Page 314

Could it be that the matter which had weighed on his heart for so many years was now being attended to? And by the current Son of Heaven?

Was his brother Changhe about to have his long-standing grievances redressed?

After making arrangements, the Emperor turned his head to look at Lian Bingcheng, his commanding presence retracting, and then spoke to him with solemn earnestness, "Mr. Lian, rest assured that if there are any developments in the matter, I will send someone to inform you."

Lian Bingcheng snapped back to reality, looking at the young Emperor standing before him. This was no dream, it was not a dream!

He was both sorrowful and joyful, crying out loudly, "His Majesty is wise and brilliant, may you live for ten thousand, ten thousand, ten thousand years!" He wanted to perform the ritual of three prostrations and nine kowtows!

The Emperor promptly steadied him, resolutely refusing to accept the gesture, self-deprecatingly smiled, and thought, if he really were so wise and brilliant, how could such a thing have happened, and how could Little Concubine have encountered such a calamity.

He raised his head to look beyond the high walls. In the unseen parts of his realm, how many more such cases occurred?

His heart was heavy; he was no saint. Such issues had been difficult to eradicate since ancient times. Even as the Son of Heaven, the situation was the same. He could only select his officials more rigorously and minimize such occurrences as much as possible through the laws of the Imperial Court.

To have a realm as clear as the rivers and as calm as the seas was an arduous task, perhaps unachievable throughout one’s life.

He consoled Lian Bingcheng with a few words, and once Lian Bingcheng’s emotions had stabilized, the Emperor pointed to his head and voiced a doubt that had been troubling him, "Mr. Lian, is there something wrong with Nannan? Will it cause any issues, and is there a remedy...?"

This was a question that had lingered in his mind for some time, and it had reached its peak just now. It was also one of the reasons for his visit.

The words he had just heard confirmed some of his thoughts; Little Concubine had escaped, which meant she must have known about her family’s misfortune. Yet, he usually observed that she seemed unaware, never seeking vindication and even asking him to help repay her debts.

The situation seemed like she had forgotten it all, and he was very concerned that there might be underlying dangers.

But before he could finish, Lian Bingcheng’s expression turned to one of urgency, waving his hands repeatedly, "Your Majesty, no, absolutely not, you cannot let Xiao Hua remember! If she recalls, that would be disastrous..."

Inside Canglan Court.

Xiao Linzi stood at the main gate, occasionally lifting his head to check for any approaching visitors. His master had instructed that if His Majesty returned, he had to rush back to report.

The master, along with Nanny Qi, was sewing clothes for His Majesty in the Side Hall. They had recently sent him out to replace Brother Xiao Ji, to serve as the lookout at the main entrance.

Normally, lookout duties weren’t his responsibility. The master thought he lacked quick-wittedness and feared he wouldn’t manage well.

At that time, under Nanny Qi’s guidance, the master was tailoring clothes and felt the Side Hall was too quiet and dull.

Hence, she called for him, reminding him that he had claimed to be able to tell stories.

Now was the moment to put that skill to use, to entertain her and Nanny Qi with a tale to break the monotony.

Upon hearing this, his eyes lit up. He could not out-chop Brother Xiao Ji when splitting wood and was no match for Xiao Qing in washing vegetables. In Canglan Court, he was the least adept.

Now, he felt he finally had a use. With a shy smile and flashing two silly little tiger teeth, he recalled a story his grandfather used to tell. Imitating his grandfather’s storytelling manner, he began to recount a segment of bizarre and strange tales.

The master at first didn’t pay much attention, but gradually, her focus shifted his way, listening with rapt interest until she inadvertently sewed the clothes unevenly.

When Nanny Qi prompted her, she came to her senses and gasped in astonishment, telling him to stop immediately.

She began to unpick the stitching and muttered complaints—it was his fault for telling the story too well, making her completely engrossed.

She couldn’t listen any longer, for if she did, the clothes would be ruined.

Xiao Linzi felt a mix of happiness and aggrievement; happy that the master praised his storytelling, yet indignant that doing well was somehow not right.

Then, Nanny Qi joined the master in shooing him out, forbidding him from speaking any more, directing him to replace Brother Xiao Ji.

Before he left, he was instructed to keep a vigilant watch. If he did not perform well or inadvertently leaked the matter of sending the gift...

Speaking of which, the mistress chuckled heartily and gave him a big smile, gesturing with her hands to him.

He immediately understood that if he didn’t keep a good lookout, if he leaked anything, the rattan would be waiting!

So there he was.

In the Side Hall, Lian Hua had been busy all afternoon. With Nanny Qi guiding her every step, it was indeed much better than fumbling around on her own, and now she was sewing clothes.

Alas, this needlework is really incredibly dull, not nearly as interesting as Xiao Linzi’s half-baked storytelling. Even if it’s only half-baked storytelling, it’s still more engaging than making clothes. I wonder how it ends, I should ask him later.

Nanny Qi saw her getting distracted again and cleared her throat to remind her.

Lian Hua promptly sat up straight, bringing her attention back to the needle in her hand.

Nanny Qi shook her head helplessly, lamenting that the young girl really had no talent for needlework. It was clear she had the basics down, but her stitching was too impulsive and sloppy, which was difficult to correct.

And to top it off, she couldn’t sit still. Her morale visibly plummeting, her bold declarations at the start might as well have not existed, for she couldn’t help but get distracted as she worked, feeling bored and wanting Xiao Linzi to tell stories.

Why make it so hard on yourself? If you can’t do it, then don’t. It’s just the Emperor’s birthday, after all. Making a bowl of noodles is more than enough; if that’s not enough, then make two bowls!

Nanny Qi thought indignantly.

Having spent these days together, she had come to treat the young girl like her own granddaughter.

She couldn’t bear to see Lian Hua struggle, feeling somewhat uncomfortable with the idea. After thinking it over, she suggested, "Master Lian, let me find someone to do the rest for you. You just need to add a few stitches at the end."

This was a common tactic among the Palace Concubines: have others make the final product, then touch it symbolically, and it would be considered their own work.

"What are you talking about, Nanny?" Lian Hua asked unthinkingly, her hands still diligently sewing stitch by stitch.

When she realized what she had said, she stopped her hands and lifted her head to reject the suggestion, "Nanny, how could that be okay? It would be better not to give anything at all. If I’m to give a gift, it should be something I made myself.

How can I present something made by others to His Majesty? "

Nanny Qi sighed. Although the young girl seemed gentle and soft on normal days, once she had made up her mind, it was hard to change it. She had already tried to persuade her several times today without success; she was almost ready to take over herself.

Lian Hua stuck out her tongue, feeling a bit guilty and couldn’t help asking, "Nanny, am I not doing well?"

She knew she wasn’t performing well; the clothing hadn’t even begun to take shape, and she was already thinking about doing something else.

This...

Nanny Qi hesitated to speak...

If she spoke frankly, would it be too discouraging for the young girl?

Lian Hua’s eyes curved into a smile, and without waiting for Nanny Qi to speak, she continued on her own, "Don’t worry, Nanny.

I may not be doing well now because I haven’t found the knack for it, but as they say, practice makes perfect.

Isn’t that the moral of the ’Oil Peddler’s Tale’?

After I practice for a few days and get the hang of it, I’ll naturally do well. Don’t you agree?"

That’s not necessarily true... Nanny Qi silently replied in her heart.

She didn’t think so; it wasn’t a matter of practice or finding the knack...