Chapter 56: A Thoughtful Gesture
Translated by algoo | Proofread by algoo
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“I want this one!”
“I want this one too!”
“I’ll take all of these…”
In the capital city, before a mobile jewelry stall by the roadside, a beautiful woman in a plain dress pointed at the trinkets hanging on the wooden frame, speaking continuously.
Lin Xiu watched speechlessly. This street stall catered to ordinary women from common households, where one could buy a trinket for a dozen or a few dozen copper coins.
The Noble Consort probably didn’t know that any single pearl on the jewelry she wore could buy this entire stall.
But seeing her happy with her purchases, Lin Xiu didn’t say anything. It wasn’t his money anyway, and it was fine to let this pitiful woman satisfy her shopping desires.
Zhu Jin stood behind the Noble Consort, happily taking out silver to buy everything she fancied. Let alone this small roadside stall, if Her Ladyship was happy, they could buy out every jewelry shop on this entire street.
Having never strolled the streets before, the Noble Consort’s curiosity was strong. She looked at this for a while, then at that, perhaps even forgetting that their original purpose for leaving the palace was for the spirit pet.
Lin Xiu held the little creature in his arms. Perhaps due to its recent poor spirits, it had fallen asleep. When the spirit pet slept, its wings on its back would retract, making it look like an ordinary kitten, albeit much prettier than a typical cat.
A moment later, Zhu Jin checked the time and said to the Noble Consort, “Madam, it’s time for lunch. I hear the food at Zhaiyue Restaurant is quite good. Shall we dine there?”
The Noble Consort, in the midst of her shopping spree, only realized she was hungry after Zhu Jin’s reminder. She nodded, “You arrange it.”
At this moment, Lin Xiu suddenly stepped forward, suggesting, “Madam, I’ve heard there’s a small shop nearby that makes excellent pastries and Jiangnan cuisine. Would Madam like to try it?”
Hearing “Jiangnan cuisine”, the Noble Consort’s eyes lit up. “Let’s go to the Jiangnan restaurant you mentioned.”
Zhu Jin looked troubled. “Madam, the people in small restaurants are of unknown origins. I’m afraid…”
The Noble Consort waved her hand. “What’s there to be afraid of? They don’t know my identity. Just treat us as ordinary customers.”
Hearing this, Zhu Jin couldn’t say anything more.
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The Jiangnan restaurant wasn’t located in the most prosperous part of the capital, but rather in a more secluded area. Lin Xiu had put in quite a bit of effort to find this place.
Although the restaurant wasn’t as famous as Zhaiyue or Tianxiang Restaurants, it had a good reputation among a certain group of diners.
The decor was simple, the space wasn’t large, but it was clean and tidy, and they only served Jiangnan cuisine. After the Noble Consort ordered a few dishes, the four of them sat around a table.
Zhu Jin and Ling Long were clearly a bit restrained eating with the Noble Consort, only daring to sit on half of their seats. Lin Xiu was more relaxed. He called the owner over and said, “Bring us all of your specialties.”
Happy to have such generous customers, the owner cheerfully went to the kitchen to get busy. It was a small husband-and-wife establishment; they couldn’t afford to hire help, so everything was done by the owners themselves.
Lin Xiu explained to the Noble Consort, “Madam, this shop is run by a couple. They are originally from Jiangnan and came to the capital a few years ago to open this restaurant, saying they wanted their fellow Jiangnan natives to be able to taste the flavors of home while they were away.”
The Noble Consort glanced at Lin Xiu and asked, “How did you know I’m from Jiangnan?”
Lin Xiu smiled slightly. “I’ve heard a Jiangnan accent in your speech occasionally, so I guessed Madam must have grown up in Jiangnan.”
The Noble Consort was surprised. “You grew up in the capital, and you can distinguish a Jiangnan accent?”
Lin Xiu said, “I have a friend who is also from Jiangnan, so I can recognize the accent.”
The Noble Consort nodded and didn’t ask further.
The owner and his wife were quick, and soon, several dishes were served.
The Noble Consort was very familiar with these Jiangnan dishes. “This is salted duck, this is crystal pork knuckle, this is horseshoe cake, this is candied fruit…”
She picked up a piece with her chopsticks, opened her red lips slightly, and after putting it in her mouth, a satisfied expression appeared on her face. She sighed, “The palace… although we have Jiangnan chefs at home, by the time their dishes are delivered, they’ve already cooled down, and they don’t taste as good. It’s been a long time since I’ve tasted the flavors of home.”
The emperor and his consorts seemed to live a glamorous life, but in reality, they couldn’t even have a bite of hot food every day. Lin Xiu didn’t envy them; he felt they were rather pitiful.
After about half an hour, the four of them emerged from the small Jiangnan restaurant.
The Noble Consort touched her slightly bulging belly beneath her palace dress. She hadn’t eaten so full in a long time, or perhaps, since childhood, she hadn’t experienced the feeling of fullness.
Whether it was in her youth or after entering the palace, meals were timed, and both family and palace etiquette dictated that she could only eat until five-tenths full. Only now did she realize how blissful the feeling of fullness was.
Glancing at Lin Xiu, the Noble Consort asked, “Where are we going next?”
Lin Xiu smiled. “Madam, we’ve just eaten and shouldn’t exert ourselves too much. Let’s go to the opera house to listen to some music and have some tea. Music can cultivate the mind and is also beneficial for the spirit pet’s illness…”
The Noble Consort nodded. “Let’s do as you say.”
Not long after, they arrived at Lihua Garden.
As soon as the manager saw Lin Xiu enter, he smiled and greeted him. “Ah, Young Master Lin, you’ve come again! Caiyi happens to be free right now. Same private room as before? I’ll take you there…”
Lin Xiu coughed lightly. “I’ve brought friends with me today. Let’s get a bigger room. Where is Caiyi? I have something to discuss with her…”
On the second floor of Lihua Garden, in a certain room, the manager knocked on the door and then pushed it open. He said to the figure tuning strings inside, “Caiyi, Young Master Lin is here to see you.”
Caiyi stood up and gracefully bowed to Lin Xiu, smiling. “Young Master, you’re here.”
Lin Xiu stepped forward. “Caiyi, I’ve brought some friends with me today. One of them is of very noble status, and there are some things I need to explain to you beforehand…”
…
When Lin Xiu returned to the private room, the Noble Consort glanced at him and asked, “Do you come here often?”
Lin Xiu nodded. “Madam, when I’m tired from cultivation, or when I’m feeling troubled, I come here to listen to music and relax…”
The Noble Consort glanced at him. “You certainly know how to enjoy yourself.”
As they spoke, Caiyi entered. She wasn’t wearing stage makeup today, but a white long dress, her dark hair pulled up, a pipa in her arms, giving the impression of a gentle and delicate Jiangnan woman.
When the pipa music began, what came from her cherry lips was a Jiangnan dialect that softened the bones.
Zhu Jin and Ling Long didn’t understand the Jiangnan dialect, but they found the girl’s voice pleasant and listened with relish. Ling Long even swayed her head to the music.
Only the Noble Consort, upon hearing Caiyi’s voice, fixed her gaze in one spot, lost in thought.
The singer’s voice had a magical power. As the familiar Jiangnan tune reached her ears, time seemed to rewind more than ten years, back to that Jiangnan, the Jiangnan she hadn’t seen in over a decade.
It was the place where she grew up, willows swaying, misty rain, endless lotus ponds, a lake surface bustling with boats…
The wind of Jiangnan ultimately couldn’t reach the capital. There was snow here, which she liked, but it wasn’t her hometown.
The soft and tender voice, melting into her bones, gradually dispelled the melancholy she’d hidden in her heart these past few days, and a ray of sunlight shone into her gloomy mood.
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She looked at Lin Xiu and softly said, “You are thoughtful.”
Lin Xiu was taken aback. “Ah, what did Madam say? I didn’t hear clearly.”
The Noble Consort didn’t speak again, but closed her eyes, humming the same tune as Caiyi, a touching smile gradually spreading across her face.
Lin Xiu breathed a sigh of relief, a smile also appearing on his face.
Taking the Noble Consort out of the palace was his plan, but not solely for that plan. He understood women.
Therefore, when he saw the Noble Consort in Changchun Palace, Lin Xiu knew she had something on her mind.
Her worries were like the spirit beast’s; they were both caged birds in the deep palace. Lin Xiu had noticed this last time at the Imperial Hospital.
When he first met the Noble Consort, Lin Xiu was a bit afraid of her. After all, the palace maids and eunuchs all knew that the Noble Consort was moody and often punished the palace staff. Later, Ling Long told him that the Noble Consort wasn’t that scary. If the palace maids and eunuchs in Changchun Palace made mistakes, the Consort would punish them, but it was only light scolding and beatings. In other palaces, angering their masters could be a matter of life and death.
The treatment of the palace maids in Changchun Palace was among the best in the inner palace. When Her Ladyship was happy, she would bestow many rewards. She was also very protective of her own people and absolutely wouldn’t allow those from other palaces to bully them. When the palace maids reached a certain age, she would give them a generous dowry and send them out of the palace to marry, which was much better than the consorts of other palaces.
Working in Changchun Palace, as long as one didn’t anger Her Ladyship when she was in a bad mood or didn’t fail to take good care of Her Ladyship’s beloved spirit pets, there wouldn’t be any problems.
Originally, these matters had nothing to do with Lin Xiu. Even if the Noble Consort was in a bad mood, it wasn’t his place to coax her.
But he had used her this time, so he owed her a favor. Lin Xiu didn’t like owing favors, so he had to find a way to make her happy to repay her kindness.
And when it came to making women happy, he was a professional.
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