678 Black Eggs Torturing the Empress (3)
The eunuch left. About ten minutes later, the eunuch returned with a bitter smile. “Your Majesty, His Majesty has gone to the Vermilion Bird Palace.”
“What?” The Empress’s expression changed. “Why did he go again?”
The eunuch braced himself and said, “At the court meeting this morning, I don’t know which minister presented a gyrfalcon. His Majesty saw that the gyrfalcon was very beautiful, so he personally sent it to the little masters of the Vermilion Bird Palace.”
Since he was already there, he naturally stayed for breakfast.
The Empress pinched her fingers and calmly instructed the attendant, “The small kitchen has made a few of His Majesty’s favorite dishes. Send them to the Vermilion Bird Palace. Also, make a few of the children’s favorite snacks and send them to His Majesty and Consort Yun.”
“Yes.”
The eunuch did as he was told.
At this moment, the Emperor was sitting in the Vermilion Bird Palace to eat with Consort Yun and the children. He had sent over a beautiful baby gyrfalco. The little black eggs liked it very much, so in order to express their gratitude, they asked him to stay for breakfast.
No matter how Consort Yun pulled a long face at him in private, she would always treat him with respect in front of the children.
Thus, the Emperor saw a gentle and virtuous Consort Yun again. He thought to himself that the kick last night was most likely unintentional. She had fallen asleep and he did not even know what he had done.
At this thought, the Emperor decided to forgive Consort Yun.
Thanks to the few little black eggs, Consort Yun no longer had to be a vegetarian. Breakfast was mutton buns, scallion duck pancakes, red date cinnamon porridge, and more than ten exquisite court snacks.
The Emperor was surprised to find that his appetite was better than before. Even Eunuch Wang could tell this.
Eunuch Wang was happy for the Emperor from the bottom of his heart. The Empress’s rules were rules, but they tasted otherworldly. The Honored Consort’s was still the best. Just like the commoners’ lives, a porridge and a meal had a different taste.
“Your Majesty, the Empress has sent food over,” the palace maid in charge of the Vermilion Bird Palace reported.
The Emperor nodded. “The Empress is considerate. Bring it over.”
“Yes.” The palace maid in charge placed the meals sent by the Empress on the table one by one. The dishes in the Central Palace were naturally much more exquisite than those in the Vermilion Bird Palace.
Consort Yun was not stupid enough to make things difficult for her stomach. If she dared to give it to her, she would dare to eat it and eat heartily! If she wanted to use this to disgust her, she would really have made a mistake.
Consort Yun was full. The three little black eggs also had round stomachs.
The Emperor was extremely satisfied and said to Consort Yun, “It was too late last night. It’s not convenient. Today, bring the children to the Central Palace to greet the Empress and let her see them.”
The three little black eggs looked at Consort Yun adorably.
Consort Yun rubbed their little heads. “Do you want to go?”
The three little black eggs thought.
The Emperor said gently, “The Empress is a very good person. When she sees you later, she will definitely like you.”
The three little black eggs nodded.
After breakfast, the Emperor went to the imperial study to deal with official business. Consort Yun brought the three little black eggs to the Central Palace. The Empress had already received the news and knew that Consort Yun and the children would come. She carefully dressed up and sat on the phoenix chair, dignified and noble.
Soon, Consort Yun brought the children forward to greet her. They were both old and diligent in taking care of themselves, but Consort Yun looked younger than the Empress.
In the past, the Empress did not care about this. After all, no matter how beautiful Consort Yun was, the Emperor would never look her in the eye. However, for some reason, the Empress began to care today.
Consort Yun looked like she was in her early forties, or perhaps even younger. Even the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes were so beautiful that they exuded elegance.
Consort Yun bowed politely. “Greetings, Your Majesty.”
The little fellows did not bow. They just widened their black eyes and blinked at the Empress.
The Empress smiled kindly and waved at them. “Come, come to me. Let me take a look.”
The three of them slipped over. They did not have any stage fright, nor did they look arrogant. Even the Empress had to admit that they were indeed very likable children. They walked up the steps, walked around the golden cedar table, and came to the Empress.
The Empress waved her hand, and an eunuch brought over a large basket with all kinds of small things inside.
The Empress smiled and said, “Take whatever you like. I’ll give it to you.”
The three little black eggs turned around to look at Consort Yun.
Consort Yun nodded slightly before the three of them politely stretched out their little hands.
Xiaobao took a wooden bow and arrow, and Er’bao took a rattle-drum. Dabao did not want the things in the basket. He tilted his head, turned around, and lay on the Empress’s table. Then, he stood on his tiptoes and grabbed the golden thing with one hand.
Everyone’s expressions changed. That-that was the Empress’s Phoenix Seal!!!
“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!” Outside the imperial study, the eunuch from the Central Palace hurried over.
Eunuch Wang was at the door. He raised his horsetail whisk and stopped him. “What are you doing? Is the imperial study a place for you to shout? Can’t you see that His Majesty is busy?”
The eunuch also knew that he had been rash, but he could not control himself!
“Something-something big happened!” He whispered something into Eunuch Wang’s ear.
Eunuch Wang’s eyes widened. “Are you serious?”
The eunuch slapped his thigh and said, “It’s true! Eunuch Wang, quickly let His Majesty take a look!”
Eunuch Wang entered the imperial study and reported to the Emperor. Without another word, the Emperor put down his official business and rushed to the Central Palace.
The matter had to start with Dabao taking the Empress’s Phoenix Seal. The Empress said that she would give them toys, but she did not say that she would give them the Phoenix Seal. The Empress wanted the Phoenix Seal back, but Dabao refused.
Consort Yun also advised Dabao to put down the Phoenix Seal, but Dabao refused to let go.
A palace maid couldn’t stand it anymore and secretly reached out to snatch it. In the end, she hurt Dabao. Out of self-protection, Dabao grabbed her hair.
The Empress thought that since she was the mother of the country, the children would also like her and listen to her. She smiled and went to pry Dabao open, but Dabao also grabbed her hair. When the Emperor rushed to the central palace, the Empress’s hair had dropped a lot due to Dabao’s actions.
Some palace servants tried to separate them, but Dabao held on too tightly. When they pulled, the Empress was in pain.
The Emperor’s eyebrows twitched! He walked over in three steps and gently coaxed Dabao. “Be good, let go first. I won’t let them snatch your things.”
Dabao did not move.
The Emperor continued, “I’m the ruler of a country. I mean what I say. Let the Empress go first.”
Dabao let go.
The Empress was also bald. The Empress was in so much pain that she was crying. She felt wronged and stifled. She was angry and vexed, but she was the Empress of a generation. She could not flare up!
The Emperor quickly asked the palace servants to help the Empress down to rest and invited an imperial physician.
Dabao was still hugging his Phoenix Seal.
The Emperor said, “This thing isn’t fun. I have many treasures in my study. How about you choose something more fun from there?”
Dabao thought for a while and did not nod or object.
The Emperor brought Dabao to the imperial study. There were many strange things in the imperial study. There were swords, daggers, bone carvings, jade artifacts, and everything else. They were all good things gathered from the commoners.
But Dabao did not like any of them.
Just as the Emperor was having a headache, Dabao finally threw away the phoenix seal in his arms. When the Emperor heard the clang, he was overjoyed and heaved a sigh of relief. Unexpectedly, he couldn’t smile anymore.
Dabao hugged his heirloom seal.
