I See the Noble Consort's Charm - Chapter 41:

Chapter 41:

For the next two days, Su Qingyao went to the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility every day after breakfast, staying with the Empress Dowager until after dinner before returning to her own Azure Cloud Palace.

She and the Empress Dowager got along quite well. They spent their days arranging flowers, brewing tea, reading books, and playing weiqi together, making their time quite enjoyable.

By the fourth day, the Empress Dowager had almost fully recovered from her illness and asked Su Qingyao to accompany her for a walk in Cining Garden.

It was summer, the most beautiful season in Cining Garden.

Flowers of vibrant colors bloomed in profusion, while butterflies fluttered among them, creating a delightful scene.

The cobblestone path was shaded by green trees on both sides, blocking the brilliant summer sun.

Su Qingyao personally held a oil-paper umbrella as she walked beside the Empress Dowager, cheerfully telling her amusing folk stories from her childhood. Having often told these stories to the young palace maids in her own palace as she grew older, she could recount them with ease.

The Empress Dowager listened with a smile. By the time they completed a short loop around the garden, a light sweat had formed on her face, but she didn’t feel tired at all. Instead, she felt much more relaxed.

You were right the other day, she said. Getting out for a walk, sweating a little, and stretching my limbs does feel very comfortable.

Su Qingyao smiled. If it benefits Your Highness, it is my honor.

As they continued forward, they soon arrived at the Four Seasons Pavilion in the garden. Su Qingyao looked up and saw that Le Shui had already prepared tea and was waiting inside. She couldn’t help but sigh inwardly: With such thoughtfulness, no wonder even His Majesty trusts her quite a bit.

After they sat down in the pavilion, a gentle breeze blew, and with a cup of hot tea in hand, they immediately felt much cooler.

Su Qingyao cheerfully coaxed the Empress Dowager: These past few days with Your Highness, I’ve been eating well and living well. This morning when I looked in the mirror, I felt like I’ve gained quite a bit of weight.

The Empress Dowager looked at her oval face and laughed. You have a naturally beautiful oval face—where could you possibly be fat? At your young age, having a good appetite is a blessing.

Su Qingyao pouted childishly. Your Highness is always so kind to me.

Speaking of appearance reminded the Empress Dowager of something, and she sighed with emotion. When my son was young, he was very particular about these things too. Back when he first started studying at the Imperial Study, he would have Little Lou bring him two sets of clothes every day. He’d change after martial arts classes and again after horseback riding lessons. Later, when the late Emperor discovered this vanity of his, he scolded him severely.

Su Qingyao found it hard to imagine Chu Shaoyuan having such an innocent and lively childhood. In both her past and present lives, he had always been serious and stern in her memory. Except for occasionally acting like a child in front of the Empress Dowager, he was usually as solemn as an old man, rarely even cracking a joke.

Of course, except when he was making fun of her.

Now that the Empress Dowager was reminiscing, Su Qingyao became particularly attentive, listening very carefully.

The late Emperor was most frugal, but he doted on his only child and couldn’t help but indulge him. My son was young then and, knowing he was loved, would act up to his heart’s content.

The Empress Dowager smiled, fine wrinkles appearing at the corners of her eyes, her expression filled with regret and deep nostalgia.

That playful and childlike version of His Majesty must have disappeared long ago, which was why the Empress Dowager still missed him so.

Su Qingyao remained silent. She refilled the Empress Dowager’s teacup and listened intently.

The Empress Dowager continued, That child began his studies at the Imperial Study at age five. For the first two years, neither his father nor I noticed his vanity. It wasn’t until the Grand Tutor mentioned it casually to the late Emperor that we found out.

As she spoke, the Empress Dowager’s voice carried a hint of guilt.

Su Qingyao didn’t fully understand at first, but after a long moment she realized that as parents, failing to notice their child’s minor habits for two years was indeed quite negligent.

She supposed that back then, with the late emperor’s health declining day by day, the Empress Dowager had naturally focused more of her attention on him, leaving little capacity to attend to the young emperor with such detail.

Su Qingyao comforted her: Everyone had their little quirks as children. To be frank with Your Majesty, when I was young I particularly loved collecting stones. Whenever I found one with a unique shape or color, I would pick it up and bring it home to play with. It wasn’t until my mother heard rumors outside that the Su family’s daughter was a ‘rubbish collector’ who would pick up anything to bring home that she discovered this habit of mine. You see, I don’t collect stones anymore.

The Empress Dowager knew she was trying to cheer her up and didn’t want to continue worrying and making the emperor concerned, so she smiled and let it pass, continuing: You’re right. Later, after the late emperor had a heart-to-heart talk with the emperor, he corrected this habit and became much more sensible.

Actually, Chu Shaoyuan had no choice but to grow up quickly. When he was ten, the late emperor fell seriously ill and remained bedridden thereafter. As the late emperor’s only son, he was early established as crown prince, with the heavy burdens of family and state resting solely on his shoulders – leaving no room for childhood innocence.

Whenever the Empress Dowager recalled those past events now, she always felt she had failed him.

His childhood seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. What destiny left him was only endless busyness and worries. The state was so vast, every place needed him, every place couldn’t do without him.

From age fifteen until now, he only rested three to five days each year. Apart from his birthday and major festivals, he never took breaks ordinarily.

He endured like this for seven or eight years, never once complaining of hardship before his mother.

But was it hard? To say it was hard would be truly hard.

Remembering this, the Empress Dowager’s heart grew heavy again. She blinked hard, refusing to let tears flow.

Su Qingyao sat quietly beside her. Though she had never been a mother, she had been a daughter. She understood a mother’s loving heart, and knew how worried the Empress Dowager was about the emperor.

Your Majesty, I haven’t seen much of the world and don’t understand those complex state affairs. But recently I’ve observed that His Majesty mostly reads and practices calligraphy in the evenings, and can retire to bed quite early. It doesn’t seem he rises early and retires late, too exhausted to even sleep.

What Su Qingyao said was true. She didn’t know how the emperor had been in her previous life, but the current Chu Shaoyuan indeed appeared quite adept at handling government affairs, without any sense of being overwhelmed.

Over these many years, Chu Shaoyuan hardly spent time with palace consorts, and the Empress Dowager rarely summoned them alone, so she didn’t know how late Chu Shaoyuan worked each day.

But she did know that during the first few years after his accession, he truly had no time even to sleep.

When the new year arrived in the fourth year of Jianyuan, the Empress Dowager withdrew from court affairs. Nowadays, it was Lou Duzhou and Tingqin who came to report whether any major matters concerned the emperor. Having received Chu Shaoyuan’s verbal decree, they generally dared only report good news and not troubles, so the Empress Dowager always felt they weren’t telling the whole truth.

Now, hearing Su Qingyao say this, the Empress Dowager’s heart suddenly felt much brighter and less distressed.

Actually, over these past few months, I’ve noticed the emperor does seem much steadier than before, and less restless. Perhaps court affairs aren’t as difficult to handle now.

Hearing the Empress Dowager sigh like this, Su Qingyao felt a sudden realization.

Could it be that Chu Shaoyuan’s changes had only occurred in recent months?

Just as she was about to fall into deep thought, she heard the Empress Dowager say with a smile, But it’s true that men do mature with age. When he was a child, he was such a clean little boy, but now he can roll up his trousers and work in the fields. Last month, he even took me to the imperial farms to plow the land. He said the Xingfeng Department has developed a new double-cropping rice. If it can be successfully cultivated, the annual yield per acre will double—a great boon for the nation and its people.

Upon hearing this, Su Qingyao’s heart raced even faster.

She remembered clearly that in her past life, Chu Shaoyuan had also been deeply concerned with agricultural affairs. Around the tenth year of the Jianyuan era, the Xingfeng Department had developed a new double-cropping rice, which brought such joy to the people that it felt like a nationwide celebration.

This rice came to be known as Jianyuan Imperial Rice, a name the people gave from the bottom of their hearts to express their gratitude to the Jianyuan Emperor.

But that had happened in the tenth year of Jianyuan—six years from now. How could it already be in trial cultivation?

Su Qingyao couldn’t make sense of it for the moment, feeling she had overlooked many crucial details. However, with the Empress Dowager sitting right across from her, she couldn’t dwell on it further.

This imperial rice must be excellent, Su Qingyao ventured. Did it take long to develop?

Since the imperial rice was such a significant benefit to the nation and its people, Su Qingyao’s interest was only natural. The Empress Dowager didn’t think much of it and replied, I heard it’s already developed. Now they’re just waiting to see if this season’s new rice can be successfully grown.

Su Qingyao smiled and said, That would truly be an immeasurable contribution.

Though she spoke these words, ripples of unease stirred in her heart, spreading in circles across the lake of her thoughts, lingering for a long time.

The Empress Dowager had merely been chatting casually with her and, after discussing a few more palace matters, fell silent. On the way back to the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility, the Empress Dowager said, You must be tired these past few days, aren’t you?

If she were to say she was truly exhausted, it wasn’t that bad. Aside from her throat being a bit hoarse, Su Qingyao was otherwise fine. However, being in the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility required constant vigilance, afraid of making the slightest misstep. The mental strain was indeed taxing.

Your Majesty, you flatter me. Having the opportunity to accompany you in the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility is a great blessing for me. Everyone in the palace envies me for it. Su Qingyao gave a slight smile.

The Empress Dowager pointed at her lightly and said calmly, I am already much better today, so there’s no need for you to come and serve me all day. You may rest tomorrow.

Su Qingyao was slightly taken aback but had long been mentally prepared for this. She wasn’t too disheartened by the news and simply bowed. Your Majesty’s recovery is a joyous occasion. If you ever wish to hear storytelling again, you may summon me anytime.

She was pragmatic about it—there was no reason for her to appear by the Empress Dowager’s side every day. Having these four days was already a great opportunity, and she was the only one in the entire palace with such luck.

Seeing that she wasn’t overly disheartened, the Empress Dowager thought more highly of her.

For such a young girl to be so composed was truly rare.

Since the Empress Dowager had given her decree, Su Qingyao understood the situation well. She escorted the Empress Dowager to the entrance of the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility, then bowed and took her leave. This time, the Empress Dowager didn’t stop her and let her return directly to the Azure Cloud Palace.

Only when she returned to the Azure Cloud Palace did Su Qingyao finally let out a sigh of relief. This hurdle has been passed once again.

During these days in the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility, she had claimed she gained weight from eating too well, but in reality, she had lost weight due to the mental strain. The Empress Dowager didn’t see her often, so she hadn’t noticed.

Liuqin, who accompanied her daily, saw it most clearly.

It’s all because our Junior Mistress is clever, earning the favor of the Empress Dowager.

Su Qingyao took a sip of tea, her mind drifting back to the Empress Dowager’s mention of imperial rice. Lost in thought, she failed to notice the commotion outside until Taohong entered and reported, snapping her out of her reverie.

What is it?

Taohong whispered, Miss Yingtao is here again, saying Consort Hui invites you over for some fruit.

Consort Hui was certainly keeping a close watch. Su Qingyao had barely sat down for a moment before being summoned again.

Su Qingyao let out a soft sigh and said, Have Yingtao wait a moment. I’ll finish my tea and go.

Seeing her weary expression, Taohong felt indignant about Consort Hui’s constant demands but could do nothing. Junior Mistress, please go ahead. This servant and Liulv will prepare the scented bath for your evening soak to help you relax.

These two were truly considerate and loyal. Su Qingyao smiled at her but still rose to leave.

Since Consort Hui was in such a hurry, she might as well go see what medicine she was selling in her gourd.

Author’s Note: Talented Lady Su: Wow, is there some secret?!

Emperor: Guess.