031
It was late autumn, and the mountains were ablaze with color, the forests a tapestry of vibrant hues. The Emperor issued an edict, ordering the entire palace to stay for several days at the Fengqi Hot Spring Palace on the outskirts of the capital, both to appreciate the autumn scenery and to relax. The edict specifically named Consort Wen as his companion, adding that "Princess Zhaochen, intelligent and quick-witted, is specially permitted to accompany you, to comfort your family." This was undoubtedly a tremendous favor bestowed upon Consort Wen and her daughter, drawing attention from all within the palace.
Si Mianmian knew full well that this trip was far from a simple vacation. The Phoenix Palace was far from the imperial court, and its rules were relatively lax, making it a place where various factions lowered their guard and where true feelings and weaknesses were more easily revealed. She needed to seize this opportunity to further solidify her relationships with her father, her elder brother the Crown Prince, and other key figures.
Survival Handbook Rule #31: Stepping away from your daily environment is the perfect opportunity to break down preconceived notions and build new connections. True character shines through in relaxation, and destiny is revealed in the smallest details.
Phoenix Palace is nestled against the mountains and beside the water, with steaming hot springs and picturesque autumn scenery. The Emperor resides alone in the Qingyan Hall, while Consort Wen and Si Mianmian are arranged to live in the Qixia Pavilion, not far from the Emperor's sleeping quarters, a tranquil setting that reflects the Emperor's favor. Crown Prince Si Jingjin lives in the Linfeng Courtyard, while Heir Apparent Rong Jingyu and the hostage Xuan Jing share the Tingsong Pavilion. This seemingly casual arrangement subtly reflects the delicate connection between their social status and position.
On the day of their arrival, exhausted from their journey, the Emperor only ordered dinner and did not hold a grand banquet. At the table, only the Emperor, Consort Wen, and Si Mianmian were present, creating a rare atmosphere of casual homeliness. Si Mianmian shed her palace formality, changing into a casual apricot-yellow silk dress, with only a newly picked osmanthus blossom in her hair. She chatted and laughed, recounting her experiences on the journey, and subtly steered the conversation to the health-preserving soups that Consort Wen had recently learned to make, saying they were specially prepared for her father's dry cough in the autumn.
Looking at the gentle and serene Consort Wen under the lamplight, and then at his lively and charming daughter, the Emperor seemed to have lost much of the fatigue from reviewing memorials for days, and his brows and eyes showed a rare relaxation. He tasted a sip of the soup that Consort Wen had personally prepared and nodded in praise, "My dear consort, you have put your heart into this. The taste is refreshing and very good."
Consort Wen lowered her head slightly, a blush rising on her cheeks: "If Your Majesty is pleased, that's good." Under the lamplight, even the fine lines at the corners of her eyes exuded tenderness.
Si Mianmian handed over a peeled tangerine at the right moment and said coquettishly, "Father Emperor works hard all day long, and Mother Consort worries about him every day. Now that we can finally relax, Father Emperor should take a good rest and let Mother Consort keep you company."
The emperor took the orange, his gaze lingering on Consort Wen's face for a moment, and he jokingly said, "Look, even your daughter cares for me more than you do."
A simple home-cooked meal, enjoyed with great joy. The warmth of the family of three felt genuinely touching at that moment. Si Mianmian knew that this seemingly ordinary family happiness was something she and her mother had painstakingly cultivated over the years, even risking their lives for, and it was all the more precious.
The next day, the autumn sun shone warmly. The palace had a special bath for the women, the Hibiscus Bath, built of white marble and hidden among a maple forest. The hot spring water was smooth and steaming. Si Mianmian accompanied Consort Wen to bathe and relax.
To their surprise, just as they reached the outside of the hot spring, they heard the cheerful laughter of women coming from inside. It turned out to be the Seventh Princess, Si Yunshang, and several close female members of the imperial clan. Upon seeing Consort Wen and her daughter enter, the laughter abruptly ceased. Si Yunshang pursed her lips, gave a perfunctory bow, and her gaze swept over Si Mianmian with undisguised jealousy and mockery.
"Oh, who do we have here? It's Consort Wen and Ninth Sister. Of course, with such a fine hot spring, Ninth Sister is currently enjoying the Emperor's favor, so she should naturally come and enjoy it." Si Yunshang's words were ambiguous.
Consort Wen was gentle by nature and did not want to argue. She simply nodded slightly and then tried to find a quiet corner. Si Mianmian, however, took her mother's arm, her face beaming with a bright smile, and said in a clear voice, "Seventh Sister is well. Father is benevolent and his grace extends to the entire palace, which is why we sisters can share this essence of heaven and earth. Please make yourselves at home, sisters. I will accompany Mother over there."
Her attitude was neither servile nor arrogant; she clearly stated that this was a favor from the Emperor, not exclusively hers, while maintaining basic courtesy, leaving no room for criticism. Pulling Consort Wen to sit down a little further away by the pond, Si Mianmian personally combed her mother's long hair and massaged her shoulders and neck, her expression focused and gentle, as if her eyes were only on her mother. Her filial devotion only served to highlight how unnecessary the commotion caused by Si Yunshang and the others seemed.
In the misty steam, Si Mianmian whispered to Consort Wen, "Mother, why bother with them? Let's soak in our own hot spring. The water is warm and soothing. Just close your eyes and enjoy it." Her voice had a calming magic, and Consort Wen gradually relaxed.
However, Si Mianmian kept her eyes fixed on the entrance. She was waiting for an opportunity for a "chance encounter." Sure enough, less than a quarter of an hour later, the sound of palace servants paying their respects came from outside—it was the Empress herself who had arrived at the Hibiscus Soup!
Everyone quickly rose and bowed. The Empress's gaze swept across the room, lingering briefly on Consort Wen before finally settling on Si Mianmian's damp and delicate face. She smiled gently and said, "Rise, all of you. I've been enjoying some rare leisure time, so I've come to relax. No need for formalities, just do as you please."
Si Mianmian's heart skipped a beat; she knew her opportunity had arrived. Instead of rushing forward to curry favor, she served Consort Wen even more attentively. Only after the Empress entered the water did she "accidentally" pass by the Empress, using the pretext of fetching honey for her mother. Seeing the Empress rubbing her temples with a somewhat weary expression, she stopped and asked timidly yet with concern, "Mother, do you have a headache? The hot spring water is hot; massaging your temples with a refreshing and invigorating dew would be much more comfortable. I brought a small bottle of a blend of mint and chrysanthemum with me; if Mother doesn't mind…"
The Empress looked at her with some surprise. The girl's eyes were clear and innocent, filled only with pure concern. She smiled slightly: "Oh? Mianmian knows these things?"
"I am dull-witted, but I have noticed that my mother is sometimes unwell, so I have looked for some ancient remedies and tried to make them myself, hoping to share some of her burdens..." She spoke humbly, but perfectly revealed her filial piety and thoughtfulness.
The Empress gestured for her to come closer. Si Mianmian knelt by the pool, dipped her fingertips in the fragrant dew, and gently massaged the Empress's forehead. Her technique was clumsy, but extremely earnest, with the piety of a young girl. The coolness of mint and the delicate fragrance of chrysanthemum filled the air, and the Empress closed her eyes comfortably, sighing softly, "It's kind of you to have such a thoughtful heart."
This scene, witnessed by Si Yunshang who was not far away, was utterly irritating! She never expected that Si Mianmian would dare to fawn over the Empress in front of so many people! And the Empress seemed to be quite pleased with it!
Survival Handbook Postscript: Sincerity is shown by giving without expecting anything in return. Offering timely care when the other person is relaxed is far more touching than deliberate flattery.
That night, a family banquet was held at the temporary palace. Although it was not as grand as the one held in the main palace, all members of the royal family were present. Crown Prince Si Jingjin, Heir Apparent Rong Jingyu, and the hostage prince Xuanjing were all in attendance. The emperor was in high spirits and drank a few cups.
The banquet was in full swing when a palace attendant suddenly arrived with urgent military intelligence from the border. The emperor's expression hardened, and he immediately rose and went to his study. The atmosphere at the banquet instantly turned cold. Everyone was uneasy and lost their appetite.
Si Mianmian noticed that Crown Prince Si Jingjin's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, and his fingertips tapped lightly on his wine glass; Rong Jingyu still looked like he was watching a show in a lazy manner, but his eyes had become sharper; Xuan Jing sat quietly with his eyes lowered, as if he were detached from the matter.
Her heart tightened; the border military situation concerned the fate of the nation, and also... the fate of many people.
About half an hour later, the emperor returned. Although his expression was solemn, he showed no anger. He simply said, "It's nothing. There was a minor disturbance at the border. The Ministry of War has already been instructed to handle it. Please continue."
However, after this incident, the banquet lost its previous liveliness. The emperor clearly had no more desire to drink, and after sitting for a short while, he signaled for the banquet to end.
Everyone rose to see them off. Just then, Si Mianmian picked up a cup of warm tea that had been kept warm, walked to the emperor, and bowed gracefully. Her voice was tinged with a barely perceptible sob: "Father, you are worried about the affairs of the country and have worked so hard. Drinking too much wine is bad for your health. Please drink this cup of tea to soothe your throat and relieve your fatigue."
The emperor looked down at his daughter, who held the teacup high above her head, and at her slightly trembling shoulders. He recalled the hardships the border soldiers had endured in the military report, and comparing that to the cup of tea before him, brimming with filial affection, the softest part of his heart was touched. He took the teacup and personally helped Si Mianmian up, feeling the icy coldness of her fingertips.
"Were you frightened?" The emperor's voice was unusually gentle.
Si Mianmian raised her small face, her eyes slightly red, but she forced a smile: "Mianmian is not afraid. Mianmian is just... just worried about Father Emperor. May Father Emperor take good care of his health, so that the world can be at peace."
These words, spoken by a girl of thirteen or fourteen, carried a maturity and worry beyond her years, yet they sounded all the more sincere. The Emperor, moved, patted her hand: "I'm fine. Your filial piety is commendable." He glanced at Consort Wen beside him, "My beloved consort has raised her daughter very well."
This affirmation was worth more than a thousand pieces of gold. Consort Wen immediately bowed, tears welling in her eyes.
On the way back to Qixia Pavilion, the autumn air was crisp and clear, and the Milky Way filled the sky. Si Mianmian helped the slightly tipsy Consort Wen walk slowly. When they came to a fork in the road, they happened to meet the Crown Prince, the Heir Apparent, and the hostage, who also seemed to have just returned from a banquet.
Si Jingjin stopped and looked at Si Mianmian, saying calmly, "Ninth Sister was very sensible today."
Rong Jingyu waved his folding fan and smiled meaningfully: "My little darling is now a favorite of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. Her thoughtfulness is unmatched."
Xuan Jing simply nodded slightly, his gaze calm and revealing no emotion.
Si Mianmian returned the greetings with a respectful bow, but her tone was frank: "Crown Prince, Heir Apparent, and Your Highness Xuanjing are too kind. Mianmian was merely fulfilling her duty as a daughter."
Back at Qixia Pavilion, Consort Wen held Si Mianmian's hand, still excited: "Mianmian, today... today your mother is truly... so grateful to you."
Si Mianmian grasped her mother's hand and nestled into her arms, whispering, "Mother, we are family. A family should be united and support each other. In the past, Mother protected Mianmian, and now that Mianmian has grown up, it is time for Mianmian to protect Mother."
Outside the window, autumn insects chirped softly, and the moonlight was as clear as water. Si Mianmian knew that after this trip, her and her mother's position in the Emperor's heart had become even more secure. And the structure of this "family of four" (the Emperor, Consort Wen, herself, and her elder brother, the Crown Prince, who was not explicitly stated but was already deeply bound to her) was quietly taking shape during this "completely organized" trip, conveying a certain subtle signal.
The survival manual concludes: The warmth of home is the most effective force for melting ice. Whether it's a true blood-related family or a "family" formed by a community of shared interests, creating an atmosphere of mutual support is essential for long-term stability and success.
The trip to Fengqi was like a warm and harmonious autumn scene. However, Si Mianmian knew that beneath the surface, undercurrents were still surging. The return journey would be a new beginning.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
