Imperial Favor Chapter 13
Birthday
What Tang Zhuo Zhuo never expected was for Huo Qiu to visit Yiqiu Palace and share a meal with her every other time despite not a word about it passing through his lips. He made sure to observe as she drank her medicinal decoction.
It was only that he never stayed the night at her place.
Tang Zhuo Zhuo let out a quiet breath within her heart though An Xia’s eyes were filled with immense anxiety.
Only earlier this morning, Tang Zhuo Zhuo dressed up and rose to head towards the open, four-paneled window. The sky had yet to lighten up completely and the fragrance of different incense mixed together blew gently onto her face with a cool feeling. She couldn’t help but wrap her clothing around her a little tighter.
Coincidentally, An Xia had just entered to blow out the rapidly dying candle flame. Seeing her already awake, she quickly came up to her side and asked, “What caused my lady to wake up so early? Would you prefer to sleep a little more?”
Tang Zhuo Zhuo absentmindedly shook her head as she peered out at the little trees planted in the small courtyard before asking, “The two plants over there- what are they? How is it that I haven’t seen them before?”
An Xia followed her gaze and smiled after a look. “Did my lady not mention Nanjiang region’s tea to His Highness not long ago?
”His Highness ordered for them to be planted just the other day.”
The jubilation on her face was too obvious. Tang Zhuo Zhuo’s face grew hot with the look she was given and said with faint glare, “Only knowing how to be cheeky.”
While she was still talking, she saw the outline of a person outside, who wore robes of prominent yellow and with embroidery that was lifelike and vivid. The person’s pressing aura could be felt from within the short distance.
The clear, round moon hanging furtively against the fringes of the horizon sprinkled its faint light onto his person, casting a dark shadow against the ground of the little courtyard. Tang Zhuo Zhuo became senselessly enraptured at the sight.
It was An Xia who had to lead her away to change her attire in the end.
Huo Qiu saw Tang Zhuo Zuo standing before her jewelry box the moment he entered the inner chambers. The trinkets and baubles within the box sparkled and shone brightly. She turned her head to glance at him upon hearing his approach before focusing back on choosing carefully.
The words from her lips were obedient and exuded sweetness within even just the phrase ‘Greetings to Your Highness’.
Huo Qiu walked to her side with just a few steps, a faint smile alight in his eyes. He watched as her delicate and small hand of alabaster white pick up jade hairpin inlaid with gold and cast it to the side of the table, and furrowed his brows.
“Not satisfied with these?” He moved in closer. Tang Zhuo Zhuo could smell that familiar and clear fragrance; he was close to enough to feel his breathing on her body. Her hands couldn’t help but halt in their movement.
”They’re all out of fashion and old trinkets. Nothing eye-catching or agreeable.” She picked up a tasseled hairpin and played with it, her majestic eyebrows furrowed enough to be comparable to Huo Qiu.
Huo Qiu laughed when he heard the distaste in her words. Upon seeing the tasseled hairpin in her hands again, it was obvious that it was made based on the most popular, late season design, created with the finest materials.
He had always been willing to spend when it came to her.
This little thing, only knowing how to be picky.
“Zhang Desheng!”
“Go and bring forth the trinkets from my storehouse for the Crown Princess to choose from.”
Zhang Desheng’s movements became stiff as he smiled at Tang Zhuo Zhuo, “The trinkets within His Highness’s storeroom are all based on the fashions from earlier this year. Your Highness will surely be pleased.”
Tang Zhuoshao’s eyes were like glowing peach blossoms. Her rouge-colored wide sleeves brushed against the palm of Huo Qiu’s hand as she smiled in delight, “How rare for Your Highness to be willing to part with such cherished possessions.”
Huo Qiu lifted an eyebrow.
“When have I ever selfishly withheld things from you?” His tall frame overshadowed Tang Zhuo Zhuo, enough to look like the two holding each other close should one look from the side.
Tang Zhuo Zhuo replied with much pride, “It’s unknown what numerous gifts Your Highness has bestowed to the other Liangdi concubines but I have yet to receive my portion. ”
Those words couldn’t have been said with more arrogant confidence. Huo Qiu scrutinized her, the palm of his hand itched and he couldn’t help but reach out to swipe her delicately curved nose with the back of finger.
Both of them stiffened and Huo Qiu dropped his hand before quietly whispering, “You’ve become more and more heartless.”
The gifts conferred to the others had all been common and ordinary jewelry while the ones sent to her alone were all those that were one of a kind. Of those, which one was not a priceless piece?
While others had been grateful beyond words, when it came to her, not only did she believe it justified but didn’t forget to impertinently retaliate.
Tang Zhuo Zhuo was silent for a while and when she lifted her head again, she was smiling once more, “Has Your Highness taken the morning meal yet?”
Huo Qiu carried an air of stern coldness, yet his eyes were filled with a warmth akin to jade as he saw her a gaze that didn’t allow for others to look away from their intensity.
After that day, although she didn’t feel any sudden love and affection for him, she changed her means of interacting with him through more open honesty.
He brought to mind the day when her face that was dyed with red as she grabbed his belt, her eyes filled with bitter embarrassment, and called out his name clearly.
To hold each other’s hand, to grow old together among their children- they were a happiness he dared not hope for but desired all the same, even if she never developed any affection for him till the very end.
Huo Qiu drew up a thin lock of stray hair near her temple and remembering what needed to be discussed next, gradually became more solemn though his actions remained gentle.
“Not yet.
“I came to inform you that the trip to Xijiang that was originally set for ten day’s time will need to be postponed for some days.”
The smile on Tang Zhuo Zhuo’s face dispelled like an illusion and she murmured under her voice with a pout, “Your Highness promised me. A gentleman does not jest.”
As it was, she couldn’t reconcile with this and her pale but healthily flushed face was full of grievance. She dawdled to Huo Qiu’s side and even deliberately made voice sound pitifully sorrowful. “Your Highness, I have obediently taken my medicine well during the last few days. You’ve seen so.”
Huo Qiu observed how her delicate white finger hooked onto a corner of his court uniform, giving her a truly pitiful look.
He suddenly felt an oncoming headache.
“Since I said I would bring you, then naturally, you will come with me. But my Imperial Father spoke with me about having Imperial Grandmother’s eightieth birthday feast set within the next few days, to thoroughly celebrate it.
It was only then that Tang Zhuo Zhuo released the edge of his robe as she frowned, “Was Imperial Grandmother’s big celebration not set for two month’s from now?”
“Well, the Royal Astronomer reported to Imperial Father that the date three days from now is extremely auspicious, so to hold a celebration then will greatly increase the royal family’s prosperity.”
Emperor Qiongyuan’s serious ailment, compounded by an almost crippling sickness he experienced in his youth, had greatly harmed his vitality. Now, most important matters are dealt with by Huo Qiu: on one hand, he needed to address matters of the court without a hint of a flaw*; on the other hand, he needed to be vigilant and fend off the other princes who had hearts as ambitious as hungry wolves.
*** 滴水不漏- ‘not leaking a single drop’, meaning to make sure that nothing gets passed without being in the know and dealt with.
Seeing his expression, Tang Zhuo Zhuo’s heart softened and she stood on her toes to softly massage between his eyes. “Is it not a little too hasty to set the date like so? I have not even prepared a celebratory gift for Imperial Grandmother’s grand anniversary.”
She no longer persistently referred to herself as ‘this lowly consort’ and in addition to the coolness of her soft, pliant fingers touching his forehead as she kneaded it softly, Huo Qiu exhaled a soft, low laugh. “It has already been prepared for you.”
It was only then that Tang Zhuo Zhuo felt relief.
The Empress Dowager was already old in age, often residing in Cining Palace for long periods of time to partake in vegetarianism and recite Buddhist scriptures. She cared not for worldly affairs. However, she was extremely powerful and influential in her youth. Legends about her traveled within and outside the palace, only Tang Zhuo Zhuo had not seen more than a glimpse of her.
Huo Qiu sighed slowly, sought her hand and gave it a light squeeze.
“I will be quite busy in the next few days, so there’s no need to wait for me to have the evening meal.”
When Huo Qiu left, Tang Zhuo Zhuo turned her gaze towards the massive chest of strange and rare baubles and trinkets, and raised an eyebrow lazily. She stared at Zhang Desheng, who was smiling in wait attentively.
“Your Highness……” Zhang Desheng’s heart jumped as a strong sense of wary foreboding came upon him.
“I hear that Zhong Liangdi was punished by His Highness?”
Zhang Desheng hurried to maintain his smile and nodded, shaking the horsetail duster in his hands.
”If I were to go take a look, it would not be too much trouble, right?”
Tang Zhuo Zhuo paced down the small, silver pruning clippers down. The smile on her face was not befitting of a lady of the palace. “I’ve heard that my people were obstructed from entering her palace doors?”
Zhang Desheng became speechless as he felt his head begin to throb.
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