The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

”It’s only the end of May, yet the weather is getting hotter by the day. This time last year, it wasn’t this hot.” Song Ci held Chun Fen’s hand, chatting with the palace nanny and Lin Qing, while Gu Yu held an umbrella beside her, shielding her head from the scorching sun.

Summer had arrived, and the garden at the Prime Minister’s Mansion was in full bloom. Walking through it was truly invigorating, and Song Ci, feeling cheerful, insisted on bringing the palace nanny and Lin Qing with her to wander through the garden.

Unexpectedly, after a short walk, waves of heat rushed towards them. In just a short moment, beads of sweat started forming on their foreheads.

”Why don’t we head back to the courtyard? We shouldn’t catch the summer heat and end up feeling unwell again.” The palace nanny was ready to have a soft sedan chair brought over to carry Song Ci back.

Song Ci said, ”It’s rare for the flowers to bloom so beautifully. Let’s head to the Water Pavilion. The rain in March was dense, but it’s clear now, and staying indoors is rather dull.”

If it weren’t for Dan Fen being asleep, she would have brought him along too.

Song Ci insisted, leaving everyone with no choice but to comply with her wishes, knowing that Lin Qing was there to look after any issues that might arise.

The group slowly made their way to the Water Pavilion. The Hexagonal Pavilion by the lake had already adorned itself with light, sheer drapes tied with silk ribbons in a fan shape, their corners gently swaying with the breeze.

When Song Ci arrived, the pavilion was already prepared with fresh tea, snacks, and fresh vegetables and fruits. Cool bamboo mats were laid out on the seats, and a small table in the pavilion had a crane-shaped incense burner, burning freshly made lotus incense.

Song Ci was very pleased, but remarked on the incense burner, ”Take the incense burner away. There are lotus flowers in the lake, and the courtyard is filled with the fragrance of various flowers. Burning this incense seems redundant.”

With her instruction, servants swiftly removed the incense burner.

Song Ci asked the palace nanny and Lin Qing to sit down, leaving only Chun Fen and Gu Yu to serve them. The rest of the servants were allowed to find some shade to sit in.

As for Nan Shan, who always stayed close to Song Ci, he naturally perched himself on the railing of the pavilion.

Song Ci held a cup of tea, gazing at the blue lake surface and the distant lotus flowers, saying, ”In summer, it’s more comfortable to be near water. Swimming in the lake would be even better.”

”The sun is quite strong now, so if you’re going to enjoy the lake, a covered boat is necessary, not a small vessel. You shouldn’t play too much,” the palace nanny scolded.

Song Ci wrinkled her nose and said, ”If I don’t play now, when will I have the chance? I can’t be waiting until I’m too stiff to want to play, right? What do you think, Ah Qing?”

Lin Qing responded, ”As you wish, but what the palace nanny said is sensible. Playing too much in such weather might lead to heatstroke.”

Song Ci snorted, ”I’ve realized you two are getting more in sync, conspiring to manage me.”

The palace nanny handed over a plate of fresh apricot slices and said, ”Is it not because you’ve spoiled us?”

Song Ci sighed deeply, ”Indeed, I’ve spoiled two ancestral figures here. I must swallow the bitterness and sweetness of my own doing.”

Lin Qing and the palace nanny exchanged glances and then laughed, shaking their heads helplessly.

Song Ci seized the opportunity to eat a piece of sweet melon, her quick movements leaving the palace nanny unable to intervene. As she bit into it with a smug expression, the nanny looked on with increasing helplessness, mixed with a touch of affection.

”Ah Qing, you went to the palace a few days ago. How is the Empress Dowager? Is everything peaceful in the palace?”