The Noble Consort is the most favored in the harem

Chapter 151 - Morning Lotus Gathering

"Exactly," Xia'an continued. "When you have no expectations, there's no disappointment. Remember, the Emperor is not just the Emperor of Huifang Courtyard; he is the Emperor of the entire palace. Do you understand?"

This one sentence finally made Chunqi see things clearly. Perhaps life had been too comfortable lately, making them forget that their mistress's husband wasn't just any ordinary man—he was the ruler of the land.

Understanding this took only a moment. They had all been through much at the Prime Minister's mansion. In the past, they used to hope that the Prime Minister would show more kindness to the first branch of the family. But eventually, even without his support, the first branch had continued to endure. Why spend each day in fear and worry? They would live as they always had, whether the Emperor visited or not.

Having regained her calm, Chunqi felt a weight lift from her shoulders. She set aside her task and turned to Xia'an with renewed excitement. "I noticed that the lotus flowers by the lake are in full bloom, and the lotus seeds must be ready to eat by now. How about we go early tomorrow morning and gather some for our mistress to make lotus seed porridge? It's cooling and refreshing—perfect for the season."

Seeing Chunqi's enthusiasm return, Xia'an felt reassured. "Good idea! If nothing comes up, I'll go with you."

"Are you sure that's alright? Who would attend to the mistress while you're gone?"

"Don't worry. If our mistress hears you're gathering lotus seeds, she might want to come along herself!"

Chunqi thought about it and agreed. Even if she didn't go into the water herself, just standing by the lake would brighten her mood. "Good thinking! Let's ask her. If more people are going, we should bring extra baskets so we don't have to make multiple trips."

"Alright."

The two of them discussed the plan and then went to inform Lin Wanyi, who was delighted and decided to join. When the Second Prince overheard, he insisted on coming along too. Suddenly, what had started as a simple outing became a bit more complicated.

After all, both Lin Wanyi and the Second Prince were supposed to be recovering from illness. If they were seen outside together, it could stir up trouble. After careful consideration, they decided to go early and return quickly to avoid drawing attention.

How early was this "early" exactly?

It was around the time of the hour of Mao (between 5 and 7 a.m.), when the sky was just beginning to brighten. They had already set out by then. At that time, not to mention the concubines, even the palace attendants wouldn't normally be up so early.

Moreover, this was by the lotus lake.

Du Momo and Eunuch Qiu stood under the veranda, carefully listening to Lin Wanyi and the Second Prince discussing their plans. At one moment, they were planning the route; the next, they were talking about how many baskets to bring—it was quite amusing. The two of them exchanged a glance but didn't interfere.

As they often said, whether or not the Emperor came, life still had to go on for them. Day after day, they guarded this little bit of favor, but the long wait either made one more sorrowful than the autumn flowers or honed one's heart as sharp as a blade.

Perhaps with this hope in mind, the next day, before dawn, faint lights began to appear from palace lanterns in the Huifang Courtyard. Not long after, everyone was ready to set out. Today, the Second Prince was brimming with energy.

Dressed in a light blue everyday robe with a lake-blue sash embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns, he wore a pair of small deerskin boots that wouldn't easily get soaked if they touched water. He also had on a dark-colored hooded cloak, which he could pull over himself if it got cold outside.

When he stepped out dressed like this, Lin Wanyi was quite pleased.

"Du Momo is indeed thoughtful; she prepared only the best for you."

The Second Prince smiled, not denying her words at all. It was the truth. Since Du Momo had come to look after him, his days finally seemed to have some hope.

Lin Wanyi dressed simply as well. For some reason, today she also chose light green attire, making her appearance very harmonious as she stood with the Second Prince.

In summer, the daylight brightened quickly. The farther they walked, the clearer the path became. Initially, Xiao Luzi carried a palace lantern, but then he simply placed it against a tree on the return path to avoid the trouble of carrying it. They could just pick it up on the way back.

As they walked along, just as Lin Wanyi predicted, they didn't encounter a single person. When they reached the lotus lake, the sky in the east was only beginning to show a faint light. On close inspection, even the sun's rays were still trapped beneath the clouds.

Chunqi exclaimed excitedly, "Lotus seeds are best picked in the early morning when the dew is still clinging to them. My lady and Second Prince, please wait here; this servant will go down."

With that, she tightened the cloth around her shoes and sleeves, then boarded the small boat prepared beforehand with Xiao Luzi and Xia'an. They paddled into the lotus lake. In this palace's lotus lake, aside from this spot, there were actually several other areas as well, though this was the largest.

The small boat moved along the lake, and in no time, it was hidden from view among the lotus leaves. Lin Wanyi, being relatively tall, could still catch glimpses of the three of them from her tiptoes.

But the Second Prince was different. Even if he stepped back a few paces, he could only see the lotus leaves, not the people. Anxiously, he stamped his foot.

"Lin Changzai, where are they? I can't see anything!" His little face, once filled with excitement, now held only worry.

Lin Wanyi glanced back at him and laughed. "Don't step back anymore; stepping back won't help. How about asking Eunuch Qiu to carry you? Then you'll be able to see!"

"Good idea, but can Eunuch Qiu handle it?"

The Second Prince widened his eyes at Qiu Ming. Though Qiu Ming was as thin as a stick, he couldn't refuse now. Besides, he wasn't exactly fragile. Carrying the Second Prince for a while shouldn't be a problem.

He bent down, squatting on the ground, and said to the Second Prince, "Don't worry, Your Highness. This servant will be careful!"

Hearing this, the Second Prince, even if he might fall, was delighted. Giggling, he climbed onto Qiu Ming's shoulders. Du Momo supported him from the side, reminding Qiu Ming to be extra careful.

Once the Second Prince was securely seated, Qiu Ming stood up. The view was now much broader. Not only could he see the small boat of the three servants, but he could even see further into the distance. The Second Prince looked around excitedly, quite pleased.

"Slow down, Your Highness, slow down!" Although Du Momo didn't stop him, her supporting hand on his back didn't let up, fearing that Qiu Ming might accidentally drop him.

Qiu Ming, surprisingly, smiled and said, "Don't worry, Momo. This servant is being careful." The Second Prince was lighter than he'd expected; initially, he thought it would be strenuous, but it turned out he was rather light. This realization made him feel a bit sorry for him.

Although he was already six years old, his body was as small as that of a three- or four-year-old. Feeling the Second Prince's excitement, even Qiu Ming, who was serving as his "base," felt happy along with him.

Lin Wanyi, alternating between watching Chunqi and the Second Prince, kept herself busy for much of the morning. Chunqi and the others worked quickly, managing to pick all the best lotus pods in the center of the lake.