Chapter 714: Chapter 714: The Flower Goddess Descends
"Is it delicious?" Lian Hua propped her cheek and her lips curled into a sweet smile. Seeing the Emperor enjoying the meal so much filled her with satisfaction, even happier than if she were eating herself.
The Emperor responded with a gentle smile, carefully chewing and swallowing the mouthful of noodles.
He lifted a bite with his chopsticks towards Lian Hua, holding the bowl underneath to catch any drips, and said, "Nannan, would you like to try some?"
It seemed that his Little Concubine hadn’t eaten a bite since she woke up, busy preparing everything for him. The Emperor felt a pang of heartache for her.
Leaning on the table, Lian Hua instinctively opened her mouth to accept, then remembered something and shook her head, "Your Majesty, how could I? These noodles were made for you, filled with blessings. If I eat them, it would be taking from your good fortune, which cannot be."
If that were the case, he would rather she ate it all, wishing her peace and joy, long-lasting happiness without worries or troubles for a lifetime.
The Emperor still held the noodles aloft, softly saying, "People say that my fortune matches the heavens, and I will enjoy a Longevity Event without boundaries. With so much good fortune, sharing a little with Nannan will do no harm."
Originally, Lian Hua didn’t want to eat. Watching the Emperor eat made her quite content, but his words tempted her.
Swallowing saliva, she eyed the mouthful of noodles hesitantly, still feeling it was wrong. Today was His Majesty’s birthday. These were the noodles she had made for His Majesty; how could she eat them herself?
Seeing her hesitation, the Emperor coaxed, "Be good, take one bite."
Looking at the noodles, then at His Majesty, Lian Hua didn’t hesitate anymore and opened her mouth wide to accept the noodles, the single bite bringing a delighted squint to her eyes.
Sharing a bowl of Longevity noodles with His Majesty tasted extraordinarily delicious, and she decided to do the same on her birthday.
Once she had made up her mind, she felt free of any burden. That first bite tasted wonderful, and the second even more so.
For the rest of the bowl, the Emperor took a bite and then Lian Hua, quickly finishing it.
After eating, Lian Hua held the bowl with both hands and slurped down the remaining soup with gusto, wiping the oil from her lips contentedly.
Her eyes sparkled as she said, "Your Majesty, if you don’t like drinking the soup, I’ll drink it for you from now on. When my birthday comes, you eat more noodles, and I’ll drink more soup. How about that?"
The Emperor pinched her cheek and said, "As you wish. Nannan’s birthday is on the first day of the new year, which is quite special. I really like the birthday present you gave me. I wonder what you would like for your day. I should prepare early to ensure you are pleased as well."
"Huh?" Lian Hua was stunned. When had her birthday been on New Year’s Day?
But His Majesty liked the gift she prepared very much~
Her eyes curved into a smile as she said, "My goodness, as long as Your Majesty is pleased. My birthday is in the spring; there’s no rush, it’s still a ways off."
Would he be pleasantly surprised to see the strange stone ornament she placed in the study? Would he compliment her again?
Thinking about it, she nearly chuckled out loud. One gift, two compliments—how wonderful.
The Emperor sensed something was amiss, "What? Is Nannan’s birthday not on the first day of the new year?"
Lian Hua stopped laughing, looking puzzled as she said, "No, Your Majesty. Where did you hear that from?" It seemed he had never asked her.
He had read it in the palace records. Saying it outright now, he wasn’t sure if she would be reminded of something unpleasant.
The Emperor thoughtfully said, "I learned it from your Clan Uncle. It is exactly on the first day of the first month." Her Clan Uncle’s name was in the records; there would be no mistake in saying that.
"Hmm? Clan Uncle." Lian Hua bit her lip, contemplating, and found the date of the first day of the lunar year somewhat familiar, "Ah, I remember now. Clan Uncle once said that one should not easily reveal their true birthday. If someone asks, just give them a fake date to satisfy their curiosity. He was afraid I would forget, so he set it on the first day of the lunar new year."
Before entering the palace, Clan Uncle had repeatedly instructed her not to disclose her real birthday within the walls of the palace, and to say it was the first day of the lunar new year if asked. She didn’t know why this was the case.
Upon hearing this, the Emperor understood. Back then, Lian Bingcheng didn’t really intend to send Lian Hua to the palace. The birthday he had provided was fabricated, and when it was too late for regrets, he feared that Lian Hua would give herself away in the palace, hence he entrusted her with this matter, instructing her to claim her birthday matched the official documents. It was a well-thought-out plan.
He nodded knowingly and asked, "What is Nannan’s true birthday?"
With pursed lips and a smile, Lian Hua mentioned a date.
The Emperor was slightly surprised, "Nannan’s name includes the word ’flower,’ and she was born on the Flower Festival. Could it be that Nannan is a flower deity incarnate? No wonder she’s as beautiful as the moon and can shame flowers with her loveliness."
Lian Hua giggled, pleased with His Majesty’s sweet words, which won her heart.
Her birthday coincided exactly with the Flower Festival. When she was a well-behaved and clever child, the aunties and uncles next door would often call her ’little flower deity.’ Later on, they would only call her that on her birthday, and even later, the name ceased to be used—err, the reason is hard to express...
Now, hearing the Emperor say so, she couldn’t help but smile joyfully, though her lips feigned modesty as she said, "Not at all, just ordinary. It’s Your Majesty who looks like a heavenly deity descended to earth, so handsome that I was dazzled just now."
It was clear that she was very happy with this exchange.
The Emperor understood and continued to shower her with compliments, making Lian Hua beam with joy, revealing her eight pearly white teeth as she laughed.
"Your Majesty, it is time to change into the Auspicious Garment," said Zhang Qing respectfully from outside the door, followed by two Young Eunuchs carrying a trunk. Inside the trunk were the complete set of garments for the Auspicious Garment Crown, Dragon Robe, Dragon Garment, and Belt for Auspicious Garment.
The attire of the Emperor had meticulous considerations for every occasion—everyday casual wear, court attire for official duties, travel outfits for hunting expeditions, and so on.
The Auspicious Garment that Zhang Qing had brought outside the door was indeed what the Emperor was to wear on the day of the Longevity Event.
"Hmm, come in," said the Emperor.
"Yes," replied Zhang Qing, allowing the trunk to be brought inside. He then respectfully requested the Emperor to change his clothes.
As the Emperor changed, Zhang Qing immediately noticed that the undergarments worn by the Emperor were not from the Weaving Bureau. The material was off, the stitching was incorrect, and the embroidery... ah, there was no secret pattern woven into it, in short, everything was wrong.
He glanced at Lian Hua out of the corner of his eye and, realizing why, said nothing more and proceeded to help the Emperor into his Auspicious Garment as usual.
Lian Hua, resting her head on her hand and smiling, watched Zhang Qing and the others help the Emperor into the heavy Dragon Robe.
His Majesty was handsome in anything he wore, but this ensemble made him look especially majestic.
After the Emperor finished dressing in the elaborate Auspicious Garment, he gave her a loving smile. Before stepping outside, he patted Lian Hua’s head, his voice tinged with reluctance and worry, "I’m afraid I’ll be busy for quite a while today and can’t join you early. Be careful in the Harem, and if anything happens, go to your Sister Consort De. If it’s an emergency, just cry out to the heavens, and someone will come to aid you."
"Ah?" Lian Hua was surprised, "Will someone really fly down from the sky?"
"Yes." He had already made meticulous arrangements for someone to secretly protect her.