Chapter 66 Commemorating the end of the eleventh year of the Qian Yuan era
That exquisite wooden box was left behind by Emperor Qianyuan when he took Wen Miao to the estate outside the capital in early spring this year. It contained a ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), a shawl, and even the light blue cloak that originally belonged to the Emperor of Great Chu. Wen Miao and Emperor Qianyuan both knew perfectly well why there were subtle stains on it, but... but...
Wen Miao never expected that this scene would unfold today!
She had initially thought that after the servants on the estate collected these things, they would either throw them away, burn them, or at the very least, wash them and keep them by Emperor Qian Yuan. She could barely accept that. But what was this state of affairs now...?
Wen Miao was truly shocked at that moment. Her beautiful face flushed red with a mixture of shame, anger, and unspeakable embarrassment. Her toes, hidden inside her gold-embroidered shoes, curled tightly, and she didn't even know where to look.
Put it on the ground?
But the wooden box and the clothes that had fallen onto the carpet were lying on the ground, and she couldn't bear to look at them!
What about Emperor Qianyuan?
What's so interesting about this culprit!
Based on the previous atmosphere and development between the two, the beautiful and gentle Empress was likely to have some more intimate interactions with the Emperor. However, the wooden box fell out, and Wen Miao witnessed this scene, and so—
Inside the Taiji Palace, everything was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Wen Miao pursed her lips, stepped back onto the carpet in her soft-soled embroidered shoes, crossed her arms, her expression slightly serious, her cheeks and ears flushed red, looking angry and embarrassed, but without any intimidating aura.
She probably knew she couldn't muster that kind of presence, so she turned her head slightly away and remained silent.
...This behavior is absolutely perverted and bizarre!
The tip of Emperor Qianyuan's ear still retained the sensation of Wen Miao's earlier tug, a tingling, slightly itchy feeling that seemed to have traveled along his nerves deep into his bones and blood.
He raised his hand to brush his temple, his fingertips tracing the small patch of skin that Wen Miao had pinched. He suddenly thought of the men and their wives he had seen at the border when he was fighting in the north.
The border region is characterized by strong winds and sandstorms, which makes the men taller, stronger, and more rugged. The women are not as delicate and frail as the noble ladies in the capital; instead, they are quite strong and capable of getting angry and chasing after their husbands to beat them.
If a husband is lazy, the women at the border will roll up their sleeves, grab his ear, and drag him home.
As for the men whose ears were being pulled, their faces would turn red at any moment, and they would shout "Don't pull!" and "It's shameful!" but in reality, they did not resist. Instead, their eyes would be filled with a kind of warm affection, as if being pulled on the ear by their wives was a very proud thing.
Emperor Qian Yuan thought... He was indeed very proud.
He smiled wistfully, then gently tugged at the Empress's sleeve. With a slight movement, he naturally caught sight of Wen Miao's beautiful, rosy face.
Whether out of embarrassment or annoyance, Wen Miao's eyes were still tinged with a faint blush that hadn't faded, making her quite alluring.
Whenever he saw her shed tears in bed, Emperor Qian Yuan would lean down and kiss away the moisture from the corners of her eyes and eyelashes, licking away all of the Empress's tears.
Emperor Qianyuan paused for a moment, softened his voice, and tried to turn himself toward Wen Miao, saying, "Empress, I did not mean to do this."
Wen Miao ignored her and simply tilted her head to the side.
Given Emperor Qian Yuan's temperament, this behavior can only be described as intentional!
Emperor Qianyuan's little finger trembled slightly, and the tip of his tongue lightly touched the root of his teeth. He felt an itch deep in his heart and bones.
He took two steps back and leaned closer, his tall body slightly lowered, just so he could properly see Wen Miao's bright and gentle eyes.
"...The hair around your temples is a bit messy, shall I tidy it up for you?"
Wen Miao continued to avoid eye contact, as if she hadn't heard what Emperor Qian Yuan was saying.
"Your Majesty, you've written so much, your hands must still be sore, right? Let me massage them for you again..."
As he spoke, Emperor Qian Yuan forcefully grasped Wen Miao's hand, which was hidden under her sleeve, and held it tightly the moment their skin touched, giving her no chance to break free.
Emperor Qianyuan's tone softened further, "Empress, please don't be angry. I promise, all these things will be taken care of today..."
The word "都" seemed to be stuck in the emperor's throat, and the following words inexplicably disappeared.
Wen Miao's ears were still red. After listening to Emperor Qian Yuan ramble on for a while, she couldn't help but tilt her head slightly. Her beautiful eyes happened to fall into the emperor's eyes, and she asked with a mixture of shyness and indignation, "What? Your Majesty, please continue?"
Emperor Qianyuan's lips twitched. Seeing that the Empress turned her head away from him after a moment of silence, he hurriedly coaxed her, "It was my fault. Before the Empress married me, I always wanted to keep some items related to her as a memento."
Like a big dog that likes to collect its owner's belongings, it picks and chooses, finds things that are covered with its owner's scent, and then carries them all back to its den, carefully hiding them away, not sharing them with anyone.
Wen Miao looked at Emperor Qian Yuan, still feeling a strange and awkward feeling about what had happened.
After all, before she came to this era, most of the people she had met were like Cui Xu, gentle and refined, and they were like gentlemen in their interactions. Where, where was there anyone as perverted as Emperor Qian Yuan who collected such things as souvenirs?
It has to be said that Wen Miao was somewhat frightened by this overly intense possessiveness.
Surprisingly, after carefully considering Emperor Qian Yuan's current behavior, she didn't seem too opposed to it; she was just more concerned about whether that thing had been washed...
It’s over…
Her bottom line seems to have been pushed back again and again because of Emperor Qian Yuan's existence. In the past, if she had encountered such a thing, she would have immediately run away and called the police, right?
Wen Miao pursed her lips and said something, her voice barely audible, almost as if it were squeezed out of her soft mouth.
Emperor Qianyuan did not hear clearly.
The tall and imposing emperor leaned down gently and considerately, regardless of whether the position would make him uncomfortable. He simply brought his head close to Wen Miao and asked in a low, patient voice, "I didn't hear clearly what the Empress just said?"
...Why is your face so red?
Wen Miao's gaze was unfocused and didn't land on anything. She paused, her voice incredibly soft, like a feather falling from the sky, light and airy, only rippling outwards on the water's surface.
And so, the emperor, who was carefully holding his wife's hand, heard those words—
"Have you...used those things for anything else?"
Wen Miao's question was not unfounded, but given Emperor Qian Yuan's overly persistent nature, she couldn't help but overthink it.
Emperor Qianyuan paused for two seconds, as if he were carefully considering what the Empress meant by "other."
After a moment of silence, the emperor, who was standing in front of Wen Miao with his head slightly bent as if listening, chuckled in a hoarse voice and asked in return, "What else... is the Empress referring to?"
Wen Miao turned her head, her ear tips were bright red.
Emperor Qianyuan embraced his wife, lowered his head and kissed her ear, then moved his lips and uttered a reply that only he and Wen Miao could hear.
Wen Miao's watery eyes widened slightly, and she blushed instantly.
She pulled away from Emperor Qian Yuan's hand, her face burning with embarrassment. She could only avoid the emperor's gaze and hurriedly said, "You...you have to deal with it quickly!"
Emperor Qianyuan asked slowly, "How does the Empress want me to handle this?"
Wen Miao: "Throw them all away!"
Nobody would keep something like that as a souvenir!
Emperor Qian Yuan walked over, carefully squatted down and picked up all the fabric items scattered on the ground, then put them back into the exquisite wooden box. He then squatted there, his robes hanging down, gazing longingly at Wen Miao.
"Can't we really stay, Miaomiao?"
It's like she's being coquettish.
He always knew that Wen Miao was soft-hearted.
Seeing that the Empress turned her head away and ignored him, Emperor Qianyuan reached out and tugged at her sleeve again, kissed her fingertips, and pecked at them with his warm lips, as if there was no end in sight.
Wen Miao was too shy to resist the emperor's actions. She deflated and shook off his hand, lifting her skirt as she walked out of the palace.
Before crossing the threshold, he glanced at Emperor Qian Yuan, who was still half-squatting on the ground, which could be considered as tacit approval of the other party's perverted behavior. "...If you want to hide, then hide well, don't let me find out!"
If you don't discover it, you can pretend you don't know.
Emperor Qianyuan smiled slightly, nodded to Wen Miao, and pretended to be a junior eunuch, saying, "Thank you for your generosity, Your Highness."
That day, Wen Miao failed to stop Emperor Qian Yuan's excessive collecting obsession, so she naturally didn't know where the wooden box and the cloth and clothes inside were eventually taken. In any case, Wen Miao never saw them again afterward, so she pretended to be blind, as if it had never happened.
However, this tacit approval only emboldened Emperor Qian Yuan, who occasionally seized Wen Miao's discarded clothes, used porcelain cups, and calligraphy brushes...
As long as it was something Emperor Qian Yuan happened to be able to see, he would hold Wen Miao's waist and abdomen, rub his chin against the Empress's snow-white neck, kissing and licking her gently, asking in a very polite tone if he could have one of her clothes.
—It's just like a dragon with a collecting obsession, not limited by the types of items it collects, yet it's excessively greedy, wishing it could carefully hide all the things Wen Miao has worn and used under its body.
At first, Wen Miao blushed and refused, but she couldn't resist Emperor Qian Yuan's persistence and determination in these matters.
Later, Wen Miao, annoyed to the point of exhaustion, grabbed the emperor's ear and dragged him to her chest, opening it wide so that Emperor Qian Yuan could choose whatever he wanted.
She thought Emperor Qianyuan would at least restrain himself a little, but who knew he would actually squat down and take a few of her clothes, and even ask if they were worn by the Empress.
That time, Wen Miao was so angry that she couldn't help but slap the emperor lightly, but he grabbed her hand and kissed her palm and fingertips.
After kissing her until her waist and abdomen were weak, Emperor Qianyuan finally smiled and took a few light and fragrant clothes from Wen Miao's chest.
He said he liked the Queen's scent.
Wen Miao had been curious about what the other party intended to do with her clothes, but Emperor Qian Yuan kept his mouth shut and never revealed a word about it.
Because Emperor Qianyuan had taken several pieces of clothing from the trunk—and this man was always generous—the next day he had Xu Sheng bring over several bolts of silk gauze, gold-woven satin, and shimmering brocade sent from outside the capital…
In short, whatever was soft and pretty was chosen and sent to Wenmiao, whether for outerwear or innerwear, there was something suitable.
Emperor Qianyuan's taste remained unchanged. Besides sending fabrics and silks, he also liked to send Wen Miao all kinds of gold and silver jewelry. The gold had to be heavy, the gemstones had to be large, and the jade had to be pure.
As for himself, he treasured the broken metal chain that Wen Miao had personally put on him. He hid it under his sleeve every day and wore it to court, office work, and to review memorials. He would even raise his hands at night to coax and beg Wen Miao to tie it up.
—Tie myself to her side.
The matter of restoring memories has largely come to a temporary end. The imprisonment that might have existed was resolved by Wen Miao's gentle and soothing attitude, and thus quietly subsided.
After this incident, the relationship between the emperor and empress seemed to have completely returned to normal. However, there was another kind of hazy and ambiguous trace that could not be seen by others.
It cannot be explained by anyone.
...
In the last few days of the eleventh year of the Qian Yuan era, the few sheets of paper that Wen Miao had written had been implemented one by one under the emperor's orders—
Firstly, details regarding hygiene, such as frequent handwashing, good ventilation, regular sun exposure, and boiling water before drinking, were posted by officials and soldiers in the capital to the people. Every day, a junior official would be in charge of this matter to explain and teach the people who gathered around.
These notices not only existed in the capital, but also spread from the imperial city to the surrounding prefectures and counties, including scattered villages in the suburbs.
The villagers, weary from years of toiling in the fields, stood huddled together. Not far away, beneath a notice board guarded by officials, the village's most learned scholar read aloud each word, explaining it to the villagers in even simpler, more accessible language.
"Wash your hands before meals and after using the toilet. Keep your home well-ventilated by opening windows frequently. If possible, air out your bedding regularly. Remember to boil your drinking water. Do not carelessly discard the carcasses of animals hunted, and do not pour dirty things into water sources. Do not eat rotten food, and do not sell livestock that have died of disease..."
"Wash your hands? I know, my wife is a clean person. If I don't wash my hands, she won't let me into the house!"
"I heard this can reduce illness, is that true?"
"Why don't you try it and see?"
"Speaking of boiled water... When Li's daughter-in-law was raising their little girl, she always gave the child boiled water, and the child really didn't have many stomach problems!"
...
Limited by the conditions of the times, many hygiene details were already being practiced by ordinary people, but these were only some of the "little tips" that had been discovered and had not yet been widely disseminated.
Now, Wen Miao's actions have made these things clearer and more explicit, and added the benefits and drawbacks of various actions, which made the onlookers feel a sense of "no wonder" from the bottom of their hearts.
While the content on the first sheet of paper written by Wen Miao was being processed, the agricultural tools on the second sheet of paper were also sent to the Ministry of Works by Emperor Qian Yuan, so that more professional and skilled people could study, inspire, and even improve them.
Sufficient power and status are enough to solve 90% of the world's problems. Because of Wenmiao's status as the Empress of the Great Chu, and because of Emperor Qianyuan's support, the soap-making method written on the third sheet was successfully tested and researched by people in the palace, and the first batch of finished products was produced.
The mold used for shaping was still designed by Wen Miao herself.
When she began this job that she had been away from for a long time, aside from being clumsy at first, she quickly adapted and began to draw soap molds on paper with a brush, and then had the craftsmen in the palace make them by hand.
Finished soaps are divided into three categories—
The first type is more exquisite. The molds are decorated with various patterns that evoke romantic themes, and they are infused with flower petals and essential oils, giving them a pleasant fragrance. Rather than being consumables, they are more like collectibles and are intended for nobles in the capital.
The second category is slightly less refined, reducing the amount of essential oils that were usually used among the nobility, and is mainly aimed at the middle class in the capital.
The third type is ordinary and simple, without any fancy designs. It is just a consumable product with cleaning as its main function, which is most suitable for ordinary people.
Wen Miao knew how to make soap, design molds, and classify products, but she wasn't particularly good at anything else. So, after she finished what she could do, she left the rest to the capable people around Emperor Qian Yuan.
For example, Qiu Shisan Niang and Li Zhu, who recently returned to the capital.
These two belonged to the Chengying Guard, but they were often on missions outside the capital. Their personalities were much more lively and clever than Shi Cui and Wan Bi. Not long after they received this mission, they opened a shop in the capital.
At the same time, while profiting from toiletries such as soap, the factory set up in the suburbs of Beijing also absorbed a group of veterans who had been injured and disabled during Emperor Qianyuan's northern expedition and were unable to support their families.
Qiu Shisan Niang, disguised as the shop owner, leaned on the counter, resting her chin on her hand, and said lazily:
"Your Majesty is truly remarkable! To think you could come up with such an amazing thing! This soap is far superior to those bath beans!"
Wearing a half-mask to cover the scars on her face, Li Zhu tidied the counter in the shop while replying in a low voice: "His Majesty instructed that the Empress said this item was not what she wanted, but rather she was using the work of someone else."
"So what? But now Her Majesty is willing to give up this 'merit,' not only earning money from the pockets of those noble families and nobles in the capital, but also arranging for the wounded and retired veterans of the Xuanjia Army to make soap, which is much more convenient than doing farm work!"
"So in my opinion, Your Majesty is a good person! She is a celestial being descended to earth! A goddess descended to earth! Otherwise, how could so many people have received your blessings!"
Putting aside her past experiences, Qiu Shisan Niang was originally a straightforward, fiery person. She genuinely admired the Empress, but Li Zhu, that big, simpleton, always argued with her—"The Empress is clearly a wonderful person! Even if she's never met her, she knows that!"
Of course, His Majesty is indeed a wise ruler, but that doesn't mean he's able to notice what the Empress sees!
To put it bluntly, Qiu Shisan Niang sincerely felt that these people should not thank the imperial power, but rather the empress who could make His Majesty waver! Without the empress, none of this would have happened.
Thinking of this, Qiu Shisan Niang glared at Li Zhu, "What else do you have to say?"
Li Zhu remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded in agreement: "Your Majesty is a good person."
He thought so too.
...
With Qiu Shisan Niang and Li Zhu overseeing matters outside the palace, things were proceeding smoothly. Wen Miao didn't pay much attention to them afterward, focusing her mind mainly on the New Year.
The eleventh year of the Qianyuan era was drawing to a close, and the twelfth year of the Qianyuan era was just around the corner. It was also the first New Year that Wen Miao was able to spend soberly since arriving in this dynasty.
Today is the last day of the year.
The sachet, intended as a New Year's gift for Emperor Qianyuan, was already in its final stages of embroidery—
At this moment, Wen Miao was sitting quietly in the Taiji Palace, raising her hand to cut off the thin strand of gold thread with small scissors.
Embroidered on the soft fabric are three adorable animals: a slightly larger white horse and jade lion on one side, and a little wolfhound named Snowball and a little black cat named Black Bean on the other. They are not the bold and simple white-line drawing style popular in Beijing, but are more rounded and cute, highlighting their physical characteristics.
Another snowfall arrived outside Taiji Palace, the heaviest since the beginning of winter. The entire Great Chu Imperial Palace was covered in snow, a silvery white expanse that made the vermilion palace walls appear even more vibrant and striking.
Wen Miao tucked the sachet into her sleeve, slowly rose, and asked Luo Shi, who was serving in the front hall, "Is His Majesty still busy?"
Lady Luo: "Your Majesty, His Majesty is still discussing matters with his court officials in the Wenyuan Hall and has not yet finished."
In late autumn, Cangzhou was afflicted by disasters and faced a severe crisis.
The capital city had raised enough silver and grain thanks to the merit monument, and it had already been sent south to Cangzhou and the surrounding eighteen prefectures and counties, solving the people's worries before the temperature dropped and snow fell.
Now, the official who escorted the disaster relief grain is returning to the capital to report the follow-up of this matter to Emperor Qianyuan.
Wen Miao glanced at the sky.
Winter days are short and dark. It was already dusk by the time of You (5-7 PM), and because of the snowfall during the day, the sky above the imperial city was a heavy red, making it appear less dark.
Wen Miao thought for a moment, then reached out and took the cloak, putting it on. She said, "Come with me to meet His Majesty."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The distance from Taiji Palace to Wenyuan Hall wasn't too far. Wen Miao didn't ride in a sedan chair; instead, she pulled her cloak up, held a small hand warmer in her hand, and stepped through the falling snow, leaving a soft crunching sound.
She walked slowly, and after only a short while, she saw in the distance that palace servants were holding lanterns, illuminating a warm orange path.
At the end of that road stood the tall and imposing figure of Emperor Qianyuan.
The emperor, who strode quickly through the snow, ignored the servants around him. At this moment, he could only see Wen Miao. He raised his hand and put it around Wen Miao's arm and lower back. The thin chain hidden under his sleeve trembled and made a soft sound that only the two of them could hear.
The emperor lowered his head slightly, gazing at Wen Miao's slightly red nose and cheeks, and asked in a low voice, "Has the Empress come to fetch me?"
Wen Miao nodded, feeling a little shy under the focused gaze of the other party. She couldn't help but want to turn her head away so that the emperor wouldn't look at her, but the next moment her trembling eyelashes were kissed.
Then, she heard a familiar invitation from Emperor Qian Yuan, as if it coincided with the early spring of this year.
At that time, Emperor Qianyuan sent a letter to inquire about her, who had not yet regained her memory—
"I would like to borrow Your Majesty for half a day. May I ask if Your Majesty would grant me permission?"
Now, the emperor, now her husband, stood before her, bowing low, extending a hand in an invitation, his expression earnest as he asked—
"Today I would like to borrow the Empress for one more night. This time... will Miaomiao grant me permission?"
Wen Miao blinked and gently placed her hand, which had been warmed by the heater, on the stove. The moment they touched, Emperor Qian Yuan grasped her tightly.
She said she would learn to like Emperor Qian Yuan.
-----------------------
Author's note: Great! Miao Miao has been in the Great Chu for a year now!
Your Majesty: What is this? The cup Miao Miao used, stolen! What is this? The clothes Miao Miao wore, stolen!
Wen Miao: (Strange) Why is one of my cups missing again...? Hmm? What about the clothes I bought yesterday?
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