and Qing Chen slightly furrowed his brow. Ye Tian Xuan looked at Yin Cai Qian with an unpleasant tone: "What nonsense are you spouting? Apologize quickly!" Yin Cai Qian saw the warning hidden in his expression, felt pressured by his gaze, and didn't dare to speak again for a moment. However, apologizing was absolutely impossible; instead, she glared at Qing Chen with hostility.

  "Cai Qian." Yè Tiān Zhàn reminded her faintly.

  Yin Caiqian angrily said: "Zhan brother, why are you protecting her! The Feng family has always relied on these means, don't you know better than me? I didn't say anything wrong!"

  Ye Tian's eyes slightly raised, and Qing Chen was startled, hastily waving his hand, laughing: "We don't talk about others' business, as long as we can take care of ourselves."

  Who would have thought that Yin Caiqian would say sternly, "Oh? I don't know which high branch you've set your sights on this time. Just don't make the same mistake as last time at Yanxi Palace!" Her words were clearly referring to the previous incident at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, where Ye Tianling publicly rejected her proposal.

  As soon as she spoke, Ye Tian Xuan's eyes turned stern and severe, while Ye Tian Hui and the others changed color in unison, annoyed by her impertinence. Qing Chen suppressed his discontent and said lightly: "I have never been interested in so-called high branches, and taking shelter under someone else's wing is not a skill, let alone that it was the Empress Dowager's edict at the time of Yan Xi Palace, are you saying that the Empress Dowager was wrong?" This speech was neither soft nor hard, neither humble nor arrogant, and Yin Cai Qian was stunned, wanting to retort but suddenly freezing in expression as she raised her head, with words reaching her lips only to be forcibly withdrawn.

  Several people followed her gaze and saw that Ye Tian had unknowingly appeared behind them, his green robe fluttering in the wind, standing coldly as he stared at them, clearly having overheard their previous conversation.

  Eleventh busy getting up to greet, eased the somewhat awkward situation. Ye Tianling sat down in front of the case, his eyes stopped on Yin Caiqian's face for a moment, and Yin Caiqian felt a slight chill in her heart. She called out softly: "Fourth Prince." But saw him looking at Qingchen, originally cold black eyes almost imperceptibly revealed a hint of unusualness, like the faint ripples under the sea, after one wave disappeared without a trace in the vast depths. However, she keenly felt this point with her feminine sensitivity, and became even more unhappy in her heart, but did not dare to erupt at all before Ye Tianling.

  "Alright, Fourth Brother is here, let them go to Hongliu Sheep Meat and see if it's really as they say."

  Eleven personally poured wine: "How come that honey juice crisp pigeon hasn't arrived yet? Is someone afraid of waiting eagerly?"

  You dust looked at the night sky Ling's face, secretly thought it was terrible. If Yin Caiqian spoke out of turn again in front of him, it would be really hard to clean up. He hastily said: "Don't worry, first try this bun meat, it's said to taste good too."

  Yin Caiqian's delicate teeth were clenched tightly on her lips, trying to hold back her temper. Ye Tian had already regained his composure, smiling as he raised his cup in a toast. Even in anger, he maintained his elegant demeanor without revealing any emotions. Then he stood up and said: "Fourth brother, I still have matters to attend to at the manor, I'll take my leave first. Caiqian, follow me back to the manor."

  His gentle tone carried an irresistible command, and after a moment of impulsiveness, Yin Caiqian was already somewhat regretful. However, she couldn't bring herself to apologize and save face, so she stood up abruptly, flung her sleeve, and stormed out of the Lianyue Pavilion. Ye Tianzhan didn't even bother to acknowledge her, turning back to Xun Chen and saying, "Sorry."

  "You may stop here," said the gentle voice. By saying so, it meant that even if Ye Tian Zhen returned to the palace, he shouldn't blame Yin Cai Xian anymore. Although Yin Cai Xian was a bit impulsive, she actually didn't say anything wrong. In fact, Luan Fei not only seduced the prince but also plotted against him, so being blamed by others was her own doing. No matter what, in people's eyes, she was still a member of the Feng family. Who knows how many cold eyes were watching from within and outside the palace?

  He looked at her deeply for a moment, nodded slightly, and left first.

  This was a great disappointment, the lamb meat in front of the case was roasted to perfection, but Qīng Chén's face didn't show any concern for what had happened before, and the atmosphere was still a bit stifling. Even Yè Tiān Líng only said a few words and seemed to have lost interest. Yè Tiān Líng was always taciturn, Qīng Chén said something, Shíyī and Yè Tiān Líng responded perfunctorily, she raised her eyes to look at them, her mind turned lightly, suddenly threw down the chopsticks: "I'm not eating anymore!" After speaking, she wanted to get up and leave.

  Eleventh hastily stopped her: "What's wrong, are you really angry?"

  "You're so annoying, I'm not even angry with you, but you still have to force me to be angry before you'll stop. Just shut up and go back on your own, the rules in the palace are many, but it's better than looking at your faces here."

  "Shi laughed and said, 'What's going on here? Who gave you the nerve to look at me like that? I suddenly remembered something Mother Empress entrusted me with that I haven't taken care of yet. This matter can't be delayed. Twelfth Brother, come with me, we'll be back soon.' With that, he dragged Ye Tianyi away without another word."

  Yè Tiān Lì didn't decline and followed him to the door, stopping and turning back to smile: "Ge, Qīng Chén and Fourth Brother..."

  "It's a lawsuit that can't be explained clearly."

  "Adding Seventh Brother's side to this, it seems we have a lawsuit on our hands."

  "You're a sensible person, you won't be swayed."

  The night sky was dark and moonless, but he had already climbed onto his shoulder, pointing to the opposite side: "Let's go, I'll take you to the other side for a stroll. Hmph, this little girl still knows how to get angry. I really want to go back and see what Fourth Brother is up to."