Chapter 879: Chapter 879: Love Me, Love My Dog
Today is a day off, and it’s still early. The Emperor watched Lian Hua anxiously waiting without saying anything, pretending to be calm as he read a scroll.
On the surface, he appeared calm, but inside he couldn’t help but feel nervous. It’s probably the feeling every son-in-law has when meeting his father-in-law for the first time, isn’t it?
This was technically the Emperor’s first official meeting with his father-in-law and mother-in-law. Although he had already met Su Ran, the circumstances were special back then, and he didn’t have enough time to consider other things. Now, looking back, the Emperor was unsure about Su Ran’s attitude toward him, whether he was accepted or not.
As for Lian Changhe, from Lian Hua’s past words, the Emperor learned that Lian Changhe deeply cherished his Little Concubine, treating her like his precious heart. When she was young, he didn’t want to marry her off and often joked about dismissing a bad son-in-law and bringing one to live with them.
From the Emperor’s perspective, if it weren’t for societal norms and other considerations, Lian Changhe might truly have brought in a son-in-law for Lian Hua, letting her live with the Lian Family for her whole life, protected and loved by her family.
Love for the house and its crow, without regard for power or status, the Emperor at that moment was like a new son-in-law meeting his father-in-law for the first time, hoping to be accepted, and wished for his in-laws to trust handing his Little Concubine over to him for the rest of her life.
The Emperor naturally wouldn’t go unprepared. He had learned about Lian Changhe from Hu Miaomiao and the Shadow Guard who had previously watched over him, yet he still didn’t have complete confidence in understanding his attitude. So, he could only go over the scenes and countless scenarios of their meeting in his mind repeatedly.
Thus, the scene occurred where he held the book as if he were reading, yet hadn’t flipped a single page.
Lian Hua wandering beside him had a purpose, which the Emperor saw through immediately.
Upon realizing that Lian Hua had discovered he hadn’t turned a single page, he closed the book suddenly, clenched his fist before his lips, and cleared his throat, saying: "This page is not difficult, yet it warrants careful thought. Upon closer inspection, it is indeed thought-provoking."
He naturally couldn’t let his Little Concubine notice his nervousness, or else who knows how she would tease him.
"Oh..." Lian Hua suddenly understood, nodding without thinking too much.
But seeing the Emperor close the book, her eyes lit up: "Sir, have you finished the book? Then..." she trailed off, implying the unspoken meaning behind the "then."
The Emperor pretended not to know, leisurely placing the book on the table, maintaining an unaffected demeanor: "Not yet, what’s the matter?"
Having pretended until now, Lian Hua saw the Emperor’s stance seemingly indicating he wanted to continue reading. Unable to bear it, she confessed directly: "Your Majesty, I want to go over there now to wait. Shall we go?"
The Emperor glanced outside at the weather, saying: "It’s still early..."
Lian Hua couldn’t help but interrupt: "Oh come on, Sir. Waiting here is the same as waiting there. Canglan Court is quite far, it’ll take a while to walk there. Why don’t we go now? Wouldn’t that be better?"
As she spoke, she started pulling on the Emperor’s sleeve, shaking it, her tone full of a playful coquettishness.
The Emperor feigned deep thought: "Hmm... you make a valid point. Very well, let’s head out now." Going earlier would be better, so as not to leave a poor impression with the parents-in-law.
"You’re so kind, Sir." Lian Hua cheered, completely oblivious to the fact that the Emperor had already been inclined. Impetuously, she called outside: "Someone, His Majesty is going to Star Palace~"
Saying this, she immediately tried to lead the Emperor to leave, but found herself unable to move him, she turned back with a confounded expression.
The Emperor amusedly looked at her, gesturing to the clothes he was wearing.
Oh dear, she forgot!
The Main Hall was furnished with a radiant dragon, making them warm all over. Lian Hua was dressed lightly and almost forgot it was the depths of winter outside, thinking of heading out just like that.
The two quickly donned their outdoor attire, Lian Hua instructed Xiao Jizi and the others to carry some light items ahead, leaving Zhang Qing to bring the remaining things.
The group thus set out in grand style.
Along the way, Lian Hua, being led by the hand, felt excited and couldn’t help but chat away.
Passing by the grove outside Canglan Court, she said: "Sir, all the leaves have fallen off the big trees, only the pines and the cypresses remain green. Back home, winter isn’t as cold as it is in the Capital City, the trees stay green all year, but the birds and pheasants are easiest to catch this season, lure them with some grain and they’ll come."
Suddenly seeing some trees in bloom, streaks of them, golden in color, like golden ribbons.
She admired how beautiful they looked, feeling an itch to pluck some: "Sir, what kind of flowers are those? Flowers so beautiful bloom even in winter? The Young Eunuchs managing the garden are doing a good job. Let’s pick some on the way back. Oh, never mind, we have some in the flower room, hmm..."
Noticing it was still early, she deliberately took them toward the lake in the Imperial Garden: "Your Majesty, look, the lake has frozen over. I wonder if the ice is solid or not..."
With a smile on his lips, the Emperor led her along slowly, making winter feel particularly beautiful.
As he followed her leisurely with her sweet words filling the air, he occasionally offered explanations or replied. His tense mood had eased considerably, but upon hearing her muse about whether the lake had frozen solid or not, his heart leapt. Without waiting for her to investigate further, he directly led her away.
She shouldn’t think about it any longer. The Complete Collection of Encouragement-to-Learn Poems mentions ice skating at Huaqing Pool—what if it sparked in her mind?
He distrusted Huaqing Pool, and couldn’t let Lian Hua skate on such a large lake. Besides, Huaqing Pool could be filled, but filling such a huge lake was impossible.
On their way, the Harem suddenly emitted noises, faint and intermittent, seemingly mixed with the sounds of women.
In an instant, the Emperor’s expression chilled, he looked at his retinue, and someone immediately left in haste.
Lian Hua didn’t notice these minor changes; she was still enthusiastically talking about something else. It wasn’t until her ears twitched, maybe hearing something, that she stopped for a moment to listen carefully, but the noise had faded, so she assumed she had misheard.
After roughly touring the Imperial Garden, the two arrived at Star Palace.
Regarding Star Palace, Lian Hua had never truly toured it. As a Palace Maid on the fringes, she was almost never needed by those in front of Imperial presence, which left Lian Hua with a vague impression of the Main Hall of Star Palace.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, she carefully toured it. As she visited the sleeping chamber, she deliberately sat on the wide dragon bed and touched it with her hand, muttering about how diligent the Young Eunuchs of Star Palace were. Despite His Majesty not resting there for many days, the bedding remained clean and fresh, seeming as though it was changed daily.
Seeing her sitting on the dragon bed, the Emperor recalled the incident from the past, and couldn’t help but gaze mischievously at her. When she figured it out, she remembered her impetuous tumble onto His Majesty at the dragon bed.
Lian Hua’s face couldn’t help but blush, like a shy bride, she sat on the bed with her head slightly lowered, her gaze evasive: "Oh dear, we’ve seen enough, haven’t we? Sir, let’s go out."