"It doesn't matter about the rest, but tonight the curfew is lifted, and the common folks will surely be bustling with excitement. You should take the Noble Consort out for a stroll; it would be better than her spending her days with this old woman," the Empress Dowager said with a wave of her hand, and then added, "The Noble Consort has been seeking this for a long time, and I have agreed. I cannot let my word be void."
Having said that, even if he wanted to refuse, Shen Qi could find no suitable excuse to do so, thus he agreed.
The day passed quickly.
Recently, Su Zhiruan felt very sleepy, even if she was grinding ink in the Imperial Study Room or standing by to serve, she would feel faint.
She attributed this all to autumn lethargy.
Night fell swiftly.
The Mid-Autumn Festival was an important holiday in the Wang Dynasty. During these three days, the curfew was lifted throughout the Capital City, and everyone, civilians and officials alike, would celebrate regardless of gender, age, wealth, or poverty. Everyone would choose to go out and enjoy the festivities.
The streets on both sides were lined with performers and stalls selling all kinds of delicious food, as well as various types of lanterns.
Su Zhiruan walked behind, glancing left and right, her gaze finally resting on the Noble Consort and Emperor Shen Qi up ahead.
While yawning, she squeezed into the crowd.
Little Fuzi had other matters in Zichen Hall and could not come, so a Hidden Guard accompanied her instead.
The Noble Consort and Shen Qi walking together felt incongruous. With that thought, Su Zhiruan yawned again.
Hearing that the Empress Dowager had asked Shen Qi to take the Noble Consort out of the palace to enjoy the festivities, all the concubines in the harem were nearly mad with envy, but according to Su Zhiruan's observation, the subjects themselves did not seem that excited.
The Noble Consort continuously sought opportunities to stick close to Shen Qi and engage him in various conversations.
"Your Majesty... walking with you, your concubine feels as if we are a family~" The Noble Consort gave Shen Qi a coquettish look, and then added, "Just walking together so plainly, like a newlywed couple."
Shen Qi frowned, "When outside, call me Young Master Shen."
"Ah~ Young Master Shen~" the Noble Consort teased, almost bumping into a large tree. She had no interest in the trinkets on the streetside, nor in the floating river lanterns or firecrackers. Upon spotting a couple with happy smiles, she pointed and said, "Young Master Shen, look, don't we resemble that family?"
Bored, Shen Qi followed her pointing hand.
At that moment, the husband in the couple bent down to lift a chubby little radish from the ground—the little girl, with her hair in two topknots, started giggling when picked up, showing two little sharp teeth, clearly soft and sweet. She waved her small hands and called out with an infantile voice, "Horsey ride! Horsey ride! Daddy, carry little girl!"
"This little girl, always clinging to your daddy!" the young mother feigned jealousy, quickly tickling the little girl's nose.
The clever little radish understood immediately and waved her hands, giggling, "Mommy carry little girl, daddy carry little girl!"
In the end, the man simply lifted both his wife and daughter, laughing heartily.
Shen Qi watched, his expression turning cold.
Family.
As the Emperor, he was destined not to have such simple and warm happiness.
The Noble Consort hadn't expected this turn of events. Childless, that was the Emperor's pain, and she panicked as well, hurriedly saying, "Your— Young Master Shen!"
By then, Shen Qi had already lost all interest and departed.
The Hidden Guard first glanced at Su Zhiruan beside him, who was yawning and looking around at the lanterns, and then at the Noble Consort in the distance, who was stricken with grief. In the end, he resolutely followed his own master.
When Shen Qi left the house, he naturally didn't bring just one Hidden Guard; his people were all protecting him from different places, so there was no need to worry too much.
The Noble Consort, seeing herself abandoned and noticing Su Zhiruan there as well, who looked very sleepy with her eyelids barely open, felt like she became the object of mockery. Her face changed dramatically, and she began to sneer and scorn, "You despicable servant! How much did you see! Don't think you're anything special just because the Emperor deigned to bring you along. If it weren't for me also leaving the palace, how could it have been your turn, you little wench!"
Su Zhiruan didn't say anything. She was especially sleepy, the kind of sleepiness where she could hardly stand.
Actually, she didn't care about these harsh words. Before she received the system, when she was a working girl, she didn't know how many times she had heard these overt and covert mockeries.
At first, she was also very angry, but then upon careful thought, she realized the premise behind their sneers and scorn was that they themselves had very ordinary lives, and then they envied her.
The best way to deal with these kinds of people was not to retort, but to remain silent, just watching them slowly crumble, then finally become frustrated and angry with themselves.
Following the Noble Consort's loud scorn and insults, the passersby around also frowned and looked over.
Many passersby began to point and gossip about the Noble Consort.
"Whose family is this? Ranting and raving, one look at her face and you can tell she's no good."
"Could this be her daughter next to her? Abusing her daughter, insulting her, this madwoman, really... "
"Shh... quietly, don't talk anymore. The clothes on this woman are not cheap, she must be from a wealthy family. Probably a stepmother who looks down on the original wife's daughter, and now she's bullying this young girl on the street..."
After hearing this, everyone revealed a knowing expression.
The Noble Consort was not deaf; she heard it all, and by now, she was nearly driven mad with rage. The more the people talked, the more outrageous they became, until, in the end, they turned her into an evil stepmother, a disreputable woman who seduced a wealthy family's master and then went in to bully the previously treasured and delicate young daughter.
The Noble Consort had never encountered such a situation before. Even if she wanted to lash out, looking at the current situation, with the crowd being so large, if any commotion really started, she could be drowned in their spit.
"You! You just wait!!!" the Noble Consort said, furious.
But there was nothing at hand for her to smash, and no one to vent her anger on, so she could only glare fiercely at Su Zhiruan.
Just then, someone suddenly descended from the sky and came before the Noble Consort, "I am commanded to escort you back."
For the current Noble Consort, this was the best opportunity to save face. She immediately nodded, carrying her malice towards Su Zhiruan, and was led away.
Su Zhiruan, dressed in her simple goose-yellow outfit and mistaken for having cried until her eyes were red, received much kindness from the people.
The auntie selling roasted sweet potatoes saw her dazed look and casually shoved a big sweet potato into her hand, "Girl, don't mind your crazy stepmother, have a sweet potato."
The old craftsman grandfather selling lanterns picked out a beautiful crane and pine lantern and cautioned her to watch her step.
...
When Shen Qi saw her again, Su Zhiruan had already been adorned by the kindness of the common folk, becoming a New Year's painting doll, carrying many little trinkets in her hands.
Even with his usual cold demeanor, he cracked a slight smile this time, "Ruanruan is so popular, eh? Then I must take good care of you!"
"My lord, what brings you here?" Su Zhiruan didn't expect Shen Qi to suddenly appear by her side.