Chapter 34 His Majesty's Birthday is Coming Soon

His Majesty's birthday is next month, and Chan Zhen only learned about this when the chief steward of internal affairs came to inquire about the arrangements for the Tianshou Festival.

Since entering the palace, this was her first time presiding over such a grand festival, and she was a little overwhelmed. She first asked how the three concubines had handled the event in previous years. Naturally, the head of the internal affairs department did not dare to hide anything and explained the process of previous years to her in detail.

After hearing this, Chan Zhen had a rough idea in his mind. He first ordered the Ministry of Internal Affairs to make preparations according to the procedures of previous years, and then discussed the remaining plans with His Majesty in detail in the evening.

After sending away the chief steward, Chan Zhen summoned Lu Zhu to his side. Lu Zhu had served in the imperial court before, so she must be very clear about this matter.

After hearing her question, Lu Zhu suddenly remembered that the Tianshou Festival was about to come, but so many things had happened since the imperial concubine entered the palace that even she had forgotten about it.

She smiled and said, "I'll bring the account book of last year's Tianshou Festival to your Majesty later. In fact, the process of Tianshou Festival is similar every year, so your Majesty doesn't need to worry too much."

Chanzhen had to be worried. This was His Majesty's birthday, and there would be so many court officials and ladies participating. If she failed to do something well, it would not only be her loss of face.

Of course, in addition to the arrangements for the Tianshou Festival, there was another thing that concerned her.

"Lüzhu, what birthday gift do you think I should prepare for His Majesty?"

All the treasures in her storehouse were bestowed by His Majesty. Moreover, His Majesty rules the world and has seen all kinds of rare treasures. Ordinary gifts probably cannot arouse His Majesty's interest.

This is such a difficult situation! Chan Zhen was so worried that her brows were furrowed. His Majesty was so kind to her, she couldn't just find a random gift to satisfy His Majesty.

Lu Zhu thought of an idea for her: "Your Majesty, why don't you make a piece of underwear for His Majesty yourself? I think His Majesty will be very pleased to receive this gift."

"I want to make a piece of clothing for Your Majesty?" Chan Zhen's eyes lit up, then dimmed again. "But my embroidery skills aren't very good."

Although she had learned some needlework, she was not proficient in it. Moreover, His Majesty's clothes were all sewn stitch by stitch by stitch by the best embroiderers in the country, and her limited skills could not compare. If the embroidery was too ugly, not only would His Majesty be pleased when he received it, she would be embarrassed to ask His Majesty to wear it.

"Your Majesty," Lu Zhu comforted her, "What's important is your thoughtfulness. The clothes you sewed for Your Majesty with your own hands are the best no matter what."

Even she could see the emperor's sincerity towards the queen. No matter whether the gift was exquisite or not, as long as it was made by the queen herself, in the emperor's heart, even the best embroiderer could not compare to it.

Chan Zhen was somewhat persuaded by her words. "Then please find me the best embroiderer in the palace. There's still some time before the Tianshou Festival. I'll learn more from her and try to do better."

"Yes." Lu Zhu went downstairs with a smile, and soon found the person.

This embroiderer, Yunyue, was also from Jiangnan. She was in her early twenties, not considered old, and had a pair of beautiful eyes that looked very clever and delicate. She was suddenly summoned to the Imperial Concubine's palace. She was a little nervous, fearing that she had offended the Imperial Concubine in some way, but the Imperial Concubine gently called her up.

Chan Zhen explained his purpose, "I heard that you are very skilled in Suzhou embroidery, and that you were responsible for embroidering most of His Majesty's clothes before."

Yun Yue replied nervously, "Your Majesty, I have indeed made some research on Su embroidery."

She had been in the embroidery room for many years and knew very well that one should not be too confident.

Chan Zhen understood her concerns, but didn't care. He just smiled and said, "Don't worry. I just wanted to teach you some embroidery. Just rest assured and teach me. No matter what the result is, you will definitely get a reward."

Knowing the Imperial Concubine's intention in summoning her, Yun Yue breathed a sigh of relief. In front of the Imperial Concubine, she didn't dare hide her secrets like she did with the other embroiderers in the embroidery room. She explained everything to her in detail and demonstrated the embroidery techniques herself.

Chanzhen listened intently, and under Yunyue's guidance, she also tried her hand at embroidery, but the pattern she produced was unsatisfactory. She put down her needlework and sighed. How could she have the nerve to present it to His Majesty as a birthday gift if it turned out so ugly?

Yun Yue naturally didn't dare to criticize the Imperial Concubine, and only tried to encourage her with kind words: "I see that the pattern you have embroidered has a certain charm. If you practice for a few more days, you will definitely make great progress."

Zen Zhen knew that she was trying to fool him. She had touched every piece of clothing His Majesty wore with her own hands, and the one she embroidered was simply unsightly compared to what His Majesty had worn.

She did not expose Yunyue, "There is still time, I will practice more."

This practice lasted until the sun set in the evening. When Chen Dingyao walked in, she was still head to head with Yunyue, his eyes fixed on the needle and thread flying flexibly in her hands, without taking his eyes away for a moment.

Chen Dingyao couldn't help but smile, "What are you busy with?"

Chan Zhen and Yun Yue finally realized what was happening. Chan Zhen didn't want His Majesty to know that she was preparing a birthday gift for him. Feeling somewhat guilty, she grabbed a piece of silk cloth and covered the entire table. She stepped forward, hugged one of his hands, and said with a gleam in her eyes, "I just had a sudden interest in learning embroidery. Why didn't you let me know that His Majesty was coming?"

It always scares her quietly like this, but luckily she reacts quickly enough.

Yun Yue had not expected to see His Majesty in person. She did not even dare to raise her head and knelt down with a trembling voice, "Your servant greets His Majesty."

Chen Dingyao didn't pay any attention to her presence. He simply put his arm around Chan Zhen's waist and said with a smile, "What's the matter? Are you afraid that I'll catch you doing something bad?"

Zen Zhen snorted softly, "I am not like Your Majesty who would do evil things secretly."

After she finished speaking, she saw Yunyue still kneeling on the ground, so she said to her gently, "Let's stop here for today. Luzhu, please see her off for me."

Yunyue didn't dare to look up at His Majesty from beginning to end. Until she left Fengqi Palace, all she could hear was the intimate laughter and chatter between His Majesty and the Imperial Concubine.

Chanzhen pulled the emperor to attract his attention while signaling to Hongyu to quickly put away the items on the table. She had only just learned a little bit, and she couldn't let the emperor find out. She wanted to wait until she had embroidered a piece of clothing she was satisfied with, and then give it to him personally on Tianshou Festival.

Chen Dingyao pretended not to see her little tricks. Although he could find out what she was planning by asking any palace servant in private, since Chan Zhen wanted to hide it from him, he would not force her. Even if Chan Zhen was plotting to assassinate the king and usurp the throne, he would personally hand his neck to her sword.

Zen Zhen asked him about the preparations for Tianshou Festival, and said with a distressed look: "Your Majesty, why didn't you tell me in advance? It's coming next month, and I haven't made any preparations yet."

Chen Dingyao touched her furrowed brows and said, "It's not a big deal. The palace has held this event so many times. Just give the order and prepare everything as usual. The people below will naturally follow your orders and do it well."

Zen Zhen raised his eyes and glanced at him, "How come your Majesty's birthday is not an important matter?"

If even the emperor's birthday is not an important matter, then what is?

Chen Dingyao smiled slightly: "Compared to Chan Zhen, it is naturally not important. I will wait until Chan Zhen's birthday, then I will make proper arrangements."

His Majesty was speaking sweet words again, but she had to admit that these words made her feel sweet in her heart. It turned out that she was so important to His Majesty that even His Majesty's birthday had to be put behind her.

"It's still a long time before my birthday." Zen Zhen was born in winter, and it's just the beginning of summer, so there's still more than half a year left.

A trace of melancholy crossed Chen Dingyao's eyes. Chan Zhen was born in winter, and in her previous life, she had also passed away on a snowy day. She had come into this world cleanly, and she departed more cleanly than anyone else, leaving no trace of attachment, nor leaving any trace of longing for the living. So, unable to bear it, he followed her into the afterlife.

Fortunately, he still has a chance to start over.

He unconsciously increased the strength of his hands and held her tighter.

Zen Zhen reached out and pushed him slightly, feeling a little pained, complaining, "Your Majesty, you are hurting me."

His Majesty was good in every way and treated her gently and considerately, but sometimes he couldn't control himself and appeared a little overbearing and rude, as if he wanted to melt her completely into his bones and blood.

Chen Dingyao came back to his senses, released his hand and rubbed her waist: "I know I was wrong, please don't blame me."

Chan Zhen wasn't really angry with him. His Majesty wasn't really very strong, but her body was too delicate, and even the slightest force would leave a bruise. Every time she felt a little pain, just a little moan, His Majesty would consciously reduce the pressure and soothe her more gently until she gradually began to enjoy it.

"I'm here to discuss serious matters with Your Majesty," she said, unable to control her dependence as she threw her arms around his neck. She spoke to him face to face, "This is the first time I've hosted such a large banquet. If I don't do it right, it will be a loss of face for Your Majesty. Others will question your judgment in choosing a concubine."

Chen Dingyao enjoyed her dependence on him, and although some thoughts arose in his heart, he remained calm. "My reputation is nothing compared to Chan Zhen's. Besides..." He grabbed Chan Zhen's waist, pulling her closer to him, and said to her forehead, "You are the Imperial Concubine. No one dares to question you."

If the fate of Concubine Xian is not enough to make those people give up their thoughts, he doesn't mind killing a chicken to scare the monkeys and doing something even more extreme.

Zen Zhen was coaxed by him and felt inexplicably at peace.

"I don't care. Your Majesty needs to teach me more."

She wouldn't. She was willing to study hard, but she couldn't sit there and simply grow up in the small space enclosed by His Majesty's arms. She wanted to truly become someone on par with His Majesty, so that no one in the world could question her.

"Okay, I'll teach you." He touched her face.

As long as Zen really wanted something, he would give in to her wishes.

Zenzhen finally got what he wanted, so he smiled and kissed him on the chin.

Chen Dingyao's eyes suddenly darkened, his fingers slowly stroked her waist, and there was a hint of danger in his smile.

"If Zen really wants to learn from me, shouldn't he also pay a price?"

Chan Zhen suddenly recalled what happened last time when she was learning calligraphy from him. She blushed and immediately pulled away from his embrace, giving him a sidelong glance: "Your Majesty is too greedy. I am still young and need to be more restrained."

Chen Dingyao was just suddenly aroused by her, but he didn't intend to do it.

Chan Zhen was indeed young, and had suffered much in her childhood. He summoned the imperial physician every few days to treat her, which helped to replenish her energy and blood. When he first got her, he had lost control and gone too far, but now he was more willing to consider her health.

He wanted to be with Zen for a long time, not just a momentary indulgence.

"Yeah, what Zen said is true." He suppressed the desire in his heart and said with a smile.

Tianshou Festival is approaching. Chanzhen is learning to prepare for the palace banquet that night with His Majesty, and is also learning embroidery with Yunyue every day. He persists in doing both and has achieved good results.

The clothes to be sewn for Your Majesty are almost ready, only the final finishing touches are left.

That day, she was holding the clothes she had made for His Majesty with satisfaction, imagining His Majesty's reaction when he received them, but she saw Luzhu walking towards her hesitantly.

"My Lady, I feel something is wrong with Yunyue."