In the palace, the Emperor doesn’t like to sit in a palanquin, and few other palace concubines are qualified for it. In Lian Hua’s impression, she would always see Noble Consort Xue make an appearance sitting in a palanquin. She doesn’t know how Noble Consort Xue is doing now, nor does she care; it’s just that thinking of the palanquin brought her to mind.
As for the situation in the harem, Lian Hua knows almost nothing and doesn’t concern herself with it.
On the third day after Lian Hua woke up, Consort De received the news and ca to see her. She held Lian Hua’s hand, looking her over as though fearing a single hair was out of place, and although she kept teasing and talking humorously, Lian Hua could see that Consort De felt guilty.
Her illness had nothing to do with her sister; it was her own issue. She said a few mischievous words, making everyone laugh out loud, which sowhat eased the mood.
Before leaving, Consort De embraced Lian Hua and said emotionally, "Sister, you’re still well, that’s wonderful..."
Which made Lian Hua quite touched.
Walking along the path in the Imperial Garden at this ti, Lian Hua felt sowhat dazed, as if it was a world apart.
When they passed Huaqing Pool from a distance, she saw the pool had already frozen over. Zhang Qing, sitting below her palanquin, told her that when earlier she drank fish porridge, the fish were caught from here, and now there are still a few kept in the tank.
Hearing this, Lian Hua worried that the fish in Huaqing Pool would be completely caught, and there would be no more cycle of laying eggs and hatching them in the future.
But Zhang Qing comforted her, saying not many had been caught, and there were still plenty. By spring next year, they would lay many eggs, producing lots of small fish, and by then they could feed them well and catch fish again.
Hearing this made her very happy.
Looking all along the way, the Imperial Garden and the harem were orderly and systematic. Previously, there were always a few people peeking around, but now she didn’t see a single one. Perhaps because it’s winter and cold, not a single consort was seen taking a walk in the garden.
That’s true, in previous winters, the Imperial Garden was also the least she liked, with bare tree trunks everywhere, rarely any flowers blooming, and those that did bloom were inedible. One could barely pick so to take back for decoration, but even sparrows wouldn’t be tempted with not enough at, reluctant to even set out millet.
When they were about to reach the Star Palace, Lian Hua rembered to ask a question, "Steward Zhang, why did His Majesty ask to go to the Star Palace?"
She ca as asked, but it was the first ti she was asked to go to the Star Palace. Earlier, she didn’t think to ask, and when she did, she got distracted by the Imperial Garden, so not until now did she rember, making her very curious.
Zhang Qing had been waiting for this question for a long ti, but whether she forgot or for so other reason, she hadn’t asked.
Upon hearing the question now, his face broke into a broad smile, full of wrinkles from smiling, and he said cheerfully, "Master Lian will find out when you get there."
He then lowered his voice a little, mysteriously adding, "It’s a good thing."
"Hmm?" Lian Hua was even more curious and asked persistently, "What good thing?"
No matter how she pressed, Zhang Qing wouldn’t say more, only teasing her curiosity, saying it was sothing she had been hoping for.
Lian Hua kept thinking while holding a warr, left pondering and right contemplating, when suddenly a light bulb went off, and her heart began to race, almost blurting out the words.
Could it be, could it be, is it as she thinks?!
His Majesty had said that once she recovered, she would be able to see them!
Isn’t it the case now that, to recover early, she endured bitter dicine morning and evening, which she only stopped the day before, and she felt so bitter it made her weep bitter tears.
So, she can see her father and brothers now, right?
At the thought of this possibility, Lian Hua couldn’t contain herself, barely holding back her excitent to let people carry the palanquin. Finally arriving at the Star Palace’s locale, as soon as the palanquin was placed down, she couldn’t care about anything else, handing the warr to Xiao Qing, lifting her skirt with one hand, and supporting her waist with the other, stepping over the palanquin’s lift pole with unusual agility.
Frightening Zhang Qing into a cold sweat on his forehead, he quickly went over to protect her with his hands. He almost wished they could turn into a soft pad, laid out all the way to the Star Palace, for Lian Hua to step on as she walked.
Finally, as Lian Hua was holding her round belly walking to the Star Palace’s Side Hall entrance, seeing the figure in the hall, ti seed to stop for a mont.
That person seed to be pondering sothing and turned around upon hearing the noise.
When their eyes t, the person in the hall couldn’t seem to believe it and was stunned.
Lian Hua took a step into the hall, her nose tingling, and tears fell with a plop as she cried out, "Big Brother."
Even though he had grown taller, with broader shoulders, she could still recognize, this was her big brother!
Lian Musu ca to his senses, quickly striding over, walking a bit too briskly, making his limp quite noticeable. Seeing her round belly, he feared she might fall and hurt herself, nervously saying, "Nannan, slow down, slow down, stop and let your brother co..."
He lost his usual calmness and composure; even in a perilous exile or facing the intimidating sound of the Yan gavel or the solemn gaze of the Son of Heaven, none had ever made him this flustered.
His youngest sister, his most beloved sister, after seven years, he finally saw her...
Lian Hua couldn’t wait to approach, noticing Lian Musu’s limp, her eyes grew misty with tears.
When he was before her, she couldn’t help falling into Lian Musu’s embrace, crying, "Big Brother, what will you do when you marry a sister-in-law!"
An overwheld Lian Musu didn’t dare to hold her tightly, afraid of harming the child in Lian Hua’s belly.
Upon hearing her words, he couldn’t help but laugh, the slight sourness in his heart dissipating imdiately. His little sister was still as straightforward and adorable as ever.
Lian Hua sobbed, expressing her longing and worry, "Big Brother, I missed you so much, Mother said your leg could be treated, but why doesn’t it seem better..."
She had figured out from Nanny Qi’s words that it ant her brothers might have trouble finding wives, and her big brother was the oldest. Now his leg hadn’t healed yet, so what would they do?
Lian Musu couldn’t help but find it amusing; recovery takes ti. He patiently listened to Lian Hua’s chattering, wearing a face full of affection.
After a while, when Lian Hua wasn’t that agitated anymore, he stroked her hair and released her, taking out a handkerchief to wipe her tears, comforting her, "Don’t worry, your brother’s leg can indeed be healed. Soday I’ll bring you a good sister-in-law ho, and we’ll both dote on our little sister."
Lian Hua sniffled, still uneasy, "When will your leg be treated, Big Brother? That fierce old doctor went back to the palace, right? Make him heal you soon. Although he’s fierce... Mother said his dical skills are excellent."
Lian Musu made a sound in agreent, saying, "If all goes smoothly, the day after tomorrow it will be treated."
He hadn’t expected to see his little sister today; he was summoned into the palace by the Son of Heaven and talked for an entire morning, during which he made his decision and gave his answer to the Son of Heaven.
Tomorrow the Lian family’s case will be concluded, and the day after tomorrow he will go for treatnt. Stretching, moving bones take a hundred days, and perhaps after healing, they might set off, at which ti he regretted not being able to see his sister again, unsure of when they could et in the future.
Unexpectedly, the Son of Heaven asked him to wait in the Side Hall, allowing him to catch up with his sister, overjoyed.
"Really?" Lian Hua stopped sniffling, with a crystal tear hanging on her curled eyelashes, staring unblinkingly at Lian Musu.
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