Chapter 60: 060: Farming

Sang Yan hadn’t an inkling of the situation and naturally didn’t grasp his well-intentioned efforts, so she said, “A gilded nest, a silver den, isn’t as good as one’s own doghouse. Likewise, sometimes, sleeping in a golden chamber might not be as comfortable as in a dilapidated hut.”

He Ying listened to her broken-hut theory and thought it was complete nonsense, but he had always been unable to get the better of her and didn’t argue. Instead, he sighed helplessly, “You just keep opposing me.”

There was a full serving of doting in his words.

Sang Yan’s heart softened when she heard this, and she eased her tone as well, “Emperor, why have you come?”

He Ying glanced at her, still with that tone of helpless affection, “What do you think?”

Sang Yan guessed, “Emperor, are you afraid Xuanrao will harm me?”@@novelbin@@

He Ying said irritably, “At least there’s a bit of a brain there.”

He was afraid, first, that Xuanrao’s jealousy might lead to harm, and second, that the evil aura of the Cold Palace might afflict her.

In any case, it was fear.

He didn’t want her out of his sight for even a moment.

“You’re so pure-hearted; I’m always worried someone will outwit you.”

“I’ve lived so long and I’ve never worried about someone like this.”

“Not even on the battlefield have I had such anxiety.”

Every sentence was laden with his special cherishment for her.

Sang Yan sincerely marveled, “Emperor, you’re really good to me.”

He Ying, “…”

It was rare for her to speak so.

He felt that finally, his heartfelt sentiments had been understood and accepted.

Looking at her, his eyes were tender and there was a hint of sorrow, “Ah Yan, you must take good care of yourself. I will never be this good to anyone else again.”

He had made up his mind about her.

After her, there would be no one else.

Listening to his promises, that unrepayable depth of affection came over her again.

She pondered the words of Xuanrao – to experience love during love is to respect love.

That seemed to be applicable here.

He loved; let him love.

She would go with the flow, naturally.

“Thank you, Emperor.”

She spoke earnestly, “Rest assured. I will take good care of myself.”

He Ying nodded.

The two strolled under the moon, returning to Qingning Palace together.

“Go back and rest early.”

“The same to you, Emperor. Good night.”

“Good night.”

They bid a reluctant farewell at the door of the side hall.

There was almost a feeling of being a couple.

Sang Yan thought of the word “couple,” her heart warmed, and her face flushed red again.

Good heavens, at her age, she was still playing the shy maiden.

How… novel and addictively thrilling.

Sang Yan patted her heated face and ran into the hall, diving back into her bedding.

“Meow meow—”

The cat was the first to jump up.

“Snowball!”

She shouted in rebuke!

The cat didn’t leap onto her chest but onto her abdomen.

“Meow meow—”

It extended its fluffy paw to gently tap her chin as if to curry favor.

Sang Yan pushed it away and chided softly, “Sleep there. Don’t fidget. Don’t press on my chest. Otherwise, you’ll never sleep on my bed again!”

The cat mewed pitifully twice, retracted its paws, and hung its head.

And so the night passed peacefully.

The next day

Sang Yan was again woken by a face licking and a chest assault.

This cat was really too clingy.

Sang Yan shoved it off the bed and went to wash up.

Coming back, she saw Qiuzhi shoveling cat litter and suggested, “Really should get the Emperor to do this.”

Whoever brought it should be responsible.

Even though she did most of the petting.

Qiuzhi chuckled, “The Emperor has a myriad of state affairs; how could he have the time?”

Sang Yan retorted, “I think he’s quite free. Otherwise, why visit the Cold Palace in the middle of the night?”

Speaking of the Cold Palace, she began yearning to visit there again.

She got along quite well with Xuanrao.

Yesterday, we talked about reclaiming land and farming, so let’s put it on the agenda for today.

So, after breakfast, she gave the order, “Qiuzhi, have someone find some farming tools, vegetable seeds, and flower seeds. I’m going to farm in the Cold Palace.”

Xuanrao decided to join her.

Before she could gather everything, someone was sent to invite her.

“Lord Sang, is the farming matter that Lady mentioned still on?”

Yun Qiao had been all smiles since Xuanrao’s health improved.

True to her name, she was like a skylark, with a voice sweet and sprightly.

Just listening brightened the mood.

“Of course,”

Sang Yan said with a smile, “I was just having someone prepare the things.”

Yun Qiao said, “Lady has all prepared. She says the weather isn’t hot today and that dusk would be the perfect time for fieldwork.”

Sang Yan nodded, “Good. I understand. You can go back first. I will come over before dusk.”

She had to accompany the Emperor for the midday meal, otherwise, she would have gone over at noon to mooch some food.

During the midday meal,

He Ying knew she intended to farm the Cold Palace, and he didn’t agree with it,

but he couldn’t outright refuse, so he could only throw a wet blanket, “Stop messing around with her. Farming isn’t something your delicate arms and legs can handle.

Don’t overwork and injure yourself.

There was concern in his tone.

Sigh.

She used to be so gentle and meek, like a timid pet rabbit, but now that she’s livelier, she’s become an untamed hare always looking to escape.

It was really worrying him.

Oblivious to the Emperor’s chagrin, Sang Yan felt underestimated, replying indignantly, “Why can’t I do it? I may have slender arms and legs, but I’ve got the strength to till the soil.”

Besides, she grew up in the countryside and had her share of farm work as a child.

Digging up some earth would be good exercise.

He Ying still didn’t support her, “Hm. You have. But why exert yourself needlessly? There are plenty of people in the palace; you could have the guards do it.”

Sang Yan retorted, “Self-reliance, ample clothing, and food. Watching others do it isn’t as satisfying as doing it myself.”

He Ying: “…”

Seeing he couldn’t persuade her, he simply went along with it, “If you get tired, don’t come crying to me.”

Sang Yan was puzzled, “When have I ever come crying to you?”

He Ying felt helpless, “Fine. You don’t cry. You’re tough.”

He dropped the subject.

But come dusk, knowing she really went to the Cold Palace, he couldn’t help worrying and sent someone to keep an eye out, “Let her rest after a while. Be careful not to tire her out.”

Pei Muyang acknowledged with an “understood” and sent the message.

After an hour,

He Ying put down the petition, and unable to quell his concern, asked, “Are they still busy?”

Pei Muyang answered, “Emperor, the person sent hasn’t returned yet.”

Hearing this, He Ying felt anxious and couldn’t sit still any longer.

He glanced at the petitions for a while longer but eventually stood up, “Let’s go have a look.”

*

The Cold Palace was a hive of activity.

The land had been tilled.

Split into two small plots.

Separated by a winding path of pebbles.

Sang Yan was directing the laying of the stones, “Hmm. This spot is also good. It’ll work. Over there, pay attention, the sizes should vary for a pleasing effect.”

At that, she turned to Xuanrao with a bloomingly bright smile, “Let me tell you, once the flowers bloom and the vegetables grow, we can admire the flowers while we pick vegetables. Stepping on these stones will even massage our feet. It’s very good for the health.”

Xuanrao, while listening, touched the sun-warmed stones and suddenly had an idea, “Sang Yan, what if we heat these stones in the winter to warm our hands?”

Hearing this, Sang Yan immediately thought of using pebbles for a fireplace, oh, and for grilling meat.

She had seen in a video how a man collected many pebbles, washed them, laid them out, brushed them with oil, and placed sliced pork on them to make stone-grilled meat, sizzling deliciously.

And that was it.

She shouldn’t think about it.

She was getting hungry.

“Sang Yan, why don’t we grill some stone-grilled meat later?”

“What?”

“Just listen to me—”

She leaned in close, their foreheads nearly touching, her eyes shining as she excitedly carried on.

From afar, He Ying could say it was the first time he’d seen her this happy, animated and radiant.

He felt happy seeing her so cheery, but gradually the feeling soured: why didn’t she seem this happy with him? She appeared to enjoy Xuanrao’s company more.

The jealousy set in.

The jealousy set in.

She couldn’t possibly be into women, right?

Growing up in the palace, He Ying vaguely knew of the loneliness within its deep confines, where some ladies had… certain proclivities.