When she woke up in the morning, Qu Qing Ju looked to the side. It was already empty. Light came in through the cracks in the window. She rubbed her forehead as she sat up. It was getting late.
The palace attendants waiting outside heard the movements in the room and came in with washing things to help her get up and dress. After everything was prepared, she sat at the table and started to leisurely eat breakfast.
"Mu Jin, how many days until Cheng Wang Fei finishes her confinement?" After the child was one month old, there would be a full moon banquet. She didn't have to personally go, but the gifts needed to be prepared early.
"There's almost ten more days. Is niangniang worried about what gifts to prepare for the full moon banquet?" Mu Jin handed over a handkerchief for Qu Qing Ju to dry her hands. She also took out a moisturizer for Qu Qing Ju to apply. Now that it was autumn, the wind had become stronger. If she didn't take care of her hands, they wouldn't look good in two days.
"En," Qu Qing Ju rubbed her hands and sighed, "The wives of noble families, it's not easy to come and go. If it was anyone else, I can give it to the servants, but Cheng Wang Fei can't." Thinking about it, she still had the servants prepare things to nourish a woman's body and the baby. If it was someone else, she would just give something that looked good. But she had some feelings for Luo Wen Yao and naturally, she had to return some sincerity.
"Today's weather is good, let's go out for a walk," Qu Qing Ju thought, "Let the nursemaid carry His Highness the Imperial Son out for a walk."
Mu Jin hurriedly ordered the servants to prepare. She saw the Empress' expression wasn't very good and couldn't resist asking: "Niangniang, should we prepare the luan carriage?"
"No need, just walk outside," Qu Qing Ju stood and walked to the door. The warm sunlight fell on her body, causing her to lose focus for a moment. She raised her head to look at the sky. Turning back, she saw that the nursemaid had already carried Tun Tun over. She smiled: "Let's go."
When the Empress went out, even if she didn't have a entourage, there were still many attendants. Even more, there were a few servants to serve Tun Tun behind her. Qu Qing Ju crossed the white jade bridge over the lotus pond and came to the Imperial Gardens. Looking at the blooming chrysanthemums, she suddenly realized that autumn had really arrived.
Passing by a pavilion, Qu Qing Ju stopped. She turned back to look at the pavilion in the middle of the flowers. Raising an eyebrow, she asked: "Last winter, Han liangdi sang for the Emperor there, right?"
Mu Jin didn't know why the Empress would suddenly mention Han liangdi. She looked at the pavilion and nodded: "Niangniang, what is it?"
"Nothing," Qu Qing Ju seemed to sigh and regret as she said, "Just a little emotional. In the blink of an eye, it's been almost a year. Time flies."
"Niangniang doesn't need to think about this." Mu Jin smiled as she held her wrist, "Nubi heard that the ink chrysanthemums in front are blooming very well. Do you want to go take a look?"
"No, Tun Tun is still young. It's not good to be near the flowers," Qu Qing Ju pointed at a stone table behind the fake mountain not far away, "Go sit there, it's good to soak in the sun."
Tea and pastries were quickly arranged in front of the stone table. A soft cushion was laid out on the stone bench. Qu Qing Ju sat down on the stone bench. Seeing Tun Tun's wide eyes looking around, she knew that he was curious about the surroundings. She had the nursemaid carry him around the stone table. Hearing his happy shouts, she couldn't help but smile: "Children will always be children. Anything can make them happy."
"His Highness is clever," Mu Jin changed a cup of hot tea for Qu Qing Ju. She turned to give a handbell to His Highness the Imperial Son. Seeing him happily grasp the handbell, she said happily, "His Highness is really steady in his grip and can wave it around. Your wrist is really strong."
"Almost half a year old, what's so strange about him being able to hold something," Qu Qing Ju smiled as she commented, "Soon, he'll be able to crawl."
Mu Jin smiled as she curtsied: "Niangniang, don't laugh at nubi for making a fuss. Nubi just thinks that everything about His Highness is good."
Qu Qing Ju laughed at her words. Turning her head, she saw a group of people that surprised her. She furrowed her brow, "What is going on?"
Mu Jin looked over and saw Ming He leading a few womenfolk around the Imperial Gardens. Most of these womenfolk were the furens of the envoys of the subordinate countries, but the princess of Jing was also among them.
"Nubi will go ask," Mu Jin curtsied and turned to walk in the direction of Ming He's entourage.
Because the furens of the envoys and the princess were very interested in the Imperial Gardens of the Da Long Imperial Palace, Ming He had to take the imperial order to serve these people in the Imperial Gardens. But thinking about the rumors outside the palace about the princess of Jing and the Empress, his heart felt bitter. If the Empress saw this, what would happen?
Just as he thought about it, he raised his head and saw Mu Jin walking towards him. He instantly sighed inside, but forced out a smile on his face. He went forward a few steps and exchanged a bow with Mu Jin: "Mu Jin guniang, where did you come from? The Empress can't do without you."
"Ming gonggong is too kind," Mu Jin smiled. Looking at the womenfolk behind him, she curtsied slightly: "Nubi Mu Jin greets everyone."
These womenfolk might not recognize Mu Jin, but they all knew that the Empress had a big palace maid called Mu Jin who was the most valued. Adding on that Ming He's attitude towards Mu Jin was very warm and intimate, they instantly confirmed Mu Jin's identity. So they all gave small smiles and used the slightly stiff Da Long language to say a few polite words to Mu Jin.
"Because furen have never been to the Imperial Gardens, so nubi has followed the Emperor's orders to accompany furen to tour the gardens," Ming He smiled faintly, "I hadn't thought that I would encounter Mu Jin guniang."
"Niangniang is drinking tea in front and saw you leading a few womenfolk into the gardens, so she sent nubi over to ask," Mu Jin's gaze swept in the direction of the princess of Jing, her smile unchanging as she said, "Since gonggong is busy, I won't disturb you." It seemed that the Emperor didn't place much importance on the furen of the envoys of the subordinate countries. Otherwise, the one receiving them wouldn't be Ming He. At the very least, it would be a noblewoman of status or a furen of the Imperial Family.
"Since the Empress is here, we should greet the Empress," The furen of the Dong Yu envoy said respectfully, "If it wasn't that Hu Guo Princess specially requested, we wouldn't have had the chance to enter the palace. To be able to greet the Empress, it is our good fortune."
Mu Jin smiled as she looked at the furen of the Dong Yu envoy. This furen seemed to be saying something carelessly, but in reality, it was expressing goodwill towards the Empress. She instantly smiled and said: "Nubi doesn't dare to make a decision. Honored guests, please wait for a moment, nubi will go and report to the Empress."
Seeing Mu Jin walk towards the fake mountain in front, Dai Rong couldn't resist glancing behind the fake mountain a few more times. When Ming He saw this, he thought disdainfully, a small place was a small place. Just this scheming, any of the female officials in the hougong were stronger than her. It seemed that this country of Jing was getting worse with each generation.
Qu Qing Ju heard Mu Jin's report and furrowed her brow, "The princess of Jing specially asked for an order?" Speaking of this, she couldn't help but snort, "It seems that she is especially interested in our Da Long's hougong. Alright, let them all come over. Ben gong also wants to get to know this princess of Jing."
She looked at Tun Tun who was still playing with the handbell and ordered to the nursemaids: "Take Tun Tun back to the rear hall of Tian Qi Palace. Don't let anyone go near His Highness."
The nursemaids took the order and retreated. No one even turned their head to look.
Hearing that the Empress was willing to see them, the furens of the envoys all had smiles on their faces. They might be considered noble houses in their own country, but compared to the noblewomen of Da Long, they weren't anything. Ever since they had come to Jing City, they had been careful in their speech and actions. Whenever they encountered the noblewomen of prestigious families, they were polite. Now that the Empress was willing to see them, it was a pleasant surprise.
The procession followed Mu Jin's footsteps to the fake mountain. They saw a woman wearing a white floor-length dress with red flowers lazily sitting at the stone table. Her black hair was pulled up into a beautiful and exquisite flying bun, the hairpins and jewellery were all exquisite. But what dazed them the most wasn't these beautiful objects, but the presence and appearance of the Empress. Just one glance made them feel ashamed of their inferiority. It was as though they felt that the Empress of Da Long should be so beautiful and noble. It was natural that they couldn't compare to the Empress. Seeing the Empress, they couldn't feel any jealousy. Instead, they felt admiration and envy.
"Chen fu is the furen of the prime minister of Dong Yu. Greetings to the honored Empress."
These womenfolk all came forward to greet Qu Qing Ju. What they did was the etiquette of their country. Before these people had arrived, Qu Qing Ju had already understood some of their customs so she politely gave these womenfolk a seat.
"Dai Rong of the country of Jing greets the honored Empress," It was the first time Dai Rong saw the Empress of Da Long at such a close distance. She examined Qu Qing Ju. Even though she wasn't satisfied, but she had to admit that this Empress had some beauty.
"Hu Guo Princess doesn't have to be so courteous," Qu Qing Ju indicated for her to sit, "Ben gong still remembers you. Your dance in Luan He Hall was very beautiful."
"I hadn't thought that Empress would still remember this one, I have embarrassed myself in front of Empress," Dai Rong's expression was bashful, "It's my first time coming to the Imperial Garden and meeting Empress, it really is my great fortune."
"You all like to talk about fortune. Ben gong feels that this is fate," Qu Qing Ju smiled as she raised a teacup, "Have a taste of our Da Long's tea. Even though it isn't anything rare, the taste isn't bad."
"Da Long's tea is worth thousands of gold in our country, how can it not be rare," The furen of the envoy of Dong Yu smiled as she took a sip, "The tea leaves of Empress, they really are rare treasures."
"If you like it, when you return to the country, bring some back," Qu Qing Ju smiled as she said, "You have worked hard to come from afar to celebrate the Emperor's birthday."
"His Majesty the Emperor is extraordinarily brave. There is no hardship to celebrate His Majesty the Emperor's birthday," Dai Rong put down the teacup and smiled as she said, "His Majesty the Emperor is the god of our country of Jing. The people of Jing would never feel hardship for a god."
"Ha," Qu Qing Ju raised an eyebrow as she looked at Dai Rong, "The country of Jing is very loyal to our Da Long."
"Of course, the new sun of our country of Jing to Da Long is as bright as the sun and moon," Dai Rong's eyes met Qu Qing Ju's gaze, "This one also believes that the honored Emperor Jia You will be a wise ruler that is hard to come by in a thousand years."
The two's gazes met in the air. Qu Qing Ju found the other had a pair of beautiful eyes. She smiled faintly: "As the Empress of Da Long, I am very grateful for the loyalty of the people of Jing to Da Long."
Dai Rong instantly said: "So, as the Hu Guo Princess of Jing, I am willing to become His Majesty the honored Emperor Jia You's fei."
Qu Qing Ju laughed lightly. She had heard that the people of Jing were very open, and open in their relationships. Hearing Dai Rong's words today, she finally understood what it meant to be open.
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