Chapter 7 Radish Soup "Your Highness, please don't make things difficult for her."...

Consort Xue sat leaning against a small table as the Emperor approached quietly.

"Imperial Concubine"

She put down her spoon, rose and curtsied, and the emperor raised his hand to sit down: "No need for such formalities."

He sat down next to Consort Xue, his gaze falling on the small bowl.

"Why is the Imperial Concubine drinking soup now?"

"Today is the Winter Solstice," Consort Xue replied with a smile.

The emperor's eyes flickered slightly as he recalled that long ago, when Consort Xue was still in the Empress's palace, she had once made mutton and radish soup.

At that time, the empress said it was an old custom from her hometown.

Consort Xue leaned gently against his shoulder and said in a soft voice, "When I was young, my family was poor. My brother sold paintings and wrote calligraphy for others. He saved up money for a long time before he could make me mutton and asparagus soup."

Many years later, even though she had no worries about food and clothing in the palace, she still missed that light, low-salt soup and could not forget it for many years.

I reunited with my elder brother under the lamp, the small lamp keeping out the wind and snow outside, and the porcelain bowl in my hand was extremely warm.

Consort Xue lowered her eyes slightly, and tears, like pearls, silently fell.

Someone reached out and gently wiped away her tears.

Outside the window, the wind and snow were raging, but inside the hall, it was warm and cozy, and the sky was just beginning to brighten.

Cheng Huaizhu

She turned over, her eyes still heavy with sleep, and saw that it was just getting light and the candlelight was flickering. Thinking she was still dreaming, she pulled the covers tighter around herself and rolled over into the inner bed.

Xue Chan sat on the edge of the bed and shook Cheng Huaizhu awake: "Get up quickly."

"It's not even dawn yet, why are you up so early?" Cheng Huaizhu struggled to pull the blanket up.

She used to be dragged out of bed early by Cheng Huaizhu every day; now it's time for her to experience what it's like to get up early.

Thinking this, Xue Chan, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, curled her lips and pulled off Cheng Huaizhu's blanket. She leaned close to Cheng Huaizhu's ear and said, "If you don't get up, I'll eat all your breakfast."

Startled, Cheng Huaizhu sat up abruptly, her sleepy eyes widening instantly.

What are you doing?

Xue Chan pulled her off the bed: "Get up quickly and come with me to Fangchun Pavilion."

"No, no!" Cheng Huaizhu wailed, struggling to break free from Xue Chan's hand. Exhausted, she stumbled back a few steps and sat back on the bed. "It's not even dawn yet. Fangchun Pavilion isn't going to grow legs and run away by itself. You can go whenever you want."

Xue Chan nodded as if suddenly realizing something, and Cheng Huaizhu climbed back with satisfaction, only to hear another suffocating sound behind her.

“You’re right, but I’m not willing. You have to get up and come with me to Fangchun Pavilion. I want to go now.”

In despair, Cheng Huaizhu let out a cry of "Ah!" and rolled around on the bed in protest.

Xue Chan ruthlessly dragged her up.

By the time the two arrived at Fangchun Pavilion, it was already broad daylight.

It snowed all night, and this morning the weather was exceptionally clear and sunny. The warm sun made the plum blossoms glisten.

It's late November now, and next month I'll be going to the Marquis of Wu'an's residence to offer birthday greetings.

Xue Chan was also thinking of quickly painting a birthday gift, so she painted from morning to afternoon and only managed to finish a part of it. She put down her brush for the time being, and when she looked up, she saw Cheng Huaizhu reading a book intently, her hand still turning the pages blankly.

"What are you doing like this?" She waved her hand in front of her eyes.

"Ugh... This is so boring!" Cheng Huaizhu wailed, closed the book, and shook Xue Chan's sleeve. "Let's go back. You've been drawing for so long."

"With the year drawing to a close, Her Majesty is busy. Even when she goes back, she stays in her room."

Cheng Huaizhu had no choice but to give up and watch her draw from the side.

"well......"

Xue Chan picked up her pen again, and then sighed, before smiling and saying, "Why are you sighing again?"

Cheng Huaizhu leaned on her desk and said, "I really envy you. You have something you love, and you study it so diligently that you can sit there all day without getting bored."

Xue Chan said seriously, "What, don't you have anything you like to do?"

"Of course! I—" Cheng Huaizhu's eyes lit up, and she sat up straight. Then, as if remembering something, she slumped back down, resting her chin on the back of her clasped hands.

"I don't."

Xue Chan said, "If you can't find it, then look for it."

Cheng Huaizhu stroked her chin and thought about it seriously.

"You're right, I'm going to find some fun." With that, she immediately got up and ran outside.

Xue Chan asked, "It'll be dark soon, where are you going?"

Cheng Huaizhu peeked half her face out from behind the door: "There's a small plum garden behind Fangchun Pavilion. They say there are green plums there. I'm going with them to go snowwalk and look for plums."

Xue Chan wanted to say something more, but she had already run far away.

After a while, footsteps approached outside the pavilion. Yun Sheng said, "I'm afraid it's Miss Huai Zhu returning."

Xue Chan put down her pen, stood up and walked out, bumping into several people.

The sky was dark and it was snowing, with only the faint light of palace lanterns illuminating the scene.

The leader wore a crimson gold crown and brocade robes.

Her features were beautiful and spirited, and she was radiant.

It's not Cheng Huaizhu.

Xue Chan stood frozen at the doorway.

Although I don't know who she is, seeing that she is followed by a group of palace servants, I suppose she is a noblewoman.

As the saying goes, it's never wrong to be overly polite, so I took two steps back and bowed first.

The other person spoke first: "You are, Consort Xue's niece?"

"Yes," Xue Chan lowered her head and asked softly, "May I ask who you are...?"

She said calmly, "My title is Yulang."

Xue immediately realized that the person in front of him was the second daughter of the late empress and the emperor, and also their only child.

She didn't know much about Consort Xue's affairs in the palace. She only knew that when Consort Xue was fourteen years old, she sold paintings on Yuchuan Street and was recommended to the palace by Princess Huayang, who was traveling in Yuchuan, because of her talent.

When she first entered the palace, she served as a lady-in-waiting to this princess, and was later promoted to serve the empress.

If there's anything else, it's that she and her fiancé are cousins.

Yu Lang saw that she was keeping her head down and not saying anything, and he didn't know what she was thinking. He immediately disliked her.

"Lift your face up."

After hearing such intimidating words, Xue Chan was somewhat displeased, but she still obediently raised her face and let her scrutinize her.

The princess, arms crossed, slowly circled Xue Chan, taking light steps. Finally, she stopped in front of Xue Chan, crossed her arms, and gently bent down to look at her.

"Although they are related by blood, they are far inferior to the Imperial Concubine."

Xue Chan lowered her head and looked very respectful and polite.

"To be related to Your Majesty by blood is already a blessing from heaven; how dare I presume to admire your beauty?"

Yu Lang smiled and said, "At least you have some self-awareness."

Going out today was really unlucky.

Xue Chan lowered her head even further, becoming even more respectful.

Yu Lang glanced briefly at the West Pavilion, which the emperor had specially set aside for Xue Chan to view and paint.

Although I know it was a favor given because of Consort Xue, it still feels a little...

accurate.

Consort Xue hasn't summoned her to the palace for five days.

"Oh"

Xue Chan was somewhat confused by her soft, cold laugh, but she just lowered her head and didn't say much.

Yu Lang casually picked out a painting from the vat and looked at it, his expression slightly stiffening.

"Thud!" The painting was violently thrown into the vat.

Yu Lang walked up to Xue Chan and looked down at her, saying, "Are you a gourd with a sawed mouth? You haven't uttered a single word."

Xue Chan: "I..."

She had barely opened her mouth when Yu Lang said, "Alright, stop talking, it's annoying to look at!"

Xue Chan closed her mouth again, then bowed and spoke after a moment.

"If I have displeased Your Highness, it is my fault."

Yu Lang asked, "What's wrong?"

Xue Chan said, "If Your Highness thinks you are wrong, then you are wrong."

That sounds so strange.

Yu Lang clenched his fists, feeling a little short of breath, while Xue Chan was incredibly humble.

She snorted coldly, turned around angrily, and stormed off.

Xue Chan heard Yu Lang's soft snort and heard Cheng Huaizhu say that this princess was extremely favored, and the emperor had even built a princess's residence for her long ago.

She doesn't seem to have offended her at all...

I don't understand, I really don't understand.

Xue Chan and Yun Sheng looked at each other, feeling somewhat bewildered.

She was really confused. A cold wind blew, and after thinking about it, she decided that it would be best to stay away from this princess in the future.

Yu Lang grew angrier as he walked away.

Qingluan, who was beside her, comforted her, "Your Highness, please don't be angry."

"What does she mean? She's talking as if I'm some petty and unreasonable person." Yu Lang exhaled and said directly, "That annoying little brat! I don't like her."

Qingluan said, "Why? Didn't you just go to Fangchun Pavilion to see what Miss Xue is like?"

"I've seen it, but I don't like it. That's it!"

Seeing her suddenly angry, Qingluan thought of Consort Xue and considered defending Xue Chan: "Miss Xue is, after all, a close relative of the Consort, you..."

"She is herself, and the Imperial Concubine is the Imperial Concubine. How can she be compared to the Imperial Concubine?" Unexpectedly, Yu Lang suddenly smiled and said in a cold voice, "Stop speaking up for her. I will definitely teach this arrogant girl a lesson when I get the chance."

"Your Highness..."

Yu Lang flicked his sleeve, turned his face away, and raised his chin.

"Don't defend her, it'll only make you angrier!"

Qingluan didn't say anything more.

Yu Lang paused again: "Has Jiang Bozhou entered the palace?"

"Yes, His Majesty summoned me today," Qingluan replied.

"Damn it, damn it, damn it!" Yu Lang simply turned around and walked towards the other end of the palace road.

--

"Look at you, how come you haven't improved at all?"

The emperor slammed the memorial on the table, gritted his teeth, and suddenly stood up, pointing at Jiang Ce who was standing below him and cursing him: "You didn't learn your lesson after being beaten with thirty strokes of the cane, did you?"

Jiang Ce knelt down with a thud: "I will accept any punishment from Your Majesty."

The emperor sat back down and rubbed his temples: "You knelt down quickly, but you won't admit your mistakes or correct them. You'll come again next time, won't you?"

"If His Majesty is angry, he can punish him by making him kneel or by flogging him in court. It's not like it's the first time."

The emperor, who had just sat down, suddenly stood up, took a few big steps forward, and banged his head repeatedly with the memorial in his hand.

"You, you, are so unsteady."

Jiang Ce chuckled, "Your Majesty, you've been scolding for quite a while now, take a break."

The emperor gave him a light kick on the shoulder: "Go to Fangchun Pavilion to cultivate your character and don't get in the way here."

"Alright!" Jiang Ce fell to the ground, quickly got up, and just as he stepped out of the palace gate, he heard the emperor shout angrily again.

"Come back here."

"Starting in two days, you'll be taking up your post in the Palace Administration Office. Are you still a thirteen or fourteen-year-old brat? Don't tarnish your father's reputation." The emperor scoffed coldly, "Get out of here."

After Jiang Ce left, Wang Xu brought in tea.

The emperor took a sip, recalling the past, and his expression turned wistful: "Shiqin and I were childhood friends. You tell me, this boy is just like his father when he was young. I really don't know whether it's a blessing or a curse."

Wang Xu lowered his head and smiled: "The General is a loyal and brave man, so his child is naturally excellent as well."

The emperor sighed deeply, stroking the armrests of his chair: "But he remains forever resting in Changping Mountain, never to return..."

He remained silent for a while, then a palace servant relayed a message.

"Your Majesty, the heir of the Earl of Mingyi is waiting outside to express his gratitude to you."

The emperor put down his teacup: "Let him in."

The eunuch came out to lead the people to the audience. Jiang Ce had just stepped out of the Dongming Hall when he immediately saw Xiao Huaiting, the heir of the Earl of Mingyi, standing outside the hall.

Jiang Ce raised an eyebrow and whispered to his childhood friend, "I'll be waiting for you at Jilan Pavilion."

The two looked at each other, and the gentle-looking young man smiled and nodded.

Jiang Ce walked along the palace path in front of Dongming Hall toward Jilan Pavilion by Fuguang Pond. He had just arrived when he saw a group of people approaching menacingly from afar.

"Jiang Bozhou, I'm so angry! It's all your fault!"

"Huh?" Jiang Ce frowned deeply when he saw her coming over in a fierce manner and being scolded before he could even pay his respects. "Is this the first time I've seen you since returning to the capital?"

He stroked his chin, thinking seriously, "I didn't do anything, did I?"

Yu Lang crossed his arms, raised his chin, and looked down at him disdainfully: "You didn't do anything, but your fiancée offended me!"

Jiang Ce frowned even more, feeling that something was off about her words.

"She made you angry, so you should go and complain to the Imperial Concubine. What's the use of telling me?"

Upon hearing the mention of Consort Xue, Yu Lang immediately shut her mouth. She thought about it carefully; of course, she couldn't go and complain to Consort Xue, otherwise it would seem like she was vying for favor.

Seeing that she had thought for a long time, Jiang Ce finally said angrily, "I'm so angry!"

Oh, I see. They've come to complain, but they don't want to go to Consort Xue. So, they've come to vent their anger on someone.

Jiang Ce gently comforted her, "That Miss Xue has just arrived in the capital. If she truly did not intend to offend you, Your Highness is of noble birth. Why bother with her?"

Yu Lang's anger, which had just subsided, flared up again.

"No! How can I swallow this insult! I really don't know why Father Emperor likes her so much. She's just a little bit better at painting, what's so great about that?"

As a princess, she couldn't swallow this insult!

One day I'll get the chance and teach this arrogant brat a lesson!

Jiang Ce said, "Even if we don't care about the monk, we should care about the Buddha. For the sake of the Imperial Concubine, Your Highness should not make things difficult for her."

"Fine, as a princess, I won't stoop to her level." Zhao Yulang snorted coldly, flicked her sleeve, and glanced at Jiang Ce again, asking him, "Are you really going to marry her?"

Jiang Ce said calmly, "This is a marriage bestowed by His Majesty, intended to unite the two families."

Yu Lang said, "Are you really willing to accept this?"

Jiang Ce chuckled softly, his voice softening slightly: "As long as she doesn't act ostentatiously, I'm naturally willing to treat her with the utmost respect."

Yu Lang was shocked; such words coming from his mouth seemed like a fantasy.

“Zhang Yang? In the whole capital, who is more flamboyant than you? It’s truly laughable to hear those two words from your mouth.”

Yu Lang crossed her arms, twirled her long skirt, and stepped down the stone steps.

"Forget it, there's no point in talking to you. I'm leaving!"

"Your Highness," Jiang Ce called out to her, bowing very solemnly.

"Let's leave these words here. She is, after all, a young lady from a respectable family, new to the capital, and unfamiliar with the place. If Your Highness were to spread these words, how would she survive in the long run?"

Yu Lang stopped and turned around, looking somewhat hesitant. Jiang Ce immediately spoke again.

“I have an excellent longbow called the ‘Bright Moon Bow.’ If Your Highness is truly angry, I will give it to you as an apology.”

"Your Highness, please don't make things difficult for her."

Yu Lang raised an eyebrow and said, "You said it yourself."

Jiang Ce laughed: "I told you, don't worry."

A note from the author:

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