jdhmnovel Chapter 309 Jing Dong
Chapter 309 Jing Dong
Su Nuannuan took the half-embroidered tiger-head hat from the Empress with both hands, then held it in her hands and examined it carefully.
The embroidery on this tiger-head hat is exquisite, with every stitch and thread showing great care. The outline of the tiger's head has been roughly sketched out, and its two eyes are bright and piercing, as if they might come to life at any moment.
After looking at it for a while, Su Nuannuan smiled and said to the Empress, "Your Majesty, this tiger-head hat is embroidered so well. I don't see anything wrong with it." After saying that, she carefully handed the embroidered tiger-head hat back to the Empress.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Su Nuannuan asked curiously, "Your Majesty, is this tiger-head hat prepared for the little prince?"
The Empress smiled slightly, nodded, and replied, "Yes, I'm currently quite idle, so I thought I'd make a tiger-head hat for the little prince, which would also keep me occupied."
Su Nuannuan quickly said, "Your Majesty, you are already busy enough managing the harem. How can you say you have nothing to do? All the big and small matters in the harem require your attention."
The Empress waved her hand and said with a smile, "The harem is actually quite easy to manage these days. Those concubines are only after the Emperor. Apart from jealousy and rivalry, they don't have much else to do. The princes and princesses are raised by their own side, and there are established procedures for handling other matters. I also have Consort Li assisting me on a daily basis, so I don't need to worry too much."
Upon hearing the Empress's words, Su Nuannuan immediately understood the Empress's feelings for the Emperor. She thought to herself, the Empress never had much affection for the Emperor to begin with, and now, after hearing what she said, her heart must have grown even colder.
In the end, the Empress still didn't have the courage to test the power of the muskets. She just silently watched Yingchun put the two muskets away, as if these two dangerous weapons had nothing to do with her.
Su Nuannuan chatted with the Empress for a while longer. However, despite the pleasant conversation, Su Nuannuan noticed that the Empress was not in high spirits and seemed to have something on her mind.
After a while, Su Nuannuan felt that it was about time, so she got up to bid farewell to the Empress. The Empress did not try to stop her, but simply smiled and nodded, watching Su Nuannuan leave Anning Palace.
"It's hot, let's take the palace road that's for escaping the heat," Su Nuannuan instructed the eunuchs carrying the sedan chair after she got into the sedan chair.
"Yes." The lead eunuch responded, then together with several other eunuchs lifted the sedan chair and headed towards the palace road for summer retreat. Normally, unless given special instructions, they would return along the same route they came from, but since Su Nuannuan had made a request, they naturally dared not neglect it.
The sedan chair moved smoothly along the palace road. Su Nuannuan leaned against the cushions inside, feeling the slight swaying of the chair, and her mood gradually relaxed. However, not long after, she suddenly felt the sedan chair stop.
"Why did you stop?" Su Nuannuan opened her tightly closed eyes and asked with a hint of displeasure in her voice.
"Your Majesty, there's a child picking something up ahead," Jinse immediately stepped forward and reported softly.
"Oh?" Upon hearing this, Su Nuannuan's displeasure was instantly replaced by curiosity. "Alight from the sedan chair."
Upon hearing the order, the eunuchs carrying the sedan chair immediately and carefully placed it on the ground, fearing that they might accidentally disturb the imperial concubine inside.
After the sedan chair slowly came to a stop, Su Nuannuan couldn't wait to get out. Her gaze quickly fell on the child who was picking up something.
The child was quite young, appearing to be only about five years old. Although his clothes were simple, they were very neat and clean.
Su Nuannuan slowly walked to a place where she was still some distance away from the child, and then stopped.
Just then, she heard her child anxiously picking up things from the ground while muttering to himself, "Oh no! The medicine for Mother has spilled!"
Su Nuannuan stood quietly, observing the child's every move. Jinse, seeing this, was about to step forward to inquire about the situation, but Su Nuannuan raised her hand to stop her. Su Nuannuan shook her head slightly, signaling Jinse not to go over.
After a while, the child finally picked up all the scattered pills. He stood up, dusted himself off, and then noticed Su Nuannuan, Jinse, and their group not far away. The child was clearly surprised and momentarily stunned, unsure how to react to the situation.
And so, the two, one big and one small, stood facing each other, gazing at one another. Just as Su Nuannuan was about to say something, the child suddenly moved. He quickly walked up to Su Nuannuan, gave a proper bow, and said, "Jingdong greets Your Majesty."
"Your name is Jing Dong, are you also a prince? How old are you this year?" Su Nuannuan bent down, leaned closer to Jing Dong, gazed at him with her big eyes, her gaze gentle as water, and asked softly.
Jing Dong raised his head and met Su Nuannuan's gaze. His eyes were clear and innocent, like a clear spring. He gently shook his head and replied, "I am six years old this year. My mother said that Jing Dong is no longer a prince."
Upon hearing this, Su Nuannuan's heart tightened. She raised her head, her gaze passing over Jing Dong to look at Jinse standing to the side. Jinse also looked blank, shaking her head to indicate that she knew nothing about the matter.
Jinse pondered for a moment, then said to Su Nuannuan, "Your Majesty, perhaps asking Eunuch Li will clarify this matter." Su Nuannuan nodded to indicate that she understood.
Su Nuannuan looked at Jing Dong again, smiling, and asked in an even gentler tone, "Jing Dong, what are you holding in your hand?"
Jing Dong looked down at the porcelain bottle he was clutching tightly in his arms and answered cautiously, "This is medicine for my mother. She is sick, and this is medicine she bought from the young doctor with silver." Although his voice was still young, it revealed his concern and worry for his mother.
Upon hearing this, Su Nuannuan felt a pang of sorrow. Looking at Jing Dong's thin figure, and thinking of how he had to shoulder the responsibility of caring for his sick mother at such a young age, she couldn't help but feel pity.
Just then, Jing Dong suddenly seemed to remember something, and his face showed an anxious expression. He said, "Oh no, I've been out for too long. Mother will worry."
As soon as he finished speaking, Jing Dong hurriedly bowed to Su Nuannuan, and then ran away like a startled rabbit without looking back.
Su Nuannuan stared in astonishment at his departing figure, watching him run wildly until he disappeared around the corner in the distance.
Only after he had completely disappeared from sight did Su Nuannuan come back to her senses, muttering thoughtfully to herself, "Judging from the direction he ran, it seems to be towards the Cold Palace..."