Chapter 63
Five years have passed in the blink of an eye.
My grandfather passed away peacefully on an afternoon of apricot blossoms and spring rain, never realizing that the "adopted grandson" he had chosen was actually his granddaughter. Song Qianzhao returned all his land and property to his grandfather's biological daughter and her family, keeping only some old books, calligraphy, and paintings as a memento, a testament to the bond between grandfather and grandson.
In the winter of the same year, the old emperor passed away and the crown prince succeeded to the throne. The first shocking decree issued by the new emperor after he ascended the throne was to make her empress.
Although there was a lot of discussion in the court and the country, it did not become an obstacle - the most crucial step was the tacit approval of the Queen Mother.
The Empress Dowager, once criticized for her own upbringing, understood the value of mutual affection. Her son's unwavering devotion, coupled with Song Qianzhao's talent and virtue, was sufficient. As for her having entered the civil service as a woman, she saw it as a testament to her ability and courage.
In the end, with the clear support of the empress dowager, Song Qianzhao was able to take the position of empress.
…
On an early winter afternoon, Xuan Shu had just put down his red brush when Suifeng whirled in with a report: "Your Majesty! Ruyue has gone to the plum forest with some freshly made yogurt. She said the queen has been suffering from severe morning sickness these past few days, so I'm afraid the porridge and side dishes for lunch will have to be brought back as is!"
Xuan Shu immediately stood up upon hearing this, a helpless yet distressed smile spreading across his eyes, "I'll go and see for myself."
Deep in the plum forest, Song Qianzhao was leaning listlessly on a soft couch, a storybook spread across his lap, uninterested in reading. Ruyue, holding a porcelain cup, gently urged, "Your Majesty, please at least have a sip! You didn't eat much for breakfast, how can you bear this..."
Before he finished speaking, Xuan Shu came over on the snow, took the cheese from Ruyue's hand, sat down beside the couch, and said softly, "I heard you don't want to eat again?"
Seeing Song Qianzhao frown and shake her head, he picked up a piece of warm cheese and handed it to her lips, "This is a new recipe, it tastes sweet and sour, maybe it can whet your appetite. Try it, and if you don't like it, don't eat it."
Song Qianzhao reluctantly tasted it. The sweet frankincense accompanied by the light sourness of plums actually suppressed a trace of nausea. Her brows relaxed: "This is refreshing."
Xuan Shu breathed a sigh of relief, turned to Sui Feng and said with a smile, "Enjoy the small kitchen! Go ask the imperial physician if we can make more variations of these sweet and sour appetizing pastries."
Suifeng replied with a grin, "Yes, sir," but then added mischievously, "Your Majesty, Lord Zhang from the Ministry of Rites is still waiting in the conference room to discuss the Winter Solstice Festival with you..."
…
The next day, a charcoal fire glowed in the warm room, and the air was filled with the soothing fragrance of plum blossoms. Song Qianzhao lay on her side on the soft couch, her hair slightly loose, the swell of her belly a gentle curve beneath the brocade quilt. The new emperor sat beside her, gently massaging her slightly swollen calves.
Perhaps his movements were too gentle, and Song Qianzhao unconsciously rubbed his palm in her sleep, making a kitten-like murmur. Xuan Shu's eyes instantly filled with tenderness that could not be melted away, and he could not help but lean over and press a feather-light kiss on her smooth forehead.
At this moment, Fan Zhiyu rushed in and took in this tender scene. He immediately covered his eyes exaggeratedly:
"Ouch!"
Song Qianzhao was awakened by the noise and opened her eyes dazedly. When she saw the situation clearly, her cheeks flushed instantly. Xuan Shu was calm and composed. He just tucked the corner of the quilt for her and glanced at Fan Zhiyu unhappily: "Get out."
Fan Zhiyu didn't leave. Instead, he came closer with a smile and said, "Your Majesty, I'm here to report the victory in the Northern Frontier! But it seems... I've come at the wrong time."
He looked at Song Qianzhao mischievously, "I remember that we used to be brothers, drinking and chatting happily with you, Your Majesty. Oh, you deceived me so badly!"
Xuan Shu was too lazy to waste time talking to him and said simply, "If you keep making noise, you will be sent to supervise the construction of the imperial mausoleum tomorrow."
"Your Majesty, you have such a cruel heart!" Fan Zhiyu immediately rushed to Song Qianzhao's bedside, pretending to be sad, "Your Majesty! You must make the decision for me!"
Song Qianzhao was already awake, and watching the cousins bickering, she couldn't help but laugh. She slowly pushed herself up and tried to sit up, but Xuanshu immediately reached out and carefully supported her, placing a soft pillow behind her waist. Song Qianzhao then looked at Fan Zhiyu, her eyebrows curved. "I think your majesty's arrangement is very good. Lord Fan, go and gain some experience, it's a good opportunity to calm down."
When Fan Zhiyu heard this, he immediately bowed and begged for mercy: "No, no, no! I'll get out of here right now and go to work in the Ministry of War!" After saying that, he ran away.
Ruyue came in with the pregnancy-maintaining medicine and smiled secretly, "Every time Master Fan comes back, he is like a gust of wind."
Suifeng, who was guarding outside the door, listened to the noise inside and shook his head with a helpless smile.
…
Xuan Shu was reviewing memorials in the imperial study, while Song Qianzhao quietly flipped through a storybook nearby. Suifeng, standing guard outside the door, could hear the whispers between the emperor and empress.
"Do you think this part of the water conservancy policy paper is too idealistic?" Xuan Shu handed over the memorial.
Song Qianzhao took it and examined it carefully, then pondered for a moment: "Indeed, the soil here is loose, and this plan may have hidden dangers. It is better to refer to the method used by the previous dynasty to manage the old course of the Qing River..."
Xuanshu's eyes lit up with admiration, and he picked up his pen to make his comments. The two discussed government affairs, their tacit understanding reminiscent of their days in the Chancellery. Suifeng listened from outside the doorway, whispering to Ruyue beside him, "Who could have imagined that back then, His Majesty had us follow 'Lord Song' to search for someone, and now 'Lord Song' would be the Empress, ruling alongside His Majesty in Chongming Palace?"
Ruyue smiled playfully, "This is called fate! But Suifeng, didn't you see it back then?"
Suifeng scratched his head and said frankly, "That's right! Now that I think about it, many of the details that the Empress made back then are indeed traces of her. It's only our fault that we are so short-sighted!"
…
That night, the emperor and empress were enjoying the snow outside the palace window. Song Qianzhao suddenly felt the baby moving in her belly and could not help but let out a soft "ah".
Xuan Shu immediately supported her nervously: "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
"It's okay," Song Qianzhao smiled and took his hand, gently covering her abdomen, "It's just that the baby is moving more vigorously, you can feel it."
When Xuan Shu felt the distinct pulses of life force in his palm, he was initially stunned, but then a smile of wonder and immense joy spread across his face. "This feeling... is truly marvelous."
He was so cautious that he even breathed softly, as if he was afraid of disturbing the little one in his belly.
Seeing him like this, Song Qianzhao felt warm in his heart and said softly, "It seems that he is a spirited child."
Xuan Shu pulled her into his arms, resting his chin lightly on the top of her head, and sighed contentedly, "Millions of miles of rivers and mountains are nothing compared to the fireworks of this moment in the human world. Qian Zhao, meeting you is the greatest blessing of my life."
Outside the window, snow falls silently; inside the palace, there is a warm and loving atmosphere. The years are quiet and good, just like this.
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