Song Heng glanced at me before leaving, and I knew.
Even though I was standing quietly with my head down, watching the Empress Dowager, Concubine De and the other two leave, I saw his snow-white, gold-plated boots pause in front of me.
After returning to Chenxiang Pavilion, I felt that I had eaten too much cakes and pastries at the Empress Dowager's, so I didn't have dinner.
Xiao Cui remained silent and didn't ask any more questions. Xiao Tao, who had been staying in Chenxiang Pavilion, knew nothing about it, so she curiously poked her head in and asked, "My lady, are you trying to lose weight?"
"Am I fat?" I glanced at her.
"Hehehe, my lady, do you want to hear the truth or a lie?" She looked at me with a smile.
Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?
These words immediately reminded me of Song Heng, and I was stunned.
"My dear, my dear, what's wrong with you?" Xiao Tao seemed to notice that something was wrong with me, and the playfulness in her eyes was replaced by worry.
"Xiao Tao, let me ask you something," I didn't answer her directly. I looked at the sycamore tree in the yard and asked, "What is April Snow?"
"Oh! April snow!" Xiao Tao obviously knew what it was, and she started talking like crazy: "This kind of tree will bloom at this time of year. A large area of white flowers is so beautiful, just like a tree covered with snow!"
"Yeah." I responded. I obviously like snow very much, but I am not interested at the moment.
Xiao Tao's eyes lit up as if she had thought of something. "It seems that Empress Defei has planted April Snow in her Zhuangning Palace. I want to see it. Can I go to Zhuangning Palace to see it someday?"
"Yeah, I know." I replied softly.
Humph, is Li Si going to pick flowers, or is it April snow?
*
Zhuang Ning Palace.
The Empress Dowager was carefully supported by Concubine Liu De as she walked to an April snow tree. The tree was full of snow-white leaves mixed with long, round green leaves, which sent out bursts of fragrance. Song Heng followed the Empress Dowager and walked sideways through the clusters of flowers without saying a word.
"Defei is really patient. If I were to plant this tree, it would be difficult to see this snow-white tree!" The empress dowager stopped in front of the tree, slightly tilted her neck to look at the slender white petals, as if she had thought of something.
"Your Highness, I am sorry for the trouble you've done me. I was only helped by Xiao Ning," De Fei said softly. Even after the Queen Mother stopped walking, she still carefully supported her arm. "Your Highness, your embroidery skills are superb, and everyone in the palace praises you. As for your patience, I certainly can't match yours in the slightest."
The Queen Mother smiled softly and said nothing: "Heng'er, what do you think of this April snow?"
Song Heng was silent for a moment. Concubine De glanced at him, as if she suddenly thought of something. "I happen to have some fresh Mengding Ganlu and Lushan Yumi in my palace. I'll ask them to brew some for me right away."
The Queen Mother nodded and said, "Thank you for your hard work."
When Concubine De walked away, only Song Heng, the Queen Mother and the old nanny were standing under the April snow tree filled with fragrance.
"Heng'er," the Queen Mother said, looking at the snow-white trees, her eyes slightly moved: "You are confused."
Song Heng remained silent. He knew the Queen Mother would continue speaking, so he just listened quietly.
The Queen Mother took a few steps closer to the tree. The April Snow tree was not very tall, and she could touch the tiny white flowers with her hand, feeling an itch. "Back then, I loved April Snow, so the late Emperor planted it in my palace, and one year when the April Snow flowers bloomed, he made me a noble concubine."
"It all looked like a happy occasion," the Queen Mother said in silence, "but just like this flower, it ended up being a funeral. My brother was found guilty of corruption and bribery, and because of poor health, he ended up in jail."
Song Heng's eyelashes trembled. The Queen Mother turned to look at him. Unconsciously, Heng'er was much taller than her. Suddenly, her eyes moved: "Heng'er, do you have any plans in mind?"
Song Heng looked at the kind-looking woman in front of him. The gorgeous robe draped over her made her look less ostentatious. Her eyes were soft but powerful, just like the ones he had seen in his childhood.
Some things are different from day to day, but some things remain the same year after year.
Song Heng finally nodded gently. The Queen Mother's eyes swept over Song Heng's face inch by inch, then she smiled and said softly: "That's good, as long as you are not confused."
Song Heng called out, "Mother."
The Queen Mother slowly stepped forward and helped him pick up a broken petal from his left shoulder. The small white flower fluttered lightly from between her fingers and fell to the ground. "Be careful. I owe you all these years..."
"Mother," Song Heng's voice deepened, interrupting the Queen Mother's words. "Mother, I owe you nothing. Your grace in bearing and raising me is greater than heaven."
The moon had already hung in the sky at some point. The Queen Mother's eyes sparkled, and something in her heart finally settled. She nodded gently, "Are you sure?"
When he was little, before the prince's various competitions, the empress dowager would always squat in front of Song Heng, gently hold his shoulders with both hands, and gently ask, "Are you sure?"
Song Heng was very honest at that time. When he was sure, he nodded vigorously to his mother. When he was not sure, he looked at his mother without saying a word. However, there was never any worry or fear in his bright eyes.
Time has passed, and now Song Heng stands in front of his mother, who is now much shorter than him. His dark eyes blink lightly, the corners of his mouth curl up slightly, and he says his third answer: "I'm willing to give it a try."
No matter whether you are sure or not, or what the outcome is, be willing to give it a try.
The Queen Mother paused for a moment, worry evident in her eyes, but she finally smiled and said, "Okay."
Coincidentally, at this moment, the old nanny beside her coughed lightly a few times, and Concubine De came from a distance with small steps. With each step, it seemed as if a lotus flower bloomed from the soles of her feet, and she was graceful and elegant.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the tea is ready." Concubine Liu De behaved gracefully, and under the moonlight, she looked like a bright Epiphyllum in a clear pond.
"Hmm," the Queen Mother replied, "I haven't had the Lushan Cloud Mist brewed by Concubine De for a long time. I really miss it."
Concubine Liu De pursed her lips and smiled gently, and a faint fragrance wafted from her light blue robe in the evening breeze.
Song Heng also responded softly and followed the empress dowager into the room.
The tea soup of Lushan Yunwu is bright and emerald, and it is served in a blue and white porcelain tea cup with lotus patterns; the tea soup of Mengding Ganlu is yellow and green, and the slender tea leaves sink or float in the white cup.
"Defei is so thoughtful." The old nanny helped the empress dowager to sit down at the round table. Song Heng lent a hand before she sat down herself.
*
The moonlight tonight is exceptionally bright. I am lying on the windowsill, and I can’t help but wonder if the petals of the April snow flower are as bright and white as the moonlight?
"My lady, it's so late, why don't you take a rest?" Xiao Cui reminded gently from the side.
Is it really late? Why do I feel like I've only been lying on the windowsill for a short while, just watching the moon rise and grow brighter.
"The imperial physician said that although the young lady has recovered, it is always better to rest early to restore her memory." Xiao Cui said as she helped me make the bed.
Restore memory, restore memory...
I quickly took off my clothes and lay down on the bed: "Xiao Cui, I'm going to sleep. You should go and rest too."
Xiao Cui looked at me, wanting to say something but stopping herself. Finally, after seeing me close my eyes, she quietly walked out.
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