"Your son pays his respects to Imperial Mother!" The Emperor bowed respectfully to the Empress Dowager.
Xiao Yi, in turn, bowed to the Emperor.
The Empress Dowager raised her hand kindly. "What brings Your Majesty here?"
The Emperor's face was full of smiles.
"I grew tired of reading memorials, and Xiao Lizi mentioned that the flowers in the Imperial Garden are blooming beautifully."
"So, I came out to relax a bit."
The Empress Dowager nodded.
"Emperor, you must not overwork yourself for the sake of the state. Taking care of your health should be your priority."
The Empress Dowager's single word of concern brought tears to the Emperor's eyes.
"Yes, Imperial Mother is right. Your son will mend his ways."
The Empress Dowager smiled. "You are just like when you were a child, Emperor—always quick to admit your faults."
"You bear the weight of the nation on your shoulders and have heavy responsibilities. I know you often have no choice, I am just giving you a useless reminder."
"How could it be a useless reminder? Imperial Mother cares for me, and I couldn't be happier!"
Looking moved, the Emperor walked over to the Empress Dowager's side and supported her arm.
"Imperial Mother, the peonies in the Imperial Garden are blooming nicely. Shall your son accompany you to take a look?"
"Alright!"
The Empress Dowager was also in high spirits today.
The Emperor supported the Empress Dowager as the two walked ahead, while Xiao Yi silently fell back behind them.
The Emperor looked at the Empress Dowager's head full of white hair, seemingly a little surprised.
"Imperial Mother, how has your hair turned completely white?"
"I am old, so of course my hair will turn white," the Empress Dowager said with a nonchalant expression.
The Emperor's face stiffened, seemingly displeased.
The Empress Dowager gently patted the Emperor's hand.
"Everyone grows old. That is why, Emperor, I urge you to take better care of your health."
"Look at the scenery filling this garden. Flowers bloom and wither—when has it ever stopped?"
"But alas, the people admiring the flowers year after year are not necessarily the same people!"
The Emperor pursed his lips and said nothing.
The Empress Dowager did not continue speaking either.
The Emperor was not her biological son, so they were never truly close to begin with.
She had only spoken up because she had noticed the silver strands in the Emperor's hair and suddenly felt a pang of heartache.
Since ancient times, which supreme ruler sitting on the dragon throne has ever been willing to let go of the power in their hands?
Well, to each their own destiny!
The group arrived at the garden where the peonies were planted. Peonies of various colors were blooming brilliantly.
Seeing the delicate and vibrant peonies, the Empress Dowager nodded with a smile.
"The peonies are blooming quite nicely this year."
The Emperor echoed her sentiments with a nod.
"Indeed! Your son thinks they are excellent as well! Xiao Lizi, grant a reward!"
"This servant obeys the decree!" Eunuch Li complied.
The Emperor looked at the garden full of peonies but felt that something was missing.
"Imperial Mother, although the peonies in this garden are beautiful, they are ultimately a bit common."
"I remember there were a few ink-black peonies in Kunning Palace. When those bloomed, it was truly breathtaking..."
The Emperor paused, the expression on his face dark and unreadable.
The Empress Dowager nodded. "Now that you mention it, it really is so."
"It is a pity those peonies have already died..." The Empress Dowager sighed. "Forget it. Everyone experiences birth, aging, illness, and death, let alone flowers."
The Emperor's face clouded over with gloom.
"Grandmother, those peonies..." Xiao Yi had just started to speak when a voice from behind interrupted him.
"This concubine pays her respects to Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager!"
A woman dressed in a pink palace gown hurried over and bowed to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.
"Consort Shu has arrived. Quickly, rise," the Empress Dowager instructed with a kind face.
"Thank you, Empress Dowager. Thank you, Your Majesty!" Consort Shu stood up with a wide smile and moved to the Emperor's side.
The Emperor looked at the sweat on Consort Shu's face, his eyes flickering.
"I heard that the peonies in the Imperial Garden were blooming beautifully. I never expected to run into Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager."
Consort Shu smilingly explained her reason for being there.
The Empress Dowager looked at the Emperor with a smile. "I am also here to admire the flowers."
Consort Shu looked at the garden full of peonies and let out a gasp of admiration.
"The peonies are blooming so well this year! Your Majesty, look at that one, it is so big!"
Consort Shu took the opportunity to lean closer to the Emperor, her delicate hand pulling him to look at the flowers.
The Emperor nodded in agreement. "It is indeed not bad."
Consort Shu was very happy to receive the Emperor's agreement.
"Your Majesty, look at that one over there, there is even a bee on it!"
"This concubine pays her respects to Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager!"
Suddenly, another voice rang out.
Consort Shu's hands tightened inside her sleeves as the Emperor turned his head.
Behind them knelt several imperial concubines.
The Emperor frowned.
"Are you all here to admire the flowers?"
The concubines could not guess the meaning behind the Emperor's words. They exchanged glances and nodded.
"To answer Your Majesty, this concubine is here to admire the flowers."
"So is this concubine!"
"This concubine as well!"
The Empress Dowager smiled and reached out her hand to the older maidservant behind her.
"Emperor, I am tired and will return to my palace first."
"The flowers and scenery are wonderful today, and it is a rare chance for you to give yourself a break! Enjoy your stroll in the garden."
"Yes, your son obeys the decree. Take care on your way back, Imperial Mother."
"Imperial Father, your son will escort Grandmother back to her palace." Xiao Yi took the opportunity to excuse himself as well.
The Emperor nodded. "Xiao Lizi, see the Empress Dowager off on my behalf."
"Yes, this servant obeys the decree," Eunuch Li replied, bowing low.
Xiao Yi stayed by the Empress Dowager's side as they slowly departed.
Seeing the Empress Dowager leave, the other concubines immediately cheered up.
"Your Majesty, I have recently learned a new tune. Let me play it for you."
Immediately, palace servants brought over a zither and a stool.
"Your Majesty, I have also learned a new dance. I will dance for you to my sister's music."
By the time Noble Consort Li arrived, the Imperial Garden looked as though it were hosting a grand banquet.
There were people playing the zither, dancing, painting, and massaging the Emperor's legs...
The Emperor sat in his chair, enjoying the boundless beauty of spring.
Seeing Noble Consort Li, the Emperor waved her over.
"My beloved consort, come quickly and watch with us."
Noble Consort Li brought a smile to her face and sat down beside the Emperor.
Leaving aside the lively scene in the Imperial Garden...
Xiao Yi supported the Empress Dowager as they returned to Cining Palace.
"Yi'er, what were you trying to say earlier?" The Empress Dowager had heard Xiao Yi being interrupted.
Xiao Yi remained silent for a moment.
"Grandmother, your grandson wanted to say that I just saw the peonies at Kunning Palace sprouting!"
The Empress Dowager stopped in her tracks and turned her head.
"Yi'er, what did you say?" The Empress Dowager doubted her own ears.
"Grandmother, the ink-black peonies have come back to life!" Xiao Yi's tone was firm.
The Empress Dowager's somewhat cloudy eyes stared straight at Xiao Yi.
Xiao Yi did not avert his gaze, but looked steadily back at her.
A look of daze flashed across the Empress Dowager's face.
"They really came back to life?"
Xiao Yi nodded. "If Grandmother does not believe it, you can go and see for yourself."
The Empress Dowager nodded. "Yes! Let us go take a look! Come! Let's go see!"
As she spoke, the Empress Dowager turned a corner and headed toward Kunning Palace.
Her steps grew faster and faster.
Eventually, the maidservant supporting her had to jog just to keep up.
Eunuch Li, trailing at the very back, looked bewildered.
He hurriedly sent someone back to inform the Emperor.
