Chapter 16: I Don’t Want to Deal With Him
Leaving Zi Chen Palace, He Xunling’s legs felt weak.
This was her first time setting foot in the imperial sleeping quarters, and she was quite frightened by the solemn and awe-inspiring atmosphere.
She had heard from her second aunt that Zi Chen Palace was the most heavily guarded place in the palace city, and even the Empress could not come and go freely.
The maidservant followed closely behind her, whispering, “Miss, you just barely finished this bowl of mandarin fish porridge. You had just arrived, and the Empress followed shortly after, also sending…”
It happened to be the same mandarin fish porridge.
She clearly saw the Emperor slightly curl his lips when he heard that the Empress had sent something over.
The movement was subtle, but she caught it.
“She’s such a copycat! She must have known I sent it, so she followed suit.” Seeing no one around, He Xunling couldn’t help but stomp her foot, muttering angrily.
It was just that the Empress was lucky to have the Princess of Runan as her maternal aunt; otherwise, how could she have ascended to the position of Empress?
Thinking this, He Xunling felt slightly reassured, and her pace quickened.
The maidservant, who had been bowing her head and dared not speak, seeing her mood improve, hesitantly said, “Miss, mandarin fish are plump and delicious these days, perhaps it’s… just a coincidence?”
He Xunling glared at her, angrily saying, “No one asked you to speak!”
The maidservant lowered her head shamefully, then said, “Miss, should we still send it in the future?”
At dusk, under the setting sun, two slender shadows stretched out on the long palace path. On both sides were the imposing halls with pink walls and grey tiles, mostly uninhabited, exuding a secluded tranquility.
“Send it,” He Xunling stared at the halls on both sides for a while, then said softly, “My eldest aunt told me to send it, I can’t disobey my eldest aunt’s orders, can I?”
It didn’t matter if the Emperor didn’t use it or didn’t like it this once. Her second aunt had instructed her that if she did it often enough, it would eventually have some effect.
She let out a long breath and said, “Let’s hurry.”
After learning that her daughter wanted to attend the Empress Dowager’s flower-viewing banquet, Madam Xu pondered for a long time before going to the outer courtyard study to find Zhao Weimin.
On Zhao Weimin’s desk lay a piece of stationery, the content of the letter just beginning.
Madam Xu turned her head, seemingly casually glancing at it a few times, and softly asked, “My Lord, who are you writing to?”
Zhao Weimin stroked his short beard and said warmly, “My father had once asked the late Emperor for a favor. Achen has reached the right age, so I’m writing a letter in advance to send to the Rector of the Imperial College when the time comes.”
Madam Xu raised an eyebrow and asked, “What exactly did Father say back then?”
Zhao Weimin recalled the things he had inquired about these past few days and said, “Father once told the late Emperor that he wanted to ask for a favor for his grandson, so that even if he was gone, his grandson could still enter the Imperial College.”
Madam Xu pondered this carefully and thoughtfully said, “Father truly doted on his younger generation.”
Zhao Weimin asked why Madam Xu had come, and Madam Xu told him about the banquet.
“Forget it,” Zhao Weimin held her hand, helplessly saying, “With her stubborn nature, I’m afraid Lianzhi will be bullied by her.”
Madam Xu leaned against his chest and softly said, “It’s just a banquet, who knows what might happen? Besides, although the Empress dislikes Lianzhi, once the harem is full in the future, she will naturally know who her true reliance is, and her nature will change.”
After listening to Madam Xu’s analysis of the pros and cons, Zhao Weimin pondered for a moment and gradually felt that this matter was feasible.
The most crucial point was that the Empress had not yet had children, and the Emperor didn’t seem to particularly favor her. What use was that?
“You’re always so thoughtful,” Zhao Weimin said solemnly, then added, “If so, let’s inform the Empress first, so we can have a definite answer.”
“Your health hasn’t been good these past few years, Lianzhi needs to be looked after as well.”
Madam Xu had had a miscarriage last year, and she responded, then lightly furrowed her brow, covering his hand and saying, “My Lord, you also know that the Empress dislikes our Lianzhi. If we tell her beforehand, the Empress might…”
She didn’t finish, but everything she meant was implied.
Zhao Weimin had loved Zuo Lianzhi for so many years, and his feelings were deep. After much thought, he considered that after all, she grew up in the Marquis’s Mansion and could be considered a child of the Zhao family.
If the two sisters were like the Empress Dowager and Imperial Concubine He, having someone to support them in the palace would also be a good thing.
For two or three days in a row, the Emperor stayed in the Jiao Fang Palace, causing the palace servants in Jiao Fang Palace to rejoice. Zhao Yiyi, on the other hand, felt strangely listless.
These days, her heart was filled with a mix of his gentleness and his cold and harsh expressions.
The combination made her feel suffocated.
While having breakfast, Gu Zhen asked her, “How are those silkworms doing?”
Zhao Yiyi paused slightly, subconsciously looking up at Yunzhu.
Those silkworms?
Yunzhu quickly said, “They’re doing well. After so many days, their hair has molted, and now they’re plump and white, and they eat a lot of mulberry leaves.”
Gu Zhen had them brought over. He glanced at them briefly and said indifferently, “I obtained these with great difficulty, you must take good care of them.”
Zhao Yiyi’s heart skipped a beat, suspecting that he had discovered something, but she didn’t dare ask.
Before leaving, Gu Zhen said, “I want mandarin fish porridge for dinner,” before striding away.
After he left, Yunzhu moved the small open box containing the silkworms closer and softly asked, “Your Majesty, do you want to tend to them personally?”
After hesitating for a moment, Zhao Yiyi finally nodded. “Okay, let me see.”
Yunzhu said that she had raised silkworms at home when she was young. Sure enough, the silkworms were well-cared for by Yunzhu. Zhao Yiyi had been keeping the silkworm ceremony in mind. In the past, she would have excitedly learned from Yunzhu.
Today, however, she lacked enthusiasm, only changing the mulberry leaves as Yunzhu instructed.
The next day, Wan Chun Palace held a grand banquet, inviting noblewomen and young ladies from Luoyang City, as well as many promising young men.
Therefore, even if these ladies didn’t intend to send their daughters into the palace, they all came to the banquet, making it even more lively.
Hearing that the Emperor had been staying in Jiao Fang Palace these past few days, the Empress Dowager pressed her eyebrows and softly said, “The Emperor is different these days.”
Imperial Concubine He comforted her, “It’s a fortunate thing that the Emperor and the Empress have a good relationship.”
The Empress Dowager snorted a few times, wanting to say what use was that, but considering that there were so many people present, she didn’t say anything.
Hearing the palace servant’s announcement that the Empress had arrived, everyone paused, then rose to greet the Empress.
Zuo Lianzhi’s heart beat up to her throat. Her eyes darted to Madam Xu, “Mother…”
“What are you panicking about?” Madam Xu whispered back.
Zhao Yiyi wore a shimmering red dress today, and the skirt swept past everyone’s eyes, carrying a fragrant scent. After sitting down, she softly said, “Everyone, you may all be seated.”
Many unmarried men and women were present at today’s flower-viewing banquet. Others may not know the reason, but Zhao Yiyi, having been the Emperor’s daughter-in-law for over two years, understood his purpose perfectly.
Thinking of this, her expression was not very good. The hand hidden in her sleeve tightened slightly, her fingertips digging into her palm.
The sudden pain made her heart tremble slightly.
The Empress Dowager glanced at her lightly. Seeing her expression seemed somewhat tired and absent-minded, she rarely showed some kindness, “It’s just a flower-viewing banquet, not some grand event. If the Empress is not feeling well, you don’t have to come.”
“Thank you, Mother for your concern,” Zhao Yiyi leaned slightly and softly said, “Perhaps I was a little sunburnt on the way here, so I feel a little dizzy, it’s nothing serious.”
He Xunling’s curled fingers moved slightly. Seeing the Empress calmly sipping tea, she finally couldn’t sit still.
“A few days ago, I was ordered by my aunt to make mandarin fish porridge for the Emperor. Coincidentally, Your Majesty also sent the Emperor mandarin fish porridge,” He Xunling covered her lips with a handkerchief and chuckled softly, her voice gentle, “Comparing the two, I deeply feel that Your Majesty’s porridge is more fragrant and soft. Mine, compared to Your Majesty’s, is simply incomparable.”
Before she finished speaking, she saw the Empress Dowager’s face suddenly darken.
Her heart sank as well, but then she saw the Empress put down her cup and said faintly, “Miss He has a kind heart. Since it was presented to the Emperor, Miss He’s culinary skills must be quite exquisite. Another day, I would like to taste Miss He’s cooking as well.”
He Xunling froze, then felt somewhat indignant. The Empress, the Empress actually compared her to a cook and wanted to eat her cooking!
Her heart was filled with anger, but upon encountering the Empress Dowager’s gloomy eyes, she instantly dared not say anything more.
The banquet was incredibly boring. Listening to everyone’s flattery was not interesting at all. Zhao Yiyi stayed for a while before finding a place under a flower stand.
Since getting drunk at the Xian Nong Altar, she hadn’t touched alcohol for quite some time, not even her favorite fermented glutinous rice balls.
It so happened that today’s preparation included putao wine, its aroma strong and slightly sweet, so she asked Mancao to pour her a small half-cup, slowly savoring it.
Just after drinking three or two sips, a low voice suddenly came from the side, “Don’t drink anymore.”
Zhao Yiyi turned her head holding the amber cup, and saw a tall and upright figure standing beside her, the face shaded by branches and leaves.
The man’s expression was slightly sullen, his eyes calm and unwavering, and although his voice was calm, it carried the Emperor’s usual coldness and command.
Zhao Yiyi suddenly didn’t want to deal with him, and raised the cup to take another sip.
Gu Zhen was so angered by her actions that he laughed, “That day, you said that I asked you to drink, so you drank. Now that I’m telling you to stop drinking, why are you still drinking?”
He suddenly moved closer to her, gritting his teeth and saying, “You don’t tell the truth!”
Author’s Note:
Here it is! Peeking out~
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