Chapter 201 Getting Along
When Xiao Qing woke up, she habitually stretched her muscles outside and then enjoyed a comfortable breakfast.
The porridge is a bit bland today...
Something seems to be missing?
She only realized something was missing after she finished eating.
Xiao Yan is missing.
This child used to visit Chengde Palace quite frequently, even though she dealt with it indifferently and later simply stopped coming. He still insisted on coming from time to time.
Moreover, her attitude towards him has improved now. Whenever he comes, she will dine with him. Isn't that great?
Why didn't you come today?
Xiao Qing rested her chin on her hand, looking somewhat languid.
Hmm, he should probably go to the Imperial Academy to study.
Thinking of the fleeting look Xiao Yan gave her at the Winter Solstice banquet yesterday, she pursed her lips and didn't take it to heart.
Mingxiu had just returned from Chu Lianzhou's place.
She changed Chu Lianzhou's dressing, ordered breakfast, and then quickly returned to report.
Xiao Qing asked about Chu Lianzhou's condition and whether he had said anything, and Mingxiu answered in detail, finally sighing with emotion.
Xiao Qing asked curiously, "What are you thinking about, Mingxiu?"
"Your Majesty, Miss Chu doesn't seem to be willing to agree."
"How so?"
"Too calm, too silent." Mingxiu thought for a moment, "Wouldn't an ordinary woman agree immediately when faced with such a good thing? But she seems to be still thinking about it."
Xiao Qing then smiled.
"Isn't this great? If she agreed immediately..." She thought for a moment, "You mean Wang Yu from the Wang family, right?"
Then she waved her hand dismissively, saying, "She couldn't."
There was no need to attend court today. Xiao Qing thought that she had kept Chu Lianzhou behind yesterday without saying what to do with him. Today, either Fu Mingyi or Wang Xiang would come looking for her, right?
Hmm, she thought about what she would say if they asked.
Wang Xiang is shrewd and calculating; he probably won't come looking for us today.
Fu Mingyi was quite likely to come today, since he was the Grand Tutor and had a very low tolerance for her inappropriate behavior, so he couldn't help but come and teach her a lesson.
Let's wait until he arrives; she needs to go see Chu Lianzhou now.
The sun was shining brightly outside today. Seeing that the weather was nice, Xiao Qing excitedly asked Ma Hong to bring out the wheelchair that Li Qinghe had made for her. Then she put Chu Lianzhou in the wheelchair and pushed him out to the small garden for a stroll.
Chu Lianzhou initially refused and declined several times, but Xiao Qing insisted.
“You can’t just stay indoors and get moldy even if you’re injured. The sun is really nice outside. If you’re afraid of the cold, wear more warm clothes. By the way, Mingxiu, I saw a fox fur cloak in the storeroom earlier. It’s just what we need now, so I’ll fetch it for Lianzhou.”
Mingxiu was stunned for a moment.
She remembered that fox fur cloak. It was a New Year's gift presented as tribute from the local area. Xiao Qing liked it very much, and when she received it, she touched the soft fur and praised it endlessly. It was a pity that it was a women's style. Xiao Qing put it on and looked at herself in the mirror for a long time, but in the end, she still couldn't wear it in front of others, so she asked Mingxiu to put it away.
Mingxiu glanced unconsciously at Chu Lianzhou, who was being held in a wheelchair by Xiao Qing. She noticed a blush under Chu Lianzhou's ears, and Xiao Qing was bending over to adjust the angle of the wheelchair. Mingxiu felt a strange, indescribable feeling.
His Majesty's kindness towards Chu Lianzhou was not feigned.
"Go quickly," Xiao Qing urged again when she saw that she was still standing there in a daze.
Mingxiu quickly got to work, and the inexplicable feeling in her heart was soon put aside.
Xiao Qing stroked his chin. "It is a bit small, but you'll have to make do for now. When we get back, I'll instruct the Imperial Household Department to see if they can modify it. Once you've recovered, you won't need it anymore."
Ma Hong smiled and said, "This servant will send someone to inquire immediately."
Chu Lianzhou struggled for a moment, "Your Majesty, I am fine, I can actually walk..."
Xiao Qing shook her head, "No, you can only leave when you're better."
Chu Lianzhou lowered his head, somewhat unable to look at her any longer.
While living in the Chu family, she had never been treated with such meticulous care and tenderness since her mother's death.
Her father was a weak and timid man who only obeyed the arrangements of his elders and was afraid of his second wife. He had forgotten all the harmonious relationship he had with his first wife and didn't even give her a second glance.
And those brothers and sisters...
Chu Lianzhou gritted his teeth, still unwilling to look up.
Xiao Qing sensed her low spirits and her heart softened. She unconsciously patted her shoulder, just as she would when she treated Mingxiu in private.
Pain can make you grow; no matter how much advice others give, you still have to figure it out yourself.
"Look, people should look forward. If you keep thinking about the past and can't let go, you'll feel heavier and heavier..." to the point of being unbearable.
Mingxiu stood at the door for a while, holding the cloak, before saying, "Your Majesty, the cloak has been brought."
Xiao Qing happily took the shawl and draped it over Chu Lianzhou's shoulders. She then stepped back two paces, stroked her chin, and nodded with a smile, saying, "Lianzhou looks great in this shade of purple."
Chu Lianzhou smiled genuinely.
Xiao Qing pushed Chu Lianzhou in a stroller to bask in the sun in the small garden, and then had lunch with her, discussing poetry and classics. They were truly happy.
She discovered that Chu Lianzhou had actually read many books, all sorts of books. Moreover, perhaps because of her personal experiences, she often had unusual perspectives on certain things.
Chu Lianzhou discovered that Xiao Qing was indeed a kind and approachable emperor who made people feel relaxed and at ease.
His Majesty dislikes formalities and etiquette, so he is quite casual in private; His Majesty is close to Chief Eunuch Ming, sometimes even appearing intimate; His Majesty is fair, straightforward, and upright, and has his own internal standards for judging things…
Chu Lianzhou's resolve had softened.
But she doesn't want to make a decision so soon.
She left the Chu family to live in an environment completely unfamiliar to her, letting go of her obsession with her mother's last wish...
She wasn't prepared.
Chu Lianzhou slept well that night.
However, Xiao Qing remained puzzled for a while before finally falling asleep.
It's understandable that Wang Xiang didn't come.
Why didn't Fu Mingyi enter the palace either?
The next day, Xiao Qing still accompanied Chu Lianzhou, and had Mingxiu bring out a lot of jewelry and ornaments, which were placed in front of her and she helped her choose one by one.
Xiao Qing has found new enjoyment.
What she couldn't achieve on herself, she could achieve on Chu Lianzhou.
"This, this, this looks good. Mingxiu, let Lianzhou try this on..."
"This one isn't good, let's try that one..."
"Haha, this... is so strange... haha..."
Chu Lianzhou was helpless.
"His Majesty……"
She discovered that His Majesty could be not only kind and gentle, but also so childlike, even mischievous.
Xiao Qing also discovered that Chu Lianzhou's happiness had not been worn away by the hardships of life.
Contrary to her cool and aloof appearance, she always seemed to have a burning passion inside, which was the driving force behind her hope for life.
Her expression softened further.
"Lian Zhou, are you having a good time here?"
Chu Lianzhou's expression gradually became serious.
"Joyful as a phantom."
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