Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 800 - 2: Imperial Manor (Part 2)

Morning.

I don’t know which mischievous bird it was, singing merrily and melodiously on the tree branch before dawn.

The chirping ceased only when the sun moved high in the sky.

The always tightly closed door was gently pushed open. The Empress emerged already dressed and fresh. Her pale face was tinged with a rosy hue, her eyes gleamed, and her smile was dazzlingly charming.

In contrast, Elder Changning appeared to tread lightly, occasionally rubbing his waist.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Last night was indeed a bit wild.

Jiang Shaohua smiled lightly, saying, "I’ll take a lap around the Imperial Manor. You just don’t go, take a rest."

Cui Du stubbornly said, "I’m not tired at all, I’ll run with you."

Jiang Shaohua did not expose him, nodded agreeably, "That’s fine."

What Jiang Shaohua meant by running a lap is literally jogging on the small paths of the Imperial Manor. She could originally run faster, but out of consideration for her husband’s weak legs, she deliberately slowed down a bit.

The gentle spring breeze carried the fragrant scent of grass and young wheat, blowing softly.

Jiang Shaohua sighed with pleasure, "I haven’t felt this free and relaxed in a long time."

Reflecting on the past year, life was spent in busy toil every day. Whether facing everyone in the palace or the court officials, she had to switch between different faces, use all sorts of methods to make everyone submit, and constantly worry about national affairs and the people’s well-being. Such days were truly exhausting.

In the Imperial Manor, she seemed to have returned to Nanyang County, back to the youthful days of her girlhood.

Cui Du, seeing Jiang Shaohua’s bright and radiant smile, felt a warm surge in his heart. He reached out to hold Jiang Shaohua’s hand, "If you like it here, stay a few more days."

Jiang Shaohua playfully blinked, "I indeed have that plan. I’ll return to the palace when Chancellor Chen urges us."

After running a while, Cui Du felt somewhat out of breath and slowed his pace.

Jiang Shaohua laughed and also slowed her pace, walking leisurely hand in hand with Cui Du.

Song Yuan, leading over a hundred trusted aides, surrounded them front and back. There were hundreds of farmers in the Imperial Manor, and their identities had been checked several times. But, given the example of the palace’s Death Warriors before, Song Yuan was exceptionally cautious.

Jiang Shaohua was long accustomed to having aides accompany her, and Cui Du was used to it as well. The couple walked hand in hand affectionately, occasionally whispering and joking.

They wandered like this for an hour before returning, satisfied.

Upon returning, they were immediately faced with Princess Bao’er’s unhappy pout.

"Mom is bad."

"Dad is bad."

The just one-year-old Princess Bao’er couldn’t express her dissatisfaction with her parents sneaking away without her, and could only repeatedly say these few words.

Cui Du felt a pang of guilt under his daughter’s accusing gaze, squatted down to coax the little girl. Alas, the girl was little but with quite a temper, twisting her chubby body, ignoring her doting father.

Cui Du had no remedy, turned helplessly to look at Jiang Shaohua. Jiang Shaohua chuckled, stepping forward to pick up the girl, applied a bit of force with her right hand, and amidst the exclamations of the onlookers, Bao was thrown high into the air and then landed steadily back into her mother’s arms before being thrown up again.

The two nannies were extremely nervous, keeping their eyes fixed on Bao’er. Bao’er, however, was fearless, giggling nonstop in mid-air, laughing even more cheerfully upon returning to her mother’s embrace.

This was Bao’er’s favorite game. But, the nannies dared not play it, fearing they might hurt the Princess. They also lacked such strength. Only the Empress, could toss a child weighing over twenty pounds with ease as though throwing a sandbag.

After playing like this for a dozen times, the mother and daughter reconciled as if nothing had happened.

Bao’er reached out to hug her mother’s neck, leaned over, and planted a loud kiss.

Cui Du watched with envy, leaned over, "Bao’er, kiss daddy."

Bao’er was very generous, planted a sloppy wet kiss on her father’s face.

Cui Du didn’t mind at all, smiling broadly, "Mom held you for this long, let’s have dad hold you for a while. Don’t let your mom tire."

Jiang Shaohua teased him with a smile, "You accompanied me for half a day, are you sure you still have the strength to hold the girl?"

Cui Du insisted, "I’m not tired, I can hold her."

Jiang Shaohua then handed Bao’er over to Cui Du.

The family of three enjoyed lunch together. Cui Du thoughtfully put a bib around the girl to help her eat. Bao’er had already grown eight teeth, and her favorite lunch was soft rice with greasy braised pork and a little soup stirred in.

Cui Du tried to feed Bao’er, but she pushed her father’s hand away, insisting on eating by herself, grabbing the wooden spoon with her little hands. At least half a bowl of rice was scattered everywhere on the table and clothes.

Cui Du helplessly smiled at Jiang Shaohua, "Our girl is young, but her temper is not small at all. I wonder who she takes after with this stubborn streak."

Jiang Shaohua raised an eyebrow with a smile, "Since she’s not like you, she must be like me."

Indeed, Jiang Shaohua had been strong-willed and temperamental since she was young. Young Bao’er was just like her mother when she was little.

This was Chancellor Chen’s original comment.

Cui Du loved Jiang Shaohua’s confident and radiant presence the most, and reached to hold her hand.

Yet, halfway to reaching out, he was pushed away by the girl. Bao’er defiantly grabbed her mother’s hand and loudly announced, "Mom, mine."

Cui Du was amused and helpless, reached to grab Bao’er’s other small chubby hand, "Mom is yours, dad is also yours. Bao’er, be good. Dad and mom both love you the most."

Bao’er was satisfied, grabbing one with each hand, happily letting them play with her.

Cui Du let the girl sit on his shoulders, holding her small hands, and constantly shouted horse noises. When he grew tired, Jiang Shaohua took over the endlessly energetic girl, tossing her up and catching her again.

Cui Du was busy in the Imperial Manor daily, Jiang Shaohua, in the palace, and they rarely had the chance to accompany Bao’er. Rarely did both set aside all their affairs and wholeheartedly accompany their daughter, enjoying family bliss.

Just as Jiang Shaohua expected, Chancellor Chen directly handled all the affairs without disturbing the Empress’s few days of leisure.

Thus, they peacefully passed seven or eight days. With spring plowing approaching, Jiang Shaohua finally felt guilty and prepared to take Bao’er back to the palace.

Cui Du had to stay in the Imperial Manor for busy work, reluctantly embraced his wife and daughter, "I really can’t bear for you to leave."

Jiang Shaohua laughed softly, "Once the spring plowing is busy and there’s a break, I’ll bring Bao’er here for a short stay."

However, she teased in a low voice, "You may just be sore and weak."

Cui Du straightened his back instantly, "I’m so young and vigorous, how could I be sore and weak? The Empress may come and test."

Jiang Shaohua was amused to light laughter.

Bao’er simply couldn’t understand the affectionate banter between her parents, contentedly lying in her mother’s arms. As she was lifted onto the carriage, she waved to her teary-eyed father.