Chapter 62: Leisurely Pleasures at Home

Chapter 62: Leisurely Pleasures at Home

Fan Xueyao frowned and said anxiously, "Your Majesty, please don't say any more; you're making me so embarrassed. I only know how to eat; I have no idea about banquets. Although the kitchen in my quarters does well with everyday dishes, they are just simple home-cooked meals. Handling my daily meals is already their limit; how could they manage a proper banquet? If others were to mock me, that would be minor, but affecting Your Majesty's reputation would be serious. Please reconsider."

"Ah, I see..." Empress Xu nodded slowly, understanding. After a moment of silence, seeing Fan Xueyao's anxious expression, she realized that she did not seem ambitious because of giving birth to the young prince. Her heart eased slightly. She then agreed, "If that's the case, we'll still have the Imperial Kitchen handle it. They've been in the palace for years, without major achievements but also without faults. It's appropriate for them to prepare the young prince's hundred-day feast."

Fan Xueyao naturally nodded in agreement.

The two continued discussing the young prince's daily routines and growth progress, as well as some casual topics like weather and cosmetics. Fan Xueyao smiled and chatted for quite a while. Seeing that it was almost noon and guessing that Empress Xu would soon call for a meal, she rose to take her leave.

Empress Xu pretended to keep her but did not insist, then sent an attendant to escort her out.

Inside the green gauze pavilion, Huaping was playing with the young prince using colorful silk flowers. It was rather dull to play with a child who couldn't even sit up yet. But she persisted, following Lady's advice that this would help the young prince grow better. Like Fan Xueyao, she occasionally lowered the silk flowers so the young prince could grab them.

Only Chun Die and Tiao'er were nearby; the wet nurse usually stayed in her room unless needed for feeding. When not feeding, she wasn't allowed inside the pavilion.

With Lady away, Chun Die and Tiao'er were more reassuring.

Upon returning to her quarters, the kitchen immediately prepared cool drinks and fresh fruits from the well.

Worried that her jewelry and makeup might harm her son, Fan Xueyao didn't rush to see him. Instead, she went to her bedroom, removed all her accessories and changed into a simple dress. After washing off her makeup thoroughly, she headed to the green gauze pavilion.

"How is he? Has he cried or fussed?" she asked, reaching out to touch her son's tiny hands and feet. Worried about the ice in the room, she feared he might get cold.

Despite the heat outside, the young prince was dressed warmly, even wearing soft silk socks on his little feet, made loose for comfort and warmth.

Huaping smiled, "He's been very good. He reaches out to play with the silk flowers and hasn't cried once."

Fan Xueyao lovingly stroked his fluffy head and asked Chun Die and Tiao'er, "Has he urinated or defecated? Did you make sure he didn't get cold when changing his diaper? Have you bathed him carefully? Has he been fed?"

The maidservant replied, "Lady Fang came to feed him once, and he didn't choke. After feeding, she returned to her room. The young prince urinated shortly after eating, and we immediately changed his dirty diaper, washed him with warm water, dried him, and put on a clean diaper. It took less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, and he didn't get cold."

Satisfied that they hadn't lied, Fan Xueyao nodded and dismissed them.

After they left, Huaping quietly asked, "Why did the Empress suddenly summon you?"

"It wasn't anything important. She was just using the hundred-day feast to test my intentions," Fan Xueyao smiled faintly, sipping half of the pear juice Su'e had brought. "It's too sweet. The pear juice is already sweet enough; no need for honey."

Su'e said, "I'll inform the kitchen." Then she left.

Huaping continued, "Although having the young prince as the eldest son is great, it does draw attention. Especially since Lady is favored by the Emperor. The Empress must be feeling uneasy."

"She's merely testing if I have any opposing thoughts. She genuinely wants to organize the feast well, so there's no need to worry," Fan Xueyao gestured for Huaping to come closer and whispered about Empress Xu and Lady Wan.

Surprised, Huaping said, "No wonder the relationship between the Empress and Lady Wan seems odd. Since that's the case, we can relax."

"Yes," Fan Xueyao smiled deeply. "Since Xu'er was born, the Empress has sent people daily to inquire about his wellbeing, more frequently than the Empress Dowager. She probably wants him to be healthy as much as we do."

Huaping laughed, "With only two princesses before, now that a young prince is born, the Emperor and Empress Dowager are highly concerned. She's eager to appear maternal. Our reports probably confuse her. How often he eats, urinates, or spits up milk—without raising a child, one wouldn't know what's normal."

Fan Xueyao shook her head, "She doesn't understand. The attendants ask the same questions, glance briefly, and leave. There's never a response from the Empress. If she wants to appear maternal, she should do it better. This routine seems like mere formality."

Their low voices lulled the young prince to sleep.

Seeing her son asleep, Fan Xueyao called for a meal, taking advantage of his nap to eat lunch. Otherwise, once he woke up, it would be difficult to eat properly.

Due to the heat, the meal was light. The main dish was chilled noodles served in a large green bowl, accompanied by two crystal bowls—one for noodles and the other for shrimp topping.

Two cured meats, golden salted beans, and cloud-dream boar. Stewed eel slices with cured meat, golden rabbit, crispy pork, and pan-fried mandarin fish. Four soups completed the meal.

Just as they were about to start, Chun Tao rushed in to announce the Emperor's arrival.

Fan Xueyao greeted him, and soon they returned to the inner chambers.

Seeing the table set with various dishes, Chu Nan smiled, "I knew you'd have something delicious. What a coincidence that I arrived just as you were about to eat."

Fan Xueyao smiled, "Xu'er just fell asleep, so we're eating early. These new dishes are just learned by the kitchen; I'm not sure how they turned out."

Chu Nan understood, "You taught them new dishes again? They learn more from you than in the Imperial Kitchen. New dishes every few days—how do you know so much about food?"

"Because I love seeing your happy face when you enjoy a meal," Fan Xueyao said, smiling and whispering in his ear.

Chu Nan blushed, feeling oddly shy.

Fan Xueyao stopped teasing and sat down with him.

One soup was bamboo fungus pigeon eggs, cooked with high-quality broth, tender and refreshing. Both enjoyed it, and Fan Xueyao served each a bowl first, increasing fullness to reduce overeating.

Golden salted beans were made with lamb, lard, and fermented black beans, resembling a mountain of gold. They were fragrant and perfect with rice. Even without other dishes, a bowl of rice with these beans would suffice.

They shared the noodles and tasted other dishes until full.

Putting down their chopsticks, Fan Xueyao didn't ask Chu Nan's opinion but told Huaping, "The crispy pork is overcooked, the crust too hard, and the meat inside is tough. The cured meat and eel didn't release enough oil, making it greasy. The grilled fish is good, though adding a bit of pepper would enhance its flavor."

Huaping noted everything, planning to convey it to the kitchen to improve their skills.

"Emperor, do you have any suggestions?" Fan Xueyao turned to Chu Nan.

Chu Nan smiled, shaking his head, "What you said matches my thoughts."

This honest statement felt sweet, almost like a declaration of affection.

Fan Xueyao smiled sweetly, rinsed her mouth, and moved to the study with Chu Nan to pass the time.

Dressed in a white gauze robe, a green embroidered camellia underdress, and a purple gauze skirt, her hair styled loosely, Fan Xueyao exuded a relaxed and natural charm, embodying the leisurely elegance of a lady at home.

Chu Nan looked at her more and more, feeling his love grow deeper in his heart.

However, it was a pity that youth fades quickly. Since entering the palace, Fan Xueyao had grown up a lot. Although she was now more graceful than the innocence of a young girl, both stages held their own beauty. The blooming flower is beautiful, but a bud about to bloom is also beautiful. He wished to preserve this current beauty of Fan Xueyao for a long time. Wouldn’t it be delightful to look back on these past moments later?

Inspired by the moment, he immediately ordered someone to set up another desk, spread out silk, and prepare colors to paint Fan Xueyao.

Seeing this, Fan Xueyao walked around the study, trying a few poses. She initially wanted to pose as if reading or writing at the desk, but Chu Nan said, "That’s not quite right; you can be more casual."

Casual?

Fan Xueyao thought for a moment and asked Huaping to fetch a round fan with an ivory handle. Holding it loosely, she leaned against the window, looking at the scenery Chu Nan had arranged for her during winter. Now, the bamboo, firethorn, and plum trees had been transplanted into the ground, firmly rooted. Outside the window, the crisp bamboo leaves rustled softly. Lush and serene.

Her delicate brows relaxed, her bright eyes smiled, and the corners of her mouth gently lifted. Lazily leaning against the window, a wisp of black hair fluttered slightly in the breeze. She was both elegant and charming, exuding a comfortable and leisurely aura that he could sense but not touch.

Chu Nan watched her intently, stroke by stroke, capturing Fan Xueyao's beauty on the silk.

Zhu Zhu, standing nearby, saw the emperor’s eyes filled with adoration for the lady and secretly smiled.