mesbooks Chapter 90 The phoenix hairpin on your head is quite unique.
Chapter 90 The phoenix hairpin on your head is quite unique.
Su Nuannuan secretly made up her mind that she could no longer be a lazy bum! Putting aside other matters for the time being, there were two things that had to be put on the agenda immediately: first, to properly discipline her two little ones; and second, to firmly grasp their education, after all, this was a major matter concerning the children's future. Otherwise, it would be a complete waste of the childcare worker certificate she had worked so hard to obtain in her previous life.
After lunch, Su Nuannuan rested for a while and took a nap. Once she felt a little better, she sat down at her desk and began diligently writing down various key points about childcare. She planned to give them to Su Yueniang and Honglian for reference after she finished, hoping that these valuable experiences would be helpful to them.
In the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, almost everyone, from maids to servants, was literate. Some had received a good education from a young age, while others only began learning to read after entering the mansion. Even the newly arrived servants had to learn to read. Of course, infants who couldn't speak were an exception.
As a result, there were almost no illiterate people in the entire Duke Zhenguo Mansion. Even the senior matrons in the mansion, if they didn't know a few characters at first, would work hard to learn.
Even if you can only remember one word a day, over a year you should be able to recognize more than 300 words, right? Besides, given the abilities of an average person, how could they possibly learn only one word a day?
Just as Su Nuannuan was engrossed in writing, Jinse quietly walked in and said softly, "Your Majesty, it's time to change into your palace attire."
Su Nuannuan tilted her head slightly, her gaze first falling on the water drain beside her, observing its changes, before turning her attention to the sky outside the window. After confirming it was getting late, she gently put down the calligraphy brush she had been holding for so long, then carefully tidied up the paper she had just finished writing on and slowly placed it in the drawer. After doing this, she didn't forget to meticulously tidy up the slightly messy desk until everything was neat and orderly.
After everything was settled, Su Nuannuan straightened up and walked gracefully towards the dressing table. At that moment, Yaoqin entered carrying a basin of water. She skillfully wrung out a handkerchief and gently handed it to Su Nuannuan, helping her wash her face.
After the face washing was finished, Jinse stepped forward and gestured for Yaoqin to help the Empress with her makeup and dressing, while she turned around to arrange the carefully prepared palace dress and various exquisite accessories neatly.
Just then, Zhixiang came in with a bowl of perfectly warm white fungus and lotus seed soup and said softly, "Your Majesty, please have a bowl of white fungus and lotus seed soup to fill your stomach first."
Upon hearing Zhi Xiang's words, Su Nuannuan smiled and replied, "Alright, leave it there for now! I'll enjoy it later."
Zhixiang nodded obediently and replied, "Yes." Then she carefully placed the white fungus and lotus seed soup on the small table next to the couch, picked up the tray, and quietly left the room.
Watching Zhixiang's departing figure, Yaoqin couldn't help but smile and praise Su Nuannuan, "Your Majesty, Zhixiang is as thoughtful as ever."
Su Nuannuan nodded in agreement and said, "Yes, the banquet at the Li Palace will start some time away, so it might be too late to have a meal. But it would be nice to have this bowl of white fungus and lotus seed soup to fill our stomachs a little."
Anning Palace
From the moment the Emperor stepped into Anning Palace, he never left the palace that day, remaining steadfastly by the side of the Empress and the Crown Prince.
Time slipped by unnoticed, and before they knew it, only about an hour remained before the palace banquet began. The Emperor finally rose, slowly departed, and returned to his chambers to change into the dragon robe that symbolized his supreme power. When he reappeared, he was completely transformed, exuding an aura of majesty.
As the Emperor stepped back into Anning Palace, he happened to see the Empress wearing that exquisite nine-headed phoenix hairpin adorned with feathers.
Upon seeing this, the Emperor couldn't help but smile and ask, "Empress, I find the phoenix hairpin on your head quite exquisite."
The Empress turned around upon hearing this, her face beaming with a happy smile, and softly replied, "Your Majesty, this is a birthday gift from Consort Zhuang—a nine-headed phoenix hairpin adorned with feathers. She said it was crafted by her own hands, and I am naturally delighted with it." With that, the Empress gently stroked the hairpin, her eyes filled with joy.
The Emperor nodded slightly and exclaimed, "Nine is the largest of the Yang numbers, symbolizing the ultimate and supreme. Consort Zhuang has indeed put her heart into this." In his words, he was clearly very pleased and satisfied that the concubines in the harem could get along so harmoniously.
Then, the Emperor looked at the Empress with tender eyes and said slowly, "From now on, Empress, please wear this phoenix hairpin often to show your noble status."
Upon hearing this, the Empress quickly rose and respectfully bowed, replying, "Yes, Your Majesty, I will obey your decree."
She knew the Emperor's intentions perfectly well, but she didn't expose him, since she also loved this phoenix hairpin very much.
However, the Empress was unaware that for her every birthday thereafter, she would receive a unique nine-headed phoenix hairpin. Among these hairpins, the most luxurious were the kingfisher feather phoenix crown and the stunning nine-headed kingfisher feather phoenix hairpin. The latter became her most cherished possession. But these are matters for later, and will not be discussed further here.
At this moment, Su Nuannuan had already changed her clothes and was sitting in a sedan chair heading towards Xuanhua Palace.
It should be noted that Xuanhua Hall was the place where the imperial family held grand palace banquets; while the place for receiving foreign envoys was called Jiaohua Hall, which is the significant difference between the two.
When Su Nuannuan arrived at Xuanhua Palace with light steps, she found that the other concubines had already arrived. The palace was filled with beauties, adorned with flowers, creating a lively scene. But the moment Su Nuannuan stepped inside, the noisy conversation abruptly ceased, and all eyes turned to her.
Immediately afterwards, all the concubines, court officials, and their families stood up in unison, bowed respectfully to Su Nuannuan, and shouted in unison, "Your concubines (your subject, your subject) pay their respects to Consort Zhuang."
Su Nuannuan smiled slightly and replied gently, "Everyone, please rise!" With that, she gracefully walked towards her seat on the left. However, before she could even settle down, a loud announcement came from outside the hall: "Consort Qin and Consort Li have arrived—"
Before the words were even finished, Consort Qin and Consort Li had already entered the hall side by side. As a result, the concubines, court officials, and their families, who had just straightened up, had to bow and greet them once more. For a moment, the entire Xuanhua Hall was filled with the sounds of greetings.
Upon seeing this, Su Nuannuan quickly stepped forward and exchanged greetings with Consort Qin and Consort Li. After the greetings were completed, Consort Qin gently raised her hand to indicate that everyone could dispense with the formalities, and then turned and gracefully sat down next to Su Nuannuan. Consort Li, on the other hand, moved lightly to the seat on her right and took her seat.
Just then, a loud, booming voice announced from outside the hall: "The Emperor and Empress have arrived!"