Su Peisheng lowered his head and replied with a "Yes, sir."
Out of the corner of his eye, he secretly glanced at Emperor Yongzheng's back. He had clearly heard the emperor's brief pause just now; there was a rare hesitation in his tone, and even a hint of softness that he had never seen in this iron-fisted monarch.
After leaving the Imperial Study, Su Peisheng walked briskly along the palace wall, his mind in turmoil.
He had served Emperor Yongzheng for many years and knew that the emperor was cold and hard-hearted. Even when it came to the concubines in the harem, the emperor always gave gifts in an official manner. He never personally inquired about what materials to send or which set of headdresses to choose.
Not to mention that when the emperor uttered the words "Lin Mansion," the last syllable rose slightly, as if it contained a hint of inexplicable expectation.
“Yun brocade…ruby…” Su Peisheng muttered to himself.
Yun brocade was a precious tribute from the Jiangning Imperial Textile Bureau, and even the Empress only received two or three bolts a year.
That ruby headdress was even rarer, said to have been made by artisans from the previous dynasty's court, and the emperor had repeatedly asked for it from his concubines year after year, but they had never agreed.
Now they're going to send them all to that Miss Lin? He couldn't help but recall that half a month ago, after the Emperor returned to the palace incognito, he was unusually absent-minded while looking at the memorials, his vermilion brush hovering in mid-air, not even noticing the ink dripping onto the memorials.
At the time, he thought it was troubles in the court, but now he thinks it is probably related to this Miss Lin.
Turning the corner of the corridor, Su Peisheng paused, his mind suddenly clearing. The dark glint in the Emperor's eyes when he gave his orders today clearly indicated that he was suppressing his emotions!
Having served his master for so many years, he had long since learned to deduce the emperor's intentions from subtle changes in his eyebrows and eyes.
When the Emperor mentioned the word "tomorrow," he tapped his fingertips three times on the table, a small gesture he made when he was upset.
But when the "Lin residence" was mentioned, the corners of his lips unconsciously tightened, as if he wanted to see that person but was forcibly suppressing it.
"This Miss Lin is probably going to stir up some trouble..." Su Peisheng sighed and quickened his pace toward the private vault.
He had to choose carefully, wanting to show the grandeur of the imperial family without being too ostentatious, since the emperor had not yet revealed his identity.
At this thought, he suddenly had a jolt: if that Miss Lin was truly the Emperor's beloved, then doing this task well would be a merit, but if he botched it...
He shrank back, not daring to think any further.
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