Twenty-eight, Pomegranate Flower

  Xuan Ling was furious about the Mei Zhuang affair, and with the situation in the southwest becoming increasingly urgent by the day, he didn't set foot in the harem for several days. As the war situation grew more pressing, Xuan Ling stayed within the Shui Qing Nan Xiang Palace, discussing matters of state with his officials every day, and even his meals were delivered to him from the imperial kitchen. Not only was I unable to see him, but even the Empress found it impossible to get an audience with him.

  My heart is burning with anxiety, and I don't know how Mei Zhuang is doing now. Being confined to Yu Runtang, reducing her salary and expenses, and the palace maids serving her are all within expectations. However, the people in the palace have always been like this, following the wind and changing direction, Mei Zhuang was once so favored, but now she has suddenly fallen out of favor, even if the emperor doesn't treat her harshly, which one of those palace maids is good to be with? I don't know how Mei Zhuang is being treated by them. Mei Zhuang also has such a strong personality, what if she can't take it... I dare not think about it anymore.

  Ling Rong's expression was anxious, and she came to my place three or five times a day, but ultimately there was nothing she could do. She had originally entered the Taiping Imperial Palace because of her connection to Mei Zhuang, and now she was likely to be implicated as well. I hastily instructed Xiao Yuanzi to arrange alternative accommodations for her, far away from the Yurun Hall, in order to avoid drawing attention to herself.

  That evening, feeling restless and impatient, I sat on the dock in front of the pavilion to cool off. The small boat was hidden among the dense green flowers and leaves, and the cool breeze blowing over the lake brought a refreshing coolness. At that time, I saw the slanting sunlight shining across the lake, like the tears of the cuckoo, casting a shadow on the wall with the image of two phoenixes fighting for treasure. The two phoenixes, with their vibrant colors and powerful wings, seemed to be about to fly away, revealing a majestic and awe-inspiring appearance.

  I sat on the boat, casually plucked a lotus pod that was ripe to perfection, and peeled off the lotus seeds in a leisurely manner. The boatman advised, "Young master, don't peel those lotus seeds anymore, your fingernails are as long as water scallions, it's a pity if you ruin them." I let out a light sigh, and casually tossed the lotus pod into the lake, where it sank with a "plop".

  "Master, I can see that you're troubled, but I don't know how to comfort you. All I can say is, please don't torment yourself, it's not good for your health."

  I pinched the lotus leaf with my fingers, leaving a crescent-shaped fingerprint, and the green juice stained my fingertips crimson. I said softly, "Things have come to this point, how can I not be worried?"

  "Speak softly, servant," said the maid in a low voice. "I'm just a humble servant and can't be of much help. Why not go ask Lady Fangru for assistance? She's someone who serves the emperor."

  I casually pulled down the golden bangle on my hand and said, "This bangle was originally a pair, I once gave one to her, now this one is also given to her to make a pair. You go quietly to find her, just say that I asked for her help, after all, she should remember the kindness of teaching me in the past, let her think of ways to take care of Mei Zhuang, and persuade her."

  He hurriedly took it over.

  Just as Yu Zhuo had left, Liu Zhu hurried over with a smile and said: "Miss, the eunuch from the imperial palace has arrived with an edict. The Emperor will be coming over tonight, please prepare yourself."

  It's finally here.

  The boat swayed gently, I helped Flowing Vermilion up onto the shore and said: "Help me with my hair and makeup, we need to prepare for the imperial carriage."

  Li Zhu tied up my hair into a bun, adorned with some pearl decorations, and said: "It's not easy for the Emperor to come over, Miss, do you want to take this opportunity to mention something about Master Mei Zhuang, and advise the Emperor."

  I waved my hand and said: "The more it is at this time, the less it can be persuaded. Can only wait for the emperor to vent his anger and slowly plan."

  Li Zhu brushed the scattered hair in front of my forehead, "Now that things have come to this pass, it's also right for you, Miss, to take care of yourself. The Emperor hasn't come these past few days, I'm afraid it's not because he's been annoyed by what happened with Mei Zhuang Xiaozhu."

  I stood up and walked to the window, "That's not necessarily true. If I could save her, how could I remain silent? You're watching this palace with cold eyes, everyone is eager for me to lose my temper and beg the Emperor, it would be best if the Emperor got angry and sent me to Yu Rundang together. How can I fulfill their wishes?" I sighed: "Originally, I had a lot of dealings with Mei Zhuang, but now she's lost power, and Ling Rong is just a useless crybaby. Only I am left alone, so it's better to be still than to move."

  Liu Zhu said: "If there is evidence to prove that Mei Zhuang's young master is innocent, it will be easy to handle."

  "I'm worried that Mei Zhuang was framed, but unfortunately, there's no evidence now. Even if I have a good plan, it can't be used." Suddenly, an idea flashed in my mind, and I said to Liu Zhu: "Go find Xiao Lianzi."

  Xiao Lianzi entered at my bidding, and I instructed her: "You personally go out of the palace, take my letter and separately go to my mother's house, Zhen Fu, and Mei Zhuang Xiao Zhuang's maternal grandparents' house in Beijing. Have them mobilize all their manpower to definitely bring Liu back. If he's alive, we must see him; if he's dead, we must see his corpse." I clenched the handkerchief in my hand and said calmly: "I don't believe a living person can disappear without a trace!"

  At a glance, I saw the pomegranate flowers planted in the ceramic vase under the silk window. The flowers were blooming with deep red and soft wilted petals, more than half of which had already withered and hung down, looking disheveled and charred, shocking at first sight.

  The unspoken disgust in her heart made her sneer, "The yellow rules of the Imperial Household Department are getting more and more pretentious, daring to put such a flower in my palace."

  Xiao Lianzi and Liu Zhu didn't dare to speak, after a long while, Xiao Lianzi said: "This little servant is best at flattering those in power. Seeing that the Empress has regained favor, Mei Zhuang's mistress has lost hers, and the Emperor doesn't come here anymore. Otherwise, I'll let someone move them away, so as not to offend our young mistress."

  I'm fed up with this, I'm the newly appointed imperial concubine and it's always like this. Let alone the situation with Mei Zhuang. If we just tolerate it, others will take us lightly. After some thought, she said: "No need to do anything now. Early tomorrow morning, put these pomegranates in a conspicuous place. Keeping them will serve a purpose."

  The sky has already turned completely dark, yet there is still no sign of Xuan Ling's arrival.

  I sat alone in the side hall reading a book, when Xiao Lianzi came in and made a curtsy, saying: "The young master's orders have been carried out by me, both families said they will do their best to handle it, please don't worry."

  I nodded and murmured "uh-huh", continuing to read my book.

  Xiao Lianzi smiled and said: "Congratulations to the young master."

  I just raised my head and said, "What's so happy about?"

  Xiao Lianzi said: "The master and mistress asked me to tell the young master that everything is fine at home, please don't worry. Also, there's news from the eldest son, saying he'll return to the capital for the Lantern Festival next year to pay respects to his parents. The old master and mistress want to arrange a marriage for him, and they'll invite you to preside over it then."

  I was overjoyed to hear that my brother would be returning on Yuanxiao and getting engaged, I repeatedly said: "Good, good. Brother hasn't been seen for many years, this time coming back if you can get married early is a great joy for the Zhen family." I casually picked up a agate paperweight from the table and said: "This is for you."

  Xiao Lianzi hastily thanked and bid farewell before leaving.

  Yulan returned and saw Xiaolianzi going out, looked around and found no one, then walked up to me and said: "The slave has already spoken to Fangruo aunt, Fangruo aunt said she will do her best, but this should be returned to the young master." As she spoke, she took out the golden bangle from her sleeve, "Fangruo aunt said that the young master's kindness is already too much and cannot be repaid, so she can't accept anything else from the young master."

  I nodded and said, "It's hard for her. This matter is already thorny, and it's on the wind, if it were someone else, they would have avoided it long ago." After thinking for a moment, I added, "However, although Fang Ruo is an imperial attendant, taking care of Mei Zhuang also requires making arrangements up and down, and she has to spend money."

  "Zi Yu Dao said: 'This slave has already told Fang Ruo, if you want to bribe the officials, send a reliable person to Yi Fu Guan to take it.'"

  I smiled slightly: "You're right. But that being said, she may not necessarily come to get it, so you'd better be careful."

  "His Majesty is unlikely to come at this hour," replied the eunuch in a low voice, "perhaps it would be best for you to rest first."

  The candlelight was dim, I pulled out a silver hairpin from my head and lightly lifted it up, then put it back on again. In a soft voice, I said: "No need."

  Xuan Ling arrived at midnight. He looked exhausted and waved his hand at me, saying: "Huan Huan, I'm very tired."

  I personally brought a bowl of honey cherry porridge to him, and then walked to the edge of the jade orchid tree outside the palace, picked two newly opened jade orchid flowers and hung them on the hook of the canopy, refreshing and fragrant. Smiling, I said: "The porridge has been chilled for a long time, it's not too cold. Drinking something too cool at night can harm your body. And I added honey to it, Fourth Brother drank it just right to relieve fatigue and sleep soundly."

  The servant helped Ling go take a bath and change his clothes.

  After everything was done, everyone dispersed and went down.

  She sat casually in front of her dresser, loosening her hair bun and removing her hairpins.

  Xuan Ling leaned against the bed and looked at me, after a long while he said: "You have nothing to say to me?"

  I nodded and pointed to the flower-shaped hairpin on my forehead, turning back to him: "Today's weather is scorching hot, the gold-plated hairpin is too dazzling and tacky. The fishbone-colored one resembles white jade but isn't eye-catching. Fourth Brother, help me think, should I use coral or black jade?"

  Xuan Ling was taken aback, "Is this your urgent matter?"

  I retorted: "Isn't this a serious matter? Not to mention that being neat and tidy is the principle that imperial consorts should follow, just saying 'a woman's beauty is for the pleasure of her husband' isn't extremely important?"

  Xuan Ling was taken aback and lost his smile, "Yes, yes, it's indeed a top priority. In my opinion, it's not as good as using coral, with a delicate face that surpasses snow, but not having a red mole between the eyebrows makes her look even more lovely and charming."

  He smiled and said, "Thank you, Fourth Brother."

  Although the night was a bit cool, the candles lit in the hall were still hot. So I changed to fragrant oil lamps, those lamps were purple, shining in the dark, faintly and softly.

  The night grew quiet, the cool breeze blew gently, blowing the silk in the palace lightly. Occasionally, one or two frogs croaked, which made this night even quieter and deeper.

  Xuan Ling saw that I didn't mention Mei Zhuang at all, and instead just went to sleep, he was somewhat surprised. He finally couldn't help but ask me, "You're not going to plead for Shen's family?"

  "Fourth Master has already made up his mind, and it would be useless for Huanhuan to plead on behalf of Mei again, which would only annoy Fourth Master. As the saying goes, 'A distant road reveals a horse's strength, and time reveals a person's heart.' If there is any clue or lead in this matter, it will definitely leave some trace."

  He hesitated for a moment, "Everyone says that you and the Shen family are close, and the Shen family's affairs must be related to you. Why don't you clear yourself?"

  "Xuan Xuan naturally knew what 'three people make a tiger' and 'many mouths can melt gold, accumulate slander to destroy bones' meant. But the Fourth Master was an enlightened lord, and he also understood Xuan Xuan's temperament, so he wouldn't listen to one-sided words." I softly chuckled, "If the Fourth Master suspected Xuan Xuan, perhaps Xuan Xuan couldn't have a heart-to-heart conversation with him like this tonight either, right?"

  "He sighed and said: 'You really believe I have no doubts about you?'"

  I stared straight into his eyes and softly said, "How could it be? At this time and in this situation, the Fourth Prince is the one by my side, if I don't even trust the person by my side, then who can I still trust in this vast harem? Who can I rely on?"

  He sighed softly and held me tightly in his arms, with a mixture of guilt and tender affection, calling out to me: "Huan Huan——"

  I rested my head on his arm and said, "Since Fourth Brother has already made up his mind about Sister Mei's matter, I don't think it's right for me to say anything. Fourth Brother isn't the one who told me that after Empress Hua regains her favor, I might suffer some grievances? I won't make things difficult for Fourth Brother." After speaking, I whispered, "Recently, court affairs have been busy, Fourth Brother should rest." I didn't speak again and just leaned against his chest.

  You are only Xuan Ling, you are my soulmate, but also theirs. Now that things have come to this, even if you love me and pamper me, how can I not have a single thread of doubt?

  Although you scolded Qin Fangyi in front of everyone, if you had trusted me wholeheartedly, after dealing with Mei Zhuang, you would have hurried to see me and comfort me. But you didn't.

  If I were to plead for Mei Zhuang's sake or try to clear myself at this time, it would be counterproductive. It would be better to treat you as usual and tell you that no matter what he does, I am willing to endure the humiliation, so that you can truly sympathize with me and take care of me in everything, not letting me suffer any injustice.

  If I didn't intentionally say this today, I'm afraid it would be hard to dispel that thread of unfounded doubt you have about me. Using the mindset of monarch and subject in a marital relationship is really not what I want, and it's also... how can love endure like this?

  But fortunately, you still believe me more in the end.

  A silent sigh emerged from the bottom of my heart. I closed my eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

  Xuan Ling had already left when she woke up. After dressing, she went to pay her respects to the Empress as usual. When she returned to Yifu Hall, she saw that the flowers and trees in the courtyard had been tidied up and were looking refreshed. All of them had been replaced with newly bloomed wood hibiscus, which were a vibrant red color. The few pots of pomegranate that had wilted were nowhere to be seen. She already understood the situation in her heart.

  As expected, Xiao Yuzi ran over excitedly and said: "The young master doesn't know, Huang Gui from the Imperial Household Department has made a big mistake and was sent to the 'Penalty Room' for punishment early this morning. All these flowers were taken care of by the new head of the Imperial Household Department, Jiang Zhongmin, who personally ordered people to do it."

  I sat down and took a sip of ice bowl road: "Is it?"

  Xiao Yuanzi saw me and didn't look particularly happy, and asked in confusion: "Did you know about it a long time ago, Young Master?"

  Xiao Lianzi chimed in from the side: "Last night when Master Xiao had me put those burst pomegranates in a conspicuous place, I already suspected something."

  Xiao Yuanzi didn't even have time to speak, and Huibi had already anxiously asked: "Miss, did you explain the situation to the Emperor last night? The Emperor won't suspect that you and Mei Zhuang's young master are involved in a fake pregnancy again, will he?"

  "I took the fan from Xunyu and gently waved it, saying: 'Why must you specifically express your intention? If I were to explain myself clearly, wouldn't that leave a mark? The more I explain, the darker it becomes. It's better to just let it go.' Seeing they didn't understand, I lightly laughed and said: 'Whether the Emperor believes me or not is entirely up to his own thoughts. I only need to do my part well and that's enough. Why provoke him unnecessarily?'"

  Everyone was puzzled, but only Xiǎo Líng lowered her head and closed her eyes, not looking like the others who were thinking hard. I knew that with her intelligence, she had naturally understood my meaning, and couldn't help but look at her in a different light.

  Xiao Yuzi slapped her forehead, exclaiming in surprise: "I understand now! It's because the Emperor was pleased that he would care about whether someone had displeased the young master. That's why when the Emperor saw the pomegranate sent by the Imperial Household Department was not fresh, he got so angry and thought they were being careless with the young master, which is why he punished Huang Quanzhong."

  I smiled and nodded, "Not bad, you've made some progress."

  "Everyone knows that Huang Gui is a distant relative of the Empress, and this move by the Emperor is called 'using one thing to scare another', intentionally hitting the grass to startle the snake."

  I let out a soft "hmm" and Bi Xi said: "Now the Emperor should have no more doubts about Miss, right?"

  I smiled slightly: "More or less. Only when my position is as solid as before can I make arrangements for Mei Zhuang."