I See the Noble Consort's Charm - Chapter 40:

Chapter 40:

Perhaps it was the first time she had seen her son like this, the Empress Dowager sat aside laughing uncontrollably, making Su Qingyao’s face turn even redder, unable to utter a single word.

Chu Shaoyuan sat solemnly before the Empress Dowager’s bed, a slight smile also gracing his face.

He discovered that teasing others truly brought him great amusement.

Seeing the blush on Su Qingyao’s face had spread down to her neck, the Empress Dowager finally cleared her throat gently and comforted her: Alright, enough teasing. Good child, continue reading.

With the Empress Dowager having spoken, Su Qingyao couldn’t remain overly bashful and picked up the book to resume reading.

Having read Happy Fate several times in her previous life, she was very familiar with the story plot, thus reading it fluently with natural transitions between different characters.

Had the Emperor not been present, she could have performed even better.

Neither mother nor son spoke much, simply listening to her read alone, creating quite a harmonious atmosphere in the bedchamber. Le Shui quietly withdrew to instruct the palace maids to prepare the evening meal.

Judging by His Majesty’s intention, he likely came to accompany the Empress Dowager for dinner.

Soon it was time for the evening meal. As Su Qingyao reached the end of the current volume, the Empress Dowager said: Good child, take a rest now. We’ll continue with the remainder tomorrow.

Chu Shaoyuan immediately stood up, personally stepped forward to help the Empress Dowager sit up, then bent down to retrieve her soft-soled embroidered shoes.

Seeing Chu Shaoyuan’s movements, Su Qingyao hurried forward to take the embroidered shoes, attending to the Empress Dowager herself by helping her put them on, then supporting her together with Chu Shaoyuan.

The Empress Dowager felt slightly dizzy upon first standing, but felt much better after standing for a moment. She told Chu Shaoyuan: It’s fine now. Your mother’s illness is almost recovered. Your Majesty needn’t worry too much – I should fully recover in a couple of days.

Chu Shaoyuan sighed softly: That would be best, putting your son’s mind at ease.

Seeing that mother and son had matters to discuss, Su Qingyao proactively stepped back two paces, quietly following behind them as they proceeded to the dining hall.

Since the Empress Dowager was still recovering from illness, the evening meal wasn’t particularly lavish. Chu Shaoyuan was quite accommodating, only requesting two additional stewed dishes that would be easy to digest in the evening.

Su Qingyao initially thought she would return to her palace after seeing them seated. Just as she was about to curtsey and withdraw, the Empress Dowager called out: Good child, you sit down too and join us for the meal.

The Empress Dowager knew that if she returned now to request a meal, the Imperial Kitchen would likely have no fresh dishes left, probably just sending whatever prepared side dishes were available to dismiss the matter.

Though Su Qingyao didn’t mention it herself, the Empress Dowager wouldn’t play the heartless villain.

However, with not only the Empress Dowager but also His Majesty present at the table, Su Qingyao feared the mother and son might have private matters to discuss and hesitated to sit down immediately, instead looking pitifully at Chu Shaoyuan.

Chu Shaoyuan had already wiped the smile from his face and nodded faintly: Take a seat.

Only then did Su Qingyao properly sit opposite them.

Fortunately, the round table was quite spacious. With Su Qingyao sitting at this end, she could barely hear any sounds from the opposite side. Liuqin stood beside her, quick-eyed and fast-handed in serving her dishes.

The rotating tray completed a full circle quickly – if you missed one bite, the next might be gone when it came around again.

The meals at the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility were more health-conscious than those at Qian Yuan Palace, mostly consisting of lightly flavored dishes. To prevent the Empress Dowager from suffering indigestion at night, there were many varieties of green vegetables. In addition to the mushroom with bok choy and garlic water spinach that Su Qingyao usually enjoyed, there were also edamame with loofah, superior broth greens, and simply stir-fried lettuce.

Among the dishes served, some were only available in summer and would disappear by winter. Su Qingyao was delighted and ate a small bowl of Bigeng rice in one go, finally feeling satisfied.

In comparison, the Empress Dowager ate very little. She only had a small bowl of lily and millet porridge, barely touched the other dishes, and merely took a few bites of mushrooms with bok choy before considering her dinner finished.

Su Qingyao knew that the Empress Dowager had little appetite due to her illness. The fact that she managed to eat even this much was already giving face to the Emperor, forcing it down only to prevent her son from worrying.

Sitting at the far end of the table, Su Qingyao could faintly hear the Emperor softly urging the Empress Dowager to eat more—a stark contrast to his usual practice of maintaining silence during meals.

Regardless, the meal passed harmoniously, and everyone was quite content.

After dinner, Su Qingyao took her leave. She first bowed to the Emperor, then said to the Empress Dowager, This humble consort shall return to my palace and will trouble Your Majesty again tomorrow.

The Empress Dowager nodded, instructing Le Shui to see her out, and was then supported by her son back to her bedchamber.

Once Su Qingyao had left, the Empress Dowager turned to Chu Shaoyuan. That girl is quite remarkable.

With eyes that had witnessed all the splendor and intrigue of the palace, the Empress Dowager could discern much from today’s interaction with Su Qingyao.

Su Qingyao was a very sensible person.

Her sensibility manifested in many ways—she adjusted her demeanor appropriately when dealing with superiors and subordinates, yet never came across as displeasing. A competent palace consort ought to be just like this; otherwise, she wouldn’t even be able to manage affairs within her own palace, let alone anything else.

Noting Chu Shaoyuan’s silence, the Empress Dowager added, Previously, Jingchen Fashi also said that Talented Lady Su possesses a fate of fortune, longevity, and good health. Even if she cannot alter your destiny, she can accompany you through many years. Isn’t that quite fine?

Since the late emperor’s passing, the Empress Dowager had ceased obsessing over changing her son’s fate. The late emperor had been such a good man, yet because of an ill-fated destiny, hadn’t he been plagued by illness for many years and passed away before reaching the age of forty? To the Empress Dowager, regardless of the outcome, a life with companionship was what truly constituted harmony.

Seeing that his mother continued to worry about him even in her illness, Chu Shaoyuan couldn’t bear to contradict her. He nodded and said, Your son understands. Haven’t I been frequently summoning her to Qian Yuan Palace? She’s… quite a tranquil person.

Tranquility meant she wasn’t noisy. Su Qingyao was the first person whose presence didn’t irritate Chu Shaoyuan with clamor.

The Empress Dowager smiled.

Sitting by the bed, she breathed softly. As long as you feel you can get along with her, your mother can rest easy. There is still a long road ahead; take it slowly.

Su Qingyao was definitely not a quiet and reserved person—one only needed to observe her lively demeanor while reading to see how much she restrained herself in front of Chu Shaoyuan. Someone who knew how to assess situations was certainly not as naive and simple as she appeared on the surface.

But this was all the better.

The deep palace was a lonely place, and the most feared were those foolish innocents who understood nothing. They might perish from their own foolishness before others even had a chance to act.

Unaware of these thoughts in his mother’s mind, Chu Shaoyuan suddenly chuckled and said, Once Mother has recovered, we can also have her come over to read. It’s truly quite entertaining.

Indeed, her dramatic recitations were even more vivid than those of professional storytellers, making it rather addictive to listen. Even someone as disinclined to amusement as Chu Shaoyuan had been thoroughly engrossed earlier and considered having her read for him sometime.

While mother and son shared this tender moment in the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility, over at Azure Cloud Palace, Su Qingyao had just returned to her side hall when she saw Yingtao, a palace maid from Consort Hui’s residence, waiting at the entrance.

Su Qingyao glanced at Liulv guarding the door and noticed her winking, realizing that Yingtao had been waiting for at least half an hour.

However, after a busy day, Su Qingyao was genuinely tired and couldn’t be bothered to argue with Consort Hui. She simply squeezed Liuqin’s hand, prompting Liuqin to smile and ask, At this late hour, does Miss Yingtao have urgent matters?

She deliberately emphasized the words urgent matters, her tone laden with meaning.

Yingtao was actually good-natured. She likely recognized Su Qingyao’s rising favor and was unwilling to offend her, always treating her politely whenever they met.

Unfortunately, Consort Hui simply couldn’t stand Su Qingyao, believing that her favor made her disobedient. She even rejected Su Qingyao’s requests outright, showing no respect. Thus, she often sent Yingtao over to offer advice, seizing every opportunity to cause trouble—her pettiness knew no bounds.

So when Liuqin’s words mocked Yingtao, Yingtao merely blushed, still standing there awkwardly, not daring to leave.

After all, she had to make a living under Consort Hui’s command—whatever Consort Hui ordered, she had to do, or she would be the one to suffer the consequences.

Even though Liuqin’s words were somewhat impolite, Yingtao braced herself and bowed to Su Qingyao, saying softly, Consort Hui mentioned that it has been a long time since she last saw the Junior Mistress and would like to invite you over tomorrow to enjoy some snow pears.

By the seventh or eighth month, the melons and fruits in the imperial estates’ orchards would ripen, enriching the palace’s culinary offerings. High-ranking consorts like Consort Hui received two jin each of peaches, plums, and pears every ten days, with a decent variety to suffice.

As a Junior Mistress, Su Qingyao’s fruit allowance was only half a jin—just enough for a taste.

Consort Hui was generous enough to share her pears, but Su Qingyao couldn’t bring herself to enjoy such kindness.

She immediately showed a hint of hesitation on her face: Consort Hui is most benevolent and has always treated us well. However, tomorrow I still need to go to the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility…

Su Qingyao swallowed the rest of her words, leaving the rest unspoken.

No one in the palace knew that the Empress Dowager was ill. Today, when Tao Rui specially came to summon Su Qingyao, everyone assumed it was because the Empress Dowager favored her and wanted to chat, never suspecting anything else.

Consort Hui, seeing that Su Qingyao had been away all day without returning, grew restless, hence Yingtao’s visit.

But neither Consort Hui nor Yingtao had expected Su Qingyao to return to the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility the next day.

Did the Empress Dowager favor her that much?

At this thought, Yingtao’s face instantly turned pale. She bowed to Su Qingyao again and said, So the Junior Mistress has urgent matters tomorrow. The Empress Dowager’s affairs must take precedence. This servant will report back to Consort Hui and invite you another day.

With that, she didn’t dare delay any longer and hurried back to the rear hall.

Liuqin rolled her eyes toward the rear hall, then saw Liulv laughing and couldn’t help but feel annoyed: What are you laughing at? Hurry up and prepare water for the Junior Mistress.

Liulv knew she was putting on a show for the rear hall and didn’t take offense, cheerfully stepping forward to take her place and supporting Su Qingyao into the inner hall.

The water has long been prepared. The Junior Mistress can wash up and rest, Liulv said.

Only after the rear hall’s door closed did Su Qingyao remark, Does Consort Hui think no one understands her petty schemes?

Seeing that the bedding and hot water were already prepared, Liuqin was quite satisfied but didn’t show it. She merely handed Su Qingyao a small bowl of loquat syrup to moisten her throat: Consort Hui has always been like this. Notice how she never provokes Consort Sun.

Seeing Su Qingyao adding fuel to the fire, Consort Hui was both jealous and eager to win her over, but her pettiness was so transparent that her schemes were easily seen through.

The reason she didn’t bother Consort Sun was simply because Consort Sun held no favor or influence, making her useless to Consort Hui.

After a tiring day, Su Qingyao’s throat had grown somewhat hoarse. She felt much better after taking half a bowl of loquat syrup.

While helping her settle in for the night, Liuqin couldn’t help but feel distressed. Talking all day like that would ruin anyone’s voice.

Su Qingyao smiled. It’s not for just anyone—it’s for Her Majesty the Empress Dowager and His Majesty. While I still can, it’s important to speak more.

She wasn’t that delicate and had a clear perspective.

Perhaps after a few more exhausting days like this, she might even get to move out of Azure Cloud Palace.

The thought alone made her feel delighted, and even her dreams turned sweet.

Author’s Note:

Empress Dowager: I am simply the greatest wingwoman in history!

Emperor: Mother is mighty, mother is the best!