Chapter 853: Chapter 853: Spirits Soar with Good Fortune
Before Pang Ya could leave the door, she saw Xiao Jizi rushing over.
Reminded by Nanny Qi, the people in the Main Hall bustled with activity. As soon as Nanny Qi came out, Xiao Jizi followed right after.
He instructed Xiao Qing to attend in the hall, and once out of the Main Hall, he pulled some of the young eunuchs from Star Palace and those who later came to Canglan Court to start working immediately.
Just in time!
Nanny Qi gave directions, and Xiao Jizi’s eyes widened: "Ah? Catch fish from Huaqing Pool?"
He remembered when they returned from committing a mischief at Huaqing Pool, they got caught red-handed by the newly arrived Nanny Qi. He and Xiao Qing, along with Xiao Linzi, had to stand with water basins as punishment.
Nanny Qi glared: "Why still standing there? Go quickly!"
The current situation was different; no fish were as nourishing as those from Huaqing Pool. Besides, it was winter, and mostly frozen fish were available in the Imperial Kitchen, while fresh fish were kept in tanks. They had become lean these days and weren’t as good as freshly caught ones. The water in Huaqing Pool froze later every year, so it should still be possible to catch some.
"Oh, oh, I’ll go right away." Xiao Jizi ran to get the equipment but then turned back thinking it was not right: "Nanny, won’t we be late?"
If we just start fishing now, who knows when we’ll be done by the time they’re caught.
"Oh dear, becoming as muddled as Mr. Huang." Nanny Qi slapped her forehead: "Dual strategy, you find someone to pick a fat fish from the Imperial Kitchen first, then take others to Huaqing Pool to catch more and keep them."
"Got it!" Xiao Jizi grabbed a bucket and ran, starting to gather people in the courtyard.
A group of people was openly catching fish under orders, each with head held high and faces gleaming with vitality.
As the saying goes, a joyful event refreshes the spirit. No one felt sleepy despite a sleepless night, even Divine Doctor Huang, who was looking for food, had the same energy.
Seeing he was hungry, Nanny Qi had Pang Ya bake some pancakes for him first.
Divine Doctor Huang gobbled them down, finding them more delicious and invigorating with each bite, rare to praise: "This girl’s pancakes are exceptional, really good, so tasty."
Nanny Qi ignored him, organizing with Pang Ya and some Little Palace Maids.
The entire Canglan Court came alive again, bustling with a joyous New Year’s atmosphere. The young eunuchs were hurrying back and forth, fetching water or running errands, extremely busy.
The Main Hall of Canglan Court was also filled with festivity.
The Emperor and Su Ran fed Lian Hua some water to moisten her throat, then wiped her hands and face.
Lian Hua, knowing that all her family members were well, was so delighted that she wanted to spin around. Yet, she was too weak to do so, only fluttering her almond-shaped eyes, with her mouth turning upwards, uncontrollably expressing the excitement and joy in her eyes.
Infected by her mood, the Emperor and Su Ran also smiled along.
Lian Hua was somewhat tired, but the excitement overpowered the weariness. She insistently asked how her father, elder brother, second brother, and third brother were, stubbornly wanting to inquire about each of them, ensuring they were well.
Su Ran started informing her one by one, sharing joyful stories, particularly choosing a few amusing anecdotes: telling how Lian Changhe and Lian Bingcheng argued over who was the elder brother;
mentioning Lian Musu became famous in the Capital City, now recognized by many scholars, making it hard for him to walk down the street without being blocked, so he seldom went out;
telling how Lian Wanzhen made a like-minded friend, named Qian Chen, whom Lian Hua had met when she was little, now someone accompanied him in fights. The only thing was Qian Chen loved spicy food, influencing Lian Wanzhen to also eat quite a bit of spicy food;
telling how Lian Bao handled affairs for the official family. The Ancestral Master of the Internal Guard Bureau appreciated him greatly, visiting their residence daily and also persuading him to join;
also mentioning that Lih Qingshu had come and helped a lot.
And so on.
These domestic tales were listened to by Lian Hua with great relish, paying utmost attention and occasionally asking a question, often getting amused for some unknown reason, always smiling incessantly.
The Emperor, during this warm mother-daughter exchange, quietly went out to instruct someone to inform Lian Changhe and the others of Lian Hua’s recovery, planning to arrange for their meeting soon.
The palace had been worried during these days, and so were people outside. Compared to those outside who could neither see nor touch, the anxiety inside could be imagined.
Communications between inside and outside the palace continued, every news about Lian Hua from the palace described it merely as getting sick, saying everything else was fine, but the specifics were never mentioned.
However, nothing could escape the sharp minds of Lian Musu and Lian Bao, only Lian Changhe and Lian Wanzhen naively believed it was really just minor ailments, while waiting to meet Lian Hua.
This time, the good news could set the Lian family at ease.
When the Emperor returned to the hall after giving instructions, he saw that his Little Concubine was already dozing off in bed with a satisfied look, while Su Ran softly hummed a tune to lull her to sleep.
Listening to her mother’s chatter, Lian Hua felt relieved, relaxed her mind, and soon weariness surged, yet she stubbornly refused to sleep until she heard that everyone was fine, only then did her eyelids give way, falling into slumber.
Su Ran, seeing the Emperor enter, nodded and wanted to get up, but found that Lian Hua clutched her sleeve tightly, unwilling to let go.
This made Su Ran filled with endless reluctance.
The Emperor hurriedly stopped her, saying he still had some matters to attend to, suggesting Su Ran accompany Lian Hua to sleep. After finishing, he glanced at the sleeping figure and smiled before turning to leave.
His Little Concubine had just found her mother, so let the two spend more time together.
He walked towards the study, feeling relieved now that Lian Hua was fine.
Before the Emperor could reach the study, he saw someone running wildly toward him, screeching to a halt upon seeing him.
The Emperor looked closely and, to his surprise, it was Zhang Qing!
Speaking of which, while Canglan Court was filled with a warm and harmonious scene, things were not going so well for Zhang Qing.
He carried a load of troubles, going first to the Lian family’s residence to handle the matters the Emperor had instructed personally.
At first, things went smoothly. After stating the matter, and offering a few words of advice, Lian Changhe and Lian Bingcheng joined forces to curse the Guo family from ancestors of the 18th generation, cursing fiercely, each one sharpening their knives, just waiting to clear their grievances.
Seeing this scene, Zhang Qing felt his task was done and was about to leave when Lian Wanzhen stopped him to ask about Lian Hua’s condition.
This question brought Lian Changhe and the others out of their reverie, stopping their cursing of Guo Thief, and everyone eagerly questioned Lian Hua’s condition.
This... how could Zhang Qing dare say, Lian Hua’s real condition was kept secret from outsiders, and he knew this.
Even if he could speak, he had to choose his words carefully. What if the two old men from the Lian family couldn’t handle it? Then he would become an eternal sinner.
In the end, he vaguely said that all was well, Lian Hua was eating five meals a day, with Madam Lian accompanying her every day, all was fine.
Hearing Lian Hua was eating five meals a day, everyone felt reassured.
Zhang Qing also felt distressed, comforting his feelings, he said a comforting remark that with Divine Doctor Huang present, Lian Hua would eventually be all right.
Unexpectedly, this statement agitated a robust young man, who grabbed Zhang Qing by his collar, intensely questioning what "eventually" meant, why Divine Doctor Huang was there, didn’t the palace physicians suffice, did it mean Lian Hua was not fine now?