NFBE Chapter 351 Departure to the Border Town
Chapter 351 Departure to the Border Town
Not long after Su Nuannuan returned to Cuiwei Palace, before she could even rest, a palace maid came to report that the Emperor had arrived.
"Your subject greets Consort Zhuang." Upon seeing Su Nuannuan, Emperor Canglan Jingyun immediately bowed and greeted her.
"Your Majesty, please get up." Su Nuannuan quickly reached out to help the Emperor up, her face beaming with a gentle smile.
Emperor Canglan Jingyun stood up and smiled somewhat embarrassedly, "It was your son who disturbed Consort Zhuang."
"Your Majesty, what are you saying?" Su Nuannuan took the Emperor's hand and made him sit down on the other side of the small couch. "I am overjoyed that you have come to Cuiwei Palace to visit me. How could I feel disturbed?"
After the Emperor was seated, Su Nuannuan sat down opposite him, smiling as she looked at him. "However, Your Majesty has come to Cuiwei Palace today, surely you have something important to discuss with me?"
Emperor Canglan Jingyun nodded. "Replying to Consort Zhuang, Qu Jing has submitted a memorial to me requesting a marriage decree, and the betrothed is none other than Jianping. Therefore, I would like to ask Consort Zhuang's opinion first, since Jianping is your daughter."
"Oh? I see." Su Nuannuan smiled and asked calmly, "Then I'd like to ask you, what kind of person is this Qu Jing? Does he have any other family members?"
"Qu Jing is a man of upright character, incorruptible, and meticulous in his work. As far as I know, there are no living relatives in Qu Jing's family," the Emperor said slowly, his tone calm and steady.
Upon hearing this, Su Nuannuan looked surprised and blurted out, "Qu Jing is actually an orphan?"
The Emperor nodded slightly in affirmation, and then said, "This trip to the western border city was initiated by Qu Jing. He is wholeheartedly committed to developing the border city and bringing benefits to the people. However, to my surprise, he has developed feelings for Jianping."
Su Nuannuan thought to herself that Qu Jing's move was truly unexpected.
"Your subject has received the memorial from Qujing regarding the marriage decree, but dares not make a decision on his own, for he does not know Jianping's opinion on this matter."
Upon hearing this, Su Nuannuan replied, "Jianping did indeed write to me about this matter, but she did not explicitly express her agreement or disagreement. Therefore, I cannot fathom her true intentions."
Upon hearing this, the Emperor frowned slightly and said thoughtfully, "In that case, this matter is rather troublesome."
Emperor Canglan Jingyun clenched his left fist and gently tapped his right palm, seemingly pondering a solution.
After a while, Su Nuannuan said, "This is not without a solution. Your Majesty can first draft this imperial decree of marriage, and I may personally go to the border town to learn more about the situation. If Jianping is unwilling, the imperial decree of marriage will naturally be invalid; if she is willing, then everyone will be happy."
"Your Majesty, you absolutely mustn't. The journey to the border is long and arduous. Although it's still autumn in the capital, the temperature there has already dropped," Emperor Canglan Jingyun urged anxiously.
However, Su Nuannuan smiled at the Emperor without taking it to heart and said softly, "It's alright, your Consort Zhuang is not that delicate."
Seeing Su Nuannuan's insistence, the Emperor grew increasingly worried and quickly said, "Mother Consort Zhuang, what if something happens to you on the road? How can I explain this to my fifth brother?"
Su Nuannuan smiled slightly and comforted him, "Your fifth brother doesn't care about me at all. Apart from writing me a letter to let me know he was safe when we first arrived at the border town, he hasn't written to me since."
She paused, then continued, "Besides, Jianping's wedding is such a big event, there has to be an elder present. We can't let the two children arrange the wedding themselves."
Emperor Canglan Jingyun wanted to continue persuading, but Su Nuannuan interrupted him directly, saying decisively, "Your Majesty, there are no 'buts,' this matter is settled."
Seeing Su Nuannuan's resolute attitude, Emperor Canglan Jingyun had no choice but to give up trying to persuade her and instead asked, "Consort Zhuang, when do you plan to depart?"
"The day after tomorrow! I also need to make some preparations on my side," Su Nuannuan said with a smile, her voice soft yet firm.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Canglan Jingyun immediately stood up, bowed respectfully, and said, "Your subject understands. Your subject will return immediately to draft the imperial decree bestowing the marriage." His tone was serious and solemn, revealing the importance he attached to this matter.
Su Nuannuan nodded slightly in agreement, and then said, "Go!"
Two days later, the sun shone brightly, and a gentle breeze caressed her face. Su Nuannuan, dressed in an elegant palace gown, stood gracefully before the palace, followed by a group of palace maids and guards. She clutched the imperial edict of marriage, written by the emperor himself, her heart filled with both nervousness and anticipation.
After everything was ready, Su Nuannuan boarded a carriage that looked ordinary on the outside but had a surprising interior, and slowly set off for the border town.
Aside from the escorting guards, Li Desheng, and Jinse, Su Nuannuan did not bring any other palace servants, except for the secret guards.
The carriage moved smoothly along the road, the sound of its wheels rolling and the clatter of the horses' hooves creating a unique rhythm. Sitting inside, Su Nuannuan's mood gradually calmed, and she began to consider the rest of the journey.
"Your Highness, this down jacket is finished." Suddenly, Tingxue's voice interrupted Su Nuannuan's thoughts. She turned her head and saw Tingxue holding an exquisite down jacket in her hands, smiling as she showed it to her.
Su Nuannuan gently stroked the down jacket, feeling its soft texture, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart. She gestured for Tingxue to unfold the down jacket so she could examine it carefully.
Tingxue smiled and explained, "Your Highness, what I made is detachable. The inner down jacket is connected to the outer long robe with buttons. Once this garment gets dirty, you can simply remove the outer robe and wash it." As she spoke, she skillfully unbuttoned the down jacket and showed it to Su Nuannuan.
Su Nuannuan praised Tingxue's ingenuity and meticulousness, nodding in satisfaction and saying, "Well done, Tingxue, your skills are getting more and more exquisite." Tingxue smiled with delight upon hearing this.
"Once we reach the border town, we'll immediately start organizing people to make these down jackets." Su Nuannuan looked at Tingxue with a determined gaze, then waved her hand, signaling her to put the down jackets away.
Tingxue understood immediately, carefully folded the down jacket, and put it into a beautiful wooden box.
However, Jinse, standing to the side, looked worried and said softly, "But, Your Highness, the border town isn't buying down. If we go to buy it now, I'm afraid it will be too late."
Su Nuannuan thought for a moment, then smiled and comforted Jinse, "Don't worry, I have a plan. When we rest, have Yuwei send a message to Qin Ruyun at the estate near the imperial mausoleum, asking her to send all the duck down she's bought there to the border town. With this duck down, we can start making down jackets."
Jinse felt somewhat relieved after hearing this, but still asked with some unease, "What happens after that? There's still no down in the border town."
Su Nuannuan replied confidently, "After that, we can continue to purchase duck down in the border town. In this way, we can first organize people to make the outer garments and linings, and then do the final stuffing work after the duck down arrives, so as not to delay the process."