Chapter 291: Playing Chess
There is warmth in the Tourmaline Palace.
Wen Wanqin sat upright on the brocade stool at the bottom, with an exquisite brocade box at her side.
She came at an inopportune moment. Wen Li'er had stayed in Zichen Palace last night and had not returned yet.
The main hall was extremely quiet, with only the occasional crackling of the charcoal fire.
Wanqin waited patiently, her eyes fixed on a pot of daffodils in full bloom in the corner of the hall, her thoughts drifting away.
"Mother—Mother—"
A sleepy, babyish call broke the silence.
The eldest prince rubbed his eyes and poked his little head in from outside the palace door.
Behind him, two wet nurses carefully held the third prince and the little princess wrapped in swaddling clothes.
Xiaoxiao had obviously just woken up. He walked in with his short legs and when he saw Wen Wanqin, his big eyes were full of confusion.
"Wen Xiurong? Where's my mother? Xiaoxiao wants my mother..."
Wen Wanqin quickly stood up and bowed to the two princes and princess.
Xiaoxiao blinked his eyes and looked around the hall. He felt a little aggrieved because he couldn't find his mother, and his little face wrinkled.
At this time, the little princess Miaomiao in the nanny's arms seemed to hear her brother's voice. She arched her little head in the cradle and tried to poke it out.
She had a pair of big eyes that looked very much like Wen Li'er's, blinking, and her gaze quickly locked on the beautiful aunt in front of her who was dressed simply and had a gentle temperament.
Perhaps it was the faint, reassuring fragrance on Wen Wanqin.
Perhaps it was that gentle expression, Miaomiao suddenly stretched out her little arms that looked like lotus roots and waved them in the direction of Wen Wanqin.
Her little body was twisting restlessly in the wet nurse's arms, and the meaning was obvious - she wanted Wen Wanqin to hold her.
Wen Wanqin was also a little surprised, and then a gentle smile appeared on her face.
She walked forward, nodded to the wet nurse, and then carefully and gently took the soft and fragrant little swaddling clothes.
As soon as Miaomiao was in Wen Wanqin's arms, her big eyes immediately curved into crescents, and a soft giggle came out of her little mouth. One of her little hands curiously grabbed the lapel of Wen Wanqin's chest and pulled it.
Wen Wanqin looked at the pure dependence and smile on the child's face, and felt an inexplicable sweetness in her heart.
She began to understand why the emperor doted on the little princess so much.
A soft and weak little ball, delicate and sweet, who can not like it?
Wen Wanqin held the little princess in her arms and sat down next to Xiaoxiao. She gently stroked Xiaoxiao's head with her free hand, her voice as soft as the spring breeze in March.
"My dear eldest prince, your mother has gone to the Purple Palace to see your father and will be back soon. Auntie will play with you, okay? Look, your sister is here too."
Xiaoxiao looked at his sister smiling happily in Wen Xiurong's arms, and felt the comfort on his head, and immediately nodded obediently.
Wen Wanqin thought for a moment and then began to tell the story in a soft voice.
She was telling interesting stories from the streets outside the palace. Her voice was low, but vivid and full of life, with a strange soothing power. Xiaoxiao listened with rapt attention, his big eyes unblinking.
Miaomiao also snuggled in Wen Wanqin's arms, listening to the gentle voice, with her little head tilted back, listening attentively.
When Wen Wanqin was telling the most exciting part of the story, the sound of rings and pendants and the respectful reports of the palace maids were heard from the palace gate.
"The Imperial Noble Consort returns to the palace—"
Everyone in the hall looked over.
Wen Li'er walked into the hall, feeling cold. When she saw the warm scene inside, she was a little surprised.
Then, a genuine and relaxed smile appeared on her face involuntarily, and she walked in quickly.
Wen Wanqin quickly held Miaomiao and stood up to salute: "This concubine greets the Imperial Noble Consort."
"Stop being polite."
Wen Li'er stepped forward, reached out to take her daughter who was rushing towards her with her arms outstretched, and then touched the little faces of Xiaoxiao and Tiantian, with a smile in her eyes.
"Thank you for your hard work. Miaomiao is a very naughty girl."
Wen Wanqin smiled, straightened the front of her shirt, and shook her head gently: "It's because the little princess doesn't despise me."
She quickly explained her purpose: "Your Majesty, today is the first day of the new year. I have prepared some small gifts to bring good luck to the three young princes."
She took the brocade box from Su Jin's hand and opened it herself.
The brocade box was covered with red soft satin, on which were neatly placed several gifts:
Three exquisite red gold and ruby longevity locks, each engraved with the nickname of each child;
Three small animals carved from fine white jade: a snow wolf, a tiger, and a rabbit; the carvings are exquisite and lifelike.
There was also a pair of red gold bracelets inlaid with pink gems, tied with colorful silk ribbons, which were obviously bought just for Miaomiao;
The gift symbolizes good luck and you can tell at first glance that it was carefully crafted.
Wen Lier thanked the three children: "Wen Xiurong is so thoughtful. I would like to thank Wen Xiurong on behalf of Xiaoxiao, Tiantian, and Miaomiao."
"Your Majesty, you are too polite. It is just a small token of my appreciation."
The two chatted casually about the children. Although Wen Wanqin had never raised a child, she could follow up on whatever Wen Lier said about children.
The originally somewhat unfamiliar relationship inexplicably became closer.
Wen Li'er suggested playing a few games of chess, and Wen Wanqin readily agreed.
As a result, Wen Li'er lost three games in a row.
She was not embarrassed. Over the years, Wen Li'er realized that she had no talent in chess, but it did not affect her love for it.
She brought Wen Wanqin back and even changed her address.
"Sister Wen, how about we have another plate?"
"Sister Wen, why don't we play another game..."
"Sister Wen, I will definitely win the next round, let's do it again..."
Wen Wanqin never expected that she would be forced to play chess just for the sake of delivering a gift.
After a few rounds, she realized that Wen Li'er was quite addicted to chess, so she intended to let her win once or twice.
As a result, she soon found that she was unable to do what she wanted.
This person’s chess skills are really… hard to describe.
Until Nanny Qin came over and told me that lunch was ready.
Wen Li'er reluctantly put down the chess piece and pulled Wen Wanqin to the dining hall to have dinner together.
Wen Wanqin was a little hesitant.
The two of them had been in the palace together for more than five years, but their positions and situations were different after entering the palace. This was the first time they had been able to spend time together in such a relaxed and homely manner in private like today.
She wanted to decline politely, but when she looked up at Wen Li'er's clear eyes that were smiling and filled with sincere invitation, and thought about her imminent departure from the palace, the distance she had deliberately maintained in her heart suddenly loosened a little.
An imperceptible sense of closeness quietly grew.
Wen Wanqin was clear-minded. She knew that the Queen's fate was lost and it was only a matter of time before the throne changed hands.
The simple-minded and kind-hearted imperial concubine before you is about to become the new queen of the Dayan Dynasty.
Being on good terms with her will bring benefits to both yourself and others, with no harm at all.
"So... I'm sorry to bother you, Your Majesty."
Wen Wanqin's face broke into a smile that was more genuine than the one when she was teaching Wen Li'er how to play chess just now, and she no longer refused.
Lunch was served in the warm room of Bixi Palace, with exquisite dishes and a warm atmosphere.
Wen Li'er personally served Xiaoxiao food and asked in detail about Wen Wanqin's daily life in recent days.
Wen Wanqin seemed to have shed her usual cold and taciturn demeanor today, and spoke a lot more than usual.
She even took the initiative to mention some interesting stories outside the palace, which made Wen Li'er laugh.
As the topic changed, Wen Wanqin looked at Wen Li'er's silhouette as she gently took care of the child, and the sense of closeness in her heart grew stronger.
After lunch, the eunuch came to report: "Your Majesty, the Royal Concubine, the Princesses of Linwang, Chengwang, and Qianjunwang have arrived."
Upon hearing this, Wen Li'er hurriedly asked someone to invite them in.
Wen Wanqin asked to leave, and Wen Lier asked Qingzhu to bring her her return gift and personally escorted her to the gate of Bixi Palace.
…
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