After being sent to the cold palace, the emperor’s heart was burned into ashes CHAPTER 7
Chapter 7: Studying the Sericulture Book
For a moment, Wanchun Palace was silent.
There were many people in Wanchun Palace today: the Empress Dowager, He Taifei, Princess Linchuan, the He sisters, and even the youngest son of the late Emperor, the Seventh Prince, who was playing in the courtyard outside.
Zhao Yiyi didn’t intend to cause trouble, but He Xunling, with unknown intentions, pointed it out in front of everyone.
A wisp of smoke drifted from the golden brazier, and the strong sunlight illuminated the entire hall, making the jeweled red gold bracelet shine brilliantly.
Even the Empress Dowager’s gaze was drawn to it, flitting between their wrists. She suddenly laughed: “Xunling is right, they are exactly the same.”
He Taifei’s gaze shifted between everyone. After hearing the Empress Dowager’s words, she quickly echoed: “Indeed, it seems that the Empress and Xunling share a certain destiny.”
Saying that the Empress and a commoner girl share a destiny was somewhat presumptuous.
However, no one present brought it up. The Empress Dowager nodded, smiling and asking: “Empress, where did you get this bracelet?”
Zhao Yiyi’s throat felt tight, her fingers slightly curled as she pinched her palm before softly replying: “His Majesty gave it to me a few days ago. I thought it was beautiful, so I put it on. I don’t know about Miss He’s…”
“I gave it to her.” The Empress Dowager answered for He Xunling, then raised her eyebrows, “Your aunt is right, it’s truly fate. My bracelet is the same as the Empress’s, also a gift from the Emperor a while ago. You two wearing one each today is quite a coincidence.”
These words had a deep meaning. Who would receive identical bracelets gifted by the Emperor? The implication was clear. Zhao Yiyi understood, but she didn’t feel as concerned or upset as before.
It turned out that the Emperor had given the bracelets to the Empress Dowager, who then gave one to He Xunling.
Somehow, Zhao Yiyi’s anxiety subsided, and she let out a sigh of relief.
She didn’t know what she had been worried about, but she had been so distressed that her heart ached.
Thank goodness, it wasn’t what she had thought.
With her anxiety gone, Zhao Yiyi felt much better. After a moment’s thought, she smiled slightly and took off the jeweled red gold bracelet.
“It seems Miss He has a deep connection with this bracelet.” Zhao Yiyi smiled, handing the bracelet to Yunzhu, instructing her to give it to He Xunling, “A single bracelet is rather lonely. Since we’ve encountered this, I will also give this one to Miss He, making a pair.”
Her voice was soft and sweet, like a clear stream.
He Xunling was stunned, initially not reacting before hesitantly reaching out to receive it and bowing to thank her.
Zhao Yiyi understood the importance of reading people’s expressions. Observing He Xunling, she knew she was reluctant.
Of course, she had gone to such great lengths for a bracelet, intending to provoke her, but she hadn’t expected this outcome.
As Empress, she wouldn’t wear the same jewelry as others. However, seeing as they were identical, if she immediately took it off, people might gossip, so it was better to give it away.
Thinking this, Zhao Yiyi said softly: “Miss He has seen much of the world. This bracelet may not be very precious, but it’s a token of affection from myself and the Empress Dowager.”
Zhao Yiyi’s sudden change in attitude and her thoughtful action caught the Empress Dowager off guard.
However, the Empress’s lack of displeasure today and her action greatly pleased the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager continued smiling, but the smile on He Taifei’s lips gradually faded. The Empress’s strategic retreat was quite clever. Her sister hadn’t understood anything and was still happily smiling.
Although one bracelet was from the Emperor and the other from the Empress Dowager, they both originated from the Emperor.
Having one each, as before, would undoubtedly elevate He Xunling’s status.
However, thanks to the Empress, it became a gift from her and the Empress Dowager. A few seemingly gentle words secretly distanced her from He Xunling.
He Taifei secretly chuckled. It seemed she had underestimated the Empress before.
Lin Chuan, who had been silently eating snacks, pouted when the others paused, saying coquettishly: “So Mother gave my cousin jewelry today. I just got up late and missed it.”
Her words made the Empress Dowager both angry and amused, so she tapped her forehead and said helplessly: “You!”
“You child, your mother rarely shows less affection towards you. She merely showed more care for your cousins, and you are already jealous?” He Taifei added, a rare smile in her eyes.
The Empress Dowager was in a good mood today, treating people kindly. After dismissing the younger ones to play, she only kept He Taifei and Zhao Yiyi to talk.
Under the palace walls, He Xunfang said softly: “Second Sister, what’s wrong with you today? Knowing that the Empress’s bracelet was the same as yours, why did you mention it?”
He Xunling glanced at her, innocently saying: “I saw it, and I got excited and said it.”
Their second maternal aunt had told her that their eldest maternal aunt had been intended to be the Crown Prince’s consort. If the current Empress hadn’t been of suitable age with the Emperor, she should have been the one in the Empress’s quarters.
“You…” He Xunfang couldn’t argue with her, so she could only worry. After a long while, she dropped a “Suit yourself” and turned away.
The three girls and the Seventh Prince soon resumed playing. He Xunling bent down to pick a rose. Wondering why the courtyard had become quiet, she suddenly turned to see someone and bumped into them, dropping the rose. Then it was ruthlessly crushed under a leather boot.
A beautiful flower, still holding dewdrops, was instantly crushed into mud. He Xunling was startled and was about to get angry about her crushed rose when she suddenly saw a pair of cold and gentle phoenix eyes.
He was wearing a simple light purple robe, simply tied with a jade belt, yet he still exuded an imposing demeanor. Although He Xunling hadn’t seen him many times, she recognized him at a glance, and she exclaimed:
“Your… Your Majesty!”
Gu Zhen also stopped at this moment. He looked down at the crushed rose, the sticky juice adhering to the ground, as if some remained on the sole of his boot.
He silently moved to the side and wiped his boot, but still was unsatisfied.
It was a little dirty.
He looked at the rose again and turned to He Xunling: “Yours?”
Admiration flickered in the girl’s eyes. She nodded slightly and softly replied: “Your Majesty, it was picked by this servant girl.”
“Pick another one for her.” Gu Zhen instructed someone nearby and walked into the main hall.
There were many people in Wanchun Palace today, and the younger ones kept playing, but the Empress Dowager didn’t seem bothered, smiling broadly.
After the Emperor and Empress had lunch and left, Lin Chuan vividly recounted the scene where the Emperor had someone pick a flower for He Xunling.
The Empress Dowager looked at her with interest and turned to ask: “Xunling, is that so?”
He Xunling nodded, blushing, her voice as soft as a mosquito: “It was my rose that fell to the ground and was accidentally stepped on by His Majesty. Then came what the Princess said.”
The Empress Dowager’s expression paused, then she chuckled lightly: “The Emperor’s personality has always been cold, it’s rare today.”
After the younger ones left, the Empress Dowager said to He Taifei: “I’ve already told your younger brother, Xunling will stay in the palace for a while.” She sighed, “I naturally prefer Xunfang, but your elder brother refuses. He says that Xunfang is his only child and must stay home to find a husband and support him and his wife in their old age.”
She thought the Empress Dowager would keep both or only He Xunfang. Hearing that her own niece would stay in the palace, He Taifei was naturally happy, but when she heard the Empress Dowager’s last words, her pupils suddenly constricted: “Find a husband! Elder brother wants Xunfang to find a husband?!”
“Yes, what’s wrong?” The Empress Dowager turned her head, looking at her strangely.
He Taifei barely calmed herself, smiling: “Nothing, I just haven’t heard your elder brother mention it before, so I was surprised.” Her heart was in turmoil. She had to tell her second brother this news as soon as possible.
The Empress Dowager said: “He’s thought so for a long time, he just hasn’t said it.” Speaking of this, she said angrily, “I heard that Princess Runan is returning to the capital. Back then, it was that girl who interfered and recommended the eldest daughter of the Zhao family, which led the late Emperor to choose Zhao Yiyi.”
Princess Runan was the late Emperor’s only younger sister and his favorite, but she and the Empress Dowager had been at odds since their youth.
Seeing that it was time to choose a consort for the Crown Prince, to consolidate her position, Princess Runan, the princess, competed with the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager recommended her niece, and Runan recommended her husband’s niece.
The late Emperor always trusted his sister. In addition, the Empress Dowager’s niece was not of suitable age for the Crown Prince. After weighing the options, the late Emperor chose Zhao Yiyi, the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Huai’an, for the Crown Prince.
This incident had been a thorn in the Empress Dowager’s side ever since, making her dislike her daughter-in-law from the start.
The study in the Empress’s quarters was spacious, with a library, a quiet room, a dedicated music room, and a place for playing Go.
As the moon climbed the willow branches, several candles had to be lit in the room for illumination.
Zhao Yiyi held a book and leaned against the window. A few petals from the welcoming spring blossoms fell outside the window, landing on her head and shoulders. Her slender fingers occasionally turned the pages, making a short, quick rustling sound.
Gu Zhen stood beside her watching, suddenly noticing that her neck and shoulder curve was exquisite, her fair neck slightly bent, and her slender waist, was as fragile as a willow branch.
The man swallowed, his deep gaze fixed on her fingertips, softly asking: “What are you reading?”
Zhao Yiyi quickly closed the book, slightly embarrassed: “I’m reading a book on sericulture. The Royal Sericulture Ceremony is in two months, and I want to read more during this time, so I won’t be clueless then.”
Seeing her slightly flushed earlobes, Gu Zhen frowned slightly: “You’ve never raised silkworms?”
Zhao Yiyi honestly shook her head: “No. I only saw a few cousins raising silkworms when I was young. I found it scary, so I didn’t dare.”
Gu Zhen suddenly remembered that Lin Chuan had raised silkworms when she was a child, didn’t control the timing well, and ended up with a room full of moths.
For a child, this scene was terrifying. Considering this, it was understandable that the Empress didn’t dare to raise silkworms.
Gu Zhen’s expression paused, and the black eyes showed a glimpse of the Empress’s childhood: timid like a rabbit, even her speech was hesitant. No wonder she was afraid of silkworms.
Thinking of this, he chuckled lightly, saying faintly: “You’re really timid.”
Zhao Yiyi knew she wasn’t brave, and she blushed, lowering her head and softly saying: “Your Majesty, rest assured, I will diligently study the book on sericulture this year and make the Royal Sericulture Ceremony a success.”
She lowered her head, speaking seriously, making Gu Zhen feel uncomfortable. He directly took the book from her hand and said softly: “It’s late, it’s time to sleep. We’ll read it tomorrow.”
Wanchun Palace was warm and inviting, the sunlight streamed through the sea-tangle-shaped windows, dappling the golden milk cakes, celestial flower cakes, and jade dew balls on the table.
The Empress Dowager and her son only drank tea, without reaching for the snacks.
After hearing the Emperor’s words, the Empress Dowager’s hand holding the teacup suddenly paused, incredulously saying: “What did you say?” Her slender eyebrows furrowed, her voice urgent like a sudden downpour, “You’re taking the Empress with you to the Royal Ploughing Ceremony?!”
