Chapter 58 Nothing Surprising Anymore
Palace servants began to file in, carrying exquisitely crafted dishes to serve the ministers and ladies-in-waiting. The hall was immediately filled with the aroma of various foods.
However, when the meal was laid out before the throne, everyone noticed something was different.
At the other seats, the imperial delicacies were all exquisite, with a dazzling array of colors, aromas, and flavors. Only the small table in front of Consort Chen, Su Luoxue, was set with a completely different meal.
It was a bowl of thin porridge, almost transparent with no visible rice grains, accompanied by several small dishes that looked extremely bland, even tasteless, such as blanched greens, steamed fish paste, and a small bowl of clear soup skimmed clean of oil. Next to it was a small dish of pitted plums and a few slices of fresh, mild-smelling fruit.
Compared to the lavish spread throughout the hall, this meal was rather simple and even a little meager.
Several high-ranking officials and noble ladies near the throne could see it clearly and understood—this must have been specially ordered by His Majesty for the Imperial Concubine, who was suffering from severe morning sickness and could not eat greasy food.
Yuwen Che didn't even glance at the sumptuous dishes in front of him; his attention was entirely focused on Su Luoxue's portion that she was eating alone.
"Xue'er, try this porridge. I had them use broth to make the base, but they skimmed off all the oil, so there's no fishy smell at all." He personally picked up the bowl of clear porridge, stirred it with a jade spoon, and brought it to her lips.
Su Luoxue smelled the porridge; the temperature was just right, with only a faint aroma of rice and an indescribable sweetness, which indeed did not cause her any discomfort. She took a small sip, and the warm porridge slid into her stomach, bringing a sense of warmth, without making her feel nauseous.
She nodded slightly.
A look of relief flashed in Yuwen Che's eyes as he patiently continued to feed her spoonful by spoonful.
He picked up a little more fish paste: "Try this one too. It's a fresh fish that was just delivered this morning. Only the tenderest part was used, and only a little salt was added when steaming it."
Su Luoxue obediently opened her mouth and ate, and still had no adverse reactions.
Yuwen Che seemed to have found the trick, and let her taste the vegetables and drink some clear soup. Although she only ate a little bit of each, at least she didn't vomit again.
Throughout the entire process, Yuwen Che was extremely patient, as if feeding her was the most important thing in the world at that moment. He completely ignored the delicious food in front of him, and seemed to have forgotten that there were many ministers and a princess from the Northern Kingdom watching in the palace.
Helian Mingzhu watched this scene with utter absurdity, losing all appetite. Before her lay roasted mutton and dairy products, specially requested by the Northern Kingdom delegation and prepared to suit her taste, yet they now tasted utterly tasteless.
An emperor, at a state banquet, left a table full of imperial delicacies untouched, and instead served a concubine like a servant, carefully and happily, while she ate... the kind of food that was not presentable.
This isn't just pampering, this is... insane! They've lost their minds!
Looking at Su Luoxue's pale face, which held a satisfied smile, and then at Yuwen Che's focused and gentle expression, a strange chill crept up her spine.
She began to truly realize that her brother's decision to send her here might have been a mistake from the very beginning. There was absolutely no room in this man's heart for anyone else, not even the slightest bit. All her scheming and charm seemed so laughable and powerless before this impenetrable wall of a man named Su Luoxue.
This welcoming banquet became the longest ordeal for her.
The people in the hall were already used to the scene of His Majesty personally serving the Imperial Concubine his meal. After all, they had witnessed shocking events such as the bloody massacre at the palace gates, the empress being turned into a human pig, and the court bestowing a minister's daughter into marriage with a hunter. This little matter was nothing to them. Everyone kept their eyes down, eating their own meals, occasionally exchanging quiet conversations, as if the area around the throne was another world entirely.
Yuwen Che's attention was entirely on Su Luoxue. Seeing that she was finally able to swallow some food, he felt a little relieved and patiently coaxed her to eat another small piece of sweet fruit.
Just then, a small figure carrying its own little bowl ran up the steps, squeezed next to Yuwen Che, looked up at him with pleading eyes, and made a request in a childish voice:
"Father, Hao'er wants to be fed too!"
Seeing his father gently feeding Consort Chen, the eldest prince Yuwen Hao, being a child, also longed for that rare attention and closeness.
Consort De was terrified and quickly stood up: "Hao'er! Don't be rude! Come back quickly!" Her face was pale, fearing that her son's sudden action would anger His Majesty.
Yuwen Che was interrupted and paused for a moment, looking down at his son beside him, whose features resembled his own. He was usually busy with official duties and wasn't particularly close to this son. Looking into the child's innocent and longing eyes, he was momentarily at a loss for words. His usual coldness seemed ill-suited to this child.
There was a moment of stillness in the air.
Upon seeing this, Su Luoxue immediately put down her silver chopsticks, a gentle smile spreading across her face. She reached out her hand to Yuwen Hao and said softly, "Hao'er, come to Empress Chen."
She naturally took the small jade bowl filled with soup from Yuwen Hao's hand, gently stirred it with a spoon, blew on it, then scooped up a spoonful and held it to the little guy's lips, her voice soft and sweet: "Come on, shall Your Majesty feed you? Look at the soup Hao'er brought himself, isn't it delicious?"
Yuwen Hao's attention was immediately diverted. He looked at the gentle-smiling Empress Chen, then at the spoonful of steaming soup, and nodded vigorously: "Delicious!" Then he obediently opened his little mouth and ate it in one gulp.
"Good boy!" Su Luoxue praised with a smile, and fed him another spoonful.
Yuwen Che watched as Su Luoxue skillfully and naturally soothed the child, defusing the slight awkwardness from before, and his heart softened. He reached out and gently patted Yuwen Hao's head, his tone softening as he said, "Eat slowly, don't choke."
Consort De watched from below and saw that His Majesty was not angry, but instead showed a rare gentleness. Consort Chen also treated Hao'er so well. Her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, was finally put at ease. She looked at Su Luoxue with gratitude.
Helian Mingzhu witnessed everything, her heart filled with complex emotions. That Su Luoxue had not only captured Yuwen Che's heart, but even his son could be so naturally close to her… This woman was far from the simple and harmless person she appeared to be!
Yuwen Hao was satisfied after being fed a few bites by Su Luoxue, and then ran back to Consort De's side.
Su Luoxue picked up a handkerchief, wiped her hands, and looked up at Yuwen Che. Seeing him staring intently at her, she blushed slightly and whispered reproachfully, "What are you looking at..."
Yuwen Che held her hand and whispered, "I am watching. My Xue'er will definitely be a good mother in the future."
Su Luoxue felt a sweet warmth in her heart and leaned on his shoulder. The slight jealousy she had felt earlier because of the Northern Kingdom princess's dance had long since vanished.
The banquet proceeded in a delicate balance. The music continued, and the clinking of glasses never ceased, but everyone's attention, more or less, was drawn to the throne high above.
Several high-ranking concubines sat together, leisurely sipping fruit wine, occasionally exchanging a few words in hushed tones, their gazes calm, showing little inclination to compete for attention.
"Sister Zhang, how well is the green plum tree in your palace blooming this year? I got some excellent snow water a few days ago. How about inviting the ladies to your place tomorrow to brew tea and admire the plum blossoms?" A concubine dressed in a lake-blue palace dress suggested with a light smile.
Wanyi, who was addressed as Sister Zhang, nodded in agreement: "That would be wonderful. My plum blossoms are in full bloom, and it would be lonely to admire them alone. It would be much more enjoyable with my sisters by my side."
Another concubine chimed in, "I've heard that the Imperial Clothing Bureau has recently hired several embroiderers from Jiangnan. Their skills are exquisite. Let's go and see them another day and have some clothes made for the New Year."
"That's right. Time flies, so we should always dress smartly so that we can look good to ourselves."
Their conversations revolved around romance, daily life, and the mundane details of life, as if the incomparably handsome and powerful Emperor had little to do with them. To live a peaceful life, retaining the honor and sustenance of a concubine, and occasionally gathering with close female friends to while away the long hours in the deep palace was already a very good outcome. Moreover, as long as their maternal families were blameless, the Emperor was generous to them, providing not only monthly stipends but also substantial rewards for each palace on holidays. The palace servants dared not fawn over the powerful or belittle the weak. As for the Emperor's favor…
On the throne, Su Luoxue leaned against Yuwen Che's strong shoulder, one of her hands unconsciously and gently resting on her slightly protruding belly, feeling the faint presence of the two little lives inside.
"Ache," she said softly, with a hint of longing and curiosity, "do you think... they will be two little princes, or two little princesses? Or... one prince and one princess?"
Yuwen Che looked down at her profile as she focused on stroking her belly. Her long eyelashes cast a faint shadow under her eyes. His tone was gentler and more expectant than ever before: "As long as it is our child, whether it is a prince or a princess, I will be happy."
Su Luoxue raised her head, her eyes shining: "If there are two little princes, they will definitely be as brave and extraordinary as you, and they can be your right-hand men in the future, helping you to protect this Great Zhou Dynasty."
Yuwen Che chuckled, his fingertips brushing her cheek: "If you're like me, I'm afraid you'll be a troublesome person in the future, giving you a headache."
“No way,” Su Luoxue retorted immediately, with the blind favoritism of a mother, “Our children will definitely be the most sensible.” She paused, then fell into reverie, “If there were two little princesses… I would dress them up beautifully, teach them music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and make them the happiest little princesses in the world.”
Her eyes were so tender they could melt your heart: "Ideally, it would be a prince and a princess. That way, the brother can protect the sister, just like... just like you protect me."
Touched by the vision of the future she described, Yuwen Che tightened his grip on her arm and said in a deep voice, "Very well. Regardless of gender, I will give them the best of everything in this world. For the prince, I will personally teach him how to be a ruler; for the princess, I will let her enjoy all the love and pampering she deserves, and she will never suffer the slightest grievance."
He leaned down and gently pressed his ear against her lower abdomen, trying to listen to her faint heartbeat. His voice was deep and powerful: "You must be good and not bother your mother, understand? Father and Mother are waiting for your safe arrival."
Seeing his childlike actions, Su Luoxue couldn't help but smile, her heart filled with immense happiness and anticipation. The discomforts of pregnancy and the anxieties caused by external disturbances all transformed into beautiful hopes for the future.
Helian Mingzhu watched from afar as the emperor and his consort embraced and whispered, seemingly surrounded by an invisible barrier. She watched as Yuwen Che so naturally bent down to listen to a consort's abdomen, and everything before her seemed utterly absurd and glaringly obvious. She completely lost patience and abruptly stood up.
“Your Majesty,” she said, her voice hardening as she interrupted the tender moment beside the throne, “Mingzhu is feeling unwell and will take her leave now.”
Yuwen Che didn't even raise his head, he just waved his hand casually, as if shooing away a bothersome flying insect.
Li Dehai hurriedly stepped forward: "This servant respectfully sees Your Highness off."
Helian Mingzhu practically fled the hall, shutting herself out of the revelry and the blinding warmth behind her. She needed to calm down, to reassess how she could fulfill her brother's entrustment to such an unyielding emperor who only had one person in his heart. Or rather… was it even worth continuing this doomed effort?
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