Chapter 118: Offering Assistance

Chapter 118: Offering Assistance

Since her first visit to Yao Hua Palace, Princess Huaiqing seemed to have grown fond of it, coming to play with Nian'er and Huayang every day after her lessons at the Chongwen Academy. Sometimes, she would bring her study companion Zhou Zhen along.

Being a princess, her studies were light, usually finishing by noon, so she always came in the afternoon. Perhaps wary of disturbing Jiang Hui, each visit she brought gifts – sometimes pastries, sometimes drinks, and sometimes toys like comic books or spinning tops.

Although Princess Huaiqing was young and seemingly harmless, Jiang Hui knew that children could be exploited, so she always instructed Hongying to carefully check everything before letting Nian'er and Huayang eat or use it.

That day, as usual, Princess Huaiqing came to play. Jiang Hui sat by the window, overseeing the place where they played while examining the banquet menu sent by Wu Chenggong from the Imperial Kitchen.

Ice basins were placed at the four corners of the room, infusing the air with coolness. On the desk, a small celadon porcelain jar held tender pink bowl lotuses, their buds peeking through the tiny leaves, partially opened. The bamboo curtains outside the window were half-rolled, and the hanging bead strings swayed gently with the breeze, producing a delicate, crisp sound.

This sound, close at hand, made the rising and falling cicada chirps and the noise of the children spinning tops outside seem distant and indistinct.

Suddenly, a sharp scream shattered the leisurely afternoon. Jiang Hui sprang up and ran towards the courtyard, lifting her skirt— it was Shi Liu’s voice, and such panic could only be related to Nian'er and Huayang.

The distance was short, and Jiang Hui quickly arrived to find Shi Liu already cradling Nian'er in her arms, heading inside. Jiang Hui's gaze fixed on Nian'er's pale, unconscious face, and she ordered coldly, "Carry him to the warm pavilion couch, and quickly fetch Physician Lin."

Huayang's cries gradually ceased upon her mother's arrival. Clutching Jiang Hui's skirt, she intermittently sobbed the word "Brother." Princess Huaiqing, still holding a tendon whip for spinning tops, looked at Jiang Hui, bewildered, and said, "Zhao Consort, I don’t know why he suddenly fainted."

Jiang Hui managed a faint smile at her and instructed Qiukui, "Take Princess Huaiqing back."

She then carried Huayang back inside, hurried to the couch, but found Nian'er, who had been unconscious, now awake, hesitantly avoiding his mother's gaze.

Jiang Hui paused, set Huayang down, and sat beside the couch, asking softly, "What’s wrong, Nian'er?"

Nian'er looked up and whispered, "Mother, I was pretending. I scared you and sister."

He had understood his mother's reasons for occasionally pretending to be sick, but this was the first time he had feigned illness on his own.

"Why did you do that, Nian'er?" Jiang Hui gently stroked his head and asked with a smile.

His mother's continued gentle tone relaxed Nian'er. Standing on the couch, he leaned into her embrace and whispered in Jiang Hui's ear, "Mother, Imperial Sister doesn't actually like coming to Yao Hua Palace."

The smile on Jiang Hui's lips deepened as she softly asked, "Nian'er knows this?"

"Yes," the little one nodded in her arms, slightly puzzled, "Then why does she still come?"

"Because your Imperial Sister loves her mother very much," Jiang Hui touched her son's cheek, looking into his eyes, "Nian'er, do you remember what Mother told you? If someone gives you food, don't eat it carelessly, and don't give it to others casually."

"I remember," Nian'er, hugging Jiang Hui's neck, suddenly added, "Nian'er loves Mother very much too."

Jiang Hui's eyes crinkled with a smile, "Alright, Physician Lin will be here soon. Lie down properly, Nian'er."

"The Crown Prince is sick again?"

In Guangyang Palace, Consort De played with the Third Prince using a clay ball, asking Haitang who brought her a cool drink.

"Yes," Haitang replied quietly, "It's said he's suffering from summer heat illness, it even startled Princess Huaiqing."

Consort De pursed her lips, turning to Lady Shi seated opposite her, "This is the new gardenia drink made by He Mama, want to try?"

Lady Shi, smiling obligingly, said softly, "Thank you, Consort De."

She gently sipped from the porcelain cup in front of her. The drink was refreshingly sweet and cool, having been chilled in a well.

"How is it? The cook in my small kitchen has unique skills in the entire harem," boasted Consort De with some pride.

Though Lady Shi was not eloquent, she immediately complimented, "It’s the best drink I've ever tasted."

Consort De, upon hearing this, laughed joyously, her eyebrows lifted in excitement, "Yes, Princess Huaiqing loves the drinks from Guangyang Palace the most. For the moving feast, she even specially borrowed He Mama."

Lady Shi, holding the porcelain cup, slightly tightened her grip and belatedly agreed, "That is indeed a treat."

After chatting for a while and as dinner time approached, Lady Shi excused herself and left.

Back in Cunju Hall, she dismissed her attending maids as usual and used the brass key around her neck to open the slightly chipped, reddish-brown makeup box. She stared at the magpie and pearl hairpin inside for a while, then finally picked it up, her eyebrows furrowed as if speaking to someone.

"A-Su, although I borrowed her power, the Empress has avenged you. What does she want to do? Is it right for me to say nothing?"

She paused, then murmured in a low voice, "The Empress Dowager is dead, and if things go as I expect, it won't be long before I can join you..."

Lady Shi clenched the old hairpin tightly in her hand, sat alone for the duration of an incense stick, then put the hairpin back in the box and stood up. From beneath a stack of old clothes in a camphor wood chest, she retrieved a large cotton-linen bag sewn specially.

She gently untied the bag and took out a ginkgo nut with a sprout, talking to herself, "I couldn’t save enough Rosaceae fruits, but the palace paths are lined with ginkgo trees. Over the years, it’s been enough."

She put the ginkgo nut back in the bag, placed it in a lacquer box, locked it, and then carried the box out. She said to a young maid waiting outside, "A-Cui, I’ve embroidered some handkerchiefs. Take them quietly to Xiao Linzi at the Gongye Office and ask him to find a chance to sell them through the purchasing eunuch."

The young maid, A-Cui, nodded, taking the box and feeling its weight, curiously asked, "My lady, how many did you embroider?"

Lady Shi smiled at her, shaking her head, "Not too many, but I included some honey peaches Consort De recently rewarded me with, seeing how Xiao Linzi has always been supportive. Go quickly and return soon. I’ve saved some for you too; we can eat them together when you come back."

"Okay!" A-Cui replied cheerfully, happily carrying the box away.