"No!"
The Emperor abruptly stopped, waving his large hand.
"Issue an imperial decree!"
"Have the Imperial Food Bureau select ten of their most skilled imperial chefs, with all their equipment, and immediately depart for Region!"
"Also, go to the Imperial Garment Bureau and pack up those new tribute bolts of flowing brocade, and those several sets of fire silkworm quilts, and send them all to her!"
The Old Eunuch felt his scalp tingle.
"Your Majesty... this... the journey is long, what if the Grand Princess decides to return to the capital before they arrive... and is already on her way..."
The Emperor stiffened his neck and stubbornly said, "I don't care!"
Just as the monarch and his minister were in the warm pavilion, one going mad and the other getting a headache,
A sudden announcement came from outside.
"Her Majesty the Empress has arrived—"
With that shout,
The atmosphere in the room instantly solidified.
As for this Empress, who came from a prominent aristocratic family,
He neither particularly liked nor disliked her.
It was merely to appease the aristocratic families when he first ascended the throne and his Foundation was unstable.
They treated each other with mutual respect on a daily basis, which was acceptable.
But precisely at this moment... I'm still worried about whether my sister will return, why are you adding to the trouble?
Before the Emperor could finish his silent complaints,
The pearl curtains rustled, and jade pendants clinked.
A beautiful woman entered, surrounded by Palace Maids and eunuchs.
Her face was like a silver plate, her eyes like water almonds.
Her lips were red without rouge, and her brows green without paint.
Indeed, she possessed a graceful, dignified appearance befitting a mother of the nation.
"This concubine greets Your Majesty."
The Emperor slightly raised his hand, his tone indifferent.
"Dispense with the formalities."
"On such a snowy day, why is the Empress not resting in her palace but coming to my chambers?"
The Empress rose, took the food box from a nearby Palace Maid, and personally presented it before the desk.
"This concubine heard that Your Majesty has had a poor appetite these past two days, so I specially had the small kitchen stew some bird's nest with snow pear, thinking it would soothe Your Majesty's throat."
"Just now outside the hall, I heard Your Majesty's Dragon rage. Is there some troubling matter in the previous court?"
The Emperor stood with his hands behind his back, turning to look at the swirling snow outside the window.
Seeing this, the Old Eunuch inwardly groaned, but bravely said, "Replying to Your Majesty, His Majesty is thinking of the Grand Princess in Region and is arranging for some items to ward off the cold to be sent over."
"Oh?"
The Empress was slightly startled.
She actually felt somewhat conflicted about the Grand Princess who had been living outside the palace for sixteen years.
After all,
Ever since the recognition of their kinship, this usually moody Emperor seemed like a changed person.
"So it's for Imperial Sister."
The Empress smiled, her tone gentle.
"Your Majesty's deep sibling affection is truly a blessing for Great Tang."
"However..."
She hesitated for a moment, then still offered her advice: "Your Majesty, although this concubine is a woman and does not understand court affairs,"
"I also know that Region is far away, and even at full speed, it would take more than ten days."
"It is already the eighteenth day of the twelfth lunar month."
"If these things are sent now, I'm afraid they won't even make it for the Lantern Festival."
"Moreover..."
The Empress paused, implying something.
"Since the Grand Princess has already embarked on cultivation, and I hear she has even entered the Seed Lotus,"
"The cold and heat of the mortal world probably no longer bother her."
"Your Majesty making such a grand display, if it were to spread, though well-intentioned, it might inevitably make people think... it's too much doting."
Her words were logical and faultless.
But to the Emperor's ears, they sounded grating no matter how he heard them.
Doting?
My own sister, if I don't dote on her, who will?
Should I dote on those old geezers in the court instead?
"Empress, I don't like hearing that."
The Emperor squinted, letting out a cold snort.
"What do you mean 'the cold and heat of the mortal world no longer bother her'?"
"That's my sister! She was lost outside since childhood and never had a single good day!"
"Now in that bitter, cold land of the northwest, she doesn't even have someone who cares for her warmth and coldness!"
"What's wrong with me sending a few quilts and a few chefs?"
"If I could, I'd move the entire Imperial Palace there for her!"
The Empress was caught off guard by this outburst, and the smile on her face faltered.
How could she have known the Emperor would react so strongly?
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. This concubine... this concubine didn't mean that..."
"Enough."
The Emperor waved his hand impatiently.
"If you have nothing else, then withdraw."
"I still need to draft an edict; I don't have time to waste on such trivialities with you."
The Empress bit her lip, a flicker of grievance in her eyes.
But knowing the Emperor's temper, she dared not say more.
"Yes, this concubine takes her leave."
After the Empress and her entourage withdrew,
Only the monarch and his minister remained in the warm pavilion.
The Old Eunuch wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and cautiously approached.
"Your Majesty..."
"Were you perhaps a little too... 'that' to Her Majesty just now?"
"That what?"
The Emperor rolled his eyes.
"I was just speaking the truth."
"Always putting on airs, it's exhausting just watching it."
Saying that,
The Emperor sighed again, his gaze drifting out the window.
At this moment,
In Chang'an City, the festive atmosphere of the New Year was growing stronger.
According to the customs of Great Tang,
The twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month was Little New Year, when the Kitchen God was worshipped.
On this day,
Every household would clean their homes, inside and out, a practice known as 'sweeping away dust'.
This meant sweeping out all the bad luck and misfortune of the year.
They would also prepare sweet and sticky malt candy, offering it before the image of the Kitchen God.
The purpose was to have the Kitchen God report good deeds to heaven and ensure peace in the Lower Realm.
Now, within the deep palace,
The Imperial Kitchen had already prepared baskets of malt sugar.
Waiting to be made into sugar melons.
Officials from the Grand Court of Imperial Sacrifices also began busy writing Spring Couplets and painting door gods.
Everywhere was bustling with red and filled with joy.
But the Emperor's heart couldn't feel festive at all.
The Emperor looked at the swirling snow, his voice somewhat low.
"You say..."
"Did that boy You Wujiang deliver the message after all?"
The Old Eunuch quickly bowed and said, "Replying to Your Majesty, Lord You is a gold-robed inspector. Calculating the days, he should have already met Your Highness by now."
"Then... you say, will that girl... come back?"
Hearing this, the Old Eunuch also felt a wave of difficulty.
How was he supposed to answer that?
Although he hadn't had much contact with Jiang Yuechu,
Just hearing about her, how she killed some great demon, and how she directly confronted the Lotus Cultivation Demon King at Taihu Lake.
Each and every one of these incidents,
Showed she was not a docile person.
If she didn't want to come back,
Let alone You Wujiang bringing an oral decree,
Even if His Majesty personally issued an imperial edict, it might not necessarily work.
The Old Eunuch's eyes darted about, then he chuckled, "Your Majesty, you worry too much. Who is the Grand Princess? She is the golden branch and jade leaf of our Great Tang, His Majesty's own sister!"
"Your Highness has drifted outside for so many years, she must also be homesick."
"Now that His Majesty has given his golden word and sent Lord You to invite her,"
"Even if Your Highness is busy, no matter how many things she has, she will definitely come back to spend a reunion New Year with Your Majesty!"
"Right! Exactly!"
The Emperor slapped his thigh, and much of the worry on his face dissipated.
"She is my sister, and it's only right for me to ask her to come back for New Year!"
"How dare she not come back?"
"If she dares not come back..."
The Emperor grumbled a couple of times, seemingly wanting to utter a harsh threat.
But after holding it in for a long time,
He only weakly added at the end,
"If she really doesn't come back..."
"Then my New Year..."
"Will just have to be without it!"
With that,
The Emperor flicked his sleeve, turned, and walked to the writing desk.
"Grind the ink!"
"I will personally write a Spring Couplet!"
"And paste it on the main gate of the Golden Jade Palace!"
The Old Eunuch quickly stepped forward.
An incense stick's time later,
The Old Eunuch watched from the side, his mouth twitching involuntarily.
The first line read: Golden Branch, Jade Leaf returns to her hometown.
The second line read: Phoenix dances, Dragon soars, celebrating reunion.
"The horizontal inscription..."
The Emperor held his brush, pondering for a moment.
On the Xuan paper, he wielded his brush with vigor.
Writing four large characters.
His strokes were powerful, penetrating deep into the paper.
"Brotherly Love, Sisterly Respect!"