In Li Hongyuanâs impression, Jiang Ning rarely wore brightly colored clothes, except for her wedding day.
Unlike other women in the Harem, she didnât bother with delicate dressing and most of the time, she would wear a wrinkled white skirt and her long hair casually tied up.
Though it was overly simple, it suited her lazy temperament.
Today she also dressed plainly, but she seemed to have applied some rouge, and her powder-white cheeks were adorned with a delicate hair bun with colorful gems sparkling in the light.
She already had dreamy, charming eyes, and this bright and elegant look further emphasized her beauty and nobility.
After a glance, Li Hongyuan moved his gaze away from her face.
Jiang Ning stood up and slightly perfunctorily performed a courtesy: âYour Highness came so early?â
Li Hongyuan said to Huang Ying: âIâll have breakfast here.â
âYes, Your Highness.â
Huang Ying quickly fetched the bowls, chopsticks, porridge, and side dishes.
Li Hongyuan lifted the hem of his robe, sat down opposite Jiang Ning, picked up the bowl and took a sip of porridge: âThe porridge in the Princess Consortâs place always tastes better than anywhere else.â
Jiang Ning smiled, pointing to her face: âPerhaps, this is what they call âfood for the eyesâ in the stories.â
Li Hongyuan glanced at her.
âWhat does Your Highness think of my attire today?â
âItâs passable, not enough to disgrace the East Palace.â
âThatâs good.â
Jiang Ning smiled brightly, not feeling unhappy with his words, gently passed over a plate of pastries: âI know Your Highness doesnât like sweets, these pastries are not sweet.â
Li Hongyuan picked up a piece, took a bite, indeed, it didnât have the usual sweetness of pastries.
Refreshing, not greasy.
He had a bowl of meat porridge, ate three or four pieces of pastries, an egg, and a bowl of sheepâs milk before putting down his chopsticks.
Jiang Ningâs dietary habits were always different from others.
After a few days without it, Li Hongyuan began to miss it.
Having eaten and drank to his heartâs content, Jiang Ning went to rinse her mouth and came back to say: âYour Highness, I will go to Jiang Family for a couple of days, please take care of the children.â
âWerenât you planning to send them to the Queen Mother?â
âThe Empress is getting old, she canât stand the childrenâs noise, so I decided against it.â
It was clear that she didnât trust the Empress.
There was no one else in the palace who could be trusted completely.
After all, this Harem was the Emperorâs, not the Crown Princeâs.
Li Hongyuan said: âThen let Concubine Li take care of them.ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Jiang Ning smiled: âThatâs good, Concubine Li loves the two children very much.â
She turned to Huang Ying and said: âHuang Ying, let Xiachu accompany me back. You, Chunlai, and Xiaoman stay in the East Palace, attend to Concubine Liâs commands. Understand?â
Huang Ying knelt: âThis servant understands.â
âIf there is any issue, have Xiaoman come to find me.â
Li Hongyuan listened to her arrangements and reminders, asked: âSo you donât trust me? Instead of having someone find me, youâd rather they come all the way out of the palace to find you.â
Jiang Ning said with a smile and a hint of seriousness: âI believe that if there is any issue, Concubine Li will inform Your Highness in time.â
âThatâs true.â
âYour Highness, I should be going now.â
âDo you want me to accompany you?â
âIt would be an honor.â
Li Hongyuan was only making a polite gesture, but he didnât expect her not to be courteous with him.
Although he had other matters to attend to, he had to escort Jiang Ning to Immortal-view Gate first.
Outside the Immortal-view Gate, the Jiang Familyâs carriage was already waiting.
Jiang Ning only brought Gucheng and Xiachu, so one carriage was enough.
On the way back, Xiachu was worried: âMaster, are you really confident in Concubine Li?â