Ah Hao, who was following behind Zhang Xin, also heard Empress Dowager Feng's words and found them just as unbelievable as Zhang Xin. However, she was more concerned about Empress Dowager Feng's displeasure. Having already uttered such words, if things went wrong, it might take ten days to half a month for her to truly recover.
The two stopped outside the door. After a long silence inside, Zhang Yu's words finally came out.
"No matter what others say, my elder sister won't care or take it to heart. She's such a strong-willed person, and she cried all night after returning home, all because of what Mother said. Why should she feel wronged?"
"Whenever Mother Empress calms down, my words will not count. As long as you are angry with the Imperial Sister, I will not summon any concubines to my bedchamber. Perhaps I can even gain a good reputation for not indulging in the harem and make those old men quiet down."
Empress Dowager Feng's words did not intimidate Zhang Yu at all. He continued to say some frivolous things in a playful manner, but no one could tell that he was joking.
Zhang Xin was startled again and again; her initial worries vanished because of Zhang Yu's words. She chuckled for a moment, raised an eyebrow slightly at Song Shuhao, and then went straight into the house.
·
"Mother, look how beautifully these hibiscus flowers are blooming!" As soon as Zhang Xin entered the room, regardless of the atmosphere inside, she walked up to Empress Dowager Feng with a bright smile, holding a plum vase. "Would you like to go for a walk to relax? May I accompany you, Mother?"
Ah Hao silently bowed to Empress Dowager Feng and Zhang Yu, placing the things she was carrying steadily on a round stool. Recognizing that these words were inappropriate to hear, she did not wish to linger and quietly withdrew.
Zhang Xin was focused on appeasing her mother and didn't pay much attention to Ahao. She sat down by the bed, ready to make peace, but Zhang Yu interrupted her.
"You've come at the perfect time. Have a good talk with the Empress Dowager. If you can make her happy, I'll grant you a two-day trip out of the palace, with Xia Mingzhe to accompany you."
The conditions offered by Zhang Yu were too tempting, and Zhang Xin immediately chuckled, her eyes shining, and turned to look at her imperial brother. Before she could agree, the latter bowed to Empress Dowager Feng, "Mother, there are still many matters to attend to at Xuanzhi Hall, so I will return first."
Zhang Xin immediately stood up again, but cleverly chimed in at the right time, "Since Your Majesty still has state affairs to attend to, then hurry up and go! Mother, I'm here!" She knew that her brother was a man of his word, and once she had persuaded the person, she would surely receive many good benefits.
After watching Zhang Yu leave the room, she sat down again and said to Empress Dowager Feng in a serious tone, "Mother, to be honest, even if it's just so I can leave the palace and broaden my horizons, you have to be happy!"
Empress Dowager Feng glared at her, but Zhang Xin continued to giggle and said, "I was listening outside the door and thought that my brother was really willing to give up so many beauties in the harem. But when he saw me coming, he quickly told me to make Mother happy. In the end, he couldn't bear it! Mother, don't take those words seriously. Please let me tell you about my sister's matter."
Zhang Xin didn't deliberately lower her voice, but Zhang Yu, who was always sharp-eared, heard what she said afterward and couldn't help but smile, noting it down in his mind.
He came out almost immediately after Song Shuhao. Sensing Zhang Yu behind him, Ahao quickly turned around and stepped aside to let him pass, without any other thoughts.
Zhang Yu didn't walk straight over. He paused briefly as he passed her, then called out to the head eunuch, Lü Yuan, saying, "Bring the thing here." Lü Yuan immediately strode over to him, bowed, and presented a small white porcelain jar, about half the size of his palm. Zhang Yu didn't take it. Instead, he raised his chin and said to A-Hao, "It's a good thing, take it."
Lu Yuan presented the gifts to Ahao, who had no choice but to accept them and bow in gratitude. Seeing that she had accepted them, Zhang Yu left without further ado and headed out of Changning Palace.
Previously, he didn't understand why Zhang Yu had ordered him to fetch this thing, but now he finally understood. Lü Yuan looked at Song Shuhao with a meaningful smile, and said something even more meaningful, "Aunt Song, I really didn't see that coming." Seeing that she seemed to want to argue, but no longer listened, she simply lifted her foot to chase after the emperor.
So that's why they wanted her to return to Changning Palace as soon as possible.
Song Shuhao held the white porcelain jar, and another headache struck her.
·
"Your Highness, it is absolutely true. His Majesty spoke with Aunt Song for a while in front of the hibiscus tree in the south of the Imperial Garden before leaving. Afterwards, His Majesty went to Changning Palace to see the Empress Dowager and also took some Ningxiang Dew from Aunt Song."
The young palace maid knelt in the main hall of the Wushuang Hall of the Bixiao Palace. Her voice was not loud, but it was enough for the person at the head of the table to hear her clearly.
Knowing about the affair between His Majesty the Emperor and Song Shuhao, Xie Lanyan couldn't help but recall that day when Song Shuhao protected the young palace maid, and His Majesty the Emperor didn't retaliate. A hint of doubt appeared on her fair face. There hadn't been any signs of trouble before, so how could things have changed so suddenly?
Xie Lanyan thought that Zhang Yu and Song Shuhao had known each other for seven or eight years, and Song Shuhao was the Empress Dowager's person. Both Song Shuhao and Xue Liangyue were kept by the Empress Dowager not only as confidantes, but also for other reasons. If either of them were taken into the Emperor's harem, they could undoubtedly serve as a check on the other concubines. However, if they were betrothed, that would be a different story.
Considering that Song Shuhao and Xue Liangyue were already eighteen years old, Xie Lanyan felt that the events of the past few days were not so incomprehensible. Xie Lanyan's brows relaxed slightly, and she ordered the head palace maid, Haitang, to enjoy the flowers before dismissing the young palace maid who had come to deliver the message.
Xie Lanyan stood up, and another head palace maid, Qingtao, went to help her. Haitang, who had returned, also went to the other side to support her. Haitang and Qingtao were both old maids who had been with Xie Lanyan in the palace for many years. Song Shuhao and the others had some contact with them and knew some things about her.
On the way to the study with Xie Lanyan, Haitang finally couldn't help but speak up. "Doesn't Your Highness find it strange? I always thought it would be Aunt Xue. I didn't expect it to be Aunt Song."
Some things are clear even without the parties involved stating them explicitly. Xue Liangyue was eager to show her face in front of His Majesty the Emperor, while Song Shuhao was noticeably more indifferent in this matter. This doesn't mean, however, that His Majesty would necessarily choose Xue Liangyue. But they both knew that His Majesty disliked forcing people, especially women.
Upon hearing this, Qingtao spat at Haitang and laughed, "You like to talk about these nonsense with Her Majesty. Whether it's Aunt Song or Aunt Xue, what does it have to do with Her Majesty? In any case, this servant knows that His Majesty is sincere towards Her Majesty, and Her Majesty will surely get better and better."
Haitang laughed and flattered her repeatedly, "Sister Qingtao is right, Sister Qingtao is right. His Majesty's feelings for the Empress are clear to everyone in the palace. I deserve to be hit!"
Xie Lanyan did not participate in Qingtao and Haitang's banter, nor did she show any joy in their repeated claims of the emperor's sincerity, but unfortunately no one noticed.
Upon arriving at the study, after they had prepared the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, Xie Lanyan dismissed Qingtao, quickly wrote a letter, and then handed it to Haitang. Haitang took it, and without needing any special explanation, seemed to understand everything, and soon left the study as well.
Seeing Haitang leave, Xie Lanyan picked up her brush again, this time for her daily calligraphy practice.
·
Zhang Xin pleased Empress Dowager Feng before returning to Yongle Palace, eagerly anticipating fulfilling her promise to Zhang Yu in a couple of days. Empress Dowager Feng was happy, and Song Shuhao, Granny Feng, and the others were also pleased. The matter concerning the Eldest Princess was thus considered settled.
After serving Empress Dowager Feng until she retired for the night, Song Shuhao returned to her residence. Only then did she have time to examine closely the things Zhang Yu had given her. In fact, after smelling the fragrance and discerning the scent, it wasn't difficult to tell that it was Ningxiang Dew.
It is indeed a good product. The Empress Dowager once bestowed some upon her. Not to mention bruises, even old scars can gradually fade away with continued use. Because it is so effective, and not easy to make, it has become quite rare.
The palace maid quickly prepared hot water, and A-Hao put down the white porcelain jar, thinking she would apply some medicine to the bruises on her knees later. If anyone were paying attention, they would probably already be concerned about what happened today, regardless of what she did, but rather what His Majesty the Emperor did. Since that's the case, and the gift was given to her, she had no reason to be coy and refuse it.
After her bath, Ah Hao simply let her half-dry, long, black hair fall loosely. Since she would be resting soon, she wore only a rather thin nightgown. Casually returning to her room, she stepped inside and found someone already sitting at the table.
Upon seeing Zhang Yu, Ahao was startled and immediately bowed her head in greeting, saying, "Greetings to Your Majesty." However, she couldn't help but frown, a sense of foreboding crossing her mind.
Chapter 8 Rare
The window was open, and a cool breeze was blowing into the room.
Zhang Yu stood up in the flickering candlelight. The room wasn't bright enough to illuminate his expression. He walked leisurely to Song Shuhao, paused briefly, and allowed her to stand up.
Ah Hao knelt on the ground, her two wide, lace sleeves overlapping each other, her long, black hair cascading down her back and shoulders. The fragrance emanating from her body was faint yet pleasant and not cloying.
Upon hearing this, he quickly stood up again. Ah Hao didn't look up, but respectfully moved aside, silently increasing the distance between them.
Zhang Yu saw through her thoughts. Being regarded as a beast for no reason, he couldn't help but sneer. He put one hand behind his back, looked away, and stood straight, his deep voice echoing in the quiet room.
"Let me see it."