"Hey hey, be careful with these! This is Her Majesty the Empress's favorite golden glass cup, and this one..."
"Oh my, why are you all getting slower and slower..."
Before the sky had fully brightened, the palace servants outside Phoenix Palace were already bustling with activity. Countless rare plants from all corners of the world, precious antiques from various regions, and red coral half a person's height flowed like water into this palace that radiated dazzling wealth and luxury at first glance.
Coinciding with Her Majesty the Empress's birthday, the previously sowhat empty rear palace suddenly ca alive. The long palace pathways were filled with busy palace maids and eunuchs.
An Ning woke up again at the end of the morning hours, the familiar warmth still beside her. After staring blankly for a mont, she blinked and asked suspiciously:
"What about today's morning court session?"
"Today is A-Ning's rare birthday..."
Hmm... alright!
After a mont of silence, An Ning decisively pushed the matter aside.
Speak of the devil, as the couple dawdled getting up, during their al ti, a palace servant ca to report outside:
"His Highness the Crown Prince requests an audience!"
"Today is a rare occasion - A-Ning's birthday..."
Amid the rustling of beaded curtains, a handso young boy in apricot-colored brocade robes quickly stepped forward to pay respects:
In the blink of an eye, ten years had passed. Situ Rui had grown from the originally pretend-serious little bun into the proper handso young man he was now.
Moreover, five years ago after the Late Emperor passed away, he officially took over his imperial father's position as Crown Prince and resided in the Eastern Palace.
Only this crown prince role was truly quite arduous.
There was no helping it - his imperial father's health was notoriously frail since childhood, unable to endure excessive fatigue, otherwise it would inevitably affect his lifespan. Every winter he had to go to the suburban palace for recuperation, while the sumr palace was similarly too stuffy, not as pleasant and cool as the gardens.
Because of this, when Situ Rui was still young, he was entrusted with heavy responsibilities by his imperial grandfather. Due to his obviously robust and durable physique, his various studies were handled without rcy, hoping he could properly assist his own son in the future.
To avoid his precious son from overworking and affecting his longevity.
For example now, at seventeen years old, an age when other families' children were still studying and occasionally going out with a few friends for wild fun. This Crown Prince before them could already handle various governnt affairs with ease.
His manner of taking over the occasional sses his imperial father tossed his way was simply too practiced.
Childhood? Sorry, he never had one.
Youth? Hmm... similarly never had one...
Young adulthood? Similarly impossible to have...
Now seeing his imperial father looking energetic while talking with his empress mother, clearly without any discomfort, the Crown Prince only fell silent for a mont.
How to put it? He was actually already quite accustod to it.
Inside the room, a clear and pleasant female voice soon ca through. Lifting his gaze, he still saw that peach-blossom-like beautiful face that seed to light up the entire room when she smiled.
No matter how many tis he saw it, there was still a kind of breathtaking beauty.
Situ Rui instinctively thought of his own reflection in the mirror this morning. Although since childhood, whether from his maternal grandfather or little uncle, they all said he resembled his empress mother in appearance, but honestly, in the Crown Prince's view, the difference was simply too great.
When he secretly read storybooks as a child, he had naively suspected whether his empress mother might be so celestial maiden who descended to the mortal world.
Otherwise, how could just one glance bring such indescribable exhilaration? Glancing at his focused imperial father beside them, presumably his imperial father thought the sa way!
Situ Rui vaguely rembered being held in his empress mother's embrace as a child - super comfortable.
Ah, what a pity that special treatnt disappeared when he grew slightly older.
Because of this, when Situ Rui was still young, he was entrusted with heavy responsibilities by his imperial grandfather. Due to his obviously robust and durable physique, his various studies were handled without leniency, hoping he could properly assist his own son in the future.
"Rui'er, why are still standing there dazed? Co sit quickly! Today there's your favorite West Lake drunken fish, and the pine nut pastry you love most. Today your imperial father..."
Although, but, weren't these also his empress mother's favorites too?
As biological mother and son, their tastes weren't ten out of ten identical, but at least eighty percent similar.
Secretly grumbling in his heart didn't prevent the Crown Prince from swiftly stepping forward and affectionately serving his empress mother a piece of juicy cherry pork:
Of course, the Crown Prince was most dignified and composed, his movents naturally graceful and polite, every action exuding elegance and nobility to the utmost. Even his facial expression was refined and proper. Now holding a cup with both hands, he appeared solemn:
Seeing him like this again, An Ning couldn't help but giggle out loud.
Due to childhood education issues, plus Situ Rui's innate maturity since young, his exterior was dignified and he spoke little. Thus for a long ti An Ning always worried this child would beco a little stickler or cold-faced person.
Every ti she saw him, she would find ways to tease him a bit.
Unexpectedly, after one drunken episode, she discovered this child's urge to complain was simply too vigorous - catching soone to chatter for over two hours straight...
From those stuffy old pedants in the imperial study down to his silly, happily ignorant cousins; even trivial matters like the molting birds An Ning kept earlier could beco topics for his chattering.
His own dear old imperial father certainly couldn't escape being nagged by this child.
This made An Ning recall sothing she'd seen online before - sothing about icebergs having Marianas Trench depths beneath.
Since then, every ti she saw her son being so serious, An Ning couldn't help the urge to laugh. Yet this child, upon waking up, simply completely forgot all previous embarrassing incidents.
Thus for so ti afterward, whenever he saw his empress mother laughing like this, the Crown Prince was always baffled. But being clever after all, plus possessing strong observation skills, this child quickly realized sothing.
In short, since then, this child was never seen drunk again. No matter how pleasing the fine wine, he would only sip lightly at most to taste the flavor, showing remarkable restraint.
As the family of three chatted and laughed, the various court ministers' wives outside had already arrived one after another.
"His Majesty the Emperor, Her Majesty the Empress have arrived!"
Accompanied by a slightly sharp voice from a eunuch, everyone at the banquet instantly knelt to the ground. Monts later, they heard a faint "rise" from the high platform.
Everyone instinctively looked up.
Perhaps supre wealth and glory were indeed the best soil for nurturing peerless beauties.
A golden phoenix crown, eastern pearls as adornnts, swallow-feather gauze worth a fortune per bolt, brocade robes ticulously crafted over months by the most skilled embroiderers - with every movent, it seed like a nine-heaven golden phoenix was about to erge.
Even though not seeing it for the first ti, everyone was montarily srized by this suprely magnificent and bright beauty, whose every smile and glance seed to flow with spring splendor.
Yet these two remained like this...
Stealing glances at the occasionally clasped hands of the two figures at the head table, the gorgeously dressed ladies at the banquet silently averted their eyes again.
On the pavilion, the music of zithers and songs continued.
Ah, what a pity that special treatnt disappeared when he grew slightly older.
Moreover, Her Majesty the Empress had exceptional taste and first-class aesthetics. Every casually created clothing style, makeup look, or jewelry piece could set off waves of trends in the capital's ladies' circles, then spread rapidly through traveling rchants.
Even among commoners, won focusing on embroidery and weaving skills beca increasingly nurous.
Earlier there were court ministers who morialized about her extravagance, but were imdiately refuted by the present emperor. Nothing else - throughout this dynasty, the current rear palace's monthly expenditure was actually the lowest.
All ministers: "..."
You only have one empress, with even palace servants reduced by more than half - isn't this only natural?
Although, but, weren't these also his empress mother's favorites too?
Not only did the court profit imnsely, but over the years the extrely refined fabrics, embroideries, even various porcelains and handicrafts were driven to sky-high prices by overseas barbarians.
And so on and so forth.
All ministers: "........."
Back then, Her Majesty the Empress had been personally selected by this eminent monk as having profound blessings!
Speaking of which, since His Majesty's accession these years, there had indeed been favorable weather and peace...
Thinking again about her smooth journey - Princess Consort, Crown Princess, Empress - without the slightest setback, plus her maternal family being extrely cautious, managing not to cause the slightest hindrance under close scrutiny from all court ministers. Her only son the Crown Prince was intelligent and steady, his succession practically guaranteed barring accidents...
Hiss, could one person's luck truly be this good!
Unaware of what those below were thinking, while An Ning was chatting and laughing softly with Situ Jing beside her, the ladies and young maidens below had reached the birthday tribute presentation segnt.
Seeing him like this again, An Ning couldn't help but giggle out loud.
Looking at this volu of poetry with delicate handwriting before them, not only were all the ladies and maidens astonished, but even the attending young eunuch was stunned.
Ah this...
Who didn't know that Her Majesty the Empress had been illiterate in her youth, even being mocked by outsiders and ostracized and suppressed by her elder sister because of it...
Every ti she saw him, she would find ways to tease him a bit.
Heavens, how could soone make such a huge mistake!
Unexpectedly, after one drunken episode, she discovered this child's tendency to complain was simply too vigorous - catching soone to chatter for over two hours straight...
As everyone trembled with fear, they saw Her Majesty the Empress on the high platform suddenly raise her hand, seemingly curious as she took that poetry volu in her hand.
From those stuffy old pedants in the imperial study down to his silly, happily ignorant cousins; even trivial matters like the molting birds An Ning kept earlier could beco topics for his rambling.
"What truly beautiful handwriting!"
"Your Majesty, what do you think?"
Gazing at her sparkling eyes, Situ Jing beside her couldn't help but light laugh. Holding her hand while glancing at it, he imdiately praised as well:
"The Empress is right, indeed quite extraordinary!"
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