Chapter 30 The past seems to be becoming increasingly complicated between him and her…
A cool breeze brushed against the fair skin covered in ointment, instantly sending a shiver down my spine.
Chu Yueyuan couldn't tell whether the coolness was from the ointment or from the suspicion in the man's tone.
Her eyes gradually reddened, and her clear, sparkling eyes met his. Her tone was resentful: "My every move is under your watchful eye, my dear minister. What could I possibly be hiding from you? It's just that I was too worried and confused, so focused on whether you were injured that I completely forgot to take care of myself..."
Her tender, soft tone was like a sweet pastry, and even Chu Yueyuan herself felt a lump in her throat from speaking it.
Fortunately, the Regent did not press further. He carefully lowered her sleeve, his long, downcast eyes obscuring her emotions.
"Since Your Majesty has injured your arm, it would be better to leave the Phoenix Seal behind and return to Phoenix Nest for rest as soon as possible. After I finish reviewing the memorials, I will affix the seal on Your Highness's behalf."
"Then... I'll have to trouble you, Minister Pei."
————
Back at Phoenix Perch Palace, Chu Yueyuan felt utterly defeated.
She witnessed the Regent eat taro and yam cake, and he didn't develop a rash or even feel the slightest discomfort.
Of course, it is not rigorous enough to deny that the man is not Xiao Yun's biological father simply because he is not allergic to taro.
The most rigorous method, which Chu Yueyuan had read about in an ancient book, was the blood-binding method.
This method requires taking a drop of blood from each of the father and son and dropping them into a bowl of water. The result is that the two drops of blood will mix together. If they do, then they are father and son.
Xiao Yun's blood was relatively easy to obtain, but obtaining blood from the Regent was virtually impossible.
She couldn't very well say to the Regent, "I find Minister Pei quite delicious. Would you be willing to emulate Duke Wen of Jin and Zijie's act of offering their flesh to their sovereign and let me taste their blood?"
She would surely be mistaken by the Regent for a demon who wanted to eat Tang Sanzang's flesh and beaten to death.
Before she could even sort things out, Granny Xu lifted the gold-sprinkled purple bamboo curtain and entered the bedroom.
"The Imperial Kitchen has sent over fresh Lipu taro. If Your Highness still wishes to eat taro paste and yam cake, this old servant will have them left over, so that they don't get mixed with other ingredients and accidentally end up being eaten by His Majesty."
Chu Yueyuan leaned against the couch, listlessly fanning herself with a palace fan, and replied weakly, "Let them take it back to the Imperial Kitchen. I noticed that the Regent Prince also disliked taro, only managing to eat one bite. Next time I go to the Hall of Diligent Governance, I won't bring this tea snack."
Her casual words struck Xu Mama like a hammer blow, leaving her stunned.
After a long while, Granny Xu finally snapped out of her daze and asked incredulously, "The Prince...ate the taro and yam cake that His Highness brought today?"
"Of course, it's still me, the Empress..."
Chu Yueyuan's mind flashed back to the image of her personally feeding the man the pastry, and her ears burned. She paused, then changed her words, "I personally watched the Regent eat it. It was just a piece of pastry. Why is Granny Xu so surprised?"
Xu Mama's expression was not good. She didn't say a word and turned around to lower the bamboo curtains one by one.
As the indoor light gradually dimmed, Chu Yueyuan's heart inexplicably sank as well.
"Granny... what are you doing?"
She straightened up from the narrow peony couch, her eyes filled with confusion.
Granny Xu gently closed the last window. As the light and shadow shifted, the silver strands at her temples silently spoke of the marks left by time.
"This old servant is old and dull-witted. Today, before the Empress Dowager left the palace, I forgot to remind you not to share taro and yam cake with the Regent. Fortunately, the Prince did not get angry or blame Your Highness for this..."
Chu Yueyuan was completely confused.
It was just a plate of snacks; why should it cause the Regent to turn against her?
Granny Xu gave a silent, bitter smile: "Your Majesty, you may not know, but eighteen years ago, many lives were lost in the palace because of this plate of taro and yam cake..."
Eighteen years ago, Pei Muwei was the ninth prince in the palace.
Consort Pei accepted the title while heavily pregnant, and gave birth to the Ninth Prince less than five months after entering the palace.
At that time, people in the palace were talking privately, saying that the Ninth Prince was not Emperor Wu's biological son, but was more likely the son of the criminal who was hanged in prison. It was only because Consort Pei was too far along in her pregnancy when she entered the palace that Emperor Wu, who was deeply in love with Consort Pei, reluctantly accepted the Ninth Prince.
Everyone in the palace knew that Emperor Wu disliked the Ninth Prince because Consort Pei's pregnancy with the Ninth Prince damaged her reproductive system, and she would never be able to conceive again.
The Ninth Prince was intelligent from a young age. He could memorize an article after the teacher at Zishan Hall had taught it once, and he could apply his knowledge to other situations. At the age of seven, he could shoot arrows with both hands on the archery field without missing a single shot.
Whether in civil or military affairs, he far surpassed the other princes.
The more outstanding the Ninth Prince was, the less Emperor Wu liked him, and the concubines and servants in the harem looked down on this prince whose bloodline was unclear.
On the ninth prince's eighth birthday, Consort Li, who was of equal rank to Consort Pei, sent a plate of taro pastries to Chonghua Palace.
Not long after the Ninth Prince ate the taro pastry, he began coughing up blood.
The imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital rushed over and, after examining the prince, concluded that he had been poisoned, and the poison had penetrated deep into his internal organs, leaving him beyond saving.
Upon hearing the news, Emperor Wu rushed to Chonghua Palace and saw Consort Pei kneeling by the bed, heartbroken. The woman's black hair was disheveled, her almond eyes were red and swollen, and she was crying out in anguish.
On that day, all the palace servants and imperial physicians in Chonghua Palace were dismissed. No one knew what Consort Pei and Emperor Wu had said. However, when Emperor Wu came out of his bedchamber again, he was pale and staggered, leaning on the dragon pillar for support.
Upon seeing this, the eunuchs hurriedly stepped forward to help him up.
Emperor Wu, however, pushed aside the eunuch and angrily denounced the Imperial Hospital for employing a bunch of useless incompetents, ordering them to cure the Ninth Prince at all costs, or else the entire Imperial Hospital would be buried alive with him!
With the imperial physicians facing imminent danger, they had no choice but to try anything, administering a potent, poison-based medicine to the Ninth Prince.
During the Ninth Prince's coma, the imperial physicians tried all sorts of poisonous medicines on him, and he almost succumbed to his injuries several times.
As Granny Xu finished speaking, a look of pity appeared in her eyes, and she sighed:
"Perhaps a passing Bodhisattva saw this and felt sorry for him, so he dropped a few drops of celestial dew into Chonghua Palace, and the Ninth Prince's condition improved day by day."
"Later, Emperor Wu ordered a thorough investigation into the matter, and it was discovered that the taro pastry sent by Consort Li was poisoned."
It turns out that Consort Li harbored resentment towards Consort Pei for entering the palace. Her eldest son was of mediocre talent and was often outshone by the ninth prince. In addition, Emperor Wu's dislike for the ninth prince was completely open. Consort Li thought that eliminating the ninth prince would be to purify the royal bloodline, and that Emperor Wu would certainly not investigate further.
Unexpectedly, Emperor Wu disregarded the objections of his officials and not only decreed the removal of Consort Li, but also executed a group of palace servants who knew the inside story.
"This old servant did not serve in the inner palace of Chonghua Palace back then, but was just a maid sweeping the outer palace. It was only because Consort Pei pleaded for us servants that Emperor Wu pardoned our death sentences and banished us from the palace."
When this happened, Madam Hu had just become pregnant. Not long after Xu Mama left the palace, she happened to enter the Chu family to work and stayed by Madam Hu's side to serve her from then on.
Learning the truth of the past from Granny Xu, Chu Yueyuan suddenly understood the source of the Liang King's hostility towards the Regent.
The birth mother of the Prince of Liang was none other than Consort Li, who had been deposed by Emperor Wu.
If Consort Li hadn't poisoned the Ninth Prince back then, according to the Great Qi's system of primogeniture, the emperor sitting on the throne today would probably be the Prince of Liang.
Given the deep-seated animosity between the Prince of Liang and the Regent, is his trip to the capital a genuine act of seeking allegiance?
Also... the Regent dislikes taro because a piece of taro pastry he ate as a child almost cost him his life, and he has held a grudge against it ever since.
But... how come the Regent ate the taro and yam cake that she personally fed him?
Chu Yueyuan's already tangled head became even more chaotic.
It seems that the relationship between him and her is becoming increasingly complicated.
——
The matter of the King of Liang presenting flawed tribute was quickly settled in the court.
The regent did not punish the King of Liang for his disrespect, but ordered the officials who escorted the tribute to be beaten to death.
Not long after, another imperial edict from the Empress Dowager arrived at Fengqi Palace. On the grounds that the new emperor had not been on the throne for a year and it was not easy to see bloodshed, the Empress Dowager pardoned the officials guarding the tribute and fined them half a year's salary.
The regent and the empress dowager, one playing the bad cop and the other the good cop, easily blew away the storm that had been raging in the court for days.
After making inquiries, Princess Liang learned that it was the young Empress Dowager who pleaded for her husband before the Regent. She was extremely grateful and often went to the Phoenix Perch Palace to pay her respects.
Upon hearing the news, Princess Consort Chen was equally unwilling to be outdone, and every few days she would bring valuable gifts to the palace to pay her respects to the young Empress Dowager.
On this day, Chu Yueyuan sent Xiao Yun to the Imperial Study. Before she could even have a cup of tea when she returned to Fengqi Palace, Xiao Yanzi rushed in, bowed, and said that Princess Chen and Miss Xia had come to pay their respects.
Upon hearing Xiao Yanzi's report, Chu Yueyuan's two delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly.
Baling is a wealthy place, and Princess Consort Chen has been frequently visiting the palace recently. In addition to presenting Baling with fine silks, satins and precious spices, she also brings her sister along to pay her respects.
Princess Consort Chen's younger sister's surname is Xia, given name Zhiyun. She is sixteen years old, in the prime of her youth, with delicate and pretty features, a charming and lovely Jiangnan beauty.
Xia Zhiyun was shy and always maintained a dignified demeanor when entering the palace. She would quietly listen to Princess Chen and Chu Yueyuan's conversation, only blushing and asking a few questions about the Regent's recent situation when the two mentioned him.
Although Chu Yueyuan had only experienced a brief romance and been married once, she could still see that Xia Zhiyun was deeply in love with the Regent.
In addition, Princess Consort Chen would often mention, intentionally or unintentionally, that the Regent was still unmarried and busy with state affairs, and that there should be a lady in the mansion to take care of him.
The implication was that she wanted Chu Yueyuan, the eldest sister-in-law, to find a good husband for her younger brother.
Chu Yueyuan smiled but didn't reply after hearing these words.
Jin Tong brought in a bowl of mung bean soup. Upon hearing Xiao Yanzi's report, she muttered to herself, "Princess Consort Chen and Miss Xia always seem to time their departures from Fengqi Palace perfectly. Miss Xia always manages to run into the Regent Prince on the Imperial Road after court and take the opportunity to chat with him for a few minutes."
Chu Yueyuan scooped up some mung bean soup and took a sip. The cool, sweet soup instantly dispelled the summer heat. She blinked curiously and asked, "What is the Regent's attitude towards Miss Xia?"
Jin Tong thought about it carefully and replied, "The prince spoke a few words with Miss Xia, and his attitude was no different from that of the other noble ladies at the palace banquet."
From Jin Tong's words, Chu Yueyuan could imagine the Regent Prince, with his handsome features, speaking to Miss Xia with an elegant demeanor that was both refined and aloof.
However, the man's aloof and detached demeanor was something that pampered young ladies craved, and they vied to pluck this unattainable flower.
Chu Yueyuan did not grow up in a privileged environment; instead, she brewed many bitter medicines for her mother. She had no illusions about things or people that were out of reach.
Cherish what you have while you have it, and be decisive when you let go, so as not to hurt yourself.
Xiao Yanzi could tell that the Empress Dowager did not want to see Princess Chen, so he suggested, "Why don't I go out and tell Princess Chen that the Empress Dowager is not feeling well today and ask her to come another day?"
The Regent treated the two princes equally in the previous court. Chu Yueyuan had just enjoyed the flowers in the Imperial Garden with Princess Liang yesterday. If Princess Chen were to be turned away today, and this matter got out, the court officials would probably start speculating wildly.
She wiped her lips with a silk handkerchief and said lazily, "It's alright. I've been playing dumb in this palace for quite some time now. Let them in."
"This servant obeys."
Princess Consort Chen visited the palace four times in half a month, and each time she was still amazed by the magnificent Phoenix Palace.
Before even entering the hall, a fragrant aroma wafted over from afar. It turned out that dozens of water vats were placed in the courtyard, each containing rare, snow-white water lilies.
The water lilies, carved from jade, are pure white and flawless, elegant and graceful. Their upright posture is like that of a fairy, quiet and beautiful, with a fragrant aroma that is refreshing and delightful.
According to the palace servants along the way, the young empress dowager liked the fragrance of lotus flowers, so the Imperial Household Department moved the water lilies blooming in the palace ponds into water vats and placed them in the courtyard outside the Phoenix Perch Hall.
In this way, the young empress dowager could open the window at night to admire the graceful water lilies in the garden, without having to go to the imperial garden on a hot summer day.
Princess Consort Chen also heard that the reason why the Inner Palace Attendants were so eager to curry favor with the young Empress Dowager was because the previous Grand Eunuch of the Inner Palace Attendants had been beaten to death by the Regent for neglecting the young Empress Dowager.
On the surface, the relationship between the emperor and his subjects was superficial, but behind the scenes, the favoritism was rampant and unbridled.
Even heroes have always found it hard to resist the charms of beautiful women.
Princess Consort Chen entered the inner hall with a beaming smile, bowed respectfully, and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. May Your Majesty be well."
Following behind Princess Chen, Xia Zhiyun bowed gracefully and said, "This humble woman greets the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager be well."
“Princess Consort Chen and Miss Xia need not stand on ceremony. Jin Tong, quickly offer them seats.”
The two looked up at the woman sitting on the red-gold nine-phoenix carved sandalwood throne, and their eyes flashed with amazement.
Sunlight streamed through the carved window lattices of the warm chamber, casting dappled morning light.
The graceful woman wore a pomegranate-red dress, with a light blue peony gauze shawl in her hand. Her hair was piled high in the clouds, adorned with a gilded hairpin with flowers and pearls. The swaying pearls illuminated her bright, clear eyes, making her gaze sparkle.
With such stunning beauty, it wouldn't be too much for a man to present her with all the treasures in the world.
As soon as Princess Consort Chen sat down, she couldn't wait to speak: "Every time I pay my respects to the Empress Dowager, I am in a daze for a while. I always feel like I am seeing a celestial maiden descended from heaven. I almost clasp my hands in prayer."
Chu Yueyuan smiled and said, "Your Highness is always joking."
Princess Consort Chen gazed at the beautiful young Empress Dowager on the phoenix throne and praised her again:
"Your Majesty, I see that the sandalwood prayer beads on your wrist are of excellent quality. Even from a distance, I can see the fine lines on the beads. Does Your Highness also enjoy worshipping Buddha?"
Chu Yueyuan subconsciously stroked the Buddhist prayer beads on her wrist, her smile serene and gentle.
Ever since she killed Eunuch Wang with her own hands, she had been having nightmares for several days in a row. The Regent learned from Eunuch Wang that she couldn't sleep well at night, so he sent someone to deliver a string of Buddhist beads, saying that they had been blessed by a high monk from Tanzhe Temple and could drive away evil spirits.
Little did she know that the demon she was wary of day and night was both far away and right before her eyes.
"Not long ago, His Majesty fell ill with a high fever. In order to pray to the Bodhisattva for His Majesty's health, I began to chant scriptures and worship Buddha."
"Humans eat grains and cereals, so how can they not get sick? Although His Majesty is the Son of Heaven, he is still young. Fortunately, the Empress Dowager takes good care of him, and His Highness has a motherly heart. I think even the gods and Buddhas would be moved if they heard about it."
Princess Consort Chen picked up her teacup and took a sip, then smiled and said, "Whenever I go to a new place, I visit the local temples to pray to the gods and Buddhas. It is said that Tanzhe Temple on the outskirts of the capital is a place of spiritual energy. The temple enshrines the true relics of Sakyamuni, and its incense is very strong. The wishes made there are also very effective."
After being reminded by Princess Consort Chen, Chu Yueyuan remembered that the Ministry of Rites had reported that the Beginning of Summer was approaching, and according to the ancestral system of the Great Qi Dynasty, she and the Emperor should leave the palace to go to the temple to offer incense and pray for good weather and a bountiful harvest.
Having been in the palace for almost half a year, Chu Yueyuan had not seen the blue sky and white clouds outside the palace for a long time, and a sense of anticipation rose in her heart.
Tanzhe Temple is located in the mountains and forests on the outskirts of Beijing. The scenery is beautiful and it can be reached by horse-drawn carriage in a day, making it a good place to offer incense and pray for blessings.
"The summer solstice is in seven days. I will be going to Tanzhe Temple with the Emperor to offer incense. If the Princess Consort is free, she may come along."
"That's wonderful! Thank you so much, Your Majesty!"
It is an unparalleled honor to accompany the Emperor on his journey. Princess Consort Chen was overjoyed and quickly rose to bow to the Empress Dowager to express her gratitude. She then said, "My sister is fond of studying traditional Chinese medicine. Knowing that she would be accompanying me to the palace today, she spent most of yesterday preparing some tea and snacks for the Empress Dowager."
Standing to one side, Xia Zhiyun smiled slightly. She opened the food box and took out a bowl of chilled dumplings and a plate of poria cocos cake.
"In the sweltering summer, I have prepared two cooling and refreshing desserts. This first dessert, Iced Cold Rice Balls, is made by steaming peeled mung beans, mashing them into a paste, adding glutinous rice flour, shaping them into small balls, cooking them, and then adding them to chilled milk. It is sweet, refreshing, and easy to digest. The second dessert, Milk and Poria Cake, also has the effect of clearing heat and removing dampness. My skills are clumsy and far inferior to those of the Imperial Kitchen cooks. I hope Your Majesty will not find them offensive."
The woman's voice was soft and gentle, like a lingering breeze from Jiangnan, so sweet it could melt your bones.
Xiao Yanzi tested the two pastries with a silver needle and found them to be fine, so she placed them on a rosewood tray and presented them.
Chu Yueyuan glanced at the exquisite snacks on the tray and smiled: "Miss Xia is very skillful. She can combine traditional Chinese medicine with food. She is much more meticulous than the imperial kitchen supervisor."
Just as the three were enjoying tea and snacks, a small, bright yellow figure rushed into the warm room like a whirlwind, its voice clear and loud:
"Your Majesty, I'm back!"
Upon seeing this person, Princess Consort Chen and Xia Zhiyun hurriedly kowtowed and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, we pay our respects to Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty!"
Chu Yueyuan looked at Xiao Yun, who was covered in sweat, squatted down and took out a silk handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead: "Your Majesty, why don't you quickly let Princess Chen and Miss Xia get rid of their formalities?"
Xiao Yun then noticed the two people in the warm pavilion. Just as he was about to speak, his gaze fell upon a glass of chilled sweet water in the food box. His eyes widened instantly, and he couldn't help but swallow.
"Ice and Snow Cold Yuanzi!"
He reached for it, but Miss Xia, kneeling on the ground, looked alarmed and cried out, "Your Majesty, wait! This dessert is not for His Majesty to eat..."
Xia Zhiyun, who usually speaks softly, suddenly raised her voice, startling not only Xiao Yun but also Chu Yueyuan.
Xiao Yun put her hands on her hips, pouted, and said, "Why can't I eat it?"
The three-year-old boy, dressed in a majestic yellow robe, spoke with a certain air of authority.
Xia Zhiyun was clearly not expected that the young emperor would come. Her flushed face turned from red to white, and she explained in a trembling voice, "Because...because His Majesty just came back from outside, and his body...his body is still hot, so it is not advisable for him to eat cold food."
Xiao Yun waved his hand dismissively and said casually, "Then I'll rest for a while before using it."
"Your Majesty is still young and your digestive system is not as strong as that of an adult. The 'ice and snow cold dumplings' contain glutinous rice flour, which can easily cause indigestion after eating them."
"Then I'll have a couple of bites."
"But...but..."
Chu Yueyuan noticed Xia Zhiyun's hesitant manner, with tears welling up in her red almond-shaped eyes. She glanced at the extra portion of Bingxue Leng Yuanzi in the food box, which was carefully chilled with crushed ice. Then, recalling what Jin Tong had said earlier, she immediately understood.
In a quarter of an hour, the court session will end. Walking on the sweltering Imperial Street, if one could eat a bite of cool and sweet iced dumplings, one would surely feel refreshed. Even the most aloof and handsome face would feel a bit more relaxed.
"Has Your Majesty forgotten the advice Physician Zhao gave you when you had indigestion last time?"
Chu Yueyuan pulled Xiao Yun into her arms and said gently, "Ice and Snow Cold Yuanzi is too cold for Your Majesty. You should not eat too much of it. Tonight, I will have Xu Mama make lychee paste and plum honey water."
Hearing that there would be a snack even tastier than Leng Yuanzi at dinner, Xiao Yun stopped being stubborn. His round eyes smiled into two crescent moons, and he stretched out his chubby little hand to make a pinky promise with Chu Yueyuan.
Xia Zhiyun's face relaxed, and she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Seeing this, Princess Consort Chen quickly stood up to smooth things over, saying with a smile that it was getting late and she and her sister would not disturb the Empress Dowager and the Emperor's afternoon rest.
Jin Tong saw Princess Chen and Miss Xia off from Fengqi Palace, and a little while later, she ran back excitedly.
"Your Highness guessed correctly. This servant saw Miss Xia and Princess Consort Chen part ways at Xuanzheng Gate. Miss Xia was carrying a food box by herself and headed towards the Imperial Street."
Chu Yueyuan leaned back in her phoenix chair, leisurely raising her palace fan. Her gaze swept over the elegantly arranged white lotus jars in the courtyard, and a faint smile appeared on her lips: "Then I will depart a few moments later today, so as not to disturb the Regent and the beauty's elegant rendezvous."
They didn't set off until after 1 p.m. When Chu Yueyuan arrived at the Hall of Diligent Governance, all the officials in the study had already left.
The two palace maids standing under the carved doorway lifted the bamboo curtain of Xiangfei. As soon as she stepped into the study, she immediately noticed the man's gaze on her.
"The Empress Dowager is too late."
Chu Yueyuan looked at the Regent standing by the window.
The window was half-open, and a warm summer breeze blew in, brushing against the man's snow-white robe with gold-embroidered bamboo patterns. The wide sleeves swayed gently in the wind, like bamboo shadows.
The sunlight shone precisely on his high, straight nose, making him appear refined and handsome.
Chu Yueyuan was momentarily stunned, thinking that this man's appearance was such that he would look good in any color clothes. The regent, dressed in a snow-white robe, had a bit of the demeanor of a celestial being in the forest.
Unexpectedly, the immortal lord frowned and his next words were to ask her for food.
"Why did the Empress Dowager come empty-handed?"
Chu Yueyuan was taken aback for a moment, then smiled slightly and said meaningfully, "I thought Minister Pei had already had tea and snacks. Granny Xu's cooking skills are superb, but she is not proficient in medicine. Eating too many snacks in this hot weather can easily cause internal heat. It would be better to drink some cooling and refreshing cold dumplings to benefit the spleen and stomach."
"Your humble servant did not visit the Imperial Catering Office today."
Seeing that the Regent was feigning ignorance, Chu Yueyuan lowered her head, gently twirled the white jade bracelet on her wrist, and said calmly:
"Just now, Princess Consort Chen and Miss Xia came to the palace to pay their respects to me. When Miss Xia left Fengqi Palace, she was carrying a heavy food box and walked straight towards the Imperial Street. I thought she would run into Minister Pei."
Pei Muwei's furrowed brows slowly relaxed, and his voice was clear and crisp: "The Empress Dowager thought that this humble subject had already eaten Miss Xia's tea and snacks, so he came empty-handed."
Chu Yueyuan kept her eyes half-closed, fiddling with the exquisite jade bracelet on her wrist, and replied casually, "Yes, as I just said, I was afraid that Minister Pei would eat too many snacks at once and hurt his spleen and stomach."
The woman stood gracefully, her head slightly lowered, revealing her small, white ears partially hidden beneath her wispy hair. The crystal earrings on her earlobes swayed gently, reflecting on her fair and rosy face. Her soft voice carried a poignant sadness that evoked sympathy.
Pei Muwei gazed at the young empress dowager's slender, lowered neck, her deep, dark eyes gleaming with a thoughtful light.
"Your humble servant did not eat the tea and snacks prepared by Miss Xia."
"ah!"
Chu Yueyuan looked up in surprise, her clear, bright eyes sparkling like a stream, and her red lips parted slightly: "Why is that?"
Pei Muwei gently tapped the rosewood table with his long hand. His expression was gentle and his tone was calm: "This humble subject does not eat food prepared by strangers."
Chu Yueyuan: .....
Yes, the Regent was poisoned when he was young, and his life teetered on the brink of death for many days. He suffered so much before he was lucky enough to survive, so naturally he was more wary than the average person.
Poor Miss Xia washed her hands and prepared a meal, only to have all her good intentions wasted.
That's fine too. After being coldly rejected by the Regent, Xia Zhiyun will be more obedient for a few days. The Princess Consort will no longer frequently run to Fengqi Palace, which will save her the trouble of socializing.
Chu Yueyuan smiled and said cheerfully, "It's my fault for not thinking things through. I will definitely bring Pei Aiqing a few more plates of tea and snacks tomorrow to make up for it."
The woman's undisguised, radiant smile was as joyful as dew swirling on a flower petal, making one want to hold her in their hands and cherish her.
Pei Muwei smiled slightly, nodded, and said calmly, "Then this humble subject thanks Your Highness in advance."
Chu Yueyuan walked gracefully to the desk and sat down. She picked up the Phoenix Seal and began her daily routine. The crisp, decisive sound of the seal being struck indicated the holder's pleasant mood.
A moment later, the bamboo curtain of the Fragrant Concubine was lifted from the outside, and Eunuch Wang, carrying a gilded cloud and dragon tray, bowed and walked in.
First, the eunuch Wang bowed to the young empress dowager, then placed the mountain of scrolls on the table, and whispered to the regent behind the desk with a smile:
"Your Highness, this is a scroll sent by Lord Lin. It contains portraits of the children of officials of the third rank or above in the capital. Please, Your Highness, add some ink to the ivory plaque you have chosen."
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