The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 649 - 611: Paying Respects to the Empress, Su Yi Sets Out (Part 1)
Song Yuanbao was quite shaken by the realization of his uncle-nephew relationship with Zhao Xi, completely forgetting about the Imperial Examination.
When Wen Wan mentioned it, he immediately reacted with excitement, "That’s great! If I pass as the top scholar a year early, I can retrieve the painting a year ahead of time."
Wen Wan was puzzled, "What painting?"
Weren’t they talking about getting married? How did it become about a painting?
Song Yuanbao just smiled, without revealing the little secret between him and Ye Ling.
Wen Wan didn’t press him further, allowing him to prepare for the exams in peace.
Song Yuanbao was full of confidence, "The provincial exams are next August, and the national exams start in March the following year. I have more than a year to prepare. As long as there isn’t a candidate like the Crown Prince in the exam room, I’ll be fine."
Wen Wan was worried he might be too arrogant, "No matter what, you can’t be careless."
——
The New Year was approaching, and all the residences in the Capital were starting to get busy, including the Song Mansion.
Every year at this time, Wen Wan was busy with the abacus, calculating everything from the cost of fabric for clothes for both the masters and servants of the household, to cosmetics, jewelry, and hair accessories, to the cost of medicines and supplements, and even incense money donated to temples, not to mention various other miscellaneous expenses.
By the end of a day’s calculations, it was more exhausting than three days of manual labor. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂
Yun Shisan and Yun Shiliu were recently treating Xu Dengke, so Jinbao was given an early holiday.
The little guy had nothing to do and saw Wen Wan lying on the Arhat Bed, not wanting to move, so he mimicked Yun Cai and Linglong by massaging his mother’s shoulders.
The strength was so light, it was like a tickle.
It was rare for her son to be so attentive, so Wen Wan didn’t discourage him, saying he massaged better than Yun Cai and Linglong.
Jinbao, having been praised, blinked his big, expressive eyes, "Since I did well, does Mother have a reward for me?"
Wen Wan turned to look at him, "What kind of reward do you want?"
"I want to enter the palace." Jinbao was unreserved, "Brother says the Imperial Palace is big, but Mother and Father never take me when they go. I want to see it too."
Wen Wan smiled and patted his little head, "The Imperial Palace is a place of importance. You can’t just enter; there must be a summons from a noble."
"No, I want to enter the palace." Jinbao pouted, his little fat hands shaking Wen Wan’s arm.
"Be good and don’t make a fuss. Next time there’s a chance, Mother will take you, okay?"
"Mother, you promised, no lying."
"Yes, I won’t lie to you."
...
As if sensing Jinbao’s desire, someone from the palace came the next day, saying the Empress summoned Princess Yong’an to the palace and specifically instructed to bring Jinbao along.
This made the little guy extremely happy, and early in the morning, he had the maid Hong Xiu help choose his clothes. Only after he was dressed warmly did he run to the inner courtyard to see Wen Wan.
Wen Wan had just finished grooming. The mother and son sat and had breakfast together. After that, Wen Wan changed into her noblewoman’s attire and set out, taking a carriage to the gate of the Imperial City and then transferring to a palanquin to Kunning Palace.
Currently, Kunning Palace belonged to Empress Qi, who was wearing a deep red robe with embroidered golden dragon patterns, sitting on a cushion-lined zitan inlaid with cloisonné throne.
The former Chief Palace Maid Gu Yu had become an aunt, and it was she who led Wen Wan and her son inside.
Before coming, Wen Wan had carefully taught Jinbao the rules, so after entering the hall, Jinbao didn’t dare to act recklessly and knelt with Wen Wan to pay respects to the Empress.
"Wan girl, no need for so many courtesies." After Empress Qi spoke, she signaled to Gu Yu, who quickly bent down to support the mother and son, and then had seats arranged for them.
After taking her seat, Empress Qi scrutinized Wen Wan.
Seeing Wen Wan dressed in a Cloud and Peacock Pattern Crown attire, the costume was intricate, and since she was seated, her figure was not discernible. Only her hands were visible, long, slender, and fair, indicating how well she was usually maintained.
It wasn’t the first time Empress Qi had seen Wen Wan; she also attended palace banquets in the past, but it was the first time Wen Wan visited the Central Palace as a Commandery Princess.
Given her prior status, it was inevitable for Empress Qi to associate Wen Wan with that self-dismissed lady of the clan.
To be honest, Wen Wan did somewhat resemble Changping in appearance, but their demeanors were entirely different. Changping had a cold and sharp aura, extremely aggressive, while Wen Wan embodied the gentle and graceful qualities of a Jiangnan woman. Even though she was now a mother, she still seemed as fragile as if she’d break with a fall.
If such a type of woman were in the harem, nine out of ten would be pretending, affected, all just to win the favor of the Emperor.
But when it comes to Wen Wan, it doesn’t seem deliberate at all, as if she was inherently like this, naturally eliciting a protective instinct in others.
Probably accustomed to competing with harem women all the time, Empress Qi found it hard to adjust when encountering someone like her. After a while, she said, "The Emperor has told me about your situation. Drifting outside for so many years must have been tough for you."
Wen Wan replied, "My foster father has lived up to my biological father’s expectations, fulfilling his responsibilities to me over the years. I don’t find it tough."
Empress Qi sighed lightly, expressing regret, "It’s a pity your parents are not here, or else they could enjoy family happiness with you at this moment."
"There will be opportunities in the future." Wen Wan said with a smile.
Although this amnesty did not come to pass, she believes it won’t take a lifetime; her parents will always have a chance to return to the Capital.
Even if, in the worst case, they can’t return, she can still find an opportunity to visit them.
Empress Qi had her step forward and took the golden dragon and pearl bracelet from her own wrist, putting it on hers.
Wen Wan quickly expressed her gratitude.
This sort of meeting gift is prevalent in the Capital. At first, Wen Wan was puzzled as to why elders liked to take off their bracelets or jewelry to give to younger ones at their first meeting. Later, when she went to Hongwen Academy, she learned that giving one’s personal belongings to others signifies closeness.
Normally, Wen Wan wouldn’t dare accept something as valuable as the golden dragon and pearl bracelet, but before she left, Song Wei had instructed her to accept whatever the Empress gave her, considering her status as a Commandery Princess. It was befitting.
Thus, Wen Wan did not refuse.
Empress Qi’s summoning of Wen Wan into the palace was merely to align with Emperor Guangxi’s intentions, to curry favor with this suddenly emerged niece. However, she couldn’t compare to Empress Su’s smoothness and eloquence in handling situations, nor did she have much common ground with Wen Wan. So, after a few words, her attention shifted to Jinbao.
The little boy’s head was shaved smooth except for a small tuft of hair, resembling a peach tip. His little arms and legs were wrapped in thick cotton clothes, and his eyes were as clear and bright as a fairy child stepping out from a New Year’s painting. He was currently looking around the grand hall with curiosity.
Looking at Jinbao, Empress Qi thought of Zhao Xi.
Before the age of six, Zhao Xi was as lively and lovely as Jinbao, especially when he was learning to talk. Everyone who saw him wanted to hold him. But after going to the Study Room at six, he started to demand stricter disciplines of himself each day, shedding his innate childishness layer by layer. By now, he was no longer the adorable boy who would nibble on his fists when hungry. Busy with governmental affairs, it was rare for him to visit Kunning Palace.
"Jinbao, do you know who I am?" Empress Qi suddenly asked.
Jinbao turned his head, looked at Empress Qi, and then softly said, "Empress."
"Wrong." Empress Qi shook her head, "Guess again. Call me correctly and you will be rewarded handsomely."
Jinbao couldn’t figure out the relationship and could only look at Wen Wan.
Wen Wan smiled, "Think carefully, what should you call your mother’s aunt?"
The little boy counted on his fingers, all ten were used up, and he still couldn’t find the right title. Eventually, he could only look at his mother for help, looking so adorably helpless that one would feel willing to give him their heart.
Wen Wan hinted, "Your mother’s aunt is your grand-aunt."
The little boy sniffed, "Grand-aunt, isn’t that Aunt Grandma?"
"Aunt Grandma is how we call it in the countryside. In the palace, you should call her Grandmother."
"It doesn’t matter," Empress Qi said, "As long as the little one likes it, he can call me however he wishes."
This was a very tolerant statement, but Wen Wan didn’t dare to accept such leniency, "The child doesn’t understand yet, Your Majesty, please don’t indulge him too much, lest he fails to learn well in the future."
"How could that be?" Empress Qi said, "Song Wei’s character is of noble quality. His eldest son turned out to be a prodigy, and naturally, his younger son would not be lacking either. Wan, you are just too nervous."
Wen Wan felt somewhat embarrassed by the compliment.
Having stayed in Kunning Palace for a while, Wen Wan noticed Empress Qi seemed a bit fatigued, so she got up to take her leave.
Before leaving, Empress Qi had someone reward Jinbao with several little toys, seemingly prepared in advance, each exceedingly exquisite. Jinbao liked them very much, his face beaming with joy.
The current position of Wen Wan in Emperor Guangxi’s heart was well known to everyone in the harem. As soon as they heard she was at Kunning Palace, several of them prepared gifts and waited. Just as Wen Wan stepped out of the Kunning Gate, she was intercepted by Palace Attendants and eunuchs from other palaces, saying their masters requested her presence.
After visiting several palaces repeatedly, she left with a box full of precious items.
Although they were good items, coming from the palace, they mostly could only be kept for personal use – they couldn’t be sold or given away at will.
When the carriage reached the crowded streets, Wen Wan heard from the commoners outside something: the heir’s wife of the Lu Family had contracted a stubborn illness and had already set out today, preparing to go to Suzhou for recuperation.
