Chapter 1, Spring Snow (Part 2)
The delicate face of Zi Wu flushed slightly as she softly replied, "This servant understands."
Longyuan then pretended to suddenly understand and said: "It seems that it is better for me not to go. If the Prime Minister misinterprets my intentions, wouldn't that be a great trouble"
Su Wugou exchanged a subtle glance with Xiao Nihan. She held Longyuan's right hand, urging him to sit beside her: "Hurry! Sit close to me to warm up, lest you be frozen by the wind and snow."
Xiao Nihan said softly: "The Prime Minister Xu Xiangguo is a veteran of three dynasties, having made great contributions to the Da Kang. Your Majesty should indeed go and pay him a visit"
Upon entering the Cining Palace, a warm and gentle sensation greets one. Above the gilded incense burner, wisps of light smoke rise gracefully. Beaded curtains made of golden threads and pearls are elegantly gathered on both sides with jade hooks. Two beautiful palace maids stand at the entrance to the inner hall, smiling with dimples, and together they bow towards Longyuan.
Qiu Fuhai responded with a sound, while Zi Wu knelt before Su Wugou to bid her farewell. Su Wugou, with her elaborately adorned fingers, lifted Zi Wu's chin and exclaimed, "What a truly pitiable beauty! I believe you know how to guide the Emperor in the future."
The fire in the stove blazed brightly, and the fragrant aroma of boiling tea wafted through the air, filling the entire Cining Palace with a refreshing scent that penetrated the lungs. Su Wugou smiled and said: "No more talk, Ziwa, serve the tea!"
Longyuan deliberately pretended to be confused and said: "A visit is just a visit, why must it be concealed? Do I need to be secretive about my favor towards my subjects?"
Zi Wu gently nodded: "Every word of the Empress Dowager is etched in my heart."
Although Xiao Lie and Luo Ba did not regard this young emperor highly, they still had to maintain a respectful demeanor on the surface. Xiao Lie respectfully said: "Your Majesty, we have been entrusted by the Grand Tutor to specifically be here to welcome Your Majesty!"
Xiao Nihan coldly laughed and said: "It seems that the excellent remedy I have prescribed for Your Majesty is indeed effective!"
Su Wugou smiled and said: "The Prime Minister of Xu Xiangguo is a veteran of three dynasties; how could he be unaware of the palace's rules? There is another matter I need you to attend to this time."
Su Wugou greeted them to sit down, then turned to Zi Wu and said: "Zi Wu, I heard from the Grand Tutor that you are proficient in the art of tea. How about brewing tea for us here?"
Upon seeing Longyuan enter, the young girl hurriedly stood up, while Xiao Nihan pretended to rise, saying: "This old minister pays his respects to Your Majesty"
Su Wugou did not try to retain him, but instead stood up and handed a pre-sealed brocade pouch to Longyuan: "Your Majesty, when you meet the Illusory Realm Kingdom, personally give this pouch to him!"
Zi Wu softly said: "This servant will go and change it for Your Majesty"
Long Yuan nodded, stood up, and walked towards the palace exit. Xiao Nihan followed him out, while Su Wugou said to Qiu Fuhai: "Fuhai, you will escort Zihua to Qianqing Palace, and from now on, she will stay there to serve the Emperor"
The child knows! Longyuan said with utmost respect.
Since Long Yuan learned that Xiao Nihan was also here, his earlier good mood had vanished. He said in a low voice, "Bai Hong, Qing Yaar, you both wait outside." The reason he gave such instructions was entirely due to the impact of Xiang Qi's death on him today. If Xiao Nihan were to cause trouble again, it might lead to more lives being lost.
Long Yuan could not believe that Xiao Nihan would suddenly change his nature. Among the entire court, the one who most wished for Xu Wu to die early was probably Xiao Nihan. Now he pretends to be concerned for Xu Wu, yet he is unaware of what exactly he is plotting.
Xiao Nihan surprisingly agreed with her idea: "The Empress Dowager has considered this thoroughly; the matter of visiting the sick must not be made public. Your Majesty only needs to leave the palace in disguise, allowing the Prime Minister to feel your grace. It would be detrimental for other court officials to know about this matter."
Although Su Wugou is over thirty years old, she is well-maintained and appears much younger than her actual age. Her hair is adorned with twelve ornamental hairpins, and she is dressed in a golden-yellow imperial robe. Around her waist, which is slender enough to be grasped with one hand, hangs a purple-gold dragon and phoenix ornament inlaid with jade. This further accentuates her dignified and extraordinary demeanor.
Longyuan, distracted, went to pick up the teacup but accidentally knocked it over, spilling tea onto the delicate skin of Zihua. Zihua slightly furrowed her elegant brows, yet still held the teacup steadily. Although the tea was not very hot, her tender skin had already turned red from the warmth.
Su Wugou then waved to the young girl and said, "Zi Wu, come here!"
Su Wugou said: "Your Majesty, you are already fifteen years old this year. I recall that when I married your father, he was only fourteen years old."
Although Longyuan is still young, he has already learned to appreciate beauty. Such a beautiful woman is rare even among the many beauties in the imperial city. He smiled and said, "I have never seen this sister Zihua before."
Long Yuan originally had a favorable impression of this Zi Wu, but upon learning of her background, a sense of aversion arose in his heart. After such a roundabout way, it turned out that Xiao Nihan had sent him a spy. In the future, under her surveillance, he would certainly need to be more cautious in his actions. Any slight disturbance would inevitably reach Xiao Nihan's ears. Long Yuan glanced at Xiao Nihan's inscrutable expression and dared not utter any words of refusal, only feigning politeness by saying, "Thank you for your kind intentions, Grand Master"
Longyuan smiled and said, "Mother, your child is quite robust; this bit of wind and snow cannot harm me." Deep down, he did not feel the usual warmth of a mother-son relationship towards her.
Long Yuan cursed all eighteen generations of Xiao Nihan's ancestors in his heart
A palace maid ignited the gold furnace, while Zi Wu gently rolled up her sleeve, revealing a pair of delicate wrists that rivaled the frost and snow. Her orchid-like fingers gracefully pinched the tea utensils, washing them in the golden basin
Su Wugou said softly: "The Grand Tutor is wholeheartedly hoping for Your Majesty to become a wise ruler who dominates the world in the near future. Your Majesty should understand his earnest intentions."
Robadao: "It is to protect Your Majesty's safety"
Su Wugou smiled and said, "Once we enter this Cining Palace, there is no need for so many cumbersome rules. If everything were to be conducted according to royal protocols, wouldn't my mother and I become estranged from each other?"
Su Wugou said: "I have heard that there is a granddaughter of the Prime Minister of the Void Kingdom, named Huiyan, who is virtuous, kind-hearted, and possesses the qualities of a refined and talented person. I suggest that Your Majesty take a look for yourself. If you find her to your liking, it would not be inappropriate to take her as a consort, which would further demonstrate your favor towards the Void Kingdom. Upon hearing this joyful news, the Prime Minister might very well recover from his serious illness out of sheer happiness"
Longyuan certainly understood his meaning, but he was somewhat reluctant to let the two go just like that. He coldly said: "Since you wish to protect my safety, go and guard outside the Cining Gate for me"
Longyuan extended his index finger in front of his lips to signal silence, walked into the inner courtyard, and gazed at the Su embroidery screen ahead. The screen was adorned with a dragon and a phoenix, frolicking and chasing each other among the clouds. Longyuan recalled that the last time he visited the Cining Palace, the screen did not feature this design, yet he could not fathom how it had been suddenly changed.
Longyuan respectfully said: "Whatever Mother says is the rule, I will do everything according to what Mother says"
Your Majesty is being too modest
Xiao Lie and Luo Ba withdrew from the Ci Ning Gate in a dejected manner, standing honestly in the snow.
A palace maid had long presented a redwood tray, upon which were placed a gilded cloud and dragon kettle, a three-legged gold salt platform adorned with the Capricorn pattern, a silver spoon with a gilded flying swan design, a silver tea strainer inlaid with a flying celestial motif, a gilded flying swan silver cage, a golden basin featuring a dragon and phoenix design filled with hot water, and a nine-tiered hollowed gold furnace for boiling water to make tea. It truly radiated golden brilliance, showcasing the opulence and grandeur befitting royalty.
Long Yuan smiled and said: "Greetings, Grand Master!" He knelt before Su Wugou and respectfully said: "I pay my respects to you, Mother!"
Long Yuan felt embarrassed, secretly cursing this old rogue for being so arrogant, while putting on a face of shame: "Grand Tutor... I indeed caught a chill, but upon seeing you kill Xiangqi, I was so startled that I broke out in a cold sweat, and unexpectedly, this illness miraculously got better."
The voice of the Empress Dowager Su Wugou, gentle and kind, came from behind the screen: "The Emperor has arrived!"
Qiu Fuhai looked at the backs of the two and couldn't help but laugh, saying: "Your Majesty is wise!"
Long Yuan could not help but furrow his brows. The two individuals were Xiao Lie and Luo Ba, the personal guards of Xiao Nihan. He had long been aware that the relationship between the Empress Dowager and Xiao Nihan was unusual, as Xiao Nihan frequently visited the Cining Palace, leading to numerous rumors circulating. It seemed that today's incident was once again related to Xiao Nihan. Recalling Xiao Nihan's sinister expression, Long Yuan felt a wave of disgust rise within him, and he directed all his pent-up anger towards the two guards before him. He exclaimed, "You scoundrels, what kind of place is the Cining Palace? Do you think you can carry weapons and come and go as you please?"
Long Yuan suddenly understood Su Wugou's intention; after all this time, today was meant to discuss his marriage matters. However, what did his marriage have to do with visiting Xu Wu Wo?
No matter how quickly Longyuan's mind turned, he could not have anticipated that this matter possessed such intricacies. He instinctively felt that this incident was certainly an action taken by Xiao Nihan against the Void Me, yet he could not fathom where the problem in the entire situation lay
Su Wugou said softly: "It is indeed time to pay a visit, but Your Majesty should go privately."
Longyuan looked at Ziwu and saw that she was tall and slender, with satin-like black hair parted in the middle, tied back with a blue silk ribbon, cascading like a waterfall over her beautiful back. Beneath her elegantly arched brows were a pair of clear, spring-like eyes that sparkled like ripples on a lake in spring. Her delicate nose was straight and petite, her cherry lips slightly pursed, and shallow dimples appeared on her peach-like cheeks. She wore a small jacket of bright red brocade with a white fox collar on top, paired with a matching cotton skirt below, and her delicate feet were adorned with a pair of thin-soled embroidered cotton boots. Truly, her features were picturesque, and her beauty was like jade.
Xiao Nihan gently cleared his throat, and only then did Long Yuan retract his gaze. Su Wugou looked at him and said: "Your Majesty, I have heard that the Prime Minister Xuhuo has fallen seriously ill?"
"How? Is there still any danger in the Cining Palace?" Longyuan could not help but feel furious
Long Yuan secretly cursed Xiao Nihuan for his malice. There exists an unwritten rule within the court: when a minister falls gravely ill, the Emperor personally visits to inquire about their health. On the surface, this appears to be a form of grace and honor, yet for the minister, it is akin to a death sentence. Surviving would mean feeling indebted to the Emperor's great kindness, and there have been precedents in previous dynasties where elderly ministers chose to end their own lives under such circumstances. If I were to act in this manner, it would be tantamount to harming Xu Wuwo. Although Long Yuan himself harbored no particular fondness for Xu Wuwo, he still relied on the influence of the elderly ministers to maintain some standing within the court. Should Xu Wuwo perish, Xiao Nihuan would undoubtedly become even more arrogant, and among the entire court of civil and military officials, there would be no one left for him to fear.
"Are you welcoming me with a knife?" Long Yuan said coldly
Zi Wu softly said: "This servant obeys the command!" Her voice was tender, akin to a yellow oriole emerging from the valley
Longyuan nodded and said: "I have been ill for quite a long time, and it is said that there are still no signs of improvement."
Longyuan shook his head and stood up: "While it is still early, I should go to the Kingdom of Illusions to take a look. If he is truly on the brink of death, it would be a great regret not to see this veteran of three dynasties for the last time"
What is the matter
Su Wugou smiled and said: "Zi Wu is the niece of Grand Master Xiao, she is sixteen years old this year, her parents passed away early, and she came to seek refuge from Nanjun a few years ago. Grand Master Xiao originally intended for her to enter the palace to serve me, but since I do not lack for attendants, it is fortunate that this young girl is exceptionally clever, so let her follow you in the future."
Ziwuxue's snow-white delicate hands lifted the gilded tea cup, kneeling before Longyuan, she softly said: "Your Majesty, please enjoy the tea"
Xiao Nihan secretly sighed, realizing that Longyuan was indeed a useless person, and patiently explained the rules within.
Qiu Fuhai was indeed somewhat angry upon seeing the young emperor, and he hurriedly said: "You two should quickly leave; do you really want His Majesty and the Grand Tutor to hold you accountable for your disrespect?" His words were quite skillfully phrased, as they not only provided a way out for Xiao Lie and Luo Ba, but also reminded Long Yuan that one should consider the master when dealing with a dog, and not to pursue the matter any further.
Xiao Nihan said calmly: "Did Your Majesty not catch a cold during the morning court today?"
Longyuan finally came to his senses and said with a wry smile: "It seems that I am not blessed with the fortune of enjoying tea"
Long Yuan quickly changed his expression, a hint of excitement and a touch of playful smile at the corners of his lips, and walked in briskly. He saw the Empress Dowager Su Wugou playing chess with a young maiden of about eighteen years, while Grand Tutor Xiao Nihan sat beside them, quietly appreciating the game on the table
If I can make the Emperor feel at ease, then I will naturally feel at ease as well. As long as the Emperor is pleased, your wealth and nobility will surely follow in the future. Do you remember this?