Perhaps because this is the world of a TV drama, the Imperial Garden is much larger than the one Sun Miaoqing saw when she visited the Forbidden City in her previous life.
In the past, the thing that the big fat orange cat was most interested in was reviewing memorials, and it would mark the ministers' typos and grammatical errors one by one.
At this time, unless there are other important matters, one must be handling government affairs or summoning ministers.
He's strolling leisurely through the park now, which isn't like him at all!
[What's wrong with Big Fat Orange today? Why isn't it dealing with those memorials first?]
[What's so great about the Imperial Garden? I've only been in the palace for a few days and I'm already tired of it. How come he hasn't gotten bored after all these years? He should use this free time to take a nap.]
Sun Miaoqing followed behind the chubby orange, silently complaining in her heart.
Every day, I had to get up early. Even if I was sleeping soundly, I would be woken up at 5-7 a.m., otherwise I would miss the morning assembly at Jingren Palace.
The chubby orange-haired man didn't turn his head, but said, half explaining and half sighing, "There's no end to dealing with state affairs. Why not go out for a walk and change your mood?"
"What a waste to use such precious time for sleeping."
Sun Miaoqing said, "Your Majesty is right. You are busy with your work every day. You should take a stroll in the Imperial Garden more often. This is called a balance between work and rest."
He said that on the surface, but in his heart he felt puzzled and couldn't help but think.
[It's as if he knew exactly what I was thinking; his words were so perfectly in sync.]
Da Ju's lips twitched, but he quickly tried to salvage the situation, saying with a smile, "I was just expressing my feelings. Thinking back, I was too busy with state affairs and wasted this precious time."
"It's a pity that it's already late autumn, and there are only chrysanthemums to admire. If it were springtime, the Imperial Garden would be full of flowers, each vying for attention, creating a unique and beautiful scene."
"When that time comes, I will invite you over so we can enjoy it together."
Sun Miaoqing breathed a sigh of relief. So that's how it was. It gave her quite a fright.
[I knew it! Nobody can know what someone is thinking; they're not mind readers.]
"I am delighted by Your Majesty's invitation, as long as Your Majesty does not find me too talkative."
Big Fat Orange turned around and looked at Sun Miaoqing. The expression on its face made Sun Miaoqing feel very strange.
[The chubby orange cat's expression... does it look a bit like it's constipated?]
Constipation in public?
Big Fat Orange thought to himself, if he were to die one day, it would most likely be because of this Noble Consort Cheng!
However, being able to glimpse what she was thinking gave him a secret pleasure that he couldn't give up.
If he hadn't been able to hear her thoughts, he wouldn't have known that such a young woman could be two-faced to such an extent.
This shows that his concubines, who claimed to care about him and be in love with him every day, were secretly plotting something while lying beside him.
Sun Miaoqing shook her head, clearing away all those messy thoughts, and quickly found an excuse to warm up the atmosphere.
"Your Majesty, look at these chrysanthemums, how vibrant they are in bloom. They are delicate yet not noisy, beautiful yet not gaudy, and just this cluster alone has five or six colors."
Looking at the flowerbed in front of him, the big fat orange said, "In the morning I drink the dew that falls from the magnolia, and in the evening I eat the fallen petals of the autumn chrysanthemum."
"Chrysanthemums are the flowers of gentlemen, and have always been known as the hermit among flowers."
"Qing'er seems to really like this flower?"
That "Qing'er" gave Sun Miaoqing goosebumps. It was so cheesy and really made her uncomfortable.
Sun Miaoqing said, "I like any flower, as long as it blooms beautifully."
"But if we're talking about who in the palace likes this recluse among flowers the most, it has to be Sister Mei."
The chubby orange cat asked in confusion, "Sister Mei?"
Sun Miaoqing said, "It was Consort Shen, who was chosen by the Emperor at the same time as me, and we entered the palace on the same day."
The chubby orange-haired man thought for a moment, seemingly having some recollection, and then said, "I remember there was a Consort Guan back then."
"The three of you, who were standing together during the palace selection, aren't you?"
Sun Miaoqing smiled. She knew that even if Big Fatty Orange forgot someone, he wouldn't forget Huanhuan.
"Your Majesty has a good memory, but Sister Huan fell ill after entering the palace and has not yet recovered."
Big Fatty Orange remembered what the Empress had told him: Consort Wan had fallen ill from fright after accidentally seeing Fu Zi's corpse.
It's rare to encounter a woman so similar to Chun Yuan; it would be a real pity if she were to fall ill for a long time because of this.
Big Fatty Orange took Sun Miaoqing's hands in both of theirs, and the two looked into each other's eyes as he spoke.
"I remember that a few days ago, the governor of Shandong sent some top-quality Dong'e donkey-hide gelatin."
"I'll have someone send some over to you in a bit. It's perfect for nourishing your body in winter."
Sun Miaoqing said, "Your Majesty, I thank you."
Big Fat Orange then added, "You just mentioned that Consort Wan is still ill. It's pitiful that she entered the palace alone."
"Su Peisheng, send some to her later too."
Su Peisheng replied, "This servant obeys the decree."
I thought it was just for me, but it turns out it was included as a bonus.
[I knew that if it weren't for Zhen Huan, she wouldn't have thought of me.]
Her illness definitely won't get better until next year when the apricot blossoms are in full bloom and the rain is light. No matter how much you want to, you can only endure it.
The big, fat orange cat was laughing like the chrysanthemums beside it.
Sure enough, no woman could resist his charm.
"What, are you jealous because you heard I sent something to Consort Wan?"
Sun Miaoqing pouted at him, "I didn't mean it. If you want to send something to someone, just send it directly. Why do you have to use me as an excuse?"
Jealous? Are all men this confident? Don't they even look at their own physique?
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