"Some time ago I complained about the humidity due to the rain, and now it has been sunny for two days, and I complain about the sun again."
In the yard, Ye Jun was waving a round fan with a picture of a carp playing in the water, leaning lazily on the porch, watching the maids drying quilts and clothes.
It has been raining for so long, and these things are made of precious materials. It would be bad if they got damp. I have to dry them in the sun and then fold them up and put them away.
Bai Zhu brought the watermelon and handed it over with a smile, "Jieyu, have two pieces to relieve the summer heat. This watermelon was just picked up from the well after being soaked in water."
"It's only the beginning of June, how come there are watermelons?" Huiyue asked puzzledly.
Bai Zhu chuckled, "The Ministry of Internal Affairs just delivered it this morning. They said it was shipped from the south by water. It's very valuable. There are only three boxes and twenty pieces in total. Our Yuxiu Pavilion got one."
Ye Jun raised his eyebrows, picked up the silver chopsticks, picked one up and ate it.
Although it is not as sweet as the watermelons in July and August, it still tastes pretty good, especially at this time when it is a rare commodity.
"What else is there?" Ye Jun asked after putting down his chopsticks.
"Apart from the Empress Dowager and the Queen, there are only a few children, and then there are you, Fang Xiuyi, and Concubine Yi. I heard that a few others were sent out of the palace to the two princes and Princess Jiahe." Bai Shu said truthfully.
Ye Jun nodded. Looking at the two consecutive rewards, she felt that her label as a favored lady in the harem should be firmly established.
While I was thinking about it, I saw Huai'an coming in.
"I pay my respects to the Concubine. The Emperor wants to talk to her at the Jiuchen Palace!"
"After eating the emperor's watermelon, I was planning to go and express my gratitude. I don't need to change clothes and keep the emperor waiting." Ye Jun raised his eyebrows.
Huai'an smiled and said, "Jieyi is so beautiful that she looks good even in coarse linen clothes. Moreover, this one looks plain but is made of brocade. The emperor will definitely like it when he sees it."
"Eunuch Huaian is getting sweeter and sweeter. I don't have anything to reward you with. I'll give you this pearl hairpin."
As he said that, Ye Jun took out a hairpin from her head and handed it over.
How could something that could be pinned in her hair be something vulgar? Huai'an was delighted when he saw it.
I took the sedan chair all the way to Jiuchen Palace. It was nice not to have to walk, and I didn’t sweat even when I fanned myself.
It’s not like the past when you would get hot and sweaty just by walking past.
Yuan Jiu was waiting outside the hall, and when he saw someone coming, he opened the door with a smile.
When Ye Jun walked in, he saw Ning Chen sitting on the couch beside the bed reading a book.
"Your Majesty, your servant greets you." The girl bowed gracefully, and her soft and sweet voice brought the man back to his senses.
Ning Chen looked up and saw the pink and white figure, which was extremely charming.
"Come and sit down. I've asked someone to serve your favorite snacks and fruits."
"Then I would like to thank the emperor first." Ye Jun looked like a naughty little girl. She sat down and pinched a piece of dessert and took a bite. "What book is the emperor reading?"
"It's just a military book." Ning Chen picked up the teacup and took a sip, then threw the book on the table. "I haven't visited you in the past two days. How come you've lost weight?"
It had been raining for a long time before, and I was worried about people outside the palace. After that, I only saw her once at the second princess' full moon banquet, so it was not easy to see her for much. If you count carefully, we haven't been alone together for more than 20 days.
Looking at her today, the girl seems to be a little thinner.
"It's been raining heavily and it's very stuffy. My appetite is not very good. I eat less and naturally lose weight." Ye Jun didn't care much.
After all, she is not very thin, and her current figure is quite satisfactory, with plenty of meat where it should be.
Seeing that her face looked rosy and she did not seem unwell, Ning Chen did not mention the matter again and changed the subject to talk about other things.
"I have discussed the matter of the imperial merchants you mentioned last time with all the ministers. Most of them think it is feasible, but some people are still unwilling to do so. Now it is still at a stalemate. However, there is good news in the north. Your brother led some people to disguise themselves as bandits and attacked the border of Liao State. They took away a large number of cattle and sheep from their camp. This is very gratifying!"
The two siblings of the Ye family, one is good at planning, and the other does an excellent job, which makes Ning Chen very satisfied.
Ye Jun was helpless anyway. Now Ning Chen told her about some things in the court without any reservations.
"The matter of the imperial merchant is bound to affect the interests of many people. Will they agree to the emperor taking away their purses?"
After eating another snack and taking a sip of tea, she said, "Besides, I have always thought that my brother is quite smart, so it is not surprising that he can accomplish this. Unfortunately, he is still a little bit worse than me."
As he spoke, he stretched out his little finger and gestured.
Such playful actions only made Ning Chen laugh.
After laughing, Ye Jun thought of another thing, "Su Wanrong has been learning the rules for a month. How long does the emperor plan to let her learn? I heard that the teaching nanny is very strict."
"Doesn't that just fulfill your wish?" Ning Chen raised his eyebrows.
"Pooh, pooh, pooh. I'm not that bad. I'm clearly doing this for Su Wanrong's own good. I'm afraid that she'll break the rules and lose face." Ye Jun snorted twice.
It's impossible to admit it. Anyway, I will definitely bully others in this life.
Ning Chen looked at her, with a faint smile in his phoenix eyes. He shook his head helplessly and said lightly, "Zasak sent news that Zhuoligetu died of a sudden illness. Now his second son Enhejin has succeeded to the throne."
Ye Jun paused for a moment, then returned to normal in an instant, "Does Su Wanrong know about this?"
After all, it is obvious who is closer, a biological father or a half-brother.
"I haven't told her yet. I'm going to ask someone to pass the message later." Ning Chen narrowed his eyes.
As for why he didn't like Sudiya, who was good at singing and dancing and beautiful, there was only one reason: Dolan's face was scratched, and he first suspected Sudiya.
She could have used other methods, but she chose to hurt Duolan's face. Ning Chen hated such a cruel woman.
"Let's not talk about this anymore. Is Your Majesty hungry? I didn't eat much for breakfast, but I want to eat something." Ye Jun changed the subject.
Yuan Jiu smiled and stepped forward, "I remember that Concubine Jieyu likes to eat river food such as fish and shrimp. The kitchen said that June yellow has just been available. Why don't you make it and try it?"
"That's really good stuff. Ask the kitchen to make it spicy or deep-fried. It's all fine!"
Ye Jun's eyes lit up.
The June yellow is the boy crab. This is the time when crabs change their shells. The crab meat is tender, the shell is soft, and the crab is not big. It tastes best when fried.
Ning Chen originally didn't like these fishy smells, but seeing Ye Jun's preference for them, he tried a few of them too, and they were really good.
The two of them ate a whole plate together, and the servants stopped serving them.
Crabs are cold in nature and eating too much is not good for you.
After lunch, Ning Chen was going to review memorials, but Ye Jun was unwilling to do so and acted like a spoiled child, asking to take a nap.
Unable to persuade her, the emperor could only watch the concubine sleeping soundly while he went to review memorials with great difficulty.
Ye Jun was sleeping comfortably here. In Feihong Pavilion, Su Diya had just had lunch after learning the rules for the whole morning.
After eating a few bites, she saw a stranger coming. Although she did not recognize Huai'an, other servants recognized him. When they heard that he was the deputy steward of the emperor, they were overjoyed.
I thought I was finally going to make it, but who knew, after I had learned enough rules, I also received bad news.
Her father Zhuoligetu died suddenly of illness.