Hair Bun

Xie Ning changed into a new outfit, but she didn't change her hair bun. Chief Palace Attendant Luo said the Begonia bun suited her and looked good on her.

The emperor also said the same.

After Xie Ning bowed and stood up, the emperor's gaze lingered on her for a moment. Xie Ning had always been cautious before, but today her courage seemed to have grown. She met the emperor's gaze boldly.

The emperor's gaze was gentle, like he was admiring a rare flower. He gestured for her to come over with a wave of his hand. When Xie Ning stood in front of him, the emperor reached out and adjusted her pearl hairpin.

It was a small gesture, and he didn't even touch her skin, but Xie Ning's face still turned red.

Somehow, she felt more moved by the emperor's earlier gesture and expression than when they were involved in the night duty.

After noon, the sun was blocked by the clouds, but it didn't get cooler. Instead, it got even hotter. Standing in the palace for just a short while made her sweat all over.

The fine beads of sweat seeped out of her body, stimulating her skin with a slightly itchy feeling that spread throughout her body.

"It looks like there's going to be a good rain today," the emperor said, feeling hot. He gestured for Xie Ning to come closer.

Xie Ning was slow to catch on to what the emperor wanted, and it took her a while to realize that he wanted her to take the sweat towel from one of the palace attendants and wipe his sweat for him.

"Dinner will be served at the pavilion on Anxi Bridge. It's close to the water and cooler there," the emperor instructed Bai Gonggong before turning back to her.

"If there's anything you like to eat, just let them know in the kitchen, and they'll prepare it for you."

Normally, Xie Ning should have declined the offer, so as not to leave a "gluttonous" impression on the emperor. But the emperor already had a few negative impressions of her, and she even amused him by teasing him when she wrote.

So, why not go all out? Xie Ning thought to herself.

"I'd like to have a winter melon soup," Xie Ning said. If the emperor hadn't chosen her to accompany him on the trip, she would have ordered this soup anyway.

"Only that?" the emperor asked.

"Well, then, how about adding a dish of braised bamboo shoots?" Xie Ning said, feeling emboldened.

If she was going to push her luck, why not go all out?

Bai Gonggong stepped back outside the palace hall, having witnessed a rare display of rebelliousness from a woman in front of the emperor. He had only ever encountered two such women before: Handsome Fairness Chen, whose reputation for being wilful and defiant had spread throughout the palace, and Lady Xie of Talents, who appeared shy and gentle but often surprised others with her unexpected actions and words.

The emperor, dressed in a thin gauze robe, decided to forgo the platform and walked leisurely towards Anxi Bridge with Xie Ning by his side. "The weather in the capital is unbearable during the summer months, especially for those living in the imperial palace or areas with low elevation. It remains sweltering until after the Mid-Autumn Festival. Are you managing well in the palace?" he asked her.

Xie Ning walked cautiously behind the emperor, maintaining a respectful distance of a step behind him. She couldn't walk too slowly, or she would slow down the emperor, nor could she walk too fast and lose pace with him. "I'm managing well. Once I fall asleep, I don't feel the heat anymore, and I often sleep through until dawn," she replied.

The emperor stopped walking and laughed heartily at Xie Ning's comment. After he finished laughing, he continued walking ahead. Xie Ning felt a little self-conscious and wondered why he had laughed. Did he find it amusing that she enjoyed sleeping so much? Why did he only seem to focus on her flaws and shortcomings?

Xie Ning tried to think of her positive qualities but couldn't come up with anything noteworthy. In the Four Virtues, there were De (morality), Yan (speech), Rong (appearance), and Gong (needlecraft). Xie didn't consider herself to possess exceptional morals, her speech was often awkward and stilted, she wasn't particularly attractive compared to the other ladies in the palace, and she had no accomplishments to speak of. Her needlework skills were notoriously poor, and she was clumsy with her hands.

Anxi Pavilion was spacious and was situated by the water's edge. The windows were wide open, and the view from the water-side window was of the lake, dotted with endless stretches of green lotus leaves. Xie noticed a large lotus flower growing near the pavilion, its petals as wide as a small pot.

The air in the pavilion was much cooler than outside, and Xie saw ducks or Mandarin ducks swimming under the lotus leaves. "The view here is just like a painting. It's important to take a break and go out for a walk when we have the chance," the emperor said.

The emperor stood behind her, his hands resting on the windowsill, and Xie Ning felt as if he were embracing her. It made her feel uneasy. She hadn't noticed it before, but the emperor was much taller than her - she only reached his shoulders. Even if she could grow a bit taller, it wouldn't make much of a difference.

If she included her hairstyle in her height, she would need to wear a sky-high bun over half a foot tall just to be able to reach his level. However, such a hairstyle would be impractical even with her long and voluminous hair, and she would have to use hair extensions.

The emperor could easily see her slender neck curving down when he lowered his head. Her skin was smooth and delicate, and her curves were soft and graceful, like the snow-capped mountains. However, they were too rough and jagged to be compared to her. Maybe they were more like a river bend, but it was still missing that natural beauty.

"What are you thinking about?" The emperor's breath was on her neck as he spoke.

Xie Ning suppressed the urge to flinch and replied obediently, "I was thinking about sky-high bun."

"Sky-high bun?" Even the emperor, who thought he knew everything, had never heard of this. Besides, how could one think of hairdos in such a beautiful setting surrounded by blue lotuses?

Women's minds were truly impossible to understand.

The emperor paused before bursting out laughing, slamming his hand on the windowsill. This was the first time he had laughed so carefree and happy in days. He had never heard someone talk about hair in such a straightforward manner before.

Indeed, calling her short would not be appropriate, so he refrained from saying so. Xie Ning was not short, but that depended on who she was compared to. Compared to women like Selected Lady Sun, Lady Li of Bright Countenance, and Handsome Fairness Chen, she was definitely on par. However, standing next to the emperor, her height was not enough. The emperor cleared his throat, suppressing his laughter, and continued, "You're not that short, and sky-high bun must be quite heavy. If you wear it, your head might be too heavy to lift. Your hair looks great today, very soft and beautiful. It matches you very well."

Was the emperor complimenting her? However, Xie Ning didn't feel happy at all.