One day, Liu Liu was sitting in the main hall, looking at the gifts presented by Hong Xiu. Tomorrow was her birthday, and the Emperor had specially approved for the Empress to host a banquet in the harem to entertain her friends.
Liu Liu sent out invitations to everyone she was on good terms with. Although the civil and military officials of the court were not among the invited guests, their gift lists were still presented.
Liu Liu glanced at them casually, intending to put them aside, when a name at the very bottom caught her eye: Nangong Yue, her brother Nangong Yue. She hadn't expected him to send a gift. Liu Liu's heart suddenly stirred with excitement. She wondered how he and Wan Qing were doing.
“Come, present the gift from the Emperor’s brother-in-law,” Liu Liu eagerly waved Hong Xiu to find her brother's gift.
“Which Emperor’s brother-in-law?” Hong Xiu peeked, knowing full well that the Empress had two brothers-in-law: the Prime Minister and Young Master Nangong. It seemed both had sent gifts to the palace for the Empress’s birthday.
“Nangong’s gift,” Liu Liu said briefly. As for her brother Liu Ting, he was living a very good life now. Her sister-in-law Gu Lan was very playful and had even given birth to a little nephew for her. She had nothing to worry about. She wanted to know about Nangong’s situation.
As soon as Liu Liu finished speaking, Hong Xiu immediately waved for Ming Yue and the other palace maids to search through the pile of gifts for the gift from Duke Nangong. After much effort, they found it and handed it to the Empress.
Liu Liu’s face became solemn as she opened the exquisite box. The palace maids who had been peeking were instantly dumbfounded.
For inside such a delicate box was placed a small, tender green bamboo flute. Yes, a bamboo flute. All the palace maids felt a sense of doubt. Duke Nangong was truly too stingy to send a bamboo flute to the palace for no reason.
However, a look of eager joy appeared on the Empress’s beautiful face, and her eyes seemed to glisten with unshed tears. Everyone fell silent, not daring to say another word, surprised that Duke Nangong’s bamboo flute could move the Empress so much.
Liu Liu tenderly caressed the smooth bamboo flute. Although it was just a small green bamboo, he had polished it to be incredibly smooth. This bamboo flute indicated that he would forever remember the happy times they shared on Xue Xiu Peak. Had he remembered the past?
Being able to send her bamboo meant he was living peacefully, Liu Liu’s lips curled into a smile. Wan Qing, with her gentle eyes, would surely take good care of him.
“Hong Xiu, put this bamboo flute away.”
“Yes,” Hong Xiu nodded. She had never seen the Empress ask to keep a gift before. She never expected such a small bamboo flute to earn the Empress’s deep affection. She realized she had to store it carefully. If the Empress asked for it someday and she couldn’t find it, it would be troublesome.
The main hall of Weiyang Palace was filled with gifts. Liu Liu was too lazy to look at the rest and waved for Ming Yue and the others to put the items away. The hall became busy.
Just then, the young and handsome Crown Prince walked into the hall. He had sharp, raised eyebrows, a full and smooth forehead, and his phoenix eyes were slightly narrowed, their depths shooting out sharp glints, tinged with a hint of cunning. Despite his radiant appearance, he sent shivers down one’s spine. The palace maids and eunuchs all retreated to the side to await orders.
Liu Liu, seated on her high perch, was overjoyed to see her son had grown into such a distinguished young man. She smiled and looked at him.
“Mu Xing, come to Mother’s side. Is something the matter?”
“Thank you, Mother,” Mu Xing said politely. He stood up and walked to his mother’s side, sitting next to her, and said softly, “Tomorrow is Mother’s birthday. Your son also has a gift to present to Mother.”
“Oh? What is it?” Liu Liu smiled with interest, looking at her son. She drew his body closer. What was this fellow up to, being so mysterious?
Mu Xing remained silent, a cunning smile playing on his lips. He snorted inwardly, "Father, let's have a showdown." He clapped his hands, and a line of people walked in from outside the hall. Leading them was a young man, Feng Xin Hun, who was about Mu Xing’s age. He was equally handsome and charming. Behind him followed a line of men, all standing solemnly in the hall. Liu Liu’s gaze swept over them. These men were of various types: delicate, strong, handsome, and unrestrained. Each of them looked at Liu Liu, their demeanor neither servile nor overbearing, but graceful and poised. They bowed gracefully.
“Your humble servants greet Her Majesty the Empress.”
“Rise,” Liu Liu waved, not understanding why so many handsome men were here. Where did they come from? She turned to look at her mysterious son, “What is this?”
“Mother, these are male prostitutes. Your son sees that Father cannot even produce a younger brother for me, so your son has gone to great lengths to find these male prostitutes for Mother to choose from. Mother, rest assured, these individuals have been carefully selected through numerous trials. They are strong and healthy. Judging by your son’s standards, they will surely help Mother have a son in one go.”
After Mu Xing finished speaking, he looked at the hall below as if nothing had happened. The male prostitutes’ faces turned pale. They had only been invited to the palace to showcase their talents, never expecting this. They hastily knelt down, “Her Majesty the Empress, we know nothing.”
“Rise, what are you panicking about? Her Majesty the Empress hasn’t spoken yet?” Mu Xing berated. These guys who couldn’t even perform were panicking before anything had even happened. His face darkened with displeasure. Liu Liu, on the side, surveyed everyone and genuinely began to appraise them, speaking softly.
“Thank you, my son.” These so-called male prostitutes were probably male escorts. Her son was bold enough. It seemed he was determined to clash with his father, and the father and son’s rivalry never ended.
As Liu Liu was watching with great interest, a figure in imperial yellow hurried into the hall. Upon seeing the figure enter, Mu Xing immediately smiled and clung to his mother.
“Mother, look at these men. They have both looks and physiques, which Father cannot compare to. Father promised Mu Xing a younger brother five years ago, but he still hasn’t produced one. In Mu Xing’s opinion, he probably can’t. Why doesn’t Mother choose a capable male prostitute to have a son for Mu Xing?”
Mu Xing had already seen the man at the front of the hall radiating anger, his bright golden crown making his entire face seem like it was about to catch fire. Liu Liu, however, was enjoying herself immensely. It was a rare opportunity for entertainment, so they might as well indulge themselves. She immediately nodded.
“This idea is worth considering.” As soon as she finished speaking, the imperial yellow figure strode in, his face ashen with fury. He turned to the kneeling male prostitutes below and loudly ordered, “Get out! If you delay, I will have you beheaded.”
Those male prostitutes immediately turned pale with fear and rushed out. Mu Xing walked down from his high seat, glanced at Feng Xin Hun, and said unhurriedly, “The people you found this time are truly subpar.”
“Who knew they would be so easily frightened?” Feng Xin Hun shrugged helplessly and turned to look upwards. There was no one there anymore. The Emperor had already taken the Empress to his chambers.
Mu Xing reached out and put his arm around Xin Hun’s body, “Let’s go, let’s play a game of chess.”
“Alright, together,” Xin Hun nodded. Just as he finished speaking, two delicate voices came from outside the hall door. Their faces immediately turned pale. Gone was their usual wisdom and shrewdness, and they turned and fled from the side door of the hall in a panic.
“Hmm, where is Brother?” Feng Mu Yun asked her twin sister, Feng Mu Ning, who was beside her. The two sisters scanned the area and were about to enter the hall to search when Hong Xiu quickly blocked them. The Emperor had taken the Empress to his palace. Naturally, anyone who entered today would not fare well. Therefore, Hong Xiu, along with Ming Yue and a few others, cajoled and persuaded the two little princesses out of Weiyang Palace.
The next day, Weiyang Palace was filled with festivity, red lanterns hung everywhere. Today was the Empress’s birthday, and the Empress had personally sent out invitations.
Naturally, everyone who received an invitation arrived. The first to enter were Liu Ting and Gu Lan, followed by Feng Lie and Xie Lan. Although Princess Wu Yang arrived alone, Bai Han, who followed closely behind her, caught everyone’s eye. More and more people arrived, and finally, everyone sat together at the banquet, their laughter and chatter filling the air.
Liu Liu looked at everything before her with satisfaction. She was happy when the people she loved and who loved her were happy.
May love stretch far and long, for only then will joy be happy. Feng Xie sat beside her, looking at her proudly. Liu’er had been tormented by him all night yesterday. Let her see male prostitutes again next time. And that scoundrel Feng Mu Xing, don’t expect him to have a brother for me; it will always be a sister. Hmph, Feng Xie snorted coldly in his heart, but his face wore a smile as he scanned the people at the banquet. His heart warmed. Happiness was truly that simple.
Feng Xie carefully placed a piece of delicious crispy chicken onto Liu’er’s plate. However, as soon as Liu’er smelled it, she frowned, feeling nauseous and wanting to vomit.
The women sitting around the table looked up simultaneously, their eyes filled with a glimmer of surprise. “Could it be that Her Majesty the Empress is pregnant?”
As soon as the words fell, Feng Xie’s face contorted in a frown. How long would he have to abstain now? But compared to his bitter expression, three other joyous voices rose from the hall. They rushed to Liu Liu’s side.
“Mother, this time you must give birth to a son.”
“No, this time we must have a daughter,” the twin sisters protested earnestly.
At that moment, laughter erupted and carried far away, spreading happiness to every corner of the Feng Tian Dynasty. Love would flow on forever.