During the ensuing period, Su Zhiruan seemed to have deeply integrated into the daily lives of the palace maids.
She continued to work alongside the other hard-working maids, obediently following the nanny's guidance and fulfilling her duties without once stepping out of line.
In the deep palace, most of the fair-looking maids pondered how to catch the Emperor's eye, hoping to soar from obscurity to the heights of Phoenix-dom, but she was different; she immersed herself in her work daily, significantly endearing herself to the nanny as well as the Chief Eunuch and others in charge.
Unbeknownst to her, even the Emperor's gaze began to linger on her more and more.
Life in the Imperial Palace could sometimes be monotonous. Many young maids and eunuchs would slack off amidst their duties, especially as the weather grew warmer and people became lazier.
Su Zhiruan alone worked day after day without slacking or complaining, simply doing her job as the Emperor Shen Qi's eyes fell upon her with increasing frequency.
Su Zhiruan also found out who the maid was that had insulted her last time. She, too, was a hard-working palace maid who attended to the court, only she was not as diligent as Su Zhiruan, often resorting to cunning tricks, which is why the Housekeeper nanny had Su Zhiruan serve in front of the Emperor and demoted her to work in the back palaces.
That night, the moonlight was thick as silk.
The Imperial Eunuch Little Fuzi, with a duster hanging from his arm, hurried in, "Emperor, the Empress Dowager wishes to see you..."
Shen Qi paused with his wrist in the air, his sleeve bunching up. The calligraphy he had just finished was sprinkled with a drop of ink from his halted motion. He placed the brush on Pencil Holder Mountain, pinched the bridge of his nose, and heaved a deep sigh, "It's undoubtedly about the issue of progeny again."
"...Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has arrived outside the hall!!" The little eunuch who hurried in from the doorway immediately knelt on the ground to report.
"Let Mother enter at once." Although he didn't wish to hear the Empress Dowager speak of the issue of progeny, the Wang Dynasty was governed by filial piety, and he was known as a very filial son. He couldn't very well refuse to see the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager's pace was neither hurried nor slow. Assisted by the old nanny at her side, she entered. Before even sitting down, she spoke, "Has the Emperor been well lately?"
Shen Qi performed a ceremonial bow: "Your son greets Mother; all is well, except that there are too many petitions, and recently I have not had the pleasure of receiving Mother's teachings."
Su Zhiruan and another palace maid, who were serving by the side, knelt down in a salute when they heard the Empress Dowager enter, "Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager!"
The Empress Dowager waved her hand, indicating Shen Qi to sit down, then began to speak of the reason for her visit. Her tone was low and slow, as though a loving mother offering her son a suggestion of love, "The Emperor must also know the purpose of m' lady's visit this time. Since the last time the concubines were taught, it has been over a month. The concubines are looking on eagerly, it's a pity that the green cards are probably covered in dust by now. I know the Emperor is working hard and governing the country well, but the issue of progeny should also be taken seriously. Not turning the green cards for a month, the Noble Consort has been weeping in m' lady's palace with red eyes!"
"Your son understands." Shen Qi's eyes revealed a look of realization, followed by an endless sense of helplessness; he sighed deeply.
The Emperor had consulted all the Imperial Physicians and even those renowned doctors from Jianghu, all of whom confirmed that both he and his concubines were without major health issues. Yet no matter how he favored his concubines, he could not produce an heir, to the point where not a single concubine had become pregnant.
Gripping Shen Qi's hand, the Empress Dowager continued with earnest emphasis, "Emperor, m' lady had previously selected your consorts for their family backgrounds, character, and the support they bring from the court. Now m' lady is old, only hoping to cuddle grandchildren, be they Princes or Princesses, I've longed for it. In the future, you too should take it to heart, turn the cards more often. As long as a child is born, even if m' lady has to take care of them myself, it would be no trouble!"
"Mother!" Shen Qi felt even more troubled.
Su Zhiruan listened to this mother-son dialogue and felt some sympathy for the Emperor.
In his twenties, an age considered early in modern times, he would likely still be a young father, but in ancient times, it was common to be the father of several children, especially as an Emperor without progeny, one could imagine how much criticism he faced.
His body was indeed not defective, in fact, far superior to other men. However, due to being a child of different planes with a divine bloodline in his soul, he was unable to conceive with mortals, which was precisely why she was brought here.
Before being bound to the Childbirth System, Su Zhiruan was just a poor worker. Due to poverty, she worked two jobs, barely covering rent and affording food, which made her exceptionally adaptable and easygoing. Although she didn't particularly like children, the System's grand gift pack purportedly allowed for painless childbirth, and she would remain unchanged before and after labor, without any bodily harm or hair loss.
Without suffering, painless childbirth, and the child's father being the ruler of a nation, she had nothing to complain about.
"Alright, it's enough that the Emperor takes note. There are so many women in the harem, and I hope they will bear children soon." The Empress Dowager rose to her feet, the old nanny immediately stepped forward to assist, and the Empress Dowager added a few more reminders, "I've specially brought a pot of wine and several dishes. Emperor, have some before you retire early for the night."
"Your son bids Mother a respectful farewell." Shen Qi performed another bow.
After paying her respects, Su Zhiruan silently took the tray from the nanny's hand and arranged the dishes and wine neatly on the square table.
Shen Qi asked Little Fuzi to organize the petitions for dispatch, and he seemed very weary. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he sat at the table, facing a feast he had no appetite for.
The other palace maid who attended the court along with Little Fuzi organized the petitions and sent them out.
Now, the grand sleeping chamber was left with only Su Zhiruan and Emperor Shen Qi.
She stepped forward first, poured a cup of wine into a glass that sparkled like crystal, and placed it before Shen Qi. Then she stood aside with demure grace.
The sleeping chamber was very quiet.
There was no sound of wind, no sound of rain, and even the moonlight was faintly visible through the gauze window.
"You're named Susu?" Shen Qi suddenly spoke, his well-defined and strong hand holding up a wine cup, asking Su Zhiruan, yet without turning back.
Su Zhiruan performed a curtsy, her voice soft but very official, "This servant is called Susu, Your Majesty. Do you have any commands?"
Shen Qi sat there, looking through the shaking clear wine in the colored glaze cup, he squinted his eyes, as though he saw the young Palace Maid's snow-white, tender little face behind him.
He shook the wine cup again.
Now he could see even clearer.
Even though she didn't make any particular expression, her soft voice, coupled with her slightly immature face, resembled a child stealthily imitating an adult.
Her voice was pleasant, her eyes clear and pure.
He poured himself another cup of wine, then downed it in one gulp.
The sleeping chamber was utterly quiet.
Outside the hall, it seemed as if a whiff of floral fragrance drifted through the propped open window, light and faint, as if from a magnolia.
Or perhaps from a crabapple tree.
"Pour the wine," Shen Qi's face was expressionless, but he placed the cup closest to Su Zhiruan, indicating for her to pour the wine.
Su Zhiruan stepped forward, took the wine jug, and poured a cup.
Shen Qi glanced sidewards at the girl's tender little face, her hands were also snow-white, apparently very soft, with several calluses on her knuckles, probably from working, yet it didn't feel like a flaw at all, only made one want to touch and feel.
And he did just that.
"Your, Your Majesty?" Su Zhiruan thought that she was only there to pour wine, but she hadn't expected that the next moment, the ruler of the nation, Emperor Shen Qi, would suddenly stand up.
His tall figure instantly enveloped her entire being.
And he took her hand.
Shen Qi himself didn't know what came over him.
Perhaps it was the alcohol taking effect, or perhaps the flower scent was too warm.
His mind was filled with the girl's pleasant voice and her innocent eyes.
He couldn't help but imagine, these beautiful clear eyes, if misted with a layer of water, crying with redness; the pleasant voice, not speaking officially like now, but whimpering and whining, what a scene that would be.
He sat down again, his gaze landing on that jug of wine.
Su Zhiruan looked on, but felt he was inexplicably melancholic.
After a long while, she heard Shen Qi utter this sentence.
"Susu, do you think… I will have progeny?"
The voice uttering this sentence was too sorrowful, not something an Emperor would say. Su Zhiruan hesitated for a moment, thought it over, and only then said, "Your Majesty should not ask me."
She was just a Palace Maid.
To say so would be overstepping her bounds.
"It's fine, speak."
"Your Majesty has boundless fortune, surely there will be princes and princesses born," Su Zhiruan wasn't very good at comforting others, after thinking it through, she decided this was what to say.
Shen Qi was moved by her tone, unconsciously curving the corners of his lips.