Chapter 21 Tsk, the emperor is so rigidly proper. Ah Zhu: I can't see it...
Hanyuan Hall
When Eunuch Chen entered the palace, Emperor Xuanpei was having his evening meal.
Seeing this, Eunuch Chen bowed slightly and stepped forward, gently waving away the eunuchs serving the meal, taking the silver chopsticks, and began to serve Emperor Xuanpei his meal.
The Yuan Dynasty was originally conquered on horseback, so Emperor Gaozu did not admire the extravagance of the previous dynasty. After ascending the throne, he issued an edict to reduce the nearly one hundred regulations on imperial meals of the previous dynasty to 30%.
Later emperors had their own preferences, and the standards for imperial meals were adjusted accordingly.
After Emperor Xuanpei ascended the throne, he issued an edict to abolish it... Now, when the night is not served elsewhere, there are only eighteen dishes, neatly arranged in a circle.
Eunuch Chen served the dishes quietly from the side, but as usual, he ignored, no, it should be said, barely even glanced at the honey-glazed sugar cake that Emperor Xuanpei liked very much.
Even Eunuch Chen was like this, let alone others; probably no one in the entire palace knew that Emperor Xuanpei had a sweet tooth.
Logically speaking, now that Emperor Xuanpei has the world at his feet and is very powerful, would anyone dare to say anything about what he likes to eat?
However, Emperor Xuanpei, whose birth mother died when he was young and who was raised by Consort Shu, developed an extremely self-controlled personality.
Back then, the late emperor had many sons, and the struggles in the harem were especially fierce. Consort Shu was terrified. Not only did she claim to be ill and recuperate for several years, but she also taught the young Emperor Xuanpei to always endure and retreat.
Be patient and retreat as much as possible; avoid conflict if you can.
When Consort Shu learned that Emperor Xuanpei still had an extreme fondness for sweets when he was young, she was already quite frightened. She was afraid that the late emperor would dislike it, and she was also afraid that others would laugh or gossip if they found out... so she forbade Emperor Xuanpei from eating them anymore.
This forbearance continued for many years. Later, even if he liked something more, Emperor Xuanpei rarely asked for anything.
Emperor Xuanpei, who was forced to yield back then and hastily ascended the throne to clean up the mess, has now achieved a clear understanding of domestic affairs. He is restrained and lenient yet also decisive and ruthless, which is very much in line with the image of an unpredictable emperor in other people's minds.
When the emperors of the Yuan Dynasty ate, there weren't many complicated rules. They would only occasionally remind the emperor not to overeat.
Knowing His Majesty's rule of "not speaking while eating," Eunuch Chen kept his mouth shut and served him in silence.
Only after seeing Emperor Xuanpei put down his silver chopsticks and Eunuch Chen, with great insight, offered him a brocade handkerchief did he turn around and order the meal to be cleared away.
Taking the teacup from the palace maid, Eunuch Chen himself handed it to Emperor Xuanpei.
Seeing that Emperor Xuanpei had accepted the tea, Eunuch Chen lowered his head and said softly, "When I went to Kunning Palace just now, Her Majesty the Empress had not yet eaten, but she seemed to be in a very good mood..."
Emperor Xuanpei paused slightly as he lifted the tea lid, and when he looked up, he was clearly puzzled. "The Empress seems pleased?"
"Yes, he also instructed his servants to serve the Emperor well in his presence."
Emperor Xuanpei paused for a moment, then nodded.
"I understand."
After saying this, Emperor Xuanpei headed towards the outer hall, clearly intending to handle some more government affairs before going to Kunning Palace.
Eunuch Chen tiptoed out of the hall.
Leaning against the vermilion pillar, looking at the already darkening sky, Eunuch Chen couldn't help but shake his head—the Empress may indeed be inclined to get closer to His Majesty now... but deep-seated problems don't arise overnight.
Sometimes, the more the Empress tried, the more awkward she seemed, even making Eunuch Chen feel embarrassed.
And the time when the Emperor went to Kunning Palace was getting later and later... Sometimes Eunuch Chen even thought that it was too uncomfortable and it would be better not to go at all.
But their emperor would always go to Kunning Palace on the first and fifteenth of each month, even if it was just to sit for a while and then come back to rest.
Rules... The word "rules" kept repeating in Eunuch Chen's mind, neither happy nor unhappy.
The emperor does not show his emotions, and everyone in the palace acts according to the rules, which makes the servants feel more at ease.
But conversely, this also means that their emperor is truly difficult to approach... a real loner.
Eunuch Chen sighed inwardly, and as he sighed, it was time for the lanterns to be lit. Soon, the imperial carriage set off for Kunning Palace.
***
Kunning Palace.
Ah Zhu, who had been waiting idly in the tea room since lunchtime, was so bored that he picked up some tea leaves and started looking at them, comparing them with the tea classic he had memorized.
Just as they were counting to the seventeenth item, they suddenly heard the voice of a eunuch coming from ahead.
"His Majesty has arrived!"
!!
Ah Zhu jolted awake and stood up abruptly, looking rather flustered.
The entire tea room instantly sprang into action.
After all, it's not safe to hand over the tea-making skills to A-Zhu right now.
As for whether there are any people in the tea room who dislike Ah Zhu and are deliberately trying to cause trouble at this critical juncture... well, anyone who's tired of living can try that.
"A-Zhu!"
Hearing Aunt Hua's voice, A-Zhu, who was just about to pick up his teacup, quickly responded.
"aunt."
Seeing Aunt Hua enter, A-Zhu hurriedly added, "The tea has just been brewed, and I'm waiting to be summoned to the palace..."
The palace servants have been serving in the tea room for so many years, what mistakes could they possibly make?
The most important person, of course, is the one who goes to serve tea in front of the palace.
Aunt Hua ignored the brewed tea and kept looking at A-Zhu for a final check.
Having been trained by Granny Sun, Ah Zhu was someone who wanted to have the rules etched into her very bones when facing noble people, so how could she possibly make a mistake in her dress and appearance?
Like the other palace maids in the tea room, A-Zhu was dressed in a light blue blouse and a slightly darker silk skirt, and even the plain silver hairband was neatly hidden in her hair.
But Aunt Hua was clearly quite dissatisfied with Azhu's attire—he usually put in so much effort, looking like he was about to fly to the top of a tree, but now he seemed so timid in front of her.
Before she could say anything, Nianqin from the front hall came out to urge her: "Azhu, what are you still wasting time for?"
"Coming right now, coming right now."
As she spoke, Aunt Hua quickly pulled out two plain silver hairpins from her hair and inserted them into A-Zhu's temples, one on each side.
Ah Zhu, who was being manipulated by Aunt Hua, couldn't actually think straight at the moment.
She tried her best to control her trembling nervousness, obediently lowered her head and followed Nianqin into the hall to serve tea.
......
inner sanctum
Sitting on the other side, Empress Wang was unusually quiet tonight, but the atmosphere in the hall was quite pleasant.
Even if it's not exactly warm and affectionate, it's not so awkward that you just want to go outside for some fresh air.
Just as Eunuch Chen, who had been waiting quietly, breathed a sigh of relief, Empress Wang said with a smile, "The tea room has just received Mengding Han Cui tea; Your Majesty, why don't you try some?"
Seeing Emperor Xuanpei nod, Empress Wang gave the order: "A-Zhu—"
Ah Zhu?
Why does this name sound so familiar?
Eunuch Chen quietly raised his head, and when he saw the person who entered the hall to serve tea, his eyes widened in shock, almost popping out of their sockets—hey!
Isn't that the girl from outside the Imperial Garden the other day?!
Tell me, tell me, how could Eunuch Chen, who tossed and turned for several nights without sleeping well because of Ah Zhu, easily forget her?
Unfortunately, A-Zhu's identity was a real obstacle.
In the end, Eunuch Chen had no choice but to ignore the news about A-Zhu, forcibly putting it out of his mind and no longer paying attention to it.
But who would have thought that he would see Azhu again in Kunning Palace?
This girl is a slave.
How could the Empress not know her identity?
Chen Gonggong, who was having some doubts, soon noticed the suggestive plain hairpin in Azhu's hair—according to palace rules, palace maids were naturally not allowed to wear gold or jade ornaments.
However, if it were just two plain silver hairpins, it wouldn't really be considered a big mistake.
But he was wearing it right under Empress Wang's nose, while serving the emperor. This... Eunuch Chen subconsciously looked towards Empress Wang.
Empress Wang had no time to care what Eunuch Chen was thinking.
Now all she can think about is how to give Ah Zhu a push.
Normally, the palace maids who served tea would simply bow as they entered the hall, quietly place the teacup down, and then leave.
But Empress Wang was determined to recommend him, so there was no reason to only let A-Zhu make a brief appearance.
Since she wouldn't speak up, it was naturally Ah Zhu's turn to do so.
Holding a teacup, A-Zhu knelt respectfully before Emperor Xuanpei, holding the teacup with both hands: "Your Majesty, please have some tea."
Empress Wang, who came from a noble family, loved orchids. She would burn incense like gold every day to fill the palace with fragrance, and she would only stop burning incense after dinner, when the fragrance would fade.
Therefore, Emperor Xuanpei now often comes to Kunning Palace after dinner.
Emperor Xuanpei did not know what the tea served at this moment tasted like; he only knew that he smelled a certain aroma.
A faint, subtle sweet fragrance.
The faint fragrance seemed to emanate from body heat, and as the person approached, it quietly permeated the rich aroma remaining in the hall, lingering around the nose... What did it resemble?
It's just like the sweet aroma that Emperor Xuanpei smelled when he secretly ate that steamed sugar pastry under the covers in his memory.
The sweet fragrance and contentment of that moment made Emperor Xuanpei, who was used to being so restrained as to be almost stingy, subconsciously hold his breath.
It was A-Zhu who was serving the Emperor for the first time that was more nervous. When she opened her mouth, she inevitably sounded a little timid, and her voice was like that of a trembling oriole.
Holding his breath, his gaze fell on A-Zhu—the first thing that caught his eye was a delicate, smooth, and translucent white.
The back of her hand holding the teacup bore faint red marks from burns, as if she had hastily applied rouge, which made her slender fingers appear even whiter and more delicate than snow.
Because she had her head down and eyes lowered, from above one could only see her long, slender eyelashes trembling gently, and her lips, red and hazy, shimmering under the candlelight, exuding a captivating warmth.
Even her long, dark blue hair was neatly combed into double loops... Until he saw the plain silver hairpin at A-Zhu's temple, Emperor Xuanpei paused and reached out to take the teacup.
Empress Wang also subconsciously held her breath, silently watching Emperor Xuanpei and Azhu.
She only breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Emperor Xuanpei take the teacup with her own eyes.
When her gaze fell on Azhu again, Empress Wang couldn't help but smile with a hint of anticipation.
Just as I was about to see what tricks Ah Zhu would pull, I was shocked to see that Ah Zhu simply stood up quietly without even raising his head, tiptoed out with a proper bow... and left?!
? ? ?
Empress Wang's astonished expression clearly did not escape Emperor Xuanpei's notice. He held his teacup and frowned slightly.
Ah Zhu's unexpected actions displeased Empress Wang, who had missed out on a good show.
As for Emperor Xuanpei... Empress Wang glanced at him but couldn't really figure him out; he still seemed like Shen Yuan, who was far away.
The emperor and empress never got along.
Empress Wang, who was suppressing her anger, was in no mood to say anything more.
After sitting quietly for a while in tacit agreement, Emperor Xuanpei left Kunning Palace.
No sooner had Emperor Xuanpei left than Empress Wang, her face grim, ordered someone to bring Azhu here.
A note from the author:
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I've really tried to develop the plot (over a hundred chapters!), but the word count is way over the limit. The last ranking even doubled the required word count... Sigh, I can only try my best to update after the paid chapters are released. Thank you so much for your support, my lovely readers!
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