无翼乌工口里番无色无摭挡

Two young actors in costumes were singing their melodic tunes.

During the hot summer season, Concubine Jin, who was prone to heat, wore only a thin gauze dress that barely covered her chest, with no robes or adornments. Her long, dark hair was piled high, revealing her slender neck, plump shoulders, and a hint of her curves.

If any ordinary man saw her in this state of undress, they would undoubtedly have improper thoughts.

However, only palace maids and eunuchs came and went from this place.

Even for a eunuch, they did not dare to stare at Concubine Jin’s appearance.

When Li Hongyuan entered, he saw this scene.

He glanced at Concubine Jin and said, “You are being quite indecent, Concubine Mother.”

Concubine Jin laughed lightly, “What I choose to wear is my business; there is no need for your opinion.”

“Emperor Father doesn’t manage you.”

“Neither does he have the right to,” Concubine Jin replied indifferently. “What are you doing here? As the Crown Prince, don’t you have other things to do?” The conversation was cold and distant.

If it were the Li Hongyuan of his youth, he would have probably been hurt by his concubine mother’s words for the entire day.

But now, he had become accustomed and did not care. He simply placed the lunchbox down, “I’ve been away for a few months, and Concubine Mother doesn’t concern herself with the court, so you might not know. This is a meal personally prepared by the Princess Consort.”

“Why didn’t she send it herself?”

“Concubine Mother, you have been truly spoiled. On such a hot day, the Princess Consort was sweating in the kitchen making this meal, and still, you demand her to deliver it personally?”

“That isn’t necessary. Simply sending it with a palace maid would suffice.”

“Is it wrong for your son to deliver it? How much disdain does Concubine Mother have for me?”

“If a palace maid were delivering it, she wouldn’t dare to comment on my attire and imply that I am frivolous and indecent.”

“Indeed, she wouldn’t. If Concubine Mother has no other orders, this son will take his leave.”

Li Hongyuan turned to leave.

“Wait,” Concubine Jin beckoned to him.

Li Hongyuan looked back, seeing her signal to a palace maid.

The maid understood, and she immediately retrieved a brocade box and several pieces of fabric, presenting them before Li Hongyuan, “Crown Prince, this is a box of jewelry and some soft gauze for the Princess Consort and the young prince to use.”

Li Hongyuan glanced at them without much interest, “Does Concubine Mother worry there aren’t such items in the East Palace?”

“The items in your East Palace are indeed not up to my standards,” She said.

“Oh?” Li Hongyuan was displeased by the arrogance of the Queen Mother and glanced at her, realizing she had already sat up and was picking at the food in the lunchbox. Even more so, she couldn’t help but pick a bit up with her slender fingers and taste it.

He chuckled.

Concubine Jin glanced at him with a trail of crumbs on her red lips, “What’s so funny?”

“Concubine Mother just said she looked down on the things from the East Palace, yet now she doesn’t seem to know what she is eating.”

“What does this meal have to do with your East Palace?”

“The food was prepared by the Princess Consort, who is my wife. What does Concubine Mother think?”

“You think too highly of yourself. In my view, Jiang Ning has earned her position as Princess Consort herself.” Concubine Jin said with a slight mocking tone while continuing to eat, “Without Jiang Ning, you might not even be Crown Prince.”

“Indeed, the Princess Consort is intelligent. However, without me marrying her, no matter how wise she might be, she could never become the Princess Consort. We complement and support each other, unlike Queen Mother, who has lived under Emperor Father’s protection all her life. Apart from listening to operas and snacking, life has no other meaning for you.”