Chapter Nine, Spring flowers in the mountains smile behind the walls

It is uncertain whether Emperor Dingxi is aware that he is being called by his name so directly by Song Chunhua behind his back

The world has become increasingly strange; the mountain girls, whom people look down upon the most, actually understand the principle that taking others' belongings is wrong, while the daughters of noble families are constantly engaged in both overt and covert schemes for this very reason

After a long while, Emperor Dingxi finally said, "Go ahead."

Ting You's eyes twitched uncontrollably again.

The trumpet flower pavilion is a place I have visited, and I nearly lost my footing due to a slip underfoot

"You can call me Chunhua from now on." Song Chunhua got up again to prepare some candies for Tingyou.

Emperor Dingxi glanced at the pears on the table and said, "Pears are cold in nature and should not be consumed in excess; take them back with you."

Ting You felt a twitch at the corner of her eye, and only then did she realize that in the eyes of Emperor Dingxi, she was hardly even worthy of being compared to pork, at best she could only be considered a mere carrot.

"Yes. " Ting You stood up, allowing Baoqin to tidy up the fruit basket, and then saluted Emperor Dingxi, saying, "This subject humbly takes leave."

"The Empress Dowager has asked me to send you some pears; these are the Daoxiangshan tribute pears." Tingyou's companion, who was behind her, quickly brought up the fruit basket.

"Please sit down, enjoy some fruit, enjoy some fruit." Song Chunhua clearly mistook Ting You for one of the girls who visit from the mountain, warmly taking her hand and stuffing a handful of sticky, sweet honey fruits into Ting You's hands

Ting You was left blushing and at a loss for words by the rustic demeanor and dialect of Song Chunhua, a person from the mountains. She had never been fond of overly sweet foods, yet Song Chunhua insisted on giving her the greasiest fried snacks. Ting You took a small bite, smiled, and said, "It's quite delicious"

"Tell me how you entered the palace?" Ting You had always been curious. In order to lower Song Chunhua's guard, Ting You took a hearty bite of the pear. The sweet juice filled her mouth, indeed refreshing and pleasant.

I still do not know your name?" Ting You put down the candy.

After leaving the Lianli Hall, Ting You gazed at the pear in the hands of the qin player, naturally not daring to return the pear to Empress Jing. "Let us go to the lakeside"

"You are only allowed to go back after finishing all of this," Ting You said, pointing at the pears, making it difficult for Bao Qin and Nong Zheng. She took one for herself, wiped it on her dark blue palace dress, and with a crisp "crunch," took a bite.

However, it is undeniable that although Song Chunhua's skin has darkened and become somewhat rough, she is indeed charming, exuding a hint of wildness reminiscent of spring.

"How is it over there?" The Empress Dowager took a sip of ginseng soup from Tingyou's hand, "After all, it is your skill in cooking that makes it palatable. This peculiar taste of ginseng can only be subdued by your own brewing.

Ting You stood up and saw Song Chunhua standing beside Emperor Dingxi, looking at him with a face full of worry. However, the two people before him were like tall and graceful trees, while the other resembled a short and round gourd. If one had not seen them with their own eyes, it would indeed be difficult to imagine them together. An image of their private moments unconsciously surfaced in Ting You's mind, causing his face to flush and a feeling of suppressed laughter to arise.

When someone like Ting You encounters someone like Song Chunhua, who is truly straightforward, it only leads to suffering

The Empress Dowager gently patted Tingyou's hand, saying, "That little vixen, unable to keep the Emperor's heart for herself, has come to flatter me instead. Does she really think I have become muddled in my old age? My concern for you is genuine. Before the old lady passed away, she sent me a letter, instructing me to look after you, saying that your heart is not here, and I fear..." However, the Empress Dowager did not dare to finish her sentence in front of Tingyou, fearing it would instill a sense of fear in her.

Ting You wiped the corner of her mouth for the sake of the Empress Dowager and said, "I fear that lady won't last long; Your Highness need not worry." This was not because Ting You looked down on Song Chunhua, but rather because she believed that Song Chunhua was truly unsuitable for life in the palace. If Emperor Dixi truly had feelings for her, he would not have kept her confined for long; if he had no feelings for her, then there was nothing to be concerned about.

"Your Majesty, I, your humble servant, have come at the behest of the Empress Dowager to deliver some fruits to Sister Chunhua." Tingyou was also unsure how to address Song Chunhua

Ting Youlian heard Song Chunhua mention "Ake" twice before realizing that Ake must refer to Emperor Xi, Chu Ke. To call him by this name directly is quite rare even among the common people. Yet, Song Chunhua surprisingly has this honor

Having resolved the matter of these pears, Ting You then touched her belly and slowly made her way to the Green Ripple Hall

It was not until Emperor Dingxi shot a fierce glare at Tingyou that she suddenly came to her senses and hurriedly took her leave

This sound made Ting You feel stuck with the small piece of pear flesh in her mouth, unable to swallow or spit it out. She quickly got up and put down the pear, saying, "Your Majesty, may you be in good health."

Song Chunhua was about to speak, but Ting You quickly interrupted her, knowing with her toes that she was going to say, "If it's delicious, then you should eat more."

Ting You can only offer a forced smile

Song Chunhua has a round face, round eyes, a round nose, a round mouth, and a round waist, which made Ting You look at her with wide eyes as well

Song Chunhua visibly sighed in relief, "Then you should come by often, I feel so bored here by myself. Ake doesn't allow me to go out alone"

You should eat, go ahead and eat. Look at how thin you are, no wonder Ake said that the women in your palace are sharp-edged.

"You are truly beautiful, even more so than the morning glories on our mountain." Song Chunhua looked at Ting You with great enthusiasm

No. Ting You shook her head. If the emperor is regarded as an ordinary person and has not conferred a title upon an empress, then he is without a wife, at most he can be considered a widower

What are you doing here

This pear is truly large and juicy. Song Chunhua smiled as she took one, wiped it on her clothes, and took a big bite. Then, seeing Ting You's astonished expression, she shyly laughed and said, "Uh, oh no, I forgot again. I'm just not used to how you people in the palace have to cut fruit into small pieces and eat it with those little sticks. It's such a hassle"

Ting You was so taken aback by Song Chunhua's question that she completely forgot to refuse the pear, "The Empress Dowager is the Emperor's mother"

In Yong'an, Ting You also enjoyed eating fruits in this manner. She evaded the people sent by her ancestors and went to the creek, took off her shoes, and dipped her feet into the cool water while munching on juicy fruits, feeling utterly at ease.

Ting You was at a loss for how to respond. In truth, Empress Dowager Jing had summoned her, likely to lure Song Chunhua out of the Lianli Hall. Once she had a formal status, Song Chunhua would become the prey of these women. However, Ting You was uncertain of her own feelings and did not wish to wipe the smile off Song Chunhua's face. Yet, it was evident that Song Chunhua was under pressure; her smile was tinged with anxiety and humility, which made Ting You feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Emperor Chu Ke is known to the current emperor Song Chunhua. Upon hearing this, she felt somewhat nervous, "Should I go pay a visit to my mother?"

"Are you Mrs. Ake?" Ting You noticed the smile on Song Chunhua's face fade, replaced by a hint of confusion and a touch of apology. Such a sincere girl, Ting You had seen before, on the mountains of Yong'an

Song Chunhua saw Ting You being so carefree, and felt happy in her heart, "Oh, I also don't know what happened, that day I was just shopping on the street, and in the blink of an eye, I was caught and taken onto a carriage..."

"You should try this too, this pear is really sweet and juicy." Song Chunhua picked the largest pear for Ting You, "Who is the Empress you mentioned?"

Only a straightforward girl like Song Chunhua would fail to understand the intricate ways of the people in the palace; how could Emperor Dixi not be aware of this

Ah... Song Chunhua wanted to say something, but was stopped by Emperor Dingxi's gesture

Emperor Ding Xi did not speak, and Ting You did not dare to rise.

"Enough, enough, it's sufficient to eat." Ting You was made to feel sweet and sticky by Song Chunhua, yet she found it difficult to express her bitterness. Faced with her radiant smile, she simply could not muster any other expression

Ting You's forehead clearly had three more black lines, isn't this a blatant act of forcibly seizing a woman?