Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace-Chapter 87 strawberries

The last time, Chen Mo got things from East China Avenue, the Ministry of Internal Affairs is over there.

Chen Mo also happened to run into Ye Wanqiu there.

It seems Jingru Palace isn’t very far from there...

Chen Mo decided to head to Jingru Palace first.

...

Dong dong!

The morning bell reverberated through Bianliang. The grand gates of the Imperial City opened wide, and officials in various colorful robes depicting birds and beasts walked neatly on the bluestone path towards the Taihe Palace at the center of the Imperial Dynasty.

The ministers exchanged glances, whispering and discussing who to impeach next and how to place their people into positions.

Xiao Yunqi, dressed in an orange robe, waited quietly outside the hall, surrounded by many prominent ministers. Even the late-arriving Crown Prince Zhao Chong stood on this side.

However, the solemnity and bustle here did not affect Jingru Palace.

Jingru Palace is all about tranquility.

A bird unknown to Chen Mo chirped on the red wall, as if mocking the fat cat below that kept trying to catch its friend but never could.

The bird seemed to have had enough fun, scratched Fanqiu’s face with a claw, and landed back on the red wall, showing off with its partner among the chattering birds right in front of Fanqiu.

Fanqiu meowed angrily, trying to leap onto the red wall via a nearby tree, but being too fat, it could only abandon the idea in frustration.

Seeing Chen Mo enter, it seemed to feel embarrassed, turned its head, and swayed its tail as it walked into the inner palace.

"Creak..."

The doors of the inner palace opened, and Qing Shuang came out carrying a wooden basin. Seeing her, Chen Mo naturally said, "Qing Shuang, you need to have the Empress urge Fanqiu to lose some weight, it’s as fat as a pig, can’t even climb a tree."

Qing Shuang giggled a couple of times and then said:

"The Empress tried, but whenever Fanqiu isn’t fed enough, it goes to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to steal food. Once, it almost got beaten to death, luckily the Empress arrived just in time to save it. For its safety, the Empress stopped making it lose weight."

"Still, she should try again. If it gets any fatter, I’m afraid the Empress won’t even be able to hold it." Chen Mo laughed.

"Then you should tell the Empress yourself, I’m off to fetch water for her now." Qing Shuang replied.

"Is the Empress inside?" Chen Mo asked.

"Yes." Qing Shuang nodded.

...

As soon as Chen Mo entered the inner hall, a strong fragrance filled his nostrils. The hall was somewhat cluttered with spices and small bamboo pieces, making it hard to walk around.

In front of the dressing table, a woman in a white dress was tying up her hair with her back to Chen Mo.

"Qing Shuang, didn’t you go to fetch water? You’re back already?" Sensing the movement, Ye Wanqiu spoke without turning her head.

Realizing there was no response behind her, she immediately turned around.

And then was startled.

Because Chen Mo had somehow silently approached her, bowing with clasped hands and smiling, "Good morning, Consort Jing."

"Why is it... you?" Ye Wanqiu bit her lip, a light blush appearing on her smooth, warm-ivory cheeks as Chen Mo stood very close, his gentle breath brushing against the skin on her neck, causing a tingling sensation.

Chen Mo lightly coughed, smiling, "Does the Empress dislike having me around?"

"Of course not," Ye Wanqiu quickly replied.

"But hearing your tone, it seems you weren’t expecting me to come," Chen Mo teased lightly.

Ye Wanqiu realized the playful undertone in Chen Mo’s words, but rather than feeling annoyed, the warmth on her blush-filled cheeks increased as she responded, "Speak your business..."

Standing up, Chen Mo walked over to the window, opened it to let fresh air in, and said with a smile, "I came to check on the progress of the mahjong set. And to pay my respects to the Empress as well."

Hearing this, Ye Wanqiu felt inexplicably disappointed, realizing his visit was merely incidental. She bent down to take a wooden box from the cabinet, opened it, revealing several completed mahjong tiles, yet numbering only a dozen. She said, "This is all we have."

Chen Mo picked one up to inspect it and smiled, "The Empress truly has skillful hands, this handwriting is beautiful."

Ignoring him, Ye Wanqiu continued with her hair, securing it into a beautiful bun.

Since Chen Mo came, naturally he wasn’t here just to ask about the mahjong. He glanced around and noticed an exquisite box on the table, reaching out to pick it up.

Ye Wanqiu noticed this and tried to stop him from seeing it.

But then Chen Mo’s hand shifted slightly, brushing against Ye Wanqiu’s hand.

Instinctively withdrawing it, Ye Wanqiu found that Chen Mo hadn’t let go but instead studied her hand closely.

"You... you are bold," Ye Wanqiu was extremely flustered.

Chen Mo examined it with his gaze and remarked, "The Empress’s hands are truly beautiful, like delicate scallion roots. No wonder such elegant characters are written by them."

Having said that, he released her hand and continued to inspect the opened exquisite box, "What’s inside this box, Empress?"

Ye Wanqiu: "..."

Not planning to explain what just happened with my hand?

Ye Wanqiu’s eyes showed a hint of annoyance, looking at Chen Mo’s inquisitive eyes, she bit her lip, "Lip balm, don’t touch it."

"Lipstick?" Chen Mo muttered to himself and then put the lip balm back, taking a box out from his sleeve and handed it to Ye Wanqiu, "These strawberries are specially brought from Weiyang Palace for you, Empress."

When Chen Mo entered, he cast a quick glance around the room and noticed there were no strawberries in the fruit basket, which indicated they hadn’t received any. That’s why he decided to bring them out.

If there had been some, he wouldn’t have taken them out.

Chen Mo opened the wooden box; inside were only five strawberries.

He casually picked them up in the morning.

Looking at the bright red strawberries, Ye Wanqiu raised her eyebrows.

They were initially tributes from the Western Regions and later cultivated in the palace because of their popularity.

However, possibly due to regional differences or lack of expertise, the harvests were often small.

With so many nobles and royal family members in the palace to share them with, each person received only a tiny amount.

Someone like Ye Wanqiu, not favored, wouldn’t even get to smell a strawberry.

Ye Wanqiu stared dumbfounded at Chen Mo.

How favored must he be by the Empress!

Being just a eunuch, yet having strawberries to eat.

Seeing Ye Wanqiu stare blankly at him, Chen Mo waved his hand in front of her eyes, "Empress, don’t you like them?"

"N...no," Ye Wanqiu shook her head, "Why are you giving me strawberries... to eat?"

"Aren’t we friends? With such good things, of course, I thought of you, Empress," Chen Mo said matter-of-factly.

Ye Wanqiu was taken aback, when did we become friends?

This must be the boldest eunuch she had ever seen.

However, she wasn’t annoyed by his words and, after hesitating for a moment, picked up a strawberry and took a bite.