Chapter 129: Hello Chang’an
.png)
"IF YOU LIKE THE TRANSLATIONS, CONSIDER SUPPORTING US ON PATREON."
Chapter 129: Will His Highness Forgive Her?
2023-03-08
Author: Fei 10
The sound of hooves was followed by a loud command: "Let—"
The palace attendants carrying the palanquin quickly moved aside upon hearing the order.
Three riders on horseback swiftly passed in front of Chang Suining and the others, without stopping for a moment.
Chang Suining instinctively watched the three figures disappear into the distance.
In the Da Sheng Dynasty, those who rode horses were either extremely important individuals permitted by the emperor or had one of two possible reasons for being there. One was to deliver urgent messages, usually critical and time-sensitive military reports.
From the appearance of the three riders and the boxes strapped to their horses, it was clear that they fell into the second category.
Chang Suining withdrew her gaze.
As long as it wasn't a military report, she felt relieved.
"Those are the envoys from Lingnan delivering lychees to the palace," Prince Rong said with a smile.
Chang Suining nodded.
It was somewhat ironic that the lychees from Lingnan, just like the military reports, were such precious items that couldn't be delayed. Great Sheng even had a special route for transporting lychees to the capital.
"I've heard the rains in Lingnan this year have been just right, so the lychees entering the capital should be excellent," Prince Rong continued with a smile. "You should be able to indulge, Miss Chang."
The holy Emperor had a habit of rewarding officials of the second rank and above with lychees, so the General of the Left Cavalry's household was no exception.
Facing the ever-smiling Prince Rong, Chang Suining also smiled slightly but said nothing more. She gave a formal bow and said, "I shall take my leave."
"Take care, Miss Chang."
Watching the young woman’s retreating figure, the Prince Rong withdrew his gaze and murmured to himself with a sigh, "It seems Miss Chang doesn't like lychees..."
Normally, no one could resist liking lychees.
It wasn’t just about the taste of the fruit itself—
....
This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://eternalnovelhits.blogspot.com
....
Leaving aside the value of rarity, in the capital, receiving a lychee freshly delivered from Lingnan, still sweet and fresh despite the long journey, was always something to show off. For officials, it was a sign of status, and for young ladies, it was even more of a rarity.
Yet, when the young lady heard the word "lychee," there was neither surprise nor any hint of expectation.
Chang Suining continued walking along the palace road, with the vermilion gates ahead, their color reminiscent of the lychee’s skin.
Summer lychee deliveries were always especially difficult. From Lingnan to the capital, every ten miles there was a post station, every five miles a small stop, and the horses galloped without pause. Though the poor-quality fruit would be carefully sorted out before entering the palace, the lychees would still undergo another round of inspection once they arrived.
The best and biggest fruit would, of course, be given to the Emperor.
Ignoring the officials of the previous dynasty, lychees in the imperial harem were traditionally divided into three grades.
That summer, when the lychees were distributed in the harem, the mother and child trio in the remote quarters by the elephant garden were not overlooked.
Three lychees arrived—though they weren't the most attractive, their quality was enough to bring excitement to a small child.
It was the first time she and Ah Xiu had seen lychees.
Her mother, with her clean and delicate fingers, peeled one open, revealing the glistening white flesh that made one salivate.
Her mother removed the pit and handed it to Ah Xiu. He was both curious and delighted, nodding as he said, "So sweet."
He had always been weak, and eating was more difficult for him than for most children. When he said "so sweet," it was a moment of joy and relief.
So her mother said, "Since Ah Xiu likes it, you can have another."
There were only three in total, sent according to the number of people.
She hesitated for a moment, then handed the lychee she held to Ah Xiu. "Let Ah Xiu have this one too!"
Though they were both around five or six years old, her hand was different from Ah Xiu's thin and fragile hand, which resembled a little chick's claw. Her hand was chubby and plump, and when she offered the lychee to him, her mother must have thought there was no need to consider it at all.
Her mother nodded and instructed the palace maid to bring her some snacks.
So, she handed the lychee to Ah Xiu.
She stood there, watching her mother peel another lychee and feed it to Ah Xiu.
At this moment, the palace maid returned with the snacks, and she walked away to eat them by herself.
She had always had a good appetite, and everything she ate tasted delicious.
Additionally, with her desire to protect her weak younger brother, she always ate a little more after finishing her meal.
She polished off a whole plate of snacks. When she took the handkerchief offered by the maid to wipe her mouth, she happened to see her mother looking at her with a somewhat helpless smile and shaking her head.
In that helplessness, there seemed to be a hint of concern that she might overeat and feel uncomfortable, and also something that she hadn't understood when she was younger.
Ah Xiu was growing a bit drowsy, so her mother gently pulled him onto her lap and began rocking him to sleep.
She sat quietly there, watching. Sitting on a high chair, her feet didn’t quite reach the ground, but she didn’t dare to swing her legs, afraid of disturbing Ah Xiu.
As she watched, she began to feel a little drowsy herself and suddenly found herself envious of Ah Xiu, who was being held by their mother.
Since she could remember, her mother had never held her like that—placing her on her lap and cradling her in her arms.
But after thinking for a moment, she did recall one time.
It was a spring afternoon, and they were basking in the sun. Ah Xiu, tired and cranky, didn’t want to let their mother coax him to sleep. He cried, refusing to be comforted.
So their mother opened her arms to her, saying to Ah Xiu, "If Ah Xiu doesn't come, then I’ll hold Ah Shang instead."
This method always worked on small children, as they didn’t think much. Upon hearing this, Ah Xiu hurriedly ran over.
Their mother then gently pushed her aside with a calm demeanor to hold Ah Xiu.
Remembering that moment, she looked at the bright red lychee skin and suddenly felt a little bit of grievance.
But Ah Xiu was so weak, she told herself, she shouldn’t feel upset.
She wanted to be a good child, and she wanted to be a good older sister.
And Ah Xiu was a good younger brother.
That evening, Ah Xiu found her and secretly gave her something.
Under the lantern light in the corridor, she saw that it was a lychee.
—"This is for you, older sister. I hid it secretly. You should eat it quickly!"
Perhaps he had hidden it in his sleeve or in his chest, but the lychee was no longer fresh.
Yet, under the gaze of his eyes, so similar to hers, she peeled it and ate it.
It was the first lychee she ever ate.
—"Older sister, is it good?"
—"It's not as good as chestnuts."
—"Ah, but I think it's really delicious."
—"Then I’ll gather all the lychees in the world for you!"
In winter, when she saw the palace servants digging up a red carrot from the soil, she thought lychees grew in the ground too—she hadn't even figured that out yet and was already boasting.
Ah Xiu believed her and nodded eagerly, like a little chick pecking for grain.
When Chang Suining stepped out of the palace gate, she brought her thoughts back to the present.
...
Prince Rong, Li Lu, arrived at Ganlu Hall and bowed to both holy Emperor and the Crown Prince.
holy Emperor had someone offer him a seat.
His health had always been poor, so holy Emperor took extra care of him, such as providing him with a sedan chair in summer and a palanquin in winter—privileges not granted to other royal family members.
"I was just discussing the matter of selecting a crown princess with the Crown Prince," holy Emperor said.
Li Lu was slightly surprised by this and glanced at the Crown Prince sitting there. He smiled faintly, "It seems there will be a joyous occasion in the palace soon."
The Crown Prince sat upright, but there was an unmistakable look of nervousness and discomfort in his eyes. "…But I am still young and not in a hurry for this matter."
The phrase "I am still young" had become something the Crown Prince repeated frequently over the past two years.
It seemed to maintain a certain balance, but deep down, he knew that he would eventually grow older. He could say it at fifteen, at twenty... but what about at thirty?
"You're certainly not in a hurry, but others may be," holy Emperor said in a calm tone, causing a cold sweat to suddenly form on the Crown Prince's back.
The Emperor continued, "But that’s fine. Selecting the crown princess is an important matter. It will take some time to find the right candidate. We should start preparing."
The Crown Prince responded, "Everything will be decided by the sage... I will obey without question."
holy Emperor looked at him. "You are to be the ruler of Da Sheng. There is no need to always obey me in everything."
The Crown Prince’s face paled slightly. "Your Majesty…"
holy Emperor appeared not to notice his unease and continued, "As the Crown Prince, everything is tied to the state. In the court, everyone has their own interests to consider, and you cannot believe everything others say. The selection of the crown princess is something you must consider carefully. Do not listen to one side only, and do not act blindly."
"Yes… I will keep this in mind," the Crown Prince said, his tone solemn.
holy Emperor then turned to Li Lu, who was sitting to the side. "The Crown Prince is already preparing for the selection of a crown princess. Lu'er, have you given any thought to your own marriage?"
Li Lu had been recuperating in the capital for many years, and his marriage had not yet been arranged.
Li Lu was a little taken aback. "I have no plans yet."
"But you’re at the age to marry," holy Emperor observed, his gaze slightly heavy. "Your father is far away in Yizhou. If I allow you to delay this matter in front of me, how will I explain it to your father?"
Li Lu composed himself. "Then I leave it to her Majesty to decide."
"You are not the same as the Crown Prince," holy Emperor said in a gentle tone. "If there is a woman you like, feel free to tell me. If your father agrees, I will make the decision for you and arrange your marriage."
Li Lu was momentarily stunned.
A woman he liked?
He showed a slight blush. "I… I have no particular thoughts on that yet…"
"Then you should try to find someone," holy Emperor suggested, glancing at the Crown Prince. "I plan to hold a flower banquet for the selection of the crown princess. You should attend and observe whether any lady catches your eye."
"Yes," Li Lu replied, coughing twice before continuing, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for taking the time and effort in handling this matter for me."
Seeing his weak complexion, holy Emperor asked a few more questions about his recent health.
"I've been too fond of the coolness in the summer, so I've had a bit of a cough lately… but it’s nothing serious."
holy Emperor nodded, reassured. He gave a few more instructions before allowing the palace servants to escort Li Lu out of Ganlu Hall.
The Crown Prince, Li Zhi, also withdrew.
Once the two had left, and the bead curtain gently swayed, holy Emperor's expression shifted, her thoughts unreadable.
A moment later, Ming Luo entered.
"Your Majesty, the lychees from Lingnan have arrived and are now in the outer hall."
holy Emperor, slightly coming back to her senses, stood from her dragon throne. "I’ll go take a look."
Ming Luo wasn’t surprised that the Emperor wanted to see them in person and stepped forward to assist him.
The Emperor was not one to indulge in food cravings, but every year she would personally select a few lychees from those sent from Lingnan.
When they reached the outer hall, holy Emperor bent down slightly, picking through the freshly arrived lychees and selecting several dozen of the most beautiful, filling two boxes.
"The rest, just as in previous years, let them be distributed," he said.
Ming Luo nodded. "Yes, I understand."
"These two boxes," holy Emperor continued, "as usual, send one to Dayun Temple and the other to the Princess's residence. Ming Luo, you go personally to the Princess's residence. For Dayun Temple, let General Cui deliver them on my behalf."
Ming Luo again nodded and left with the two boxes of lychees preserved with ice.
"His Majesty always thinks of Princess Chongyue," one of Ming Luo’s maids commented as she glanced at the two boxes.
These were the finest lychees, one box for the temple to honor the heavenly goddess and the other for Princess Chongyue’s former residence. The Emperor herself had never tasted a single one.
And this had been the case every year.
Ming Luo knew what the maid was thinking and silently gazed at the two boxes.
But it wasn’t just one box being sent to Princess Chongyue.
"I heard that when the emissaries from Lingnan pass by Gongling, they leave some lychees to be offered in tribute to the late Crown Prince who is buried there…" the maid sighed.
Both of her Majesty's children had passed away early, and no matter how great a ruler he was, in the end, he was still lonely, always thinking of his dearly departed flesh and blood.
"Fortunately, Your Highness, the Princess, is here to accompany her Majesty," the maid added with a sigh.
Ming Luo gave a faint smile, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
Does the ruler need company?
Perhaps, to many, it seems unnecessary.
With the highest power in the land, would anyone still care about that small, insignificant companionship?
At times, Ming Luo herself wasn’t certain whether her aunt truly needed it.
But whether it's nostalgia or guilt, whether it’s partly true or partly false, it's only directed toward the deceased.
She sometimes wondered, if her aunt's exceptionally talented children were still alive, how would her aunt be now?
The carriage first went to Xuanzhe Manor.
Ming Luo explained the purpose of her visit, just as she handed the box of lychees to Cui Yuanxiang. Before she could speak more with Cui Jing, he immediately said, "Lychees spoil quickly," and set off to Dayun Temple.
Dayun Temple was located outside the city, a bit far, so Cui Jing had prepared a carriage and ice to preserve the lychees.
As they were leaving the city, Cui Jing suddenly reined in the horses.
Cui Yuanxiang quickly followed suit, instinctively reaching for the dagger at his waist and looking around cautiously. "Great General, is something wrong?"
Cui Jing glanced at a street stall. "Go buy some chestnuts to bring along."
Cui Yuanxiang, still holding his dagger, looked confused. "Chestnuts?"
…
Meanwhile, in the afternoon, Yu Xue, who had been napping, vaguely heard voices from outside.
"Go to the front courtyard, Miss Ming has arrived."
"Miss Ming?"
"Miss Ming is here to deliver this year's lychees to her Highness, per the Emperor's orders…"
her Highness?
Hearing the title, Yu Xue suddenly sat up.
She had just dreamed of her Highness...
In the dream, her Highness kept asking why she hadn't visited her, why, why...
"I should explain things clearly to her Highness..."
"Someone must have deceived me..."
She hadn't meant to harm her Highness!
Yes, as long as she explained everything to her, her Highness would forgive her, right?
She would forgive her, wouldn't she?
This thought, which could save her from her torment, made Yu Xue momentarily forget everything else. She hurriedly got out of bed, slipped on her shoes, and quickly walked out of the room.
Because of Ming Luo's arrival, the two maids who should have been guarding the area had gone to the front courtyard.
She walked swiftly through the garden, arriving at the back courtyard of the Princess's residence, then to the door she had opened many times recently.
After a brief moment of hesitation, she nervously unlocked the door and opened it.
The setting sun outside, glowing with intense light, made her instinctively raise her hand to shield her eyes.
At the same time, she stepped over the threshold.
Comments
Post a Comment