flstandardbreds Chapter 174 The Emperor is here
Chapter 174 The Emperor is here
As evening fell, the last rays of the setting sun shone through the window lattices onto the palace floor, bathing the entire room in a soft golden glow. Just then, Su Nuannuan was informed that the Emperor would be coming to dine with them that evening.
Upon hearing this news, a fleeting hint of displeasure crossed Su Nuannuan's face, but she quickly regained her composure. She frowned slightly and muttered under her breath, "They really do use people when they need them and discard them when they don't!" Although her voice was soft, Jinse, who was serving her nearby, overheard it.
Su Nuannuan sighed helplessly and instructed Jinse, "Jinse, quickly go and tell Zhixiang to prepare more food. In my opinion, His Majesty will most likely stay here tonight." After saying that, she gently shook her head.
Jinse accepted the order and left, returning shortly after. At that moment, a burst of laughter and cheerful voices came from outside the palace; Canglan Jingcheng and Canglan Jingyao were running joyfully in. As they ran, they kept calling out, "Mother! Mother!"
Seeing the children so happy, Su Nuannuan's previously gloomy mood brightened slightly. She smiled and stepped forward, crouching down to ask gently, "Where did you all go? Why are you so happy?"
Cang Lan Jingcheng looked up with his cute little face and excitedly replied, "Mother, we just went to play with the Crown Prince!" Hearing her son's words, Su Nuannuan couldn't help but raise her head and look at Granny Jin and Granny Ru standing to the side.
Upon seeing this, Granny Jin quickly stepped forward to bow and then respectfully explained, "Your Majesty, after the young prince and princess finished their lessons, they intended to relax in the Imperial Garden. However, they happened to run into Her Majesty the Empress and the Crown Prince there, so the young prince and princess stayed to play with the Crown Prince."
Hearing that the Empress was there, Su Nuannuan's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, instantly settled back into her stomach, and she relaxed completely. Actually, she wasn't the kind of stubborn, rigid mother who resolutely forbade her children from going out to play. On the contrary, as long as their safety was assured, she wouldn't stop the two little ones from wandering around the palace.
Su Nuannuan nodded slightly and whispered, "Next time you want to go out to play, remember to inform me first."
Granny Jin and Granny Ru quickly bowed and replied in unison, "This old servant has remembered."
Then, Su Nuannuan turned her gaze to the two children, a gentle smile on her face, and asked softly, "What did you play with your Crown Prince brother today?"
Canglan Jingyao blinked her big, bright eyes and replied with a grin, "We played in the mud with our Crown Prince brother!"
"Playing in the mud?" Su Nuannuan was taken aback, secretly surprised. She couldn't believe that the usually dignified and noble Empress would allow the Crown Prince to play such a seemingly dirty game.
Canglan Jingyao seemed to notice her mother's confusion and quickly explained, "Yes, it was Aunt Yingchun, who serves Mother, who helped us mix the mud. It's so much fun!" As she spoke, she excitedly gestured with her little hands.
Seeing this, Su Nuannuan became even more curious and asked, "So how do you play with the mud?"
Canglan Jingcheng answered with admiration, "Brother Crown Prince is amazing! He can sculpt lots of little figures out of mud!"
"My brother and I tried to make it too, but we couldn't get it right." Canglan Jingyao pouted slightly, a hint of disappointment in her eyes, and whispered to Su Nuannuan.
Seeing this, Su Nuannuan quickly smiled gently and comforted her: "Don't be discouraged, you'll get the hang of it after a few more tries, practice makes perfect!"
Upon hearing this, Canglan Jingyao seemed to suddenly remember something, and a bright smile instantly bloomed on her face. She excitedly said, "But, I made a mushroom out of mud, and my Crown Prince brother even praised me." After saying that, she raised her little face, full of pride.
A hint of surprise flashed in Su Nuannuan's eyes, and she immediately showered her with praise: "Wow, Yao'er is so amazing! She can even make mushrooms! That's fantastic!"
Seeing his younger sister receive such praise from their mother, Cang Lan Jingcheng felt a little anxious and quickly stepped forward, saying loudly, "Mother, I also made a mushroom!" He then looked at Su Nuannuan expectantly, hoping to receive the same praise.
Looking at her son's expression, Su Nuannuan couldn't help but laugh out loud. Then she patted Cang Lan Jingcheng's head and praised him with a smile, "Cheng'er is great too. You two are both smart and capable children."
Just then, a loud shout rang out: "The Emperor has arrived!"
Su Nuannuan was chatting and laughing with her two children when she suddenly heard Li Desheng's hoarse voice singing. She quickly got up and led her two children out to greet him.
"Father, Father!" Two adorable little ones, like two happy little birds, eagerly ran towards the Emperor with their short legs.
Seeing this, Su Nuannuan, who was following behind, quickly straightened her skirt and bowed slightly to the Emperor. However, before she could even open her mouth to greet him, she heard the Emperor's majestic yet kind voice: "My beloved consort, you may rise."
Before the words were even finished, the Emperor strode forward, stretched out his arms, and gently and easily scooped the two children into his embrace. He smiled, his eyes filled with loving tenderness as he looked down at the two children in his arms, and softly asked, "Have you been listening to your mother?"
Canglan Jingyao blinked her big, bright eyes, tilted her head up, and answered in her sweet, childlike voice, "I was good!" After saying that, she didn't forget to give the Emperor a sweet smile, revealing her white little teeth, making her look extremely adorable.
Seeing his younger sister so well-behaved and sensible, Cang Lan Jingcheng nodded vigorously and echoed, "Yes." Although he was still young, his earnest expression was quite amusing.
Then, the group slowly entered the inner hall. Upon entering, the Emperor gently placed the children on the ground and began playing with them. Laughter and cheerful voices filled the room, creating a lively atmosphere.
After a while, seeing that it was almost time, Su Nuannuan gave a wink to Granny Jin and Granny Ru, who were standing not far away. The two nannies understood immediately, quickly stepped forward, and carefully took the two children away.
After the children left, Su Nuannuan turned to look at the Emperor and asked softly, "Your Majesty, would you like to have a meal?" As she spoke, she gently waved her hand, signaling Jinse beside her to bring the basin of water for washing hands, which had been prepared in advance, to the Emperor.
The Emperor smiled slightly, nodded, and began to wash his hands. After washing them, he took the soft towel that Su Nuannuan handed him, dried his hands, and then said to Su Nuannuan, "Serve the meal!"
Before long, Zhixiang, accompanied by two young palace maids, steadily brought the sumptuous dinner to the table.
"Today, your father has presented me with a very generous gift! My beloved concubine, why don't you guess what it is?" The Emperor's lips curled into a slight smile as he looked tenderly at Su Nuannuan beside him, his chopsticks still untouched.
Upon hearing this, Su Nuannuan's beautiful eyes sparkled, and she parted her lips slightly: "Your Majesty, the affairs of the previous dynasty are complicated and complex. How could I, having lived in the inner palace for so long, possibly know about them? However... today, Father did send someone to deliver a whole cart full of golden corn to me."