in2ebook Chapter 56: What's superfluous should be decisively discarded.
Chapter 56: What's superfluous should be decisively discarded.
She smiled slightly, turned to look at Consort Qin, and said softly, "Sister Consort Qin, this is a flower tea that I prepared myself. Why don't you try it?" After saying that, Su Nuannuan's gaze fell on the teacup placed in front of Consort Qin, and she extended a sincere invitation to her.
Upon hearing this, Consort Qin looked at the teacup in front of her with great interest and asked curiously, "I wonder what kind of flower tea you made, sister? It's so good that you're recommending it to me."
Su Nuannuan pursed her lips and chuckled softly, explaining in a gentle voice: "In the sweltering summer heat, I recently discovered a lotus pond in this palace, where the lotus flowers were blooming in extremely vibrant and abundant colors."
So I instructed my servants to pick a fresh lotus leaf. Then, I sent someone to the Imperial Medical Bureau to request some licorice root. After boiling them together and letting them cool, I added a little honey. This not only had a cooling effect but also a refreshing and pleasant taste.
"Sister, please try it and see if it suits your taste. If you like it, after you return to the palace, you might as well brew a pot of it yourself to cool off in the summer."
"Then I must have a good taste," Consort Qin said with a smile. She gracefully raised her hand and slowly lifted the exquisite teacup in front of her. Then, she tilted her head slightly, parted her lips, and carefully took a small sip of tea.
After a moment, Consort Qin gently put down her teacup and said softly, "This tea tastes quite good. It has no bitterness after drinking it, but rather a faint fragrance of lotus leaves. In my opinion, it would taste even better if honey were not added! After all, licorice itself has a slightly sweet taste."
Upon hearing what Consort Qin said, Su Nuannuan couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle, saying softly, "It seems that Consort Qin doesn't really like overly sweet food."
Consort Qin smiled and nodded, replying, "Yes, my sister is right. I've never been interested in sweets since I was little." Then, she continued thoughtfully, "However, life in the palace can be quite austere at times. Drinking something sweet occasionally can make me feel a little sweeter."
As soon as Consort Qin finished speaking, Su Nuannuan picked up the conversation and said slowly, "Whether it's bitter or not depends entirely on one's own feelings."
Those within the palace naturally understand the hardships of life there; but those outside the palace may not truly grasp the experience. Having said this, Su Nuannuan mimicked Consort Qin's earlier actions, picking up her teacup and taking a small sip.
"This honey is really unnecessary. Look at the taste, it's so sweet it's almost sickening!"
"It seems I absolutely mustn't add honey next time I brew it. Since it's already unnecessary, I should just discard it." Su Nuannuan gently put down her delicate teacup and said with a slight frown.
Upon hearing this, Consort Qin, who was standing to the side, paused in her smile, but quickly recovered as if nothing had happened and continued chatting warmly with Su Nuannuan.
"It's getting late, I should head back now. Oh, by the way! Sister, I think Yao'er and Cheng'er's clothes are quite beautiful. I wonder if you could make a couple for Xu'er as well?" Consort Qin slowly stood up, a kind and gentle smile on her face, and softly asked Su Nuannuan.
"Of course, Consort Qin. This outfit is a onesie, so it's both convenient and comfortable to wear. Wait a moment, and I'll have Tingxue come over to take Xu'er's height. Cheng'er and Yao'er's clothes were all made by Tingxue." Su Nuannuan readily agreed and turned to instruct the maid beside her to call Tingxue over.
"Then I thank you in advance, sister!" Consort Qin said with a smile. After Tingxue came over to take her measurements, she left with Jingxu and a group of palace servants.
After Consort Qin and the others left, Jinse hurriedly entered the room and asked with a puzzled look, "Your Highness, what exactly did Consort Qin say just now? I don't understand at all."
Because of her years of martial arts training, Jinse has more sensitive hearing than the average person. Even if she is just standing at the door, she can hear the conversations of everyone inside clearly.
“My family is causing trouble,” Su Nuannuan said succinctly with a serious expression.
Jinse, who was standing to the side, stopped tidying up the teacups and looked puzzled: "Then what brings Consort Qin here today?"
Su Nuannuan pursed her lips slightly, seemingly lost in thought, and said, "Naturally, she has come to learn from me. We have both given birth to princes, but why is my family so obedient and even voluntarily surrendering their military power? I'm sure I can explain the reasons to her!"
Jinse nodded gently and replied with a smile, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. However, Your Majesty and Consort Qin are indeed different."
Back when Your Highness was still unmarried, you were deeply loved and favored by your family. The Duke, his wife, the Marquis, the Marquis's wife, and Your Highness's other brothers always prioritized your well-being in all matters.
“What they sought was not for me to possess immense power, but merely for me to live a peaceful and prosperous life. That is why, when they learned that I had no desire for that high position, they made this wise move without hesitation.”
Jinse hesitated for a moment before finally asking, "Your Majesty, I just heard that Consort Qin intends to have the Fourth Prince stop tying his hair up. Is this true?"
"This is her silent resistance. You must know that the royal family of our Azure Kingdom has a series of extremely strict rules."
The most crucial rule was that anyone with a physical disability, those who deviated from the norm, or those deemed unattractive could not succeed to the throne. Unless this prince demonstrated extraordinary wisdom and exceptional abilities, there might be a glimmer of hope to overcome these seemingly insurmountable restrictions. But how many such people were there?