Palace Fighting Naive Concubines’ Ascent to Power
Chapter 558

Chapter 558: 558

He commented reluctantly a few times before he gave up on teaching Lian Hua to paint.

Later, recalling his intention to paint a picture for Lian Hua, the Emperor personally took up the brush to paint for Lian Hua.

Lian Hua kept him company on the side, watching in amazement.

There was a unique kind of fun within Canglan Court.

Some were happy, some were worried.

A nondescript house in the Southern City of the Capital.

"Why hasn’t Mu Su returned yet?" Su Ran murmured to herself, her spirits much improved from before, her cheeks also showing a hint of rosiness.

Lian Changhe came in with a dish of food, just in time to hear this and replied, "Baobao and Wu Sheng went to ask, we’ll know when they come back."

He placed the dish on the table, seeking praise, "Madam, you will soon be able to eat the chicken I personally slaughtered for you."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lian Wanzhen entered with another dish, overhearing this, he directly said, "Dad, when did you slaughter a chicken? You wouldn’t even let it be killed. If I hadn’t said it was to nourish mom, you would have definitely stopped it."

Lian Changhe’s boast was exposed, and he immediately looked at Su Ran to see a knowing smile on her face.

A flicker of embarrassment crossed his face as he sheepishly explained, "Madam, it’s not that your husband didn’t dare, it’s just that after raising that chicken for a few days, I grew attached to it."

Lian Wanzhen interjected, "That can’t be right, Dad. Weren’t you unable to even watch when I was slaughtering the chicken?" He placed the dish on the table with the meatier side facing his mother.

Not to mention, he didn’t believe his dad, who claimed he grew too fond of the chicken to slaughter it, especially since his dad couldn’t bear to watch when he was killing it.

This old hen was an excellent tonic, specifically bought to improve his mother’s health. How could they nourish her if it wasn’t killed? His father wasn’t thinking ahead.

Lian Changhe’s boast was unveiled by his own son, twice in a row, leaving him with no face, "Unfilial son, didn’t you pluck the feathers? Isn’t that almost the same as killing the chicken!" He reached out to hit Lian Wanzhen.

"Oh..." Lian Wanzhen stood upright and took the hits nonchalantly, used to it by now, he muttered, "Killing requires a knife, plucking requires hands, obviously there’s a big difference."

His father was kind-hearted, muttering ’my sins’ while plucking, claiming it was to accumulate virtue and allow the hen to be reborn into a better life sooner.

He couldn’t understand this logic. According to his father, the hen must have committed grave sins in a past life to be reborn as an animal; if anything, that was all the more reason to kill it.

Lian Changhe, repeatedly contradicted, became angry from embarrassment, "Unfilial son, you dare to talk back." And he hit him several more times.

Lian Wanzhen, ever the filial son, reminded him, "Dad, don’t hurt your hand, or you will blame me again."

His father was just like that, beating him from childhood, and if he hurt his hand from spanking, he would blame it on his thick skin, which would then turn into a verbal scolding.

"If not you, then who? Look at Baobao, look at your older brother, it’s only you, the unfilial son, who is thick-skinned and tough-fleshed."

Lian Changhe’s tone softened as he rubbed his hand, which indeed hurt from hitting, but not hitting was too upsetting; hitting him was still the better option.

This scene played out daily in the Lian Family, Su Ran was used to it, her face bearing a serene smile as she watched the two of them bicker.

Once they had their fill of noise, Su Ran spoke calmly, "My lord has worked hard, Wan Zhen has worked hard too."

Lian Changhe immediately left Lian Wanzhen aside and put on a smile, contentedly saying, "It’s not hard, as long as Madam is well, your husband is happy."

Lian Wanzhen also smiled, "Mother, it’s not hard for me. For your sake, I could kill any number of chickens."

With that, he went out to fetch more dishes.

On the last trip, Lian Wanzhen carried a pot of big chicken soup as Lih Qingshu, wearing an apron, walked in, followed by Qian Chen.

Lih Qingshu looked less somber and more imbued with the warmth of everyday life.

In principle, she shouldn’t have been the one cooking, but there was no choice. Lian Musu wasn’t here, Lian Bao was never at home these days, Qian Chen loved to add chili to everything, Su Ran was still recuperating, and no one would let her lift a finger.

That left only Lian Wanzhen and Lian Changhe, whose cooking was worse than the other’s, so the heavy responsibility inevitably fell on Lih Qingshu’s shoulders.

When everything was ready, Lian Wanzhen felt he had fulfilled his duty and simply said, "Dad, Mom, Sister Lih, I’m going to drink with Wang San and the others, so I won’t join you for dinner."

It wasn’t that he was unfilial; it was just that he ate too quickly, preferred strong flavors, and always ended up dry and bored waiting for everyone else to finish. Each time, his dad would give him disapproving looks.

But his mom was kinder, unable to bear seeing him wait and knowing light meals weren’t to his taste. She simply let him eat with Uncle Ma and the others.

Today, they had prepared a table full of good food and wines in celebration, which he was quite looking forward to.

Lian Changhe shooed him away as if swatting flies: "Go on, get. Don’t stand there in the way."

Su Ran glared at him, and Lian Changhe instantly fell silent.

Only then did Su Ran nod to Lian Wanzhen with a smile and admonish him with a few words, asking him not to drink too much.

Lian Wanzhen felt warmth in his heart. A child with a mother is indeed treasured. Then he looked at Qian Chen, who had no one to bother about him unless he was involved in something.

At that thought, Lian Wanzhen grabbed Qian Chen by the arm, "Come on, let’s go drink."

Qian Chen stood there, unwilling to move, giving the pot of chicken soup a mournful glance and feeling even less inclined to leave.

That was a chicken he had killed with his own sword, and to not have a few bites, he felt, would be disrespecting his sword.

Lian Wanzhen was quite gregarious, constantly hanging around him these days, always calling him to join in on whatever he was doing, and occasionally challenging him to a fight.

He would carry on talking by his side if Qian Chen didn’t engage, which was really bothersome. Only out of exasperation would he respond.

Today, Lian Wanzhen had complained about a dull blade and borrowed his sword. Sympathetic that Lian Wanzhen lacked a weapon of choice, Qian Chen had lent it. By the time he realized what it was borrowed for, it was too late; the chicken had been killed, its blood staining the sword – it took him a long time to clean...

Lian Wanzhen walked a few steps, noticed that Qian Chen wasn’t following, and turned back to drag him along: "Stop dilly-dallying like a woman. Aren’t you craving something spicy? Let’s go make Wang San and his buddies suffer, show them they’re not the only ones who can boast."

At the mention of spicy food, Qian Chen felt tempted.

Lately, every meal had been bland, and every time he thought about entering the kitchen, Lian Wanzhen would find something for him to do, preventing him from going. He hadn’t had anything spicy in a long time...

Lih Qingshu understood Qian Chen all too well. With a faint smile on her face and a cool tone, she said, "Go ahead, I’ve saved you some chicken soup."

Qian Chen had been very happy these days, she could see that. Following her around usually proved too dull, with no friends and little joy. He liked it here; he liked Lian Wanzhen.

Only then was Qian Chen willing to leave.

The two of them, one after the other, left the room, the court.

From afar, one could still hear Lian Wanzhen chattering non-stop, "Qian Chen, you really brought that spicy nature of yours, didn’t you? Not talking much won’t do, how will you outmatch Wang San and his bunch in boasting? Say something, will you? You’re driving me mad. Never mind, I’ll brag for you..."

In the hall, Su Ran expressed a slight apology, "Qingshu, it bothers me that you’ve had to take care of me for so long."

"Benefactor, there’s no need for that, you owe me a great debt of gratitude," Lih Qingshu replied with a slight shake of her head while picking up her bowl.