Su Peisheng, recalling the message the eunuch had just delivered, replied with a smile, "Consort Cheng is at Changchun Immortal Pavilion, chatting with Consort Wan, Consort Yu, and Consort Yun."
Big Fat Orange scoffed, "What idle chatter? It's just playing mahjong. Can't you really guess?"
Su Peisheng grinned and said, "Your Majesty is wise. The ladies don't have much to do usually, so why don't you find some fun to pass the time?"
Otherwise, if they just eat and sleep all day long, and live by staring at the hourglass, it won't be long before the whole harem goes mad.
Big Fat Orange said, "It's good that they have something to do, so as to avoid causing more trouble. I am already busy with state affairs every day and I don't want to worry about women fighting over each other."
"However, the fact that Consort Wan and Consort Yun can get along so well really surprised me."
He knew that he had been too enthusiastic towards Consort Yun in the past few days, which had caused him to neglect Zhen Huan and others.
But now he has treated everyone equally and is confident that he hasn't wronged anyone. And the results are showing.
Thinking about all the hard work these past few days, I've been working just as hard as an ox in the fields. Now that I finally have a few days off, even those reports requesting money and grain seem much more pleasant to read.
Su Peisheng said, "With the Imperial Concubine in charge, even if the ladies and concubines in the palace have any disagreements, they can still get along harmoniously."
"This servant has learned something new. Having spent half my life in the palace, I have never seen anyone as likable as Consort Cheng."
The chubby orange said, "Is it because she's likable? It's clearly because of the money in her hands that's likable."
"If you send things to the entire harem all the time, all the concubines in the harem will like you just the same."
Su Peisheng said with a smile, "Your Majesty is joking. All my possessions are thanks to Your Majesty's bestowal."
"Even if you add them all up, they wouldn't be as good as the tiny bit that leaks out between the fingers of the Imperial Concubine."
"Besides, I'm just a eunuch, and the wrinkles on my face are like those on the paulownia trees outside. How can I compare to the pleasing sight of the Imperial Concubine?"
Big Fat Orange looked at Su Peisheng and examined him carefully. To be fair, Su Peisheng was quite handsome when he was young, and he was quite popular with the palace maids.
Time waits for no one; the handsome eunuch with rosy lips and white teeth of yesteryear has now become like this.
Looking down at his own vast and expansive life, the chubby orange couldn't help but sigh.
From now on, I still need to set aside an hour and a half each day to exercise. Otherwise, I'll be mocked by that vixen every time, saying I'm not even as good as a eunuch.
Seeing Da Pang Ju's expression, Su Peisheng wondered what was on his mind and why he was staring at him like that...
Could it be that you've remembered that Su Fei again?
Su Peisheng felt wronged; what had he done to deserve this? He had always been very polite to all the concubines in the harem, regardless of whether they were favored or not!
"Your Majesty, why are you looking at me like that? I'm easily frightened."
The chubby orange cat said, "It's nothing. I just feel that so many years have passed, and we've both gotten older. So much has happened in the last ten years, and I'm no longer as youthful as I used to be."
Su Peisheng hurriedly said, "Your Majesty is in the prime of life, blessed with longevity and good fortune. How could he not be in the best of youth!"
People who are extremely wealthy and powerful all dream of living to be a hundred years old, enjoying every extra day. But for the emperor, living to be a hundred years old is not enough; he must live to be ten thousand years old.
Su Peisheng had long noticed that the emperor's health was not as good as before. He would faint and have headaches every few days.
And after this one, the next one will be even worse, and it will only be relieved by taking pills.
I took too much tonic last time, and it took me several months to recover.
But not long after, he started going to the inner palace again without restraint. The empresses and concubines, unaware of the situation, used various methods to invite him.
The number of memorials he reviewed each day was counted in baskets, and the palace maids and eunuchs who performed hard labor in the Department of Penal Justice slept an hour more than him every day.
If this continues, even with an iron body, how many more years can one live?
But the emperor himself didn't care at all, always thinking it was just a minor ailment and nothing serious.
If there's nothing seriously wrong, Su Peisheng can have sons and daughters!
The chubby orange cat was unaware of Su Peisheng's worries. He felt that even if he couldn't match the late emperor's lifespan, he wouldn't be much shorter, and he could live for at least another twenty years.
"I was just suddenly struck by a thought. At forty one is no longer confused, and at fifty one knows the will of Heaven. I was forty-five when I ascended the throne, not as old as when Chun Yuan was alive."
Su Peisheng was about to say a few more words of advice when Xia Zi came in with her head down to report.
"This servant greets Your Majesty. The Fourth Prince is kneeling outside, wishing to pay his respects. Would Your Majesty wish to see him?"
Big Fat Orange's brows, which had been relaxed just moments before, suddenly furrowed. His face, which was already dark, became even darker and more unsightly.
"Tell him to go back to his studies and not to bother me unless necessary. I don't need his greetings."
"Your servant obeys."
Xiazi reluctantly withdrew, and even his master didn't dare to say a word of advice, so he dared not do it either.
The Fourth Prince seems like such a smart and sensible child. With only a few promising talents, why does the Emperor dislike him so much?
Even princes need a mother to protect them; otherwise, they are not as good as the children of ministers.
After everyone left, Su Peisheng carefully picked up the grapes beside him and handed them to Da Pangju.
"It's hot in summer, Your Majesty, have some fruit to cool down."
"The Fourth Prince was young and raised alone in the Yuanmingyuan Garden, so it's no wonder he wanted to pay his respects to the Emperor."
"I feel annoyed just looking at him."
The fat orange cat was extremely indifferent, as if the Fourth Prince was not his biological son.
Back then, the eighth and ninth sons used Li Jingui to scheme against and humiliate him, which is how this son, whom he did not like, came to be.
The fact that he was able to be properly cared for in the Yuanmingyuan Garden was already a favor, based on blood ties. He didn't have many sons, but one or two more wouldn't make a difference.
Seeing this, Su Peisheng said no more. After all, he was the emperor's son. No matter how much he disliked him, the fourth prince would eventually be granted a princely title when he grew up.
There's nothing wrong with being a wealthy and idle person; there's no need for a eunuch like him to worry about things.
The fact that he offered even a word of advice shows his kindness!
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