Chapter 713: 713 Chapter: Bronze Mirror Reflecting Her Beauty, Fair Hands Binding His Hair
Little Concubine had not expected that her first attempt would be with untrained hands. With a "snap," the chopping board was set down too fiercely, making a louder noise than intended, which startled Lian Hua.
Peering through the dim nightlight, she confirmed that the others were still sound asleep before letting out a sigh of relief.
She carefully dressed herself, hastily tying her hair up into a bun, lifting and then letting down the master bedroom’s curtain. She crossed the living hall, closed the door quietly behind her, and went out, where Xiao Qing and Xiao Jizi were waiting with lanterns, ready to head to the kitchen.
By dawn, she had personally made a bowl of longevity noodles. This bowl used a single noodle coiled into the bowl, prepared with a clear soup that had been simmered for six Shichen, topped with a poached egg and garnished with chopped green onions, presenting a vibrant and fresh green.
This bowl of longevity noodles looked rather ordinary, yet every detail was a test of skill—the broth was clear to the bottom, rich and delicious in flavor; the noodles were of uniform thickness, offering a chewy and smooth texture; the egg’s yolk was perfectly soft in the middle.
When Lian Hua returned to the East Side Hall and carried the noodles through the living hall towards the Emperor, she saw through the curtains that His Majesty had already woken up. He was sitting in front of the bed, hair disheveled, his expression indiscernible.
She couldn’t help but smile, setting the noodles on the low table, then approached the curtains, lifting and securing them to the sides.
Once the curtains were fixed and she raised her eyes, she saw the Emperor clad in white undergarments with a dark pattern, his hair black as ink, sitting before the bed. His appearance was cool and his presence luxurious, unsullied by the common world, his facial features as if painted, a truly handsome man.
Lian Hua inwardly praised him incessantly, standing and watching for quite a while without doing anything further. The more she looked, the better he appeared. Such a beautiful man was hers; how could she not take a few more glances to her heart’s content?
The Emperor had heard her coming a while ago but remained still. Upon seeing her, the iciness slowly melted from him, his starry eyes bright. He looked up and quietly watched her every move, his gaze exceptionally soft.
As they locked eyes, Lian Hua’s smile grew wider as if she had gained a great advantage.
She immediately entered the moon gate, approached him, and solemnly performed a curtsy, chortling, "This concubine pays her respects. On this auspicious birthday, first, may the Emperor enjoy peace and health every year, and live a boundless life; second, may peace reign throughout the land, the people be safe and prosper, and the borders be forever tranquil, most fortuitous and auspicious."
The Emperor couldn’t help but smile, seeing Little Concubine’s earnest imitation, she was indeed fetching and adorable.
He stretched out his hands to help her up.
Lian Hua got up smoothly, unable to wait, and sat beside him, congratulating him again, "Brother Zhao, happy birthday."
The first congratulations were in her capacity as a concubine, while the second were as herself—a distinction that made both gestures meaningful.
The Emperor chuckled and playfully pinched her nose, "Just that phrase? Why not say more like you did just before?"
His Majesty was teasing her again.
Those were lines she had copied from somewhere else, used to put on an act and fill the space. But seeing His Majesty yearned to hear more, she decided to say more.
Lian Hua cleared her throat, reined in her smile, and said earnestly, "Then I wish Brother Zhao everything as he desires and that he eats well, sleeps soundly, and remains free of worries every day."
The Emperor laughed out loud; this was the real her.
Holding her tightly and giving her a kiss, the Emperor also replied seriously, "Then thank you, Nannan."
Lian Hua’s eyes curled into a smile, responding with candid cheerfulness, "No need, no need, it’s my duty. If His Majesty is well, then so am I."
Remembering what was to come next, she was the first to rise and said, "Your Majesty, may I help you with your dressing and hair today? After you wash up, eat a bowl of longevity noodles before leaving. I’ve calculated the Shichen; there won’t be any delay."
"Hmm, alright." The Emperor also rose, following her to the dressing table and took a seat leisurely, waiting for her to comb his hair.
Lian Hua was combing the Emperor’s hair for the first time and was a bit nervous, but she had practiced. Following the steps, she picked up the comb and ran it through his long hair, then used the techniques she learned from Zhang Qing to style it into a bun.
The copper mirror reflects the beauty of the mistress, while her fair hands gather the sovereign’s hair.
Through the copper mirror, seeing Little Concubine’s serious expression, the Emperor felt nothing but peace and bliss. It was the first time a birthday felt so wonderful, satisfying him greatly.
Once his hair was done, Lian Hua led the Emperor to the wardrobe to change his clothes.
The Emperor spread his arms and stood before her, turning his head to glance at the screen painted with a hundred birds, a smile gracing his lips.
Unexpectedly, in a moment of distraction, her hands moved swiftly to undress him, flustered and efficient. By the time he realized what was happening, his inner garment was already half off.
The Emperor quickly interjected, "Not now, Nannan. If you wish, I shall accompany you tonight."
Lian Hua paused in undoing his garment, glaring at him coquettishly. That big rascal, that scoundrel, what was he implying? He was teasing her again.
Remembering the absurdity of the previous night and still feeling sore, how could she know... how could she know that scoundrel...
Oh, it was all because she had teased him too much before, thinking that with a baby in her belly, he couldn’t do anything to her. Little did she know, that was only for the first few months. Now, that scoundrel was just waiting to laugh at and tease her.
But last night... She couldn’t help but reminisce a little, then suddenly felt too embarrassed to continue the thought.
Blush climbed up her lovely face, and she couldn’t resist giving him another glare. She said, "My Lord, I have a birthday gift for you. It’s necessary to undress. Please stand properly."
She intended to change his inner garments, to present the birthday gift she had prepared with great effort— an inner garment that had barely passed the scrutiny of Nanny Qi— yet she almost let his teasing throw her off course.
Watching Lian Hua’s adorably indignant face, the Emperor chuckled lightly, unable to resist embracing her and kissing her several times, eliciting her laughter and playful protests, "Oh, my Lord, if we dally, there won’t be enough time." Then he released her.
After a bit of fun, he finally put on the inner garment that Lian Hua gifted him, which fit perfectly. It pleased her greatly, her efforts hadn’t been in vain, and her needlework skills were quite accomplished. She made a mental note to tell Nanny Qi later.
Examining his new inner garment, the Emperor felt content and extremely satisfied as he went to wash up.
When he returned, he saw her sitting on the couch in the adjoining room, gesturing for him to sit opposite her and eat the bowl of Longevity Noodles.
Lian Hua touched the bowl of noodles and nodded, "They’ve cooled just right. Please eat, Your Majesty."
She had brought them back when they were still piping hot specifically for this moment.
"Very well." The Emperor sat down, picked up the bowl of noodles, feeling a warmth in his heart. These were the Longevity Noodles that his Little Concubine had gotten up early to make especially for him, a gift of inestimable value.
Before his ascension to the throne, he rarely celebrated his birthday. Initially, it was because he didn’t enjoy it, and later, any celebration was merely to please the Former Empress Dowager. After becoming Emperor, his birthday wasn’t just an ordinary birthday anymore, but a Longevity Event, symbolizing much more for the nation, the people, and the government.
In his heart, the past birthdays had merely been a matter of routine protocol. But starting from this year, his feelings had changed, now having a loved one who prepared his birthday with such care. It felt so different, filled with warmth and joy, truly unforgettable.