The Empress Dowager was a Buddhist.
The Empress Dowager was also a Buddhist, and Consort Xuan, who was also from the Borjigit clan, was naturally a Buddhist as well. In the warm pavilion of the main hall of Xianfu Palace, there was a small Buddhist shrine with a blue and white porcelain three-legged incense burner with a wave pattern inside. The incense smoke was swirling around the burner, and the whole hall was filled with the scent of sandalwood.
An elderly nanny pushed open the door and entered.
Consort Xuan knelt on a prayer mat in front of the Buddhist hall, her eyes slightly closed, fiddling with a string of gold prayer beads, and chanting incantations.
The old woman stood to one side with her hands raised and head bowed.
After a long while, when Consort Xuan finished reciting the Buddhist scriptures and stood up to refill the incense burner, the nanny stepped forward and told her about Consort Wan's return from leave and her visit to pay her respects.
Consort Xuan's lips curved into a slight smile.
She cheerfully offered a prayer to Buddha, and the head palace maid Tana beside her smiled and flattered, "It is all thanks to Your Majesty's great kindness that Consort Wan was spared. If you ask me, Consort Wan will surely follow Your Majesty's lead from now on."
Consort Xuan glanced at Tana.
She shook her head: "I am acting in accordance with my conscience, not for anything else."
Tana hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped herself.
Seeing that Consort Xuan's expression darkened slightly, she quickly admitted her mistake honestly: "It was all my wild imagination."
Consort Xuan's expression then brightened and became more relaxed.
She nodded in satisfaction and then had someone reward Wan with some nourishing herbs and food, instructing her to take good care of her health and that it would be alright if she delayed her greetings for a few more days.
Despite saying this, Wan Anran could not do it.
The next morning, she changed into a bright dress and arrived at the main hall early. The young eunuch Zhao Duoxi, who was waiting at the door, bowed and rushed forward to greet her: "Please come in, Miss Wan."
Wan Anran walked into the side room of the main hall.
Inside, a beautiful concubine dressed in a palace gown with intertwined floral patterns was already seated. Hai Tao stepped forward and reminded her, "Your Highness, this is Consort Xu."
Wan Anran stepped forward and gave Xu Changzai a deep curtsy.
As for Xu Changzai, she didn't even lift her eyelids. After casually waving her hand to signal Wan Anran to get up, she ignored her completely.
Trying to win someone over with enthusiasm?
Wan Anran wasn't interested either; it was just a matter of saving face for colleagues, so she let it go.
She lowered her eyes, picked up the teacup, and took a sip.
Consort Xuan served salty milk tea instead of green tea. The subtle saltiness and milkiness blended perfectly. Wan Anran took a sip and liked it, then took another sip.
Hmm...
Salty milk tea is delicious, but I'm inexplicably craving sweet milk tea. Thinking that I don't even have the right to enjoy sugar, Wan Anran silently sheds tears.
Just then, the door creaked open again.
This time, a beautiful woman with elegant and dignified appearance walked in. Xu Changzai immediately lost her previous indifference and stood up to greet her with a smile: "This servant greets Sister Nara."
Haitao reminded her, "This is Consort Nara."
Wan Anran nodded, then gave Xu Changzai a strange look before bowing in greeting.
At the same time, Wan Anran was also a little suspicious. Could this person who came in be someone who particularly liked flattery? He was the most troublesome and annoying leader in the company, the kind who would be sarcastic if people didn't flatter him.
Wan Anran felt uneasy.
She looked up and her eyes met those of Lady Nara.
Understood!
This is someone exactly like me!
The same thought popped into their minds at the same time.
Wan Anran and Consort Nara exchanged a smile. Consort Nara interrupted Consort Xu, asking, "How is Sister Wan's health?"
Wan Anran smiled and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Sister Nara. My illness is cured."
The problem was that Nara Guiren and Wan Anran were meeting for the first time, and after exchanging a few words, they were unsure of what to say next.
The two looked at each other.
Seeing that Xu Changzai was about to interrupt, the two of them spoke at the same time: "Sister Nara/Sister Wan, have you had breakfast?"
He had just finished speaking.
The two were stunned for a moment, and after hesitating for three breaths, they said at the same time, "Sister/younger sister has already used it."
After he finished speaking, the two fell silent again.
They looked at each other, and one of them couldn't help but burst out laughing.
The little antics of the parrots talking brought the two of them much closer.
Noble Lady Nara quickly called for Consort Wan to sit down, first placing the hand warmer in her hand, and then ordering a palace servant to bring her hot salty milk tea. Her enthusiastic manner made Consort Wan somewhat flustered, and also made Consort Xu's eyes blaze with anger.
Wan Anran had no time to pay attention to Xu Changzai.
Just as she was about to get up and hold Noble Lady Nara down, she heard a sigh.
Wan Anran turned her head in surprise and saw that the one sighing was a baby. The baby was round and chubby, with big, watery eyes like black grapes. He noticed Wan Anran's gaze and put on a cute little face: "Wan Anran, Mother is just a bit of a worrywart and a bit of a nag. I hope you can be more tolerant and understanding."
Her voice is sweet and soft.
Despite being a three-headed baby, he speaks in a very formal and measured way.
Having been single her whole life, Wan Anran had never seen such an adorable baby. She immediately gasped and hugged the cute little one tightly, giving him a three-part routine of kisses, pats, and pinches.
The baby was dumbfounded.
His face flushed red with anxiety, and he stammered, "How can you be so unreserved, Lady Wan? Don't you know there's a difference between men and women?"
Wan Anran didn't care about such things.
She kissed his rosy little cheeks and said shamelessly, "Boys and girls are different, but that doesn't apply until they're seven years old. You? You'll have to wait a few more years!"
The baby's eyes were wide open.
He had never seen such a shameless person in the palace! The little baby's eyes reddened, and she reached out her hand to Consort Nara with a wronged expression: "Mother! Consort Wan bullied me!"
Wan Anran: ...Huh?
So he was flirting with the child in front of his mother? Wan Anran quickly put the little prince down on the ground, pretended nothing had happened, and took a sip of tea.
Wan Anran feigned composure, lowering her eyes to praise the tea: "Hmm... this salty milk tea is truly unique. The taste is savory and mellow, with a rich milky flavor, and paired with crispy fried rice, it's simply divine."
Lady Nara was both amused and exasperated.
As for the young prince, he was so angry that he jumped up and down, grumbling that Wan Anran was not acting like an adult at all.
So what if I don't act like an adult?
Wan Anran even secretly made a face at him!
The young prince's eyes widened.
While he was angry, he also became quite curious about Wan Anran. Children's anger comes and goes quickly. Before long, Lady Nara was surprised to find Wan Anran and her son Wan Fu huddled together, whispering to each other.
Xu Changzai was filled with mixed feelings.
There's a saying that people who often hold children are lucky. Consort Xu had long coveted the Ninth Prince, but unfortunately, Consort Nara was indifferent to her, and the Ninth Prince ignored her completely.
Of all times!
Xu Changzai stared at Wan Daying, a fire burning in his eyes!
When Consort Xuan arrived later, she witnessed this rather surprising scene. She raised her eyebrows, slightly astonished: "What happened?"
Even Lady Nara couldn't explain it.
Consort Wan has been ill ever since she came to Xianfu Palace. Consort Nara, who is raising the young prince, has never visited her. She has only heard from others that she is proud and arrogant, but now she looks at her without any hint of arrogance. She looks more like a young girl who has not yet left her boudoir!
Consort Xuan was not in a hurry.
She watched with great interest for a while, finding the actions of the two people, one big and one small, quite amusing. Consort Xuan watched with great interest, but the head palace maid, Tana, frowned more and more, and finally coughed lightly with her fist to her mouth.
Wan Anran and Wan Fu both raised their heads at the same time.
The two moved in unison, their expressions identical, as if they were cut from the same mold. Wan Anran and Wan Fu were stunned for a moment before they suddenly realized what was happening. Wan Anran quickly straightened her expression and knelt on the ground, saying, "May Your Highness Consort Xuan enjoy boundless blessings and peace."
Wan Fu knelt on one knee and quickly flicked his sleeves.
Despite his young age, he put on quite a show: "Your subject greets Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
Consort Xuan smiled and responded.
She gestured for Wan Anran to sit down, then beckoned Wan Fu over. As the only prince in Xianfu Palace, Wan Fu was the apple of everyone's eye. Consort Xuan looked him over for a moment, then smiled with satisfaction: "He's growing up so much! Our Wan Fu is so healthy; he'll definitely become a Baturu someday!"
Wan Fu held his head high and chest out, as proud as a young rooster. He patted his chest forcefully: "When I grow up, I will go with Father Khan to the Deer Park to hunt deer and tigers, and then make a cushion for Consort Xuan! And a scarf and gloves for Mother!"
Wan Anran waited expectantly for a long time, but heard nothing more.
She pretended to be heartbroken, covered her chest, and sighed sadly.
Wan Fu glanced at her, then covered his mouth and chuckled, "As for Consort Wan, well... I'll just let you shoot a silly roe deer!"
Are you saying I'm stupid?
Wan Anran was so angry she nearly fell over, looking at Consort Xuan and Noble Lady Nara with a wronged expression.
Unfortunately, both of them stood near Wan Fu.
Consort Xuan, in particular, said with a stern face: "How old are you to still have the nerve to ask a three-year-old for a gift? And you even complain about the roe deer that Wan Fu hunted? When spring comes, I will take you hunting in the South Garden. You are not allowed to eat until you catch a roe deer!"
Wan Anran: …………
No, you want me to hunt roe deer? In my past life, I never even rode a horse. As for Wan Yingying in this life, she has ridden a horse, but with the imperial concubine selection approaching, it's been four or five years since she last rode one.
If you ask her to go hunting, she'll probably be knocked over by a roe deer first.
Wan Anran quickly changed the subject: "How could I dare to complain? It's just that one roe deer is probably not enough! Braised, steamed, made into soup with radish and tofu, or made into roe deer sausage, or minced and mixed with honey and sugar to make jerky, or sprinkled with pepper, cumin and chili to make skewers... One is not enough, at least three are needed."
After hearing her description, Consort Xuan was indeed somewhat tempted.
Unfortunately, roe deer meat doesn't taste very good, and unless you happen to encounter it while hunting and have a treat, it's not something you can eat right away.
Wan Fu was equally tempted.
His eyes sparkled, and with his hands on his hips, he loudly declared, "Don't worry, Mother Consort Xuan, I will definitely beat two more."
The three people inside the hall burst into laughter.
Xu Chang, the only one excluded, gripped the hem of her skirt tightly with her fingertips, lowering her head to hide the resentment in her eyes.
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