Chapter 358

Chapter 358 Xie Run stared at the plum blossoms on the branches and suddenly felt a craving. "Seeing these plum blossoms, I find myself wanting a taste of plum blossom wine." "What a coincidence!" Lady Lu laughed. "Consort Fang is most skilled at making all kinds of wine. This autumn, I was fortunate enough to taste Consort Fang's osmanthus wine, and its flavor is something I still can't forget to this day." Xie Run looked over curiously. Consort Fang seemed a bit embarrassed. "Just a minor skill, hardly worth such praise." "How is it a minor skill? Though I haven't seen many fine things, I've tasted the wines in the palace, and none come close to Consort Fang's craftsmanship." Consort Fang was too embarrassed by the praise. "If Your Ladyship and Sister Lu don't mind, I'll make some plum blossom wine this year and send it to each palace for a taste." Xie Run smiled warmly. "I went out to admire plum blossoms and came back with plum blossom wine for free—how could I possibly mind?" With laughter and chatter, the afternoon passed quickly. Seeing the sky growing dim, Xie Run led her people back. Just as she arrived at Zhaohua Palace, she saw an unfamiliar eunuch bowing to her. "This servant greets Consort Zhaode." Xie Run raised her hand. "Rise." She asked curiously, "You look rather unfamiliar, Eunuch. Which palace are you from?" "This servant was newly promoted by His Majesty to serve in the Imperial Study. My humble name is Jiuzhang." "Jiuzhang?" Xie Run smiled. "That's a fine name. Was it bestowed by His Majesty?" Xie Run thought of Eunuch Shian, the emperor's chief eunuch. A smile appeared on Eunuch Jiuzhang's fair face. "Reporting to Your Ladyship, indeed it was." "Then it seems His Majesty holds you in great trust." Xie Run asked gently, "Has Eunuch Jiuzhang come to Zhaohua Palace bearing an imperial decree?" Eunuch Jiuzhang said respectfully, "His Majesty has issued a decree that the Sixth Prince shall henceforth be raised by Noble Lady Xian. However, His Majesty heard that Your Ladyship had gone out to admire plum blossoms and specifically instructed me to wait until your return before announcing the decree, so as not to disturb Your Ladyship's enjoyment." Xie Run's delicate brows moved slightly as she thought of the impatient Noble Lady Xian. "Has only Eunuch Jiuzhang come today? How long have you been waiting? Have the people of Zhaohua Palace attended to you properly?" Eunuch Jiuzhang answered each question in turn. "Noble Lady Xian has also come and is currently waiting in the main hall. The people of Zhaohua Palace have treated this servant extremely well. It's just that I was focused on delivering His Majesty's decree, so I waited at the gate to relay the message to Your Ladyship at the earliest opportunity." Xie Run smiled. "You've worked hard, Eunuch Jiuzhang." No sooner had she spoken than Dantao stepped forward and handed Eunuch Jiuzhang a thick pouch of money. "The weather is freezing cold, and you've come all this way. This is from Her Ladyship for you to buy some tea." Eunuch Jiuzhang hurriedly declined. After a bit of back-and-forth, he finally accepted the pouch. Xie Run also had someone escort him to the side chamber for tea before she unhurriedly returned to the main hall. With a single glance, she could see the urgency in Noble Lady Xian's heart. The palace maid Wenjin beside her was still trying to comfort her. Xie Run raised her voice. "I've kept you waiting, Sister. It was my momentary whim that nearly delayed your important matter." Noble Lady Xian's eyes lit up the moment she saw Xie Run appear. She quickly stood, instinctively wanting to raise the matter of taking the Sixth Prince to her own palace. It was Wenjin who tugged at her sleeve in time, helping her regain some composure. She answered Xie Run awkwardly, "How could that be?" "Sister had already arranged to admire plum blossoms, and even His Majesty said not to disturb you. It is I who intruded suddenly and nearly spoiled your enjoyment." When it came to saying pleasant things, Noble Lady Xian was capable of it too. No matter what she was thinking at this moment, in order to take the Sixth Prince to her palace as soon as possible, she could only speak sweetly to Xie Run. Xie Run smiled. "I already heard His Majesty's decree at the gate and know why you've come." Seeing the excitement in Noble Lady Xian's eyes, Xie Run said slowly, "I will have someone pack up the Sixth Prince's belongings right away so he can move to Yongming Palace." "I only wonder if you've made proper arrangements for the Sixth Prince on your end. If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask the attendants serving the Sixth Prince." Noble Lady Xian struggled to suppress the smile at the corners of her mouth. "I've already had everything prepared. Now we're only waiting for the Sixth Prince to come over." Seeing how impatient she was, Xie Run didn't make excuses to delay and immediately had people pack up the belongings. Everything was going smoothly—until the new wet nurse was about to carry the Sixth Prince away, and he suddenly burst into loud crying. Xie Run was startled as well. Taotao, who had been playing, heard the crying and looked around in confusion. Seeing that it was her sixth brother crying, her mouth puckered and she too let out a wail. Two cries sounded simultaneously, as if competing to see whose voice was louder. The alternating cries gave Xie Run a throbbing headache. The incident happened so suddenly that no one had anticipated it. To soothe the two children, Zhaohua Palace fell into chaos. After finally calming them down, the Sixth Prince refused Noble Lady Xian's embrace and instead looked at Xie Run with tearful eyes. He called out to Xie Run, "Mother, hold me!" Xie Run stood there dumbfounded, while Noble Lady Xian looked at her in disbelief. That look was as if Xie Run were trying to snatch her son away. Xie Run: There was truly no way to explain this now. Xie Run had never taught the Sixth Prince to call her "Mother Fei." She guessed that Taotao had called her that, and the Sixth Prince had heard it and mimicked her. However, Xie Run's status was different now, and there was no need to explain herself to Noble Lady Xian. She only said, "Children tend to recognize people at this age. Sister, what do you think should be done?" Noble Lady Xian actually wanted to try again, but whenever she approached the Sixth Prince, he avoided her as if she were a plague. If she reached out, the Sixth Prince would pucker his mouth and start to cry. Noble Lady Xian felt deeply wronged. "Just a few days ago, the Sixth Prince loved clinging to me." "It's only been a short while, and now not only does he not recognize me, but he cries whenever he sees me..." Xie Run's face suddenly turned cold. She looked at Noble Lady Xian with icy eyes and demanded, "What do you mean by that, Noble Lady Xian?" "Are you insinuating that I taught the Sixth Prince to distance himself from you?!" The mild questioning, paired with her suddenly cold expression, startled Noble Lady Xian. She had never been one with a strong temperament, and she immediately softened her voice. "I wouldn't dare. I just, I just..." Flustered, she lost her composure, and her mind went blank. Xie Run couldn't be bothered to argue with her. She waved her hand and said, "Since the Sixth Prince is unwilling, it wouldn't be right to force him away from Zhaohua Palace." "It's getting late today. The Sixth Prince will stay in Zhaohua Palace for now. Noble Lady Xian, come again tomorrow!" Xie Run's words were a direct order. Noble Lady Xian widened her eyes, staring at the imposing Xie Run, and dared not utter a single word of objection. In the end, she could only take her attendants and leave, filled with reluctance. Dantao sighed. "What are we going to do about this?"