Four Seasons Brocade – CH 270

Chapter 270 ☆、

Ah Wu really wanted to slap Zheng Luan-niang, but that would be against her usual style, and of course, Ah Wu could not appear like a shrew in front of Chu Mao.

Ah Wu took a breath, trying to maintain a calm demeanor as she stepped forward. Inwardly, she cursed Zheng Luan-niang for getting too close to Chu Mao. She was not even a concubine yet, with no official title or status; how could she act like this? She was truly letting down all the tutors Ah Wu had found for her.

“Luan-niang, please go out for a moment. I have some things to discuss with the Emperor.” Ah Wu did not even glance at Zheng Luan-niang, her eyes fixed solely on Chu Mao, whose expression was terribly indifferent. Ah Wu searched high and low but could not find a trace of joy on Chu Mao’s face at the sight of her.

Ah Wu scrutinized him. She had not looked at Chu Mao so intently in years. His face was thinner, his cheekbones more prominent, and his imposing presence was growing stronger. His silent presence alone was enough to make one break out in a cold sweat.

Zheng Luan-niang glanced at Ah Wu. She should have obeyed, but a bad feeling crept into her heart. She sensed that the Empress’s return to the palace this time was quite different from before. Zheng Luan-niang did not want to back down. She clasped her hands in front of her, looking timidly at Chu Mao.

Ah Wu was furious inside. After all, she still held the title of Empress.

Ah Wu also looked at Chu Mao. Chu Mao said to Lu Ruoxing, who was cowering by the door, “Go and summon Long Jianchen.” This meant that both Ah Wu and Zheng Luan-niang should leave.

Luan-niang, her heart pounding like a deer, curtsied and glanced timidly at Ah Wu before bowing and retreating.

Ah Wu’s heart was not pounding at all. When had Chu Mao begun to avoid her and Luan-niang? Ah Wu’s sense of crisis grew greatly.

“Your Majesty,” Ah Wu called out.

Chu Mao glanced at Ah Wu. “The Empress and concubines are not to interfere in politics. You may return now, Empress. I will visit Chang Le Palace when I have time.”

His address was so distant, and he did not even look at her. It was clearly another excuse. Even the slow-witted Ah Wu could tell that Chu Mao was deliberately avoiding her.

Ah Wu wanted to say something, but then she heard Lu Ruoxing outside say, “Your Majesty, Minister Long has arrived.”

Ah Wu wanted to act coquettishly, but after so many years of coldness between them, she was still unsure of her feelings and did not know Chu Mao’s true thoughts. She was afraid that Chu Mao had truly grown cold-hearted; otherwise, he would not have said he would send her to Second Brother Gu’s side in the first place.

“Can I wait outside until Minister Long leaves before coming in?” Ah Wu said to Chu Mao, her posture as humble as could be.

“I still have to meet with the foreign envoys,” Chu Mao said, not granting Ah Wu’s request.

“Then shall I wait until you’ve finished meeting with the foreign envoy?” Ah Wu retreated again and again.

In all the time Chu Mao had lived with Ah Wu, he had never seen her so humble. Usually, this meant she was about to say something that made one want to strangle her. Chu Mao had a rough idea of ​​what was going on.

Chu Mao frowned, about to speak again.

Ah Wu could not resist stepping forward, lowering her head to lightly kiss Chu Mao’s lips, as fleeting as a dragonfly skimming the water. “I will wait for you at the west wing.”

Chu Mao sat quietly like a Buddha, motionless. Without the Emperor’s command, Long Jianchen dared not rise, thinking he had somehow angered the Emperor. He was terrified, sweating profusely, his head bowed to the ground, too afraid to lift it.

Chu Mao’s heart pounded like a drum. When he inadvertently glanced at Long Jianchen, he said, “Get up.” He knew he had given Long Jianchen the wrong impression, but he could not undermine himself. He racked his brains, scolded Long Jianchen a few times, and Long Jianchen knelt, weeping with gratitude, to express his thanks. The fact that the Emperor was willing to scold him meant he still needed him. Long Jianchen felt as if he had just escaped death, and from then on, he felt even more awe and gratitude towards Chu Mao.

Chu Mao had no mind to talk to Long Jianchen at this point. After dismissing him and seeing the foreign envoy, he rose and began pacing. Finally, he could not help but ask, “Where is the Empress?”

Lu Ruoxing replied, “Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress is in Qing Hengchun in the inner palace.”

Qing Hengchun was located at the western end of the inner palace of Qian Yuan Hall, and it was also the Empress’s resting place when she was in Qian Yuan Hall.

Chu Mao hesitated for a moment, then walked out to Qing Hengchun.

Ah Wu was resting her chin on her hand, gazing at the painting on the wall, lost in thought. Hearing footsteps, she turned and saw Chu Mao. She quickly stood up and curtsied to him.

Chu Mao’s face remained grim. Ah Wu watched him sit down and heard him say coldly, “Speak.”

For Chu Mao, he was already in the worst situation and should not fear anything worse.

Ah Wu sat down opposite Chu Mao, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke, “Does Your Majesty know that Princess Fuhui is still alive?” Ah Wu was worried. She had not been able to get the truth from the Princess, and she feared Chu Mao might be unaware.

Chu Mao smiled coldly. So you’ve come. “I know.”

Ah Wu breathed a huge sigh of relief. “His Majesty ordered the Princess to commit suicide back then, did he not?”

Mentioning this, Chu Mao felt only irony. It seemed his past prediction had come true. Chu Mao looked at Ah Wu, wondering why he had been so soft-hearted and unprincipled towards her.

“Just letting her die like that? How can I quell my hatred? For someone like her, death is not frightening; what’s frightening is having what she was so proud of taken away. She’s no longer the Princess. Remember, I’ve already stripped her of her title. How could such an unfaithful, unfilial, and unjust woman be worthy of being a Princess?” Chu Mao said bitterly.

Although Ah Wu found Chu Mao’s words about the Princess unbearable, she could understand his situation. Regardless, she was still grateful that Chu Mao had not killed the Princess.

Moreover, Ah Wu did not think this was the real reason. If what Chu Mao said was true, then he should not have issued the decree ordering the Princess to commit suicide; he should have sent her directly to Longquan Temple. Why resort to underhanded tactics? If people knew the Princess was still alive, it would be a huge challenge to the Emperor’s authority. Therefore, Ah Wu believed Chu Mao must have changed his mind at the last minute.

And indeed, Ah Wu’s prediction came true.

Ever since Chu Mao and Ah Wu’s falling out, he had been plagued by nightmares, unable to sleep soundly, dreaming that Ah Wu could never forgive him. Moreover, Ah Wu’s birth chart was weak, and her yin energy was heavy. If she were truly made the executioner to kill the Princess, Chu Mao feared the Princess’s vengeful spirit would haunt her again; he vividly remembered the last incident.

Furthermore, although Chu Mao was unwilling to admit it, he had a vague feeling that he might ultimately have no choice but to compromise with Ah Wu. At the time, he did not think he would compromise so unprincipledly, so humbly, but Chu Mao always considered the worst-case scenario first. And this time, unfortunately, his prediction came true.

For Chu Mao, he had truly come to a realization. Rather than both of them living in such agony, it was better for him to let go. He did not want to follow in his father’s, the Longqing Emperor’s, footsteps. If he was determined to release Ah Wu, then he only wished for her to live a fulfilling life, sharing his happiness as well.

Of course, while these words sounded nice, they were only because he could now crush Fuhui as easily as crushing an ant, entirely depending on his mood.

“Regardless, I am extremely grateful that Your Majesty spared the Princess’s life,” Ah Wu said, thinking herself deeply affectionate.

Chu Mao’s face darkened. “I have no need for the Empress’s gratitude. I have other matters to attend to. Go back; Qian Yuan Palace is not a place for you.” Chu Mao stood up and walked out.

Ah Wu was already used to Chu Mao’s fickle nature, his unpredictable changes of attitude, but his words still startled her. “How can Zheng Luan-niang be like that?”

Chu Mao paused, turned to Ah Wu, and said in a deep voice, “Do you really want me to tell you the reason?”

Ah Wu’s arrogance instantly vanished. She had been blinded by jealousy, and this was not the time to bring up such matters. But Ah Wu could not answer; words were powerless at this moment.

Overcoming her shyness, Ah Wu took two steps forward and wrapped her arms around Chu Mao, who had already stepped halfway out of Qing Hengchun. “Let’s make up, alright?” Ah Wu whispered, pressing her face against Chu Mao’s back.

Chu Mao remained silent for a long time. Ah Wu thought he had not heard her, and just as she was about to repeat herself, Chu Mao pried her hands off, turned around, and looked at her seriously: “Ah Wu, I am human too; I get tired. I cannot always revolve around you, doing whatever you want. You’ve been treating me like this for not four days, not four months, but almost four years. And now you suddenly come back saying these things. How do you think I should answer you?”

Ah Wu suddenly noticed a silver streak in Chu Mao’s hair. Upon closer inspection, she saw it was a white hair. Her heart ached with regret; she hated herself for being so heartless to him. She did not even dare look at his chest.

“Your Majesty, just answer as you see fit. If Your Majesty does not agree, it does not matter. I will treat you well and make you accept me again.” Ah Wu looked at Chu Mao seriously as well.

A sarcastic smile appeared on Chu Mao’s lips. “Then I will wait and see.”

Chu Mao’s coldness far exceeded Ah Wu’s expectations. She was filled with worry, unsure how to make Chu Mao understand her feelings. As for going to the Qian Yuan Palace to deliver soup and try to gain his favor, Ah Wu disdained such a thing; it was a tactic Zheng Luan-niang had already used, and Ah Wu certainly would not follow suit.

After much thought, Ah Wu finally remembered the purse Chu Mao wore on the day Rui entered the palace—the one he refused to give to Rui. She had glanced at it then, and it was the duck-shaped purse she had embroidered at the Prince Qi’s mansion, the one Chu Mao had so vehemently rejected and locked away. Ah Wu suddenly had an idea. She had not expected that this purse would be a symbol of her feelings for him in Chu Mao’s heart, which was why he wore it then as a reminder.

A sweet feeling welled up inside Ah Wu, and she immediately ordered Ming-Xin and several others to bring out the thread for her to choose colors. Finally, she had four maids divide the thread for her that very night.

Ah Wu herself lay on the kang table, sketching a pattern. No longer a water duck, but a pair of mandarin ducks with their necks intertwined—nothing could better express her feelings.

In the drawing, the male mandarin duck’s plumage was vibrant, with a central emerald green head, swimming proudly on the water like a haughty king. The female, with her greyish-brown feathers, was scratching the male’s neck with her beak, looking pitiful. Ah Wu’s drawing was remarkably lifelike.

However, embroidering a purse was no easy task, especially since Ah Wu had not touched a needle and thread in a long time and was quite rusty. She unraveled and embroidered repeatedly, working day and night without rest, even staying up half the night by candlelight. Even so, it took five or six days to complete just one purse.

Chu Mao’s initial anticipation for Ah Wu’s work gradually turned into complete and utter despair.

To be honest, Ah Wu really did not know how to please men. If you disregarded the background and put her and Luan-niang on equal footing, Ah Wu would likely lose by a hundred miles. She was so devoted, practically pricking her fingers into sieves, yet Chu Mao only saw it as teasing him.

Moreover, this girl was inherently pretentious, arrogant, and self-important. In matters of the heart, she was extremely picky. She did not even consider using her power as Empress to stop Zheng Luan-niang from getting close to Chu Mao; she wanted to see who Chu Mao would ultimately choose between Zheng Luan-niang and herself. If he chose Zheng Luan-niang, then she could come up with underhanded methods later.

This time, Ah Wu was completely determined to turn over a new leaf, to start anew, and to win back Chu Mao’s affections with her sincerity.

Unfortunately, once Ah Wu put her heart into it, she found herself even less able to please men.