Xiao Dezi was a servant of Prince Ning, and Prince Ning had previously probed her thoughts… Ahao pondered, her brow furrowed in worry. Xiao Dezi was a big mouth who spoke recklessly, but without any evidence, he probably wouldn't dare to say it.
Ah Hao felt that whatever His Majesty's purpose, there was no reason for him to care about her opinions or thoughts. If that was the case, even if it was because of Prince Zhao, it couldn't completely explain some of His Majesty's actions. It would be so easy to control her; her mother would suffice... There was no reason to go to such lengths.
“So this is how Xiao Dezi served by Prince Ning’s side,” Ahao said, not revealing her thoughts, but nodding earnestly. “Xiao Douzi, I don’t need to elaborate on what a crime it is to speculate on the Emperor’s will. Whether it’s you or Xiao Dezi, if anything happens this time, I can’t save you. Don’t blame me for not warning you.”
Xiao Douzi was stunned. He had heard Xiao Dezi say this to him, but he thought it would be very good for Aunt Song. He had a good relationship with Aunt Song in the past, so he told her this without thinking of anything else.
Is it really that serious? But Aunt Song isn't one to scare people. When he came to his senses, he saw that Ah Hao had already turned and walked away. Sensing something was wrong, he slapped his thigh and gritted his teeth, cursing under his breath.
·
Ah Hao didn't give Xiao Douzi a friendly look; she couldn't help but care about what Xiao Douzi had said. The Empress Dowager let slip that someone close to Prince Ning had revealed that His Majesty's strange behavior seemed to indeed point to something.
Prince Zhao… Ah Hao recalled Zhao Jian’s words and actions when he asked her for directions outside Penglai Palace, and the moment she met his piercing gaze in Xuanzhi Palace yesterday.
She had had very little contact with this prince in the past, though she had heard some rumors about him. Ah Hao couldn't help but sigh; it would be truly absurd to link them together.
Since Xue Liangyue was unable to get out of bed, Ahao could only serve Empress Dowager Feng even more diligently. The eunuch Xiaodouzi was frightened by her words and kept circling around her whenever he had the chance. Ahao thought he deserved it and just sent him away to do chores.
Prince Ning hasn't come to Changning Palace for the past two days, so even if Ahao wanted to find him, she could only wait. His Majesty comes every day to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager, but due to his busy schedule with state affairs, he only stays for a short while before leaving, just like always.
The little princess, however, was depressed because she hadn't been granted permission by His Majesty to leave the palace, and kept pestering Empress Dowager Feng to judge her. Empress Dowager Feng, who disliked her running around outside the palace, ignored her.
Princess Zhang Xin then confided in Ahao, which temporarily distracted Ahao, who had to serve Empress Dowager Feng and comfort her.
As the weather grew colder, Empress Dowager Feng found it increasingly difficult to sleep soundly. Although she went to bed early—feeling sleepy as soon as it got dark, and washing up and resting after dinner—she would wake up after only two hours, sometimes even just an hour. Once awake, she couldn't fall back asleep immediately, needing to rest for an hour before gradually feeling sleepy again. The imperial physician examined her and prescribed medicine, which she drank slowly, but it didn't seem to be very effective.
It was Ah Hao's turn to be on duty again that day. She stood guard in the outer room, listening for the night watchman's drum. It was still early, so she sat under the candlestick doing some embroidery. When she heard Empress Dowager Feng asking what time it was from the inner room, Ah Hao quickly put down her work and went inside.
"Your Majesty, it's only the hour of Xu (7-9 PM)." Seeing Empress Dowager Feng get up, Ahao stepped forward to help her, took a turquoise-green pillow embroidered with gold thread and placed it behind her so that she could lean on it, and said, "Your Majesty didn't eat much for dinner, I wonder if you're hungry. If you are, you can ask the kitchen to prepare some food and send it over."
For a moment, Empress Dowager Feng simply closed her eyes to calm herself and gave no orders. After a brief pause, she instructed Ahao to go to the kitchen and prepare some dishes, saying that she was looking forward to Ahao's cooking. Ahao accepted the order, gave a few instructions to the maidservant, and then went to prepare a late-night snack for Empress Dowager Feng.
Egg rolls, silver thread rolls, shredded chicken and white fungus, pearl fish balls, and four-happiness dumplings, along with the medicinal black chicken soup that was simmering on the kitchen stove, made for a complete meal of meat and vegetables. Ah Hao prepared the delicious food and delivered it to Empress Dowager Feng. Empress Dowager Feng said, "His Majesty has been working hard lately, and I am very worried about him. Please take this late-night snack to His Majesty on my behalf and tell him to take good care of his health and not overwork himself."
Ah Hao accepted the order again and had someone pack the food that Empress Dowager Feng had specified into a food box, then carefully carried it to Xuanzhi Hall.
·
Lu Chuan and Lu Yuan were guarding outside the hall as usual. Seeing Song Shuhao approaching, Lu Yuan smiled. Lu Chuan glanced at him, but he waved without saying anything. When Shuhao drew closer, she asked with a smile, "Why is Aunt Song here at this hour?"
"The Empress Dowager ordered me to deliver some late-night snacks to His Majesty. I'll have to trouble you, Eunuch, to pass on the message." Ah Hao smiled back at Lü Yuan and explained her purpose to him.
Lu Yuan was still smiling, while Lu Chuan, with a calm expression, said, "Aunt Song, please wait a moment." He then went to report. Lu Yuan wanted to chat with Ahao for a bit, so he asked her about her recent situation, which Ahao answered in detail. Lu Chuan then came out and invited Ahao inside.
Two attendants were already standing guard outside the hall, and there were no other palace servants inside; it was completely silent. Ah Hao walked quietly to the dragon throne and bowed to Zhang Yu, who was sitting behind it.
Zhang Yu dismissed her formalities, saying, "Put it down." A-Hao then rose and placed the food box on a corner of the imperial desk, silently placing several dishes on it. Zhang Yu, reviewing the memorials, didn't look at her, but asked, "Has Mother not rested yet?"
"The Empress Dowager rested at three quarters past 5 pm and woke up at 7 pm. Since she hadn't eaten much for dinner, she had a late-night snack after waking up. The Empress Dowager was concerned about His Majesty's hard work, so she instructed me to bring some food to His Majesty and to tell him to take care of his health and not to overwork himself."
Ah Hao spoke in a very formal manner. Zhang Yu, concerned about Empress Dowager Feng's health, asked again, "What did the imperial physician say?" Ah Hao replied, "The imperial physician examined her, prescribed medicine, and instructed her to drink it slowly to calm down. He also remembered to burn some calming spices." Unfortunately, the effects were not very good.
Zhang Yu nodded, indicating that he understood, and said, "It's already late today, remember to ask the imperial physician to take another look tomorrow morning." Ahao then responded, waiting for Zhang Yu to send her away, but Zhang Yu did not let her have her way so easily.
After the morning court session, I went to Changning Palace. Upon returning, I discussed matters with the ministers until the afternoon. After a quick meal, the messenger arrived to report back. I need to keep a close eye on Inspector Zhao; there's no time to waste.
After listening to the reports and explaining the matters, he began reviewing memorials and unknowingly worked until this hour. He hadn't felt hungry at first, so he hadn't asked anyone to prepare dinner, but now that Song Shuhao had brought food over, he realized that his stomach was empty.
"Did you cook this yourself?" Zhang Yu looked at the dishes and asked Ahao.
Ah-hao nodded obediently, not daring to lie, and said, "Yes."
Zhang Yu picked up his silver chopsticks, tasted a bite of the shredded chicken and white fungus, and praised her, "Your cooking skills are not bad." But he put down the chopsticks and did not taste anything else. The various experiences of interacting with Zhang Yu in recent days made Ahao almost subconsciously alert. Then she heard the emperor say, "Where did you learn your cooking skills? They seem somewhat different from those of the imperial chefs in the palace."
Ah Hao continued, her heart pounding, "Most of it comes from learning from the imperial chefs. But when I was little, my mother often cooked for me herself, so I suppose I was influenced by that."
Hearing Ahao mention Xu Shi, and recalling that Zhao Jian had secretly visited the Song family these past few days, and remembering that she went back every month, Zhang Yu asked again, "You haven't visited your mother this month, have you?" Ahao nodded, and he continued, "Has a date been set?"
"Your Majesty, not yet," Ah Hao replied respectfully.
Zhang Yu remembered that Xue Liangyue was still recovering from her injury, and said "Oh" knowingly, "That's right, Xue Liangyue is still lying in bed, but you even gave her the Fragrance Dew that I gave you, so I reckon she'll be able to get out of bed soon."
Ah Hao thought Zhang Yu was displeased with her actions, so she secretly glanced at him and, seeing no displeasure on his face, said, "Aunt Xue..."
"It's best if you say less what I don't want to hear."
Zhang Yu interrupted her, not wanting to hear her explanations—he knew that hearing those words would only make him dislike her saintly nature. Xue Liangyue had brought it upon herself; there was nothing to pity about her. But she couldn't bring herself to be ruthless because of their past relationship, and still insisted on being nice to him.
Ah Hao was silent for a moment, then sighed and said, "I just wanted to say that Aunt Xue burned His Majesty, so it's not unjust for her to be punished. Aunt Xue serves the Empress Dowager with me. Since Aunt Xue can't get out of bed, I have to work even harder. That's why I borrowed the Fragrance Dew that His Majesty bestowed upon her, so that she could come back sooner and take on her responsibilities instead of lying in bed all day being lazy."
Zhang Yu remembered that she had made up a similar reason when pleading for the little palace maid, and she had said it with such seriousness that it seemed perfectly plausible. Hearing such words, even knowing she was lying, was still comforting. Zhang Yu thought to himself, if she had said that earlier, it would have saved him so much trouble.
"How many twisted theories do you still have in your head? I still remember how you fooled my mother last time. You've got some nerve today, trying to fool me too?" Zhang Yu raised his eyebrows and looked at Song Shuhao. Seeing her choke up and her cheeks turn slightly red, she was indeed quite cute, so he couldn't help but chuckle.
Empress Shen Wanru happened to walk outside the palace and heard what sounded like Zhang Yu's laughter coming from inside. She was puzzled and asked Lü Chuan, "Is there someone here, Your Majesty?"
Lu Chuan replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, it was Aunt Song who was ordered by the Empress Dowager to deliver the midnight snack to His Majesty."
Empress Shen smiled immediately, "In that case, I am late. I was just thinking that His Majesty had worked hard, so I brought some food over. Since the Empress Dowager has already thought of it, there is no need for me to bring some. I will take my leave now so as not to disturb His Majesty."
Lu Yuan and Lu Chuan had their own thoughts after hearing this. Empress Shen turned and left, and they could only respectfully see her off. Before they knew it, Zhang Yu had walked out of the hall. They quickly bowed, but when Zhang Yu saw Shen Wanru's back, he stood outside the hall with his hands behind his back and told Song Shuhao to leave first.
Chapter 15 Unexpected
Empress Shen returned to Fengyang Palace in her sedan chair, her expression unchanged, seemingly unaffected by the events at Xuanzhi Hall, as if her previous words were utterly sincere. A cool night breeze blew, causing the hem of Empress Shen's crimson skirt to sway gently.
Two senior palace maids, Green Robe and Red Lotus, followed the palanquin. Red Lotus carried a carved rosewood food box containing several portions of food that were supposed to be delivered to the Xuanzhi Palace. Red Lotus pursed her lips, but some thoughts were swirling in her mind.