Twelfth: The maid helps up the weak and delicate one

  After Mei Zhuang and Ling Rong left, the Tong Li Palace became lively again. This liveliness started with one after another of the emperor's generous and exquisite rewards entering my palace, and due to the emperor's intervention, this liveliness far surpassed when I first entered the palace.

  My sudden promotion and favor caused a great stir in the seemingly calm harem, arousing the curiosity of countless people who were usually idle, to the point where the story of Yu Gengyi, who was demoted almost at the same time as my promotion, was like a withered leaf swept away by a turbulent wave, and except for a few people, no one else cared about her existence. The disappearance of Yu Gengyi, who had once been favored and sang praises, did not even stir up a ripple. The curiosity of the people in the harem, accompanied by envy and jealousy, flowed continuously into my palace in the form of gifts and visits, leaving me overwhelmed.

  At dusk, the emperor finally issued an edict, ordering me to close the door and rest well from all guests except him and the imperial physician. I have finally obtained temporary leisure again.

  I made a very important decision in this unfamiliar and brief, yet bustling with curiosity, hostility and flattery. I decided to accept the emperor's favor with a fighting spirit, dedicating my affection and adoration to him. I don't know if this is a path fraught with danger and thorns. But that sunny afternoon and Emperor Xuan Ling's smile opened another door for me, one that led to a world of temptation and dazzling splendor, which I had never encountered before, despite the presence of sword lights and poisonous perfumes, but I couldn't stop my longing for it.

  This evening I stood in front of the mirror for a long time, doing only one thing, which was to lock myself in the back hall, light up all the red candles, and look at myself in the mirror. I put on my most beautiful clothes, wore my most gorgeous jewelry, and then took them off one by one. As I gazed at my youthful face and body in the mirror, I suddenly wondered if I wanted to spend my life in solitude, growing old and dying in this quiet and deep palace. This made me think of two idioms I once saw in a book, "isolated beauty admires itself" and "pitying one's own shadow".

  Xuan Ling's appearance made me suddenly fall in love with the beautiful poems about love in "The Book of Songs" and "Yuefu". Even though I decided to suppress my thoughts about him after thinking he was Qinghe Wang, I couldn't suppress my imagination. In my imagination, the male and female protagonists of those beautiful love stories all became me and him. During those days, I kept wondering if such imagination would last a lifetime, becoming the only pleasure in my dull and dry life; sometimes, I thought that Wen Shi's bold proposal and this bright spring might become the only things worth remembering and cherishing. I even thought that if Zhu Mei's words came true, relying on the emperor's power, whether my family could have a better future, and whether my life would become more meaningful because of his possibly thin or thick favor.

  I have discovered some long-dormant things on my own body and face, now I find them stirring. Good, they think the same as me.

  Since it's already been decided, then I want the best opening move, let me step by step enter this bloody and treacherous harem.

  I put on my clothes one by one with extreme solemnity, and when I opened the door, my expression was no different from usual. I said to Xiaolian: "Go to Tai Hospital and ask Dr. Wen to come."

  Wen Shi arrived at a speed faster than ever before. I pushed away everyone, leaving only Liu Zhu and Bi Jing. Seeing his anxious expression, I knew he had already heard about the matter.

  Palace affairs, prosperity and decline, honor and shame, are forever the ones that have no legs but run the fastest, can spread to every corner of the palace, even in the smallest door cracks, hiding warm rumors and gossip.

  "I opened the door and said straightforwardly: 'Can't hide it anymore.'"

  His expression suddenly darkened, and in an instant his eyes were reignited, saying: "I can petition the Emperor on behalf of the young master, saying that his body is really not suitable for serving the imperial carriage."

  "I looked at him: 'What if the emperor sends another imperial physician to treat me? My body is only showing symptoms because of the medicine, but I'm actually fine inside. If it's discovered, do you and I still want our heads? Do we still want the heads of our entire families?!'"

  His mouth opened slightly, but he didn't say anything, his eyes dull like a dead fish.

  I glanced at him and said lightly: "What profound insight does Lord Wen have?"

  He remained silent for a moment, then stood up and bowed his head, saying: "I will follow the orders of the young mistress."

  I said gently: "Lord Wen is too polite. I still need your support, otherwise the harem is full of pitfalls and it's really like walking on thin ice."

  "I will not change my original intention and will definitely use all my strength to protect the young master completely."

  I smiled and said: "That's good. Please, Lord Wen, cure Hu'er's illness, but don't cure it too quickly, take a month to do so."

  "I will gradually reduce the dosage of the medicine and then take some supplementary medicine at the right time, so it won't be a big problem."

  Lingbi saw him off and then said to Liuxiu, "Since the young lady has feelings for the emperor, why not recover quickly? Is she afraid of showing too much and arousing suspicion?"

  I nodded and said, "This is one aspect. More importantly, it's the emperor's thoughts. If my illness recovers too quickly, I'll inevitably appear impatient. You should know that for men, the harder something is to obtain, the more they cherish it and can't put it down. Since he's an emperor, what woman hasn't he seen before? If I were like other women, letting him have his way as soon as possible, he would only lose interest in me too quickly. If time drags on for too long, one possibility is that the emperor's appetite will be satiated and he'll become disinterested; another is that with so many women vying for favor in the harem, time is precious. If someone else were to take advantage of this time and get ahead of me, it would be too late for regrets."

  The slave girl nodded slightly: "I've taken note."

  "I asked in surprise: 'What did you come here for?'"

  Her face turned crimson as she stuttered: "In the future when I get married, I will also learn this art of taming a husband."

  I laughed until I was out of breath: "This dead girl, she's so young and already thinking about wanting a husband."

  Li Zhu turned around and said: "Miss, how can you be like this? When someone is having a heart-to-heart talk with you, you laugh at me."

  I barely held back my laughter: "Alright, alright, I won't laugh at you. In the future, I'll definitely introduce you to a good match and fulfill your lifelong wish."

  The next day, Huang Guanquan, the manager of the Imperial Household Department, personally brought a group of eunuchs and palace maids to my palace to let me choose. Seeing me, they busily kowtowed and smiled, saying: "Greetings, Master Jun!"

  I smiled and said: "Director Huang must have remembered wrongly. I am still in the rank of concubine, only can be called 'young master', absolutely cannot be called 'master'."

  Huang Gui was completely shut down, and he smiled sarcastically: "Look at this memory of mine. However, in my private heart, I think the young master has such a noble fate, becoming the master is only a matter of time, so I'll hurry up and call out to the young master to congratulate him in advance."

  I smiled and said, "I know you mean well. But others who don't understand will think that after being the head of the Imperial Household Department for so many years, you still don't know the rules, and if they grab your weakness, it won't be good. It's also not good to let people see me as arrogant and overstepping."

  As soon as he finished speaking, Huang Gui hurriedly knocked his head and said: "Yes yes yes, I remember the young master's teachings."

  I ordered Huang Quan to get up, he bowed his waist, with a careful and flattering smile on his face, and said respectfully: "Report to the master, these palace maids and eunuchs are all carefully selected, each one is exceptional. Please select eight eunuchs and six palace maids."

  I swept away a group of people under the black crow, carefully selecting about ten who were clean and tidy in appearance, loyal and honest in face, and nimble in hands and feet. I said to Xiaoyuanzi and Qianshui: "It's just these few, take them down and teach them well."

  Huang Quan saw Xiao Yu's son lead the people down, and with a flattering smile, he pointed to a small eunuch kneeling behind him: "The slave was confused. Because in the past few days, I was busy dealing with trivial matters in the inner court, I instructed that matter of applying varnish to the tables and chairs in the young master's palace to Xiao Luzi to handle. Who knew this dog slave would be so careless and forget? The slave specially brought him here to apologize to the young master and ask for his punishment."

  I hadn't even had time to respond when Pei'er saw the flowing tassels on my skirt's ornament hanging down and being blown awry by the wind, so she half-knelt down to tidy them for me, saying: "We can't possibly accept Huang Gonggong's apology; how could we presume to do that? And then behind his back I heard some things that shouldn't be said, it makes one feel utterly bewildered!"

  I scolded: "You're getting more and more unreasonable, what nonsense are you talking about!" Pei'er saw me speaking up, although she was angry, immediately shut her mouth and didn't dare to speak.

  Huang Quan was scolded by Pei'er, his face turned red with embarrassment, and he could only smile awkwardly: "Look at what Miss Pei said, it's all because the servants under me are not well-taught."

  I smiled and said, "Your words are too serious. Your handling of the internal affairs of the palace is a heavy responsibility, with at least a hundred matters to attend to every day. It's only natural that sometimes those under you may be remiss in their duties. What fault is there to apologize for? It's just that my personal maid doesn't understand what's going on and has made a fool of herself in front of you."

  Huang Gui let out a sigh of relief and said, "No need to be polite. Thank you, young master, for your mercy. We will definitely work harder for you from now on." He smiled again and said, "I've already had someone bring in a new table, I hope it's not too crude for you to use."

  I nodded and said, "Thanks for thinking of me. Go ahead."

  Huang Guiquan saw that I had nothing else to say, so he bid farewell and said: "Guan Niangzi has no other business, the slave will go down now. I wish Guan Niangzi good health."

  I saw Huang Ruluan had gone out. I frowned and scolded Baoyu: "How can you be so careless?! Your words are not cautious at all."

  Pai'er saw me scolding her for the first time and was frightened, hastily kneeling down and saying in a low voice: "This Huang Gui is always opportunistic, previously on the way he secretly deducted from young master's expenses, now seeing young master gaining favor he shifts all blame to others and flatters..."

  "How could I not know? As long as you understand and be on guard, that's enough. If we were to make a scene in front of everyone, after all, he is the manager of the Imperial Household Department. If this gets out, it will only make people laugh at us for being petty and frivolous, and we'll end up losing face.

  I let out a soft sigh: "I know you're doing this for my own good, but it's not worth arguing over a momentary temper. I've seen many cases like Hong Tongbai's in the palace, everyone does it, it's not just Huang Quan alone."

  Pei'er hung her head, her face filled with shame, and said in a low voice: "The slave knows she was wrong."

  "Just remember that. But it's also good for you to warn that servant a couple of times, so he'll have some restraint, as long as you don't lose your composure in everything."

  I called out to the servant, saying: "Go tell those below not to show off their proud expressions, and don't let them use improper titles either. Right now, I'm afraid someone is probably looking for our mistakes."

  "Is it?" replied the servant, and then said: "There is something I want to report to you, Master."

  "You said."

  "Huang Gui is a distant relative of Empress Hua..."

  I raised my hand to signal her not to continue, "I know. I was just about to tell you this, these new inner palace maids who were personally selected by me are all people sent from outside. You and Xiaoyanzi must be vigilant and keep a close eye on them, don't let them have any tricks up their sleeves. Also, only assign them to do rough work, the tasks that require proximity to me will still be handled by you few."

  "Servants and Gong Yung must be careful."

  "I asked: 'Is today's medicine decocted? If it is ready, let Liu Zhu bring it in for me to drink.'"

  Since Xuan Ling personally took care of my illness, the imperial hospital was even more cautious and did not dare to be negligent. Wen Shi Chu came to my palace every day to take my pulse.

  The matter of dosage is not allowed to be interfered with by others, and it is gradually reduced for me, personally adjusting the dosage before handing it over to the palace maid to decoct. At the same time, I also use supplementary medicine that does not conflict with the properties of the medicine to nourish myself.

  The emperor comes to see me every other day and is delighted to see that I am gradually recovering my spirits and have some color in my face.

  One morning, I had just gotten up when a eunuch named Xiao Hezi came to deliver the message with a joyful face, saying that after the emperor finished his early court session, he would come to see me and told me to get ready.

  Jing Qing said: "The emperor is about to arrive, shouldn't the young master change into some bright clothes to greet him? I'll help the young master style his hair in a welcoming chignon, how's that?"

  I just smiled and didn't answer, turning my head to ask Gan Cai: "The imperial concubines who receive the emperor are mostly dressed in beautiful clothes, right?"

  "Yes. The women in the palace dress up for the emperor's pleasure, and naturally they are extremely beautiful."

  I smiled and nodded, letting Fen Bi bring the clothes over. The light green silver-embroidered hundred-butterfly-degree-flower top had sleeves that were wider than usual, fluttering in the wind. The waist was tightly gathered, with a long skirt of goose-yellow embroidered white jade orchid below. A simple peach-heart bun was adorned with only a few stars of milky white pearls, setting off the cloud-like luster of her black hair, and a slanted emerald hairpin hung down with a delicate silver tassel.

  Jing Qing ventured to say: "The young master's attire is very beautiful, it's just a bit too plain."

  I just smiled and said, "It's better this way." The women in the palace have always vied with each other to show off their elegance before the emperor, going to extremes of luxury. I, on the other hand, dress simply and elegantly, which is refreshing to him.

  After dressing up, the emperor arrived in no time. I had been waiting at the palace gate early and smiled as I greeted him with a bow. He took my arm and said, "It's very windy outside, how did you come out? Come in with me quickly."

  I thanked and stood up, Xuan Ling saw my attire, and indeed his eyes lit up, smiling: "Clear water produces lotus flowers, natural without carving. My Guinü is indeed different from the others."

  I heard his praise and was delighted in my heart, blushing and saying: "Your Majesty doesn't despise the humble nature of your subject's wife, does he?"

  As soon as I entered the hall and sat down, a young palace maid had already laid out a brocade cushion on the Coiled Dragon Treasure Seat, and was burning a stick of auspicious brain incense from Xiyue in a copper censer with Persian patterns at the side of the seat. The faint white smoke wafted gently into the air, filling the room with a fragrant mist. I didn't sit down until after Xuan Ling had taken his seat, and then I sat on the flower-patterned wooden armchair beside him.

  Xuan Ling nodded slightly and said, "This incense is very good. After listening to the morning's court reports, I was feeling dizzy and my head was swelling." I smiled slightly, it seems I didn't prepare wrongly.

  I said softly: "Your Majesty came over to see me right after the morning court session. You must be tired too, shall I serve you a cup of tea?"

  Xuan Ling smiled and said: "This kind of thing can be done by others, why do you have to do it yourself?"

  "The tea I personally brewed, how can it be compared to others? Please wait a moment, Your Majesty." I smiled and walked into the warm pavilion, soon holding a cup of He Tian white jade tea in my hands, walking up to him with a smile: "The tea I brewed, I wonder if it suits your taste, Your Majesty. Don't dislike it, okay?" My mouth said smiling words, but my heart couldn't help feeling a bit anxious, hoping he would be happy after tasting the tea, yet fearing that the flavor wouldn't suit his liking, and if he frowned in disapproval, what could I do?

  Xuan Ling Dao said: "You personally brewed this, and the intention is what I like most." He took it over, opened the delicate white porcelain bowl, and looked at it. The cup was filled with a faint green misty smoke, and the tea fragrance assailed his lungs. He praised, "Good fragrant tea!" After drinking a small mouthful, he slightly furrowed his brow in thought, then drank another mouthful. My heart sank, thinking he didn't like it, and I was at a loss for what to do. Just as Xuan Ling's eyebrows slowly relaxed, his smile deepened, and he looked at me asking: "The flavor of this tea is exceptionally clear and fragrant, I've savored it for half a day, the tea leaves are from Yue State's cold tea, with the scent of pine needles and plum blossoms, but the rest is unclear. You come tell me what else was added?"

  I smiled and said, "Your Majesty's tongue is so clever. This tea is called 'Three Friends of Winter Chill', made by boiling pine needles, bamboo leaves, and plum blossoms together in water. The water must be the dew on the lotus leaves before sunrise in summer to have such a refreshing taste."

  "The ancients said 'tea can clear one's mind', today after drinking your tea, Geng Ying, I realize the words of the ancients are not empty."

  My face slightly flushed, "Your Majesty is overpraising. It was also a coincidence, I had collected two jars myself last year and couldn't bear to drink them, so I brought one into the palace and buried it under the pear tree in the hall, only having someone dig it up two days ago."

  "Are you still living in Tongli Palace? I think it's a bit far away."

  "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I feel fine, it's very quiet." My voice dropped slightly: "I'm not too fond of noisy places."

  Xuan Ling's fingertips slid across my cheek, and he raised his hand to smooth out the stray hairs at my temple. It was as if a scorching hot current had followed his fingers and suddenly solidified on my cheek. All I heard was him saying softly, "I understand. Tang Li is quiet and has good feng shui, it's also good for people." He just smiled, his clear eyes carefully examining me, and after a moment, he said, "I think your complexion has improved a lot, you should be almost fully recovered."

  "It's nothing serious, I'm just weak myself. Now with the emperor's blessing and protection, I'll naturally recover even faster."

  Xuan Ling only looked at me with a faint smile, his eyes hinting at a deep affection. I saw that his smile was somewhat strange and couldn't help but feel puzzled. Just then, I caught a glimpse of Yan Suo standing beside him, her face flushing as she smiled and pursed her lips. Suddenly, it dawned on me, and my face felt like it was on fire, burning so fiercely that even the roots of my ears felt like they were submerged in boiling water.

  Xuan Ling saw me blushing and smiling, said: "Guan Qi is shy, really makes me love you more."

  I thought of the palace maids and eunuchs standing by, hastily thinking of withdrawing my hand, I urgently said: "Your Majesty..."

  "What's there to be afraid of?"

  I turned back to look, and somehow the others had retreated to the outer hall, standing with their backs to us. Xuan Ling pulled me up by the hand, gently embracing me in his arms. The collar of his robe had a pleasant scent of dragon's saliva incense, mixed with the bitter taste of Ruinao incense, as well as that strange and intense aura of a robust man, which made me curious and infatuated. His breath was warm on my neck, with a hint of moisture and heat, like a summer day when one wears only thin clothes to cool off.

  Outside the window, the branches of the sea buckthorn were full of bright red buds, and the quiet night was embracing me. As the days warmed up, the windows in the Yingxin Hall had been replaced with new ones made of Jiangning brocade, a tribute to the emperor, with a light blue color like the wings of cicadas after rain. The curtains were hazy and misty, and the warm wind blew them gently, making them swell slightly, like a girl's smiling cheeks. The sound of the wind blowing through the leaves was soft and gentle, like an intimate whisper. Although the sound was distant, it seemed to be calling me from afar, from an unreachable shore, with a gentle summons. I may have been bold and unrestrained, but at this moment, I felt a softness spreading from my palm throughout my body, my mind blank and empty, yet happy in my heart, overflowing with sweet warmth, wishing only to close my eyes and indulge in the bliss, unwilling to let go of it for even a moment.