usatvline Chapter 601: Chrysanthemums in the Imperial Garden
Chapter 601: Chrysanthemums in the Imperial Garden
Cining Palace.
Not only did they pay their respects but they also received rewards, and the Empress Dowager also gave them seats.
Chuchu looked up again, and she didn't expect that the empress dowager was completely different from what she had imagined. In the past, she had seen the old general's burly appearance, and Chuchu thought that the empress dowager would also be tall and strong, with eight-pack abs! She never thought that she would be very young and beautiful.
The Empress Dowager was still a very young and beautiful young woman. The Emperor looked about 50% similar to her. She looked nothing like the old general and she didn't even have the heroic spirit of Hongying.
She was dressed more casually than Hongying, not wearing bright red or green. Although the style of her clothes was still very solemn, the color was a somewhat Buddhist purple-gray, which made people feel comfortable. She was a very steady, yet quiet and elegant beautiful woman.
It is said that the Empress Dowager's mother, Hongying's great-grandmother, was an old woman who gave birth to a daughter and died shortly after giving birth to her. I think she must have been a beautiful and elegant woman.
When the Empress Dowager came to visit her parents, she only saw her from afar at General Qi's mansion, and Chuchu didn't even see her face.
However, it is conceivable that if it were not for this appearance, how could she have such a glorious and handsome son? Otherwise, even in order to curb the power of General Qi at that time, the emperor might not have taken her into the palace, allowing her to obtain one of the four major concubines.
Her temperament as calm as orchid is really not comparable to the bright and arrogant appearance of the favored Concubine Qiong. This is what a proper master should be like. Seeing her, Chu Chu cursed in his heart: The old emperor is blind, so he favors Concubine Qiong alone.
But it's hard to say. Not everyone is willing to serve and please the retired emperor every day. Maybe the empress dowager concentrates on worshiping Buddha just as a pretext to avoid his harassment.
Chuchu likes the Queen Mother's personality. If it were her, she would probably drug her directly.
Perhaps because she saw Chuchu staring at her blankly, as if she was thinking about something but not saying anything, the Queen Mother suddenly asked, "Are you Chuchu? Sister Yan didn't look as good as you when she was a child. She didn't seem to be very smart, but she married a good husband."
Although she spoke ill of other people's mothers, the Empress Dowager had a smile on her face. Chu Chu saw that she did not mean to slander her mother intentionally. Instead, it was the true opinion of an elder towards the younger one.
Chuchu smiled, because her grandmother made the same comment about her mother, and her tone was even more disdainful.
After thinking for a while, Chuchu smiled and replied: "After the Queen Mother said this, Chuchu realized that the praise she received was actually because of her mother's support."
The Queen Mother heard Chuchu's answer and smiled: "No wonder the Queen talks about you every day, it turns out you are a smart guy.
She keeps telling me about your trip to Qingzhou County, and it makes me so excited that I wish I could grow wings and fly away."
The Empress Dowager looked composed, with a smile on her face, and a look of longing on her face, but one could feel the vicissitudes of life within.
The Empress Dowager had never thought of being trapped in the cage of the palace for the rest of her life, had she? When she was a child, she might have had the same mindset as Hongying, wanting to travel the world and be a free-flying bird.
But considering the Empress Dowager's status, she could not help but feel a little surprised that she would express her inner thoughts so bluntly to these half-grown children.
She was worried that the Queen Mother would use her status as an elder to lecture them, but she didn't expect her to be so kind.
Moreover, he was smiling at her when he said this, which made her feel relieved.
After thinking for a while, she responded, "Your Majesty, I heard that there are several palaces outside the imperial city. The scenery there is comparable to that of the south of the Yangtze River. It would be great if you could follow the Empress Dowager to see them."
Chuchu's words surprised the Empress Dowager and a gleam of light flashed in her eyes. At such a young age, she knew how to make plans for her elders. In fact, she had this idea a long time ago, but she had not made the final decision.
I felt that now I had an excuse to go out, so I said, "Princess Yaoxiang is really smart. Let me talk to the emperor. When it gets warmer in the spring, I will let you accompany me to the palace to broaden your horizons."
Finally, he said, "Let's start from the farthest palace."
That expression seemed a little proud and relaxed, just like a canary that had been locked up for half its life and was suddenly about to escape from its cage.
When Hongying heard this, she happily winked at Chuchu sitting opposite her. She seemed very satisfied with the Queen Mother's decision. She had already leaned to the Queen Mother's side and said, "Mother, we have to go there to escape the heat in the summer, to enjoy the red leaves in the fall, and to enjoy the snow in the winter. We will not come back unless we stay for a month or half a decade at a time."
Once the Empress Dowager got interested, she was unequivocal: "That's the way it should be. Otherwise, what is the purpose of building a palace? Is it just to raise sparrows, wild cats and dogs?"
Taking advantage of the Empress Dowager's happiness, Hongying continued to act coquettishly and said, "Mother, come with us to the Imperial Garden to appreciate the chrysanthemums later. Although it is more than ten days late now, I sent someone to check yesterday. The chrysanthemums of various colors are still blooming brightly. Mother will definitely like them."
Chuchu also agreed, "Why don't we pick some and make two pillows for the Empress Dowager? They can clear the liver and improve eyesight, and I guarantee that the Empress Dowager will sleep more soundly with them."
"Okay, okay, I'll do as the Queen and Lady Yaoxiang say, and I'll go too.
I know that the Queen must have spent a lot of time and effort to arrange for the arrival of the little sisters. Wouldn't it be a loss if I don't go? You guys go ahead first, I'll pack up a little and then go with Nanny Lan."
Chuchu looked at Nanny Lan who was serving beside her. She was in her early forties and seemed to be a very calm person. Her eyes were sharp, but she was low-key and gentle in her dealings. When they were talking just now, she just sat there quietly with her hands down and didn't say a word.
I think it should be the one that Hongying mentioned at the beginning, one of the maids that the Empress Dowager brought into the palace as a dowry. She has been in the palace for more than 20 years without any major setbacks, and has always stayed by her master's side. I think she is also a reliable and smooth person.
Sitting in the pavilion waiting for the queen who had not yet arrived because she was changing her clothes, they did not dare to act rashly and just quietly admired the chrysanthemums in the garden. Even Wen Ya and Ming Ming did not dare to pick a single one.
A corner of the Imperial Garden is now planted with various varieties of chrysanthemums. They are colorful and dazzling. You can't think of any color that is not available. There are long petals, short petals, single petals, double petals, curly petals, naturally stretched petals, and various shapes. It seems that varieties of chrysanthemums from all over the country have been collected and are being grown very well. They must have been kept in the greenhouse originally and were rearranged specially because of their arrival.