Palace Fighting Naive Concubines’ Ascent to Power

45: Chapter 45: Whose Little Flower Cat 45: Chapter 45: Whose Little Flower Cat Lian Hua thought of His Majesty running at full speed, so different from his usual dignified demeanor, and couldn’t help giggling sweetly to herself.

The Emperor shook his head indulgently, what a girl, completely oblivious to romance, there was just no getting through to her.

After giggling for a while, Lian Hua gently tugged at the Emperor’s sleeve and said, “Your Majesty, it’s time to make the Dew Tea, if we miss the right moment we won’t be able to finish it.”

At that moment, the Emperor, who had been anxious about the matters at the flower-viewing banquet, had finally relaxed, feeling touched that the most remarkable thing about this Little Concubine was that no matter when, one could never see any gloom about her.

Indeed, with only a few shichen left before the flower-viewing banquet, she had already begun hopping around, busy with the Dew Tea as if nothing had happened, even causing such a huge misunderstanding between them.

“You stay here, I will go change into casual clothes and come help you,” the Emperor said to her as he released her.

“Ah?

Your Majesty will also join in making the Dew Tea?” She couldn’t imagine His Majesty doing work; in her eyes, His Majesty’s hands had never touched water, his martial skills could secure the country, his scholarly abilities could govern it, but she just couldn’t picture His Majesty doing labor.

“Hmm, what, afraid that I’ll steal your secret recipe?” He still remembered what she had said when she had refused him before.

Back then, she was so scared that she trembled, but she had still stubbornly refused him; he really didn’t know where she got that courage from, and considering that he was quite open-minded, he didn’t punish her.

Lian Hua stuck out her tongue and also remembered the incident, wondering to herself why His Majesty still remembered it after so much time had passed, and said, “Oh, how could that be, a servant’s belongings are His Majesty’s, you just learn it well.”

Making it required a lot of skill, and ordinary people might not grasp the method even after watching for a long time; she wasn’t worried about her secret recipe being leaked at all.

The Emperor raised an eyebrow, not quite believing her, since when had this Little Concubine been so generous?

However, hearing her say that what was hers was his, he still found it rather pleasing.

With that, they parted ways, the Emperor to change into his casual clothes, and Lian Hua continued to lead the fire-making.

It was fortunate that Canglan Court was so secluded, separated from the rest of the Harem by a forest; the smoke scattered as it rose, thus avoiding causing a panic in the Harem.

When the Emperor returned dressed in his casual clothes, he heard Lian Hua directing the fire-making from afar:

“Fan the flames, that log is about to catch fire!” Lian Hua went to lift the log and got charcoal dust on her hands without noticing.

“The firewood isn’t fully dry, it’s not burning well,” Xiao Qing said as she set up the wood pile.

“That’s true, it’s almost ready though, Xiao Jizi, add some dry grass to the kindling, that should be enough,” Lian Hua looked around, wiped her sweat off, and felt that the fire was about to rise, feeling hopeful.

“Understood!” Xiao Jizi quickly added a handful of dry grass.

The dry grass ignited as soon as it touched the fire, and gradually, a few firewood sticks started burning on their own.

It was not easy to start a fire today; the new wood was still a bit moist, requiring quite a bit of dry grass as kindling, but eventually, they managed to get it going.

The three of them finally breathed a sigh of relief, exchanging smiles.

Xiao Jizi saw the charcoal dust on Young Master’s face and said, “Young Master, you’ve got something here!” He pointed at his own nose and forehead to show her.

“Hmm?

What?” Lian Hua voiced her confusion, and following his gestures, she touched her nose and forehead, getting even more dust on her face.

Xiao Jizi fell silent and couldn’t bear to watch; he didn’t expect the Young Master to get her hands all dirty, it seemed he had led his master right into the ditch…

Xiao Qing, seeing this, was about to remind Lian Hua about the charcoal dust on her face, but before she could say anything, they noticed the Emperor approaching from a distance.

They saw the Emperor wearing a white narrow-sleeve long robe with golden silk trim and a white jade crown on his head, tall and straight, approaching slowly.

His Majesty looked so handsome that Lian Hua stood up straight and couldn’t help but be mesmerized.

As he neared them, she hurriedly led the others in greeting, “Long live Your Majesty, thousands of blessings.”

“Rise.”

“Thank Your Majesty!” Lian Hua lifted her head, bounced over to His Majesty’s side, and looked at the Emperor with a beaming smile.

The Emperor looked at her, a bit dazed to see several streaks of black soot decorating her forehead and nose, it hadn’t been long since they last saw each other, how had this happened?

This looked like someone’s little flower cat, but with black and white spots?

At this thought, the Emperor couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Xiao Jizi and Xiao Qing were also bowing their heads, pursing their lips, trying to hold back their laughter, their shoulders shaking.

Lian Hua felt something was off and looked at the Emperor questioningly, then at Xiao Jizi and Xiao Qing, a bit bewildered: why were they all laughing?

Could it be that there was something on her face?

Touching her face in confusion, she triggered an even bigger burst of laughter from the Emperor.

Lian Hua suddenly realized something was amiss and looked at her own hands, crying out in shock, “Ah, why are my hands so black!”

Thinking of the face she just touched, she screamed again, “Ah, my face!!!”

The others laughed even harder.

Lian Hua, puffing up with anger, accused Xiao Jizi and Xiao Qing, “Why didn’t you remind me!”

She had embarrassed herself in front of His Majesty again, aaaah!

Xiao Jizi, holding back a laugh, replied, “Reporting to Young Master, this servant did mention it, but didn’t manage to do so in time…” He said, stealing a glance at His Majesty.

Xiao Qing followed with a nod.

“All right, all right, don’t blame them.

Come here, I’ll clean you up,” the Emperor beckoned to her.

Lian Hua sullenly walked over to him, with an utterly dispirited look.

His Majesty was so mean, always laughing at her.

Xiao Jizi and Xiao Qing had learned bad habits too, ganging up to tease her together.

Humph~

The Emperor wiped her face with his hand, then showed her his hand, “How could you be so careless, turning yourself into a little tabby cat with just a bit of fire.”

“Oh!” Lian Hua responded glumly, if His Majesty’s hand got this black with just a careless wipe, how black must her face be?

She felt like crying.

The Emperor, struggling to contain his laughter, took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped her face a few times, only to find it not very clean, and then called for someone, “Someone, bring some water.”

A young eunuch in attendance left to fetch the water.

The rest of the company stepped back a little.

While waiting for the water, the Emperor saw her with a dirty face and a grumpy expression, cheeks puffed out like a little squirrel, looking so adorable that it melted his heart, and yet she remained blissfully unaware.

Wanting to laugh but fearing he couldn’t contain it without embarrassing her, he turned his head away instead and coughed, deliberately changing the subject, “Is the fire burning well?”

As expected, Lian Hua’s attention was distracted by the question, and she proudly said, “Of course, with this servant taking charge, what fire couldn’t be ignited!”

Her words were no boast; she was indeed excellent at starting fires, though she fell just a tad short of Xiao Qing, who was the master among masters.

“Then lead me to see,” said the Emperor, walking ahead toward the clay stove.

Lian Hua hurried a few steps ahead, reaching the stove first, “Look at this, how vigorous the fire is now.

Once the stone slab on top heats up, we can bring over the winnowing fan and start roasting!”

She then cast a flirtatious glance at the Emperor, boasting, “Your Majesty, the firewood isn’t fully dry yet, so it’s difficult to burn.

If it wasn’t for my clever guidance, who knows how long it would have taken, just look!”

After speaking, she picked up a piece of firewood to show the Emperor, her face anticipating praise.

The Emperor looked at it very seriously for a moment, nodded, and agreed with her, “Not bad!”

Her face immediately lit up with a radiant smile, her eyes curving into crescents!

The Emperor looked at her with a smile, too.

At that moment, the water arrived, and the Emperor led her to the basin, preparing to wash her face.

She turned back to check the fire in the stove and instructed Xiao Jizi and Xiao Qing to add firewood and keep a close watch on the flames.

After giving her instructions, she closed her eyes with peace of mind, waiting for His Majesty to help clean her face.

The Emperor dipped the handkerchief in water, wrung it out, and then turned to see her with closed eyes waiting for him, her demeanor so obedient, her rosy lips slightly pursed.

Feeling a tickle in his heart, he moved on impulse, wrapped his left arm around her waist, lifted her face with his right hand holding the handkerchief, and leaned down to gently kiss her lips.

The other servants quickly lowered their heads, daring not to look.

Lian Hua’s eyes fluttered open, with an allure in the upward curve of her eyes, a hint of astonishment in her almond-shaped eyes.

Wasn’t he supposed to clean her face?

How, how…

The Emperor covered her eyes with his hand and continued to kiss her.

After a long while, kissing her until her heart thumped wildly and her ears and face turned bright red, he finally stopped.