Chapter 54 - 53: Carousel

"I’m leaving!"

After speaking, he turned around with his entourage and left, his figure appearing lonely yet resolute.

"Big brother, take care!"

Xia Jingfeng stood in the doorway, watching the receding figure in the distance.

He could faintly hear Xia Tingfeng giving orders as he walked away.

"Tomorrow morning, don’t you guys forget to come here and take away that group of fools!"

After saying this, he added, as if to explain, "They were caught by me! It’s not anyone else’s turn to meddle!"

Xia Jingfeng chuckled and shook his head, then went back inside.

Big brother’s temper is still as stubborn as ever!

「...」

In just two more days, it would be the Lantern Festival. The palace was bustling with activity again. During the Lantern Festival’s night banquet, they would have the chance to see the Emperor. Although on the fifteenth, the Emperor was sure to rest at the Empress’s place, it was still good to look pretty and make an impression on the Emperor. So, the Emperor’s concubines were busy; some racked their brains to figure out what to wear that would be memorable to the Emperor yet remain within the bounds of propriety. Those with talents were practicing hard, hoping to make a splash.

Here at Zhaohua Pavilion, everything remained as usual. Ever since Xia Ruqing returned from Zhaochen Palace, she hadn’t seen the Emperor again. Nor had she heard of the Emperor selecting any other concubine.

He’s probably... still busy.

Whenever she thought about the piles of memorials on his desk, Xia Ruqing felt sympathy for him.

"He has it so rough!"

Zi Yue came in, lifting the curtain and carrying a dish of peanuts in their shells.

"My lady, do you think these are enough? If not, I can ask Xiao Xizi to get more!"

Xia Ruqing got up from the couch and looked.

"That’s enough, that’s enough. I just wanted to roast some peanuts to eat! One dish is plenty!"

As she spoke, she took the peanuts, stirred the charcoal with tongs, and buried the peanuts in it.

"When I was a child, on cold winter nights after a big snowfall, my grandmother liked to light a fire and bury things like sweet potatoes, peanuts, and taro in it. She would also hang a kettle above it.

"By the time the water boiled, the buried food would be cooked as well.

"Before going to sleep, my grandmother and I would soak our feet and eat peanuts together..."

As Xia Ruqing said this, her nose suddenly tingled with emotion. Even though her grandmother had passed away many years ago, when nostalgia struck, she was still utterly defenseless against it.

Zi Yue hadn’t noticed and just smiled.

"No wonder my lady wanted to eat this way too. It must be... homesickness!"

Xia Ruqing quickly composed herself.

"Of course, how could I not miss home? It’s my first time being so far away!"

Zi Yue thought for a moment and could only offer consolation, "It can’t be helped. If you miss home, my lady, just eat more. Once you’re full, you won’t think about it so much!"

"Right!"

Eating her fill to forget homesickness had become her survival mantra, a profound truth indeed.

Putting down the tongs and wiping her hands with a silk handkerchief, Xia Ruqing then said, "In two more days, it’ll be the Lantern Festival. We still have some red silk left from last time; let’s make some lanterns."

"Great! Let’s ask Xiao Xizi to get some bamboo strips," replied Zi Yue.

"Do you know how to make them?" Xia Ruqing asked.

"This servant only knows how to make revolving lanterns!"

"I don’t know how, but I can help you draw the patterns!"

"My lady, your patterns aren’t pretty," Zi Yue said with a hint of disdain.

Xia Ruqing, as if she hadn’t heard, remained full of confidence. "Who says they aren’t pretty? I think they’re quite good..."

Zi Yue was speechless.

My lady... you truly are too confident. This servant is ashamed to compare!

「...」

The next day was the fourteenth day of the twelfth lunar month. In the morning, Xiao Xizi had gathered everything needed, including bamboo strips and nails. Apart from the red silk, Xia Ruqing had also found many other fabrics of various colors left over from making clothes.

"These are all precious silks, mostly remnants. They can’t be used for much else," Xia Ruqing said. "It would be a pity to throw them away, so why not use them to make lanterns!"

Although she wasn’t short of anything now, she had been poor before and knew how to live frugally.

Zi Yue was also very pleased.

"You’re right, my lady. Silk will definitely look prettier than colored paper, and it won’t tear easily once starched!"

So, after dinner, the three of them—master and servants—sat by the stove and got straight to work. Zi Yue drew the designs, and Xia Ruqing cut them out accordingly.

"Be careful, my lady. You’ll need to paste these onto the lanterns later, so don’t ruin them!"

"Don’t worry!" Xia Ruqing said with a helpless laugh.

Xiao Xizi was also busy; she fashioned bamboo strips into the shape of lantern frames and nailed them firmly together. The three of them were each busy with their tasks, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Just then, a loud shout came from outside.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

All three were startled and, without any time to clean up, knelt.

When Zhao Junyao entered, he saw the kang bed was a mess, with even the kang table removed. The master and her servants knelt on the ground, not daring to breathe too loudly.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Xia Ruqing said cautiously.

Zhao Junyao looked around before finally choosing a place to sit. A moment later, he said in a deep voice, "All of you may rise!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Xia Ruqing let out a sigh of relief and stood up. Zi Yue hurried to pour tea, while Xiao Xizi stood still, not daring to move.

"What are you making?"

Zhao Junyao picked up one of the half-finished items on the kang bed, frowning as if in casual curiosity.

He felt a bit uncomfortable. Last time she was roasting lamb, now she’s busy with this. Why is this young woman always so carefree? Does she not think of me at all, not even look forward to my visits? Or does she not care whether I come or not?

Xia Ruqing couldn’t decipher the thoughts behind his poker face and simply assumed the Emperor was genuinely curious, so she explained cheerfully, "Your Majesty, we are making revolving lanterns! What you just picked up is a lantern frame. We’re going to paste various colors of silk on it, then cut out some designs to stick on. When we light a candle inside, it will look beautiful!"

Zhao Junyao was momentarily speechless.

She actually didn’t notice his displeasure! She still seemed happy! He suddenly realized that in front of her, he couldn’t even find a reason to be angry. In fact, does an Emperor need a reason to be angry? No, he does not. But right now, he couldn’t be angry. Not only could he not be angry, but he also had to appear happy; otherwise, it would seem his magnanimity was less than that of a woman!

So, a moment later, when Xia Ruqing looked up, she saw the most awkward, embarrassing, and indescribably forced smile in history.

Xia Ruqing was taken aback. "Your Majesty, what’s... wrong?"

Zhao Junyao also realized his smile might have been a bit strained, so he coughed and dropped it.

"Ahem... I’m fine!"

After thinking for a moment, Xia Ruqing concluded she hadn’t done anything to anger the Emperor. So, she relaxed and said cheerfully again, "Your Majesty, look! These are the patterns I cut out."

Zhao Junyao, looking at the brightly colored silks and patterns, asked in surprise, "Where did you get all these from?!"

"These are leftovers from making clothes. They’d just go to waste otherwise, so they’re perfect for pasting on lanterns!" With that, Xia Ruqing looked at Zhao Junyao, her face full of anticipation for praise.

However, Zhao Junyao’s expression darkened slightly.

"You mean to say all these are dress fabrics?"