14. Time-Travel to the Qing Dynasty (14)

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Xuanye nodded with his eyes closed and reached out to wrap his arm around Wen Yao’s waist. Wen Yao was already two years older than Xuanye, and since girls develop earlier than boys, their embrace carried not a hint of romantic sentiment but rather a touch of maternal tenderness.

Wen Yao: “……”

No, no! She could be a confidant elder sister, but she absolutely could not be a mother.

Immediately, Wen Yao discarded the faint trace of “kindness” in her eyes, lowered her gaze to look at Xuanye, who had his eyes closed and seemed on the verge of sleep. Suddenly, her small hand snuck under his armpit.

Xuanye’s eyes snapped open wide, and he struggled instinctively.

“Hahaha, stop it…”

Wen Yao flipped her body, straddled his legs, and began to tickle him, a mischievous grin lighting up her face.

Though Xuanye was still small, he had strength, and since Wen Yao wasn’t pressing down seriously, the tickling quickly turned around, with Xuanye retaliating and tickling her in return.

Wen Yao rolled back and forth on the mat, dodging, laughing loudly while pleading, “Alright, Your Majesty, please spare me! I won’t dare again…”

“Cousin, with so little strength, you still want to tickle me?”

“Hahaha—”

Wen Yao’s laughter grew dizzying, her hands constantly pushing away as the bangles on her wrists clinked together. Finally, she caught Xuanye’s wrist, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she looked at him. “I just want to make Your Majesty happy. You looked so pitiful just now.”

The warm pavilion was already heated, and after their playful laughter, Wen Yao’s usually pale face was flushed, sweat beaded at her temples from laughing, and her eyes shimmered with misty moisture. Hearing her gentle words, Xuanye’s heart wavered, and he too laughed, wiggling free from her grasp and then collapsing softly onto her, holding her tightly.

“Cousin.”

“Hm?” Wen Yao returned the embrace in that position.

Though the Empress Dowager had passed, his cousin would always be there with him. Holding her tightly, Xuanye’s once-floating heart slowly found its grounding.

“Shall we stay up tonight like when we were kids?” Xuanye tilted his head, eyes sparkling with eager anticipation.

“All right, cousin will read to you.” Wen Yao would never refuse.

In ancient times, night activities were few, and since they were both undeveloped children, even their favorite pastimes were off-limits. Reading was just a way to nurture their bond.

Once assured, Xuanye rolled off Wen Yao and lay beside her, staring at the ceiling before snuggling close again to flip through the storybook.

Outside, Liang Jiugong was making arrangements. The imperial meal had been delivered, and he quietly reminded, “Your Majesty, it is time to dine.”

“All right, set the table.” Xuanye sat up straight. “Liang Jiugong.”

“Yes, sir.”

Soon, a group of palace maids entered in single file. The two at the front helped the imperial consorts put on their shoes. Since it was cold outside, dinner was arranged in the warm pavilion. Wen Yao hadn’t asked Xuanye to wear those boots but instead instructed Dong Rui, “Bring the specially prepared shoes for His Majesty.”

Xuanye cast a curious glance.

Dong Rui soon returned with a pair of sheepskin slippers.

Wen Yao had personally stuffed the soles with soft cotton, the fur lining inside, and the outer fabric embroidered with golden bats. Stepping into them felt like sinking into a cotton cushion—extremely comfortable.

Compared to the boots that were hard to slip on or off, these slippers were perfect for indoor wear.

Xuanye paced a few circles after putting them on, then looked back to see Wen Yao wearing a matching pair, except hers were covered in pink fabric embroidered with plum blossoms. Her small, slender feet made the shoes look elegant, not clumsy.

“These slippers might look improper outside, but indoors they’re warm and comfortable, easy to put on and take off. I wear them and thought to make a pair for Your Majesty. Look, the bat embroidery is my own handiwork.”

Wen Yao leaned in, proudly seeking praise.

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“They’re indeed quite nice.” Xuanye tested the softness again.

These sheepskin slippers resembled those from a future era. The old spirit, while wandering the mortal realm, had absorbed plenty of modern knowledge from the internet. If paper money weren’t useless here, she would have ordered online herself, listing the young lord’s grave as the delivery address.

As they spoke, dinner was arranged on the table, tested by the tasters.

The two sat down together, Liang Jiugong standing nearby holding chopsticks to serve. Dong Rui stood by Wen Yao’s side. At first, Wen Yao was uneasy about others serving her, but over time she had grown accustomed.

“Eat without speaking, rest without talking.”

They ate in silence, only exchanging a glance and a smile after rinsing their mouths with tea.

“Do you have any favorite dishes?” Xuanye asked to better instruct the cooks.

“I have a delicate constitution,” Wen Yao replied, dabbing the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief to wipe away moisture. “I prefer light foods and must take medicine regularly. I avoid cold river and freshwater delicacies.”

“Liang Jiugong, understood?”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Liang Jiugong said with a smile, flattering. “I will arrange accordingly. I recall that Zhao Quan of the imperial kitchen specializes in Yangzhou cuisine. Though his expertise is river delicacies, his other dishes are excellent, especially nourishing soups.”

Compared to cuisine style, the nourishing soup was better suited for Chengqian Palace.

Upon hearing this, Kangxi immediately ordered, “Arrange for that to be served at Chengqian Palace.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will dispatch someone to find Zhao Quan at once.”

Liang Jiugong gained another task.

That day had been busy: first the Four Storehouses, then the Construction Office, the greenhouse, and as dusk fell, the imperial kitchen... quite a hefty workload, yet Liang Jiugong was pleased.

When the Empress entered the palace, he accompanied the emperor on a few rounds at Kunning Palace. Orders had been given to the Four Storehouses and greenhouse, but before he could respond, the Hesheli family’s servants had already handled things.

For a servant, the fear isn’t being used but being left unused.

After the kitchen staff finished, they tidied their chambers and, knowing the emperor would stay at Chengqian Palace that night, naturally gathered at the materials storage, ready on call.

Sure enough, half an hour after the meal was taken away, Liang Jiugong appeared.

“Zhao Quan, get ready. From now on, you’ll serve at Chengqian Palace.” He smiled at the cooks.

Soon, a slightly plump eunuch emerged from the crowd. “Supervisor Liang, allow me to prepare.”

“Go ahead.”

“I have an apprentice, very nimble…”

“Bring him along.”

A proper kitchen wouldn’t have only one cook. Liang Jiugong scanned the group. “Pick three more reliable eunuchs in blue uniforms to serve as assistants.”

“Alright, sir, I’ll pick them now.”

Zhao Quan was genuinely delighted. A head chef with four apprentice eunuchs—such a kitchen rank wasn’t common in every palace. He had once felt a bit uneasy away from the imperial kitchen, but now he was all excitement.

Having given his orders, Liang Jiugong quickly returned to Chengqian Palace.

The emperor would stay there that night, and he needed to be on guard.

Zhao Quan, with his apprentice and three steady eunuchs, hurried to the eunuch quarters at Qianqing Palace, packed bedding, and moved overnight to the eunuch quarters at the Eastern Six Palaces.

Since there were few concubines in the palace now, only Chengqian Palace was occupied among the Eastern Six Palaces, leaving the eunuch quarters mostly empty.

Zhao Quan was protective of his team. Not only did he move to Chengqian Palace himself, but he brought his apprentices along. Naturally, he arranged their quarters close to his own.

After inquiring about Zhao Defang’s courtyard, he chose the one right next to it.

He was in charge of the small kitchen and had to live under the watchful eye of the eunuch in charge.

After dinner, Wen Yao found it hard to stay indoors. “Your Majesty, shall we take a walk to aid digestion?”

“All right.”

They changed into warmer clothes and cloaks, then strolled around Chengqian Palace. Xuanye even accompanied Wen Yao on a tour of the newly built small garden. Frankly... it was rather ordinary.

Having seen the scenic gardens of Jiangnan, where every step revealed a new view, this small garden, relying solely on potted plants, felt dull.

Xuanye, however, seemed quite satisfied.

Wen Yao glanced at him, thinking no wonder he’d be enchanted by Jiangnan later—he simply hadn’t experienced the finer things.

They wandered until they stood beneath a pear tree.

Wen Yao looked up excitedly, pointing at the treetop. “Your Majesty, look, there are buds now. Last time it was bare.”

“March is the pear blossom season. In a few days, the tree will be covered with flowers, even more beautiful.”

“When the pear blossoms bloom, it will soon be Your Majesty’s birthday.”

Xuanye shifted his gaze back to Wen Yao’s face. Because his birthday was approaching, he had disregarded the Grand Empress Dowager’s objections and insisted that his cousin be the first to enter the palace this year.

From now on, every birthday he hoped to spend with her.

Returning from the walk, they did not go back to the main hall but directly to the rear sleeping chambers. The bathing room had long been prepared. The emperor and consort bathed separately. Wen Yao felt like a salted fish, being rubbed and scrubbed over and over by the palace maids of Qianqing Palace.

Not only was she scrubbed clean, but fragrant ointment was applied.

Her whole body seemed to glow with pink bubbles before she was dressed in nightclothes and escorted to the bedchamber.

Wen Yao was speechless. Couldn’t the emperor handle some real work? Didn’t the servants know?

What was this pre-job training? What if they forgot over time?

When Wen Yao returned from the bathing room, Xuanye was already reclined on the kang, reading a book, draped in a fur-lined cloak, studying intently. He was naturally serious and stubborn, and in a phase of thirst for knowledge, so he studied diligently.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up. “This chamber isn’t as warm as the warm pavilion.”

“Just put on a garment. It’s not too cold.”

Wen Yao sat beside him, leaning over, resting her chin on his shoulder. “What book are you reading?”

“A travelogue I brought from your study.”

“Let’s sit on the bed and read. I’ll read it to you.”

Xuanye immediately got up, climbed down from the kang, took Wen Yao’s hand, and drew back the canopy to get in. Dong Rui hurried in with a candleholder and placed it carefully near the bed, away from the curtains to avoid fire.

Wen Yao took the travelogue and began reading softly and gently.

At first, Xuanye leaned on Wen Yao’s arm, then gradually nestled into her embrace.

Wen Yao glanced sideways.

Huh, she wondered if the young emperor, when grown, would be embarrassed or furious recalling this scene.

After all, such a delicate side was known only to her.