Heavy snow fell in the capital, marking the first snowfall in Anping in thirty-six years.
Jiang Yu and Gu Qingyan both had rosy complexions and no longer looked sickly and pale.
"Mother, why don't you have someone from the Imperial Wardrobe sew it?" Gu Qingyan looked at Jiang Yu holding needle and thread, somewhat puzzled. "I'm always afraid that Mother will prick her finger."
"The Jiang family was small, and since the children were military men, the women in the family would sew marigolds into the inside of their children's sleeves from a young age, hoping for their safety and well-being."
Jiang Yu mimicked her mother's appearance from memory, rubbing the fine needle between her hair. "This is the first time I've ever sewn marigolds for my own child."
[I used to think about sewing for those three ungrateful brats, but I could never bring myself to do it when I saw their disgusted expressions.]
"That would be my honor." Gu Qingyan's smile widened, and he ran into the courtyard wearing a cloak. "Mother, with such good snow, next year will surely be a bumper harvest."
Jiang Yu also got up and played with Gu Qingyan in the courtyard. The palace servants formed a circle around them, and their faces were filled with indescribable joy.
Such a beautiful scene had never appeared in Zhaoning Palace before.
This was the scene that Gu Heng saw when he pushed open the palace gate. He immediately waved to stop the eunuch who wanted to report. If he remembered correctly, Jiang Yu had never worn such bright clothes since entering the palace.
Jiang Yu, dressed in a fiery red cloak, looked as radiant as when she was still a young woman waiting to be married. "Ayan, take this!"
A snowball was thrown at Gu Changyan's head. Gu Changyan dodged it with a smile, "Mother, you're cheating! Granny, write this down quickly. When Uncle returns to the capital, I'll tell him and have him stand up for me!"
Jiang Yu laughed wildly, but when her gaze met Gu Heng's at the palace gate, all the expressions on her face vanished, and Jiang Yu transformed back into the indifferent empress.
Gu Heng felt his throat was a little dry, and he took a few steps forward reluctantly. "I was thinking that Yan'er had just moved to Zhaoning Palace, so I came to take a look."
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."
Jiang Yu lowered her eyes, showing no desire to have anything to do with Gu Heng.
"I see that the Empress's health has recovered well. As for the power in the harem, it is still..." Gu Heng took Jiang Yu's hand. The smooth, jade-like touch made Gu Heng's heart flutter slightly, but the next second Jiang Yu pulled her hands away and took a few steps back.
"Consort Rong has always managed the harem very well. Your Majesty should continue to let Consort Rong assist in managing the six palaces."
What is Gu Heng plotting today? Is he perhaps planning another scheme to frame me?
"You said before that you wanted to see the first snow with me."
Jiang Yu's face was full of mockery. For ten years, she had sent Ling Mama to invite Gu Heng on the first snow of each year, but Gu Heng had never stepped into Zhaoning Palace.
Now that she no longer needs him, Gu Heng has come back eagerly.
What's the logic behind this?
"I was ignorant of the rules before. Your Majesty was already exhausted from dealing with important state affairs, yet you still insisted on making Your Majesty come to Zhaoning Palace for such a trivial matter as appreciating the snow."
Gu Heng's breath hitched, and a dull pain spread to his limbs and bones.
That year, he was instructed by his mother to win over the Marquis of Dingyuan. Before going to the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence, he knew that the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence had a pampered eldest daughter.
"Jiang Ayu, I wonder who will be able to tolerate your temper in the future? Every time the first snow falls, you insist on dragging everyone along to play around with you."
Little Jiang Yu raised her chin and said, "The people like snow, and I like snow too."
"If my future husband cannot celebrate next year's harvest with me on the day of the first snow, then he is not worthy to be my husband, Jiang Yu."
Marquis Dingyuan laughed and picked up Jiang Yu, saying to him with a smile, "Your Highness, my daughter has been spoiled by me. Please don't be offended."
How did he respond at the time? The memory, which should have been hazy, is now incredibly clear.
He reached out and caught the falling snowflakes, looking at the little girl riding on the shoulders of the Marquis of Dingyuan. "I also love snow. If I am fortunate enough in the future, I will celebrate the first snowfall with Miss Jiang."
But Jiang Yu now tells him that it's not necessary.
Gu Heng tried to reach out and grab Jiang Yu, but was stopped by Gu Qingyan who ran over. "Your son thanks Father for his concern. Mother has taken good care of your son."
Gu Heng stared intently at Gu Qingyan's face, a bitter taste rising in his mouth. There was no going back...
If Gu Heng dares to take Ayan away, I will fight him to the death.
The two, one big and one small, stood coldly in front of Gu Heng, causing him to helplessly lower his outstretched hand.
Even Gu Heng himself couldn't understand why, after seeing the falling snowflakes in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, he was so eager to come to Zhaoning Palace. He had never had such an impulse before.
"In that case, I am relieved." With that, Gu Heng turned to walk into the house.
"If Your Majesty has nothing else to do, you should go to Lingxi Palace to visit Consort Rong. After all, Consort Rong's family has recently undergone tremendous changes, and it is precisely the time when Your Majesty is needed." Jiang Yu's ambiguous smile made Gu Heng somewhat exasperated, and his face began to turn ashen.
"Cen Hai, return to Lingxi Palace."
Gu Heng stormed off, but Zhaoning Palace immediately returned to its previous joy, as if Gu Heng's appearance was merely a minor interlude.
Gu Qingyan's mood improved inexplicably. It turned out that only he and Gu Qingling could hear his mother's thoughts. If only he could hear them, that would be even better.
......
"Cen Hai, from now on, nothing from Zhaoning Palace is to be presented to me." Gu Heng said through gritted teeth. He must have been out of his mind to come to Zhaoning Palace today.
Jiang Yu is indeed no match for Rong'er; she has no feminine gentleness whatsoever and is covered in thorns.
Cen Hai responded with a wry smile, thinking to himself, "This is truly a battle of gods, where the little devils suffer."
"Tell me, does the Empress really not care about me?" Gu Heng lost interest in going to Lingxi Palace and went straight back to Taihe Hall to review the memorials. The more he reviewed, the more he felt that his subordinates were all incompetent.
The last memorial even asked how many meals he had eaten. It seems he's just wasting his time eating the government's salary!
"Your Majesty, the Empress is the wife you married with great ceremony. How could she not care about you?" In just one hour, three sets of teacups had been broken in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and five palace servants who had been serving her had been dragged away and beaten with a board.
Cen Hai took a deep breath and forced himself to speak again: "Your Majesty, this servant has a way that can both prove the Empress's concern for you and solve the Liu family's current urgent problem."
Gu Heng hurriedly put down the vermilion brush in his hand. These two matters were his biggest worries at the moment. "What method?"
"It's possible that the Imperial Concubine will have to endure some hardship for a while."
Cen Hai's voice grew softer and softer, while Gu Heng's gaze became increasingly deep and unfathomable.
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