Palace Intrigue?: I Make the Emperor Cry by Rewinding Time!-Chapter 164 - 138:
On New Year’s Eve, according to ancestral tradition, the Emperor is supposed to stay at Jianzhang Palace.
To show the world the harmony of the Heavenly Court.
In the past, no matter how busy Xie Zhixing was, he would arrive early at Jianzhang Palace to discuss year-end matters with the Empress like an ordinary couple, caring for and affirming her hard work and accomplishments... This year, such treatment will no longer be available. He has planned a full itinerary to accompany Yun Jiao to New Year’s Eve dinner, ice skating in the West Garden, watching fireworks, and after putting her to sleep, he will go to Jianzhang Palace to read by lamp until morning.
He has planned it well.
Until he saw Concubine Li and Consort Ji beside Yun Jiao in Xianfu Palace.
"Greetings, Emperor."
The two greeted him nervously.
Concubine Xi insisted on bringing them along, and if they had known the Emperor was coming, they wouldn’t have joined in the excitement.
Concubine Xi herself did not mind, but the Emperor’s face was dark as a pot’s bottom.
Xie Zhixing: "I need an explanation."
"It’s the holiday season, more people add to the merriment."
Yun Jiao noticed his slight dissatisfaction and approached to tug on him.
His expression slightly relaxed, nodding: "I will dine with you all for New Year’s Eve, you’ve worked hard this year. After the meal, Concubine Li and Consort Ji should rest early." The implication was clear - all should be sensible, and not follow for the subsequent activities. He wanted a private world with Concubine Xi.
They were about to nod under the imperial command, when Yun Jiao interrupted: "Emperor, I’ve already eaten, let’s hurry up to have fun!"
"...You won’t wait for me to have the New Year’s Eve dinner?"
This wasn’t Yun Jiao’s wish not to wait.
When she thought that if the Emperor arrived, Concubine Li sister and Consort Ji would surely be uncomfortable, turning from a familial feast to a company event, she decided to start the feast first and enjoy the merriment. These days, her unborn child seemed to resonate with the New Year’s atmosphere, not troubling her, allowing her to indulge and savor the gourmet food.
In winter, to eat green vegetables, one must retrieve them from the Hot Spring Villa and the greenhouse.
Even on the consort’s table, fresh jade-like greens were rare, and mouth ulcers from internal heat were common in the palace, but Yun Jiao lacked nothing. She could eat her favorite fresh bamboo shoots, radish, cabbage, and yellow sprouts freely.
Yun Jiao specifically requested a pot made with fish maw chicken soup, adding noodles and mushrooms.
Cooked long enough, biting into it made the juice almost cling to one’s lips.
Vegetables were scarce, let alone readily available meats.
What the Imperial Household presented was already delivered in heaps to Xianfu Palace, requiring the Imperial Physician to work overtime, with many vigilant eyes ensuring food safety. New Year is a significant event, with the imperial family and vassal states traditionally sending New Year’s gifts. Because of the proximity to the Longevity Festival, some smart ones brought two sets of gifts, offering one earlier and another at New Year, avoiding long travels.
In previous years, apart from what the Emperor kept himself and categorized for rewards, he handed over everything to the Empress for distribution among the Six Palaces and arranged portions to honor the Empress Dowager, allowing the Empress to share the filial gratitude.
How much she withheld, as long as it wasn’t excessive, the Emperor never inquired.
It was a case of unrestricted benefits.
This year, Xie Zhixing directly sent it to Changle Palace for the Empress Dowager to distribute.
She wasn’t interested in competing with younger concubines, considering it a task entrusted by her son, distributing it fairly.
This fairness turned sour.
Could fairness cause problems?
The concubines of the Six Palaces looked at the distributed New Year gifts, eagerly inquiring if times were better this year. Upon receiving a negative answer, they immediately understood—previously, the Empress was holding back the good stuff. As long as the Empress didn’t exceed the Empress Dowager’s rights, no amount of extravagance was wrong. Yet fairness speaks for itself—they felt the Empress of the Central Palace was unfair.
...
"Emperor, as someone pregnant, I cannot starve! Fortunately, there are two sisters to dine with."
With many kind words, Yun Jiao managed to soothe Xie Zhixing’s expression.
She hoped to have sisters accompany her ice skating, and he couldn’t dampen her spirits, thus allowing the two to leave the palace together. As the carriage arrived at the West Garden, the snow had just stopped, leaving a layer of snow on the ice, beautifully.
The people at the Manufacturing Office racked their brains to please the Emperor, the ice surface had both snow and ice sculptures, knowing Concubine Xi had a favorite horse, they crafted an ice sculpture resembling the Little Red Rabbit, placing two lamps in its eye hollows as ice lamps.
Even Consort Ji, who usually maintained the demeanor of an aristocratic lady, couldn’t help but be impressed.
Yun Jiao was delighted: "It would be great to have an ice slide built."
She gestured the slide’s shape to the Chief Eunuch.
"That’s easy, if you fancy it, Lady, you can play on it in a couple of days."
The eunuch quickly replied with a smile.
"It’s too cold, it won’t do."
Xie Zhixing frowned, and Yun Jiao knew pregnant women couldn’t play on ice slides, lamenting: "I just had a thought—if not this year, there’s next year."
Yes, there is next year. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂
He loved hearing her long-term plans, assuring him that she would remain by his side next year.
At that moment, Consort Ji remarked: "Emperor’s devotion to Concubine Xi is truly enviable, this time, thanks to Lady, I could come ice skating in the West Garden. Lady mentioned wanting to speak privately with the Emperor—please grant it."
This statement earned Xie Zhixing’s approving glance.
As expected of a daughter from the Ji Family, never disappointing him in recognizing situations.
He immediately instructed the Chief Eunuch to select some palace attendants skilled in ice skating to serve the two masters, while he and Yun Jiao took the sleigh. The sleigh was built solid and spacious, complete with soft cushions. Xie Zhixing sat inside first, beckoning Yun Jiao to sit on his lap. Holding a hand warmer, she gazed around, the sky unspoiled by light pollution, scattered with stars, gold glimmers flickering in the sky. She breathed out a white mist, feeling life hadn’t been wasted:
"Emperor, I’m starting to like this place."
"Didn’t like it before? What don’t you like?"
Xie Zhixing’s warm palm gripped her waist.
Yun Jiao didn’t look at him; his visage was fine, but seeing it daily could grow dull. The snowy world around captivated her: "I dislike this patriarchal society, dividing people into hierarchies."
These words, if displeasing to the Emperor, might make her reload!
In the vast snowy landscape, she didn’t want to lie, preferring silence.
"This is beyond my power to change, nor do I wish to change," Xie Zhixing did not agree with her. Could a world in the Heavenly Court be matriarchal? This was outside his realm, yet he didn’t refute it, merely gently said: "I can only assure you will be at the top of those hierarchies."
Eight eunuchs pulled the sleigh, ensuring a steady pace.
Yun Jiao wished for speed, passing ice lamps, the light casting quickly on her innocent, beautiful face, creating a mystical rhythm. The Emperor treated her well, she was a beneficiary among many, so finding fault felt wrong, yet she suddenly understood.
No matter the era, the world spun on.
Under the starlit sky, she felt as insignificant as a mote of dust.
"Emperor."
Yun Jiao tilted her face, seeing snow on his eyelashes. She instinctively reached out to brush it away but almost poked his eye. The restless hand was caught by him, she awkwardly said: "I didn’t mean to; I just saw snow on your lashes."
"Your thoughtfulness means a lot."
Today, he didn’t wear the Dragon Robe, but a bright red regular suit embroidered with golden dragons, a rare man able to wear it elegantly without vulgarity, the red evident in the white, accentuating his unparalleled grace. At the angle he gazed, the reflection in his pupils vanished, only deep, unfathomable black remained: "Your face has snow too, why not wipe it yourself?"
