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The master of Shu Embroidery was very famous in the embroidery world, her works so sought after they were worth their weight in gold, and the palace even had a collection of her "Phoenix Seeking Phoenix" embroidery. It was only because she happened to receive kindness from Lian Hua’s Mother during her time of distress that she agreed to teach Lian Hua.

This master lived a free-spirited life, treating embroidery purely as a hobby and not as a means to make a living. Regrettably, after teaching Xiao Lian Hua for a while, she traveled elsewhere, and Lian Hua never saw her again.

Before leaving, the Shu Embroidery master patted Xiao Lian Hua on the head, knowing the girl’s fickle nature, she didn’t insist on her mastering the skill.

She merely told her that if there was ever a time in the future when she needed to embroider something as a gift, to focus her heart and use just one specific stitch technique.

Lian Hua firmly remembered these words and stabilized her spirit to use solely the Shu Embroidery when she embroidered something for His Majesty, but she was much more casual with the pieces she made for herself.

Speaking of Lian Hua’s current temperament, not only did the Emperor have a love-hate relationship with her, but her mother felt the same way.

From a young age, she was the family’s darling, the only girl at home. From her father to her several brothers, each one of them spoiled her more than the last.

Seeing how she was becoming spoilt, her mother had to toughen up and discipline her, which is why Lian Hua behaved like a mouse seeing a cat around her mother, conceding very quickly, but still making the same mistakes afterwards.

Every time she made a mistake, her mother would want to punish her, but her father would plead with her mother to let it go, and her brothers would come forward fighting to take the blame for her.

For instance, there was once when Xiao Lian Hua led a group of children in beating up the neighbor’s watchdog. When the neighbor came to complain, saying the dog was traumatized and demanded silver as compensation.

After the matter was settled and her mother picked up a rattan to discipline Lian Hua, asking why she beat the dog, Xiao Lian Hua knelt down obediently, shrinking her neck in guilt, saying the dog was too fierce and that she just couldn’t stand by...

Before she could finish speaking, her third elder brother jumped out and said it was him who beat the dog.

Second brother came from outside, still unaware of what had happened, but as soon as he heard that their mother was going to punish his little sister, he hurried over and knelt down, insisting that he and the third brother had done it together.

Her father, after sending the neighbors off in a rush, returned and held onto her mother, saying that the dog often bullied people, barked at anyone passing by every day, and it was out of fear it might bite someone one day that Xiao Lian Hua did a good deed.

He argued that she should be praised, not punished.

Her mother was seething with anger, questioning how a dog that was always tied up could bite someone. The whole family fell silent...

That time, Xiao Lian Hua, along with her two brothers and their father, received a severe lesson from her mother.

Another time, Xiao Lian Hua brought home some rogue language she picked up from the streets and imitated it perfectly, much to the delight of her brothers.

However, upon being overheard by her mother, she was severely beaten, knelt for an entire night, and was grounded for a month without permission to leave the house—no one could intervene.

Eventually, she did stop imitating and did not dare to do it again.

In such an environment, Lian Hua developed into someone with both boldness and timidity, naturally cheerful and mischievous, and quick to spout flawed arguments. It’s no wonder the Emperor couldn’t handle her, considering even her mother had trouble keeping her in line since she was a child!

...

At the time of lighting the lamps, Star Palace.

Zhang Qing silently came in to refill His Majesty’s tea.

Today, having seen the object brought back from Young Master Lian, His Majesty seemed to revert to the indifferent and reserved demeanor of old, speaking less and appearing aloof.

Zhang Qing didn’t know whether His Majesty had something on his mind or not, but he felt a twinge of heartache.

He had been with His Majesty since His Majesty was young, witnessing the trials and tribulations he endured, his forbearance, sagacity, self-discipline, and restraint.

Besides the Former Empress Dowager and her Nanny Qi, who were able to get somewhat close to him, hardly anyone else could reach into his heart.

However, the Former Empress Dowager had, after all, passed away, and no matter what, there was still a difference in status with Nanny Qi.

Finally, when Young Master Lian appeared, bringing a touch of worldly warmth, a person who showed understanding and care, but now everything reverted to how it once was, sighed.

Everyone says His Majesty is cold-hearted and unfeeling, that during the Late Emperor’s funeral, he was calm and didn’t shed a single tear, and that he imprisoned his own uncle within a year of ascending to the throne, earning condemnation for his ruthless actions.

However, only those who serve by his side know that His Majesty is a man of deep feelings.

Perhaps because he experienced so little affection in his youth, he values it all the more.

When the Former Empress Dowager passed away, His Majesty kept the nightly vigil and personally took part in conveying her the final rites—what emperor in history has ever done so much?

Zhang Qing didn’t understand how the world could be so blind, failing to see these things, only seeing what they wanted to see.

Didn’t they realize that the Late Emperor’s deeds were hardly worthy of anyone’s tears? The common people were full of complaints, the empire was riddled with holes; if it weren’t for His Majesty’s efforts to reverse the chaos, where would these peaceful days come from?

And as for that rebellious uncle, he was plotting a revolt. Could they just let him wreak havoc and misery?

Realizing his train of thought, Zhang Qing quickly stopped himself, thinking it would be a grave sin to speak such treacherous words—they should be buried in his heart.

After topping off His Majesty’s tea, Zhang Qing sighed inwardly once more, feeling it a great pity. If only Young Master Lian would make an effort, how pleased His Majesty would be.

He could sense the changes in His Majesty during his visits to Canglan Court these past days; he wasn’t as secluded, and he laughed more—these were all thanks to Young Master Lian, and that was why he held Canglan Court in such favor.

What a pity, what a pity, he had never seen His Majesty so attentive to anyone else in the Harem—only to Young Master Lian. And now, in just a few days, everything had reverted back to the way it was.

He needed to think of another plan; with this thought in mind, Zhang Qing took a few steps back with the kettle in hand, bowed his head, and asked, "Your Majesty, which consort do you wish to summon tonight?"

The Emperor seemed not to hear him, continuing to mark the last character on the memorandum until he finally stopped, set the memorandum aside, and looked towards Zhang Qing.

After an afternoon, he had calmed down; he was no longer thinking about it, but he felt there was an emptiness inside, as if he had lost something.

When the Emperor heard Zhang Qing’s question and saw the last glimmer of light outside the palace, he was momentarily distracted and said, "Was it the Noble Consort that was summoned last night?"

Zhang Qing kept his head down and replied, "Indeed, it was Noble Consort, Your Majesty."

The Emperor fell silent for a long while before setting down the brush and saying, "Let it be for tonight, go out for a walk."

Exiting the Star Palace, the Emperor gazed at the afterglow on the horizon, feeling the fatigue from reviewing memorandums all afternoon suddenly wash over him.

The Emperor massaged his temples to ease his mind and, with Zhang Qing accompanying him, started walking towards the Imperial Garden, as if he had returned to those days before he met Lian Hua when, weary from reviewing memorandums, he would go for a walk.

The following days were calm and peaceful.

It seemed as though His Majesty had returned to his former routine: attending to morning court, discussing affairs with his ministers in the afternoon, reviewing memorandums, taking walks when tired, and then reviewing more memorandums upon returning.

He hadn’t summoned any of the Imperial Concubines again.

The Noble Consort had not yet discovered the origin of the handkerchief and feared attracting too much attention by making a fuss, so she dared not continue the investigation.

As for Lian Hua, she spent her days sleeping when tired, eating when hungry, occasionally strolling in the Imperial Garden, foraging for something to bring back, living a carefree and leisurely life.

But Beauty Li was not so at ease; after being punished by the Noble Consort to swallow the Golden Meal for three days and having copied the palace regulations fifty times, she had shed a layer of skin. After resting for a few days to recover, she finally regained her strength.