Chapter 73 Yu'er Prepares a Surprise
He picked up a gold hairpin inlaid with sapphires, which he had just seized from the fleeing Di Rong nobles that day. The hairpin had an antique design, and the gemstones shimmered in the candlelight.
He recalled the light blue dress she wore when she saw him off before he left the capital; it did match the color of the gemstone somewhat. He carefully placed the gold hairpin into a specially made small leather box, along with several other small items he had collected before—a piece of Qilian jade with unique patterns, several ancient coins unique to border tribes that were said to bring good luck, and a bunch of snow lotuses that he had personally picked at the foot of the snow-capped mountains, now dried but still fragrant.
"I'll give it to her when I return to the capital," he murmured to himself, his cold, hard features softening for a moment in the candlelight. With every campaign he waged, on every piece of land he traversed, he would subconsciously search for something she might like or find meaningful. These unassuming little objects were his silent expression of longing and sharing.
In the capital city, the Eastern Palace's Glazed Tile Pavilion presented a warm and meticulously prepared scene.
Su Jingyu lived a fulfilling and peaceful life. She paid her respects to the Empress every day and managed the affairs of the Eastern Palace in an orderly manner. In everyone's eyes, the Crown Princess was dignified and virtuous, raised the imperial grandchildren exceptionally well, and was also kind and considerate to the soldiers on the front lines. She often donated medicines and clothing in her own name, winning unanimous praise from both the court and the public.
However, only her closest confidantes, Yun Shu and Jin Shu, knew that their mistress was secretly preparing some surprises.
She knew all too well that "a woman adorns herself for the one she loves." With the Crown Prince away on campaign, she had to make herself look radiant, so that he would have no worries and so that he would see her at her most beautiful when he returned.
She meticulously prepared facial and bath treatments with the spiritual spring water, making her skin increasingly radiant, translucent, and delicate. She commissioned the Imperial Wardrobe to make many new clothes using the softest brocade and gauze, mostly in elegant and tender shades of light blue, pale yellow, crimson, and moon white. The designs were exquisite and unique, befitting her status and perfectly complementing her age and appearance.
Her hairstyle also changed frequently, sometimes a languid, drooping bun adorned with a magnolia blossom, sometimes a lively, ethereal bun decorated with pearl tassels. Every day, as she dressed in front of the mirror, she wondered what his expression would be when he returned and saw her like this.
She personally supervised Yu'er's studies, not only teaching him to recognize characters and recite poems, but also telling him stories of how his father bravely protected the country, deeply planting in the little guy's heart a sense of admiration and longing for his father.
She took Yu'er, held Ye'er and Anning in her arms, and spoke to the north in the courtyard of the Liuli Pavilion, telling the children, "Father will be back soon." She taught Anning to clearly say "Daddy," and although the little one didn't understand the meaning yet, the soft and sweet pronunciation was enough to melt the heart of any tough man.
The most important surprise lies deep within the sleeping quarters of the Liuli Pavilion, in a warm chamber that has been quietly furnished.
Here, she had ordered thick Persian carpets to be laid out, and soft, ethereal silk gauze curtains hung on the walls. In one corner, a huge bronze incense burner with animal heads burned with a sweet and calming fragrance all day long. In the center of the room stood a large, comfortable chaise lounge, covered with a snow-white fox fur cushion—the very same white fox fur that Xiao Jingzhan had recently sent back. On a small table beside it were exquisite tea sets, a chessboard, and a collection of poems that she had personally copied from his favorites.
But that's not all.
Behind a secluded curtain at the far end of the warm pavilion lies a small bathtub made of white marble. Lotus patterns are carved along its edge, and it draws its own warm spring water from the royal garden. Su Jingyu secretly adds a few drops of this spring water to the tub daily. This water is not only warm and clean, but long-term bathing in it is said to have miraculous effects, relieving fatigue, strengthening the body, and even… enhancing marital bliss.
She imagined him returning from battle, covered in dust and exhaustion, able to completely relax here...
She also personally designed several sets of extremely light and soft nightgowns, made of nearly transparent silk gauze and soft silk, embroidered with patterns of twin lotus blossoms or mandarin ducks playing in the water. When worn, they were subtly revealing, exuding endless charm. She carefully stored these at the very bottom of her wardrobe in her bedchamber. She thought His Highness would surely like them.
Of course, she also kept the well-being of the soldiers on the front lines in mind.
Under the guise of "praying for the Crown Prince and his soldiers," she regularly sent large quantities of "specially made" supplies through official channels. Among these, she personally oversaw the formulas for the most important wound medicine, frostbite ointment, and cold-dispelling herbal tea, and secretly added spiritual spring water to them.
The northern border was bitterly cold, so she specially ordered extra supplies of chili peppers, ginger tea, and strong liquor, along with detailed instructions on how to use them—a truly thoughtful gesture. The generals and medics at the front quickly discovered that the medicines sent by the Crown Princess were exceptionally effective; wounded soldiers healed faster, and the troops rarely fell ill, all expressing their deep gratitude. When the news reached back, even the Emperor praised her highly.
Occasionally, there would be extremely brief "messages" or "items" delivered by the crown prince's most trusted confidants.
Once, when Lu Chen returned to the capital to report on his duties, he secretly handed a leather box to Su Jingyu, saying only, "His Highness instructed that this be given to the Crown Princess."
Su Jingyu dismissed those around her and opened the leather box. Inside were only a few small items: a piece of unpolished but beautifully colored jade, several ancient foreign coins, a dried snow lotus, and a gold hairpin inlaid with a sapphire. The jade was cool to the touch, the coins were rustic, the snow lotus was fragrant, and the gold hairpin was magnificent. Each item seemed to carry the frost and winds of the North and his very essence.
Without a single word, she understood. He saw a beautiful stone and thought of her; he encountered ancient things and wanted to share them with her; atop a snow-capped mountain, he picked a flower symbolizing purity and resilience; he defeated his enemies, obtained spoils, and chose the one most suitable for her. He thought of her.
She carefully put the leather box away, then called Yun Shu over and whispered a few instructions to her.
The next day, before Lu Chen left the capital, he received a light package containing two sets of extremely lightweight and warm soft armor, several pairs of new boots with thick soles and soft linings, and several large packets of herbal tea to refresh the mind and relieve fatigue. Yun Shu curtsied and said, "General Lu, Her Majesty said that the north is bitterly cold, and Your Highness and the soldiers are suffering from the hardships of battle. Please be sure to take these clothes and herbal tea back with you. Her Majesty also said..." She paused, her voice even softer, "When Your Highness sees the boots, he will know that everything is well at home. Do not worry about returning home; focus on the war and prioritize your safety."
Lu Chen accepted the gift solemnly, his mind clear. The Crown Princess was using the gift to convey a message, urging His Highness to take care of himself and not to be hasty or reckless. He solemnly replied, "This humble general will certainly convey Her Majesty's wishes."
Time slipped away quietly amidst the silent longing and preparations between the two places.
Decisive news finally arrived from the front lines: the Crown Prince led his army straight to the heart of the enemy's stronghold, discovering several secret hideouts of the bandits and their channels of collusion with foreign powers, wiping them out in one fell swoop. The ringleaders were all executed, and the border troubles were temporarily quelled. The Crown Prince will soon be returning to the capital in triumph!
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