Chapter 142: Father and Son

Chapter 142: Father and Son

"What did the kitchen prepare today?" Fan Xueyao touched her hair, as if a stray strand was tickling her ear.

Huaping looked at the dishes sent from the small kitchen and recited the names, "Chicken broth with mixed vegetables, fish soup, roasted pork skin, stir-fried eel, stir-fried quail with fresh bamboo shoots, braised frog, cured meat from Yunmeng, young chicken with pine mushrooms, wolfberries with mountain yam, fried tofu skin, peanuts with spinach."

The small kitchen had already asked about today's lunch menu earlier. These were all her choices, and there were no mistakes.

Chu Xu had just started to enjoy playing with sand, crawling on the floor with sand all over himself and his clothes. Seeing this, Qiaoqiao hurriedly said, "The emperor and madam have called for the meal to be served. Hurry and help the first prince change his clothes so he can go and eat."

Chun Die and Sanhua quickly stepped forward to help him undress, gently dusting off his robe and shaking off the fine sand. Chu Xu carefully used rose-scented soap to wash his hands, cleaning his dirty hands thoroughly. The palace maids brought a basin of clean warm water, knelt down, and held it as he tightly closed his eyes, buried his face in the water, held his breath, and made a humming noise, quickly scrubbing his face until he was gasping for air.

By the time he changed into a clean robe and came over, Fan Xueyao and Chu Nan had already started their meal.

He pouted, unhappy, "Father, mother, you're so mean, you started eating without me."

Fan Xueyao smiled mischievously, "Who told you to come so late? I sent Qiaoqiao to fetch you ages ago."

"I had to wash my hands and face and change clothes, I was so busy!" He nodded vigorously to emphasize his busyness.

Fan Xueyao's smile deepened, "If you had planned your playtime better, you wouldn't have been in such a rush."

Chu Xu's eyes wandered, unable to come up with a rebuttal, and ended up puffing his cheeks, silently climbing onto the high chair specially made for him by a carpenter. His feet touched Chu Nan.

Chu Nan looked at him and brushed his robe, but the slight stain left by the contact couldn't be removed by just brushing.

"Next time, keep your feet outside."

Now seated on the high chair, Chu Xu looked at his father in confusion, not knowing what had happened.

Fan Xueyao smiled and said, "Just now, your shoe brushed against your father." She pointed to the spot on Chu Nan's robe where it had gotten dirty.

Chu Xu looked around for a bit, finally finding the faint trace. He then looked at his own small shoes and saw that it was indeed him who had made it dirty.

"I get it, it won't happen again." He obediently admitted his mistake.

Knowing that Chu Nan liked things to be clean, even though Chu Xu’s shoes weren’t particularly dirty, he still felt uncomfortable. Fan Xueyao took a damp towel prepared for wiping hands during the meal and gently wiped the spot on Chu Nan’s robe. It was just dust, after all, and could be easily cleaned with a damp cloth.

Chu Nan reached out to stop her, his voice gentle, "No need to wipe, just eat. I’ll change after the meal."

Fan Xueyao shook her head. "It's nothing, just a small stain; wiping it will do. See, it's already gone." The damp towel was wrung dry, and as it wiped across, the slight dampness immediately evaporated, revealing the robe's original silk fabric in a sapphire blue persimmon pattern, with no trace of dirt visible anymore.

The two continued their meal. Chu Xu was a hearty eater, asking the palace maids to serve him some fish soup, then requesting more dishes, his rosy lips moving non-stop as he quickly finished a large bowl of food. If not for his usual high energy from playing, with this appetite, he would have been a plump child.

Chu Nan was pleased to see his son's healthy appetite and growing food intake. As a child, Chu Nan had a small appetite, often not wanting to eat because the meals didn't suit his taste. This resulted in him being thin and frail during his childhood, and he had suffered a lot when learning horse riding and archery. His eldest son's ability to eat well and be active meant he would grow up healthy and strong.

Chu Nan had always believed he didn't enjoy eating much, but being with Fan Xueyao made him realize that he could eat and drink well. The reason he hadn't liked food before was simply that the imperial kitchen hadn't prepared dishes he enjoyed.

Fan Xueyao picked up a chopstick of stir-fried eel and placed it in Chu Nan's bowl. The eel had been stir-fried with ginger, scallions, and garlic in hot oil, then seasoned with soy sauce, a little sugar, and cooking wine. The final touch was a sprinkle of pepper and green garlic slices. The rich aroma made the eel tender and appetizing, perfect to pair with rice.

Chu Nan loved rich and savory dishes, and he happily ate the tender eel, continuously picking from the dish.

However, eating too many rich dishes could lead to both boredom and health issues. So, Fan Xueyao occasionally gave him some stir-fried tofu skin and yam with wood ear fungus to balance the flavors.

Chu Xu also liked the eel, but Fan Xueyao, considering the high salt content in the dish, only allowed him to have a little of each dish. After all, he was only three years old, and a small amount of each dish was enough for him.

"This is delicious, Mother, what is it?" Chu Xu, having eaten a lot of meat, decided to try some green, oily spinach mixed with peanuts, which he had never eaten before. Fan Xueyao had been worried he might be allergic, so she hadn't let him try it until recently, when she gave him a peanut powder-coated candy. Seeing no allergic reaction, she was relieved.

Chewing the crispy, fragrant peanut crumbs, his round eyes lit up.

Fan Xueyao, seeing what he was eating, smiled. "They are peanut kernels, do you like them?"

Chu Xu nodded vigorously like a chick pecking at rice, and once he finished what was in his mouth, he grabbed a silver spoon to scoop more peanut crumbs from his bowl.

Fan Xueyao, her eyes curved in a smile like peach blossoms, personally picked two peanuts, crushed them, and placed them in his bowl. She reminded him, "Even if you like them, don't eat too much. Peanuts have a lot of oil and are hard to digest. Eating too many can cause diarrhea, so just a few are enough; don't eat more."

"Okay," Chu Xu obediently nodded, chewing carefully and fully savoring the peanut's flavor before swallowing. Once he finished what was in his bowl, he didn't ask the maids for more.

Compared to the father and son, who ate heartily, Fan Xueyao ate much more slowly.

Ever since her pregnancy, the small kitchen had been providing all kinds of rare ingredients: animals that fly, swim, or run. All kinds of rare ingredients were sent to ensure she ate more and gained weight healthily to give birth to a fair and chubby prince. However, she didn't dare eat too much, because the weight would not only go to her but also make the baby grow larger. If the fetus became too big, it could lead to a difficult birth, which could be life-threatening in those times.

She had to maintain her weight without increasing too much, ensuring adequate nutrition intake. She made sure to eat vegetables, meat, fish, and tofu products every day, only daring to eat until she was 80% full, chewing slowly and taking a walk after eating. She also practiced yoga to stretch her muscles and increase her activity.

Even though the third prince was born, she still didn't dare to indulge in food and drink. Eating slowly and chewing thoroughly increased her sense of fullness.

Chu Nan was already used to her habit of eating slowly. Once he finished his meal, he sat beside her, occasionally serving her dishes and soup.

He kept serving himself dishes, completely ruining Fan Xueyao's plan of eating until she was 80% full. Fan Xueyao had to find a reason to keep him busy: "Your Majesty, why don't you play with Xu'er for a while? This child has eaten so much; if he doesn't get some exercise, he'll have indigestion during his afternoon nap."

Chu Nan, completely unaware that his actions were sabotaging Fan Xueyao's plan to maintain her figure, quickly rinsed his mouth, wiped his face, and cheerfully carried Chu Xu outside to play.

Once he was gone, Fan Xueyao put down her bowl and chopsticks. Hua Ping, watching her closely, asked, "My lady, won't you continue eating?"

Fan Xueyao shook her head and said, "No, I've eaten more than usual today."

Hua Ping muttered, "No, my lady mostly ate soup. There's still quite a bit of rice left in the bowl. Soups and liquids make the stomach feel fuller."

Fan Xueyao smiled, lightly tapped her index finger on the table, and said, "Today, these two soups were excellent. The mixed vegetable chicken soup was especially fresh and delicious. If it weren't for Your Majesty being here, I would have poured it over rice to eat. Move the table aside and ask the kitchen to bring some rice. While it's still hot, you all should eat quickly. There's no need to go to the lower rooms; just eat here. There's also Your Majesty's imperial food on the table. If you want, you can move it to the table and eat there."

Seeing that Fan Xueyao really didn't want to eat anymore, Hua Ping agreed and had several young maids move the dining table aside. The maids who were attending, like Ling Yun, brought the items needed after the meal: a washbasin, jasmine flower soap, face towels, a small tray with a jade-handled toothbrush, and a box of tooth powder.

Fan Xueyao carefully brushed her teeth with the jade-handled toothbrush dipped in the tooth powder, then rinsed her mouth with warm water. The lingering food smells were instantly gone, leaving her feeling refreshed and comfortable. Because the tooth powder contained several aromatic herbs, a gentle breath released a pleasant fragrance.

After rinsing her mouth and washing her face and hands, Fan Xueyao took advantage of the time while Chu Nan was playing with Chu Xu outside to move around. She walked slowly around the hall, stretching her legs and arms, exercising her slightly stiff body from prolonged bed rest.

"This postpartum period is really trying; it's even more unbearable than childbirth." Thinking about these days spent lying in bed, unable to jump or play, she felt as if she had been imprisoned and couldn't help but complain.

Hua Ping, who had been watching her closely, afraid she might suddenly lose her balance and fall, blinked less frequently. Hearing this, she responded, "My lady, this is the first time you've said such a thing. When the time comes, you'll probably take it back. Lying in bed can't compare to the pain of giving birth. My lady, I still vividly remember how you cried out in pain and broke out in cold sweat!"

Thinking about her two childbirth experiences, Fan Xueyao nodded in agreement. "If that time comes, I might really take it back. Although childbirth is short, the pain is real. It's like a dull knife cutting back and forth, dragging on and on, half-alive. I'd prefer a quick cut."

Hearing her description, Hua Ping felt a tingling on her scalp and her fair face scrunched up as she pleaded, "Please stop talking. It's scaring me so much my skin is crawling."

Fan Xueyao giggled and said sympathetically, "Are you really that scared? In a few years, you'll have to leave the palace and get married. When that time comes, even if you're afraid, you'll still have to have children."

Hua Ping, her face flushed with shyness and joy, finally pouted and said, "My lady is becoming quite skilled at teasing..." In her heart, she wondered if this meant that Fan Xueyao had decided to let her leave the palace. If so, in a few years, would she be able to leave?

Although Fan Xueyao had said such things before, Hua Ping never dared to hold too much hope, fearing that her hopes would be dashed. But now, with the certainty in her lady's words, it didn't sound like a joke. Did this mean she could start thinking about her future?

Many women in the palace aimed to become the emperor's consort. But among them, how many genuinely wanted to be imperial concubines, and how many just wanted a home and security?

As they grew older, maids became more aware of the differences between themselves and imperial consorts. It wasn't just about status but something more implicit and profound. Imperial consorts had support; they were taken care of by the court, received medical care when they were ill, and were interred in imperial mausoleums with a place for their spirits to be honored.

But maids had a different fate.

They have no idea what their future holds. It's very likely that after decades of hard work, they will remain virgins. When they grow old, with white hair, and can no longer work, they will be sent to a hall to await death. After they die, their ashes will be scattered and buried somewhere in the outskirts without even a tombstone.

Such a future is too terrifying. Therefore, these palace maids refuse to accept such a fate and have long been trying to find a way out. It's no wonder that many maids hope to receive the emperor's favor. Even without a title, being a woman favored by the emperor means having a record in the imperial archives. When they die, they would at least have a proper burial.

If forced, Huapin thinks she might also wish to receive the emperor's favor. But after she began serving Lady Fan, she no longer had such thoughts.

Lady Fan is kind and generous to these palace maids. She even bought land to provide a burial place for elderly maids with no other options, and she went so far as to advocate for the opportunity to leave the palace for older maids, even though it might displease the Empress Dowager.

The first act could be seen as a way to win their loyalty, but the second act could not possibly be done just to gain the hearts of these lowly maids.

They are just ordinary maids, doing menial work. When they reach a certain age, they are usually assigned rough tasks. What abilities could they possibly have? They are not female court officials, nor are they close attendants of the emperor with any influence. Fan Xueyao is so highly favored; why would she need to win over the hearts of the maids?

She genuinely sympathizes with these maids and worries for them. Huapin feels that even if she doesn't have the fortune to leave the palace in the future, she is willing to remain a maid and serve Lady Fan for life. After all, Lady Fan will not abandon them. Given this, why struggle desperately for a slim chance to be favored?

Huapin received this assurance as a precious treasure.

She is only nineteen now, and in a few more years, she will still be in her twenties, in the prime of her life. She is not unattractive and has learned many skills in the palace. After leaving the palace, she should be able to marry someone decent. She won't have to wait until she's old and gray to leave the palace; this is truly a great fortune.

Marriage, having children...

Huapin murmured these two words to herself, never having expected to be able to hope for such things. Even if it's painful, as long as she can give birth legitimately, she is willing. Her heart swelled with emotions she couldn't quite name; she just sincerely felt that she had followed a good mistress. There is hope in life now.

Chu Nan and Chu Xu played behind the palace for a long time and came back drenched in sweat, much to Fan Xueyao's amusement and exasperation. She quickly had someone prepare water to clean them up and said, "Look at the two of you. I asked you to take Xu'er to play to help his digestion. How could you play to the point of sweating like this? You just ate; how can you play like this? What if you get a stomachache?"

Chu Nan panted and plopped down on the couch, sweat dripping down his forehead like streams, grinning like a child. He looked exactly like Chu Xu, who was nestled in his arms.

"I didn't plan to play this much, but this child, though small, has a big temperament. He wouldn't let go of the leather ball and tugged at my clothes, insisting that I kick it with him. Look, my robe is all wrinkled. I had no choice but to give in. Who knew we'd get carried away and play too much?"

"He's young, but you're also childish. You played wildly with your son and still blame him?" Fan Xueyao shook her head helplessly and used a hand towel to wipe the sweat from their faces.

Chu Xu tilted his little face up, eyes closed, and mumbled, "It's dad's fault for not letting me kick the ball in."

"You want your father to let you win in a ball game? What a cheater! Who taught you that?" Fan Xueyao teased, tickling his ear with her fingers, causing Chu Xu to giggle uncontrollably and fall back into Chu Nan's arms, pointing at Chu Nan's face and shouting, "I learned it from Dad!"

Chu Nan laughed, "On the field, there are no fathers and sons. You said you wanted to see who could score more goals. No cheating!"

"But dad is an adult, he has more strength than me and is taller. It's not fair." He insisted in a childish voice, tugging at Fan Xueyao's sleeve and playing, "Mom, isn't it unfair?"

Fan Xueyao pretended to ponder, and Chu Xu became even more insistent, "Isn't it, isn't it?"

Fan Xueyao smiled and said, "You do have a point, but..."

Just as Chu Xu's eyes lit up, hearing the word 'but,' his expression changed. He knew something unfavorable was coming and immediately shook his head vigorously, gesturing for Fan Xueyao to stop talking.

"However, you were the one who wanted to compete with dad in scoring goals. Dad has always been stronger and taller than you, as you know, and you agreed to it. How can you go back on your word now? That's not being trustworthy. If you take it back after the fact, relying on being a child to be unreasonable, can we then take back the promises we make to you?"

Chu Xu pouted reluctantly and said, "I shouldn't have been unreasonable."

Fan Xueyao gently asked, "Do you admit your mistake?"

"I shouldn't have been unreasonable." Chu Xu nodded honestly, feeling a bit wronged, and suddenly lunged forward, throwing himself into Fan Xueyao's arms like a little cannonball, complaining playfully, "Mom is bad!"

Fan Xueyao smiled and hugged him, gently caressing his sweaty head, slowly coaxing him, "Mom is pointing out the right thing and teaching you, are you upset?"

Chu Xu pouted, tilted his head, and nodded slowly, "Yeah."

"But our Xu'er is a good boy who admits his mistakes and corrects them, right?"

"Yes..." He shyly buried his head in Fan Xueyao's arms.

Fan Xueyao furrowed her brow, looking hurt, "Mom points out your mistakes because I want you to be an honest and trustworthy person. I love you dearly, but you called me bad. I'm very sad."

"No, no!" Chu Xu opened his eyes wide and shook his head vigorously. His little hands reached for Fan Xueyao's face, cupping it and peppering it with kisses, afraid that his moment of upset had hurt her.

Watching her handle their son so skillfully, Chu Nan was highly amused. Fan Xueyao gave him a side-eye, her peach blossom eyes signaling him to watch his expression and not give them away.

*

On the sixth day of the seventh month, it was the little prince's washing ceremony. Li Rong got up to wash and dress, assisted by her maids according to her imperial decree rank, fully attired, and then rode to the palace gate, walking into the palace courtyard.

Led by an attendant, she arrived at the Fragrant Breeze Hall and was guided to the rear hall. The maidservant lifted the curtain, inviting her into the rear hall.

When Li Rong entered, she saw her daughter dressed in a jade-colored jacket with embroidered begonias, a red skirt, and pink satin shoes peeking out, sitting sideways on a couch, accompanying a woman in a blue robe with wide sleeves and a golden pendant with a ceremonial shawl.

Fan Xueyao had already instructed the maidservant to bring Li Rong in directly when she arrived. There was still some time before the washing ceremony, so they could chat inside.

With an outsider present, Li Rong entered and respectfully saluted, "Yiren Li, wishing Lady Zhaoyi all the best."

Fan Xueyao hurriedly stood up and stepped forward to support Li Rong. "Please, don't be so formal," she said.

The woman wearing the ceremonial robe smiled slightly. Fan Xueyao said to Li Rong, "This is Princess Jinping."

Li Rong understood upon hearing this and quickly bowed to offer her respects. Princess Jinping returned the gesture. Since her return to the capital after her divorce, aside from visiting the Empress Dowager in the palace, she had lived a reclusive life. This was the first time she had seen the mother of Consort Fan Zhaoyi up close and couldn't help but take a few more glances.

Her appearance was indeed delicate and proper, vaguely resembling the features of Consort Fan. She might have been considered a beauty in her youth, but she was certainly not outstanding. How did she give birth to someone as extraordinarily beautiful as Consort Fan? Could it be that Consort Fan took only the best from her mother, discarding the rest?

Princess Jinping sized up Li Rong, who was also quietly observing Princess Jinping.

Princess Jinping, being a divorced woman, although the divorce was not her fault, had always adhered strictly to the moral codes for women. The fact that such a scandal had occurred made her feel deeply ashamed, believing that she had disgraced the royal family and the Emperor. Her actions became even more cautious and prudent.

She was afraid of gossip and didn't dare to wear brightly colored fabrics. Her accessories and makeup were simple and elegant. Although she was only in her thirties, she dressed like an elderly woman. She spoke as little as possible, having internalized the concept of duty.

In fact, the way she was now was already a significant change from before.

When she first returned to the Capital, she looked so haggard, her eyes like a pool of stagnant water. Every time she saw Princess Jinping, she conveyed feelings of inferiority, regret, and even a desire to die.

Fan Xueyao couldn't bear to see her like this. Having finally escaped a terrible situation, she was now destroying herself out of fear of gossip. So, she always went to the Empress Dowager's palace, finding various reasons to coax Princess Jinping into the palace to do embroidery, flower arranging, and discuss poetry and literature with her.

Princess Jinping always felt like she was standing on the edge of a cliff, with no hope left. She felt deeply ashamed of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. As a princess, she was so incapable. She couldn't maintain harmony with her husband, nor could she manage the concubines. Instead, she was humiliated and tormented by them until she fell gravely ill.

The noble royal family was disgraced because of her.

But despite her incompetence as a princess, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor still protected and cherished her, which made her feel even more unworthy and tormented. She always thought she would live in this silent and cold existence until the end of her days, with the hope of repaying the Empress Dowager and the Emperor's kindness in the next life.

However, Fan Xueyao often cheered her up and talked with her. At first, she was like a mute gourd, completely unable to engage in casual conversation. But Fan Xueyao never showed any impatience, always finding ways to cheer her up.

At first, she thought that such a beautiful young woman like Consort Fan, deeply favored by the Emperor and with a child, had everything she could possibly want and would never be able to understand her pain and regret.

But after some time, she gradually realized that this much younger woman was very intelligent and wise.

She couldn't help but confide in her, and listening to Fan Xueyao's gentle voice, with words that seemed unconventional but carried great wisdom, her mood gradually brightened.

Princess Jinping glanced at the young woman who could almost be her daughter. That she was so deeply favored by the Emperor was not just due to her beautiful face.

Those who thought she was merely a woman who relied on her looks to please the Emperor truly underestimated her.