Chapter 187 Curiosity
Yu Huatang smiled and said, "Your Majesty is so frugal and diligent, it is a blessing for the people. However, I also agree with your point. It is just an ornamental lantern. If you want to make it more gorgeous, you can start with painting. There is no need to use such expensive materials."
"Yes, these people always want to show the royal majesty. They wish I could wear a golden headpiece when I go out." The queen also laughed.
Although Yu Huatang didn't know what the queen was like before, she seemed very easy-going at the moment.
He comforted her by saying, "If your Majesty is worried about these things, why not follow the example of Empress Wei of the previous dynasty and have them make the clothing styles more dignified and majestic."
The Queen smiled and said, "I have thought of this idea, but it is difficult to tell Your Majesty. Now that the world is at peace, I will find an opportunity to talk to you about it. Don't let the Ministry of Internal Affairs send us all gold and silver threads. Each gold hairpin weighs a pound, which is very tiring."
"Your Majesty has shared His Majesty's worries and has been so diligent and frugal. I'm afraid His Majesty cannot be happier."
"Then please help me draw a few patterns of palace lanterns, and I will take them to you later to discuss it together." The Queen ordered.
The maid brought paper and pen, and Yu Huatang began to sketch carefully.
At this time, the Queen asked her, "I heard that Lord Zhao Qibi was originally going to be engaged to the daughter of the Jingzhao Yi family, but he wrote back and refused. Later, other people came to propose marriage, but Lord Zhao rejected them one by one. This time, Lord Zhao also went to Quanzhou personally to pick you up. I originally thought that you were going to get back together, but you said you would not stay in the capital."
Yu Huatang said, "I'm afraid Her Majesty has misunderstood. Master Zhao and I have no relationship, and we will not get back together."
"I'm curious, what was the reason for your divorce?"
Yu Huatang said, "The Zhao family is a distinguished family, and I am just an orphan. It would be even more strange if we didn't get a divorce."
Having said that, the queen stopped talking, but her face looked a little lonely.
Only then did Yu Huatang remember the Queen's background and felt that he had been careless and spoke too hastily.
She quickly stood up and knelt down, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. There is another reason why I divorced Lord Zhao. Lord Zhao has never liked me. But Your Majesty is different. You are blessed with a son and a daughter. Your Majesty is also a person who cares about your best interests. You are naturally different from me."
The Queen said, "Get up. I will not blame you for this."
Only then did Yu Huatang breathe a sigh of relief, glanced at the queen secretly, and sat back down.
The Queen said, "Speaking of origin, mine was also very poor, even worse than yours. When I was a teenager, my family was poor, so I made my own shoes and took them to the market to sell. Some people couldn't stand it, insulting and mocking them, saying it was unbecoming for a woman to peddle like that. But I refused to accept it. Men in this world can do anything, but women even have their survival criticized, so I argued with them. I was also a fierce character at that time, and I was not afraid to confront several people alone. It was at this time that I met the Emperor who was traveling in disguise."
"Later, when I was promoted to concubine, then consort, and finally empress, every time I was told by these court officials that I was of poor origin and lacked knowledge, and was unfit to be the mother of the emperor. Many people criticized the emperor and thought I was not worthy of him. So I know that what you said is sad and helpless."
"Who wants to be a divorced woman? Everyone wants their husband's love, but there's no other choice. I've come further than you, so it's only natural that I sympathize with you and feel pity for you. But at the same time, I envy you. No matter what, you can now support yourself and have your own reputation. You don't have to worry about others' feelings anymore. No one will discuss whether you are worthy or not."
Yu Huatang was moved and said, "Your Majesty is so noble, how can a commoner compare to you?"
The Queen said, "That's true, but everyone's feelings are universal. When I first entered the palace, I couldn't even recognize all the characters, let alone the royal etiquette. From then on, while others slept four hours a day, I only dared to sleep for less than three. I spent all my time reading and learning etiquette, just to shut these people's mouths. It took four years before I was finally granted the title of Consort. After that, I was ridiculed and mocked by the court officials, who all said I was unworthy of the Emperor. It took five years before I was given my first prince. It's been ten years now, and I've worked harder than anyone else in these ten years, firstly for the sake of my reputation as the Queen Mother, and secondly for my own pride. Now, looking back, I don't know how I persevered."
Not sure if it was for herself or the Queen, Yu Huatang held the Queen's hand and said sadly, "It's all in the past, Your Majesty. Now you are the Queen, with children by your side, and His Majesty is truly devoted to you... Your Majesty will never be alone again. You have all these to rely on."
The Queen smiled and said to her, "When you return from Tianjing Pavilion after completing your studies, you can attend the International Lantern Festival next spring. If you win, I will have His Majesty reward you handsomely. If you wish to stay in the capital, you can tell me. If not, with His Majesty's reward, you can also make more money with your fame in the future."
Yu Huatang knew that this was the Queen's pity for her, and she was moved and knelt down again to express her gratitude.
…………
A few days later, it was Laba Festival.
Tianjing Pavilion began to close for vacation, and Yu Huatang stayed in the room to rest.
Unexpectedly, the reward arrived in the afternoon, saying that it was given by the Queen Mother, and Yu Huatang accepted the order.
Not only Yu Huatang, but also the people in the Zhao Mansion received rewards.
It turned out that the Queen Mother was grateful for Yu Huatang's superb craftsmanship and for helping him solve the problem, so she specially rewarded him with Laba porridge made with Siamese fragrant rice, South China Sea coconut meat, and Western walnuts.
Plus twelve pieces of Jiangnan brocade.
Laba porridge was a festival item and was not valuable, but because it was a reward from the palace, Xu Yuanyi and He Lingfei also took a few more glances at it.
Yu Huatang knew that the Queen Mother did this on purpose, perhaps out of gratitude to herself, or perhaps out of gratitude to her who had no one to rely on when she was selling shoes.
Although Yu Huatang no longer needs these to save face and does not want to suppress the Zhao family, she is still grateful for the Queen's kindness.
After taking it from the female official, she said that she was now a guest at the Zhao Mansion and it would not be convenient for her to take these things back with her, so she let the people at the Zhao Mansion divide them up.
Mrs. Zhao took it with a smile and immediately distributed a bowl of Laba porridge to everyone in the mansion. She gave six of the twelve batches of Shu brocade to Yu Huatang and the remaining six to each room.
It was originally a very good thing, but that night, Aunt Huang made a big fuss.
Not long after Huang Mei finished drinking Laba porridge, she started to spot, indicating that the fetus was only three months old. When Yu Huatang heard about this, he immediately put on his clothes and went to see her.
After the doctor examined her, he confirmed that the fetus had stopped growing!
Huang Mei grabbed her hand and cried non-stop, "Why, why, he was fine yesterday. He just drank a bowl of porridge in the afternoon, and now he's like this..."
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