mesbooks Chapter 25 Your request has been delivered.
Chapter 25 Your request has been delivered.
After returning from Cixi Palace, Su Nuannuan stepped lightly across the threshold of Cuiwei Palace.
After resting for a while, she ordered her servants to have the two wet nurses bring the prince and princess over.
"Your Majesty, aren't you angry?" While waiting for the two children to arrive, Tingxue asked softly, her voice filled with doubt. Su Nuannuan shook her head slightly, her expression calm as still water.
"Why should I be angry? I have no interest in that high and mighty position whatsoever. No matter what the Empress Dowager says, I will treat it as if it were just passing by and will never take it to heart."
At this point, she suddenly smiled slightly and continued, "If the Empress Dowager were to be so merciful as to allow me to take my two children away from this magnificent yet restrictive palace, I would be truly grateful to her."
Upon hearing this, Tingxue's eyes widened, and she asked with a puzzled expression, "Your Majesty, why do you dislike the palace so much?" This question had been buried in her heart for a long time, and today she finally mustered up the courage to ask it.
It's well known that countless daughters of noble families dream of entering the palace as imperial concubines, a dream they desperately try to achieve but rarely succeed. Aside from the annual imperial selection, sending one's daughter to the palace is virtually impossible unless the family achieves exceptional merit. However, the situation of one's own concubine being personally summoned and welcomed into the palace by the Emperor is truly unprecedented!
"What's so great about this palace? It's just a city on all four sides, a sky on all four sides. It's so boring," Su Nuannuan said, pouting.
“You palace servants can go out of the palace for a stroll from time to time, although there are time restrictions, but at least you can get some fresh air and feel the freedom outside the palace. But I’m afraid I’ll be trapped here for the rest of my life.”
Even when she could occasionally go out, she always went with the Emperor and Empress, and could not act alone. Alas! Like a bird in a cage, the owner may let it fly out for a while when he is happy, but as soon as the owner calls, it must obediently return to the cage. Su Nuannuan's tone was full of sorrow, as if she were that imprisoned bird, unable to break free from the cage of fate.
“But the bird in the cage might not fly back. The world is so big, how could its owner possibly catch it?” Tingxue said, tilting her head.
“We won’t catch it, because it has been kept by its owner for so long that it has long lost the ability to survive on its own outside. So, even if it is given a chance to escape, it will eventually obediently fly back.” Su Nuannuan sighed softly.
However, she won't. If given the chance to fly out, she will never fly back on her own. She is capable of supporting everyone.
Just then, footsteps sounded at the door, and two wet nurses slowly walked in, each carrying their own little master.
When Tingxue looked up and saw the two adorable young masters, she suddenly remembered that the things the Empress had promised her had not yet been fulfilled.
So she quickly stepped forward, bowed to Su Nuannuan, and asked, "Your Highness, you said you would give me the patterns for new clothes. When will you give them to me?"
Upon hearing this, Su Nuannuan smiled slightly, glanced at Tingxue with gentle eyes, and replied softly, "You may go to my study and fetch it yourself. It's on my desk."
Upon hearing this, Tingxue was overjoyed. She quickly bowed again and happily ran towards Su Nuannuan's small study.
Actually, the pattern for this new dress was drawn by Su Nuannuan long ago.
Back then, she helped her best friend take care of her child, who was less than a year old at the time. Almost all of the child's clothes were handmade by her. After the child turned one year old, she no longer made clothes as frequently as before, but occasionally, when the mood struck her, she would still take the plunge.
Watching Tingxue leave happily, Su Nuannuan turned to Yueniang and Honglian beside her and instructed, "Come, put these two little ones next to me."
The two did as instructed, gently placing the two dolls on the small couch. One doll was fast asleep, its little mouth slightly open, occasionally smacking its lips; the other was full of energy, kicking and waving its little hands and feet incessantly, entertaining itself, looking utterly adorable. Looking at this scene, Su Nuannuan couldn't help but laugh, feeling that just watching these two cute children brought her endless joy.
"Honglian, are you getting used to the palace?" Su Nuannuan looked up at Honglian with concern and asked.
"Your Majesty, I am accustomed to it. Whenever I encounter something I don't understand, Sister Yue Niang always teaches me patiently, imparting the intricacies to me one by one. Because of this, I have truly learned a great deal of valuable knowledge and skills." Hong Lian bowed slightly, her face beaming with a bright smile, and answered respectfully.
"Are you happy with the little palace maids who follow you around?" Su Nuannuan asked softly.
"Everything is going very well, and we thank Your Highness for your kindness." Su Yueniang and Honglian bowed again in unison to express their gratitude.
In fact, the two maids who served them were carefully arranged by Jinse.
As the head lady-in-waiting of Cuiwei Palace, Jinse possessed this power. Whenever she had made personnel arrangements, she only needed to report to her master.
"If these two palace maids do not meet your expectations, be sure to inform me immediately. I will definitely select more capable people for you," Su Nuannuan earnestly instructed.
"Please rest assured, Your Highness, if we find any shortcomings, we will tell you the truth without any concealment or delay." The two replied in unison.
After her son had also drifted off to sleep, Su Nuannuan gently got up and moved to another place.
"You two stay in this side hall and take good care of them. I'm going to my study to rest for a while."
"Yes, Your Majesty, please take care." The two replied in unison.
After dinner, Li Quan strode in with a broad smile. He bowed slightly and reported to Su Nuannuan, who was sitting on the soft couch, "Your Majesty, the things you requested have been delivered!"
After speaking, Li Quan waved his hand, and two small but steady eunuchs followed closely behind him, carefully carrying a large, exquisite box into the hall.
Upon reaching the center of the hall, the two gently placed the box on the ground, then knelt down in unison and performed a standard and respectful salute to Su Nuannuan.
Li Quan stepped forward, bowed his head, and said, "Your Majesty, this was specially delivered to the Imperial Household Department by the third young master of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. The people from the Imperial Household Department carefully inspected it in front of the third young master and confirmed that there were no problems before sending this servant to retrieve it for you."
The Third Young Master specifically instructed this servant to have Your Majesty personally check the inventory, and if there were any shortages, he would certainly go and find replacements.
Hearing this, Su Nuannuan couldn't help but feel puzzled and asked softly, "What exactly is it?" As she spoke, she got up from the soft couch, moved gracefully to the box, reached out her slender hand and gently placed it on the lid. After a moment's hesitation, she opened it without hesitation.