Chapter 185 - 160: A Favor

"Why not?"

Jiang Xian asked, unwilling to let it go.

"Lately, I don’t want you to touch anything that has to do with official matters," Xie Che said, taking her hand. He looked at her small, dumbstruck face, as if she’d been struck by lightning, and found her utterly adorable. He lowered his head and kissed her forehead. "Don’t think that just because I’m busy with court affairs now, I didn’t have some leisurely days before ascending the throne."

Jiang Xian was curious. "Could being a Prince really be that leisurely?"

In her eyes, the Heavenly Family was a family business.

To be born into this family was to be destined to compete.

"The lessons in the Shangshufang were not easy, and all Princes had to be skilled in both literary and martial arts. But later, when I was assigned duties at court, my elder brothers didn’t want me to be too outstanding. They suppressed me both overtly and covertly, so I just let them. I focused on doing my part, which left me with plenty of free time for amusement."

Xie Che said that leisure, too, was a skill in itself.

He wasn’t interested in cockfighting, dog racing, carrying caged birds, or wasting his days in brothels. He much preferred admiring the beauty of the four seasons—lighting incense, arranging flowers, and gathering with literary friends. "Every season has its own kind of fun. When winter arrives this year, I’ll take you to the West Garden North Sea for ice-skating. We can even play cuju on the ice, or get a sled and have the eunuchs pull us across the ice. It’s quite delightful."

Every winter, once the ice on the North Sea froze solid, the late Emperor would take all the Princes and Princesses ice-skating. Occasionally, other children of the Imperial Family would be invited to join as a sign of great honor. His brothers would compete fiercely even at this, but Xie Che preferred to skate at a leisurely pace. He often seemed like an outsider among his siblings, who were all scrambling to show off.

But a look of confusion appeared on Jiang Xian’s face.

"Emperor, what is ice-skating?"

The climate in Meize County didn’t include snow, and the lakes didn’t freeze over.

Thus, in the original owner’s memories, there was no knowledge of ice-skating.

System: [Host, it’s like modern-day roller-skating.]

Jiang Xian grew even more confused. [What’s roller-skating?]

’Her knowledge of "fun" was a complete blank. She had always studied in subtropical cities, and while her classmates would go to roller-skating rinks together, she never participated in any recreational activities. Everyone knew that the number one student in the grade had eyes only for her practice problems.’

’In truth, her classmates were only half right.’

’At the time, besides her practice problems, Jiang Xian’s mind was also on her part-time jobs.’

’There was simply no room for entertainment.’

"Ice-skating is just having fun on frozen water. You wear special skates with blades on the bottom, which let you glide gracefully across the ice. It’s both effortless and fast." Noticing her complete ignorance on the subject, the thoughtful Xie Che didn’t show any surprise. His tone remained perfectly normal, and fearing she might feel embarrassed, he added gently, "Does it snow in Meize County? If the weather isn’t cold enough for snow, the water won’t freeze, so it’s perfectly normal that you’ve never seen it before. From now on, I will show you."

His words were gentle, but inwardly, he was a little annoyed with Jiang Ke.

’My consort is so filial. Why did her family never take her to do anything fun? Was it because her mother died that they treated her so poorly?’

Jiang Xian said, "It doesn’t snow in Meize County. I’m fortunate that the Emperor is here to broaden my horizons."

Xie Che raised a hand and gently caressed the corner of her eye.

Jiang Xian was no professional actress. In the intimacy of their daily life, Xie Che could sometimes sense her true thoughts. For example, he could tell that she wasn’t actually interested in ice-skating at the moment, and he pointed it out.

Before Jiang Xian could look troubled, Xie Che added, "If you’re not interested in the things I suggest, just think of it as keeping me company."

"I would be delighted to."

’Keeping the Emperor company is my job, after all.’

Xie Che just smiled without a word, not exposing her true feelings.

’There are so many fun things to do. Of course, we have to try them one by one to know what she likes. It doesn’t matter if she’s not interested in ice-skating now. We’ll try it first. If she doesn’t like it, we’ll just try the next thing.’

’If she has forgotten the changing of the seasons and the simple joys of nature, then I will be the one to help her experience it all and learn how to play.’

※

「On the actual day of departure」

Due to the many rules and people involved, they had to start preparing before dawn. For the concubines, this was a bit earlier than usual.

Even those not on the travel list had to get up to see them off.

Jiang Xian was used to rising early, but Chen Changzai could barely keep her eyes open. She let He Xiang wash and dress her, and after her makeup was done, she flopped down in the main hall like a pancake and refused to move.

She didn’t stir until Jiang Xian had Zhenqiu bring breakfast, and even then, she let He Xiang feed her one spoonful at a time.

Opening her mouth, but not her eyes.

Jiang Xian was puzzled. "How can you be this tired?"

"Her Ladyship was up almost all night! She made me help her check her luggage seven or eight times, but she hardly has anything to pack," He Xiang said irritably as she fed her mistress.

Chen Changzai said, "It’s a rare chance to leave the palace, and for a scenic trip, no less! I’m excited! Aren’t you the least bit thrilled?"

Jiang Xian pondered this.

’The Emperor going to Xihua Garden or the Hot Spring Villa is basically an autumn outing in modern terms.’

’In her past life, she had missed all similar activities, using the excuse that she couldn’t afford the fees.’

’She had been to plenty of team-building events after she started working, but they were always exhausting activities crammed into holidays, never on workdays.’ "I don’t feel anything special."

Chen Changzai flipped over. "Does being promoted to Zhaoyi mean you have to renounce all worldly passions?"

The Eldest Prince, watched over by his nanny and palace maids, was also terribly sleepy and lay off to the side. Jiang Xian felt like she was looking after two children, and her own boundless energy made her feel completely out of place.

Jiang Xian ignored her and went to check if the Eldest Prince’s luggage was fully packed.

Royal excursions prioritized pomp and meticulous safety above all else; efficiency was not a concern. Could a group of such pampered, high-ranking people really be expected to travel at a gallop? They would spend the whole day in their carriages, handling all of life’s necessities on board.

When it was time to depart, the most envied person was neither Noble Princess Consort Rong nor Gu Zhaoyi.

It was the radiant Chen Changzai, standing behind Gu Zhaoyi.

The concubines who weren’t on the travel list looked at one another, their gazes a silent conversation.

’Has the Emperor ever chosen her name tablet?’

’I don’t think so! When he goes to Bihua Palace, it’s always to see Lady Zhaoyi.’

’Wasn’t she left off the list? How did she end up in the procession?’

Zhang Daying, who remembered the official travel roster, put on a smile and tugged at her sleeve. "Sister Chen, you can’t follow any further. Lady Zhaoyi is about to board her carriage. Why don’t we head back together?"

Before leaving, the Emperor had said he would be managing state affairs from the garden, so everything would be the same as in the palace.

Officials who needed to present memorials would have to await a decree to be granted an audience.

’In that case, this trip will last at least two or three months, and we won’t get to see the Emperor at all! If we could go, since the Emperor wasn’t bringing many concubines, with so few choices, even a low-ranking concubine like a Daying or a Changzai would probably get a few days of his favor.’

’Such a wonderful opportunity...’

’...and it wasn’t our turn!’

’And if that’s the case, then it had better not be Chen Changzai’s turn either.’

"We?"

Chen Changzai looked back, glanced at the sleeve being held, and pulled her arm free with a smile. "Who’s ’we’ with you? Gu Zhaoyi asked the Emperor for a favor on my behalf, so I get to go along."

Zhang Daying’s face instantly turned green with envy.

The others also looked on in utter disbelief.

After pulling her hand back, Chen Changzai turned and boarded Gu Zhaoyi’s carriage, leaving them with nothing but a view of her arrogant backside.