Deep in the apricot grove
Zhen Huan sat on the swing set, and Liu Zhu stood behind her, gently pushing her to swing.
"My lady, the prince mentioned last time that he had two musical scores and invited you to appreciate them together today."
"But it's already this late, and the Prince still hasn't arrived. I wonder if he's too busy with matters of the previous dynasty and has forgotten about this."
Zhen Huan said, "I don't know either. In a way, we shouldn't have met. It's better that he didn't come. If he had come, I wouldn't know what to do."
Sun Miaoqing, Liuli, and Linglan stood to the left and behind Zhen Huan, about ten steps away.
In front of them was an artificial hill, with vines climbing up it. As long as they didn't make any big noise, they didn't have to worry about being discovered.
Separated by the artificial hill, the chubby orange cat told Su Peisheng to lead his men away first. He then slowly walked to Zhen Huan's right, listening to the conversation between the mistress and her servant.
As Liu Zhu pushed the cart, she said absentmindedly, "That's true. I'm always worried about being seen by others, and then there will be all sorts of rumors and gossip."
Zhen Huan said, "My relationship with the prince was originally innocent. When I met with him, I did so with the intention of learning some news about the emperor."
"I was unlucky. I fell ill after entering the palace, and I haven't even seen what the emperor looks like yet."
Liu Zhu comforted her, "Your Highness is well-read, beautiful, and truly devoted to the Emperor. Once you recover and meet the Emperor, you will surely be as favored as Consort Cheng."
Zhen Huan smiled gently and said shyly, "Don't talk nonsense. There are many talented and beautiful women in the palace. I am just an unknown concubine. How dare I hope for the Emperor's favor?"
"But whenever I see the Emperor's poems and writings mourning Empress Chun Yuan, the depth of his feelings is rarely seen in the world."
"The Emperor is the most affectionate person in the world. I am moved by the Emperor not because he is the Emperor, but because of his heart."
Liu Zhu smiled and said, "This servant doesn't understand these things. This servant only knows that in Your Highness's eyes, no matter how good the Prince is, he can't compare to even a tenth of the Emperor."
Sun Miaoqing hid behind, watching Zhen Huan and Liu Zhu there. Their back-and-forth banter moved the chubby orange to tears.
Look at that desolate figure, that big, fat orange cat with a broad back and a burly build, yet carrying a sense of brokenness. Sun Miaoqing couldn't help but sigh for him; his good fortune was yet to come!
But Zhen Huan is really good at it!
In just a moment, the chubby orange, deeply moved, quietly walked behind Zhen Huan. Just like their previous meeting, he took Liu Zhu's place and pushed Zhen Huan harder on the swing.
Zhen Huan seemed to only then notice his arrival, turning her head on the swing in surprise and saying, "Your Highness, you've come?"
The chubby orange said, "Since I made an appointment with you, I will not break it. The reason I am a little late is because something came up in the previous dynasty."
"Please forgive Changzai for keeping you waiting."
Zhen Huan said, "The affairs of state are of utmost importance, and besides, I am not here solely to wait for Your Highness to arrive."
"The spring scenery is just right now, and swinging on a swing in this apricot grove is quite fun."
The chubby orange stopped what it was doing, the swing stopped, and Zhen Huan stood up and took a few steps forward to distance herself from him.
Although she knew the man before her was the emperor, she had to play her part completely. Zhen Huan didn't want to leave him with the impression that she was frivolous and seduced by other men.
Perhaps he's in the middle of his excitement and hasn't thought of these things yet. But since everyone says the emperor is deeply suspicious, she has to be on guard.
So that he won't complain about the food being spoiled after he's eaten it!
Seeing that Zhen Huan had distanced herself from him, the chubby orange cat sat directly on the swing. Then, he pulled a piece of silk from his sleeve and handed it to Liu Zhu, indicating that she should give it to Zhen Huan.
"As I mentioned before, I brought two rare musical scores for you to appreciate, but for some reason I only found one of them."
"Take a look and see if it suits your taste."
Zhen Huan took the silk scroll handed to her by Liu Zhu, opened it, and exclaimed with delight, "It flows like clouds and water, with a lingering aftertaste; it is indeed a fine piece of music."
"However, if played on a zither, it seems more suitable than a xiao (vertical bamboo flute)."
Appreciation shone in the big orange cat's eyes; he could discern this with just a glance. While not quite as exceptionally talented as Chun Yuan, he was certainly not far off.
Zhen Huan noticed that the chubby orange cat didn't speak, but just looked at her with a half-smile, as if it had thought of something again.
Unable to resist asking, "Why is Your Highness looking at me like that? Did I say something wrong?"
Big Fat Orange came to his senses and said, "It's nothing. I just didn't expect that Consort Chang was so knowledgeable about music."
"I am unworthy of Your Highness's praise; it would be mere presumptuous to try my hand at this."
Zhen Huan lowered her head slightly, revealing her snow-white neck and beautiful jawline, looking like a jade beauty in the sunlight.
Sun Miaoqing became increasingly engrossed in watching, while Zhen Huan, facing her, kept her gaze fixed on the large, chubby orange cat. She didn't look in her direction, which is why she didn't notice Sun Miaoqing watching from the side.
She pulled her head back, only daring to peek out with one eye, relying on her peripheral vision and ears to watch the show.
[This is truly an eyesore! Prince Guo, how old are you this year? And that fat orange cat is really something, using his younger brother's identity to seduce his own wife, it's unbearable to watch.]
[But I like watching this scene (?°3°)-?]
The smile on Big Orange's face froze instantly. That voice...
Turning around to look behind him, he saw someone hiding behind the artificial hill. When he noticed him turn around, the person immediately hid back behind him.
The big orange cat said, "What kind of behavior is this, hiding like this? Hurry up and come out."
Sun Miaoqing flicked the silk handkerchief in her hand, rolled her eyes, and led Linglan and Liuli out.
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