The Emperor hadn't thought much of it at first; after all, he had given her the rattan as a gift to cheer her up. By a fortunate coincidence, it turned out to be woven by her third brother, confirming that her family was still alive and giving her peace of mind. Whoever brought the rattan thus became a person of great merit, and in his eyes, the rattan looked all the more pleasing.
Seeing how much she treasured it, he teased her by asking if she was going to sleep holding it.
Lian Hua thought it was a good idea and her eyes lit up with excitement as she eagerly confirmed with the Emperor if it was really okay, which instantly brought an unhappy glare from him.
He felt a complex surge of emotions, and a sourness spread through him as he wondered when a piece of rattan had become so important, important enough to climb onto the bed they shared.
