Chapter 117: The Wits of the Maidens

Chapter 117: The Wits of the Maidens

Fan Xueyao glanced at him; the book was not only transcribed by her but also written by her.

Before she entered the palace, there were few forms of entertainment. Sometimes, when she felt bored, she would write short vernacular stories for fun. Although the content was not extensive, over time, the number of pieces accumulated. It would be a pity to discard them, after all, they were years of her handwriting. She couldn't bear to throw them away, so she collected and bound them into a book, which she would occasionally flip through for amusement. In the past two years since entering the palace, she had also written several more, which she added to the collection.

Since she dared to bring it into the palace and openly display it, the content of the book naturally contained nothing taboo. Seeing Chu Nan engrossed in reading, Fan Xueyao let him continue while she focused on embroidering her white silk fan.

This fan was adorned with very delicate colors. In summer, she liked to wear light and breathable silk dresses in light and elegant colors, which required the accessories to have more vibrant hues to complement them.

The fan she was working on featured embroidered flowers and peacocks. Despite the elegant patterns and colors, the peacock design was particularly intricate and labor-intensive. The peacock she was embroidering was especially exquisite, and just selecting the right threads for the colors was a painstaking task. The subsequent process of dividing the threads was even more challenging.

The delicate beauty of the peacock's feathers was not easily achieved. Fortunately, Fan Xueyao was someone who preferred to tackle the difficult parts first before moving on to the easier ones. Thus, the peacock was already completed, leaving only the background flowers to be embroidered.

If she could return to Earth one day, even without her mind-reading ability, she wouldn't worry about making a living with her embroidery skills.

The two of them leaned against each other, each engaged in their own activities, quite content.

Chu Nan slowly read a few pages, then saw Huaping come to ask where to set up the meal.

Fan Xueyao, being such a gentle and compliant woman, naturally deferred to Chu Nan's wishes, so she naturally looked to him for direction.

They were currently on the couch in the main hall. When Chu Nan was with Fan Xueyao, he always seemed more relaxed, so he said, "Set it up in the main hall, right here on the couch."

Fan Xueyao then instructed, "Bring the largest lacquered and jade-inlaid square couch table." This table was the biggest, suitable for the two of them to dine on, as more dishes would be served.

Huaping and Su'e went to fetch the couch table, while Zhuzhu and Qiaoqiao busied themselves setting up the tableware.

"Shall we burn incense?" Fan Xueyao asked Chu Nan as they worked.

Chu Nan thought for a moment and shook his head, "No, better not."

Fan Xueyao smiled, "I also think it's best not to. Although incense is nice, it still has a smoky and fiery smell. On regular days, it's fine, but during meals, it can mask the natural aroma of the food, which isn't ideal."

Chu Nan agreed. Noticing that Fan Xueyao hadn't instructed the maid to invite the Crown Prince, he took the initiative to say, "Go check if the Crown Prince is awake. If not, wake him up. It's almost lunchtime."

A young maid responded and was about to go to the eastern chamber to relay the message when Fan Xueyao called her back and added, "Give the Crown Prince a wash, some water to drink, and let him walk around a bit to wake up. That way, he'll have a good appetite for the meal."

"Yes, I understand," the maid replied and left. A short while later, the wet nurse and maids Chun Die, Sanhua, and Lingxiang escorted the freshly washed Chu Xu to them.

Today, Chu Xu was dressed in a light green robe embroidered with lions playing with balls, under which he wore dark blue trousers. His feet were clad in large red satin shoes embroidered with red plum blossoms and fish. His face, as round as a white ball, still bore traces of sleepiness, but his eyes sparkled brightly, showing great vitality.

Like a playful little rabbit, Chu Xu darted over and burrowed into his mother's arms, rubbing against her playfully before lifting his face and chirping, "Mother."

Fan Xueyao bent down to pick him up, adjusting his position so he sat sideways on her lap facing Chu Nan. She then touched his forehead and neck, feeling for any unusual temperature, and smiled reassuringly, "Did you sleep well?"

Chu Xu nodded, "Yes, but I missed Mother."

"Missed Mother for what?" As she pinched his small hand and brought it to her lips for a kiss, Chu Xu instinctively reached out to touch Fan Xueyao's naturally pink lips.

"I wanted to sleep with Mother."

Chu Xu blinked his big eyes coquettishly, hoping to secure the favor of sleeping together again. His vocabulary had grown significantly, though still childlike, his speech was clear and distinct, earning praise from everyone for his precocious intelligence.

Fan Xueyao's eyes curved into crescent moons as she laughed, gently ruffling his hair.

Seeing his young son, with his clear features, white teeth, and rosy lips, and his intelligent nature, Chu Nan felt a deep affection. However, he was somewhat indulgent, partly due to his youth and high status. Though he had two daughters, they were not raised by him, and the palace rules and etiquette limited his interactions with them, so he lacked a strong sense of fatherhood.

This was likely his first real interaction with his child, and some awkwardness was inevitable.

So, Fan Xueyao pretended not to notice, subtly guiding them to become closer. For example, during meals, she placed Chu Xu between them, encouraging Chu Nan to pay attention to his son's needs.

At first, when Chu Nan saw Fan Xueyao feeding Chu Xu instead of eating herself, he would suggest having the wet nurse take over. But now?

Chu Xu sat on a small chair between them, slowly eating the soft rice.

Fan Xueyao was sipping vegetable chicken congee when she noticed Chu Nan ladling half a bowl of hot egg custard, not for himself, but pouring it into Chu Xu's bowl and carefully mixing it with his chopsticks to ensure the egg custard blended well with the rice.

He was concerned that if Chu Xu ate too slowly, the rice would cool and upset his stomach, so he mixed it with the warm egg custard. Previously, he had no idea about such matters, let alone do something so considerate.

Chu Xu, seeing his bowl suddenly full, pouted and said, "I, I can't finish it." He had already eaten half and was nearly full...

Without looking up, Chu Nan said, "Leave the rest if you can't finish."

But Chu Xu frowned, his small face showing disapproval, "No."

"Why not?"

Seeing his son firmly refuse, Chu Nan was not annoyed but rather curious about his reason. How interesting that such a young child could assert himself.

Chu Xu furrowed his brow and said, "Because, because—" struggling to express himself, he finally pointed at Fan Xueyao and declared confidently, "Mother said!"

"Before, I told him that the amount of food a person can eat in their lifetime is limited. If you waste it today, you will go hungry in the future, so we must cherish our food."

Fan Xueyao explained to Chu Nan, adding with a smile, "Back then, this child was easily distracted, often playing while eating, leaving the food cold and inedible. I found it wasteful and told him this. I didn't expect him to change his behavior afterward."

Hearing this, Chu Nan was surprised. He was delighted by Chu Xu's intelligence, amazed that such a young child could understand and act on a lesson immediately. He also admired Fan Xueyao's frugality and gratitude, smiling and praising Chu Xu.

Fan Xueyao, watching her son diligently eating, said nonchalantly, "This child doesn't deserve such high praise from Your Majesty."

Chu Nan shook his head, "Xu'er is not yet two, his intellect is not fully developed. He forgets things quickly. When I was young, I didn't know how to value things either. For him to do this at his age is truly remarkable."

Seeing Chu Nan exaggerate, Fan Xueyao blushed and said, "It was just a few words to coax him. He believed me because he's young. It's not really a sign of intelligence."

"You have a talent for teaching children. At such a young age, he wouldn't understand complex principles. Coaxing him is exactly what you need to do," Chu Nan said, his gaze soft and tender.

Honestly, he might be a competent emperor, but he lacked the awareness of being a father. His role as emperor consumed much of his energy, leaving little time for interacting with his children. Moreover, the relationship between an emperor and his children was different from that of ordinary families.

Previously, the two princesses were his only children, and he naturally loved them. However, his way of showing love was to care about their health and well-being, ensuring they were properly attended to in their daily lives.

Though the princesses were still young, they already exuded the grace and dignity befitting royal daughters, surrounded by wet nurses and governesses. When they faced him, there was more respect than affection, making their interactions seem distant and formal.

In the past, he had not found anything amiss with this, even considering it appropriate. The proper order of ruler and subject, father and son, should be like this.

But now, as he spent time with Fan Xueyao and Chu Xu, he truly understood what it meant to be a father.

He realized that being a father meant feeling an overwhelming tenderness for one's child, a softening of the heart. This is what it means to be a father.

Fan Xueyao, blushing at his praise, lowered her eyes, her beautiful face becoming even more alluring and adorable. Chu Nan, watching her, felt his heart flutter. If not for her fasting period, he would have wanted to hold her close and never let go.

His gaze, filled with sweetness and adoration, was so intoxicating that it could make anyone swoon.

"Don't look at me like that..."

Fan Xueyao, sensing his intense gaze, blushed and whispered softly.

Hearing this, Chu Nan reached out under the table and gently held Fan Xueyao's soft hand. She became even more bashful, lowering her eyes, wanting to pull away from his "wolfish" grasp but also reluctant to do so. After a moment of hesitation, she finally gave him a shy, annoyed glance but did not withdraw her hand.

Chu Xu, focused on eating his meal, suddenly felt a thick arm wrap around him. Looking down, he saw it was his father's. Lifting his head to look beside him, his big eyes gazed curiously.

Noticing his little gaze, Chu Nan looked down and met those curious, innocent eyes, calmly saying, "Eat."

"Okay."

Chu Xu blinked and continued eating.

After lunch, everyone felt drowsy. Fan Xueyao, who valued health, would not lie down immediately after eating. Despite her heavy eyelids, she insisted on taking a leisurely walk in the corridor.

Chu Nan, being pulled along by her to aid digestion, found himself more prone to gaining weight than the palace ladies. He mostly sat indoors, was carried when traveling, and his entertainment was limited to board games and the occasional game of ball. Archery and horseback riding were seasonal activities.

With such a lack of exercise and a rich diet, he feared he would become overweight before middle age if he didn't pay attention.

Fan Xueyao believed that while Chu Nan didn't need to be muscular, he shouldn't have a potbelly either. Concerned about her own "happiness," she decided to take preventive measures. Whenever she had free time, she would take Chu Nan for walks or play with balls in the garden.

As for Chu Xu, being young, he was simply led around the hall by the palace maids to play.

After digesting their food, Chu Nan, upon returning to the room, collapsed onto the bed, complaining of sleepiness and wanting to take a nap. He didn't even bother to untie his tightly bound hair.

Gently, Fan Xueyao removed his small jade crown, loosened his hair, and combed it through. Then, she loosely tied it up with a blue ribbon to prevent it from getting tangled during sleep. Her movements were so tender and familiar that Chu Nan fell asleep to her soothing touch.

Finishing these tasks, Fan Xueyao sighed softly, then signaled to Huaping and Qiaoqiao, who were peeking outside, pointing to her vanity. Understanding her intention, they quietly entered to carry out the vanity items, including the mirror and comb, without a sound.

Fan Xueyao went to the outer chamber to undo her hair and change into sleeping attire. She instructed Huaping to wake her and the Emperor in half an hour, then returned to the bedroom to lie down next to Chu Nan, pulling the embroidered quilt over them both for a peaceful nap.

While the masters slept, the servants had some free time. During Fan Xueyao and Chu Nan's post-meal walk, Huaping and the others hurriedly finished their lunch. Huaping closed the carved screens to block out noise from the outer chamber, ensuring the Emperor and Lady were not disturbed.

Turning around, Huaping yawned, rubbed her face, and felt increasingly drowsy. She said listlessly to Qiaoqiao, "The Emperor and Lady are asleep. We have half an hour of free time. I'll take a short rest; you keep an eye on the time and wake me up."

Qiaoqiao, also feeling sleepy, nodded faintly.

Although their positions were prestigious, the servants in the inner chambers had less sleep than other palace maids. They had to sleep later than their masters and wake up earlier. Moreover, they had to sleep lightly during night shifts to respond immediately to any call from their masters, without a second summons.

This routine inevitably left them feeling fatigued. Over time, they developed their own coping strategies.

When the masters took a nap and there were no duties in the hall, the night-shift maids would seize the opportunity for a quick rest. Other maids would wake them up in advance.

The afternoon was the most tiring time of the day. Qiaoqiao took out her needlework but soon felt herself nodding off, jerking awake suddenly.

This wouldn't do, Qiaoqiao put down her needlework, stood up, and said softly, "I'll fetch some water to wash my face and clear my head. Keep an ear out for any sounds inside."

Huigu, hearing this, quickly stood up and said, "Sit down, I'll get the water."

Qiaoqiao shook her head, "No need, just continue your work. I'll go myself, and the walk and fresh air will help me stay alert."

Huigu, hearing this, did not sit back down but added, "Then I'll go with you. I'll wash my face too; last night, they woke up several times, keeping me from a good night's sleep."

Qiaoqiao replied, "Alright, let's go together."

Huigu put down the sachet she was embroidering and went out hand in hand with Qiaoqiao.

Xiaolian pouted and said, "She's always the most obedient, tagging along everywhere."

Zhu Zhu, who was reading a book of poetry nearby, didn't look up and said coolly, "Why do you care? If she wants to curry favor, let her. It's not worth your trouble."

Zhu Zhu and Xiuer managed all affairs in the study. Because of their talent and wit, Fan Xueyao favored them, teaching them to read during her free time and occasionally discussing poetry and literature.

Because of this, Zhu Zhu had a somewhat aloof personality and looked down on the fawning Huigu, though without malice.

Xiaolian, however, had more complex feelings. She and Huigu had started serving when Fan Xueyao was promoted to Zhaoyi, making them the newest arrivals. Huigu quickly ingratiated herself with Huaping and Qiaoqiao, becoming very close to everyone. Xiaolian, seeing this, felt uneasy. She both despised Huigu's excessive flattery and envied her ability to lower herself.

Although Huigu was eager to please, she did not do so in an obnoxious way. Apart from ingratiating herself with Huaping and Qiaoqiao, she had no major faults. Xiaolian could only mutter a few sour words.

Among the servants, some disapproved of Huigu's eagerness to please, while others found her lively and clever, making her quite likable.

For example, Yue Chan, who managed Fan Xueyao's clothing and washing, often received help from Huigu. Although Huigu's assistance was motivated by a desire to ingratiate herself, since she benefited from it, she couldn't complain about receiving favors.

So when Xiaolian criticized Huigu, Yue Chan laughed and said, "You're overthinking it. If you went to wash your face, Huigu would surely follow. She just likes to be part of the crowd."

Xiaolian sneered, "I'm not her sister; why should I accept her service?"

This comment had a backstory.

The more favored servants, like Huaping, Qiaoqiao, and Yue Chan, received more attention from Fan Xueyao. Huigu was especially attentive to them, not only helping with their regular duties but also doing things like "conveniently fetching a kettle of hot water" or "bringing extra rice" during meals.

These actions seemed insignificant at first. But now, Xiaolian's words made them feel a bit uncomfortable, as if they had been bought by small favors.

Yue Chan couldn't help but blush, and she scolded in a coquettish voice, "You little vixen, have you eaten gunpowder today or what?"

Seeing Yue Chan's embarrassment and anger, Xiuer feared the situation might escalate and reach their mistress. She hurriedly said with a smile, "She just has a quick tongue and no heart. Sister, don't take it to heart."

Xiaolian didn't really intend to quarrel with Yue Chan; it was just some playful bickering. Seeing Yue Chan truly upset, she quickly changed her frown into a smile and said apologetically, "I only said a few words about Huigu unintentionally. Why did you take it so seriously? Now I'm the one who can't back down. Forget it, I know you're all good, so I won't be a nuisance. I'll shut up."

Yue Chan was still somewhat angry, but hearing Xiaolian's flattering words, she chuckled.

Though they sometimes had minor conflicts, Fan Xueyao managed them well. They would at most bicker, but never hold grudges.

Zhu Zhu, seeing them alternately angry and laughing, shook her head and said, "Keep your voices down, careful not to disturb the inside."

Hearing this, everyone immediately fell silent. Seeing no movement inside, they began to whisper and laugh again. Soon, they heard the rustling of skirts and footsteps approaching. Looking up, they saw indeed Qiaoqiao and Huigu coming around the corridor to the door.

The two held trays of fresh fruit in their hands, but they didn't enter, standing by the door instead.

Huigu poked her head in and smiled, "Come eat the fruit. It's been cooled in the well, very refreshing."

The maids immediately dropped their work and rushed out to eat the fruit.

Fresh fruit was precious, and as palace maids, they rarely got to eat anything valuable. This season, they only had peaches, plums, and muskmelons, and not much of them. The fruits were already cut in the kitchen and served in two large white porcelain bowls. The girls each used their silver skewers from their silver sets to pick a piece of their favorite fruit and eat it.

Qiaoqiao had tasted the melon in the kitchen; it was crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, sweet and fragrant, very delicious. Afraid they would finish it too quickly, she hurriedly took out her silver set wrapped in a handkerchief from her sleeve and started eating the melon.

Xiaolian took a bite of the melon and her eyes lit up with delight. "Mm, this melon is so sweet."

Qiaoqiao smiled, "Of course it's sweet. This is tribute fruit. Our lady received a basket last night and said before bed that we should try it too. Huaping had the kitchen cool it in the well early this morning, so we can eat it when we feel drowsy in the afternoon. It's icy cold and very refreshing."

"It's tribute fruit, no wonder it's so fragrant and sweet. The ones we usually eat are crispy but not very sweet." Hearing it was tribute fruit for the ladies, Xiaolian quickly picked another piece and put it in her mouth, afraid there wouldn't be any left.

"Don't rush, there are five more pieces, enough for you," Qiaoqiao scolded playfully, then picked a piece of peach. The peach flesh, white with a hint of red, looked very tempting. Taking a bite, it was crisp and sweet.

The girls laughed and ate while chatting, quickly finishing the two large bowls of fruit. They all took out their handkerchiefs to wipe their mouths and hands, polishing their silver sets until they shone, then wrapped them back up and put them in their sleeves.

Qiaoqiao smoothed her sleeve and said to everyone, "It's about time. We should go in and wake our lady."

"I'll go wake Huaping sister," Huigu said softly, then tiptoed away.

Qiaoqiao instructed Huigu and the others to take the bowls and plates to the kitchen and prepare some refreshing cold drinks. She also asked Xiaojin and Xiaohong to prepare hot water and bathing utensils. Then she turned to Chun Die and said, "The Crown Prince should be waking up now, right?" Seeing them busy, Chun Die, who seemed particularly relaxed, shook her head and said, "Our lady is up, she should go herself." Meaning there was no need to worry about it.

Qiaoqiao laughed, "You're so relaxed. I thought you'd be extremely busy and dealing with trivial matters after changing positions to serve the Crown Prince, but it turns out you're even more relaxed than before. You get the same salary as us, but your work is much lighter, I'm so jealous."

"Who congratulated me at the time? You say one thing and think another. Not meeting your expectations, I'm really sorry," Chun Die said with a smile.

Qiaoqiao huffed, "Don't be too smug. You'll only have a few days of leisure. Children grow fast, and the Crown Prince will soon be bigger. Then you'll be following him around, and you'll have plenty to do."

"That's not certain. Our Crown Prince takes after his mother, he looks just like our lady, obedient and likable. When he grows up, he'll surely be a kind and benevolent gentleman."