Chapter 45: Inside and Outside Collaboration

Chapter 45: Inside and Outside Collaboration

Thinking about the flattery and kindness from the Yus in recent days, Li Rong felt relieved.

Of course, she knew that all these changes were due to her daughter's current status; otherwise, she would have had to endure many more years of indignities. Additionally, Fan Xueyao would often remind her to remain calm and composed, not to become arrogant or complacent. Thus, she did not lose herself in this newfound glory.

Just as she returned from the main house, a young maid came in to report, "Yan Ran is here."

Upon hearing this, Li Rong quickly said, "Please bring her in." Xi'er, well aware of Yan Ran's importance, personally went out to invite her in. Yan Ran walked into the room.

Yan Ran was a newlywed bride, married for several months now. She looked fuller than when she was with the Fan family, suggesting a happy marriage and a pleasant life. Her face was oval, adorned with a small bun tied with red silk threads and a few gold and silver hairpins. She wore a bright red embroidered jacket and a green-patterned skirt. With light makeup, she appeared even more graceful and dignified than before.

Li Rong recognized the bright red embroidered jacket as silk given by Yao'niang, which she had also shared with Yan Ran. A smile spread across her face.

Yan Ran approached, clasped her hands, and bowed respectfully, greeting Li Rong sincerely.

"I'm doing well, thank you for your concern," Li Rong replied. Although Yan Ran had served her daughter for nearly a decade, times had changed. With her daughter in the palace and Yan Ran becoming her confidante, Li Rong treated Yan Ran like any other close friend or relative, without any sense of hierarchy.

Yan Ran smiled and said, "We've opened two new restaurants in the past few months, so I've been quite busy. I should have come to visit earlier. Please don't blame me for coming only today."

"You're newlyweds and starting a business. Everything here is fine, so there's no need to worry. Focus on living a good life together," Li Rong said warmly, inviting Yan Ran to have tea.

"This tea snack was made by Yao'niang herself. Try it and see if it's better than what she used to make at home."

When Yan Ran heard that the tea snack was made by Fan Xueyao, she looked down and recognized its familiar appearance. She tasted it and confirmed the familiar flavor. It had been months since she last had it, but it felt like ages ago.

Seeing her eyes turn red, Li Rong comforted her, "Don't cry. Yao'niang thinks of you and remembers everything. You should be happy. Why are you crying?"

"I'm not crying," Yan Ran forced a smile, her voice slightly choked.

The two began talking about Yao'niang. Yan Ran carefully inquired about Yao'niang's life in the palace, listening intently. After a while, Li Rong sent Xi'er to deliver something to Chen's family, leaving them alone.

Once Xi'er left the courtyard, Yan Ran said, "I've completed the task Yao'niang assigned me. Please help pass this letter along." She then took out a thin silk folded to the size of a thumb and a small package from her sleeve.

Although Li Rong helped her daughter pass messages, she never peeked at the secret letters intended for Yan Ran. She simply put away the silk without asking questions.

She said, "If there are any difficulties with the tasks Yao'niang assigns you, feel free to come to the mansion. We'll provide whatever support is needed, whether money or effort. As Yao'niang's parents, we won't let anything hinder her plans."

"I understand," Yan Ran nodded.

A few days later, it was time to enter the palace again. Li Rong prepared a box of food and secretly sealed the silk inside a wax ball, along with the message from her husband, hiding them among the food. She successfully brought them into the palace.

Having entered the palace several times before, the guards usually just checked the contents of her box briefly. However, Li Rong still felt nervous, fearing an unexpected incident.

Fortunately, the guards, as usual, saw the sweet-smelling food in the box and let her in after a cursory inspection.

Fan Xueyao opened the secret letter, deciphered it using the code, and smiled upon reading it. She then went to the inner chamber and asked Huaping softly, "How did the task I assigned you go?"

Huaping paused, realizing what she meant, and whispered, "She has already delivered the money to Chen Qianyun, who used it to secure the privilege for the palace servants to meet their families."

"Good," Yao'niang nodded. She found a common phoenix butterfly gold hairpin from her dressing case.

She quickly wrote a secret letter in her study, rolled it up, and inserted it into the hollow part of the hairpin. Then, she handed it to Li Rong, saying, "Mother, wear it."

This hairpin had passed between Li Rong and Yao'niang several times before. Li Rong understood and placed it in her hair.

"Has Yan Ran visited the mansion recently?"

Li Rong smiled and replied, "Yes, she's very grateful. She comes to visit every few days, always bringing something. It's clear that she cherishes her relationship with you. She looks much happier and healthier now. I think it won't be long before she has good news."

Fan Xueyao sighed, "Ah, it's best that they love each other deeply. She has no family, so marrying into another household can be worrying. When they're happy, it's fine, but if they argue, there's no one to speak up for her. Being in the palace, I can't see her. I hope you can keep an eye on her."

"Don't worry, I'll take care of her," Li Rong said, her eyes flickering.

Huaping, serving nearby, listened to their conversation and thought about how special Yan Ran must be, a mere maid who could earn such concern from someone as esteemed as Jie Yu Yao'niang. This also showed that Yao'niang valued old relationships, making Huaping feel reassured about serving her.

After receiving the secret letter, Yan Ran sent a maid to fetch her husband Li Si and said, "There's a message from the palace. The day for palace servants to meet their families is approaching. We need to deliver the items to the Chen family before then. Have you bought everything?"

Li Si smiled, "I bought them long ago. They're ordinary goods, easily obtained."

Since the matter concerned Yao'niang, and considering that Xu Sishan had tried to harm her, Yan Ran was particularly vigilant. She said, "Let me see them."

"These things are disgusting. What's the point of you looking at them?" Despite his words, Li Si fetched a package from the front yard study and brought it to the back yard.

Yan Ran opened the package and found a stack of small booklets, each about two fingers thick and one finger long. She flipped through one and saw a pair of half-naked men and women engaging in intimate acts on a table, with the woman's leg raised, revealing their union.

Though the drawings were small and simple, with only a few lines in black ink, they were explicit and provocative, causing her to blush.

Yan Ran flipped through a few pages, each showing different scenes and positions, some involving multiple people. She picked up a woodblock print, which used several colors, making it more vivid and elegant. The craftsmanship was far superior to the booklets.

In the painting, a man and a woman sat on a chair, engaged in passionate activity, while a maid peeked from behind a screen.

She then opened a small porcelain box and found a colored secret drawing inside.

Finally, she opened a palm-sized book, filled with erotic stories.

Seeing Yan Ran's blushing face, Li Si chuckled, "Are these suitable?"

Yan Ran glared at him, her shy yet angry expression arousing him.

"Quickly deliver these to the Chen family and finalize the arrangements before the meeting day. Don't let them change their minds at the last minute."

Li Si assured her, "Don't worry. The Chen family almost lost everything. If we hadn't given them money, their son's broken leg wouldn't have healed. You didn't see how terrible their situation was. The father worked hard to pay for his son's treatment but injured his back. With two patients in the family, the mother had to spin thread day and night to earn a little money, barely enough for food. They've been waiting at the West Gate every month, hoping to see their daughter."

He rewrapped the package and added, "The fifty taels we gave them saved their lives. They immediately agreed to help us. Let's send them more money and medicine afterward."

Yan Ran nodded, "They're taking a big risk by helping us. It's only right to do so."

After chatting for a while, a servant informed them of a distinguished guest arriving. Li Si went to the front of the restaurant to greet them. The next day, he sent a trusted servant to deliver the package and ten taels of silver to the Chen family.

The next day after Li Rong went in, Chu Nan arrived with a smile on his face. Although it wasn't a beaming grin, it somehow gave off a refreshing vibe.

As soon as Fan Xueyao saw him, she knew he was in a good mood. When she heard his thoughts, it confirmed her suspicion. It turned out that the southern regions had received ample rainfall this year, neither too much nor too little, leading to a bumper harvest. The state granaries were now full, solving the food shortage caused by drought in the west. With this major issue resolved, Chu Nan naturally felt relieved.

She followed him and sat down on the couch, about to remove his boots so he could lie down. Chu Nan reached out and pulled her up, saying, "From now on, let the palace maids do these things. You're carrying weight; don't tire yourself."

Fan Xueyao sat down, glancing at Huaping before nodding with a smile, "Yes, I'll listen to you, Your Majesty."

Huaping understood and stepped forward, kneeling to remove Chu Nan's heavy boots. A pungent smell wafted over, but Huaping didn't show any sign of discomfort or hold her breath, not even a hint of reaction.

Fan Xueyao couldn't help but admire Huaping's composure. Despite Chu Nan being the emperor, he was still just an ordinary person who needed to eat, drink, and sleep like everyone else. Wearing those unbreathable boots all day would naturally cause them to stink.

The smell was truly overpowering, making Fan Xueyao feel a bit nauseous. She wrinkled her nose and said unhappily, "Your Majesty hasn't rested since morning again, have you? Don't you worry about tiring yourself? If your feet crack and become painful and itchy, you'll regret it." As she spoke, she waved for Su'e to prepare a basin of foot-soaking water according to the usual recipe.

Chu Nan also smelled it and realized the odor had given him away. He rubbed his nose and laughed sheepishly, "There were many things to do today, which is why it happened. From now on, I'll make sure to balance work and rest."

Fan Xueyao hummed, giving him a playful glare and murmured, "Your Majesty has said that countless times, but it's just to appease me." Though she complained, she still got up to fetch clean socks for him.

Seeing her fuss over him, Chu Nan's smile grew warmer and more tender.

Soaking his feet in warm salt and ginger water, the heat spread through his body, dispelling the lingering chill. After soaking, he quickly changed into dry white socks and they both lay down on the couch. Beneath the couch was a charcoal brazier filled with high-quality bamboo charcoal, which burned hot without smoke and lasted long.

Bamboo charcoal, usually used for smelting fine iron, came from Sichuan and was made from giant bamboo. It was a rare commodity. However, some of it was reserved as tribute for the emperor. This year, most of the bamboo charcoal was destined for her Spreading Fragrance Hall, where it had been burning since the cold weather began.

Lying on the warm couch, covered with a quilt, they felt cozy and content, almost wanting to sigh with pleasure.

After lying quietly for a while, Fan Xueyao was nearly asleep when Chu Nan suddenly sat up and gently nudged her, "Wife, how about a game of chess?"

Chess?

Fan Xueyao opened her eyes, sat up straight. Her palace maids were skilled at serving but knew nothing about music, chess, calligraphy, or painting. She often played against herself, which could get boring. Chu Nan's invitation immediately sparked her interest, and she signaled someone to bring her chess set.

Huaping placed a table on the couch, set up the chessboard and pieces, then stepped back to serve.

With limited reading material available, and no interest in the typical romance novels, chess became her favorite pastime. Not only did it cultivate her temperament but also passed the time elegantly.

Fan Xueyao was already proficient at chess, and with her mind-reading ability, she had a significant advantage. Chu Nan, who liked to think deeply, was easily countered by her. Whenever he set a trap, she knew it instantly. It could be dull, but she managed to keep the balance, showcasing her skill without seeming too perceptive.

This way, Chu Nan only saw her as a brilliant player, cleverly planning each move, without feeling wary of her insight.

Sometimes, she would deliberately "distract" herself or fall into his traps, just to keep things interesting. Winning more than losing, she would smile at Chu Nan after each victory, jokingly saying, "Oh, I won again, Your Majesty must be letting me win."

Initially, Chu Nan took her words seriously and explained that he wasn't letting her win. Later, realizing her intention, he nodded playfully, as if he really was.

When she lost, sometimes she would sigh and say, "I'm carrying Your Majesty's child, and yet you bully me..."

Other times, she'd lift her chin proudly, "That was a slip-up, it doesn't count."

Or, she'd feign confusion, "Did Your Majesty place the piece there? I don't think so. Did you secretly switch the pieces when I wasn't looking?"

Chu Nan enjoyed playing several rounds with her, sometimes acting serious, sometimes jesting. His gaze often lingered on her face, captivated by her various expressions. He found her incredibly charming.

He never saw this side of her before. Was it because pregnancy made her more childlike? He was grateful for this early glimpse of her endearing nature.

Chen Qianyun, a young palace maid in the Imperial Kitchen, was fourteen years old. Due to poverty, her parents sent her to the palace two years ago. After learning the rules, she was assigned to Xu Sishan, a senior kitchen maid, along with two other young maids.

Among the three, Chen Qianyun was the most diligent, but Xu Sishan disliked her the most, often neglecting her training.

She knew why: the other maids gave their monthly allowances to Xu Sishan, serving her tea and washing her feet. But Chen Qianyun saved her money for her family.

Compared to their eagerness, Xu Sishan found Chen Qianyun lacking and refused to teach her important skills. While the others progressed, she remained a lowly servant. She endured this.

But Xu Sishan not only scolded and beat her frequently but also punished her during family visitation days, preventing her from seeing her family.

This was a push for her to be more "ambitious." She understood.

Desperate to see her family, Chen Qianyun started doing "tributes." However, her meager allowance barely covered the fees for family visits and sending money home. She saved what she could, but it was never enough. Xu Sishan remained unsatisfied and continued to torment her.

Driven to desperation, Chen Qianyun harbored resentment. Last time, her mother mentioned that her brother's leg was broken. She only had a few hundred coins, far from enough. She couldn't afford to delay.

Just as she was considering desperate measures, Xu Guihui, a female historian in the Imperial Kitchen, approached her, offering fifty taels of silver for a task.

Fifty taels, which would take her decades to save.

Anxious to see her family and worried about them, and with growing resentment towards Xu Sishan, Chen Qianyun hesitated for two days. Finally, after another round of verbal abuse, she agreed.

She used two taels to buy high-quality cosmetics for Xu Sishan, finally convincing her to allow her to visit her family.

On the morning of the family visitation day, Chen Qianyun waited outside the West Gate with other maids and eunuchs. After a tearful reunion, her mother told her about recent events.

Wiping her tears, Chen Qianyun asked in surprise, "Who sent us the silver?"

Her mother replied, "It was someone from the East Market who runs a restaurant. He said it was from his wife, who used to be a maid in a nobleman's house named Fan. Their daughter entered the palace and became a concubine. The maid served that concubine."

Chen Qianyun was stunned, "Fan?"

"Yes, Fan. I verified it," her mother confirmed.

"Fan..." Chen Qianyun murmured, realizing that Concubine Jie Yu not only helped her in the palace but also supported her family outside. Had she waited to curry favor with Xu Sishan, her brother might not have survived.

With only one son, her parents relied on her brother. If he died, who would care for them?

Thinking about it, Chen Qianyun felt immense gratitude and newfound courage. She asked, "Mother, did you bring the package they entrusted to you?"

"Yes, here it is. I don't know what's inside, but it's quite heavy. I didn't look."

"Why are you looking at him? It's for me," she asserted, a hint of playful possessiveness lacing her tone.