Do You Know?: Rule the World.

Chapter 80 Hualand's Reward

After sending the eunuch away, Hualan was still in shock and couldn't recover for a long time.

The pair of almond-shaped eyes that were usually the most lively had lost their luster at this moment.

"Madam..." Cai Zan stood beside her and reminded her softly.

After her long, curled eyelashes trembled a few times, Hua Lan came back to her senses, with a dazed look still in her eyes.

"Cai Zan, was I dreaming just now?"

Cai Zan smiled and helped Hua Lan walk towards the wing room. "How could that be? I'm afraid the palace eunuchs haven't left Hanlin Lane yet."

"Oh my God, what a blessing this is!"

Hua Lan covered half of her face with a handkerchief, her heart beating slightly, and even her steps became lighter.

In her opinion, if Sheng Hong and Wang Ruofu knew about this, they would definitely go to the ancestral temple to burn three incense sticks for their ancestors.

Wait until dusk falls.

When Zhao Han returned from the military camp, Hua Lan helped him take off his coat while telling him the whole story.

"I didn't expect that the emperor and the queen would actually take this matter so seriously."

Zhao Han spoke softly, his mind unable to help but recall the day when he first met Empress Cao in Wenhua Palace.

"Sir, what kind of clothes should I wear tomorrow? What kind of hair bun should I wear? What kind of jewelry should I wear?"

Hualan's face was rosy, and there was joy in the corners of her eyes and eyebrows.

Zhao Han put his arm around her slender waist and said with a smile, "My lady is dignified and graceful, so whatever you wear will look good on you."

"Sir, please don't praise me. This is my first time in the palace, so I must not lose my manners."

As she spoke, Hua Lan lowered her head and pretended to straighten Zhao Han's clothes.

The corners of his mouth rose slightly, and he thought to himself: Those palace etiquettes that my grandmother had taken so much trouble to teach me.

Now, it finally comes in handy.

When night falls, the red candles burn brightly and the curtains hang low.

Needless to say, it was a tender night.

The next morning, the maids began to sweep the snow in the yard. The sound of bamboo brooms scraping across the bluestone slabs was particularly crisp.

In the side room, Hua Lan looked at her slightly swollen knees, and couldn't help but think of how she kneeled on the brocade mattress last night. Her jade-like cheeks quickly turned red.

Take a concubine! There can't be no more concubines in the mansion!

After a few days, he asked his mother to help find a suitable and virtuous girl to marry into the house.

"Girl, put some medicine on first."

After Cai Zan finished speaking, she turned around and took out a small emerald green porcelain bottle from a carved wooden cabinet on the side.

When Hualan saw this thing, the blush on her face suddenly deepened, and even her earlobes were stained a light pink.

"Hurry up." Hua Lan lowered her eyelashes and said in a low voice.

Cai Zan nodded repeatedly.

As noon approached, Hualan had been sitting in front of the bronze mirror for a long time.

But today she was wearing a Xiangfei-colored brocade robe, her hair was tied up in a high bun, dotted with a few pearl flowers, and her face was lightly powdered, which made her look more charming and dignified than usual.

After everything was ready, a carriage slowly drove away from the gate of Zhao's house and headed straight for the imperial palace.

Inside the carriage, the brocade curtain moved slightly.

Seeing Hua Lan clutching her sleeves, a little nervous, Zhao Han chuckled and said, "The emperor is very kind and benevolent, and the queen is also kind and friendly. There is no need to be so reserved."

Upon hearing this, Hua Lan's expression eased slightly and she slowly loosened her sleeves.

"If you hadn't been appreciated by the emperor, I, a daughter of a fifth-rank official, would probably never have had the chance to enter the palace in my lifetime."

Zhao Han pinched her earlobe lovingly.

"When your husband earns you an imperial decree in the future, you must come to the palace to pay your respects to the Empress every New Year."

Hua Lan raised her beautiful eyes and smiled, "If I can get an imperial decree in the future, my mother will be extremely happy."

Soon, the carriage stopped outside Donghua Gate. Zhao Han gathered Hua Lan's cloak and got off the carriage first.

"Watch your step."

When Hualan stepped down from the footstool, Zhao Han supported her and reminded her softly.

Several eunuchs had been waiting at the palace gate for a long time. When they saw them arrive, they hurried forward to pay their respects.

Zhao Han nodded slightly, and under the guidance of the eunuch, he and Hua Lan walked towards Kunning Palace.

Along the way, Hualan raised her eyes quietly. Entering the palace for the first time, she couldn't help but look around, secretly admiring its luxury and grandeur.

-

At the same time, inside Kunning Hall, it was as warm as spring, and the silver bone charcoal in the furnace made subtle crackling sounds from time to time.

Zhao Zhen leaned against a rosewood couch with a cloud-patterned arhat pattern, holding a scroll of "Zhenguan Zhengyao" in his hand, and looked out the window from time to time.

Seeing this, Empress Cao smiled and said, "Don't be anxious, Your Majesty."

"They must have already entered the palace and are on their way here."

Zhao Zhen put down the scroll and said angrily, "This brat is busy running to the military camp all day long, but he hasn't come to see me for some time."

"Yesterday, the Duke of Ying came to the palace and said that he had received some kind of enlightenment from a master. He had, by some unknown method, ordered the Armour Supervisor to produce armour that was three times stronger than the wart armour of the Western Xia."

"I am really surprised that you have invented an extended-arm bow that can pierce heavy armor within a hundred steps." As he spoke, Zhao Zhen's eyes were filled with satisfaction and expectation.

"Brother Han's ability is extraordinary. It is heaven's blessing that we will have such a crown prince in the future."

"After the matter of the Cavalry Battalion is over, should Your Majesty consider letting Han'er return to his ancestral home?" Empress Cao asked softly, her red lips slightly parted.

Zhao Zhen pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "The only one who understands me is Dan Shu."

As the two were talking, the sound of footsteps from a palace servant came from outside the hall. Zhao Zhen immediately straightened up and stroked his beard, feigning composure. Empress Cao smiled and turned to look at the hall entrance.

The figures of Zhao Han and Hua Lan soon came into their sight.

The two stood in the center of the hall and bowed respectfully, saying, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to the Emperor and the Empress."

"Your Highness, I pay my respects to the Emperor and His Majesty the Queen."

Zhao Zhen and Queen Cao exchanged meaningful glances, and at the same time ignored Zhao Han and set their sights on Hua Lan.

They all wanted to see whether the future Crown Princess, the Queen who would rule the country under the Great Zhou Dynasty, was qualified.

Hualan was well-mannered. Although she lowered her head and looked submissive, there was no trace of timidity on her face. Her demeanor in every gesture was so graceful that no one would suspect that she was the daughter of a noble family.

"No need to be so polite, please take a seat." After Zhao Zhen said this, a palace maid immediately brought a soft stool.

After the two of them sat down, Empress Cao looked at Hua Lan with tenderness in her eyes, "What a beautiful girl! Have you read any books?"

Hua Lan answered truthfully, "Your Majesty, I have followed my grandmother since I was young. She taught me so well that I have read all the Four Books and Five Classics."

Empress Cao's eyes flashed with admiration. "Very good. Reading can make people wise and understand the changes of the past and present."

"What's needed in a woman is both moral integrity and talent. Your grandmother, with her upbringing, must have understood this well."

Hua Lan wore a proper smile and replied respectfully, "Your Majesty is right. My grandmother always taught me that a woman should live a life of integrity, with virtue like the pine and cypress trees, and talent like the orchid. Only then can she live a life that is worthy of her time."

After these words were spoken, Empress Cao's eyes changed again when she looked at Hualan.

"If I remember correctly, your grandfather is the old Grand Tutor Wang You?" Zhao Zhen asked casually, but a gleam of light flashed in his eyes.

Upon hearing this, Hua Lan immediately straightened her body and tightened her fingers slightly under her Xiangfei-colored sleeves.

"Going back to your Highness, Old Master Wang is my wife's grandfather."

Zhao Zhen looked far away and nodded, saying, "When Old Grand Tutor Wang was lecturing at the Imperial Lecture, I still remember his discussion of the importance of virtuous character, saying that the virtue of a ruler is like the heaven, encompassing all things. Thinking about it now still makes me feel deeply moved."

Hua Lan said calmly, "It's a pity that I am so stupid and dull that I haven't been able to learn even a little bit from my grandfather."

"Don't be modest. It's already great for a woman to be like you."

"When I was your age, I was probably not as good as you."

Empress Cao had curved eyebrows and eyes, and wore a lake blue woven flowered jacket with wide sleeves. The pearls hanging from the phoenix crown swayed gently with her movements.

Hearing this, Hua Lan hurriedly stood up and bowed, saying in a clear voice, "Your Majesty, please be humble to me. I only know a few words, how dare I be compared to you."

"Sit down quickly. No need to be so polite."

Seeing that the three of them were chatting happily, Zhao Han suddenly felt that he seemed a little redundant.

He coughed twice and said, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I am still here."

"Oh my! If you hadn't said anything, we would have almost forgotten about you."

Empress Cao set her eyes on Zhao Han and couldn't help but teasing him.

Zhao Zhen chuckled twice, "Hui Rou has been pestering me recently. I want to give you a thank you gift."

Zhao Han quickly bowed and said, "It's just a few words. Your Highness is very polite."

"Just a few words from you made me change my mind." Zhao Zhen sighed softly.

She had already handed Huirou's marriage over to the Queen, to prevent the future prince consort she chose from not being to her liking.

Then, he instructed Zhao Han to go to the plum garden to pick red plums.

Empress Cao took Hualan into the side hall, kneading the dough while whispering to herself.

At three quarters past noon, a wave of hot air with a sweet fragrance filled the hall. The pastry crust was golden, and the bright red plum blossom pastry inside could be vaguely seen freshly baked.

Zhao Zhen couldn't wait to take a bite. The sweetness of the plum blossoms mixed with the mellowness of honey melted in his mouth.

He immediately narrowed his eyes and said, "The Queen's craftsmanship is really getting better and better."

Queen Cao smiled slightly, her eyes moving.

After everyone had finished tasting the food, she ordered the palace maid to bring a pair of jade bracelets that were the color of fat and shone with a warm and lustrous glow.

"This was my dowry from my wedding."

After saying this, Empress Cao took Hualan's slender wrist, gently put the jade bracelet on it, and said in a gentle voice: "This jade is very nourishing. It feels warm to the touch in winter and cool and pleasant in summer."

"Your Majesty... This is too precious. I feel unworthy to accept it..."

Hua Lan knew at a glance that this item was worth a lot of money.

After all, she had been with the old lady for many years and had never seen a jade bracelet of such quality.

"No problem. I get along very well with you today. If you have time in the future, please come to the palace more often and talk to me."

Seeing Hualan was about to refuse, Empress Cao feigned displeasure and pursed her lips: "If you refuse, it means you despise my feelings."

"This...I dare not." Hua Lan frowned and had to accept it with embarrassment.

On the carriage back home.

Looking at the jade bracelet on her wrist that made clear sounds from time to time, Hua Lan felt a little dazed for a moment.

"What's wrong with Hua'er?" Zhao Han asked in a gentle voice.

Hua Lan shook her head and smiled, "It's just that the Empress is very different from what I imagined. I never thought she would be so kind and without any royal dignity at all."

"And I can actually receive the Queen's reward."

Zhao Han smiled gently and nodded on her head.

"Hua'er is intelligent, well-mannered, and well-mannered. It's only natural that she has won the favor of the Empress today."

Hua Lan leaned her head into his arms and muttered, "It's because of you, my lord, that I have the opportunity to show off in front of the Empress."

"When we get home later, I'll ask Mother Wei to tell my mother so she can be happy too."

(End of this chapter)