"It’s simply that I ck good fortune," Fu Meiren replied gently.

  "You child… Why must you be so hard on yourself? You’re still so young…" The Empress Dowager sighed heavily.

  "It’s my own failing. I’m not tormenting myself, truly. It’s just that I’m dull by nature and unable to earn His Majesty’s favor. Don’t overthink it. Once I’ve fully recovered, I’ll be fine," Fu Meiren said.

  The Empress Dowager could only sigh again. What else could she say?

  Not long after seeing the Empress Dowager off, the Emperor came to Fengyi Pace.

  The Empress Dowager had left early, and Wumian had only just woken from a short nap. "Your Majesty is here."

  "Mhm. The teacher you asked for has already reported to your family. Hanlin Schor Lu—you’ve heard of him, haven’t you?" Ying Qionglou gnced at her sleep-dazed face and smiled. At least she had freshened up.

  He didn’t know it was the pace maids who had persuaded her to tidy herself up first—otherwise, Wumian would’ve greeted him with disheveled hair and a sleepy face.

  "Of course I’ve heard of him. Although Schor Lu does not hold a high official rank, he is well-known for his academic achievements.. How did you convince him?" Wumian said in surprise. Schor Lu was an outstanding literary figure of their time, highly accomplished in poetry and prose. She had read his essays when she was young, though she hadn’t been interested back then.

  "He’s getting on in years. In a year or two, he pns to retire. There’s nothing wrong with him going to your family now," Ying Qionglou replied.

  "Your Majesty has been thoughtful. I’m truly grateful." Wumian bowed politely.

  "Is that all? Just one sentence of thanks?" Ying Qionglou sat down and teased her.

  "One sentence is enough. We’re husband and wife—what else am I supposed to say? If I said more, it would sound insincere. But since Your Majesty is being so kind, I’ll ask for something more—help me all the way."

  "What more does the Empress want?" Ying Qionglou chuckled. She really had grown bold with him.

  "Nothing excessive. I simply want to visit home. I’ve been in the pace three years now and haven’t been back once," Wumian replied.

  "If the Empress wishes to return home, it can be arranged. Have the Ministry of Rites prepare the formalities," Ying Qionglou said.

  "No need to trouble the Ministry. I’d like to go back quietly, dressed in pin clothes. No fanfare, no ceremony. Just take a few people, travel light, stay a day, and return," Wumian said.

  "Alright. When?"

  "How about in the next few days?"

  "The day after tomorrow, then. You may keep it simple, but you must still bring guards."

  "I’ll leave it to Your Majesty." Wumian nodded, satisfied.

  Ying Qionglou gnced at her. She’d grown fond of saying that tely.

  "What is it?" Wumian asked.

  "Nothing." Ying Qionglou took a sip of tea. "I just find the Empress rather amusing."

  "Your Majesty’s discovery comes a bit te." Although, to be fair, she had indeed been rather dull before.

  "The weather’s quite nice today. Would Your Majesty like to walk with me?" It was still early afternoon—why keep sitting and talking?

  Ying Qionglou stood. "Very well. The lotus flowers are blooming."

  Lotus flowers…

  Did he remember that she used to like lotuses?

  As it turned out, Wumian was overthinking it. Ying Qionglou had spoken casually without any hidden meaning.

  If he didn’t remember, he simply didn’t remember.

  Wumian had the maids go down to the ke and pick some half-bloomed lotuses to arrange in a screen. Since the Emperor was here, she had them pick more to send to his residence as well.

  By midday, Wumian suggested they dine in the Imperial Garden. Ying Qionglou agreed.

  He had never dined outside with anyone before.

  "Last time, you dined in the Imperial Garden too. Do you like eating outside?" Ying Qionglou asked curiously.

  "Doesn’t Your Majesty find it pleasant?" Wumian replied. "The flowers in bloom, the greenery all around—the scenery puts one at ease and improves the appetite. It’s just the name of this pavilion I dislike. 'Fulong Pavilion'—it sounds so stiff and old-fashioned."

  Ying Qionglou gnced around. "If that’s so, why doesn’t the Empress rename it?"

  "Rename it?" Wumian thought for a moment, then smiled and recited:

  'Lotus leaves ripple the waves, swaying in the breeze,In the depths of the lotus pond, a little boat passes.When I meet my lover, I lower my head and smile,My jade hairpin slips and falls into the water.'

  Ying Qionglou burst out ughing, so loudly that even Lu Zhong was startled. The Emperor rarely ughed like that.

  "I never thought you’d be so shy. I always thought the Empress was quite bold," Ying Qionglou teased, feeling faintly as though he were being flirted with—not unpleasantly.

  Wumian raised a brow at him, thinking to herself how handsome he looked when he smiled. "Then, how about renaming this pavilion Fresh Breeze After the Rain (Xin Yu Qing Feng)?"

  Ying Qionglou thought for a moment. "Didn’t you once say you hadn’t read many books?"

  "People expect a lot from women these days. Does reading poetry count? I’ve actually read plenty of books, just not the Four Books and Five Cssics. I never finished those. As for women's teachings, I disliked them. But can I admit that openly? Of course not. And I can’t very well hide it from my husband forever, can I?"

  Ying Qionglou looked at her with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, then softly recited:

  "Green canopies damp with fresh rain,Fragrant reds kissed by a clear breeze.Innate purity like jade,One with the Way, as taught by Master Lianxi."

  "It seems I didn’t know the Empress well enough before," Ying Qionglou remarked.

  "Oh my, it’s not too te for Your Majesty to understand me now," Wumian replied with a smile. "But at this moment, shouldn’t we be asking someone to prepare the meal? Isn’t Your Majesty hungry?" She leaned her chin on her hand, looking at him zily. "I won’t be polite with Your Majesty."

  Ying Qionglou chuckled and said to Lu Zhong, "Have someone change the pque. From now on, this pce will be called Xin Yu Qing Feng."

  Then he too sat down.

  Wumian waved over Linshui and gave instructions to have the meal prepared.

  After Linshui left, Ying Qionglou asked, "Your maids are called Linshui and Zhaohua. What are the others called?"

  "Linshui, Zhaohua, Xinliu, Yanming, Fufeng, and Chuixu. As for the pace attendants, they are Dukang, Jinbo, Baiduo, and Liuting," Wumian replied.

  Ying Qionglou raised a brow, his expression curious. "Your maids' names are quite poetic—full of springtime charm. But the pace attendants… do you like drinking wine, Empress?"

  Wumian ughed. "Not particurly. I just couldn’t think of anything else when naming them, so I picked these. I don’t indulge in wine, but if there’s good wine, I wouldn’t mind a few sips."

  "Truly, the Empress is one of a kind. Your maids’ names are delightful. It seems the Empress has a fondness for spring."

  "Of course. Spring is a season full of vitality. How could I not like it? Doesn’t Your Majesty?"

  Ying Qionglou didn’t say whether he liked it or not. In truth, he found himself wondering what season he preferred.

  He realized he had never thought about it. Born into privilege, crowned crown prince at ten, his life had been filled with endless books and lectures. After marriage, it was one responsibility after another—quelling rebellions, handling affairs of state, reading memorials day and night. By the time he had mastered how to rule, it had become his entire life.

  It wasn’t that he was too busy; it was simply that he had never once paused to consider such a question.