Chapter 47 The Heartfelt Morning Meal and the Lotus Banquet Turmoil
Chapter Forty-Seven: The Heartfelt Thoughts at Morning Meal and the Turmoil at the Lotus Banquet
The next morning, Su Su woke up slowly in the warm sunlight streaming into the room. The spot beside her was already empty, with only a faint scent of ambergris remaining, and... the pillow seemed to have deeper creases than usual, vaguely reminding her of the unusually tight embrace she had received the night before.
Hearing the commotion, Chunlan carried in warm water and toiletries, her face light and relaxed with a smile: "Your Majesty is awake? His Majesty went to court at dawn. Before he left, he specifically instructed the Imperial Kitchen and the Small Kitchen that Your Majesty's daily meals and snacks should be prepared with extra care to suit Your Majesty's taste and must not be made incorrectly."
As she helped Su Su get up, she smiled and said, "His Majesty's instructions are as if he's afraid the Empress will go hungry; he's so considerate."
Su Su was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, but did not think much of it.
After she finished dressing and came to the side hall where they ate, she was stunned when her eyes fell on the round sandalwood table. She then blurted out, "Is he... going to feed the pigs?"
The large round table was piled high with food. In the center was a bowl of rock sugar bird's nest porridge, glistening and translucent; next to it was a basket of crystal shrimp dumplings with thin skins and generous fillings, the shrimp peeking out from under the thin skins; a plate of golden-brown pan-fried radish cake, its aroma irresistible; a bowl of shredded chicken wontons, its broth clear and flavorful; and there were also delicate crab roe soup dumplings, soft and sweet red bean buns, crispy fried spring rolls, refreshing cold shredded vegetables, and several kinds of exquisite pickles.
In addition, there was a bowl of stewed pigeon with red dates and longan, clearly intended to nourish her body. All of this far exceeded the rations for a concubine, and was almost extravagantly lavish.
Hearing Su Su's words, Qiu Ju couldn't help but burst out laughing. Chun Lan also smiled and playfully scolded, "Your Majesty! The Emperor is just showing you affection! Look at all this preparation; you've eaten more of everything than I have."
Looking at the table full of "pity," Su Su felt a bittersweet warmth welling up inside her. She sat down, picked up her silver chopsticks, and took small bites; the taste was indeed excellent.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the Golden Palace was solemn and dignified.
Li Qianche sat upright on the dragon throne, his face majestic, and declared in a loud voice: "...In the battle of the Southwest, thanks to the bravery of our soldiers, the war is now over. General Pei Xuan, entrusted with a critical mission, ventured deep into dangerous territory. Although he was framed by treacherous officials and imprisoned, he remained loyal and unyielding, enduring humiliation and feigning surrender. He ultimately gained the trust of the enemy leader and brought back crucial secret letters and vital military reports, enabling our dynasty to eliminate internal traitors and lay the foundation for victory. Such loyalty to the emperor, patriotism, wisdom, and courage truly make him a pillar of the nation!"
His gaze fell on Pei Xuan, who, despite having rested, still bore the marks of the frontier and the resolute spirit between his brows. His tone turned approving: "Pei Xuan, hear the bestowal! I recognize your merits to the nation and hereby promote you to General of Suiyuan, and bestow upon you one hundred taels of gold and one thousand bolts of silk to honor your achievements!"
Pei Xuan stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and spoke in a loud and firm voice, with the composure that comes from having experienced life and death: "This humble general, Pei Xuan, thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness! It is my duty to be loyal to the country!"
Upon hearing this, all the court officials showed expressions of admiration. Pei Xuan's experience was nothing short of legendary; to successfully infiltrate such a desperate situation and bring back crucial evidence that could turn the tide of events, the title of General of Suiyuan was indeed a well-deserved honor.
……………
Outside the palace walls, the scent of early summer has already quietly filled the air.
Since that day on the Mirror Lake boat trip, Su Jizhi and Pei Yunxi seemed to have developed a tacit understanding.
During the Lantern Festival a few days ago, Su Jizhi mustered up the courage to invite Pei Yunxi, who shyly accepted. The two strolled under the dazzling sea of lights, adhering strictly to etiquette and never overstepping any boundaries, but in the exchange of glances, the quietly growing feelings between them were already as bright and dazzling as the Milky Way.
On this day, Pei Yunxi was invited to a lotus-viewing banquet held by the wife of the Left Censor of the Censorate at her villa. Coincidentally, Su Jizhi was also at the same villa, attending a banquet for male guests.
On the women's side, in the waterside pavilion, the fragrance of lotus blossoms wafted through the air. Pei Yunxi, dressed in a light pink dress, appeared even more gentle and elegant. She was chatting quietly with several familiar young ladies, admiring the newly blossoming lotus flowers in the pond, her posture graceful and refined.
However, this tranquility was soon shattered. Lan Zhao'an, the Miss Lan who had once admired Su Jizhi and whose father held a high position of power, led several maids and strode over aggressively. She had witnessed Su Jizhi and Pei Yunxi strolling together at the lantern festival last time, and her jealousy was still burning. Now, seeing Pei Yunxi, her anger flared even more.
"Who do we have here? It's Miss Pei." Lan Zhao'an's voice was laced with sarcasm, not too loud, but loud enough for everyone around to hear. "I heard that Miss Pei lost her father at a young age, and her brother is often stationed at the border. She must have been neglected in her upbringing. Doesn't she know the proper etiquette of men and women not touching each other? She shamelessly pesters other young masters all day long. She has no manners at all!"
These words were extremely harsh and rude, directly hitting Pei Yunxi's sore spot. Although Pei Yunxi was gentle, she was not weak. Upon hearing this, her face turned pale instantly, followed by a surge of anger. She straightened her back and looked at Lan Zhao'an with clear eyes: "Miss Lan, please watch your words! I know my own boundaries when it comes to my associations, and it's no trouble for Miss Lan to judge my upbringing. But Miss Lan, speaking such harsh words in public is... unbecoming of your status!"
"You!" Lan Zhao'an was speechless for a moment after being rebuked. Seeing the different looks from the young ladies around her, she became even more embarrassed and angry. She was always arrogant and even snatched an exquisite riding whip from the maid behind her and was about to lash out at Pei Yunxi. "How dare you talk back!"
Amid the women's gasps, a figure swiftly swept past like the wind, firmly catching the whip tip that was about to fall!
"Miss Lan, please stop!"
Su Jizhi had arrived from the men's section sometime earlier, followed by the son of the Left Censor and several familiar scions of prominent families. They had originally intended to go to the lotus pond but turned back after hearing the commotion. He stood tall and imposing in front of Pei Yunxi, his expression somber, his sharp gaze fixed on Lan Zhaoan, one hand gripping the whip tightly, protecting Pei Yunxi completely.
When Lan Zhao'an saw him, she was taken aback at first. Her gaze swept over the young masters watching the commotion behind him, and her face flushed. With a mixture of shyness and reluctance, she asked, "Young Master Su...you've come at the right time. My father mentioned the marriage proposal to you last time. Have you thought it through?"
Pei Yunxi stood behind Su Jizhi. Upon hearing the words "marriage alliance," her face turned even paler, and her fingertips trembled slightly.
Hearing this, Su Jizhi was afraid the person behind him would misunderstand, so his heart tightened. He absolutely couldn't let her misunderstand. He looked at Lan Zhaoan with a firm gaze, his tone clear and unwavering: "Miss Lan is joking. I, Su Jizhi, have my own plans for marriage. In this life, I will only marry the person I love."
Lan Zhaoan pressed on, unwilling to give up, with a hint of stubbornness: "Then who is the person you admire?"
Upon hearing this, Su Jizhi subconsciously turned his head and quickly glanced at Pei Yunxi behind him, his eyes filled with too much protectiveness and unspeakable affection. He turned back to Lan Zhaoan and said indifferently, "This is my private matter and I cannot disclose it."
He couldn't mention Pei Yunxi's name directly at this moment, as it would tarnish her reputation. However, that fleeting glance and his unwavering defense of her had already said it all.
Pei Yunxi's heart skipped a beat when he glanced at her. Meeting the undisguised concern and affection in his eyes, her cheeks instantly flushed a beautiful blush. Her previous grievances and unease transformed into an indescribable shyness and sweetness. Although he didn't say it explicitly, it might very well be her.
This scene, where no one else was around, was witnessed by Lan Zhao'an. She noticed that Su Jizhi's gaze had been fixed on Pei Yunxi ever since he appeared, as if he hadn't heard her question earlier. The unspoken understanding between the two of them was even more glaring.
She had never been ignored or wronged like this before. She immediately stomped her foot heavily, bit her lower lip, and let out a very soft but resentful "humph!" from her nose. Then she turned around abruptly, carrying a bellyful of anger and resentment that had nowhere to go, and left quickly without looking back.
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