On her second visit to the palace after returning to the capital, Fuyi brought her personal servant girls, Qiushuang and Xiayu. The eunuchs and attendants who greeted her were the same as last time, though now even more attentive. From their behavior, Fuyi could tell the imperial couple greatly appreciated her efforts to bring trouble for Ning Wang.
“This subject daughter greets Her Majesty the Empress,” Fuyi said upon entering the Zhaoyang Palace, but before she could complete her bow, the Empress lifted her up.
“This palace has told you before, there’s no need for such formalities,” the Empress said, holding Fuyi’s hand. “Have you had breakfast?”
“This subject daughter was eager to see Your Majesty sooner, so I only had a few light bites to pad my stomach,” Fuyi honestly replied. Because she typically slept in, being roused early to prepare for the invitation left her no time for a proper meal.
“Perfect, you can join me,” the Empress said, seating Fuyi beside her as the palace staff brought in an array of dishes. When Fuyi stood up to serve the Empress, she was gently stopped.
“Protocol is for appearances; with no outsiders here, there’s no need for such rigid formalities,” the Empress said, pushing a bowl of shark fin soup toward Fuyi. “Sit and enjoy your meal.”
The Empress’s remark made Fuyi straighten instinctively, as her mother often said the same at home.
‘Does Her Majesty treat me as an insider so easily? Isn’t it… a bit too easygoing?’
After breakfast, the Empress, being informed that the peach blossoms in the garden had started blooming, took Fuyi to admire them. Unfortunately, the peach trees were only beginning to bud, their sparse blooms looking a bit lacking and lonely. “The flowers aren’t in full bloom yet. Once they are, you should come again to see them,” the Empress sighed with disappointment.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” When they walked past a peach tree, Fuyi remembered that she had buried two jars of wine under it when she was thirteen. At that time, she promised Ning Wang they would unearth them together when she turned eighteen.
“Is there something under this tree?” the Empress noticed the peculiar look in Fuyi’s eyes.
“Well, this subject daughter happened to have buried two jars of wine under this tree a few years ago. I’m not sure if they’re still drinkable,” Fuyi said with a shy smile. “Is it possible to dig them up?”
“Of course. This palace would like to taste them, too.” The Empress’s curiosity was piqued. “What kind of wine did you bury?”
“One jar of Daughter’s Red, one of Peach Blossom Brew,” Fuyi replied, taking the small trowel from a eunuch. She remembered she hadn’t buried them very deep. “Let me do it.”
…
When Sui Tingheng passed by the peach garden, he saw his mother with her sleeves rolled up and a trowel in hand, “Mother Empress, what are you doing?” He asked in confusion.
“Digging up wine.” The Empress handed him a trowel. “You help too. See if there’s any wine under these trees.”
Sui Tingheng looked around and found several peach trees already had small pits dug beneath them, while Fuyi was bent over in the distance, digging with determination.
“This doesn’t make sense; I clearly remember burying them under one of these trees. How could they not be here?” Fuyi straightened up, rubbing her sore back, and whispered to Qiushuang, “Could it be that Ning Wang secretly dug them up?”
“…” Qiushuang didn’t know what to say. Although Ning Wang is indeed a despicable scumbag, he wouldn’t stoop so low as to steal Miss’s wine, would he?
“Why not try this tree?” Sui Tingheng suggested, looking at the peach tree next to Fuyi. “If you don’t mind, Miss Yun, I can help you dig.”
“Greetings, Your Imperial Highness.” Fuyi smiled upon seeing Sui Tingheng. “But this subject daughter remembers burying the wine near a larger tree.”
“You were young five years ago, so the trees looked bigger to you,” Sui Tingheng remarked, lifting his robe and beginning to dig. “Now that you’re grown, perhaps the trees aren’t quite as grand as you remember.”
“That makes sense.” Fuyi crouched down beside Sui Tingheng, helping him dig.
Qiushuang and Xiayu exchanged worried glances. How would they explain this to Madam when they returned home? If she asked what Miss had been doing in the palace, should they honestly report that Miss had been digging pits with the Empress and the Prince?
They’d thought the Empress’s remark about disregarding formality was mere politeness; they hadn’t expected she truly meant it. But to be this casual… it’s truly eye-opening!
“Found it!” Fuyi exclaimed in delight as a corner of a wine jar appeared in the pit Sui Tingheng was digging. “Your Imperial Highness, not only are you skilled in studies, but you’re also excellent at digging pits!”
Sui Tingheng glanced at Fuyi. Seeing her eyes sparkling, he smiled, “Perhaps I’m just lucky today.”
When Fuyi bent down to reach for the jar, he stopped her. “Let me do it; no need to dirty your hands.”
Fuyi looked at her own mud-streaked hands, then at Sui Tingheng’s clean, beautiful hands. After a moment of pause, she yielded. “Thank you, Your Imperial Highness.”
Sui Tingheng rolled up his sleeves and knelt down, carefully brushing the dirt and soil from the wine jars that had been buried for five years. Seeing how seriously he was dealing with them, Fuyi almost wondered whether she had buried priceless treasures instead of wine…
“Good wine is hard to come by,” Sui Tingheng said to her. “Might I have the honor of tasting this today?”
“Of course.” Fuyi crouched beside him, wiping the dirt from the jar with a handkerchief. “I’m just not sure how it tastes or if it suits Your Highness’ palate.”
‘Something buried for five years—who could guarantee its taste?’
“How could it not taste good?” Sui Tingheng disagreed; his smile was as warm as spring. “This aged wine is one of a kind. Extremely special.”
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Author’s Note:
Sui Tingheng: “Burying wine is nothing special; digging it up together and sharing it is the real charm.”
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