The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 1181 - 637: Beautiful Springtime, Better to Dream Through It
The Empress has left.
On the West City Gate, Zhao Douan slowly lowered the drumstick, the spring breeze blowing from the western suburbs, scattering his hair.
In sight, Xu Zhenguan led the Emperor’s Imperial Guard, and amidst the respectful send-offs from the officials, bid farewell to the Capital, heading straight for Xiping Road.
"Mr. Zhao." As Zhao Douan, dressed in his Junior Guardian robe, descended from the city wall, a group of familiar court officials all turned to look at him.
Zhao Douan smiled and said, "His Majesty embarks on a personal campaign today, and the affairs of the court will be hard work for all of you."
The group of officials immediately agreed. Even though many of them held higher ranks than Zhao Douan, who in the entire Capital did not know the importance of the future Emperor’s Consort?
As for the stability of the court after the Empress’s western campaign, no one was worried. On one hand, the internal chaos had ended, and even though the Empress had left, she left Zhao Douan, this formidable figure, in charge. Who would dare to harbor any other thoughts?
After sending off the officials.
Zhao Douan turned back into the city, stepped into the prepared carriage, and Little Wang, the coachman of Lihua Hall, said, "Master, the wine and meat you requested are all prepared."
Zhao Douan climbed into the carriage, glanced at a jar of osmanthus wine and the taupe beef wrapped layer upon layer in a food box, and said, "To White Horse Hall."
He was planning to visit the Old Director, but upon arriving at White Horse Hall, he unexpectedly learned that the old eunuch, who was supposed to be bedridden, was not there.
"You mean Mr. Sun? His health seemed much better this morning. After breakfast, he went to the palace," said a messenger.
Old Sun’s illness had improved? Zhao Douan was taken aback.
...
...
Sun Lianying awoke at dawn, feeling inexplicably light as a swallow upon waking.
The illness that had entangled him for months seemed to have been suddenly extracted, and upon getting out of bed, his steps were light, completely unfazed by pain.
The cough was gone, and there was more color in his cheeks reflected in the mirror.
Driven by hunger, his appetite had improved significantly, and he had a rare hot, hearty meal.
Perhaps it was the sight of the clear blue sky today, the spring light truly was marvelous, Sun Lianying instructed his attendants to assist in washing and dressing him, personally arranged the homely objects in the back residence neatly and comfortably, and then stepped out of the government office, boarded a carriage to the palace, seemingly not intending to return.
"Stop here."
As it happened, when the carriage reached inside the Imperial City, before reaching the palace city, Sun Lianying ordered the coachman to stop.
The coachman, surprised, said, "Sir, it’s quite a distance to the palace city from here."
Sun Lianying got off the carriage, smiling, as if he could hear the drumbeats beyond the West City Gate, and said, "His Majesty has gone campaigning westward today, she’s not in the palace, so there’s no need to go."
After speaking, he waved his hand, sending the bewildered coachman on his way.
Once alone, Sun Lianying squinted, gazing at the "Third Princess Mansion" standing within the Imperial City before him.
The Imperial Princess temporarily resided in the Imperial City before marriage, and this used to be the Empress’s residence.
After ascending to the throne, it was locked up and seldom lived in, only swept periodically each month.
Sun Lianying, slightly stooped, approached the main gate, retrieved a copper key from his inner pocket, and unlocked the dust-laden Third Princess Mansion.
Pushing the door open.
Sun Lianying entered the mansion, finding it peaceful inside, devoid of outsiders, very quiet. Maybe it was because the spring light today was indeed excellent, trees were budding, flower beds blossomed with early spring blooms and green hues, and under the eaves, swifts returning to their nests spread their wings, flitting through the residence, chattering non-stop.
"With such fine weather, a thorough airing is needed; the house, shut up for too long, is bound to get musty."
Sun Lianying squinted, opened the storeroom, and soon emerged with a broom, starting to open one door after another.
Casually sweeping away the dust.
In the warm, glowing spring light, the Chief Eunuch, dressed in a bright red Python Robe, hair ashen with age, busily worked as meticulously as in his youth.
Not knowing how much time had passed, when he was drenched in sweat, his waist sore, after moving a smooth bamboo chair to sit under the eaves.
He heard the sound of horseshoes outside the residence. Sun Lianying raised his head, seeing a figure approaching from afar in the dazzling spring light.
"You’ve come," Sun Lianying said, smiling.
Zhao Douan, carrying a jar of wine in one hand and a food box in the other, looked at the shadowy old man amidst the open doors and windows under the shade of the eaves, pursed his lips, and walked over, bathed in spring light: "Heard you went to the palace, fortunately ran into the coachman, then knew you were here."
Sun Lianying chuckled, "Getting old, I didn’t go to the West Gate to join the excitement. It’s quiet and nice here."
Zhao Douan came over, brought out a chair and a light little table from the house. He opened the food box, took out the wine bowls, and unwrapped the still warm saucy beef from its oil paper.
With a "pop," he opened the wine jar, poured a small amount of the refreshing osmanthus wine into the bowl.
"Too little, pour more," Sun Lianying, craving, complained as he looked at the wine bowl handed to him.
"Haven’t fully recovered yet, just flavor it, still thinking of gulping down wine, and devouring meat?" Zhao Douan pouted.
The old eunuch helplessly appeared like a greedy child, carefully cradling the bowl, savoring the aroma without drinking.
He put down the wine bowl and said, "This was once Her Majesty’s residence. From just a little girl, from the time she left Her Grace, she lived here. Most of the Royal Family elders have passed away, and if Her Majesty were to find a ’family home,’ it’d be only this. You will marry Her Majesty in due course, and you should familiarize yourself with the place."
Zhao Douan sipped his wine, ate his meat, gazed at the clean, elegant courtyard scenery in silence.
Sun Lianying, looking at each blade of grass and tree, seemed lost in memories: "Back in my childhood, our family was from the village households around the Capital. Due to a disaster in our year, I sold myself into the palace, purified myself, and preserved my life. At that age, I wasn’t sad, and entering the palace was full of wonder, everything new, enjoying white buns that were hard to come by even during New Year at home every meal in the palace. Even the rooms the lowest eunuchs lived in were better than home, and the bedding was warmer and thicker. If anything was displeasing, it was the difficulty in serving nobility, but at that time, I wasn’t even qualified to serve nobility - just heard it from others."
