Ciyuandian.
Consort Rong had brought Nan Shu along when she came to pay respects today. She said, “Empress Dowager read the scriptures you copied the day before yesterday and bestowed some gifts. Today, you shall accompany me to express gratitude to Empress Dowager.”
Nan Shu nodded gently and followed beside Consort Rong’s procession.
She rarely left Yu Tang Hall. Along the way, Nan Shu gazed at the endless stretch of red walls and dark tiles ahead, finding no beauty in them—only sensing the solemn, imposing aura contained within these layered palace halls.
Though the Imperial City was vast, being trapped here for a lifetime, lifting one’s head only to see a square patch of sky, seemed no different from her previous life in the Separate Courtyard.
Consort Rong might not truly intend to release her from the palace, but with this face of hers, Consort Rong’s schemes would likely come to nothing.
Not to mention that Yan Pingxiao had grown tired of her five years ago; even now, with his three palaces and six courtyards full of consorts, he wouldn’t seek out someone with the same appearance as Shen Lan Shu to discomfort himself.
His repeated probing was merely due to the emperor’s intolerance of defiance.
In time, when Consort Rong saw no hope, forcibly keeping her in the palace would lose its meaning.
The journey from Yu Tang Hall to Ciyuandian took approximately two quarters of an hour. The palace servants at Ciyuandian, spotting the procession in the distance, had already gone inside to announce their arrival. By the time Consort Rong descended from her palanquin, Fu Ying, the maid serving beside Empress Dowager Song, had come out to greet them: “This humble servant pays respects to Xiuyi Niangniang. Her Majesty has been mentioning you—please come in quickly.”
From Fu Ying’s attitude, one could tell that Empress Dowager Song and Consort Rong were relatively close.
Nan Shu followed behind her into the hall, never expecting that Sui An would also be in Ciyuandian.
“Mother…” Sui An called out softly, then seemed to remember what she had been told—not to address her that way in front of others. She quickly covered her mouth with both small hands. Fortunately, Empress Dowager and the others hadn’t noticed.
After exchanging a few pleasantries with Consort Rong, Empress Dowager Song’s gaze fell upon Nan Shu.
“So this is Miss Nan Shu?”
She had heard that this cousin of the Rong family was exceptionally beautiful—otherwise, Consort Rong wouldn’t have considered sending her into the palace. But seeing her in person surpassed mere hearsay; such looks made others pale in comparison.
Nan Shu rose to pay respects: “Your subject pays homage to Empress Dowager.”
Empress Dowager Song smiled and bid her rise: “We have seen the scriptures you copied—truly excellent penmanship, delicate yet retaining strength of character.”
“Your Majesty flatters me. Your subject is of shallow learning; if I can bring a smile to Your Majesty’s face, it is my honor.”
Empress Dowager Song, noting her humble speech, nodded slightly. If His Majesty could take a liking to her, it would be a good thing.
After exchanging a few formal words, Empress Dowager Song and Consort Rong began chatting casually.
Nan Shu sat below Consort Rong, feeling Sui An’s constant gaze upon her. She secretly lifted her eyes and met Sui An’s glance.
Sui An’s round almond-shaped eyes immediately curved into smiles.
She climbed down from her chair, ran to Nan Shu’s side, and said in a milky voice to Empress Dowager Song, “Imperial Grandmother, Sui An wants to go play with Mother… with Sister Nan.”
Empress Dowager Song seemed surprised: “I hadn’t expected Sui An to take such a liking to you.”
Nan Shu hurriedly replied, “It is the princess’s generous affection. Your subject does not deserve it.”
Granny Zhuang laughed beside them: “There are no children in the palace of the princess’s age. Miss Nan has only recently reached adulthood, so naturally, she can relate to her better than others.”
Empress Dowager Song feigned a sigh: “Go on then, go on. I won’t keep Sui An trapped here with this old woman any longer.”
Sui An pattered over, climbed onto Empress Dowager Song’s lap, and kissed her cheek: “Sui An loves Imperial Grandmother most! I’ll come back to dine with you this evening.”
The Empress Dowager’s eyes crinkled into smiling crescents as she waved them off to play, summoning several palace attendants to accompany them.
After the rain cleared, spring sunlight warmed the earth.
A refreshing breeze swept across Chang Yuan Lake, creating a perfectly pleasant atmosphere. Sui An tugged at Nan Shu’s hand, pleading: “Mother, come fly kites with me! There’s wind today, and I haven’t tried my new kite yet.”
“Alright.” Nan Shu lovingly ruffled her hair, her face glowing with tenderness.
The lakeside grass was still damp. After running with Sui An for a while, Nan Shu’s skirt hem grew wet, her embroidered shoes collecting traces of mud.
Yet seeing Sui An’s exhilaration, Nan Shu didn’t dampen her spirits.
Sui An trotted across the lawn, kite string in hand. The blue falcon-shaped kite soared vividly against the sky, truly resembling an eagle in flight. Sunlight glinted off the kite, casting shimmering reflections.
Nan Shu gazed upward, squinting against the glare as she raised a hand to shield her eyes.
When Sui An grew tired, she handed the kite to an attendant and dashed back to throw herself into Nan Shu’s embrace.
Nan Shu wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief: “Did you work up a sweat? If you’re warm, let’s change your clothes so you don’t catch a chill later.”
“Not hot.” Sui An lifted her head, obsidian eyes sparkling as she declared: “Mother, I’m so happy today.”
Nan Shu stroked the back of her head: “Just from flying a kite?”
Sui An shook her head: “I’m happy because you’re here with me.”
“All my classmates at the Imperial Study have their mothers with them. I used to be the only one who didn’t, but now I have you too.”
Nan Shu’s heart ached with bittersweet emotion at her words.
“Mother will try to be with you as much as possible from now on.”
“Really?” Sui An beamed, hugging her neck and planting a kiss before confessing: “Mother, I actually lied earlier.”
“About what?”
“I actually love you the most, not Imperial Grandmother.”
Nan Shu’s eyes reddened despite herself – how could her Sui Sui be so endearing?
“Does Sui Sui want to play more?” Nan Shu turned aside to wipe the corner of her eye before asking: “Eunuch Yuanbao brought other kite styles.”
Sui An whispered in her ear: “I don’t want to fly kites anymore. I want to catch crickets.”
“Catch crickets?” As Nan Shu spoke, Sui An covered her mouth with small hands.
“Yuanbao and Chunming Gugu won’t let me catch crickets. They say princesses shouldn’t play such games. Will you secretly take me, Mother?”
Nan Shu scanned their surroundings, noting Chunming and other attendants waiting near the distant pavilion – their kite-flying had carried them quite far.
She nodded, taking Sui An’s hand: “Let’s go over there where the grass is thicker. There must be crickets.”
Sui An jumped for joy, then quickly covered her mouth to muffle her excitement, urging: “Hurry, hurry…”
Nan Shu smiled, eyes curving like crescent moons as she shielded the girl’s advance. Sui An usually acted so mature – this was the first time she’d seen her so playfully mischievous.
But both were catching crickets for the first time, and after half a day, they hadn’t managed to catch a single one.
Nan Shu didn’t even mind her dress getting dirty as she slumped onto the grass in frustration. Wiping the sweat from her face, she saw Sui An still lying there, full of enthusiasm.
“I see another one,” she whispered, pointing ahead.
Nan Shu took a deep breath and resolved to catch it this time.
The two hid behind the grass, waiting for the right moment. Sui An had somehow produced a small mesh net, intending to use it to catch the cricket.
“Three, two, one!”
They both lunged toward the cricket at the same time.
They did catch the cricket, but Nan Shu noticed many pairs of feet in front of her. Dazedly looking up, she realized a crowd of people were staring at them.