C8

In August, as the sun rose over An City, ice cubes were served in the halls of each of the palaces.

Hua Xi looked at the sun and guessed that the Concubine De had woken up. She hurriedly told her servant girl to prepare the iced plum soup.

The little girl was holding a few good pieces of cloud pattern brocade as she hurriedly walked out of the palace. The happiness on her face couldn't be hidden. If it wasn't for the small hat covering her head, her mouth would probably be open behind her ears right now.

"Sister Hua, has the Empress woken up?"

"It should be about time. I heard the Empress tossing and turning just now. I'm afraid she's going to wake up soon."

The little wedding child shrank back. If the Empress woke up, she would be in a bad mood. It was all because of her that she had something to be happy about.

Hua Xi twitched his ears, his handsome eyebrows raised. "The Empress is awake, you can go in later!"

The weather was hot and stuffy, and it was difficult to even get a good night's sleep.

"Niangniang, this servant has prepared iced plum soup. How about I bring it over to you later?"

Consort De slowly got down from the bed, like a ghost, and blankly sat on the raftered and embroidered pier. "Bring me a clean basin, put some ice inside, and look for a handkerchief."

The servants waited on him for less than a moment before carefully retreating. If one didn't pay attention at this critical juncture, they would definitely be punished.

"Esteemed Empress, little Xi is waiting outside. She said that the Emperor gave you something, but she's not sending it over to you anymore."

Consort De's hand that was in charge of tidying up her hair suddenly stopped as a smile appeared on her face, "What are you waiting for? Just come in quickly. Now he's being cautious as a little rascal!"

She took the tray and walked into the hall. When she saw that the Empress was smiling, she put her heart back into her stomach.

"This servant pays his respects to the Empress!"

"You little servant, now you're giving me your hand over to take your hand," Consort De joked. "What did the Emperor reward you with?"

"Niangniang, the brocade cloud patterns just came in from Jincheng a few days ago. Just now, the inner palace sent someone to deliver it, but it just happened to be met by this servant, which is why the item was cut off!"

"You're getting bolder and bolder by the moment. You even dare to intercept the things bestowed to me by the emperor!"

When she heard this, she quickly kneeled down. "Your Highness must have wronged this servant. "This servant thinks that the Empress is in charge of managing the affairs of the palace. It was a difficult task for me to rest, so I decided to receive the reward ahead of time."

Consort De raised her eyebrows and changed her tone, "Have you rewarded the eunuch yet?"

The little girl was also quick-witted, knowing how to talk. "It's fine if the Empress doesn't say anything, but now that you mention it, this servant remembers. This servant has already given all the silver this month to the official …"

"Just go and receive your reward later. Do you think I will still need you to pay me back?"

"Young wedding lady, thank you so much for your reward. Then, I'll take my leave."

Heron Palace:

"Mother, mother, what do you think about this warm drawing?"

Chen Shu smiled. "What did you draw so warmly?"

When Wen Wen saw this, she pursed her lips and blinked as if she was about to cry. "Mother, Wen Wen's drawing is of you!"

A burst of guilt filled Chen Shu's heart as she quickly said, "Mother saw through it. Mother just wanted to see if Wen Wen would take the initiative to tell mother what Wen had drawn."

"Are you satisfied with the warmth..."

Chen Shu was suddenly at a loss whether to laugh or cry. This little girl had already learned how to act like a spoiled child.

"The emperor has arrived!"

"Imperial Father ~ Imperial Mother said that the warm drawing is not good. Imperial Father, do you think the warm drawing is good?"

"Your mother's painting was done very well. If mother said your painting was not good, then it must be bad," Bai Yunfan embraced Chen Shu and walked towards him. "But I feel that the painting is very warm, so whether or not you want a reward, royal father will —"

"I've heard from Imperial Mother Su that there are many delicious things to eat outside the palace," Wen Wen hugged Bai Yunfan's neck and turned to look at Chen Shu. "Imperial Father, you should bring Imperial Mother and I out of the palace. Imperial Mother wants to go as well!"

"Does Noble Liu want to be the same as me?" Bai Yunfan asked in a strange tone.

Warmth blinked his eyes as he gently called out. "Mother …"

Chen Shu was suddenly at a loss whether to laugh or cry. The two of them had actually teamed up. "Your majesty is joking. This matter should be handled by Imperial Concubine De. This concubine is only a fifth-grade noble, how can I bear such honor?"

"Does your benefactor underestimate us?" The harem is mine, who dares touch it? "

"This concubine doesn't dare to look down on the emperor, but this concubine knows what's good for her and what's good for her. This concubine absolutely doesn't dare to give the emperor any reason to provoke an official."

Bai Yunfan felt a headache coming on. What was this woman saying? Wasn't it a joke that the palace maids were watching?

"Everyone in the hall, go down and wait. All of you, stand here and block our way!"

The court ladies of the Heron Temple were holding their laughter in. Now, the emperor had suffered a setback. Wasn't this the same as letting people laugh their heads off?! Now that they had received the order, all of them ran off.

"Mother ~ ~" Wen climbed down from Bai Yunfan's body and sat down on the ground. Two white lotus-like hands held onto Chen Shu's skirt. "Mother, you don't need warm again?"

Chen Shu was secretly vexed. Wasn't the purpose of entering the palace to accompany his daughter? Why was she arguing with him about this?

"Lady Leng is so obedient when it comes to warmth, she won't be willing to let it warm her up!" Chen Shu hugged her warmly. "Thank you for Emperor Yu's grace. It's been a long time since this concubine has had a good look at the white market in Peace City."

An City was an old capital of the previous dynasty, as well as a new capital of the Zhou dynasty. There were plenty of cars and horses on the streets, and many shops.

Bai Yunfan and Chen Shu slowly walked along the side of the street. Perhaps it was because Bai Yunfan's temperament was too outstanding, but ever since they had left the palace, he had always seemed to inadvertently look at them. Of course, there were also quite a few men who were sizing up Chen Shu.

Although the people did not know Bai Yunfan's identity, they could not conceal his aura. If it were not for the jade carving in his hand, a woman might have pushed Chen Shu away and rushed at Bai Yunfan.

The more Bai Yunfan walked, the angrier he got. This woman, at this point in time, did not know how to restrain herself, and was being closely observed by the rest of the group.

"Wang Sheng!" Bai Yunlang glared at the surrounding men with his pair of fierce eyes. "Find a screen fence!"

Chen Shu smiled. "In just a few years, the atmosphere of Peace City has become so open!"

Bai Yunfan suppressed his voice and said, "Madam has never seen such things before. After all, Madame was much more generous than these women back in the day!"

Chen Shu's face suddenly turned red. At that time, her affair with Bai Yunfan on the pleasure boat in Bi City had been a 'beautiful conversation'!

At that time, Bai Yunfan and Zhang Zhang had already met, and the two of them were drinking and chatting on the painting boat.

"Brother Yun Fan's horse riding skills are truly amazing. Compared to him, Zhang Zhang Zhang is thousands of miles behind!"

"Brother Zhang must be joking. Even ten of me, Bai, cannot compare to you in terms of strategy!"

At that time, Chen Shu didn't know which part of his brain had spasmed. He blurted out to Bai Yunfan, "I wonder how Master Bai is doing in his room?"

Room... In the room … Inside the room...

"Your concubine saw that the woman next to the wine shop had good looks. How about the emperor order someone to bring her back to the palace?"

"I feel that the beauty of that lady is thousands of miles inferior to Madam!"

A gust of wind blew across the street, lifting up Chen Shu's fence. That gentle smile was reflected directly in Bai Yunfan's eyes.

"Mother, mother, I want to eat candied fruits!"

Chen Shu tied up the curtain fence, but before he could say anything, he ordered, "Send someone to buy them and learn from your old uncle on how to make candied fruits!"

When Bai Yunfan and his party returned to the palace, Wen Wen had already fallen asleep with a sweet smile on her face.

Blue Cloud Palace:

"Esteemed Empress, the Emperor has returned to the palace. He's currently having a meal with Lord Liang!"

"Noble Lord Leng?" Consort De rubbed her head, "Are you a lady from the Wen Family?"

Hua Xi nodded her head and replied, "Yes, Empress. Honorable Liang is the external niece of the Duke of Wen Guang's estate!"

"What did that Chen Chengqiu want me to guard against?"

That little girl Wen Wen was actually very warm to the young ladies of the Wen family. Could it be that the young ladies of the Wen family were their warm mother? But didn't she just die back then?