Chapter 5

Chapter 5

I had already prepared myself not to see the Emperor for many days, but to my surprise, I saw him again after only three days. At the time, I had just finished my midday meal and was feeling quite stuffed, so I decided to stroll around the courtyard of White Deer Terrace to help my digestion.

Doukou supported me by the arm and sighed.

“My Lady, you always eat until you’re bursting like this. It’s far too taxing on your body.”

I knew she meant well, so I nodded repeatedly. This wasn’t the first time she had said this, nor was it the first time I had promised to change, but I always ended up overeating.

For one thing, I never had anything good to eat in the past, so I understood all too well that the feeling of hunger was truly unbearable. For another, if I didn’t finish the food on the table, I always felt it was a pity. It was just a matter of stretching my stomach a bit; it wasn’t as if I couldn’t get it down. It was better than throwing it away.

Doukou said that the Emperor had always been very thrifty, so while the various rations in the inner palace were never lacking, there was never much of a surplus either.

If I didn’t waste food, the Emperor would surely praise me when he found out.

Just as I was thinking this, someone arrived.

It was a Little Eunuch from Heqing Hall named Baoyu. I knew him because Doukou knew him, and since they had known each other for a long time, they didn’t stand on much ceremony when speaking.

“Why are you here?” Doukou asked, somewhat surprised. Baoyu was supposed to be serving at the Emperor’s side; why had he come to White Deer Terrace?

Baoyu clearly had rushed over. He wiped his sweat and gave me a respectful bow. “I must trouble My Lady to take a trip with me. The Emperor wishes to see you.”

The Emperor wants to see me?

Doukou and I exchanged a glance, both finding it hard to believe. Once it sank in, I was so happy I wanted to scream out loud. The Emperor wants to see me!

Baoyu lowered his voice. “Just after noon, Mr. Chongjiu sent me to fetch My Lady. I suspect it isn’t because of anything bad.”

I knew that Mr. Chongjiu was Su Zhongguan.

Doukou’s expression relaxed, and she exchanged a look with Baoyu. I was just busy being happy and didn’t understand what they meant. I guessed it was probably because the Emperor was in a good mood and wanted to see me.

This was wonderful news.

Forgetting all about my digestion, I hurriedly asked Baoyu, “Are we going right now?”

“Indeed,” Baoyu nodded. “The sedan chair is already waiting outside White Deer Terrace, just for My Lady.”

Then what was I waiting for? I pulled Doukou along and happily boarded the sedan chair to rush to Heqing Hall. The things I hadn’t finished saying last time, I would definitely finish saying this time.

But when we arrived at Heqing Hall, the Emperor wasn’t there. I only saw Su Zhongguan.

I was a bit confused. Wasn’t it said… that the Emperor wanted to see me?

Su Zhongguan’s attitude toward me was very good. Although his expression had only softened slightly, it was already considered a good temper for him.

He was different from the other eunuchs. He was a veteran servant left to the Emperor by Emperor Xiaozong. He was extremely capable, and his learning was no less than that of the Grand Academicians of Chongwen Hall. Everyone in the palace called him Mr. Chongjiu.

Doukou had told me all of this.

Fourth Younger Sister said that except for her, it didn’t count when anyone else called me stupid. So I wasn’t stupid; I just wasn’t clever. Although I had hit my head once, I hadn’t become a simpleton. See? Doukou taught me, and didn’t I remember it?

I just thought about fewer things, and I thought slowly.

Su Zhongguan seemed to know that I couldn’t understand overly complicated words yet, so he spoke to me in a tone one would use with a child.

“My Lady, please wait here in the side hall for a moment.” His face remained serious, but his voice was truly kind. “If you are hungry, eat some snacks; if you are thirsty, drink some tea. There is no need for restraint.”

I stared at him blankly and picked up a piece of pastry. “Mr. Chongjiu… why aren’t you mean to me at all?”

Su Zhongguan seemed not to have expected me to ask such a question. He was stunned for a moment, but he quickly recovered and even gave me a very faint smile. He said, “Because My Lady is a good child.”

Oh-

I nodded, only half-understanding, and turned all my attention to the pastry in my hand.

Even though I had been very full just now, I couldn’t help but take a bite. It was fragrant and soft, with a sweet osmanthus flavor. Remembering Doukou’s words, I stopped after eating one piece, not daring to eat more. I wondered if I could take a piece with me when I left later. As I thought about it, I drifted off, staring at my toes in a daze.

In the midst of my reverie-

“The Emperor arrives-”

Ah, the Emperor is back.