She wondered if the Empress could also “resign herself to fate”.
The embroiderer took her leave after measuring Yu Wan.
Pregnant women were often tired. When the Empress saw her daughter-in-law forcefully pull herself together, she asked Emissary Cui to help her to the side hall to rest.
The Empress and Yu Wan chatted about daily life in the royal family. “I heard about Jing’er and Cong’er. Why did they fight? Is Cong’er alright?”
“My husband is fine,” Yu Wan said, but she did not answer why they fought.
The Empress sighed and said, “I know Cong’er’s personality. He seems to be fooling around, but he won’t cause trouble for no reason. I think his cousin must have done something wrong.”
After that, they did not say anything else.
Yu Wan could tell that the Empress did not mean to pry. There were some things that could be hidden from the world but not from the Emperor and her. She probably knew Yan Huaijing’s thoughts about her very well. However, there were some things that she knew in her heart. There was no need to say it out loud.
The Empress asked about the three little fellows again, “Why didn’t you bring them over this time?”
Yu Wan said, “My parents miss them and want to bring them back to stay for a few days.”
The Empress said in amusement, “Wasn’t Cong’er throw them out of the manor because he found them a hindrance? He even gave out red eggs to the throne room!”
R-red eggs? She didn’t have children! Why was this guy giving out red eggs!
The Empress continued, “He set up a shed at the city gate to help the victims. Others gave porridge, but he gave red eggs. The two of you have just consummated your marriage, right?”
The Empress had experienced it before. What else could she not guess?
Yu Wan’s face turned red. She wished she could find a hole to hide in. She even had an image in her mind. Yan Jiuchao held the red eggs in one hand and walked up to the throne room His face was filled with the words — I’ve consummated my marriage. Hurry up and congratulate me!
Yu Wan… Yu Wan even wanted to beat him to death!
After the Empress was done teasing, she looked away with a smile and inadvertently saw two maidservants from the Young Master Manor. They had been here last time, and one of them was very close to the little masters. The Empress remembered her.
However, she did not know if it was her imagination, but this girl did not seem to be as energetic as before.
Yu Wan looked at the Empress, then at Zi Su and Su Mu. “Did you bring everything I asked you to bring?”
Zi Su replied, “Yes, Young Madam.”
Yu Wan said, “Go bring it in.”
“Yes.” Zi Su agreed and went to the side hall of the Zhaoyang Palace with Su Mu. The things they carried with them were all placed in the special room.
The two of them each carried two fruit baskets over.
There was a large orchard in the Young Master Manor. Other than cherries, there were also many other things planted. Yu Wan got someone to pick fresh mulberries, plums, peaches, and melons. There were also these things in the palace, but they were not as delicious as the ones planted by the gardener in the Young Master Manor.
The Empress asked the palace maid to bring a fruit plate and tasted a mouthful of melon. It was indeed fragrant, soft, and sweet. After eating the melon, she went to eat the plums and peaches. She thought that they would be slightly sour, but who knew that the strong peach taste and fragrance woke up her taste buds.
The Empress had never eaten mulberries before. Yu Wan picked a purple one for her. It was a very unfamiliar taste, but it was very sweet and refreshing.
“Send some over to the Eldest Princess Consort,” the Empress said.
“There’s more in the carriage,” Yu Wan instructed Zi Su and Su Mu. “Go get it and send it to the Eldest Princess Consort’s bedchamber.”
“Yes.”
The two of them accepted the order and left.
The two of them sent a few baskets of fresh fruits to the bedchamber where the Eldest Princess Consort was. Yu Wan chatted with the Empress for a while and planned to leave. However, just as she was about to walk out of Zhaoyang Palace, the maidservant beside the Eldest Princess Consort rushed over.
The Empress glanced at her. “What’s wrong?”
The maidservant said, “Your Highness, the Eldest Princess Consort’s safety talisman is missing!”
The Empress’s face darkened. “If it’s gone, then go look for it. Hurry up!”
Yu Wan looked at the Empress in shock.
The Empress also knew that her reaction was too big and she had almost lost her composure. However, she could not help but be nervous because she had asked her son to personally go to Puji Temple to beg for that safety talisman. It was the abbot of Puji Temple who had blessed it and could bless the Eldest Princess Consort to give birth to a little heir.
“It has been blessed. It’s to bless the mother and son,” the Empress said to Yu Wan.
Yu Wan nodded. The ancient people were superstitious. They would definitely be uneasy if such an important thing disappeared.
“What does it look like? We’ll help look for it too,” she said.
The Empress said, “A red talisman pouch. Inside is a talisman and a piece of jade. That’s also a blessed jade.”
