"By the way, I have a question for you," Si Junlin said. Seeing Su Wan'er putting away the information brought back by the secret agents, he didn't mention that matter anymore. Instead, he brought up a topic that had been bothering him recently.
"What's the question?" Su Wan'er asked in puzzlement. She was really curious about what question could make this emperor willing to put aside his pride and ask her.
"What kind of gifts did you usually prepare for the Empress Dowager's birthday in the past?" Si Junlin finally voiced out the question that had been weighing on his mind for days.
Su Wan'er was slightly taken aback. Only then did she remember that the Empress Dowager's birthday was less than a month away. It was time to start making preparations. In the past, it was always Si Junlin who gave the order and she who was in charge of the preparations. However, every time after she made the arrangements, the Empress Dowager would always find all sorts of reasons to pick on her...
But this year, it was Si Junlin's turn to prepare.
After a moment's thought, Su Wan'er said, "Actually, preparing gifts for the Empress Dowager is a time for concubines in the harem to show off their handicrafts. There is no shortage of gold and silver jewelry in the palace. You'd better send something that can express your sincerity."
"Um..." Si Junlin felt that what Su Wan'er said was as good as saying nothing.
Su Wan'er ignored him and continued to think about his words. After all, this was her body. If Si Junlin made a fool of himself, she would also lose face.
"In the past, I would send some embroidery, woodcarvings or food that I made by myself. As for the other concubines, besides these things, most of them would prepare their best dances."
As she was speaking, Su Wan'er's thoughts drifted back to the past palace banquets. After a long while, she turned to look at Si Junlin and said, "Come to think of it, it seems that the Empress Dowager likes the dances of the concubines in the harem more. She doesn't seem to be very interested in other things..."
There was another thing she didn't say. But it was better not to say it in front of this person. Sometimes, she even found herself annoying when she complained too much.
Si Junlin fell into deep thought after hearing what Su Wan'er said.
He was still thinking about it when he returned to the palace.
Qingcao couldn't stand it anymore and asked, "Is Your Highness worried about the Empress Dowager's birthday?"
Si Junlin's thoughts suddenly became clear. He turned to look at Qingcao and asked, "Qingcao, I've been a bit confused recently. Could you tell me what I sent to the Empress Dowager at her birthday banquets in the past?"
Qingcao said helplessly, "Your Highness, the first time you entered the palace, you sent the Empress Dowager a string of white jade and pearl bracelets blessed in Xishan Temple. But the Empress Dowager was never satisfied. Later, as you couldn't leave the palace and were disappointed with the Empress Dowager, you were so angry that you only sent an embroidered work every year."
At this point, Qingcao couldn't help laughing. "Although Your Highness said you embroidered it casually, in order to learn embroidery, Your Highness's fingers were almost pricked like a honeycomb that year. Your Highness is just too soft - hearted. You said you were angry, but you still worked very hard to make the embroidered works for the Empress Dowager."
Si Junlin suddenly had an epiphany after hearing what Qingcao said. He also decided to prepare an embroidered work for this birthday banquet. Firstly, it was to continue Su Wan'er's "tradition". Secondly, it was simple. As the mistress of a palace, it was natural for him to prepare for the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet. Naturally, the time he could spare to prepare gifts was limited. So the birthday gift should be something that was both simple and could show his sincerity.
Si Junlin initially thought it was too simple. It was not until a large piece of silk and various colored threads were placed in front of him that he realized his mistake.
"Your Highness?" Qingcao softly called Si Junlin, who was staring blankly at the threads, and asked puzzledly, "Have you not come up with a pattern yet? Do you need this servant to go to the imperial study to fetch the pattern books used by the Neishangge for making clothes in the past?"
"No. Wrap up these things. I'm going to the Hall of Diligent Government." Si Junlin frowned and thought for a while. Finally, he decided to go directly to Su Wan'er.
"Ah?!" Qingcao was stunned. Looking for the Emperor for such a thing? How could the Emperor know about this?
Si Junlin turned to look at her. "What? Didn't you hear me?"
"Yes, this servant will prepare right away." Although Qingcao was full of doubts, she still did as Si Junlin said.
When they arrived at the Hall of Diligent Government, Su Wan'er had just returned from the court session. Seeing Si Junlin and Qingcao, her eyebrows couldn't help but frown.
Were they... preparing to flee?
"Your Majesty, the Empress." Everyone bowed.
Su Wan'er jumped off the dragon carriage and quickly walked to Si Junlin's side. "Are you fleeing?"
"What fleeing?" Si Junlin gave her a sideways look.
"Cough, I said the wrong thing. What are you..." Su Wan'er looked at the man... woman in front of her in puzzlement.
Si Junlin coughed lightly. "Let's go inside and talk."
Seeing the worried look on his face, Su Wan'er thought something serious had happened, so she nodded. "Okay, let's go inside and talk."
As usual, the two left their "tails" outside. Qingcao also put down the burden on her shoulder and then retreated.
Su Wan'er opened the burden. When the things inside fell out, she was stunned. "This is..."
"You should be very familiar with it, right?" Si Junlin said to her.
Of course Su Wan'er was familiar with it. She had suffered a lot for this thing back then.
"So?" It couldn't be what she was thinking, could it?
Si Junlin coughed and explained to Su Wan'er, "In the past, didn't you always send embroidered works to the Empress Dowager? I really can't think of anything else, so I decided to continue your 'tradition' and prepare an embroidered work for the Empress Dowager too."
Just as she had thought. Su Wan'er was a bit speechless. "Can you embroider?" She didn't believe that an emperor would know how to embroider.
"Of course not." Si Junlin looked at Su Wan'er as if she were a fool. He was busy dealing with state affairs all day long. Where did he have the time to learn these things that only women did?
Su Wan'er herself was a woman and she didn't learn it. Why should he?
"Are you asking me to embroider it for you?" Su Wan'er voiced out her speculation.
"No." To her surprise, Si Junlin refused. "This is the gift I'm going to send. I won't ask others to do it for me. I came here this time because I hope you can teach me how to embroider. I hope to finish an embroidered work in a short time."
Su Wan'er frowned. Embroidery was a thing that could be said to be simple, but also not so simple. It all depended on how good you wanted to be at it.
She had spent a whole year learning it in order to satisfy the Empress Dowager. Although she couldn't be said to be extremely proficient, she was better than many noble ladies.
"What do you want to embroider?" Sighing slightly, Su Wan'er decided to first see what Si Junlin wanted to embroider.