Nanny Qi had managed to eat only half bowl of rice, and finally, unable to eat more, she put down her chopsticks and was about to take her leave but noticed that the Emperor’s complexion alternately darkened and cleared, and the aura around him was amiss.
She frowned in thought, then sat down to watch for a while longer and discovered that the Emperor’s expressions, at times clenched in anger and at others filled with distress.
Indeed, he must be thinking about that little girl.
What was the meaning of this display?
The little girl had only gone out for once, to meet people, and how did she manage to displease the Emperor?
It seems being an Emperor for too long breeds idiosyncrasies.
On normal days when he was busy, the little girl also spent her time alone; but today, simply because she was not with him, he was this displeased.
As Nanny Qi watched, she grew discontent, and as soon as the Emperor regained his senses, she stood up to ask for leave, better he stay by himself. She didn’t want to see, tired of watching.
After Nanny Qi left, the Emperor himself lost his appetite and had the midday meal withdrawn.
This midday meal had been particularly brief, its duration not even amounting to a third of the usual time, leaving both Nanny Qi and the Emperor feeling stifled.
Over at the Huaqing Palace.
Lian Hua clapped her hands in approval:
"Bravo! Sister, you are so amazing!"
"Wow, Sister, so imposing!"
Xiao Jizi, Xiao Qing, and Xiao Linzi were gathered around Lian Hua, all of them watching with great enthusiasm.
Xu Zhaoyi’s sword dance was as fluid as passing clouds and flowing water, a combination of softness and rigidity, exuding a compelling aura of sternness that left the inexperienced watchers in awe.
After she finished her sword dance, she felt a joyful exhilaration, her body felt refreshed; it had been such a long time since she had felt this elated, truly delightful!
She descended the stage, drenched in sweat, and walked towards Lian Hua with a smile.
Lian Hua’s eyes sparkled with admiration as she watched her. Taking the towel from Ming Jing’s hand, she eagerly approached, similar to an obsequious little lapdog, and said attentively, "Sister, your sword dance was really beautiful. Wipe your sweat away. Are you thirsty, Sister? Let me get you some water or tea to drink."
Xu Zhaoyi took the towel from Lian Hua, pinched her face and said, "Then I thank you, little sister." Then she began to wipe off her sweat.
Lian Hua smiled shyly. Ah, Zhaoyi Sister had become someone she admired, and to be thanked by her made her feel quite embarrassed.
She waved to Ming Jing at the back, signaling her to bring the tea over; it would not be fitting for her to overstep her bounds.
Ming Jing had already prepared and, with a smile brimming on her face, took over the tray from a Little Palace Maid and approached Lian Hua.
Ming Jing now held Lian Hua in high esteem, her impression of her vastly improved over what it had been previously.
Previously, when her mistress wanted Beauty Lian close, she had some reservations. After all, her mistress had her own secrets, and being General Xu’s only surviving daughter, her status was extraordinary; if those who approached her harbored malice, it could be disastrous.
But now, all those hesitations had vanished like smoke in the wind, and she became the most eager for her mistress to be close with Beauty Lian.
There was no other reason, except that when her mistress and Beauty Lian were together, she was truly happy, sincerely joyful from the bottom of her heart.
There could be nothing better than this.
If she had known from the start the kind of effect Beauty Lian would have on her mistress, she would have dragged her to Huaying Hall, rather than waiting so long.
Ming Jing approached Lian Hua with the tray in hand, waiting at the side. The tray held a cup of tea and a bowl of honey-colored soup.
Ming Jing said with a beaming smile to Lian Hua, "Master Lian, this cup is the mistress’s, and this bowl of sour plum and honey dew is for you, please."
Lian Hua looked at the bowl of sour plum honeydew; its color was strikingly appealing, and it must taste marvelous.
She glanced at it and then, passing over the sour plum honeydew, she picked up her teacup and turned to Xu Zhaoyi, saying, "Sister, you first."
"Such a good girl!" Xu Zhaoyi looked at her tenderly, handed the towel to someone else, and rubbed her hair.
Lian Hua quickly exclaimed, "Sister, don’t touch my hair, my hairdo will come loose." She had now become quite comfortable in front of Xu Zhaoyi.
Xu Zhaoyi laughed heartily and then vigorously rubbed again, causing Lian Hua to repeatedly beg for mercy until Xu Zhaoyi was satisfied and drained her cup of tea in one gulp.
Lian Hua made a sour face; her hairdo was loose again. Sister Zhaoyi really loved patting her head too much.
Today, at Huaying Hall, she had already redone her hairdo once, and now she would have to do it a third time.
After Xu Zhaoyi finished her tea, seeing her with a glum face, she tried to suppress her laughter and said, "Later let Ming Jing do your hair nicely. Her hairdressing skills are unmatched, she’ll surely make our Little Beauty look beautiful."
As she spoke, she reached out to pat her head again.
Lian Hua covered her head with both hands and dodged, "Thank you in advance, Auntie Ming Jing, but sister mustn’t touch my hair again, or I truly will be disheveled."
Xu Zhaoyi had no choice but to drop her hand with regret, placing the teacup back on the tray. Seeing the bowl beside her, she said, "Have some soup."
Lian Hua looked at the bowl of sour plum honeydew; it seemed so delicious that she licked her lips.
She reached out her hand and looked toward Xiao Jizi; she had forgotten what she could and couldn’t eat or drink, but Xiao Jizi remembered.
Xiao Jizi smiled and nodded; Master Lian was allowed to drink the sour plum honeydew, but not too much of it.
In Huaqing Palace, he felt assured. Xu Zhaoyi’s conduct was open and straightforward, and she was greatly indebted to Master Lian, so she wouldn’t harm her.
Seeing her , Xu Zhaoyi lifted her hand to tickle her chin and bent down to say, "You can relax with sister here, I won’t hurt you."
The little girl was quite cautious, always looking to her Young Eunuch every time she was about to eat something, and only eating when he nodded.
Although she knew the little girl wasn’t that manipulative, it still irked her somewhat.
Unable to withstand the tickling, Lian Hua clasped Xu Zhaoyi’s hand with both of hers and giggled, saying through laughter, "Haha, no, sister, haha, it’s not that, I don’t know what I can and can’t eat, it’s so ticklish, stop tickling me, sister, haha..."
Hearing this, Xu Zhaoyi finally stopped. So that was it—it’s as good as understood.
After laughing for a while, Lian Hua finally stopped, her cheeks flushed red. With tearful eyes, she looked at Xu Zhaoyi, wanting to explain, "Sister, I..."
She wanted to tell Xu Zhaoyi about her pregnancy and how there were many things she couldn’t eat.
Xu Zhaoyi quickly interrupted her, "What you want to say, I already know. There’s no need to bring it up again. For these matters in the future, if the Emperor allows you to speak, you may do so; if he doesn’t, just follow his arrangements."
Walls have ears, and she also had spies in her place. The Emperor keeps his plans to himself for a reason, so it’s better not to let the little girl speak of them.
Lian Hua listened, somewhat confused but seeming to understand something. She wasn’t stupid; she just usually thought less about such matters.
She nodded seriously, agreeing to the instruction.
As Lian Hua was sipping the sour plum honeydew, a Young Eunuch hurried in from outside and spoke softly to Ming Jing.
Ming Jing glanced at Lian Hua and then approached Xu Zhaoyi, whispering into her ear.
After hearing the message, Xu Zhaoyi nodded to acknowledge and dismissively said, "Such impatience, let him wait."
Ming Jing sighed helplessly to herself; her master was certainly headstrong. Ah, two Young Eunuchs had already come, and it was still best that she think of an excuse to send them away.