Chapter 10 of Volume 4: The Green Skirt and Jade Face Seem Familiar

  For a very, very long time, Wen Shi Chu never set foot in my small room at Ganlu Temple again. I also gradually felt at ease. He didn't come, and even if he wanted to, it was just to calm his own emotions. I'd rather not see him, nor did I want to meet him awkwardly, finding it hard to get along.

  May we meet again someday, and when we do, may we smile at each other with a carefree heart, under a clear sky with gentle breeze.

  Time slowly rolls over the traces of changing seasons, rolling over late spring, rolling over midsummer, and also rolling to the end of autumn. It's the season of yellow leaves falling again!

  A few days after the Double Ninth Festival, my heart gradually became unsettled. There was a subtle undercurrent surging in my mind, bringing out feelings of anxiety and anticipation.

  A stick of incense was lit, and the sweet, quiet scent slowly spread out, allowing me to calmly grasp the Buddhist rosary in my hand.

  "Slave knows what's on your mind, next month on the sixth day of the first lunar month is the first birthday of Princess Rouyue."

  My heart is anxious and worried, I can only sigh bitterly, one by one rubbing the Buddhist beads and saying: "What's the use? I even dare not hope to see her in my dreams. As a mother, all I can do is recite more scriptures and pray for her."

  Yan smiled and said: "This is also good, after all, it's the intention of my daughter. Although mother and daughter are not in the same place, they are connected at heart. I'm sure the princess can feel it."

  So I got up early every day, knelt in front of the incense case to recite scriptures and pray, hoping that my husband's body would be healthy and everything would go well. As a result, I slept even less every day. One afternoon, while washing clothes by the stream, I was so tired that one of the clothes in my hand floated away with the fast water. The water flowed rapidly, and I couldn't catch it even if I chased after it. Secretly frightened, that piece of clothing originally belonged to Qingbai, losing it like this would inevitably lead to another scolding, and another storm would rise again.

  As expected, when I went back to Qingbai's place, her clothes were gone. She scolded me severely and was in a hurry to go to her evening class, too lazy to punish me further, only leaving behind one sentence, "Tomorrow, go and wipe the floor of Jing Shen Hall clean."

  I took a deep breath, the main hall of Ganlu Temple is the first and most spacious temple, it's built very grandly. To wipe the floor clean would take at least half a day. And I still have to do laundry and chop firewood as usual, without even having time to catch my breath.

  However, I didn't want to argue anymore, so I got up early on the second day before dawn and waited for all the nuns to finish their morning lessons, then quietly entered the Jing Shen Hall to clean the floor.

  The floor of the Jing Shen Hall was originally paved with golden bricks, and I had to kneel down and press my body against the ground in order to wipe it clean. The dark brick floor was as smooth as a mirror, reflecting everything, and even a slight speck of dust would be very noticeable. I knelt on the ground, wringing out the cloth, and wiped the brick floor with force, ten times for each golden brick, left, right, up, and down, in order to wipe it clean. The hard and smooth brick floor was pressing against my knees, causing a piercing pain. My back was bent, and after bending for a long time, a numbness and soreness gradually spread out, like a spider web spreading across my entire back, cool and sore.

  Occasionally, a few girls would walk by, either gloating or sympathizing, whispering: "This job of cleaning the floor is the most torturous, your waist can't be straight, your head can't be lifted, and the temple grounds are so vast. After several hours, your body feels like it's falling apart. In the end, Jingbai is the best at manipulating people."

  The dark ground had been stared at for a long time, and the eyes were almost dizzy. A group of snow-white shadows appeared, and even the reflection of one's own shadow on the brick floor became blurred. Just as I was about to straighten up and stretch my back, I raised my head to see that after two hours, only less than a third had been wiped clean, and there was still a large basket of clothes waiting for me to wash. My heart suddenly felt anxious, and even taking a break seemed impossible.

  The Jingxidian was quiet, all the girls had gone to do their own things. I alone silently repeated the wiping action, my arm ached and went numb, without even having the energy to lift my head.

  Suddenly, a voice behind him said, "Why are you alone? Didn't Shui and Bi come to help you?"

  I turned my head at the sound, and a blackness flashed before my eyes. I stared for a long time before I could see clearly that it was Mo Yan. I shook my head and said, "They can't even finish their own work, how can I let them come with me? It's not allowed."

  Mo Yan shook his head repeatedly, "You fool, are you going to let Jingbai and the others bully you like this? And use such petty tricks to torment you."

  I lowered my eyelids and smiled wryly: "Mo Yan, you still have a grown daughter to rely on, but I, Ganlu Temple is my last refuge. If I resist with all my might, I will lose even this place to stay."

  Mo Yan let out a sigh, rolled up his sleeves, wrung out the towel and said, "Then I'll come help you."

  I waved my hand repeatedly and said in a low voice: "If Jingbai finds out, it will be another storm."

  Jingbai narrowed her eyes and said calmly, "A good person is often bullied, a good horse is often ridden. I'd like to see if Jingbai has the skills to fight me. Don't make me lose my temper with her, she'll be in for a surprise."

  Mo Yan spoke coarsely and rudely, but there was a kind of heroic generosity in his words. I felt warmth in my heart and smiled: "Then thank you first." She didn't say another word, stretched out her hand and started wiping the floor with ease.

  With her help, it naturally went a lot faster. The golden Buddha statue in the grand hall was majestic and solemn. I wiped until under the Buddha statue, saw the towering golden body, precious appearance dignified, couldn't help but feel a pang in my heart, eyes almost shedding tears.

  My Meng Yue, her mother is so useless, apart from praying, she can't do anything for her. The only thing I remember clearly is that small, bright red face of hers when she was just born. Three days later, Xuan Ling sent her to Jing Fei Palace and I haven't seen her since. My Meng Yue, how tall has she grown? Should be able to talk now, right? What did she eat today? What kind of clothes is she wearing?

  I don't know, I don't know anything. This complete unfamiliarity with my own daughter makes me anxious and lost. The Buddha's teachings are profound, but who can let me see my daughter and know if she is doing well? With a sense of helpless emptiness in my heart, I suddenly feel weak and collapse to the ground, crying silently.

  I don't know how long it took, but a pair of strong hands behind me helped me up, and I barely calmed down, choking back tears to say: "Mo Yan, I'm fine."

  "But it was a gentle voice like warm sunshine that swept down from the sky, 'It's okay. It's okay.'"

  It was a man's voice, so familiar. I was startled and immediately turned my head to look, the backlight of the grand hall made him shine with a radiant color. His tall figure seemed even more majestic due to my gaze. The warmth of his palm was so comforting, that kind of warmth gradually penetrated through his skin to mine, calming me down.

  I barely had a moment's thought before blurting out with my own volition: "Six Kings."

  His response was accompanied by a satisfied sigh, "It's me."

  He helped me up, and I saw him clearly. His eyes were as clear as the sky after a spring rain, with a pure and gentle warmth like that of an innocent child. On his clean and simple face, there was a hint of determination and perseverance, gained from traveling through the dusty wind and smoke of the capital city. He wore a plain blue robe, fitting snugly on his slender figure, carrying the faint scent of lavender, untainted by worldly dust. For a moment, I felt dazed, as if drinking a mouthful of ice water on a sweltering summer day, feeling refreshed and invigorated.

  "He said gently: 'I'm late.'"

  I covered my face and just shook my head, "When will you be back?"

  "Three days ago," he said slowly, briefly saying: "The Emperor summoned me back to the capital." He looked around and saw that only Mo Yan was working with his head down, softly saying: "It's not convenient to talk here, may I borrow a step?"

  I thought for a moment, nodded, and walked out with Mo Yan, whispering two sentences in his ear, under his puzzled gaze.

  As I stepped out of the gate, the golden sunlight poured down without restraint, enveloping me. My eyes fluttered slightly, and my footsteps stumbled. He supported me in time, holding my arm. I felt a slight awkwardness in my heart, and quietly withdrew my hand, saying softly: "Thank you."

  My own residence is not convenient to go back with him, so I had to walk out of the temple. The sky and earth outside Ganlu Temple, I actually haven't carefully appreciated it before, one reason is that I didn't have the heart, the second reason is that every day was busy with work, also no time to take a careful look. Now walking with Xuanclear together, not daring to look at him, my gaze flowed back and forth on the mountain light and water color.

  Unconsciously, I have walked far away. At the foot of the mountain, there is a large river winding its way through, with clear water and surrounded by mountains, presenting a different kind of open scenery. A white horse is bending down to graze on the grass by the river, drinking from the river, and feeling contented.

  I smiled softly and said in a low voice, "This horse must be the prince's."

  He flashed a brilliant smile, revealing his neat and white teeth, with a hint of mischievousness, saying: "How did you find out, my wife?"

  I smiled and stroked the horse's back, it gently licked my palm, very affectionate. I said with a smile: "Because of its leisurely appearance, it is exactly the same as you, Wang Ye." I asked: "What's its name?"

  "Your Majesty."

  "Is it from Zhuangzi?"

  "Yes," Xuan Qing burst out laughing, "this white horse has followed me for six years and has learned all my bad habits."

  I bent down and picked a handful of green grass, fed it into the white horse's mouth, stroked its ears and asked Xuan Qing, "What's wrong?"

  "He smiled and said: 'If you treat it well, it will obey your words.'"

  I thought for a moment, and suddenly remembered the scene when I first met Xuan Qing. He was drunk at that time and was treated coldly by me. Unconsciously, I turned my head and smiled, "The first time I saw you, General Wang, I didn't treat you very well."

  "At least you asked the inner guard to help me rest, and didn't kick me into the pool."

  I plucked a slender grass stem, its soft roots had a clean and pure white color, with a fresh and slightly bitter smell. I chuckled, "Actually, back then, I really wanted to do this, but was restrained by etiquette and identity." I thought for a moment, "This doesn't count, are there other drawbacks?"

  Xuan Qing's face had a hint of a shallow, mischievous smile, his eyes shining brightly, "Qing and Yu Feng both have a fondness for beautiful women."

  His words made me look gloomy, I knew that in the days of Ganlu Temple, my haggardness was gradually apparent, my complexion was withered and yellow, my hair was dull, like a yellow flower after the west wind had blown away the curtain, and there was no longer the elegance of the past. However, Xuan Qing looked at me with the same gaze as before, without paying attention to my withered appearance at all. He noticed my gloominess, gazed at my eyes, and said straightforwardly: "The so-called beauty is not valued for its beauty. If one judges a beauty by her looks, it's really too superficial. A kind heart makes a beautiful face, an evil heart makes an ugly face."

  I calmly said: "Actually, I am not a purely good person."

  His bright face was like the fine moonlight of the 15th or 16th, shining clearly into people's hearts and casting a bright shadow. "But you have never taken the initiative to harm anyone."

  Xuan Qing's perpetual smile, like the gentle moonlight, the soft flowing stream, flowed into my heart. He stood against the wind, wearing only a simple green robe, yet he had more of an air of quiet elegance and refinement than the young men of Wu Ling who wore light fur coats and rode horses on the outskirts of town, or those who leaned against the railing of a bridge on horseback, with red sleeves waving from the tower.

  I sighed softly: "I ended up like this because I never took the initiative to harm others, but you were expelled to the capital for helping me write a letter to the Zhèn family. This year, it was us who implicated you after all."

  He shook his head, putting the year he spent in the capital to a smile. "I'm back now, my imperial brother still treats me as before, and I'm still the King of Qinghe, nothing has changed." He said carelessly: "You don't have to worry about it. My time in the capital was just like when I went to Shu, just playing around. It's just an excuse for reflection, intimidating people."

  I'm extremely reluctant to go, "It's always because of my family's affairs..."

  He raised his hand to stop my words and said in a warm tone: "If you continue speaking, I won't dare say the purpose of today's visit."

  I slightly raised an eyebrow and said, "Please speak, Your Highness."

  He took out a scroll from the pouch on his horseback and said, "Two days ago I went to the palace to thank my imperial brother and also paid respects to the empress dowager. As a result, I saw someone that I think you would very much like to see, so I specially drew it for you. Please, Your Ladyship, critique my brushwork."

  I was taken aback and humbly replied, "I'm not good at painting, how can I teach you brushwork?"

  He untied the red cord on the painting, and the scroll slowly unfolded. My attention was immediately captivated by the scene, unable to move an inch. On the scroll, colorful chrysanthemums bloomed like clouds, amidst which two elegantly dressed young women were smiling as they admired the flowers. To the left stood a slender palace noblewoman, wearing a light purple gauze scarf and a crimson long skirt with purple-green floral patterns. Her figure was elegant, her hairdo resembled clouds, and she wore a slanted pin with a large purple-red chrysanthemum, adorned with a jade hairpin and pearl pendants that hung down like flowing water. Her face had a faint blush, willow-leaf eyebrows, and lips that seemed to be smiling, exactly like the Empress's appearance. Beside her stood another noblewoman, slightly slender, wearing an iron-rust red satin dress with deep white diamond-shaped patterns, and a long, trailing white silk skirt. On her hairdo was only pinned a single branch of red flowers and a white jade hairpin. Her entire outfit used only two colors, red and white, which made her look exceptionally simple yet elegant; who else could it be but Mei Zhuang? Mei Zhuang held a small infant in her arms, pointing at a nearby white crane to amuse the child, while the Empress held up a large red chrysanthemum, gazing at the infant and coaxing her into her own arms. Both women were completely absorbed in the child, radiating boundless love and affection. The infant, dressed in a beautiful crimson brocade with golden locks on her neck, wore embroidered green shoes and leaned against Mei Zhuang's shoulder, looking adorable as she gazed at the Empress with eyes full of attachment.

  The figures in the painting have simple and powerful clothing, with soft and beautiful colors, which is a masterpiece of craftsmanship. The painter's deep intention can be seen from this small detail.

  Tears of joy burst forth and spread warmly across my eyes, I was so excited that my voice trembled as I pointed at the baby girl in the painting: "This is..."

  Xuan Qing said with a warm smile: "When I first met the Empress of Mengyue, I painted this portrait for her, roughly expressing my feelings as the imperial uncle."

  I gazed greedily at the hazy moon in the painting, and a great wave of maternal love arose in my heart. Before I knew it, tears were falling like rain, wetting my collar. Suddenly, I thought of something and asked: "Did the people in the palace know that Your Highness painted this picture?"

  He said: "To be cautious, Qing simply painted the scene he saw in the palace of the Empress Dowager after returning to the Wang Mansion, and even Shen Jiayu and Jing Fei did not know."

  The eyebrows of the painting, Zhuang and Jing Fei, are vividly portrayed as if they were standing right in front of me. Their facial expressions and demeanor are all so lifelike. My Meng Yue, naturally, is also depicted just as she truly was.

  My fingers gently stroked the moon in the painting, and I said with tears: "In a year's time, the moon has grown so big. I can hardly recognize her."

  Xuan Qing also smiled, "Yes. Children always grow up too fast. I heard that in a few days it will be Rou Yue Emperor's one-year-old birthday, and as Rou Yue Emperor's mother, you should naturally ask about your child's recent situation to put your mind at ease."

  He returned to the capital in just three days, and I thought that there would be many trivial matters, but he had already painted a portrait of Meng Yue for me, to comfort my heart which was worried about her. I felt extremely grateful, and bowed slightly: "Usually when Fang Ruo occasionally mentions Meng Yue, it's always just a few words and can't fully explain what she's really like. Your painting, Your Highness, is better than others' descriptions of Meng Yue in thousands of words. I deeply thank you for your kindness."

  "All my gratitude and emotion, he simply explained with a light tone, 'I'm delighted to hear that you like the painting of the misty moon. My clumsy brush can still paint a few more strokes. Wouldn't it be better if I painted one every two months for you to critique? Would you be willing, my lady?'"

  I am naturally overjoyed and delighted, this joy and delight makes me so happy that my eyebrows are flying high. Xuan Qing's actions are no less than watching the moon gradually grow, how can a mother's heart not be comforted? I also deeply appreciate Xuan Qing's thoughtful consideration, he does all sorts of things for me but never says it's for me, only saying it's for himself, to avoid any awkwardness and discomfort that I might feel.

  The gurgling river water flows gently at his feet and heads east, the river surface is vast and calm. When autumn arrives, the reeds on both banks are slender and elegant like a woman's plain face without makeup, the silver-white flowers are fluffy and soft, swaying in the wind. Occasionally, some reeds fall into the water, also drifting quietly away with the current, giving off a sense of carefree ease, without any desolate feeling of fallen flowers floating away.

  I stood quietly with him on the riverbank, listening to the gentle and lively flow of the water, and a subtle, unknowable warmth was born with the waves.