Chapter 60 Good Heavens

As the words fell, a court lady standing quietly to the side lightly moved her lotus steps, presenting another celadon bowl filled with lotus leaf soup to Zhao Han.

Seeing this, Zhao Han quickly stood up, received the bowl with both hands, and said solemnly, "This subject thanks Her Majesty for the gracious reward."

"There is no need for such formality, do try it and see how it tastes." Empress Cao wore a gentle smile on her lips, her gaze warm.

She paused, then added softly, "This lotus leaf soup is simmered according to His Majesty's usual favorite taste. I only hope it suits Master Zhao's palate."

Zhao Han carefully scooped a spoonful, savored it meticulously for a moment, and then a look of admiration immediately surfaced on his face.

"This soup is refreshing and invigorating; the sweetness of the lotus leaves and the richness of the broth complement each other perfectly. Her Majesty truly possesses consummate culinary skills, and this subject is filled with awe!"

The smile on Empress Cao's lips deepened as she nodded slightly. "I am glad Master Zhao likes it."

"When I have leisure time, I am most fond of exploring the culinary arts."

Watching the two of them, Zhao Zhao could not help interjecting, "The Empress's culinary skills are exceptional; this lotus leaf soup is nothing much."

"In my view, the most delectable of all are the plum blossom crispy pastries."

Empress Cao covered her mouth with a light laugh, the golden phoenix hair-pin beside her temples swaying gently with the movement.

"Those pastries require plum blossoms picked after the first snow, marinated in honey for three days, and then wrapped in pastry dough and baked. With a single bite, the crust is crisp and flaky, while the filling retains the refreshing essence of plum blossoms."

"It is simply not the right season at present; pastries made with cellar-stored plum blossom honey entirely lack vitality."

"When the plum blossoms bloom later this year, I shall prepare a box for Your Majesty."

"If Master Zhao has spare time then, you must also come into the palace to taste them."

Zhao Zhao raised an eyebrow, and before Zhao Han could speak, he eagerly chimed in, "Quite right! When the time comes, Official Zhao shall be the one to go to the plum garden and gather the blossoms!"

Hearing this, Zhao Han could not help feeling a shock in his heart, and the spoon in his hand almost slipped.

Raising his eyes, he saw both Zhao Zhao and Empress Cao gazing at him with smiles in their eyes, leaving him no choice but to stand up, cup his hands, and say, "This subject obeys the imperial will."

"I happened to hear by chance that Master Zhao has already arranged a marriage?"

Zhao Han replied warmly, "Your Majesty is correct. Before taking the imperial examinations in the capital, this humble subject became betrothed to the eldest daughter of Master Sheng, a Senior Director of Merit."

"When Master Sheng served as the Assistant Prefect of Yangzhou, he took good care of this humble subject and was even willing to let his eldest daughter marry downward. Such deep kindness is truly rare."

"Oh?" Empress Cao raised her slender eyebrows, asking in a seemingly casual tone, "Has the wedding date been set?"

"It is set for the fifteenth day of the eighth month this year."

Empress Cao's eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled toward Zhao Zhao, speaking softly, "Your Majesty, I suddenly remember that there are precisely a few bolts of supreme cloud brocade in the palace, which would be most fitting for making a bridal gown."

"Why not bestow them upon the Sheng family's daughter?"

Zhao Zhao put down his spoon, picked up a nearby handkerchief, and wiped the corner of his mouth.

"The Empress may decide such matters as she pleases; there is no need to ask for my opinion."

"Then it is settled," Empress Cao replied with a radiant smile, only to notice Zhao Han's expression of apprehension.

"Your Majesty, as the saying goes, one does not merit a reward without rendering service. This... this humble subject truly cannot dare to accept." Zhao Han lowered his head, trembling slightly.

Zhao Zhao, however, waved his hand broadly and proclaimed in a ringing voice, "My dear official shared my burdens and devised a plan that saved the imperial court tens of thousands of ounces of silver. What are a mere few bolts of cloud brocade compared to that?"

"Furthermore, this is a token of the Empress's heartfelt kindness. Why do you not hasten to thank her for the grace?"

Zhao Han knitted his brows, then said with eyes full of gratitude, "This subject... on behalf of the Sheng family's daughter, thanks His Majesty and Her Majesty for their boundless grace."

Empress Cao smiled faintly and turned to instruct the court lady beside her, "Go and retrieve the cloud brocade, and pair it with that set of pure gold and kingfisher-feather inlaid headwear, and send them all together to the Sheng residence."

After Zhao Han took his leave, the hall fell into a brief silence.

Zhao Zhao suddenly spoke softly, "Danshu, what do you think of Hanh'er? Does he possess the bearing of a crown prince?"

Empress Cao raised her gaze toward the outside of the hall, pondered for a moment, and then replied, "Although Hanh'er is young, his conduct is steadfast and composed, neither servile nor overbearing, and he even possesses a certain air of Your Majesty's youth."

"Approaching him is like basking in the sun, looking upon him is like viewing clouds; wealthy without arrogance, noble without pretension."

"The very first time I laid eyes on him, I thought that if Your Majesty and I had borne a son, he surely would have looked just like this."

Zhao Zhao sighed softly and pulled Empress Cao into his embrace.

"Although Hanh'er was raised among the common people, he knows propriety, observes the rules, and possesses a pure nature. In the future, he will surely treat you like a birth mother."

Empress Cao leaned against Zhao Zhao's shoulder, the corners of her eyes growing slightly damp. "I do not ask that he view me as a mother; I only hope that, like Your Majesty, he will become a benevolent and virtuous ruler who loves the people like his own children."

"And best of all, that he might one day recover the lost territories of Yanyun, bringing closure to this century-old endeavor."

Zhao Zhao nodded, a glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes. "I believe there will surely be such a day!"

In Jiying Lane, at the Sheng residence, within the main hall.

After everyone had paid their respects, expressed their gratitude, and seen off the senior court lady from Empress Cao's side, they could not help looking at one another with blank minds, staring in sheer disbelief at the rewards displayed before them—

The neatly folded cloud brocade shimmered with brilliant light, and the pure gold headwear was so dazzling that it was almost blinding to look at.

"Good heavens!" Wang Ruofu's voice pitched suddenly high, echoing through the main hall.

"What kind of accumulated virtue did the ancestors of our Sheng family possess to actually receive a reward from Her Majesty the Empress!" She drew in a deep breath, her chest rising and falling continuously.

Sheng Hong supported the Old Madam as she stood up with slightly trembling hands, saying gravely, "Mother, Hanh'er truly has great fortune!"

"How long has he been in the Hanlin Academy, only to be exceptionally promoted as a Reader-in-Waiting, and now he has actually caught the eye of Her Majesty the Empress."

"I truly did not misjudge the man!"

"When Hualan marries wearing the bridal gown and headwear bestowed by Her Majesty the Empress, this is an immense honor!"

After all, the Old Madam was worldly and experienced, and not as excitable as the rest of them. She only smiled and nodded, saying, "When Hanh'er next visits, instruct the servants to be more respectful and avoid being clumsy."

"What Mother says is true, this son will remember it," Sheng Hong replied, cupping his hands, joy radiating from his eyebrows and the corners of his eyes.

In his heart, he calculated silently: once Zhao Han established a firm foothold in the court, Changbai would just be entering officialdom. By then, with this close confidant of the Son of Heaven looking after the newly minted jinshi, his official career would surely be much smoother.

Wang Ruofu said impatiently to Nanny Liu, "Quickly, throw away all the bridal gowns I prepared earlier!"

"Go invite the best embroiderers in the capital; not an inch of this cloud brocade must be wasted!"

"Pick a day, I must make a trip to the Yuqing Taoist Temple and add plenty of merit money!"

"And bring me a pot of warm wine so I can celebrate and be merry!"

Nanny Liu responded with a smile.

Hualan pressed her lips together, her mind inevitably conjuring the fresh and handsome figure of Zhao Han, and a flush of red bloomed across her glowing cheeks.

Molande, Rulan, and the others stood to one side. Molande stared at the cloud brocade and headwear, unable to conceal the sourness in her heart.

She murmured, "Elder Sister truly has great fortune. It is barely anything yet, and she already receives a reward from Her Majesty the Empress."

Hearing this, Rulan immediately lifted her chin. "If Fourth Sister is envious, she might as well marry a top-ranking scholar in the future."

"Oh, no, I forgot. Fourth Sister has always considered herself intellectually superior, comparable to Xie Daoyun, and is single-mindedly intent on latching onto a noble or aristocratic family."

"I am afraid that with the social standing of the Eldest Brother-in-law, he would not even catch Fourth Sister's eye."

With that, she curled her lip at Molande, looking thoroughly pleased with herself.

Molande let out a soft huff, casting a sidelong glance at Sheng Hong, her voice rising slightly with a hint of grievance.

"Fifth Sister, what kind of words are these?"

"Have you completely forgotten the lesson from Senior Tutor Kong? The sisters of our family rise and fall together."

"I merely had never laid eyes on items bestowed by the palace, so I looked a bit longer and praised Elder Sister's good fortune. Must Fifth Sister mock me so?"

Before she finished speaking, Molande let out a "sob" and began to weep, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Sheng Hong, standing not far away, happened to hear Molande's words, and his expression darkened instantly.

He turned his head to glare fiercely at Rulan and scolded harshly, "You wretched girl!"

"How long has it been since Senior Tutor Kong left, and you have completely forgotten it all, starting to speak without restraint again!"

Frightened, Rulan's small face twitched, and she quickly hid behind Wang Ruofu.

In her eagerness to protect her young, Wang Ruofu knitted her brows and scolded Molande, "Weeping and wailing on such a joyous day, what kind of behavior is this!"

Hearing this, Molande's crying subsided just a bit, but she still covered her face with her handkerchief, her shoulders hitching.

"Mistress, please calm your anger. Clearly, Fifth Sister uttered unseemly words first..."

Sheng Hong looked at the tear-stained Molande, then glanced at Rulan hiding behind Wang Ruofu, and pointed at the latter, saying, "When your elder sister's affairs are settled, see how I deal with you!"

The Old Madam sighed softly and simply led Hualan and Minglan back to Shou'an Hall, leaving the others to make whatever fuss they pleased.