Chapter 487: Chapter 486: Scent of Plum Blossoms (30+ Monthly Tickets)
These past few days, Jiang Yunuan has thought about many things.
All sorts of random thoughts have flashed by, including various absurd and terrifying ones, though Jiang Yunuan doesn’t dare confirm them.
She dares not acknowledge, let alone accept them.
She can only focus her thoughts on Sister Niang, allowing herself to calm down and avoid thinking about those chilling matters.
As soon as the Second House left, Madam Wu returned to Baijie Hall.
Du Yunluo and Zhuang Ke followed behind, speaking softly about entering the palace.
"I’m not that anxious," Zhuang Ke said with a laugh, "Let me tell you, compared to the noble ones in the palace, I was even more afraid when I first met Grandmother and Mother."
Du Yunluo chuckled.
She understood Zhuang Ke’s mindset; Zhuang Ke cared about Mu Liankang, hence this attitude.
As for the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Consort, Zhuang Ke wouldn’t feel any gain or loss towards them.
After all, when those two see them, they would only be amiable, without any other thoughts.
Even though Zhuang Ke has barbarian blood, since Dingyuan Marquis Mansion accepted her, Cining Palace wouldn’t criticize her at this time.
Mu Lianyu’s coffin has yet to reach the capital; if Cining Palace were to find fault with Zhuang Ke, it would be too disheartening.
On February 19th, Guanyin’s birthday, word came from the palace. Once the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Consort returned from Guoning Temple after offering prayers, they would invite Du Yunluo and Zhuang Ke to enter the palace.
At the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, Du Yunluo accompanied Madam Wu in the little Buddhist hall, chanting scriptures.
Mrs. Xu, ever sincere, became even more devoted to Buddhist affairs now that her son has returned. She inquired with Zhuang Ke, knowing Zhuang Ke believed in The Three Pure Ones, did not force her otherwise.
In front of Buddha, the Lian Family kowtowed and offered incense, hearing people mention Zhuang Ke, she sneered.
Another one with horns!
Mu Yuanjing is unruly and believes in nothing. Mu Lianhui prayed at Putuo Mountain for three years, and upon returning, she would merely stand dazed in the grand hall. Now, one is dead, one is married, yet here in the mansion emerges another, believing in The Three Pure Ones, imposing statues in Lanyu Courtyard perhaps soon?
What angered the Lian Family the most was Cining Palace’s summons for Zhuang Ke.
Lian Family understood what it meant, but this came at the cost of her son’s life; Mu Lianyu’s death brought that so-called "benefit," which allegedly fell into the hands of the Third Household...
Such a paltry gain, costing her son’s life!
Thinking of this, pain gripped Lian Family’s heart deeply, she could hardly breathe.
The only solace was that Mu Lianhui sent word back, she would return to the mansion tomorrow.
Early the next day, Du Yunluo held Brother Yan and prepared alongside Zhuang Ke to enter the palace with Mu Lianxiao and Mu Liankang.
Outside the palace gates, eunuchs and palace maids waited.
The Holy Emperor, mindful of Mu Lianxiao’s injuries, had a soft couch prepared by the eunuchs.
The two brothers headed for the Imperial Study Room, while Du Yunluo and Zhuang Ke moved towards Cining Palace.
Du Yunluo hasn’t been to the palace in two years; fortunately, as she walked this path, memories of the Forbidden Palace gradually resurfaced.
The palace maid led them to Cining Palace’s entrance.
"Heir’s Wife, the Empress and several ladies are inside greeting the Empress Dowager," emerged a palace maid from Cining Palace’s main hall, smiling and saluting them both.
Du Yunluo understood, saying, "Since that’s the case, my sister-in-law and I shall enjoy the fragrance of winter plum in the garden. When the Empress Dowager is free, may I bother you to inform us."
The palace maid agreed.
Du Yunluo, familiar with the way, left Cining Palace, turned a corner, and not far ahead was a little garden.
The white plum blossoms were stunning; Du Yunluo held Brother Yan and stood with Zhuang Ke beneath a veranda, gazing at the white plums.
The palace maids stood at a distance, allowing Zhuang Ke to relax slightly, observing the inner courtyard of the harem.
A series of interconnected palaces allowed just glimpses of eaves, where passing palace maids and eunuchs were cautious, wary of missteps.
This was wholly different from what Zhuang Ke had seen of the scenery outside the pass.
Dingyuan Marquis Mansion valued rules too, but compared to the palace, it’s quite different.
Zhuang Ke walked two steps along the porch, contemplated, then descended into the garden, moving close to the white plums and taking a deep breath.
Refreshing and pleasing, even the oppressive feeling brought by the harem dissipated silently.
Zhuang Ke was about to speak to Du Yunluo, but not far away, there was a clatter.
Everyone jumped in fright.
Du Yunluo turned towards the noise, spotting at the end of the porch, an old nanny, eyes wide, by her feet lay a black-lacquered food box, the porcelain plates inside shattered, pastries scattered all over.
The old nanny’s hands trembled, the food box must have slipped from her grasp.
Six palace maids followed behind her, each holding something, startled by the nanny’s mishap.
The commotion was significant; everyone in the little garden was alarmed.
The palace maids leading Du Yunluo and Zhuang Ke hurried over to support the old nanny, saying, "Nanny Han, what happened to you?"
Nanny Han waved her hand, walked a few steps, stared fixedly at Zhuang Ke’s blue eyes, shaking her head, "I momentarily saw wrong and startled the noble ones. Please forgive me."
The palace elders hold distinct statuses, and neither Zhuang Ke nor Du Yunluo would foolishly offend them. Hearing Nanny Han’s words, the two quickly returned the courtesy.
Nanny Han, with the palace maids, headed into Cining Palace, and the mess was naturally dealt with.
In the bustling main hall, the Empress Dowager laughed, saying to Nanny Han, "I heard you overturned a food box in the garden? I’ve told you you’ve grown old, yet you wouldn’t believe it."
Nanny Han greeted the nobles, then shook her head, saying, "I wasn’t meant to falter; I mistakenly saw."
"Mistakenly saw?" the Empress Dowager asked, curious.
"In front of the white plums, there was a woman enjoying the fragrance; I glanced and her side profile resembled Lady Zhuang in his youth, almost as if cast from the same mold." Nanny Han responded.
The Empress Dowager paused, and the Imperial Consort trembled as she asked, "Like whom?"
Nanny Han lowered her gaze: "Like the late Emperor’s Consort Zhuang."
Consort Zhuang of the late Emperor, from the Su Family, was during her life a Consort Zhuang. In her fall from favor, if not for the then Empress Dowager, now-deceased Grand Empress Dowager, and the current Empress Dowager’s protection, not only her title among the Four Concubines but even the title "Zhuang" was nearly taken.
Although her rank and title were preserved, Consort Zhuang’s spirit died, and she passed after enduring a year and more.
In the late Emperor’s final years, recalling past events, he remembered Consort Zhuang’s virtues, realizing he had misunderstood and owed her, thus posthumously raised her status feverishly.
By the late Emperor’s passing, Su’s posthumous title was Benevolent and Gentle, Kind and Honorable Virtuous Consort Zhuang.
Yet no amount of posthumous recognition could restore her life, not even the late Emperor’s posthumous acknowledgment of her son, Fifth Prince Li Xian, as Prince Shun. After his mother’s death, Li Xian left the capital and was never seen again.
The Empress Dowager inhaled deeply, asking: "Who was the woman enjoying the fragrance in the garden?"
"It was the main wife from Dingyuan Marquis Mansion; the Empress Dowager invited her and the Heir’s Wife to the palace today." replied the palace attendant beside her.
"Her?" the Empress Dowager said urgently, "Quick, quick, summon her inside, let me see how striking the resemblance is!"