Stunned by the fact that Xie Lanyan was his savior, Zhao Jian returned to the inn wounded, only to be severely scolded by his father for sneaking into the palace at this time, especially to see a woman. It was then that he realized that there was more than just those people waiting for him here.
He truly didn't want to pressure Song Shuhao, but the current situation left him no room for further hesitation. Thinking of this, disregarding his injuries, Zhao Jian downed another glass of wine and abruptly stood up.
Many people turned their gazes toward Zhao Jian. Xie Lanyan, sitting among the concubines, watched this scene with a smile, knowing that he had been driven to desperation, and felt a sense of satisfaction. She took a sip of hot tea, and then heard Zhao Jian say to Empress Dowager Feng, "On this festive day, I have a request. I wish to ask Her Majesty the Empress Dowager for an imperial decree to arrange a marriage."
Empress Dowager Feng smiled and looked around, then looked at Zhao Jian and said, "This is quite strange. I mentioned this matter to you last time, but you were not interested. Now, which young lady have you taken a fancy to, that you are willing to bring it up on your own initiative?"
"Your Majesty, I wish to marry Aunt Song, who serves Your Majesty. I hope Your Majesty will grant me this request."
Upon hearing that it was Song Shuhao, Empress Dowager Feng's smile faltered; she didn't understand what connection Zhao Jian had with her. However, she had had some thoughts about the Crown Prince's consort when the topic of the Crown Prince's consort came up last time, but that was no longer an option.
While Empress Dowager Feng held this view, Empress Shen beside her and the concubines below had a completely different opinion. The Emperor had taken a liking to Aunt Song, and Prince Zhao had also taken a liking to Aunt Song? Many people immediately thought this was quite a strange story.
“That’s a mistake. Aunt Song is my person. You should ask me about her affairs.” Before Empress Dowager Feng could speak, Zhang Yu, who had brought the wine cup to his lips, put it down and said calmly.
Empress Dowager Feng suppressed a smile, but echoed Zhang Yu's words, "Yes, this matter should be decided by His Majesty." The two of them speaking together left the uninformed crowd even more confused.
Zhao Jian lowered his head, his expression growing even more unpleasant because of Zhang Yu's words. Zhao Liang watched coldly, offering no words of support, seemingly prepared to coldly watch as he figured out how to end the situation himself.
"Since Mother says so, then I should express my opinion. Apart from Aunt Song, you can choose someone else, I guarantee it won't be a problem," Zhang Yu said as sincerely as possible.
Zhao Jian, who had been thoroughly fooled, turned ashen-faced, while Xie Lanyan chuckled, finding it quite amusing. Seeing the people around her looking over, she picked up a handkerchief and wiped her mouth as a cover, but the smile in her eyes didn't fade.
...
By the time Song Shuhao returned to serve Empress Dowager Feng, the short-lived farce involving her had already ended. She noticed many gazes sweeping in her direction, but nothing particularly noteworthy, and she couldn't quite place the issue. Lost in thought, she remained there until the banquet concluded.
·
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, all the officials entered the palace to perform the first New Year's court ceremony. Empress Dowager Feng and Empress Shen were responsible for receiving the ministers and their wives. In the following days, because Empress Dowager Feng was busy, Ahao was also unable to rest much. It wasn't until the seventh day of the Lunar New Year that she finally had a short break.
The past few days had seen several intermittent light snowfalls, but the half-day Ah Hao was resting was sunny. She had the palace servants help move a chaise longue to the courtyard, where she lay half-reclined to bask in the sun. Ling Xiao, who was on vacation, came to visit her, a rare occurrence.
Seeing Song Shuhao's lazy appearance, Ling Xiao walked over and smiled as he pulled her up, saying, "Everyone says that the new year should have a new look, and it should be lively and joyful. Why are you just lazing around here?"
Ah Hao was pulled up halfway by her. Seeing that Ling Xiao was in a good mood and her enthusiasm was different from usual, she smiled and said, "Aunt Ling is indeed very happy right now and has a new look. I can't compare. You have time to rest, but I can't. I don't have the energy to do anything for just half a day."
"What's the point of that... I wanted to go bird-catching with Auntie." Ling Xiao leaned closer to Song Shuhao and asked mischievously, "Does Auntie know how to catch birds? We prop up a big bamboo pole with sticks, scatter some millet underneath, and the birds will hop in looking for food. Then we just fold the bamboo pole down, and that's it! Doesn't that sound really fun?"
Song Shuhao nodded politely and said to Ling Xiao, "With Aunt Ling's help, it's bound to work. Go for it, Aunt! Catch a cage of birds and have them walk around in front of me. I promise I'll admire and envy you." She smiled and pushed Ling Xiao's hand away. "For now, let me just laze around like this." She then prepared to lie back down on the small couch.
Ling Xiao quickly reached out to support A-Hao's back and then held A-Hao's hand, saying pitifully, "Auntie, please help me! I made a bet with the eunuch that I can definitely be better than him. If I lose, it'll cost me ten taels of silver!"
Despite Ling Xiao's persistent pleading and dragging, Song Shuhao was finally pulled off the chaise longue. Ling Xiao said he wanted to find a quieter place with fewer people to avoid disturbing the birds.
After thinking it over, Ahao felt that Yuanshuge was more suitable than any other place, so she suggested it. Lingxiao was far less familiar with the palace than she was, so now that Ahao had an idea, she could only agree and had no objections whatsoever.
The two prepared the tools, spent some money, and asked two eunuchs to help deliver the items to the Yuanshu Pavilion. Ahao and Lingxiao followed along.
Zhang Yu finished his work early today and, knowing that Song Shuhao had half a day off, asked her about it. He then learned that she and Ling Xiao were fooling around in the Yuanshu Pavilion. It sounded like something only little kids would do, but Zhang Yu still went to the Yuanshu Pavilion. Prince Ning was with him anyway, so he followed along.
Upon arriving at the Yuanshu Pavilion, and passing through the clumps of green bamboo in front of it, the view opened up before them, and Zhang Yu and Zhang Ye immediately spotted Song Shuhao and Ling Xiao. The two women sat on the steps in front of the pavilion, seemingly unfazed by the cold, their chins propped on their hands as they gazed intently at the open space below, where something appeared to be placed.
Prince Ning looked on with curiosity and interest, and he and Zhang Yu walked forward together. Soon, Prince Ning could see clearly the large bamboo strips supported by thin wooden sticks, the millet scattered on the ground, and the birds hopping around eating the millet under the bamboo strips.
"What are you doing?" he asked. The birds that had been eating were startled and scurried away. Song Shuhao and Ling Xiao stood up abruptly in unison, their eyes filled with resentment as they looked at Zhang Ye.
Zhang Yu sized up Song Shuhao. Today she was wearing a silver-red jacket with a white fur trim around the collar, which made her look very energetic and even more gentle and charming. She stood there gracefully, with a petite and slender figure.
Knowing that Zhang Ye had ruined their plans, Zhang Yu, with one hand behind his back, said to him, "Xiao Shi, the moment you spoke, all the birds flew away. They've wasted their time." There was a hint of schadenfreude in his voice.
Zhang Ye was unaware of this, and immediately understood the subtle resentment he sensed in Song Shuhao and Ling Xiao's eyes. Having inadvertently done something "bad," Prince Ning avoided looking at Song Shuhao and Ling Xiao, coughing lightly twice to cover his embarrassment.
Chapter 59 Tenderness
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Including the time when Prince Ning scared the bird away, this was the sixth time that Ahao and Lingxiao had experienced the painful disappointment of losing a bird they were about to catch. Having learned from their five failures, the two decided to sit back and wait, refusing to interfere or utter a sound, hoping to reap the rewards without lifting a finger.
Unlike before, this time Ah Hao and Ling Xiao waited a long time before a bird finally pecked at their food, making it quite a difficult experience. They were hoping for a smooth and successful outcome and didn't want to suffer a sixth setback. But still... Thinking of all the hardships they had endured before, Ah Hao helplessly looked at Prince Ning, who had already walked up to them.
"Thank you, Your Highness, for allowing me and Aunt Ling to experience the taste of failure at the last minute for the sixth time. You are a good person. As the saying goes, 'One cannot gain wisdom without experience.' With this experience and lesson, Aunt Ling and I will surely succeed next time."
It was rare to see someone as sharp-tongued as Song Shuhao, but she was kind and smiling, and didn't come across as aggressive or menacing at all. Zhang Yu saw that her few words had made Prince Ning feel even more embarrassed, and he couldn't help but think of her cunning. A faint smile appeared on his lips.
Zhang Ye, who always acted arrogantly in front of her, was rendered speechless and at a loss for words. Ling Xiao suppressed a laugh and mentally made a heart shape with her hands for Song Shuhao. Prince Ning felt very apologetic and said, "It was indeed my fault for speaking out rashly and ruining your plans. Otherwise, how about I make it up to you?"
Ah Hao added, “How could I dare to accept compensation from Prince Ning? Although Aunt Ling did make a bet with someone and would have to pay some money if she lost, it is just a small matter and there is no reason for Prince Ning to be troubled.”
Prince Ning looked at Ling Xiao, who quickly composed himself, adopting a worried expression and looking back at him pitifully. Since Ah Hao had said so, he couldn't question it, especially since it was just a matter of money.
Therefore, Prince Ning, who was eager to make amends, readily agreed, "No matter how much you lose, I can help make up for it. Come and settle the debt with me anytime. Your Majesty is my witness."
It was obvious that Ling Xiao, being a female physician, didn't have much savings, so Prince Ning was naturally generous and fearless. However, upon hearing his words, Ling Xiao immediately seemed to well up with tears, gazing at him pleadingly, "Is Your Highness planning to bury me in silver notes? Sure, I'll accept any amount!"
Perhaps Ling Xiao's sycophantic behavior, driven by greed, was too pathetic to bear. Prince Ning glanced at her with disdain, but couldn't help but chuckle, asking with a smile, "Are you a money-grubber? Is there anyone in this world who wants to be buried under silver notes..."
Fearing that Prince Ning might change his mind, Ling Xiao forced a smile and hurriedly said, "Your Highness Prince Ning must be pitying me and unwilling to give up my life. Your Highness is virtuous and compassionate, just as Aunt Song said, a good person! An extremely good person!"
Ah Hao's eyes crinkled with delight as Ling Xiao amused her, but before she knew it, Zhang Yu had taken her hand. His large, slightly rough but unusually warm palm enveloped hers, and she realized how cold her own hands were. Zhang Yu didn't seem to care, pulling her up the steps without regard for the presence of Prince Ning and Ling Xiao.
When she came to her senses, Zhang Yu had already led her a few steps forward. Ashamed to see the possible reactions of Prince Ning and Ling Xiao, Ahao kept her head down and tried to struggle cautiously, but Zhang Yu only tightened his grip on her hand. Not daring to embarrass Zhang Yu in front of others, Ahao could only let him lead her into the Yuanshu Pavilion.
Ling Xiao and Prince Ning, left speechlessly behind by Zhang Yu and Song Shuhao, couldn't help but look at their tightly clasped hands. The Emperor's proactive and overt display of affection for Song Shuhao left Ling Xiao's astonishment plain to see.
She blinked at Prince Ning, who had also been abandoned. He was far more composed than she was, as if it were nothing out of the ordinary. Little did she know that Zhang Ye's astonishment was no less than Ling Xiao's. He merely turned his head to look at Ling Xiao and said, "What?"
Ling Xiao chuckled dryly twice, "It's nothing, it's nothing..." But her gossipy nature got the better of her, and she couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Your Majesty and Aunt Song..." Zhang Ye glared at her, and Ling Xiao quickly put on a serious expression and said again, "It's nothing, it's nothing."