Ring. Ring. Ring.
Jiang Zuoqing: "Hello?"
Jiang Zuoqing placed the phone on speaker before setting it aside with the back of his hand.
The faint sound of water echoing in the atmosphere was heard by the person on the other side.
Grandma Jiang: Zuoqing? What are you doing right now?"
Grandmother Jiang asked on the other side of the phone.
Inducing the youth who was in the middle of a battle against a certain teal cloth to pause in mid-action.
Jiang Zuoqing: Ah? Ah, I… it's nothing. Did you need something?"
Reminded the reason for this call, grandmother Jiang released a faint gasp of recollection.
"Ah, I almost forgot. Zuoqing, do you know what Her Majesty is doing right now? We've been trying to reach her since afternoon but she hasn't replied at all."
Jiang Zuoqing: What she's doing…"
The sudden image of the young woman peering out from behind the door made an abrupt appearance in the youth's mind. He recalled the pinkness of her cheeks and smoothness of a round shoulder and porcelain arms.
Those dark threads of loose hair that made a stark contrast to the paleness of skin…
A sudden heat exploded on the young man's face as Jiang Zuoqing began to scrub the fabric in hand with vigorous movements!
Causing the water in the sink to splash out with bubbles that clung onto his arms.
"Ahem!"
Clearing his voice that still sounds with a hoarse rasp, the young man replied in a somewhat calm manner, "she's in the shower."
This seemed to be some kind of keyword that made grandmother Jiang recall the list of things she wanted to say.
Therefore, in a serious tone of voice, the elderly woman began to list.
Grandma Jiang: "Zuoqing, this is very important so listen carefully. Since we left in a hurry, we weren't able to write instructions down. But I will send you a document later so listen carefully first."
"In the mornings Her Majesty must eat rice porridge served with a variety of small plates like preserved vegetables or pastries."
"In the evenings…"
"She likes…"
"But dislikes…"
"Remember…"
"At night…"
The elderly woman continued to speak with no indication of stopping even when the young man had already finished washing the triangular fabric.
Grandmother Jiang: "This is the most important, you must hand wash Her Majesty's innerwear, understand!?"
Well-structured hands paused in mid-action as Jiang Zuoqing was about to hang the cloth over a hanger.
Releasing an awkward cough, the young man placed the hanger aside for the cloth to dry in his room before asking with fake nonchalance.
Jiang Zuoqing: "What's the big deal? Aren't you babying her too much?"
Those words were akin to a bomb that exploded on the other side as grandmother Jiang hollered with a furious scream.
"Jiang Zuoqing! What did you say?!! Do you want to kill this old woman?!! Do you want me to die of anxiety?! Why you-"
Before Grandmother Jiang could continue with stronger words, the phone was pulled away in replacement with grandpa Jiang's much calmer voice.
Stepping away from the angry woman, Grandpa Jiang first comforted his grandson with a light sound of laughter.
Jiang Zuoqing: "Grandfather…"
The young man pouted his lips, feeling aggrieved.
Grandfather Jiang released another comforting chuckle before proceeding to speak.
"Don't blame your grandmother too much. She's just on edge because she has to leave Her Majesty's side for so long."
"The requests she made might be a little too much but try to accommodate, can you? For both me and your grandmother."
Jiang Zuoqing: But I don't understand…"
The elderly man nodded his head in understanding, "of course. For you, Her Majesty is just a stranger you were forced to marry one day."
"It is unfair for us to impose our will onto you like this but Zuoqing…"
"The two of us cannot take care of Her Majesty right now and you are the only one we can count on. To us, Her Majesty is more important than our lives."
"She is our faith, the reason we have held onto this world for so long…"
"So can you…"
Jiang Zuoqing: "I know! I understand Grandfather, don't talk about this anymore. At least, don't talk like this. I'll do it…"
"Aye! That's my good grandson!" Grandpa Jiang released a joyous laugh before explaining in a much lighter tone.
"As to the reason why we wash Her Majesty's innerwear ourselves… well, there was an incident in the past. It happened before Her Majesty came of age."
"A servant soaked the cloth with some kind of scentless powder that was aimed at the most unguarded section of the body."
"The six year old ladyship at that time was still unable to properly describe the pain she was feeling."
"It was Grandma Jiang that discovered her Majesty's strange behavior which alerted the others in the palace."
"By then that area of Her Majesty's had begun to peel, burned from the reactions of the powder that made contact with the flesh."
"The perpetrator was captured in the end of course. Their goal was to make Her Majesty lose the ability to give birth."
"It's such a cruel and funny scheme to use on a six year old."
Jiang Zuoqing: "...Funny?"
Grandpa Jiang: "Yes, funny. Don't you think it's ridiculous that a bunch of grown adults are afraid of a child. Their fear ran deep to the point that they needed to use such venomous tricks in order to make sure she cannot leave descendents behind."
"If that is not funny, then what is? Those fools that can only think of themselves."
"... …"
The atmosphere grew silent for a few heavy seconds before the elderly man continued while trying to sound more uplifting.
"But nonetheless, from that day onwards, palace maid Jiang never let anyone she does not trust go near Her Majesty's clothes."
"She would personally check each piece of fabric before dressing our Emperor to ensure the safety of her wellbeing."
"Sometimes, she would even yell at me for not being cautious enough."
Jiang Zuoqing: "That's why grandmother she…"
"Don't worry about it too much." The elderly man said while flitting a glance at the fuming woman a distance away.
"She's aware that you don't know anything. Her anxiety is getting to her, she'll be fine in a few hours or after Her Majesty calls back."
"Which reminds me," Grandfather Jiang recalls, "Her Majesty might not be familiar with how to use a phone just yet. Teach her if needed."
"Also, her Majesty is a great emperor but from a young age, her life was taken care of by servants. So there was never a time where she had to consider the problems of daily necessities."
"Or rather, Her Majesty was never given the option to care for herself like the people do now."
"Either way, please provide as much support as possible while teaching her how to live in this world. As much as we want, she can't rely on us forever…"
Jiang Zuoqing: "...I understand."
Grandpa Jiang: "Besides that point…"
The elderly man drawls in his speech while still bearing a leisurely expression, "If I were to find out that you have mistreated Her Majesty in any way…"
"I will serve you a fist sandwich with a side of walking cane, understand?"
The call ended on a solemn note.
That night, the lights in the young man's room lit for hours before diminishing a few hours prior to dawn.
_____
The next morning.
Bearing deep bags under his eyes, Jiang Zuoqing sauntered downstairs to see Yan Beiqing already sitting at the dining table.
Elegant in posture, obsidian eyes lowered to stare at the surface of the cup held within her palms. Expression thoughtful as if pondering on an important problem that could not be solved.
Breakfast had already been laid out on the table but the young woman had not lifted anything to taste.
Upon hearing a sudden shuffle of noises, the figure downstairs raised her gaze to make immediate eye contact with the young man.
"Good morning."
A wide smile bloomed on Yan Beiqing's face as she greeted the youth with a light nod of her head.
Following Jiang Zuoqing's movements with a tender curve of her sights until he stopped at the seat opposite of hers.
"Morning."
The young man greeted in return while scanning his gaze across the dishes laid out on the table.
Breakfast was a mix of western and eastern with a few plates of fried dough, steam meat buns and crystal shrimp. Toast and eggs with sausages are placed on another side with a glass of milk.
Unsure of what Yan Beiqing is interested in eating, the housekeeper had prepared a variety of items.
But none of them were plates of preserved vegetables and a bowl of congee.
Just as Jiang Zuoqing was about to address this problem, almond eyes flitted a glance at the young woman. Sight paused as he saw the young woman lifted her pair of chopsticks to begin the meal.
Contrary to what grandma Jiang had mentioned, Yan Beiqing was not picky at all and had tried at least a little of everything on the table.
Her eating appearance was elegant and picturesque as each move was minimal but graceful.
Although Jiang Zuoqing could sense that there were some dishes that were not to her liking.
The young woman did not waste even a single bite on the things she had placed on her plate.
Finishing everything without a single word of complaint.
"... …"
Wiping the corner of her lips with the edge of a napkin, Yan Beiqing raised her sights furtively to scan the area of the table in front of the youth.
Seeing that Jiang Zuoqing is still in the middle of the meal, sharp eyes lowered once more in leisure. Lithe fingers grasped onto the cup beside for a small sip of hot tea.
A few minutes later…
Jiang Zuoqing: "Are you finished?"
Taking the last bite of toast, the young man stood up from the table in preparation to leave.
Seeing that the young woman had also left her seat to follow, he was about to depar when wide steps halted with an abrupt thought.
Pondering for a few seconds, almond eyes turned to scan the young woman behind from head to toe.
Wearing a light purple one piece with ribbons flowing on the side. The mid-length flowing sleeves of the dress reminded Jiang Zuoqing the ripples of a lake surface.
Scrutinizing the young woman's appearance for a few breaths. The youth finally asked out the question dwelling in his heart, "where is your bag?"
Inducing the young woman to tilt her head with a sudden blank expression.
Yan Beiqing: "Bag?"
Jiang Zuoqing: "... …"
"Hold on for a moment."
The young man said as he strode upstairs into his room only to return a few minutes later with a black leather handbag.
Under the bewildered gaze of the young woman, the youth held out the palm of his hand with a commanding tone.
Jiang Zuoqing: "Your phone."
Taking the item out of the young woman's hand, Jiang Zuoqing placed the phone inside of the bag before heading out.
Pausing just a step away from the door to slant a glance at the unmoving woman, "you coming?"
Yan Beiqing: "Ah? Ah, coming."