Chapter 112: “Mother Will Take You on an Incognito Journey…”

Chapter 112 "Mother Will Take You Incognito..."

Huo Ling lived comfortably in the imperial retreat.

When she felt like it, she would take her attendants hunting in the forest.

Once she was done with her fun, she would either rest at the retreat, accompany Ji Xianshan on leisurely walks, or handle official business swiftly delivered from the capital.

Every few days, she also appeared at the drill grounds with Ji Xianshan to enjoy various competitions being prepared for their birthday celebrations.

Of course, most of the time, Huo Ling stayed in Changxin Palace, studying the journals left by Emperor Taizu of the former dynasty.

During her first two visits to the imperial hunting grounds, she had been fascinated by the writings stored in Changxin Palace.

But back then, she had more pressing matters to deal with and couldn't focus on reading these records.

After lunch, Huo Ling entered Changxin Palace, walked to the window, and pushed it open, allowing the afternoon sunlight to fill the study and light up the dust motes floating in the air.

Brushing away the dust before her, she sat at the desk and picked up the topmost journal to start reading.

In addition to Emperor Taizu's handwriting, there were margin notes in seven different scripts along the edges of the pages.

Judging by the signatures, they were likely notes from several emperors of the previous and current dynasties.

Huo Ling even recognized Emperor Jingyuan’s handwriting among them.

She ran her fingertip over those words, suddenly seized by an impulse. Rolling up her sleeves, she ground ink and, like the others, wrote down her thoughts, becoming the ninth contributor to leave a mark in this journal.

Looking at the new ink on the aged pages, Huo Ling shook her head with a laugh.

Yet after laughing, she didn’t put down her brush, occasionally writing a few more lines.

Between reading and writing, the afternoon passed unnoticed.

"My Lady!"

"Mother!"

As the sun dipped westward and the light by the window grew dimmer, Huo Ling had just set down her brush when she heard the energetic voices of children outside.

She pushed the window wide open and leaned on the sill, looking out at Ji Xianshan and Lu Zuo. "What is it?"

Lu Zuo said excitedly, "My Lady, let's roast some rabbit tonight!"

Huo Ling smiled at the little girl. "Wait outside for me. I'll be right out."

Huo Ling stepped out of the study and approached the two children. "Who caught the rabbits?"

Lu Zuo replied, "My mother did. She sent me and Uncle to come get you."

Princess Ningxin addressed Huo Ling as "cousin-in-law," so according to family hierarchy, Lu Zuo should call Huo Ling "great-aunt" and Ji Xianshan "uncle."

But hierarchy was one thing, and friendship another.

Xu Shidu and Huo Ling were very close friends. Every time Lu Zuo called Huo Ling "great-aunt," Xu Shidu would make a pained face, which always made Huo Ling laugh helplessly. Eventually, she allowed Lu Zuo to address her as "My Lady" instead.

Though not skilled in cooking, Huo Ling was decent at roasting—perhaps because of her frequent hunting trips.

Everyone else was already grilling meat, and she didn’t stand on ceremony either. Picking up a cleaned wild rabbit, she walked over to the fire and began roasting it.

Lu Zuo initially squatted beside Xu Shidu, watching her roast the meat. But as it grew increasingly charred, she silently stood up and moved over to Huo Ling’s side.

"Mom, is there anything I can help with?"

Huo Ling handed the skewer to Lu Zuo, asking her to brush a layer of honey over it.

Once Lu Zuo finished, Huo Ling placed it back over the fire to roast briefly before taking out a dagger, slicing off a small piece of meat, and placing it in a bowl for Lu Zuo to taste.

Lu Zuo blew on the meat a few times, waiting for it to cool before taking a bite. Her eyes sparkled as she cupped her face and exclaimed, "Mom is amazing! You can even roast rabbit meat!"

Xu Shidu glanced at the charred rabbit in her own hands: "..."

Huo Ling chuckled and said to Xu Shidu, "Lu Zuo is so much like you."

Xu Shidu usually didn’t feel embarrassed when she hovered around Huo Ling, but seeing her own daughter fluttering around Huo Ling like a fluttering butterfly, she couldn’t help but cover her face with her hands.

Well, what could she do?

She’s my own flesh and blood.

Huo Ling gave Lu Zuo a rabbit leg, while the other naturally went to Ji Xianshan.

Xu Shidu playfully swiped a large piece of rabbit meat from Huo Ling as well.

As Ji Xianshan ate, he suddenly asked, "Mom, what were you working on in the study today?"

Huo Ling replied, "I was reading the old manuscripts from the previous dynasty."

Ji Xianshan scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed. "I’ve been so caught up in playing these days and haven’t studied properly."

Huo Ling was usually very strict with Ji Xianshan, keeping his studies rigorous. But this time at the Cangzhou Palace, she didn’t push his studies, letting him enjoy himself to the fullest.

Huo Ling smiled. "You don’t often get to leave the palace—it’s fine to have some fun. And who said you’ve only been playing? Haven’t you been practicing horseback riding and archery these days? Besides, your tutors have been teaching you about Cangzhou’s customs and culture—things books can’t teach you."

Ji Xianshan beamed, then offered, "Then starting tomorrow, I’ll practice calligraphy for half an hour every day. Ah Zhuo and I found some of Dad’s calligraphy and paintings in the palace."

Huo Ling’s own handwriting was modeled after Emperor Jingyuan’s, so when Ji Xianshan began practicing calligraphy, she had given him copies of Emperor Jingyuan’s old works to emulate.

Hearing Ji Xianshan’s initiative now, Huo Ling didn’t object.

Such peaceful and leisurely days went on for over a month.

Ji Xianshan’s eighth birthday arrived as scheduled.

Huo Ling got up early to personally cook him a bowl of long-life noodles.

After he finished, she took him to see the birthday gift she had prepared—a pony just his size.

The pony was the offspring of two purebred Akhal-Tekes. With proper care, it would surely grow into a magnificent horse.

Ji Xianshan was thrilled. Carrying the small bow and arrows Huo Ling had given him, he rode the pony around several times, even announcing he’d ride it to his second sister’s place to ask for his birthday presents.

Princess Yang’an was staying at the palace too, while Princess Leping was pregnant and hadn’t come along this time.

Huo Ling remarked, "Who goes around asking for gifts like that?"

Ji Xianshan said, "Second Sis won't mind."

Huo Ling smiled and acquiesced, "Hurry back after you get your gifts. Later, the ministers will come to congratulate you on your birthday."

The pony wasn't fully grown yet, but fortunately, Ji Xianshan was still small himself. He meandered out of Huo Ling's sight.

About an hour later, he ambled back, accompanied by Princess Yang'an.

Princess Yang'an ribbed him, "You ride slower than I walk."

Ji Xianshan explained, "I was going easy on Second Sis."

Princess Yang'an: "Well now, then I should thank you."

Ji Xianshan: "Don't mention it. After all, who could resist giving a birthday gift to such a charming little brother?"

The siblings were always close. Though Princess Yang'an complained, she still reached out to help Ji Xianshan dismount.

It was still early, but the July sun rose early and was scorching. Having been outside for so long, Ji Xianshan's cheeks were sunburned red, and his forehead was covered in sweat.

Huo Ling sent someone to help him change into fresh clothes.

By the time he changed, other royal relatives at the palace had come to offer their birthday wishes.

The celebration went on till dusk before the crowd gradually dispersed.

Worn out from the day's events, Huo Ling was about to sleep after bathing when she heard Ji Xianshan was still awake. Puzzled, she asked, "What is he doing?"

Wu Mo replied, "Going through all his gifts."

Huo Ling chuckled and, no longer in a hurry to sleep, slipped on a robe and went to the neighboring Changxia Palace to find Ji Xianshan.

"Mother, why are you here?"

Ji Xianshan had been lounging on the daybed reviewing the gift list compiled by the palace staff. Hearing the announcement, he popped right up.

"Just checking on you," Huo Ling sat by the couch. "Are you sleepy yet?"

Ji Xianshan shook his head, "Not yet."

Huo Ling said, "How about some moonlit boating at Liuyan Garden?"

Children jump at late-night fun when they should be sleeping. Despite usually appearing wiser and calmer than his peers, Ji Xianshan was no exception.

Upon hearing they'd go boating at night, he cheered, ditched the gift tally, and rushed to put on his shoes.

Huo Ling stopped him, "It's chilly at night—put on more clothes. If you catch a cold, I won’t take you out at night again."

Ji Xianshan obediently pulled on an extra layer.

Liuyan Garden had a decent-sized pond filled with ornamental lotus flowers. It was here that Huo Ling and Emperor Jingyuan had once picked lotus blossoms for brewing wine.

The moon on the eleventh night was almost round, its silvery light spilling over the lotus pond as if drenching the lotuses in moonlight.

The small boat glided slowly across the water, occasionally startling a few fireflies.

Ji Xianshan leaned over the boat's edge, reaching for the fireflies but only catching nothing but moonbeams.

Huo Ling tugged him back from the edge, urging him to stay safe and avoid falling into the lake.

"I'm being careful—I won't fall," Ji Xianshan said, even as he edged inward slightly. "Mother Empress, how long will we stay at the summer palace?"

"Do you want to return to the palace already?"

"I don’t want to go back yet."

Once they returned to the palace, his mother would be fully occupied with court matters. Aside from some time set aside to teach him riding and archery, she would barely have any time to spend with him.

Plus, once back, he’d have to endure tedious debates among the court officials every day.

He really didn’t want to return so soon.

"Then we’ll stay here a little longer," Huo Ling said. "Since we’ve left the capital, would you like to visit Cangzhou City?"

Ji Xianshan had heard his tutors mention Cangzhou City—it was the biggest and wealthiest city in the region.

He exclaimed eagerly, "I’d love to!"

But after saying it, he hesitated. "Mother, can we really go?"

"Why not?" Huo Ling smiled. "I’ll take you on a disguised outing."

This trip wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment idea—Huo Ling had planned it well in advance.

Wu Feng had already arranged the itinerary ahead of time, waiting only for Ji Xianshan to finish celebrating his birthday at the summer palace before they could leave right away with him.

Since it was an incognito journey, Huo Ling didn’t bring many attendants.

Not counting those stationed covertly, on the surface, Huo Ling only brought Wu Mo to attend to her, while Ji Xianshan had Xiao Fuzi accompanying him.

Beyond that, only Wu Feng, Ding Jinghuan, and Song Xu were allowed to join them.