I See the Noble Consort's Charm - Chapter 34:
Chapter 34:
For decades, this was the first time Chu Shaoyuan had experienced such a feeling. Though he couldn’t quite comprehend what it meant, he had no time to dwell on it further.
Su Qingyao particularly enjoyed the Little Dragon Ball tea, with its rich and fragrant aroma. Unfortunately, this tea was quite rare, available only in Qian Yuan Palace and the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility. Others weren’t so fortunate to taste it.
Lucky to have encountered this tea at Qian Yuan Palace today, Su Qingyao’s attitude toward Chu Shaoyuan became increasingly ingratiating, her smiles far more frequent than usual.
Chu Shaoyuan walked to the tea table, observing the beautiful tea froth in the hare’s fur teacup. He lifted it to his nose, inhaling the aroma, and after a long moment, remarked with satisfaction, Not bad.
Su Qingyao quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
If her tea-brewing skills were still deemed unsatisfactory by His Majesty, then all her efforts in her previous life would have been in vain.
The two drank their tea in silence. After finishing one bowl, they simultaneously set down their cups, and the atmosphere grew stiff once more.
Su Qingyao truly didn’t know how to engage His Majesty in further conversation, while Chu Shaoyuan couldn’t think of anything to say to her either. Lou Duzhou had long since slipped away, leaving no one to lighten the mood.
They sat in silence for a while before Su Qingyao softly asked, Would Your Majesty care for more tea?
Her voice was gentle, carrying with it a refreshing fragrance that wafted to his nose. Chu Shaoyuan pondered but couldn’t recall what perfume she used. He was entirely unfamiliar with such feminine luxuries.
No more. You… may read something if you wish. Chu Shaoyuan pointed to a small bookcase nearby before rising and returning to his desk to continue dealing with those tedious memorials.
After their numerous interactions, Su Qingyao had come to understand that he wasn’t particularly talkative and somewhat disliked engaging with others. But after all, he was the Emperorwhatever he did was right, and no one could criticize him.
His reticence was seen as profound stability; his self-importance, the bearing of a sovereign. Everything about him was correct.
Assigned the task of reading, Su Qingyao selected a storybook from the small bookcase.
She hadn’t expected to find well-known folk tales in this bookcase. Having not read such stories for decades, she found them delightfully entertaining now and soon became completely absorbed, oblivious to her surroundings.
After swiftly reviewing a stack of memorials, Chu Shaoyuan looked up to observe Su Qingyao.
Having an extra person in the study always made him somewhat uncomfortable. Yet, perhaps because she was exceedingly cautious or inherently quiet, as time passed, he didn’t find it particularly unbearable.
Watching her readsometimes smiling, sometimes frowningChu Shaoyuan unconsciously mirrored her expressions. Realizing what he was doing, he suddenly pursed his lips in self-reproach.
Really, acting like an impulsive youth. How embarrassing.
Chu Shaoyuan struggled to refocus his mind and returned to his governmental affairs.
Mo Xi Pavilion soon grew quiet again. Both immersed in their own activities, they unexpectedly achieved a harmonious coexistence. It wasn’t until Lou Duzhou entered to announce dinner that they were jolted from their concentration.
Your Majesty, Junior Mistress, dinner is ready.
Su Qingyao immediately set down her book, sitting properly in her chair with downcast eyes, remaining silent.
Chu Shaoyuan, having nearly completed his work, stood and said, Let’s dine.
Dinner remained excessively quiet. This time, Lou Duzhou didn’t assign any junior palace maids to Su Qingyao. Liuqin had grown completely accustomed to serving Su Qingyao at Qian Yuan Palace and performed her duties with notable composure.
Su Qingyao was quite accustomed to dining here, having sampled a variety of delicious dishes, and her mood was especially cheerful.
After finishing the evening meal, Su Qingyao remained silent, sitting there waiting for Chu Shaoyuan’s instructions. Chu Shaoyuan initially wanted to leave immediately, sending her off to Pomegranate Hall to get her out of his sight, but then he recalled the Empress Dowager’s admonition. He took a deep breath, frowned, and commanded, Follow me.
Su Qingyao’s heart sank, suspecting he might want to take her up to the roof again for moon viewing. While reassuring herself there was nothing to fear, she secretly rolled her eyes at Chu Shaoyuan.
This emperor was rather peculiar, fond of doing strange things. It would be one thing if he did them alone, but he always dragged others alongdidn’t he know young ladies tended to be timid?
Chu Shaoyuan seemed to sense her gaze and turned to look at her, only to see her quickly avert her eyes. He couldn’t tell what she had been staring at.
It was then that he remembered the last time he had taken her up to the roof to admire the moon. She had been terrified, trembling as she climbed up, a scene that had been rather amusing.
Chu Shaoyuan pursed his lips, suddenly feeling an inexplicable urge to tease her. What are you looking at? Want to go moon viewing again?
He saw Su Qingyao lower her head without a word, then shiver slightly.
Chu Shaoyuan curled his lips and suddenly laughed. No roof climbing todaywe can’t do that every day.
Su Qingyao wasn’t sure if he was mocking her. After a long pause, she finally looked up and quickly glanced at his face. The emperor’s phoenix eyes were slightly open, his lips curved into a smile, carrying a rare cheerfulness she seldom saw.
His handsome face transformed entirely when he laughed, unlike when he was angry.
Su Qingyao asked softly, Really?
Chu Shaoyuan strode directly into the bedchamber, glancing back at her. A gentleman’s word is as good as gold.
Only then did Su Qingyao relax, feeling as if a weight had been lifted from her entire body at the thought of not having to climb the roof.
When they reached the entrance to the bedchamber, Chu Shaoyuan strode inside, while Su Qingyao hesitated at the doorway. This was the emperor’s private quarters, not a place someone of her status could enter freely. Usually, palace consorts performing imperial bedchamber service were restricted to Pomegranate Hall; the only one permitted to enter the emperor’s bedchamber was the empress.
In both his past and present lives, Chu Shaoyuan had never had an empress. Even in his previous life, when that woman gave birth to Emperor Xingwu and died in childbirth, he only posthumously honored her as Guifei, never establishing an empress.
Su Qingyao couldn’t understand why. She had never met this Consort Cen, nor did she know what story lay between her and the emperor. She only knew that after her death, the emperor was utterly grief-stricken and never set foot in the rear palace again.
At that time, the women in the palace resented Consort Cen, blaming her for monopolizing the emperor’s affections, for bearing the imperial eldest son, and for dying young, extinguishing everyone else’s hopes.
This woman, who had never appeared before the public, became known among the people as a peerless beauty and a testament to the emperor’s unwavering devotion.
Su Qingyao didn’t resent herwith or without her, it had nothing to do with Su Qingyao. She was merely curious about what kind of woman could earn the emperor’s affection.
All she left behind was a wailing imperial eldest son.
As Su Qingyao stood in a daze at the entrance to Qian Yuan Palace’s bedchamber, Lou Duzhou grew anxious and urged from behind, Junior Mistress, Junior Mistress, follow His Majesty inside!
He had to urge her twice before Su Qingyao snapped out of her daze, suddenly feeling nervous. I… shouldn’t enter, right?
Lou Duzhou wasn’t sure what to say. This Junior Mistress Su usually appeared quite boldshe’d even dared to make a forehead ribbon for His Majesty. Why was she so timid about entering the Emperor’s bedchamber?
He could only reassure her: It’s fine. If His Majesty says to enter, then it’s alright.
Afraid of keeping the Emperor waiting, Su Qingyao took a deep breath and stepped into the bed chamber.
Chu Shaoyuan’s imperial bedchamber was exceptionally spacious. The central area featured a hall divided into front and rear sections. The left side was obscured by partitions, making it difficult for Su Qingyao to see clearly. To the right were an elegant sitting room, a flower hall, and a small study. Only after passing through the sitting room would one reach Chu Shaoyuan’s actual bedchamber.
The bedchamber itself was divided into inner and outer chambersan inner sanctum and an outer sitting area. These two chambers alone were larger than Su Qingyao’s entire side palace.
Though the summer heat had subsided somewhat by evening, it remained quite warm. However, inside the bedchamber, the spaciousness and brightness, combined with opposing windows creating cross-ventilation, made it quite comfortable.
As Su Qingyao followed Lou Duzhou inward, she thought: No wonder everyone wants to be Emperor.
She had never been to the Outer Five Compounds, nor did she have the ambition to compare them to Qian Yuan Palace. But just looking at Consort Hui’s Azure Cloud Palace rear hall and the Empress Dowager’s Palace of Compassionate Tranquility, she could see the differences.
Some comparisons between people were simply unfair.
Su Qingyao was someone who knew how to appreciate her blessings. She didn’t dwell on gains and losses or merits and faultsas long as she could gradually improve her daily life, she was content.
Therefore, standing now in the majestic imperial bedchamber, she remained quite composed.
Earlier she hadn’t dared to enter, but once inside, it was as if she’d acquired an impenetrable shield she feared nothing.
Evening was Chu Shaoyuan’s reading time. He casually seated himself in the small study and pointed to the opposite daybed. Sit there.
Su Qingyao obediently sat down and didn’t move a muscle.
Chu Shaoyuan picked up a book and fell silent. After sitting quietly for a while without any instructions from himas if he’d simply summoned her to watch him read
Su Qingyao grew even more bewildered.
So today’s task was… to watch His Majesty read?
Lou Duzhou wasn’t present, leaving only the two of them in the bedchamber. Su Qingyao didn’t dare ask, so she could only sit there spacing out.
She realized Chu Shaoyuan was truly a strange person. If she had been destined to become Emperor, she would have long indulged in food, drink, and pleasure. Not himhe spent all his time immersed in state affairs, neither obsessed with women nor having other hobbies. His idea of relaxation during leisure time was merely reading.
Strange and unbelievable.
She didn’t know if Chu Shaoyuan ever grew annoyed, tired, or weary. Just watching him made her feel exhausted, yet he remained perfectly composed, as if this lifestyle suited him fine.
As a commoner, one would certainly be pleased to see the nation ruled by such an Emperor. But as his consort, other emotions began to stir within her.
She didn’t know what those emotions were, only that her heart felt stifled, heavy and breathless.
Fortunately, Lou Duzhou didn’t leave her uncomfortable for long. He hurried in carrying a tray, first serving tea to His Majesty, then bringing tea and snacks to Su Qingyao.
Does the Junior Mistress find these to her liking?
Perhaps having consulted Tingqin, Lou Duzhou had specially prepared local snacks from Nanyang. Grateful for the gesture, Su Qingyao thanked him before quietly asking: Eunuch Lou, should I… just keep sitting like this?
Lou Duzhou slapped his forehead and whispered, How could we let the Junior Mistress sit idle? Would the Junior Mistress like to read or play? Some time ago, the Construction Office presented some Hua Rong Dao puzzles. Does the Junior Mistress like them?
The Hua Rong Dao puzzles were made of wood and would inevitably make noise when sliding. Su Qingyao, afraid of disturbing His Majesty’s reading, thought for a moment and said, I wonder if Chief Steward could fetch some needlework? I’d like to do some embroidery.
Lou Duzhou immediately nodded. Perhaps he had already prepared for this, as he soon brought over a sewing basket containing various colored threads, each with a strand prepared, along with two square silk gauze handkerchiefsquite thoughtful indeed.
Su Qingyao nodded in thanks and, under the bright glow of the palace lantern, began working on the handkerchief.
Having done embroidery for decades, embroidering such a small handkerchief was second nature to her. She didn’t even need to draft a pattern, starting directly with the needlework.
When Chu Shaoyuan finished his work and looked up, he saw the woman diligently busy under the lantern.
The two of them shared the same room, each occupied with their own tasks, yet it felt remarkably harmonious. Chu Shaoyuan had likely grown accustomed to having someone by his side. Watching her now, his heart felt somewhat warmed.
This was probably the meaning of companionship.
Chu Shaoyuan let out a long sigh and lowered his gaze to the Diamond Sutra before him.
All appearances are illusory; all conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, and shadows, like dew and lightning. Thus should they be contemplated.
He didn’t know whether all of this was truly illusory or not.
Author’s Note: Talented Lady Su: Your companionship requirements are so simple.
His Majesty: I can’t take it anymore!
Talented Lady Su: Come on, come on, hit me if you dare.
His Majesty: …Just you wait. Sooner or later…