Chapter 644: Chapter 643: Building a Nest in Beijing, Qing Ying Comes to Join (Extended Chapter)
The Seventh Prince’s eyes shimmered with tears: "Father’s grace is as nourishing as rain to mountains and rivers. I will enter the palace later to express my gratitude in person."
The guards behind the Seventh Prince were also filled with surprise and joy.
Ordinary people might not understand why the Seventh Prince reacted so strongly to this decree, but they were not ordinary. They knew the value of this decree.
The forbidden zone of the palace gates is not a place that all princes can enter and exit at will.
Only a Prince has that privilege!
In other words, this long-marginated Prince was enjoying the treatment of a Prince!
He’s receiving the treatment of a Prince now, what about in the future?
Could he actually become a Prince?
Becoming a Prince is no small matter. Even the Emperor cannot confer such a title lightly. Therefore, before appointing someone as a Prince, the Emperor often conducts tests, giving them certain privileges akin to those of a Prince to observe responses from ministers and the royal family. If not met with intense reaction, the conferring of a Prince becomes a natural progression.
Thus, allowing him access to the palace gates was a precursor to conferring him as a Prince.
Once he becomes a Prince, all shackles he previously bore will be easily undone.
That’s merely the first point.
The second point is another mysterious aspect of the decree.
"Visit your birth mother!"
The Seventh Prince’s birth mother held a lowly status, mere a Changzai, not even a concubine, far from being a concubine, let alone the Empress.
Apart from giving birth to a son for His Majesty, she was nothing much in the palace, where she continued doing menial tasks.
Such a mother is not worthy of a Prince’s visitation.
If a Prince enters the palace to meet a mother, it is to meet the "official" mother, the Empress.
It’s absolutely not to meet the birth mother.
Yet now, through an imperial decree, His Majesty clearly told him that he could visit his birth mother.
What does this indicate?
It indicates that his mother, who performs menial work in the palace, is about to be promoted by his father!
This tremendous joy in the Seventh Prince’s heart surpassed even the excitement of becoming a Prince.
The servant in yellow smiled: "His Majesty already knows how filial Your Highness is, please follow me."
The Seventh Prince followed the servant away.
Lin Xiaosu boarded another servant’s carriage, which traveled through the bustling city to a riverbank named Liuxiang River, serene amidst the hustle.
The Prince Dingbei Mansion was on this street.
Beside the Prince Dingbei Mansion was a courtyard with three entrances, a residence bestowed to Lin Xiaosu by His Majesty.
Upon entering, a steward bowed in greeting, referring to him as the Family Head. Behind him stood two rows of twenty-three servants in total.
Ten male servants, twelve female maids.
All youthful and beautiful.
The servant in yellow stopped at the door: "Mr. Li, this is the residence granted by His Majesty. If any necessities are lacking, instruct the steward to retrieve them from the Ministry of Internal Affairs."
"Thank you, Eunuch!"
Lin Xiaosu bowed, as he was handed a red envelope.
This was passed to him by the steward. Lin Xiaosu understood, lifted the red envelope with both hands to the servant who graciously accepted it, smiling as he took his leave.
Lin Xiaosu entered the residence, and the steward briefed him along the way.
This residence originally belonged to a wealthy merchant in Beijing. After wrongdoing by the merchant, the residence was confiscated by the Imperial family to reward meritorious officials.
At this point, the steward couldn’t resist a flurry of flattery.
The fact that the Family Head was so valued by His Majesty was unimaginable. Although some in Beijing had received residences as rewards, it was only one courtyard, and servants had to be purchased separately.
But for the Family Head, the Ministry of Internal Affairs took care of everything, including maids, servants, and all living utensils, ensuring completeness.
Amid a torrent of compliments, Lin Xiaosu completed the tour of his residence.
This residence, in the context of Beijing, is not particularly large, merely three courtyards and three layers of buildings—a standard courtyard in modern eyes.
The area covers over a thousand square meters.
Quite luxurious indeed.
Even more luxurious is the aesthetic of the pavilion and floors, like on the side near Liuxiang River, with a Red Pavilion, a tea room, and a solitary plum tree, lending the setting a cultural ambiance.
"Steward, you can go ahead with your duties! I’ll sit over there for a while," said Lin Xiaosu.
"Yes! Some items delivered by the Ministry of Internal Affairs have just arrived and haven’t been arranged. It’s just as well for the Family Head to sit there for a bit." The steward began organizing various rooms.
Two maids accompanied Lin Xiaosu into the Red Pavilion.
Once inside, a refreshing breeze filled his ears, and the scenery of Liuxiang River viewed from there seemed boundless.
Sitting there, he likely became scenery for tourists aboard passing riverboats.
The maid on his left handed him a cup of tea: "Sir, please enjoy some tea."
The voice was soft and sweet.
Lin Xiaosu accepted the teacup, his gaze lifting.
The maid’s face was flushed, hesitant to meet his eyes but not daring to avoid them either, she stood there.
"What is your name?"
"My name is Hong’er."
"And this one?"
"This maid is Little Qing."
"I observe you both, you don’t seem like ordinary maids," Lin Xiaosu remarked, "Did you come from the palace?"
"No," Hong’er said, "We both came from the Imperial Music Bureau."
Imperial Music Bureau!
Lin Xiaosu’s heart stirred slightly.
The name of the Imperial Music Bureau he had heard several times.
From Qing Ying’s mouth, from the Seventh Prince’s words, all pointing to one person: General Xuelong.
When General Xuelong was disgraced and taken to the Heavenly Prison, the female members of his household were detained in the Imperial Music Bureau.
That was during the era when Crown Prince Hong Ding held immense power.
Now times have changed. The Seventh Prince has earned the Emperor’s favor, might he successfully rescue Xuelong?
This is likely another unforeseen outcome from the flapping of his butterfly wings. If the Crown Prince was still in power, General Xuelong could only dream of release in another lifetime.