Yuan Shen almost burst out laughing.
"No, the second day of the second lunar month is the Farming Festival. Not only do we have to offer sacrifices to Heaven and Earth, but as the emperor, I also have to personally go to the fields to cultivate the land, so as to show that I am working alongside the people."
I've never heard of this Song Xibai before.
Although she had been in this world for twenty years, in the Song family before, her father and eldest brother were in charge of sacrificial rites, and the daughters were not involved. At most, she knew that she had to thread needles for the Qixi Festival, but she didn't know much else.
The Great Yin Dynasty has festivals almost every month. The Flower Festival on the third day of the third month is the most famous. When spring arrives, every household goes out to enjoy the spring scenery. But the festival on the second day of the second month has little to do with her.
So Song Xibai patted Yuan Shen's arm.
"Then I'll trouble Your Majesty."
“When my father was alive, he would personally plow the fields, and my mother would bring him food, just like an ordinary farming family. This is a rule set by our ancestors.”
As Yuan Shen spoke, he suddenly stared at her.
Song Xibai leaned back.
"You're not asking me to bring you food, are you?"
Yuan Shen blinked: "If Qingqing doesn't go, then who can go?"
Song Xibai hesitated.
"But I'm not the empress."
"That's not important. When that traitor impersonated my father, he also brought Lady Shu with him. With that precedent, the court officials won't stop him."
After Yuan Shen finished speaking, he looked at her expectantly.
"Does my beloved not wish to cook for me with her bare hands?"
Song Xibai raised her hand and patted his face.
"Your Majesty, please mind your image."
He's already the emperor, and he's still acting like a child? How embarrassing would it be if others saw him like that!
Yuan Shen didn't care!
He laughed loudly, then pulled Song Xibai into his arms and rubbed her vigorously a few times.
"Oh dear! My clothes are all messed up!"
Song Xibai gave a coquettish laugh, but did not stop his hand.
They stayed at the Song family's house until the afternoon before heading home.
After returning to the palace, Song Xibai did not feel tired at all. After dinner, she even took Yuan Shen for a walk in the back garden with great enthusiasm.
By the time I finished my walk and came back, it was completely dark, so I just washed up and went to bed.
Since the child moved in, even though there are three doors separating them, they still feel a bit uncomfortable, so the two of them just sleep all night and do nothing else.
Song Xibai fell asleep amidst Yuan Shen's mournful gaze.
The next few days were a rare period of relaxation.
He would have breakfast with the Empress Dowager, then lunch with the other concubines. When he had free time, he would have someone deliver some things to the Empress Dowager. In the evening, he would dine alone with Yuan Shen.
On the seventh day, Song Xibai, with the Empress's seal, issued an imperial edict, ordering several adult princes to bring their mothers out of the palace for a day of reunion.
This delighted the King of Wu and his men, and upon receiving the imperial decree, they immediately sent someone to the palace.
Since the mothers of the King of Qin and the King of Han had passed away, Yuan Shen specially summoned them to Renshou Palace and had a meal together.
In short, it was a very pleasant day.
Song Xibai also went to see several princesses.
She should now be called the Eldest Princess.
Of the late emperor's daughters, only four survived, and they were all quite young, the oldest being only seventeen. They were engaged the year before last and should have married at the end of last year, but then the palace coup happened. The family of the originally betrothed son-in-law was a member of the fake emperor's faction and was beheaded by Yuan Shen.
The Grand Princess's birth mother was originally So-won, but is now Consort Shin.
Consort Shen was truly on tenterhooks for many days, fearing that she would be punished by the new emperor.
A few months later, seeing that the new emperor was magnanimous and had no intention of implicating her, she breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same time began to worry about her daughter's marriage.
And so, on this day, she mustered her courage and went to see the Imperial Concubine.
Inside Changqing Palace, Song Xibai was stunned for a while before she came to her senses when she heard that Consort Shen was requesting an audience.
"What does she want from me? Is it because she's not comfortable living in the Cining Palace, or is someone bullying her?"
"Probably not? Consort Shen gave birth to the Grand Princess! Among the consorts, her status is only lower than Consort De and Consort Yi." Wei Hong shook her head.
Consort Yi was the birth mother of Prince Qi.
Song Xibai couldn't figure it out, so she simply stopped thinking about it and gestured for someone to come in.
Princess Shin was an extremely beautiful person.
Although she was already thirty-five or thirty-six, she still had a beautiful appearance and snow-white skin, but her eyes were somewhat evasive, as if she were a little afraid of people.
"Please sit, Your Highness."
Song Xibai wore a gentle smile.
Consort Shin sat down next to the chair.
"I wonder what brings the Imperial Concubine to Changqing Palace today? Is it because the servants have not served her well, or has someone neglected her?"
Song Xibai's voice was soft and gentle, like a spring breeze, which made Consort Shen relax.
She took a deep breath and mustered her courage to speak.
"No, everything is fine at Cining Palace. I've come today with a favor to ask of Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine."
This time, Song Xibai was genuinely surprised.
Is there anything you need my help with?
Surely something must have happened to the Shen family that led them to seek help from Consort Shen?
Song Xibai offered a conspiracy theory.
"Please speak frankly, Consort Tai. As long as it concerns the inner palace, I will do my best to help."
The implication is that things outside the palace are not feasible.
Consort Shen seemed not to notice, and the smile on her face became more genuine.
She held the handkerchief in her hand and said softly.
"It's like this, Fanghua is already seventeen, and if she delays any longer, she'll become an old maid. The Empress Dowager is seriously ill, and I'm too embarrassed to trouble her. After thinking it over, I can only ask the Imperial Concubine for help."
Song Xibai paused for a moment, her mind slow to process what she had just learned.
Is this asking me to act as a matchmaker?
She had never encountered anything like this before and was momentarily stunned.
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