Chapter 38 Staying Overnight...
After the relocation was completed, Gancao resumed her daily routine of exercising and raising her child.
The green plaque has been delivered to the Imperial Household Department. All he can do now is wait, wait for His Majesty to turn over the plaque with his name on it.
But before he could be summoned by the Zichen Palace, he was greeted by the arrival of the Emperor.
When he heard the sound of the ban on firecrackers, he hurried out of the palace, but when he actually saw His Majesty, he was still somewhat incredulous.
"This servant greets Your Majesty."
Even with his heart racing, he still maintained his best demeanor when he gracefully bowed.
Si Ze mainly came to see the prince, but seeing the slightly plump young husband in the flower garden, a different feeling arose in his heart.
"Where is Rui'er?" Still worried about the little one who couldn't even be grasped with a finger, she asked after helping the little palace maid to her feet.
"Rui'er just finished nursing, and the maid saw that he was sleepy, so she had the wet nurse take him away to rest." As he spoke, he ordered someone to bring the Second Prince over.
The king stopped the palace servants: "Stop making a fuss, I'll go and take a look."
After seeing the little guy sleeping soundly with his tiny fists raised to his neck, the king quietly withdrew and returned to the main hall to inquire about the second prince's daily life.
Gan Cao also explained in detail when Rui'er should nurse, how many times a day she should nurse, and how long she should sleep.
"The little guy seems quite relaxed," Si Ze chuckled.
Gan Cao also laughed and said, "He's busy too. When he's awake, he needs to be carried around and walked around constantly. He also keeps grabbing the maid's hair and babbling away."
"Want to talk?" Si Ze asked, somewhat surprised.
Gan Cao was a little embarrassed: "The maid asked the imperial physician, and he said that I will have to wait several more months before I can speak. Right now, I can only make sounds."
Si Ze then inquired further about the child's habits.
These were things that were so trivial that the king listened with more fascination than he did with state affairs.
After the child woke up, she held the child and played with him again.
Perhaps because he felt safe enough in his father's womb, Si Rui was not afraid of people. When Si Ze teased him, he showed a toothless smile.
They played until the sun was setting.
The Imperial Kitchen had no choice but to send the imperial meals to Anping Palace as well.
Gan Cao looked at the child, then at His Majesty sitting beside her, and felt as if they were a family.
Yes, he was His Majesty's attendant, His Majesty was his wife, and they also had a prince by blood; they were family!
He dared not say this aloud, yet it brought him unprecedented peace of mind.
The delicious aroma of the imperial cuisine lingered on his taste buds for a long time.
With food and clothing plentiful, the king, eyeing Gan Xiaocao's ample bosom, raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "My dear, bring me the words you were punished to copy so I can check them."
Despite her arrhythmia, Gan Cao still managed to take out the copied paper.
His Majesty ordered him to copy the land, so he naturally dared not be negligent, but if one wanted to find fault, one could certainly find something to criticize.
Sure enough, Si Ze quickly picked out the word 'not attentive' and asked in his ear, "Little Grass, what do you think we should do?"
The mere mention of the word 'little grass' made the young servant blush crimson, but he bowed down and softly apologized: "This servant knows his mistake and begs Your Majesty for punishment."
...
The punishment was moved from the table to the couch, and the mature man was so abused that he cried out in pain before the king finally let him go, satisfied.
The palace servants, who were practically cooked to a crisp outside the palace, finally instructed the Imperial Bedchamber Bureau to bring in hot water.
Gan Cao gently helped His Majesty bathe, supporting herself as she felt his familiar body temperature. Reason was once again suppressed by emotion: "It's getting late, Your Majesty, why don't you stay?"
Si Ze leaned against the warm, fragrant body behind him: "Alright, I'll stay here with you tonight."
The young palace maid was overjoyed.
But when the aura of a queen's wife truly enveloped him on the bed, he felt a sweet sense of regret; how could he have dared to do that just now?
Unable to meet his wife's gaze, he closed his eyes as soon as he got into bed.
A large hand wrapped around his waist, pulling him into a strong embrace.
His cheeks were flushed, but his eyelashes trembled, and he refused to open them.
Even though they've done even more absurd things, they suddenly feel shy.
Fortunately, the queen did not do anything further, but simply enjoyed the warm and delicate touch of her familiar husband. She had court the next morning and would not indulge herself too much.
Licorice thought he would have insomnia, but in fact he quickly fell asleep in the warm fragrance.
The next day, he got up early again to serve His Majesty. Although it was just a simple service, he felt a sense of happiness.
Si Ze patted his hand before leading the eunuchs away.
"Your Majesty, it's time to pay your respects to the Empress." Mao Gen reminded him when he saw him staring blankly at the Emperor's back.
These words immediately jolted Gan Cao awake: he was not a young husband who saw his wife off at the door, but merely a lowly maid in the harem.
Your Majesty's husband is the Empress; last night was nothing but a beautiful dream.
"Put on some understated makeup," he said, sitting down by the window.
Oguri didn't say much, but acted swiftly and decisively.
During the greetings, Changning Palace was practically awash with jealousy.
When the Queen came out, there was no smile on her face, and Gan Cao, who was bowing, couldn't help but feel anxious.
This time, Shen Mingyue did not immediately dismiss the formalities, but slowly instructed: "Your Majesty is busy with many affairs of state. The servants of the harem should uphold the virtues and precepts of men, so that Your Majesty can relax and not have to worry about your affairs or waste your time."
Hearing this, all the servants were secretly delighted and couldn't help but look at Consort Gan in the front row with schadenfreude.
Licorice's face turned a mixture of red and green, but he still maintained his composure and replied respectfully, "Your subject will remember."
The servants awaited the reprimands and punishments to come.
But Shen Mingyue remained silent for a moment, looking at Consort Gan who maintained a humble posture.
He is the Queen, a virtuous Queen, and His Majesty's cousin. He should rejoice in what His Majesty rejoices in.
Even though he was eager to teach her a lesson, Consort Gan was, after all, the Second Prince's biological father. He swallowed the words he was about to say and looked at everyone: "You may all rise."
Is that all?
Some of the attendants were surprised and dissatisfied, but many more began to pay attention to Consort Gan.
Previously, their family background was a privilege, but in the harem, imperial favor and imperial offspring are the true privileges.
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