Chapter 1343: Reward from the Eastern Palace
Editor: Henyee Translations
As Qiao Xuan slowly roused from her slumber, she was abruptly taken aback by what she overheard. A flush of embarrassnt colored her cheeks. This situation was undeniably awkward.
She didn’t need to ponder much to realize that her aunt would likely remain unconvinced by Lixia’s explanation. Her mind might be wandering into unfavorable territory.
With a rueful smile, Qiao Xuan conceded, “Never mind, I’ll take the opportunity to recuperate. I’ll pay a visit to the East Palace in a couple of days.”
She then instructed Lixia and Liqiu to carefully unwrap the gifts from Princess Consort, one by one. Qiao Xuan was pleasantly surprised by the contents, which included twelve pieces of imperial brocade, a set of locally crafted rouge powder, two small ornants made of jade and porcelain, two hand stoves intricately carved from purple copper, an incense burner adorned with beast motifs, a box of fragrant white sandalwood, an intricately embroidered handkerchief, a box of exquisite silk flowers, a pair of gold-inlaid white jade bracelets, and a pair of jade pendants.
Additionally, there were two mahogany-carved snack boxes shaped like begonias. Each contained six exquisite pastries and six candied plums.
Qiao Xuan sampled a chestnut cake slightly larger than her thumb, which lted in her mouth and offered a delightful blend of chestnut aroma and creamy sweetness.
Then, there was a lifelike lotus crisp, resembling an elegant lotus flower with delicate, stacked petals in a soft pink hue. The golden stan and vibrant red cherry sauce on top created an enchanting visual and taste sensation.
With a smile, Qiao Xuan remarked, “You truly are the pastry chef of Donggong Yu. Your pastries are unlike any we have here. Have a taste for yourselves and prepare a plate for Qingyan as well.”
Lixia and Liqiu exchanged smiles and complied, sampling the treats. After a brief chat, they proceeded with their tasks.
Shao Yunduan returned ho early that day, allowing him to join Qiao Xuan for dinner.
Qiao Xuan’s plan to indulge in a hearty al remained unchanged, and to her pleasant surprise, Shao Yunduan returned to keep her company. It was a delightful turn of events that erased the trace of morning resentnt completely.
They sat facing each other beneath the soft glow of the room’s light, with a steaming hotpot gracing the center of their small table. The tantalizing aroma of the al wafted through the room, creating a sense of warmth that filled their hearts. It felt like it had been a while since they’d shared a al like this, a feeling that stirred emotions within them for no apparent reason.
As they enjoyed their dinner, conversation flowed easily, punctuated by laughter. Afterward, they stood by the window, letting their al settle while they engaged in a heartfelt conversation. Following this, they bathed and readied themselves for bed.
Qiao Xuan, mindful of any possible mischievous intentions from her husband, preemptively remarked before he could react, “You must be quite tired lately. Tonight, let’s get a good night’s rest and go to bed early!”
Shao Yunduan chuckled, retorting, “I’m not tired at all, my dear wife.”
“How can that be? You must be tired!”
“I had a restful night last night!”
Qiao Xuan was taken aback and scolded him playfully, “You’re just talking nonsense again! Oh, co on!”
Shao Yunduan burst into laughter, and in the end, he didn’t disrupt her. They shared a private conversation, cuddling for a while before drifting off to sleep.
The following day, an emissary from the East Palace arrived to present a reward. This ti, it was an eunuch in charge. Qiao Xuan, after a polite exchange, kindly dismissed him.
The reward today was intended for Shao Yunduan from the Crown Prince.
It wasn’t lost on them that the Emperor was aware of the events at the previous night’s banquet.
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