Chu Wan giggled, Chu Yao frowned and glared, and Granny Chu looked helpless as she hugged Wu Shuang, who kept burrowing into her arms after making a mistake.
Just as things were getting really awkward, a eunuch outside the bathroom announced in a high-pitched voice, "His Majesty has arrived."
Chapter 34.33.1 (Table of Contents)
Chapter Thirty-Five:
Emperor Deqing strode in with a broad smile. Consort Jing, having known the Emperor for many years, could immediately discern the reason behind even the slightest change in his expression, let alone such undisguised joy. (www.qiushu.cc No pop-up ads)
Being a concubine and being a subject are essentially the same in one respect: you must share the emperor's worries and joys. Even if you can't genuinely do this from the bottom of your heart, you must at least express it outwardly so the emperor knows you care.
Consort Jing greeted her with a beaming smile.
"Your Majesty, what joyous occasion is there today? Tell me quickly, so I can share in your happiness."
Emperor Deqing pulled Consort Jing to sit on the rosewood peony-patterned couch and said, "A letter has arrived from the capital. The Crown Prince is handling state affairs very well, which is truly comforting to me."
When the emperor went on tour, the various government affairs could not wait for anyone, so the crown prince stayed in the capital to oversee the country and temporarily take over his father's duties.
The Crown Prince is twenty-two this year. In ordinary families, a boy of seventeen or eighteen is already capable of shouldering responsibilities and establishing his household. However, there is no age limit for the heir apparent. As long as the emperor is still alive, he must exercise restraint. But if he is too incompetent and unable to take charge, he will inevitably face criticism, and even the emperor may question whether he is capable enough to inherit the throne. Maintaining a balance between these two aspects is a hundred times more difficult than managing state affairs.
Fortunately, the Crown Prince was meticulous and prudent. During his time overseeing the country, he usually wrote down his thoughts in letters to Emperor Deqing before making decisions. However, in occasional urgent matters where there was no time for correspondence, the Crown Prince would make decisive decisions without hesitation. He was an intelligent man, and with seven parts ability and three parts luck, he not only avoided making mistakes but also accomplished several things that earned him praise from the court officials.
He knew how to consult the emperor and not act on his own initiative, and he was also adept at handling emergencies. He knew when to advance and when to retreat and was decisive. Whether viewed from the perspective of a father looking at his son or from the perspective of an emperor looking at his future successor, the crown prince greatly pleased Emperor Deqing.
Consort Jing, being a mother herself, naturally understood the pride and joy parents feel when their children perform well. So she chimed in, praising, "Your Highness has been personally taught by His Majesty since childhood. He takes you as his role model in speech and conduct, and has fully inherited your teachings. Naturally, there is nothing wrong with what he does."
In fact, if he encountered a concubine with malicious intentions, she could subtly sow discord in his words at this moment, which might arouse Emperor Deqing's suspicion towards the Crown Prince. After all, two tigers cannot share one mountain. The emperor is in his prime, while the crown prince is already capable of handling things independently. It would be easy for him to create discord between the two.
However, Consort Jing was kind-hearted and disdained such despicable behavior. Instead, she deliberately praised the Crown Prince to commend the Emperor, subtly mending any potential rifts.
Only a shrewd person could be a good emperor, and Emperor Deqing could certainly hear the hidden thoughts in his beloved concubine's words.
Over the years, he has favored Consort Jing because he loves her gentle and sensible nature. Although she is shrewd, she never uses her wisdom for evil purposes and treats the children of other concubines in the harem with kindness.
Thinking of all the good qualities of Consort Jing, Emperor Deqing felt a surge of tenderness in his heart, and he took her slender white hand and pulled her into his arms.
Consort Jing struggled a few times but failed to break free. She could only blush and say shyly, "Your Majesty, the children are here."
Emperor Deqing glanced around the room in puzzlement and raised his voice, "Where have those brats been hiding? They don't even come out to pay their respects to their father? This is getting more and more outrageous!"
After the eunuch's earlier announcement, Wushuang and Chuwan were carried out of the bath by the palace maids and nannies to change clothes, preparing to meet the Emperor.
However, although the two little girls were only three or four years old, their hair was already past their shoulders. When they swam in the pool, their hair got soaked and it wasn't going to dry in a short time.
Keeping the Emperor waiting was wrong, but behaving improperly before the Emperor was equally sinful. Just as he was in a flurry of activity, he suddenly heard Emperor Deqing calling for someone. Chu Yao quickly lifted the curtain, hurried out, and greeted his uncle, the Emperor.
After hearing his explanation, Emperor Deqing laughed and said, "I thought it was something serious. Look how nervous you all are. Wanwan and her little friend are just young girls, there's no need to be so formal. It's important to learn manners and etiquette from a young age, but we can't be too strict and make them lose their innocence and carefree nature. Besides, when you're swimming, it's inevitable to get your hair wet, it's not considered improper. Let them come out quickly and keep me company so I can have some fun."
The emperor has given the order; who dares to disobey?
Wushuang and Chuwan were immediately led out by the hands of the palace maids.
Chu Wan spent most of the year being raised by Consort Jing's side, which gave her many opportunities to meet Emperor Deqing. She was naturally not shy and liked to be close to people, and she was also familiar with the emperor. Without being asked, she would approach Emperor Deqing and open her arms for a hug.
Emperor Deqing had seven sons but only one daughter, the eldest princess. Because of her rarity, he favored girls over boys. However, the eldest princess was spoiled and didn't know how to please others, while his niece, Chu Wan, was young, well-behaved, and adorable—a truly endearing child. Emperor Deqing treated her no differently than his own daughter, immediately lifting Chu Wan onto his lap and listening to her soft, childlike voice whisper in his ear, "Uncle, this is Wushuang, isn't she wonderful?"
Little Chu Wan was innocent and naive; Emperor Deqing had never heard her speak of any bad people or things in the world.
He smiled and beckoned Wushuang closer, asking her, "Are you the youngest daughter of the Jun Shu family?"
Wushuang tilted her head back and nodded in agreement.
Having lived two lives, this was her first time meeting the emperor, and she was more curious than nervous.
Emperor Deqing is forty years old this year, but because he takes good care of himself, he looks younger than he actually is, and his facial features are six or seven parts similar to Chu Yao's.
Wushuang had never met the old Prince Ying, but knew that he and Emperor Deqing were both born to the Empress Dowager. Judging from this, the two brothers must look very similar.
Wu Shuang was born with red lips and white teeth, and had a delicate appearance. She was a girl that everyone loved.
Moreover, as the daughter of a high-ranking official, she naturally had more face in front of Emperor Deqing than ordinary people.
Emperor Deqing was used to playing with Chu Wan and had a lot of experience in dealing with girls of similar age. He chatted with Wushuang very naturally and easily, asking her how old she was, what she liked to eat and play, whether she had started her formal education, and what books she had read.
Seeing that Wushuang answered fluently and was not at all intimidated in front of the emperor, which was extremely rare, he thought she was a well-mannered and intelligent child, which made him even more impressed. So he deliberately tested her and asked, "Why do you want to learn to swim?"
Wushuang said, "I was seasick so badly the other day, but today Wanwan told me that if I learn to swim, I won't be seasick anymore, so I came to learn right away."
Emperor Deqing laughed heartily: "Good! You find ways to overcome difficulties and are proactive. Well done! I will reward you!"
After saying that, he took off the Qilin jade pendant he was wearing and gave it to Wushuang.
Wushuang immediately knelt down and kowtowed to express her gratitude.
Swimming is extremely tiring, and the two girls, both still young, started yawning after only a short while. Wushuang, who had slept well during her illness a few days ago, was still able to hold on, but Chuwan was nodding vigorously like a chick pecking at rice.
Chu Yao then suggested taking them with him as they left.
Wushuang understood that Emperor Deqing's visit to Consort Jing's cabin couldn't be as simple as just having tea and a chat. But Chu Wan didn't understand any of this. The more sleepy she became, the more she longed for her aunt's soft embrace. When she saw that her brother was going to take her away, her eyes welled up with tears of grievance. In the end, Emperor Deqing showed mercy and agreed to let the little one stay.
Chu Yao carried Wushuang onto the deck, and the river breeze seemed to lift Wushuang's spirits considerably.
"Do you want to get down and walk by yourself?" Chu Yao's entire focus was on Wu Shuang, and even her slightest change could not escape his notice.
"No!" Wushuang answered decisively. It was so much better to be carried. Going anywhere was effortless. Why should she walk by herself?
To show her determination to embrace him, she changed her position from being sideways to facing Chu Yao, and lay sprawled across his chest.