Page 117

Lian Hua summoned Xiao Qing, intending to stroll around the Imperial Garden.

Yet, before she reached the main gate, Canglan Court had, unbeknownst to her, been assigned two doorkeeper eunuchs.

Spotting her from a distance, they banged the gates shut with several quick thuds, so swiftly that she couldn’t even call out to them to stop.

Having no choice, she let Xiao Qing run over to inquire. Those two doorkeepers made faces and gestured at Xiao Qing, whispering among themselves for a while.

When Xiao Qing returned, her expression had changed, and she stammered, unable to articulate her words. At last, at a loss for what to say, she simply claimed the two were deaf and couldn’t understand what she was saying, and she advised the Young Master to abandon the idea of going.

Lian Hua: "..."

Forget it, no more thoughts of the Imperial Garden.

She might as well stay in her room. As she sat down at the dressing table and saw the embroidery basket, a whim struck her. Perhaps she should make a purse for His Majesty? She had already embroidered a handkerchief, which was insufficient to convey her feelings for His Majesty.

Just as she was eager to try and reached for the scissors to cut the cloth, Xiao Jizi, who came to ask what she wanted for her evening meal, suddenly clung to her legs, crying out that the Young Master must not harm herself and not to frighten him.

Xiao Qing, who had just set out to prepare the meal in the kitchen, rushed in upon hearing this and wrapped herself around Lian Hua’s other leg, also wailing like Xiao Jizi.

She hurriedly explained that she was not harming herself, but was about to cut cloth for an embroidered purse. However, the pair refused to let go, insisting she promise not to touch the scissors or needle and thread before they would release her.

Lian Hua: "..."

Alright then, she realized now that everyone in the courtyard was watching her. They treated her like a porcelain doll, obstructing her at the slightest change, forbidding her from doing anything, leaving her with no choice but to sit obediently.

And so, there she was, listlessly sitting in the small hall, bored out of her mind, with no idea what to do next.

...

Yixiang Palace.

"This servant pays respects to His Majesty." An old nanny with her hair meticulously combed into a round bun and adorned with a simple sandalwood hairpin, bowed to the Emperor, each hair in perfect place.

The Emperor strode over quickly and helped her up with both hands, "Nanny Qi, you need not be so formal." His tone carried a mix of warmth and resignation.

"Your Majesty, one must not neglect the proper rites," Nanny Qi responded as she got up and looked at the person before her. A hint of a smile appeared on her serious and upright face.

No matter how many times she saw the Son of Heaven before her, she would sigh in her heart. Who could have imagined the fragile child of yesteryear would grow up to be the towering and majestic ruler of the world?

It was a pity the Former Empress Dowager had passed away too soon and could not witness the peaceful and prosperous times of today. She must be contented if watching from the heavens.

The Emperor shook his head with a hint of helplessness. He had told Nanny Qi many times not to be so formal, but she always remained as she had been from the start.

In his young and helpless days, he had received much protection from Nanny Qi. Nanny Qi knew of his deceased Imperial Consort Mother and, out of pity for his youth, had helped him many a time.

He remembered an incident before going to Yixiang Palace when several eunuchs in the palace were bullying him.

He recognized those servants; they belonged to the harem of one of the Favored Concubines of the Late Emperor.

It was Nanny Qi who happened upon them, offered her help, and drove those cur servants away.

After he went to Yixiang Palace, Nanny Qi took great care of him, for which he is still grateful to this day.

However, after the Great Empress Dowager passed away, Nanny Qi did not wish to leave Yixiang Palace, claiming she was an old woman with no attachments and had grown accustomed to the place, and even asked His Majesty for special permission to stay and dust for her old master.

The Emperor had no choice but to agree, and on every festive occasion, he would visit her and also pay homage to his Imperial Grandmother.

"Your Majesty, have you come here today to seek something from this old servant?" Nanny Qi asked.

Not long ago, someone from the palace had informed her that His Majesty would visit today. A fast horse from the palace to this place would take more than a Shichen. Given that His Majesty was usually busy with state affairs, his special visit today surely meant there was a matter at hand.

The Emperor smiled, knowing he couldn’t hide his intentions from Nanny Qi, and said directly, "Indeed, my visit is to ask Nanny to look after someone for me."

Nanny Qi was surprised, thinking whoever could compel His Majesty to make a personal request must be extremely important. Otherwise, with so many people in the harem, why would he come such a long way to find her?

The Emperor nodded, his thoughts turning to his Little Concubine, and his entire demeanor softened as a smile played on his lips.

He wondered what she was up to now, having been away for so long. What could she possibly be doing?

She was such a mischief-maker, never still for a moment when awake. He truly worried she might accidentally hurt herself, and he wondered if Zhang Qing was able to take proper care of her.

Nanny Qi was even more astonished, knowing the Emperor since he was a child, who had lived a life of hardship and had matured early. She had never seen him express such emotions in all these years, and couldn’t help but ask, "Your Majesty, what kind of person is so important to you?"

The Emperor looked at Nanny Qi, unable to hide the gentleness in his eyes, and said, "Nanny Qi, she is very good. She is now two months pregnant, and there is no one reliable by her side. I truly can’t set my mind at ease, so wish to trouble Nanny to take care of her. What do you think?"

Nanny Qi, although not prone to laughter or smiles, had seen the endless schemes of the Late Emperor’s harem, was alert and had served the Great Empress Dowager, holding a very high status in the harem. Who would dare disrespect her? It was most fitting to ask her for her assistance.

Leaving Nanny Qi alone in Yixiang Palace was also something he couldn’t feel at ease about.

On one hand, he hoped she could look after his Little Concubine, and on the other, he wished Nanny Qi would not have to endure the loneliness and solitude, desiring that someone could keep her company in her old age.

His Little Concubine was just the right person, being so lively.

Upon hearing those words, Nanny Qi was overjoyed, repeatedly saying it would be good.

Even her normally expressionless face couldn’t help but reveal an uncontainable smile.

There had been no news from His Majesty’s harem for many years.

While he wasn’t in a hurry, she was anxious, as the Great Empress Dowager’s greatest regret was never seeing a Prince grow up under His Majesty.

Nanny Qi wondered how His Majesty managed to suppress the former court officials since earlier there were advisories, but in recent years, not a single one dared to submit an admonition.

And it was a mystery how His Majesty planned things, without a child to his name, he didn’t seem to be in a rush, continuing in his own manner, summoning the concubines far less frequently than the Late Emperor, truly a world apart.

The Late Emperor had been notoriously indulgent, causing the Great Empress Dowager endless headaches.

Yet, seeing His Majesty’s rare summoning of the concubines, the Great Empress Dowager was even more worried.

It was a headache either way. While the Great Empress Dowager was still alive, His Majesty would listen to her now and then, but after her passing, no one could influence him.

After so many years, to suddenly hear of a pregnancy in the palace that so concerned His Majesty, how could she not be delighted?

She had some hesitations initially, having seen enough of the vile tactics of the harem while accompanying the Great Empress Dowager throughout her life, and honestly, she was tired.

Now an old woman, she really didn’t want to be involved anymore, but since His Majesty had personally asked, she had to consider it.

But at the moment, those hesitations vanished, and she wished she could go immediately to protect the person for His Majesty, ensuring that the child would be born safely, hopefully a Prince.

With this thought, Nanny Qi could hardly sit still, already eager to return to the palace and see for herself the person who was so important to His Majesty.