Chapter 1257: The Shy Helan Minyue

A warm fragrance filled Helan Minyue's palace, and the sandalwood dining table was already laden with a dazzling array of dishes, the rising steam carrying the aroma throughout the room.

The palace maid in charge of serving the dishes brought out the last dish, Osmanthus Bird's Nest and Lotus Seed Soup, wiped the fine sweat from her temples with her fingertips, looked up at Helan Minyue standing by the window, and spoke with a hint of trepidation in her voice.

"Your Highness, will His Majesty really come?"

"I just heard Qingdai say that today is the first time the Chu State's uncle has arrived in Chang'an, and His Majesty is going to the side hall to celebrate the Empress's birthday."

He Lanminyue was gazing absently at the light and shadows under the eaves outside the window when she heard this. She slowly turned around, a confident smile curving her lips, and her eyes, as clear as autumn water, shone with self-assurance.

"His Majesty will definitely come."

She raised her hand to smooth a strand of hair that fell over her shoulder, her voice soft yet full of confidence, "As long as I ask He'er to summon him, His Majesty will never refuse."

"Your Majesty is right," the palace maid nodded quickly, smiling as she echoed, "His Majesty dotes on the young prince the most!"

"As long as the little prince acts cute, His Majesty will surely give in."

He Lanminyue's eyes crinkled with amusement at these words. She lifted her skirt and twirled around in place. Her pomegranate-red palace dress bloomed like a peony in full bloom, and the gold-threaded lotus embroidery on the skirt shimmered with her movements.

She raised her hand to hold the golden phoenix hairpin inlaid with pearls on her head. The pearl hairpin hanging down swayed gently, making her skin look as white as snow and her eyebrows and eyes as beautiful as a painting.

Helan Minyue looked at the palace maid, her tone carrying a hint of coquettish expectation: "Quickly, help me see how this outfit is? Isn't it a bit too flamboyant?"

The palace maid exclaimed with admiration, "This dress looks absolutely stunning on Your Highness, like a celestial being descended to earth!"

"This pomegranate-red ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) makes your skin look even whiter, and the golden phoenix hairpin adorning your hair makes you look both dignified and beautiful. His Majesty will surely be unable to take his eyes off you!"

He Lanminyue was overjoyed by the praise. She gently stroked the pearls on the hairpin with her fingertips, unable to suppress the smile on her lips. She was so happy that even the corners of her eyes and eyebrows were filled with sweetness.

Just as she was about to say something more, she suddenly heard a clear, cheerful child's voice coming from outside the palace.

"Mother!"

"Mother! Father is here!"

It was his son Lin Anhe's voice!

Helan Minyue's heart skipped a beat, and the smile on her face instantly became even brighter. She could no longer care about being reserved, and she lifted her skirt and walked quickly toward the palace gate, her steps even light and quick.

The palace door creaked open, and Lin Lang walked in carrying the soft little Anhe. Sunlight streamed into the palace along his figure, making his radiant handsomeness a tangible reality.

Xiao An, perched on Lin Lang's shoulder, the windmill in his hand still spinning, saw He Lan Min Yue and immediately waved his little arms, excitedly shouting, "Mommy! Look, Father Emperor is really here!"

Helan Minyue's gaze fell on Lin Lang, and the smile in her eyes instantly turned into deep tenderness. She took light steps forward, gracefully curtsied, and spoke in a gentle and melodious voice.

"I respectfully welcome your Majesty."

Lin Lang looked at Helan Minyue, who was dressed in a beautiful pomegranate-red dress and whose golden phoenix hairpin swayed gracefully in her hair. She was as beautiful as a person who had stepped out of a painting, and his eyes showed even more doting affection.

He took a step forward, holding Xiao An in his arms, and reached out to help Helan Minyue up. His fingertips inadvertently touched her delicate wrist, and he chuckled softly, "My beloved consort is exceptionally radiant and beautiful today."

Xiao An slid down from Lin Lang's arms and threw herself into He Lan Min Yue's embrace, tilting her little face up and asking sweetly, "Mommy, what delicious food is there for lunch today?"

He Lanminyue placed a warm kiss on her son's soft cheek, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons, and her voice was incredibly gentle.

"My dear son, today I instructed the imperial chef to make your favorite jade shrimp balls and honey-glazed yam," she said, pinching her son's little nose with a smile in her eyes. "I also made many other dishes that you and your father like to eat."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Anhe immediately clapped his chubby little hands and jumped up, shouting in his childish voice, "Yay! Your son is hungry, his little tummy is all flat!"

Lin Lang chuckled softly upon hearing this, reached out and touched his son's round little belly, feeling the warm and soft touch on his fingertips, and teased him on purpose.

"Son, your little belly is as round as a little ball. It's not that you're starving, it's like you've got a little dumpling inside."

Xiao An lowered his head, poked his chubby little belly with his chubby little hand, and solemnly argued, "Although it's not shrunken from hunger, I'm really hungry! Listen, listen, it's rumbling!"

Lin Lang and Helan Minyue exchanged a glance and couldn't help but laugh out loud at the same time, instantly filling the room with a warm and cozy feeling.

"Alright, alright, since our son's stomach is growling with hunger, let's have lunch right away." Lin Lang smiled, took He Lan Minyue's hand, and turned to walk towards the dining table.

Helan Minyue hurriedly instructed the palace maids to set up the children's high chair and carefully lifted Xiao Anhe into it to sit down.

As soon as Lin Lang sat down in the main seat, He Lan Minyue personally picked up the wine pot and poured him a cup of amber-colored wine with her slender, jade-like fingers, her movements gentle and considerate.

A palace maid quickly stepped forward, holding a food bag embroidered with little rabbits, and carefully wrapped it around Xiao An's neck, asking softly, "Your Highness, what would you like to eat? This servant will get it for you."

Xiao An lay on the dining table, pointing at the dishes with her little fingers, chattering excitedly, "I want to eat this shrimp ball! And that yam! And that braised pork!"

The palace maid suppressed a smile and, as instructed, placed a full plate of food on the small plate in front of Xiao An.

The little guy immediately picked up a small silver spoon, scooped up a shrimp ball and stuffed it into his mouth. His cheeks bulged out like a little hamster as he wolfed it down, with sauce sticking to the corners of his mouth. He looked adorable.

Lin Lang watched his son eat heartily, seemingly not picky at all, and grew increasingly pleased. He couldn't help but laugh out loud, "This rascal, he eats so well and isn't picky at all. It makes me so happy!"

Helan Minyue sat down next to Lin Lang on the chair beside him, picked up the serving chopsticks, placed a piece of steamed perch in his bowl, and said softly, "Your Majesty, please try this. The perch is extremely fresh today. I specially asked the imperial chef to add less salt."

Lin Lang picked up the ivory chopsticks, took a piece of steamed sea bass from the bowl, and put it in his mouth. The fish was tender and fragrant, melting in his mouth. He smiled with satisfaction, looked up at Helan Minyue beside him, and spoke with a tone full of doting affection.

"My beloved concubine, please try it too. This sea bass is indeed delicious. I can serve myself; you don't need to always look after me."

Upon hearing this, Helan Minyue nodded obediently, put down the serving chopsticks in her hand, picked up her own silver chopsticks, and put a piece of bright green vegetable into her mouth.

She chewed slowly, her gaze fixed on Lin Lang's handsome profile. After hesitating for a moment, she finally couldn't help but whisper a tentative question.

"Your Majesty, I have heard that the Chu State's brother-in-law has arrived in Chang'an today. I wonder if he intends to stay here permanently, or if he will return to the Kingdom of Hu after a few days?"

Lin Lang picked up the wine glass on the table, his fingertips tracing the inside of the glass, and tilted his head back to drink the wine in one gulp, the rich aroma spreading in his throat.

He put down his wine glass and chuckled softly, "Of course, he'll stay permanently. The Empress has already sent someone to buy a large house for my brother near the Imperial Palace in Shanghai."

No sooner had the words been spoken than Xiao An suddenly raised his chubby little hand, his mouth stuffed full, and shouted indistinctly, "Father, Mother, eat quickly, the food will get cold!"

Lin Lang and He Lanminyue exchanged a smile, their eyes overflowing with tenderness.

Lin Lang reached out and rubbed his son's cute little head, and said with a smile, "Okay, your father and mother will eat now."

While eating, Helan Minyue chatted with Lin Lang about the recent trivial matters in the manor. Her voice was soft and gentle, and her eyes were full of tender affection.

Xiao An, acting like a little adult, said, "Mother, didn't you say that one shouldn't talk while eating or sleeping? Why are you still talking to Father while we're eating?"

He Lanminyue was amused by her son's words and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She reached out and gently flicked his little nose with her finger, pretending to scold him, "Hey, you little rascal, you're even telling your mother what to do now?"

"Fine, Mother won't say anything, okay?"

The little guy finally gave a satisfied "hmm" and then buried his head in the braised pork on the plate, struggling with it.

The dining table fell silent, with only the soft clinking of bowls and chopsticks and Xiao An's occasional satisfied sighs.

Warm sunlight streamed through the window, falling on the family of three and outlining a soft golden edge, filling the room with a cozy and peaceful atmosphere.

Before long, lunch was served.

Lin Lang looked at Xiao An, who was slumped in his high chair, his little hand still touching his round belly. He couldn't help but reach out and rub the soft flesh, teasing with a smile, "Son, are you full?"

Xiao An patted his round little belly and replied in a childish voice, "I'm full! I'm so strong now, I can run really, really far!"

Lin Lang couldn't help but chuckle, and turned to instruct the palace maid waiting beside him: "Take the young prince out for a stroll to digest his food, and then take him back to his room for a nap."

"No, no!" Upon hearing this, Xiao Anhe immediately slid off the chair, pounced on Lin Lang's legs, and hugged his thighs, shaking them incessantly. "Your subject doesn't want to take a nap, I want to play with Father!"

Helan Minyue sat to the side, took a sip of tea, and a mischievous smile flashed across her eyes.

She naturally knew Lin Lang's intentions: he wanted to send his son away so he could spend some time with her. She just pursed her lips, said nothing, and looked down at the tea in her cup, but the curve of her lips was unmistakable.

Lin Lang sighed helplessly, and with a thought, he took out a beautifully packaged box of Taiwanese specialty candies from his personal space.

The gift box contains a variety of Taiwanese-style candies, which are sure to appeal to children.

He handed the gift box to Xiao Anhe, his eyes full of doting affection: "Son, this is candy that your father brought back for you from the Kingdom of Shanghai."

"Take this and stop bothering your father. Let him and your mother take a quiet nap and rest, okay?"

Xiao Anhe's eyes instantly lit up like two little stars. She grabbed the candy gift box and held it in her arms like a precious treasure, no longer caring about pestering Lin Lang to play.

He looked up with his little face and called out in a clear voice, "Father and Mother, you may take your afternoon rest! Your son will take his leave now!"

After saying that, the little guy, clutching the gift box, followed the palace maid like a little cannonball and ran out of the palace in a flash.

Watching her son's happy figure disappear into the distance, Helan Minyue quickly reminded him, "Son, eat less candy, it's bad for your teeth!"

"Okay, hehe..." the little guy agreed, but whether he could actually do it was another matter.

Once only Lin Lang and Helan Minyue remained in the palace, his gaze towards Helan Minyue immediately changed. He raised an eyebrow and said with a mischievous smile, "My beloved concubine, it's time for us to go back to bed for a nap!"

Helan Minyue asked shyly, "Your Majesty, do you want to take a nap? Or would you like me to serve you in bed?"