Consort Zhuang doesn't want palace intrigue; she just wants to raise her child and live a caref

Chapter 262 A Woman's Life

Chapter 262 A Woman's Life

With Jinse's careful support, Su Nuannuan slowly sat up straight and then asked, "How long did I sleep?"

Jinse, who helped her up, hurriedly and respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, you slept for a full hour."

Upon hearing Jinse's answer, Su Nuannuan nodded slightly, indicating that she understood. However, at that moment, she seemed to suddenly remember something, abruptly turning her head to look around. At the same time, she kept muttering, "Where's Yaoqin? Why can't I see her?"

Upon hearing her mistress's question, Jinse quickly explained, "Your Highness, Yaoqin was just called to the kitchen by the young prince to help. He said there were too many ingredients, and the young prince and Zhixiang, along with two maids, couldn't manage, so they asked Yaoqin to come and lend a hand." As she spoke, Jinse squatted down and gently slipped the shoes onto Su Nuannuan's feet.

After Jinse stood up, Su Nuannuan asked again, "Where is the Crown Prince? Since Cheng'er went to the kitchen, the Crown Prince must not be there, right?"

Jinse pondered for a moment, then answered truthfully, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is currently in the sand table room. He is probably studying military strategy or something similar!"

"This child will never lead troops into battle in the future, so why is he so fascinated by that sand table?" Su Nuannuan muttered to herself, full of doubt.

She simply couldn't understand why Canglan Jingyun spent all his time in the sand table room, as if it held an endless attraction.

However, Su Nuannuan was unaware that Canglan Jingyun treated the military formations on the sand table like a game of chess. Every time he changed the formation, he would enthusiastically pick up a pen and carefully draw it on paper. He was completely absorbed in this unique game and never tired of it.

Just then, Su Nuannuan suddenly remembered her daughter, Canglan Jingyao, and casually asked, "Where is Yao'er? Where is she?"

Jinse, who was standing nearby, quickly replied, "Your Majesty, the eldest princess is currently busy harvesting medicinal herbs in the herb field with Miss Muge!" As she spoke, Jinse deftly folded the thin quilt on the bed neatly and then carefully put it into the cabinet.

Looking at Jinse bustling about, Su Nuannuan couldn't help but sigh, "Sigh, the children have grown up. They all have their own things to do now. They're no longer like when they were little, always following me around, calling me 'Mother' this and 'Mother' that." As she spoke, she walked to the basin and gently washed her hands.

Jinse walked over with a smile, took the wet handkerchief from Su Nuannuan's hand, put it in the basin of water, and gently comforted her, "Your Majesty, you're always like this. When the young prince and the eldest princess were still little, you looked forward to them growing up quickly every day. Now they are both nine years old and much more sensible, and you've started to miss how they were when they were little."

"Isn't that how all mothers are? When their children are young, they eagerly anticipate their growth, always thinking that once they're grown up, they can leave them alone. But once they've grown up safely and healthily and entered the school, mothers begin to hope that they will be diligent in their studies, absorbing all that knowledge into their heads, so that they can contribute their modest efforts to the court in the future."

When they finally come of age, she eagerly anticipates their marriage and the establishment of their own families. But once they are married and settled, she longs for them to have many adorable children, ideally surrounded by grandchildren and filled with laughter. Day after day, she hopes and anticipates, and before she knows it, she grows old, eventually losing even the will to hope, vanishing like smoke, thus ending her fleeting life. Su Nuannuan sat quietly before the exquisite embroidery frame, her gaze gently fixed on the completed phoenix head pattern, murmuring softly.

"Alas, this is probably the fate of us women. I was born into a powerful family, and later, by the Emperor's grace, I entered the palace as a concubine. At that time, I thought that I might be trapped in the deep palace forever, never to see the light of day again. Who would have thought that one day I would leave the palace in such an unexpected way, and thus gain this brief period of freedom?" After speaking, Su Nuannuan gently picked up the embroidery needle that was placed aside, and her slender fingers nimbly shuttled between the colorful silk threads, continuing to focus on embroidering the lifelike phoenix.

Jinse, who was serving her mistress, was stunned upon hearing her mistress's words. However, after careful consideration, she secretly agreed that what her mistress said was indeed true.

A woman's life is truly predictable from the start.

In an instant, Jinse reaffirmed her resolve not to marry.

If Su Nuannuan could have foreseen that her words would only strengthen Jinse's resolve not to marry, she would never have said those things! It was such a waste of her life.

Just then, a clear voice rang out: "Jingyun greets his teacher." Canglan Jingyun walked in and respectfully bowed.

Su Nuannuan, who was focused on her embroidery, was startled when she heard the familiar voice. She instinctively looked up, stopped what she was doing, and stared straight in the direction of the voice. When she saw that it was Cang Lan Jingyun who had walked in, a look of surprise and delight appeared on her face.

Standing there, Cang Lan Jingyun was tall and imposing, his silver-white robe accentuating his elegant demeanor. Su Nuannuan couldn't help but laugh and say, "Jingyun, how could you bear to leave that sand table room? You told me, after class this morning, you just plunged into the sand table room and wouldn't come out. Didn't you get bored at all?"

Cang Lan Jingyun smiled slightly and calmly replied, "Teacher, Jingyun doesn't find it boring at all. The new type of military chess you developed is really interesting. Every game is full of changes and challenges, making it irresistible. Moreover, Jingyun didn't stay in the sand table room all day today; he even went out with his fifth brother in between."

Su Nuannuan raised an eyebrow with interest and asked, "Oh? Is that so? Then tell me quickly, where did you and Cheng'er go to play today?"