Chapter 1544 - 1542
Chapter 1544: Chapter 1542
Chapter 1542
What does this mean?
Lin Siyin was somewhat puzzled. She had some vague thoughts in her mind but wasn’t quite sure.
Sheng Chunhua beamed with a bright smile.
"Thanks to the Empress’s good fortune, I now work as a steward in the Imperial Garden. Though it’s not as prestigious as serving beside the Empress, it’s still quite peaceful and comfortable. Are you pleased, Empress?"
Even though she wore a smile, her eyes betrayed a certain inexplicable resentment and even a hint of ambition.
Lin Siyin wasn’t sure if she had seen it wrong, but in any case, she didn’t like this person.
With a slight frown, she replied indifferently.
"How well or not you are doing has nothing to do with me. You deliberately put me in an awkward position, and I’m too lazy to settle this score with you. From now on, let’s pretend we don’t know each other!"
Knowing her was like falling into a dung pit, filled with misfortune, and ultimately, she was left with a bad reputation—it was truly hateful.
Ever since Shao Yao was around her, she found her life much more comfortable.
There weren’t so many rules to learn, nor were there so many tasks to complete.
Only then did she realize.
It turned out there weren’t many people in the harem, and the Empress was quite leisurely, with no need to be so weary.
Sheng Chunhua smiled graciously.
"Yes!"
"I won’t interrupt the Empress’s enjoyment any longer; Empress, slow down, I shall take my leave!"
After speaking, she retreated without waiting for a cue from Lin Siyin.
Shao Yao widened her eyes; this was too unruly—her mistress hadn’t spoken yet, and she...
As she was about to reprimand, Lin Siyin stopped her.
"Forget it, if this drags on further, I’ll truly lose interest—to the Imperial Garden we go!"
"Yes, Empress!"
With that said, she turned away, filled with indignation, turning to glare fiercely at Sheng Chunhua before catching up to her mistress.
On the other side, Sheng Chunhua was furious.
She suddenly thought again and regained her cheer.
"Hmph! You insignificant girl, don’t be too pleased for long. Once I win the Emperor’s favor and am titled the concubine, I’ll deal with you later!"
Mumbling to herself, she left with renewed pride.
...
Lin Siyin strolled through the Imperial Garden, finding it rather ordinary.
In terms of flower count, it couldn’t compare to the gardens in Guangnan.
In terms of prestige, it was superior, making the scenery exceedingly beautiful.
She quietly walked through the flower bushes to a pavilion beside the Taiye Pool.
This small pavilion was located in a spacious area, intricate and unique. It’s said that during the Taishang Huang’s reign, the harem was still bustling, and many banquets were held here.
She inexplicably felt some melancholy.
"Shao Yao!" She called softly.
Shao Yao quickly stepped forward.
"What does the Empress want?"
Tea and snacks were readily available; if the Empress wanted them, they could be served immediately, still warm.
But Lin Siyin shook her head.
"I don’t want anything; I’m just a bit confused!"
"What is the Empress confused about?" Shao Yao asked thoughtfully, packing away the basket of snacks.
"Why not tell me? Though I may be simple-minded, I will certainly do my best to resolve the Empress’s confusion!"
Lin Siyin pondered for a moment and finally asked a question.
"The Emperor..."
She hesitated, unsure how to start, then changed her phrasing.
"Will this harem always be so empty?"
Shao Yao didn’t quite understand her meaning and answered decisively.
"Of course not!"
"Empress, think about it, the Emperor is the Emperor; there will be selections in the future, and then in this palace..."
She was speaking when she noticed the Empress’s face suddenly turned grim.
She quickly stopped.
"Empress, what’s the matter?"
Lin Siyin quickly waved her hand.
"It’s nothing; continue, what will happen then in this palace?"
Only then did Shao Yao realize that the Empress was worried the Emperor might become fickle, so she promptly laughed and consoled her.
"Empress, rest assured!"
"Not to mention the palace rules, just based on your position in the Emperor’s heart, it is unmatched!"
"Furthermore, you are the one leading the harem, the rightful Empress; with the harem’s rules pressing on, who could surpass you?"
"Moreover..."
"Enough!"
She was about to continue when Lin Siyin suddenly interrupted.
"Don’t say anymore! I understand!"
Lin Siyin looked at the blue sky above; it was vast.
She tried desperately to hold back the tears that wanted to fall and gritted her teeth to suppress them. She opened her lips, attempting to say something, but in the end, nothing came out.
She didn’t blame Shao Yao.
This is the Royal Family, not a wealthy family outside the palace, not a merchant, nor is it ordinary commoners.
Even taking a step back, even if it were a wealthy family, merchants outside, she had truly never seen those whose families were well-off and only married one wife without taking concubines.
So, what is there to say?
Could she stop it? Not only herself, but Zhao Qichen might not be able to decide.
He ultimately doesn’t belong to herself; he belongs to the entire Great Chu Dynasty!
Shao Yao saw the distress in her mistress’s expression and understood to some extent but didn’t know how to console her.
"Mistress!"
"Would you like some snacks?"
"This is something every woman has to go through; being sad won’t change anything—the days still have to go on!"
Lin Siyin suddenly smiled through her tears.
"Exactly!"
"The days still have to go on!"
"What’s the big deal? It’s just a bunch of women!"
"Across the entire Great Chu Dynasty, with so many women, if they can, I can too!"
Even Taishang Huang and Empress Dowager with deep love, the Late Emperor also had concubines and other offspring, didn’t he!
Does this have any impact? No, it doesn’t!
What keeps fueling her unrealistic fantasies?!
...
After eating some snacks, she gazed at the Taiye Pool with thin ice floating on it for a while and then gracefully left with her palace maid.
Shao Yao served cautiously along the way. Seeing her mistress finally showing a smile, she breathed a sigh of relief.
The days passed by one after another.
There were still three to four days until the Shangyuan Festival, and she was already looking forward to leaving the palace, her entire mood different from before.
It’s hard to blame her; only outside the palace did she feel like this person truly belonged to her completely.
"Have you decided what to bring to father and mother?" Lin Siyin asked Zhao Qichen with a smile.
Zhao Qichen was somewhat puzzled, lifting his head from his book with a confused expression.
"Do we need to bring something? Isn’t it enough that we are there?"
Lin Siyin was somewhat amused and exasperated.
"Have you never brought anything before?"
"It’s called filial piety; how can you not understand even this?"
Zhao Qichen frowned.
"But they lack nothing there, and I have nothing to bring!"
"It doesn’t have to be about lacking something; it’s mainly about showing your heartfelt intention!" Lin Siyin retorted.
"Oh!"
Zhao Qichen understood and patted her shoulder.
"You know quite a bit; then leave this matter to you, my Empress!"
Lin Siyin: "..."
Alright, knowing he didn’t enjoy these trivial matters, she had no choice but to assent.
Zhao Qichen indeed disliked these things.
In his view, whether or not you are filial doesn’t need such cumbersome rituals to prove it.