Chapter 564 Little Boat is Returned
The next morning, the emperor truthfully instructed Consort Li to deliver the small boat to the East Palace.
They gave an excuse that the little princess's palace was not yet completed, and asked her to stay in the East Palace temporarily.
Du Wanchun and Zhou Ruiyuan specially prepared a room in Xiaomianmian's courtyard for Xiao Zhouzhou, and also prepared three or four wet nurses.
These wet nurses were all personally selected by Du Wanchun, and were no less capable than those bestowed by the Emperor.
When Consort Li brought the child to me, she was very reluctant to part with him. "Although this child only stayed with me for a few days, he was very close to me."
As she spoke, she pinched the child's chubby little hand and gently stroked the child's cheek.
Du Wanchun took the child and said with a smile, "Consort Li, if you like this child, you can come to our palace often. Mianmian and I have dried a lot of fruit the other day, so you can come here to drink fruit tea."
She and Xiao Mianmian were bored in the palace, so they dried a lot of fruit in a courtyard on one side of the East Palace.
Consort Li rarely interacted with other concubines in the palace and was usually alone.
Overjoyed at Du Wanchun's invitation, her face flushed, she smiled and said, "Thank you, Your Highness, Crown Princess. As long as you don't mind, I will come every day."
Du Wanchun felt very awkward about being called the Crown Princess. She picked up Xiao Zhouzhou, walked around for a while, and replied with a gentle look in her eyes, "We're family, why would we look down on each other? It would be fine if Your Highness lived in our palace."
This was said in jest, but for a moment Consort Li did indeed want to live in Du Wanchun's palace.
In just a few months, Du Wanchun and the children planted flowers, grass and trees here, and even the wind was filled with the fragrance of flowers.
Pushing open the palace gates and stepping into the courtyard is like entering a paradise.
When Consort Li was in Cheng'an County, she longed for the Zhou family.
Now I envy them even more. The palace is clearly a cage, but Manager Du has turned it into a paradise.
Just as Consort Li was lost in thought, a voice suddenly called out from afar.
"Wanchun, how is my pruning of these flowers?"
Du Wanchun turned around and looked back, her clear eyes brightening slightly.
Zhou Ruiyuan wore a plain white robe, his hair was not tied up, and his black hair was like ink splashed down his back. In addition to his usual noble air, he also had a touch of laziness and leisure.
He held a plate of freshly pruned orchids in his hands and carefully presented it to Du Wanchun. "My skills are so-so, so please bear with it. In a few days, I will also transplant those crabapple blossoms in the backyard into pots."
After he finished speaking, he looked up at Du Wanchun, his eyes filled with tenderness that complemented the orchid in his hand.
This scene stunned Consort Li. "Your Highness, what's going on?"
Zhou Ruiyuan withdrew his gaze and said in a calm tone, "The Emperor has recently returned to the palace, so I no longer need to worry about matters of state. It's just the right time to stay at home and tend to the flowers and plants with my wife."
He claimed to have nothing to do, but in reality, he was busy with official duties until late at night every day, but this did not stop him from pleasing his wife and children during the day.
Consort Li was lost in thought, her face filled with envy.
People often say that people's hearts are fickle. The emperor once loved the empress so much, but after only a few years, they began to hate each other.
However, Zhou Ruiyuan and Du Wanchun have been married for several years and have had four children, yet they remain unchanged.
There are no signs of age on them; their gentle yet passionate eyes still seem like those of newlyweds.
Consort Li lowered her head slightly and wiped the corner of her eyes with a handkerchief.
If one can find such a good person in this life, one can die without regrets.
Seeing that Consort Li was suddenly in low spirits, Du Wanchun, holding Xiao Zhouzhou, approached her and asked, "Consort Li, what's wrong?"
Consort Li smiled, her nose tingling with emotion, and slowly said, "Seeing your family so harmonious and happy makes me very comforted."
At this moment, Xiao Zhouzhou suddenly reached out and grabbed Consort Li's sleeve, as if to comfort her.
Du Wanchun smiled and said gently, "Your Majesty, don't worry. From now on, you will live a happy and peaceful life with your family, just like us."
Consort Li entered the palace to repay a debt of gratitude and became the emperor's favorite concubine, having long since given up any desire for love.
But Du Wanchun's words seemed to add a glimmer of light to her life, as if she could truly have such a life in the future, just as Du Wanchun said.
Zhou Ruiyuan placed the potted orchid on the table. "If Consort Li likes it, I will have two pots sent over later."
Consort Li rose and thanked him, saying, "Thank you, Your Highness."
Du Wanchun carefully examined the orchid on the table, then looked up at Zhou Ruiyuan and asked, "Husband, where is Mianmian?"
As soon as she finished speaking, she heard Xiao Mianmian's clear laughter coming from the courtyard.
They all walked to the door and looked outside.
Little Mianmian was seen standing on the swing under the banyan tree, swinging.
Wearing a pale yellow chiffon dress, she swayed high up and down on the swing, looking like a fairy who had just arrived in the human world under the azure sky.
At that moment, the sunlight shone down, like a thin wisp of smoke gently sprinkling on her body, reflecting a rainbow of colors.
"Daddy~Mommy~Look, isn't it tall?"
She swung high into the air, laughing as she called out to Du Wanchun and Zhou Ruiyuan, her clear, spring-like eyes curving into a crescent moon that was impossible to look away from.
Looking at her smiling face, Du Wanchun was overwhelmed with emotion.
Little Mianmian is almost six years old now, and in another ten years she will grow into a young lady.
Consort Li covered her mouth and laughed, "This child, swinging so high, isn't he afraid of falling?"
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