Apricot

  It was raining early in the morning, starting with a gentle patter like cow hair, but soon growing heavier and heavier, becoming a torrential downpour. The sound of raindrops hitting the roof tiles was deafening, and the iron horse on the eaves rang out loudly. The fresh and clean air between heaven and earth was filled with the scent of water, a refreshing and cool fragrance.

  In the afternoon, the rain grew heavier, I looked up at the sky and said softly: "Liuzhu, take an umbrella and go out with me."

  "Miss, with such a heavy rain, it's impossible to go anywhere."

  "Master, where are you going? Getting soaked in this heavy rain will only make things worse."

  "Better wait until the rain lets up a bit before going out, young master."

  I just said "go, go and come back", and didn't respond to their advice. Zhu couldn't help but say: "Our young lady's temper has always been like this, she says one thing and means another." So they had no choice but to take a big umbrella and carefully escort me out.

  I walked to the swing, and there was no one around. In the sparse shadow of the apricot blossoms, I only heard the sound of rainwater dripping on the ground. I lowered my head and looked at my embroidered shoes and skirt hem that had been wet by the rain, and let out a faint sigh. It turned out that he hadn't come after all. Thinking about it now, it's actually quite laughable - why would the dignified prince venture out to the palace on a rainy day instead of staying in his own estate to appreciate the rain and recite poetry? Maybe yesterday was just a joke, and only I took it seriously; or maybe he really did want to invite me to share an appreciation for music, but the weather wasn't convenient for him to enter the palace. After a while of random thoughts, he still didn't show up. The wind and rain had a chilly air, and Flowing Vermilion leaned in close to me and whispered softly: "Miss, why don't we head back first?"

  I gazed at the dense water curtain woven from thousands of threads in front of me, silently. The vermilion lips didn't dare to speak again. I slightly tilted my head and saw her shoulder, drenched by the rain, still slightly trembling. A sympathetic feeling arose in my heart, and I said, "It's tough for you, let's go back first."

  Liu Zhu hastily replied with a "yes" and accompanied me all the way back. When we returned, Ruan Xi quickly brewed a strong ginger soup for us to drink, and I also asked Liu Zhu to go change her clothes immediately.

  On a rainy night, I sat in the warm pavilion playing the zither. Originally, I was playing "Rainy Sounds", listening to the sound of rainwater splashing outside the window, and somehow became dazed, my movements also slowing down. Xuanbi brought in fresh fruit and said from the side: "Miss is playing 'High Mountain'?"

  I came back to myself and said: "How did I get into the palace with just a pair of ears? This is 'Yu Lin Lin'."

  "Miss, listen for yourself, is it 'Yu Lin Lin'?"

  I was startled, how come the tune I played with a free rein was "The Mountain is High"? How did I not know myself? I called in Liu Zhu and asked: "How was the tune I just played?"

  Miss said: "Is the lady referring to the song 'Mountain High' just now? In the past, it didn't sound better than other songs. Today, I don't know why my heart feels a little sour."

  I felt a chill in my heart and didn't speak for half a day before saying: "Go light some incense."

  Li Zhu answered "yes", and Huan Bi said in a very low voice: "Nowadays, it's the season of osmanthus fragrance. Is Miss feeling anxious?"

  I glanced at her and said: "I'm tired, go to sleep."

  I lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. Sandalwood, originally a scent for calming the mind and focusing thoughts. I know, how can I not be worried? The mountain is high, the moon rises small. The moon is small, yet so bright! I have something on my mind from afar. One day without seeing you, my heart is secretly anxious. It has always been said that the sound of the zither reveals one's heart, but I am someone who has something on their mind and cannot put it down even after a single day without seeing you? This is such a terrifying and dangerous thing for me!

  He is the King of Qinghe, and I am a noblewoman from Guang. There can never be any intersection between us, even if I were just a reclusive and unfavored noblewoman. I understand that since my name was recorded in the Yunyi Temple, this life is destined to be the emperor's woman whom I have never seen clearly. How could I have such thoughts about another man, especially the emperor's brother? It's completely useless for me. I sat up from bed with a "huh" sound and quietly looked at the small flames jumping on the red candle on the bedside flower candle holder. Secretly thinking that from this moment on, as long as I can keep my distance from him, I will never see him again.

  Since I had made up my mind, I didn't go to the swing frame for three or five days. Mei Zhuang also didn't come for several days, saying that the emperor had caught a cold in the rain a few days ago and needed to attend to him. I knew that the emperor's body was not comfortable, and Qinghe Wang must have entered the palace to ask about his illness, and he didn't even step out of the palace gate, afraid of running into me again.

  However, I also felt uncomfortable in my heart, and after being depressed for a few days, I heard that the emperor's illness had improved, and the kings, nobles, and ministers who came to visit him also returned one after another. Only then did I feel at ease to go out and take a walk to clear my mind.

  I live in the Tongli Palace, wearing only simple and plain clothes, with just a few scattered pearls on my head, far from luxurious attire. As I was about to leave, my heart tightened, as if I had been waiting for a week, afraid that I would still meet him. I sat back down in front of the copper mirror, picked up a jade hairpin and inserted it, and then grabbed a handful of silver pins and inserted them into my bun in a crescent shape. Just as I was about to put on a pair of pearl earrings, I glanced at the edge of the copper mirror and saw the picture of Chang'e flying to the moon, and remembered the poem "Looking at the blue sea and green sky, where does this heart belong?" My heart suddenly felt a slight chill, and my movements slowed down. As soon as I relaxed my hand, the pair of pearl earrings fell onto the dressing table, rolling around by themselves, with a faint glow of pearls flowing quietly. I felt quite desolate in my heart, thinking that it was foolish to adorn myself like this, for "a woman's beauty is for the one she loves", and he was the last person I should be trying to please.

  Zhen Huan, Zhen Huan, you've always thought yourself clever, yet can't even see through this? The more I think about it, the more unbearable it becomes. I did see through it, but why is it still so hard to control myself? What's wrong with me? It's just a chance encounter with a man who can be met but not obtained. The more I think about it, the more anxious I become. In the end, feeling listless and bored, I walked out alone. Flowing Vermilion saw me walking out alone and followed to attend to me.

  After the spring rain, the flowers and leaves grew more luxuriantly. Overnight, the blossoms burst forth in profusion. That one apricot tree, having endured the heavy rain, did not wither or fall, but instead bloomed even more radiantly and abundantly, as if it had condensed a whole tree's worth of morning dew and misty light. Only the spring scenery remained unchanged; the people from that day were nowhere to be seen.

  I felt a pang in my heart, and Flowing Vermilion saw that I looked unwell, saying: "Let me push Miss to swing on the autumn swing, it's also good for loosening up your muscles."

  Nor did she know if it was because of her absent-mindedness, but her movements were extremely slow, and she had only swung a few times when she suddenly heard a woman's stern rebuke behind her: "Who is on the swing! How dare you not come over after seeing Young Mistress Yu!"

  I heard someone speaking to me in such a manner, which was unpleasant, but I endured it and turned around to look. There stood a slender woman wearing palace attire, with pearls and jade on her head, standing under the tree with an arrogant expression. A palace maid-like person next to her pointed at me and called out: "Still not coming over? It's exactly about you." I was suddenly enraged, but still forced myself to maintain a smile on my face, just standing there without going over. The woman with the red lips and furrowed eyebrows said: "My family's young master is Tongli Palace's Guiren."

  The palace maid's eyes showed a hint of fear, and she glanced at me several times. Seeing that I was dressed simply, she seemed to be skeptical, but only looked at Yu Niangzi. Yu Niangzi covered her mouth and smiled: "Is there such a person as Guigui in the palace? I've never heard of it."

  The palace maid seemed to be recalling something with great effort, and after a while said: "Reporting to the young master, Tongli Palace is where a noble person resides, but they have contracted a stubborn illness and rarely go out."

  Yu's daughter-in-law narrowed her eyes, walked up and said: "Greetings, Guiren." However, her expression was very disrespectful, and she only slightly nodded when paying respects, without even bending her knees.

  I smiled faintly and said: "Yu Niangzi is good. How come you have such a elegant interest to go for a walk in these corners?"

  Yu's daughter raised an eyebrow and said with disdain, "Sister wants to serve the emperor, how can she be as idle as her sister?" She paused and then said, "I have a word of advice for my sister, since she is suffering from a stubborn illness, it's better if she doesn't go out so much, lest she infects others and becomes even more unpopular." After finishing speaking, she smiled smugly and was about to leave. I was already furious in my heart, having been humiliated by her for no reason, my anger was so great that even my eyebrows were standing on end.

  I turned my mind around and said with a soft voice: "Thank you, sister, for reminding me. As an older sister, I have something to tell you too."

  She said "oh" and stopped in her tracks, looking at me proudly: "I don't know what sister's high opinion is?"

  I smiled and said, "I've heard that the Emperor has always liked women who are well-versed in etiquette. Sister wants to tell her younger sister that the courtesy you just showed me was not good at all. I suppose it's because my younger sister is still unfamiliar with palace etiquette. How about this? I'll have my maid, Liu Zhu, demonstrate it for you."

  Liu Zhu immediately understood and bowed to Yu Nangzi, saying: "Please watch over the young master." Then he turned to me, knelt down on one knee, and bowed his head, saying: "Yu Nangzi of Hongniu Pavilion greets Guiren, Guiren is good."

  I smiled and said: "I often hear the sisters in the palace praise your sister for being clever, you must have learned it, please follow the example of Xiangzhu just now and pay respects to Ben Jun again."

  Yu Nuangzi listened to these words, had already been furious with twisted mouth and nose, sternly said: "You are a noblewoman without imperial favor, how dare you let me, the young master, respectfully salute you, you're not even worthy!"

  The palace maid beside her hastily pulled at her sleeve and said: "Young Mistress, she... the rank of Lady Gu is indeed higher than yours, why not..."

  Yu's daughter-in-law was so angry that she slapped the palace maid in the face, causing her face to swell instantly. The maid retreated two steps back and scolded: "You're a despicable thing! You're timid and afraid of trouble, completely useless!" She then coldly sneered at me: "Doesn't Concubine Gui really think that she can determine superiority just by her position? Whoever the Emperor favors is superior, otherwise no matter how high your position, you're still inferior. Besides, your position is only two ranks higher than mine, what makes you dare to order me around?"

  I was just about to speak when a familiar voice coldly said from a distance, "If it were I who ordered you to, would you pay your respects and kowtow to the Honorable Lady Guan?!"

  I heard the sound and looked over, that face was all too familiar. My heart suddenly became chaotic, like a cold fever I had as a child, my face alternated between hot and cold, dazed and confused, yet I couldn't help but stare at him, unsure of what to do. It was as if I didn't believe it, yet I couldn't help but believe, for who else under the heavens would dare call themselves "I, the Emperor".

  Yu Nu's expression changed suddenly, and she hastily knelt down on the ground with the palace maidens, saying respectfully: "Long live Your Majesty."

  The emperor nodded and didn't tell her to get up, she carefully asked: "How did Your Majesty come here?"

  "The emperor raised an eyebrow: 'Then how did you come here?'"

  Yu Nuangzi said in a trembling voice: "I heard that the emperor has been coming here to clear his mind recently, so I thought the scenery must be very beautiful, and I also came to take a look."

  The emperor smiled, his tone slightly sarcastic, saying: "It can be seen that you are not honest, this statement is not entirely true."

  The empress smiled and said in a soft voice: "Your concubine only wants to accompany Your Majesty more."

  The emperor's voice was stern, though he still smiled, his eyes were cold: "How come you're so familiar with my whereabouts?"

  Yu's daughter saw this and felt it was not right, her body shook, she immediately lowered her head and no longer spoke.

  He smiled at me faintly in the morning, I just stared at him blankly without speaking, Flowing Vermilion hastily pushed my arm, and I came to my senses, dazed and confused, and knelt down towards him, saying: "Your humble servant Tongli Palace's Zhen Shi pays respects to Your Majesty, may Your Majesty have good fortune." Flowing Vermilion also quickly knelt down and knocked her head on the ground.

  He helped me up with one hand, and said with a smile: "Your body has not yet recovered, why do you make such a big bow." He also leaned close to my ear and whispered: "That day I missed the appointment, it was not intentional."

  "My face turned red as I said: 'I dare not.'"

  "These past few days I've come here every day waiting for you, why don't you ever come out?"

  "I hastily said: 'Your Majesty.' Meanwhile, I glanced at Yu Niangzi with a hint of warning, indicating that there were others present."

  He summoned the Flowing Vermilion to come forth and said, "Take good care of your young master, his body is weak." He suppressed his smile and looked at Yu Niangzi who was kneeling on the ground, not even daring to breathe heavily, and slowly said, "Your old habit hasn't changed, it seems that the punishment I gave you last time was too light."

  Yu Nu's daughter heard my conversation with the Emperor, and sweat had already dripped from her forehead. Now hearing the Emperor's tone with a severe intention, she hastily knelt forward two steps, grasped the Emperor's robe corner and cried out: "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. Today I was confused and reckless to offend Noble Lady Guan, I am willing to apologize to Noble Lady Guan, please forgive me this time."

  The emperor looked at her with disgust and didn't respond. Yu Niangzi saw that the situation was unfavorable, so she quickly took off her pearl hairpin and earrings, knelt down in front of me, knocked her head on the ground, and wept: "Sister, I have committed a great mistake today and dare not ask for your forgiveness. But please, considering that we both serve the emperor together, beg the emperor to spare my life."

  I glanced at Yu Niangzi, who was crying with her hair disheveled, and couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. I pushed away the imperial hand and walked to the front of the emperor, saying in a gentle voice: "Knowing one's mistakes and being able to change is the greatest virtue. I think Yu Niangzi has truly realized her mistake, please forgive her this time."

  The emperor glanced at her and said, "Since the noble lady has personally spoken up for you, I won't embarrass her too much. However, you've repeatedly shown no improvement, it's really detestable!" The emperor walked a few dozen feet away, clapped his hands to signal, and from behind several dense clusters of trees emerged a fifty-year-old eunuch and over ten imperial guards, who came forward to pay their respects and also bowed to me. The emperor furrowed his brow and said, "I knew you were following me. Alright, Li Chang, pass down my decree: demote Yu Shi to a laundry maid, effective immediately, and have her move out of the Rainbow Pavilion!" Li Chang nodded in agreement, saying "Yes", and was about to turn around and leave when the emperor looked at Yu Nu, who was trembling with fear, and said, "Wait. Yu, you didn't say that Noble Lady Zhen's rank is only two levels higher than yours? Li Chang, pass down the decree to the six palaces: promote Noble Lady Zhen to Imperial Concubine."

  Li Chang was startled and said with a difficult expression: "Your Majesty, Gu... the young master has not yet served in the bedchamber before being promoted to a higher rank, I'm afraid it's not in line with the rules."

  The emperor's expression changed, and his words had a chill: "Your current errand is getting better and better, my imperial decree must be asked more."

  Li Chang was greatly shocked and hastily knocked his head twice to apologize before going off to transmit the imperial edict.

  The emperor smiled and looked at me: "How come you're so overjoyed? You even forgot to thank me."

  I knelt down and said seriously: "I, your concubine, have made no contributions to the state, nor have I assisted in the imperial family's prosperity. Furthermore, I have not yet served you in bed, so I truly do not dare accept Your Majesty's heavenly favor."

  The Emperor smiled and said: "You kneel down at the slightest movement, aren't you afraid of tiring yourself out? Since I say you can bear it, then you must be able to bear it."

  I was deeply moved, the emperor didn't even look at Yu Shi, but instead looked at the palace maid next to Yu Shi who had turned pale with fear, and said in a cold tone: "You thing that relies on others for power, go to the Ministry of Punishment to do hard labor!" The two of them quickly thanked him and supported each other as they stumbled away.