NFBE Chapter 349 The Story of Li Desheng
Chapter 349 The Story of Li Desheng
After returning from the imperial mausoleum, Su Nuannuan was extremely anxious; she couldn't wait to return to the palace. Therefore, she immediately instructed her attendants to pack her belongings and prepare for her journey home.
However, Jinse reminded her from the side, "Your Highness, if we set off today, we'll probably have to spend the night on the road. In my opinion, it would be better to set off back to the palace tomorrow, so that Your Highness can get some rest."
Upon hearing this, Su Nuannuan couldn't help but look up at the sky outside. Sure enough, it was already approaching evening, and if they set off now, they would indeed have to spend the night outside.
After a moment's thought, she sighed and said, "Fine, let's wait one more night. We'll set off for the palace as soon as it's light tomorrow."
Then, Su Nuannuan instructed Jinse, "Today, let's move everything we need to take onto the carriage so that we can hitch up the horses and set off tomorrow morning, which will save some time."
After speaking, Su Nuannuan sat down. But she still felt uneasy, so she turned to Jinse and asked worriedly, "Jinse, do you think the Emperor might impulsively bestow a marriage upon Qujing and Jianping?"
Seeing her mistress so worried, Jinse quickly smiled and comforted her, "Your Majesty, don't worry, the Emperor won't act so rashly. Our letter was sent back by a special messenger from the princess, while Lord Qu's memorial was sent via the official post station, which isn't that fast, so news shouldn't arrive so soon."
"That's good, that's good." Su Nuannuan murmured softly, while gently patting her chest with her right hand, as if this would put a heavy weight off her heart.
She turned to look at Jinse beside her and said with a smile, "Jianping already has a partner, I wonder when Jingcheng will find his own 'the one'." Su Nuannuan couldn't help but sigh, "Alas! I'm just destined to worry."
Standing to the side, Jinse asked, "Your Majesty, we are returning to the palace tomorrow. What should we do about the purchase of duck down?"
Jinse didn't respond to Su Nuannuan's words, so she quickly changed the subject.
Upon hearing this, Su Nuannuan pondered for a moment and then instructed, "Go and summon Li Desheng. I have something to tell him."
Jinse quickly replied, "Yes, this servant will go right away." With that, she turned and hurried away to find Li Desheng.
Not long after, Li Desheng walked in with Jinse.
"This servant greets Your Majesty." Li Desheng bowed respectfully as soon as he entered the room.
Su Nuannuan nodded slightly, gesturing for him to stand up, and then asked, "Li Desheng, I'm setting off back to the palace tomorrow. Who do you think would be the most suitable person to manage the acquisition of down?"
After a moment's thought, Li Desheng replied, "Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, it would be better to entrust this matter to Steward Qin at the estate. Steward Qin is always reliable in her work, and with her overseeing Your Majesty, the quality of this down will certainly not be a problem."
Su Nuannuan nodded in agreement, then turned to look at Jinse. Jinse understood immediately, turned and left the room to summon Qin Ruyun.
After Jinse left, Su Nuannuan continued to say to Li Desheng, "Li Desheng, I may be going to the western border town soon. Do you want to stay in the capital or come with me to the western border town?"
Upon hearing this, Li Desheng replied without hesitation, "Your Majesty, this servant is willing to accompany you to the western border town. In all my years, this servant has never been outside the capital. It is truly an honor for this servant to have the opportunity to travel with Your Majesty."
Su Nuannuan chuckled softly, as if she had remembered something, and said, "When the late emperor was alive, didn't he go to the summer palace every year to escape the heat? How can you say you've never left the capital?"
"Your Majesty may not know this, but the imperial palace is actually not far from the capital. If we ride at full speed, we can arrive in a day. It is only because we are accompanied by ceremonial guards and troops that our speed of travel is naturally affected, which is why the journey has been extended to two or three days."
"Oh, I see." Su Nuannuan nodded thoughtfully, then asked curiously, "Is this imperial palace also under the jurisdiction of the capital?"
"Your Majesty, the imperial palace is indeed under the jurisdiction of the capital," Li Desheng hurriedly replied.
Upon hearing this, Su Nuannuan showed a hint of surprise, "So, does that mean you've never left the capital and have never seen the outside world?"
"That's right, this servant has always been active in and around the capital, and has never been to other places," Li Desheng answered honestly.
Seeing this, Su Nuannuan couldn't help but feel a pang of pity. "Then are you from the capital?"
"Yes, this servant is indeed from the capital," Li Desheng quickly replied.
"Oh? Then why did you enter the palace as a slave?" Su Nuannuan pressed.
Li Desheng sighed, his face bitter. "It was only because my family was too poor at the time that my parents were unable to support me. In desperation, they had no choice but to sell me into the palace to make a living."
After hearing this, Su Nuannuan felt even more sympathetic. "Do you have any other relatives in your family now?"
"Your Majesty, there are none left." Li Desheng's voice grew even lower. "My younger brother died tragically in the second year after I entered the palace. And my parents both passed away from illness in the fifth year after I entered the palace."
At this point, Li Desheng's eyes reddened slightly, clearly recalling painful memories.
Seeing this, Su Nuannuan quickly comforted her, "People can't come back to life, so don't blame yourself too much."
Li Desheng calmed himself down a bit and continued, "Back then, I had a three-year-old sister at home. I originally intended to bring her into the palace after my parents passed away, so that she could at least have a place to settle down and make a living."
Sadly, when his younger sister arrived, an unfortunate accident occurred—she accidentally fell into the river and drowned. Li Desheng recounted the story calmly, as if it had nothing to do with him, but the grief it contained was undeniable.
“The clansmen said that this servant was an unlucky person who would bring misfortune to his relatives, so the clan chief took it upon himself to expel him from the clan,” Li Desheng continued, his tone revealing a hint of helplessness and bitterness.
"So, after that, did your people ever look for you again?" Su Nuannuan asked curiously.
Li Desheng gave a cold smile and replied, "After I became an attendant to the late emperor, the clan chief once came to see me with some people. Their purpose was not to inquire about my current situation, but to ask me to mentor the younger generation in the clan."
At this point, Li Desheng's tone was full of sarcasm, "Your Majesty, isn't this ridiculous? This servant has already been expelled from the family register, yet they still have the nerve to come and beg this servant to help people in the family."
Su Nuannuan couldn't help but sigh, lamenting, "This is nothing more than the worst aspect of human nature."