Chapter 53 Sincere Feelings Under the Plum Tree
Chapter Fifty-Three: Sincere Feelings Under the Plum Tree
That night, the moonlight, like water, flowed silently over the vermilion palace walls. Having finished his official duties, Li Qianche, with a touch of trepidation, once again arrived at Yongshou Palace under the moonlight. He waved to stop the palace servants who wanted to announce his arrival, and quietly entered the hall alone.
The hall was warmly lit, and Su Su was lounging on a soft couch by the window, holding a travelogue in her hands, her expression focused, as if she were immersed in the landscapes described in the words. The dim candlelight cast a soft shadow on her profile, her long eyelashes slightly lowered, making her as serene as a painting.
Li Qianche felt a mix of relief and unease. She cautiously approached and softly asked, "Susu, how did your chat with your brother go today?"
Upon hearing this, Su Su slowly put down her book, glanced at him, her eyes calm and unwavering. She rose and, following palace rules, performed a meticulous curtsy, her voice clear and aloof: "Greetings, Your Majesty. Thank you for your grace in allowing my brother to enter the palace for an audience."
After saying that, he picked up the travelogue again, his gaze returning to the pages, looking as if he didn't want to say anything more.
Seeing her so well-behaved and obedient, Li Qianche felt even more uneasy than her coldness a few days ago. He hurriedly stepped forward, scooped her up from the soft couch without a word, and held her tightly in his arms, his chin resting on the top of her head, his voice filled with obvious anxiety: "Why are you still angry, Su'er? Didn't Ji Zhi explain it to you clearly? It was all Pei Xuan's idea, I just..."
Su Su struggled in his arms but couldn't break free, so she let him hold her, her tone still calm: "Brother has already told me. Whom the Emperor chooses to be Empress is a major matter of the court, and I have no right to interfere. Even if it's not Sister Pei, if the Emperor chooses another virtuous woman in the future, I will still abide by the duties of a concubine, treat the Empress with utmost respect, and never cause the Emperor any trouble."
"Nonsense!" Li Qianche tightened his grip, interrupting her sharply, "I have never considered making anyone else my empress! Not before, and not in the future! If there truly is an empress, that person can only be you!"
Upon hearing this, Su Su chuckled softly in his arms, a laugh tinged with self-mockery and coldness: "Your Majesty would not dare. With the Empress Dowager present, is Your Majesty not afraid that the power of the empress's family will become too great, repeating the mistakes of past interference in politics?"
“Su’er,” Li Qianche turned her around, forcing her to look into his eyes, his gaze deep and serious, “Yes, I admit, I did have reservations about you before. You were young then, fiery-tempered, and your actions… were too willful and direct. I never associated you with the Empress's position, but I never considered anyone else either. But things are different now…”
“Yes, things are different now.” Su Su picked up where he left off, a hint of pain flashing in her eyes. “Does His Majesty think that Su Su is more obedient and docile now, and knows how to restrain her sharpness, no longer as arrogant and domineering as before?”
She stared at him intently, saying each word clearly, "People change. But I never felt there was anything wrong with the me who used to be so devoted to Your Majesty, whose joys and sorrows were all tied to Your Majesty! If a new sister enters the palace in the future, or if Your Majesty favors another concubine, in order to protect myself, and because of that lingering resentment in my heart, I might revert to my old self, or even become more 'arrogant and domineering.' At that time, would Your Majesty banish me to the Cold Palace?"
"Don't talk nonsense!" Li Qianche's expression changed drastically, especially when he heard the words "cold palace". His heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand, and he even choked on his breath for a moment.
The dream seemed to flash before his eyes again—she curled up in the cold palace, gnawing on dry, hard tree bark… “How could I! I would never let you go to such a place!”
"Why not?" Su Su's eyes welled up with tears, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall. "I've seen His Majesty in a rage before. When I was demoted to a low-ranking concubine and moved to this side hall of Changxin Palace, the Imperial Household Department cut back on our expenses. In winter, we didn't even have a decent piece of charcoal. I endured those days when Qiuju and I squeezed into the side room for warmth. Back then, did His Majesty ever care even a little?"
Seeing that she was unmoved by reason, Li Qianche knew that words alone could not dispel the icy resentment in her heart. He took a deep breath and suddenly took her hand: "Fine, since you can't reason with me, I'll take you somewhere."
"Where does Your Majesty want to take me?" Su Su was stunned by his sudden action. Unable to struggle, she could only be half-carried and half-pulled out of Changshou Palace by him.
A cool night breeze blew as he led her through familiar palace paths, past several halls, until they finally arrived at a somewhat secluded but impeccably clean palace. In the courtyard, an old plum tree, its branches gnarled and strong, stood quietly in the moonlight.
Here… Su Su was stunned. This was the bedroom where Li Qianche lived when he was young, and the place where she often chased after him when she was a child.
Li Qianche led her to the plum tree, his gaze distant, as if lost in memories: "When I was little, I loved to admire the plum blossoms under this tree. And you," he turned to look at her, his eyes tender, "were always like a little tail that I couldn't shake off, following me around, calling 'Brother Che, Brother Che' over and over again."
He gently held her hands, his palms warm: "Back then, you were lively and lovely, like a little sun, radiant and charming. In my heart... I was happy."
His voice lowered, with a hint of barely perceptible bitterness, "But my father taught me from childhood that a ruler should not show his joy, anger, sorrow or happiness on his face, nor should he express his thoughts. I have become accustomed to hiding them, and I have also become accustomed to... even my feelings for you must be carefully hidden."
"Later, when I heard that your father was going to find a husband for you, I panicked." He gazed at her, his eyes filled with undisguised affection. "So after you came of age, I couldn't wait to bring you into the palace. At that time, all I knew was that I loved you and couldn't let you marry someone else."
Su Su was shocked and looked at him in disbelief.
“But later,” Li Qianche said with a guilty tone, “after you entered the palace, you became more and more arrogant and your actions often left me at a loss. Su’er, do you know that before and after you entered the palace, I only had you? Summoning other concubines was just a show for the Empress Dowager and the court. I never touched them.”
He raised his hand and gently stroked her surprised cheek: "Your temper is getting worse and worse, and you have no tolerance for others. After thinking about it carefully, I realized that it was my fault. I didn't give you enough peace of mind, and I didn't make you sure of my feelings. I tried every means to make my eyes only on you."
"Regarding the matter of the Prince of Ning's heir, I never believed it was your doing. But at the time, you had made too many enemies. I wanted to use this to temper your temper, and I also wanted to give an explanation to the Prince of Ning and the court officials, so I had no choice but to demote you to a low-ranking concubine." His eyes were full of regret and pain. "Now that I think about it, I used the wrong method. From beginning to end, my heart has only ever belonged to you, and there has never been anyone else. Su'er, do you understand?"
Su Su stared blankly at him, his confession like a thunderclap in her heart. Although he hadn't uttered those three words directly, his words were filled with feelings buried deep within her for many years.
Her voice trembled slightly: "You...you like me, so why didn't you care when I was being cheated out of my allowance and suffering in the cold at Changxin Palace?"
"It was my oversight!" Li Qianche hurriedly said, "I didn't know how to treat my beloved, or even how to express myself. I originally intended to temper your temperament, but Shen Gaoyi misinterpreted my intentions and arranged the residence. The servants, seeing the wind, boldly embezzled money. I truly didn't know at first! But after I discovered it on New Year's Eve, I immediately severely punished those servants. Do you remember?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Gaoyi, who had been trying to keep a low profile, immediately stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, please understand, all the blame lies with this servant! His Majesty was furious at the time, and punished the people involved in the Imperial Household Department with a cane. He also ordered this servant to immediately replenish the charcoal supply by double the amount. After that, your palace expenses were always provided in the highest rations, and there was never a shortage. The dishes that the Imperial Kitchen added for you that day were also specially ordered by His Majesty because he saw that you were eating less, for fear that you would harm your health."
Su Su suddenly recalled the changes that had occurred during that period and hesitated before asking, "So... that night, it was you who went to Changxin Palace?"
Li Qianche nodded.
Su Su's cheeks flushed slightly: "So...it wasn't that I was sleepwalking, but that Your Majesty carried me to the imperial bedchamber?"
"It is I." Li Qianche recalled the scene of her sleeping in Qiuju's arms that night, and his tone couldn't help but be tinged with jealousy. "From now on, you are not allowed to sleep with the palace servants anymore. What kind of behavior is this!"
"It was freezing cold back then, and the side hall was as cold as an ice cellar. We only felt warm when we huddled together," Su Su said in a low voice.
"With me here, who would dare let you freeze!" Li Qianche said resolutely, holding her even tighter. "From now on, I will be your heater."
Su Su turned her head away, but thought to herself: Wasn't it you who made me feel cold before?
Li Qianche seemed to see through her thoughts, cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to look at him, his gaze burning, solemn as if making a vow: "Su'er, I was wrong before. I will learn to treat you well from now on, and I will never let you feel fear again, but put your mind at ease. The position of Empress will only be yours, and I will never give it to anyone else."
Su Su's heart skipped a beat, but she still stubbornly said, "Isn't Your Majesty afraid that the Empress Dowager will use me to plot against you?"
Li Qianche looked at her intently, his eyes filled with utter infatuation and trust: "Can you?" Before she could answer, he said with certainty, "Even if you can, I will gladly let you scheme against me."
This unguarded affection made Su Su's heart flutter, her cheeks instantly flushed, and she lowered her eyelashes shyly: "Your Majesty... these days, you know how to say such sweet words to coax people."
Seeing that she was no longer as cold as ice, Li Qianche was overjoyed. He chuckled and leaned close to her ear, his breath warm: "Then tell me, who else have you said such 'sweet words' to?"
"Your Majesty...How would Your Majesty know?" Su Su's ears turned bright red.
"If you don't know, then you don't know," Li Qianche said with a hearty laugh, then suddenly scooped her up in his arms. "In any case, you are not allowed to wrong me again!"
Su Su exclaimed in surprise and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck: "Your Majesty!"
“It’s late,” Li Qianche said, carrying her in his arms as he strode toward Changshou Palace, his voice filled with undeniable tenderness and anticipation. “My Noble Consort, it’s time for you to return to your palace to rest.”
The moonlight stretched their shadows long, nestled together as if they could never be separated again. The old plum tree, which had witnessed their childhood and their sincere feelings at this moment, swayed gently in the night breeze, its fragrance wafting through the air.
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