Chapter 174 Osmanthus

It rained last night, and this morning the palace was shrouded in a misty chill. Ming Huashang had breakfast and went to the emperor's bedroom to take over Li Huazhang's shift. She did not bring a maid with her, and walked through the pavilions and towers alone. When she saw a beautiful flower, she stopped and picked a branch to hold in her arms. When she arrived at the bedroom, she was already holding half of the autumn scenery in her arms.

Although they were nominally serving the retired emperor, the life in the temporary palace could not be compared with that in Chang'an, and the living standard of a former empress who had abdicated could not be compared with that of the royal family. After Ming Huashang arrived at Shangyang Palace, she felt very clearly that the era of Emperor Wu had passed. Even the maids knew that Emperor Wu's luck had run out. There was no point in serving the retired emperor, and it was better to spend time trying to please Empress Wei and Princess Anle.

Even though Ming Huashang still held the title of Princess Yong, she could not avoid feeling the coldness of the palace people. As the emperor who commanded the court, the gap would be even greater. Ming Huashang sighed in her heart. The world was so fickle. The emperor hadn't left yet, but the tea had already gone cold.

Ming Huashang herself was not keen on power. She came to Shangyang Palace to accompany Li Huazhang to fulfill her filial piety and her own conscience. No matter what the emperor did to the Li family and the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion, it was not easy for a woman to reach this point. Ming Huashang sincerely admired her. It would be too sad for such a hero to spend his later years in misery. Since Li Huazhang had let go of the past grudges, Ming Huashang had nothing to worry about. She was willing to come to Shangyang Palace to accompany this once powerful empress to complete the last part of her life.

She came to Shangyang Palace out of her own will, and Ming Huashang didn't care how the palace maids and outsiders treated her. The palace maids often couldn't see anyone, so she would do it herself, what a big deal.

Ming Huashang entered the palace holding a bunch of flowers. She had tried her best to be quiet, but Li Huazhang still heard it. Li Huazhang turned around and saw that it was her. His eyes softened immediately and he stood up to greet her: "Why are you here so early?"

Ming Huashang felt very distressed when she saw the redness in his eyes. She put down the flowers, first tested the temperature of Li Huazhang's hand, then rubbed his eyes, and whispered, "I'm here. You haven't slept all night. Go back and rest. I'm here for you."

The retired emperor was in poor health during this period and needed someone to watch over him at night. After discussing it, the two of them decided to stay in the side hall for one night each and keep an eye on the retired emperor's condition at all times.

It was said to be a discussion, but in fact it was Ming Huashang's strong request. Li Huazhang originally wanted to take on the responsibility alone. Serving his grandmother was something that he, as a grandson, should do personally. Ming Huashang knew that with Li Huazhang's personality, he would say it was okay even if the sky fell. How could she dare to let him ruin his body like this? She had to snatch half of the time so that he could go back and rest.

Because they had to keep watch, the two of them didn't have much time to see each other. Often they had to part after a quick meeting without even saying a few words. Li Huazhang didn't want to leave so soon. He glanced at the bouquet next to him and said, "I'll help you change the flowers."

Ming Huashang looked at his red eyes and knew that he would not hold on any longer if it was not what he wanted, so she did not refuse. The two of them did not call for the palace maids, but walked through the hall quietly, removed the withered branches in every corner, changed the water, and planted fresh flowers.

Ming Huashang was adjusting the position of the petals, her eyes focused, as if this was the most important thing in the world. The gorgeous chrysanthemums reflected her face, moving and still, bright and pale, surprisingly charming.

Li Huazhang stared at her profile motionlessly, smelling a lingering, light fragrance that seemed to be mixed with dew. The energy from a night of rest suddenly surged up in him.

I feel tired, but also feel that time has passed quietly and it's no big deal.

He hugged Ming Huashang from behind, resting his cheek against her hair, and whispered, "I haven't noticed recently, but there are so many flowers blooming."

Ming Huashang glanced back, knowing that he was tired, and carefully slowed down her movements, letting him hold her: "Yes. I have collected a lot of osmanthus petals, and we will make osmanthus mooncakes some other day."

"Mooncakes?" Li Huazhang was stunned. "Mid-Autumn Festival is coming?"

"Yes." Ming Huashang chuckled, "You are confused, right? I can't accompany my father during the Mid-Autumn Festival this year. Fortunately, my sister is back, otherwise he would be too lazy to prepare. Let's go to the garden in a few days to see if there are any flowers that can be used as stuffing. After they are ready, send a portion to my sister, Sister Ren, Jiang Ling, and Brother Xie."

"Why bother?" Li Huazhang felt sorry for her tiredness and said, "Just ask someone to buy some ready-made ones. You can sleep a little longer."

Ming Huashang put the vase away, and even though no one was watching, she still arranged the flowers perfectly, and said with a smile: "How can you have any trouble living at home? On the contrary, you should get some more sleep."

Ming Huashang turned around, pecked him on the lips quickly, and said, "Stop dawdling, go back quickly."

Li Huazhang was obviously surprised. He opened his eyes. Even though the corners of his eyes were red, his pupils were still dark and clear, and he stared at her. Ming Huashang felt a little embarrassed by his gaze, so she pushed him and said, "Alright, let's go. We'll be seen soon."

Li Huazhang couldn't help but smile. He grabbed Ming Huashang's hand, lowered his head and kissed her solemnly on the lips. He had intended to stop there, but after their lips touched, he couldn't help but be moved. Thinking that this was the bedroom where the emperor was recuperating, he forced himself to stop, reluctantly let her go, and went back to his room alone.

Ming Huachang's cheeks were red and her eyes were rolling. She covered her face and looked around guiltily. After making sure that no one was around, she breathed a sigh of relief, hummed a song softly, arranged the flowers, and opened the window for ventilation.

She was busy in the palace, and when she was done, the palace looked brand new. Heavy curtains were hung on the pillars, and flowers and plants were dotted everywhere. The air was fresh, and the faint fragrance of flowers floated in the air, dispersing the heavy and bitter smell of medicine. After Ming Huashang finished all this, she had a thin layer of sweat. She rolled up her sleeves casually, walked to her usual place and sat down, intending to practice painting.

Taking care of patients is hard work, but it is also leisurely. At least most of the time the emperor was asleep, and when he was awake he would not pay attention to her, so Ming Huashang just had to do her own thing. She was used to grinding ink and laying out paper, and just as she was about to start painting, she heard someone ask her for the first time, "What are you painting?"

Ming Huashang was startled, and only when she looked up did she realize that it was indeed the emperor who was talking to her. Ming Huashang was quite flattered, and she quickly put down her brush, but did not immediately rush to the couch. Instead, she stopped behind the screen and replied respectfully and distantly: "Reporting to the emperor, I am painting a portrait."

The emperor looked at the figure behind the screen quietly. In this respect, she was exactly the same as Li Huazhang. The emperor didn't know how to describe this couple. They were doing the hardest work, but when they showed their faces, they were less enthusiastic than the other.

"Painting people?" The emperor seemed to laugh and said mockingly, "There are only a few people here in a day, what can you paint?"

Ming Huashang disagreed with this and said softly, "To judge a person, you don't rely on your eyes, but on your heart. I think that Shangyang Palace is no worse than Dongxi Market. It also has spring, summer, autumn and winter, and all kinds of life."

The emperor was a little surprised. She knew that Ming Huashang was all because of Li Huazhang. She was Ming Huashang's sister at first, and later became Li Huazhang's wife. Even when she faced Ming Huashang in Shangyang Palace, she always regarded Ming Huashang as Li Huazhang's appendage. Unexpectedly, this woman was much smarter than she thought.

The emperor looked at the extra flowers in the palace and asked, "What do you see?"

Ming Huashang knew her own limitations. She was not at the same level as the emperor, so she did not dare to teach him a lesson. She just said, "Life."

This answer obviously exceeded the emperor's expectations. She raised her eyebrows and asked, "Life?"

"Yes." Ming Huashang said, "Golden osmanthus has bloomed, and black chrysanthemum and purple chrysanthemum have also bloomed. We can make osmanthus mooncakes and chrysanthemum tea, and eat them with crabs during the Mid-Autumn Festival. It will not only relieve greasy feeling but also reduce internal heat."

The Empress Retired did not respond. Apparently, in her world, she had not worried about how to cook for many years. The Empress Retired could not help but think back to when she last cooked with others. Probably, it was before she entered the palace.

That was sixty years ago. At that time, she was still an unappreciated stepdaughter of a merchant family, and had to be careful to please her brother and sister-in-law, lest she and her mother be kicked out of the house. Apart from the Ganye Temple, that was the most humiliating time in her life, but now when she thinks back, all she can remember is her chatting and working with her mother and sisters, and it seems that it was not difficult.

The Emperor paused for a moment and asked, "As a princess, you have to prepare food for the Mid-Autumn Festival yourself. Don't you feel sad?"

Ming Huashang chuckled and said, "What's the big deal? I expected these things from the day I married him. We just got married, and there will be many more days like this in the future."

Perhaps the days of recuperation were too boring, the emperor couldn't help but be curious and asked, "Don't you regret it?"

Ming Huashang smiled and shook her head, her eyes fell on the osmanthus, and her smile gradually faded: "How could I regret it? There was a woman who had an osmanthus tree in her yard. She collected petals for a long time. The night before, she was still hesitating whether to send some cakes to her relatives. Before she could think it through, she died in an accident. With her as a comparison, now my father and brother are by my side, and I have a sister to protect me. I can live a stable life, and I am married to someone I have never thought of. It really can't be better. I am too late to be grateful, how can I regret it?"

There seemed to be something hidden in Ming Huashang's words, and the emperor heard it. She did not delve into it and said, "That's because you and he have only been married for a short time, and you only see the good in him. If he continues to be depressed in the future, I'm afraid you won't think so."

Ming Huashang shook her head very seriously: "No. Although I have been married to him for only one year, I have known him for seventeen years before that. He is not a fickle person. I believe him."

The retired emperor laughed after hearing this and said, "Every woman thinks the same way when she first gets married. When I first followed Emperor Gaozong into the palace, I also felt that he was kind and gentle, and that he loved me deeply and was a good man worthy of entrusting my life to. However, when other women cried and the ministers wrote letters to scold me, he felt that I was too domineering and wanted to depose me. If I hadn't received the news in time, the dethronement edict would have been written. After that, I knew that men are unreliable. No matter how much he says he loves you, once it comes to interests, he will only think about himself. At the critical moment, it was the few palace maids who reported the news who saved me. Love is just a toy that adds icing on the cake. The lies between men and women when they are having fun are actually just flowers in the mirror and the moon in the water. Once you take it seriously, it's gone."

Everyone has different experiences and different conclusions. Ming Huashang did not comment on this. She was not the emperor, and Li Huazhang was not Emperor Gaozong. The married life of the empress and Emperor Gaozong was their story and could not represent the marriage of Ming Huashang and Li Huazhang. Ming Huashang changed the subject and asked, "Who was the minister who wrote to Emperor Gaozong?"

The Emperor confirmed Ming Huashang's guess: "It was Shangguan Wan'er's grandfather, Shangguan Yi. So after I secured my position, I immediately killed Shangguan Yi, beheaded all the men in the Shangguan family, and confined all the women to the palace. Shangguan Wan'er therefore entered the palace."

Ming Huashang raised her eyebrows, somewhat surprised: "Then you dare to keep her by your side and entrust her with important tasks?"

The emperor smiled and said, "If you don't even have this much tolerance and courage, what's the point of being an emperor?"

Ming Huashang was amazed and nodded, saying, "You are right. No wonder you are the final winner. I admire you."

The emperor stopped laughing and suddenly asked, "If you were in my position, what would you do?"

Ming Huashang said honestly: "Send her away as far as possible to prevent future troubles."

"It's a solution." The Queen said slowly, "I have learned to judge people over the years. With your personality, you may not be worse than I was in the harem."

Ming Huachang felt what it meant to live with a king like a tiger. No wonder the emperor was interested in talking to her today. It turned out that he was waiting for her here. She waved her hands and shook her head like a wave drum: "Your Majesty, your words are too serious. I dare not. I can't kill an innocent baby girl, but I dare not put the granddaughter of my enemy by my side. Therefore, I can only be an ordinary person in this life. Your Majesty, please don't torture me."

After that, no matter how curious Ming Huashang was, she did not dare to talk to the emperor. The emperor saw her vigilance, smiled faintly, closed his eyes and went to rest.

She thought that she probably understood why Li Huazhang was willing to give up the throne in order to marry his former sister.

Winning a life is easy, but living it clearly is the hardest. And being able to let go calmly after understanding it is even harder.

This girl is a rare understanding person.

Although she is still not optimistic, she hopes that Li Huazhang's innocence can have a good ending. The two of them can really support each other and love each other for the rest of their lives.