Hello, I have a short announcement! I will also be posting tomorrow because tomorrow is my birthday,yay! Make sure to check tomorrow's chapter as well..
'To give up is to forget everything, to let every single piece of our memory, go.'
Concubine Yu is getting so much attention since the emperor personally bring her to the palace. Many concubines want to be her friends and get close to her. She even reserved a front row position for the dancing.
"I heard the emperor is very young? Is he?" A concubine Asks.
"Jiejie, Yu Jiejie, tell me is the emperor handsome?"
"Is he gentle?"
"He is," she says "he is the most handsome man Jiejie has ever seen."
"How's his appearance?!" They get more excited.
"He is very beautiful, like a celestial being! His eyebrows and lashes are very thick, his almond eyes are full of love but sharp at the same time, and his lips is the softest thing ever!"
"How about his body?!"
"Try to guess! If meimei guess he's fat and old, meimei is wrong! I think the emperor is only in his early 20's. His body is well built, his arm is strong and the emperor even has an abs!" Yu concubine explains.
"Oooh, jiejie is so lucky!" The concubines start to fangirl over the emperor.
"Yes, jiejie is so lucky." She smiles proudly.
_____
"Emperor, Crown Prince and Second Prince have just arrived!"
The emperor smiles brightly and quickly go to welcome his sons.
Small princes run to their father happily. The emperor gives them a big hug. He misses his child very much. He then pinch Jiang-er's cheeks because they are just too cute.
"Father, please stop it!" Jiang-er says.
"Father, where is mother?" Tu-er asks.
"She will be arrived soon." The emperor answers, "oh look, here she is!"
Jiang-er and Tu-er run to the empress. They are so happy to be reunited with their mother. The empress kneels so she could hug her children closer.
"Mother misses the both of you." She said burying her face in a big hug.
"Lets have lunch together!" The emperor is very excited as he walks closer.
He piggybacks Jiang-er and carry Tu-er at the same time. The princes laugh and punch their father playfully. The empress walks behind them gracefully to the dining hall.
"So, how is Jiang-er's study?" The emperor asks.
"Jiang-er is doing great father, however sometimes Jiang-er is very tired because of swordplay."
"Hmm.. you are right, swordplay is really tiring. And how about Tu-er?"
"Tu-er loves swordplay father, the master says that Tu-er is very talented!"
"Is that so? Mother is very proud of you!" The empress compliments.
"Father, can we stay longer here? Jiang-er miss being with father and mother.." Jiang-er holds his father's hand, looking all pitiful with his big round eyes.
"Yes father, pleaseeee.." Tu-er also joins.
"Hmm.." the emperor fake thinking, making his sons' heart pounding. "Okay, if only you kiss father's cheeks."
They quickly kisses the emperor cheeks and say thank you. The emperor laughs at their cuteness. They are such a happy family, whoever sees them today wouldn't want to separate them.
After lunch, the crown prince and second prince go to the Phoenix Palace, where they are going to stay.
____
The empress's mood increases drastically. For these few days, the empress play together with her sons everyday. Sometimes the emperor also visits them in the Phoenix Palace.
The emperor also always invited them to eat lunch together. Just like family. Even so, the empress's heart remains the same.
"Motheeeer! Tu-er is cheating!"
"Eh? What did he do?"
"He didn't throw the ball, but he made me run all over the place!"
"Is that right Tu-er?"
"Y-yes mother."
"Come here both of you," the empress call them to sit inside her chamber.
"You two are very important people, in the future you can't fight over small things. You have to be wise and always be considerate. In this whole palace, only your sibling and your parents are worth your trust." The empress stroke their hair, giving them a life lesson.
"Okay mother, we promise that we will always be together and be a proud-full son!"
The princes left their mother alone. They are going to the Dragon Palace. Even without any love, the empress still has her children. And that's her goal in life.
_______
"Bai Lu , why do I feel like the empress has changed?"
"How is the empress changing?" Bai Lu asks while preparing for the emperor's clothes.
"I'm not exactly sure, but these few days she didn't ask me questions, she didn't smile as much and she didn't even look at me now!" The emperor frustrates. "Seems like she's being distant and cold towards me."
"Hmm.." Bai Lu could not answers. The emperor just talk in informal language, making him flustered. It means that the emperor is really stresses and needs help.
"Your majesty, let this servant think of a solution. For now, the emperor must enjoy the new year festival, do not worry your majesty."
"I-" the emperor starts, but cut by Bai Lu .
"This servant will prepare your chamber nicely, is there any request?" Bai Lu tries to lighten up the mood. The emperor and empress are going to sleep together at the New Year Eve as it's a part of tradition. It symbolise righteous and harmony.
"Okay, this emperor will get going now."
When the emperor arrived at the harem house, he is amazed because the house is so pretty. Decorated by red ornaments and lanterns. It is very festive there, it will be fun, the emperor thinks.
The empress and four of the Consorts are also there. Wearing the most glamorous red hanfu in the whole country. Gold hairpins tingling on their heads, not to forget jade hair pieces and luxurious jewels.
They all pay respect to the emperor, and then follow him to the stage. The emperor sits in the middle of the stage, followed by the empress and the Consorts.
Not long after,the festival starts when a flute melodies fills the entire hall.
Girls wearing loose clothes dance beautifully, like a butterfly. Spinning around supplely. Their loose hanfu makes them look like heavenly creatures playing happily.
Some other concubines are singing in a very high note. With a relaxing song which will make you dream. Their voice are as sweet as honey.
Lastly there's a musical performance. They are really good, all of them are. The emperor is very satisfied and granted presents to everyone.
When the night went darker, the emperor and empress walk to the Dragon Palace together.
His chamber is enormous. There's rose scent all over the room. It's dark in there, but candles light arranged at every corner making the atmosphere more romantic. The bed valance is changed into red colour. Flower petals are shaped into a heart shape on the bed. Feels like a newlyweds bedroom.
The emperor leads his wife to the bed, where she sits straight. It is dead silence. The only sound is the empress taking off her crown. The emperor hops up to the bed and help her with the hairpin, slowly taking it off. He holds her hair as she washes her face with a bowl of water.
When the empress is done, she stands to untie her outer hanfu and left it on the floor. She turns around looking at the emperor who is sitting on the bed.
She is only wearing her white sleeping robe, while the emperor is still in his complete formal outfit. But she somehow doesn't feel intimidated. The empress knows that the emperor is starring at her collar bone, but couldn't do anything. She gulps feeling uncomfortable.
"Lets sleep."
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