The longevity locket, which the Empress Dowager had sent for, arrived quickly. Crafted from pure gold, the kirin locket, inlaid with pigeon-blood rubies, cast a warm glow under the candlelight. Princess Shou'an rushed to put it on Su Jinli, but Jiang Yan stopped her with a smile, "Princess, be careful not to get your wife caught." He took the locket and placed it carefully in Su Jinli's palm. The coolness of the gold pieces penetrated her skin, but it was no match for the warmth surging in her heart.
The empress had returned at some point, clutching a gilded lacquer box. "My sister is pregnant, and I've prepared some tonics to support the pregnancy." She opened the box, revealing a neatly arranged container of snow frog oil, set against the moon-white brocade, as white as the snow outside the window. Su Jinli looked at her, remembering the bowl of oily "pregnancy-supporting medicine" in Kunning Palace in her past life. Her fingertips tightened slightly, but Jiang Yan quietly grasped them.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty." Jiang Yan took the lacquer box for her, his tone respectful but distant, "It's just that Madam has been suffering from severe morning sickness, and the imperial physician said that she should eat light food. I'm afraid you have to hold off on these supplements for a few days." As he spoke, his fingertips gently stroked the back of Su Jinli's hand, which was a silent comfort.
The Empress's face paled even further, but she maintained a dignified smile. "Since it's the Imperial Physician's order, then I will comply." As she turned, her phoenix robe brushed against the charcoal basin, sparks splattering on the hem of her skirt, leaving several barely visible burn marks. Concubine Shu followed behind her. Before leaving, she gave Su Jinli a meaningful look, a look like a needle tempered by ice, but Jiang Yan calmly blocked it behind him.
The banquet at the Palace of Heavenly Purity was quickly served, but it lacked its usual bustle. The Emperor busied himself with serving Su Jinli some non-spicy tofu, the Empress Dowager rambled on about child-rearing, and Princess Shou'an crouched at the corner of the table, folding chilies for her unborn "little brother" with gold foil. Su Jinli sipped the glutinous rice porridge Jiang Yan had personally served her, watching the people around her bustling about. Suddenly, the slight discomfort in her stomach melted into a sweet warmth.
"What are you thinking about?" Jiang Yan leaned closer to her and used a serving chopstick to pick out the red date pits from her porridge. "Are you tired? I'll take you home to rest."
Su Jinli shook her head, watching the mist forming again on his glasses. She suddenly recalled that snowy night in Yangzhou, when they'd huddled together in a dilapidated temple, sharing a bowl of spicy porridge. Back then, he was a poor scholar, and she was an orphan in exile. Now, in this magnificent palace, they awaited the birth of their child. "I've been thinking," she whispered, "when the child is born, you'll teach him to read, and I'll teach him... to sprinkle chili peppers."
Jiang Yan laughed and reached out to smooth her hair. "Okay, whatever you say." His fingertips touched the pearl flower on her head, which he had pinned on her this morning. "Just don't hide chili powder in your sleeve pockets anymore. It'll fumigate the child."
The snow outside the window gradually stopped falling. A waning moon peeked out from behind the clouds, its light shimmering across the glazed tiles of the Forbidden City, filling the room with warmth. Su Jinli leaned against Jiang Yan's shoulder, listening to the faint beating of the night watchman's drum outside. Suddenly, she felt as if the honey of this life was spreading from the warm stove in the Palace of Heavenly Purity, sweet as steamed cheese melting on the tip of the tongue, warm enough to melt away all the chill within the deep palace.
Jiang Yan lowered his head and kissed her forehead, his voice as soft as falling snow: "Madam, thank you."
Su Jinli smiled, but tears fell. She knew that their story had just opened the sweetest page, and the little life that was about to be born would be the brightest cinnabar on this page.
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