Chapter 16 Auspicious Omens are a Natural Right

As night fell, the sky turned as dark as ink, and the last glimmer of light was swallowed by the distant mountains. The entire capital city was shrouded in darkness and gradually fell silent.

Inside the Xie residence, Xie Jingxuan, being of advanced age, went to bed early in the evening, and was already in bed by less than half an hour after dark.

Xie Mengjun was full of energy. After learning that her aunt had returned, she went to Wen Miao's Qin Garden to play for a while, ate some snacks, read some storybooks, and then clung to Wen Miao, giggling and acting silly. She begged her beautiful aunt to braid a five-colored longevity thread for her during the Dragon Boat Festival.

“You,” Wen Miao smiled, her eyes gentle, “I’ll agree. Even if you don’t say anything, I’ll make it up.”

Wen Miao cherishes her family and naturally wants to carefully maintain this relationship.

The young girl, who has recently stopped blindly dieting and pursuing a delicate, slender figure, has become increasingly rosy-cheeked, and her smile is as sweet as glutinous rice cake.

Xie Mengjun: "Although I can't weave a longevity thread for my aunt, I can still embroider a sachet! My aunt can just wait to receive my Dragon Boat Festival gift! I will definitely embroider the most beautiful and pretty sachet for her!"

"Okay, then I'll wait."

Xie Mengjun stayed in Qinyuan for about half an hour before leaving with a reluctant expression. After the courtyard returned to quiet, Wen Miao got up and went behind the screen to wash and change. When she came out, she was about to lean on the couch to read and pass the time when she heard a very slight knocking sound at the window.

She pulled her blouse over her shoulders and looked over. Shi Cui carefully pushed open the window and saw a majestic gray-feathered raptor.

Wanbi peeked out and whispered, "Madam, it looks like a falcon. It has a small bundle hooked on its talons."

Without even thinking, the first person Wen Miao thought of was Emperor Qian Yuan.

Besides him, probably no one else would do such a thing...

The grey-feathered falcon was clearly well-trained. It raised its talons and tossed the small bundle into Shi Cui's arms, then stood by the window, its eyes wide and sharp.

Wen Miao: "Give it some meat."

Wanbi responded and quickly brought over a small plate of sliced ​​raw meat. The falcon was quite clever; after finishing its meal, it let out a somewhat hoarse cry at Wen Miao, as if greeting the lady of the courtyard, before flapping its wings and disappearing into the night.

Shi Cui took the small bundle.

The bundle was made of ordinary, durable stiff cloth. When Wen Miao opened it, there was another layer of soft satin wrapped around it. Her curiosity was piqued, so she continued to unwrap it. However, after a few seconds of stunned silence, she quickly blushed and covered the unfolded piece of soft satin with one hand.

Shi Cui, who had just closed the window not far from the bed curtains, couldn't help but ask with concern, "Does Madam feel hot in the room?"

Wanbi hurriedly said, "Let me fan you again, Madam!"

"No, no need!"

Wen Miao shook her head, her jade-like face flushed. She simply said, "It's probably just the heat from my period. It's nothing. It's so late, you should all go and rest."

Once Wen Miao was the only one left in the room, she slowly moved her hand away, her eyelashes trembling, and then lowered her gaze back down.

Inside the soft satin were several finely stitched menstrual pads, but the interlayer was not filled with the most common plant ash, but with soft and smooth Yunchang cotton paper, which is often used for calligraphy and painting. Anyone who saw it would probably exclaim that it was a waste of precious resources.

Even next to this precious paper was a whole stack, as thick as an adult man's palm, along with a familiar note—

"There are many more in the palace, please feel free to use them, Madam."

Wen Miao pursed her lips, her temples trembled slightly, but the blush on her face lingered for a long time and was difficult to fade.

Inside the imperial palace, a grey-feathered falcon, having had its fill of fun, returned home and obediently landed on the raptor perch inside the hall.

Not far away, inside the bright yellow bed curtains, Emperor Qianyuan lowered his eyes and held a scroll in his hand. He glanced at the falcon preening its feathers with its beak, as if he could imagine the surprised and embarrassed look on his wife's face when she opened the bundle and saw the book.

Scholars say that Yunchang cotton paper is extremely valuable, and is considered the gold of paper.

Emperor Qian Yuan felt that such a fine item should be used for his wife.

He has done nothing wrong to the country and its people, and it is only natural for him to want to offer this most precious thing in the world to his wife.

At the same time, Xu Sheng hurriedly came from outside the palace. After paying his respects to the emperor, he lowered his voice and said, "The things Your Majesty instructed have all been done. The Supervisor said that in a few more days, there will be a suitable opportunity."

The emperor put down his book, closed his eyes slightly, and said in a deep voice, "Excellent."

...

In the eleventh year of the Qianyuan era, on the day of the Beginning of Summer in the fifth month, the Director of the Imperial Observatory observed the stars at night and saw that red and white gas gathered in the high sky and condensed into a faint light, which resembled a phoenix and wandered near the Purple Palace Enclosure.

The following morning at court, the Director of the Imperial Observatory reported that the celestial phenomena were auspicious, with auspicious energy permeating the Purple Palace. This energy was neither smoke nor cloud, but the pure energy of heaven and earth. He also predicted that a noble lady would soon enter the harem, which was the will of heaven, and she would become the empress.

The courtiers were in an uproar, their minds in turmoil.

Xie Jingxuan, holding a court tablet, lowered his eyes and seemed indifferent to the matter.

On the dragon throne, Emperor Qianyuan's expression was calm. "What Heaven decrees will naturally manifest among the people. As for matters concerning my harem..."

He slightly raised his eyes, his brows sharp, and wherever his gaze fell, the ministers bowed even lower, daring not to show any dissent. "Let everything take its natural course."

The ministers, who had initially thought that the emperor's harem would finally have someone, all gave up their hopes and couldn't help but shake their heads and sigh, worried that the country would have no successor.

Even so, no one dared to speak of His Majesty's harem affairs anymore.

Everyone knows that their emperor is wise, powerful, and capable. A few years ago, when the emperor's power was not yet fully established, there might have been instances of officials resigning, kneeling for a long time, or even risking their lives to remonstrate in court. But now, facing an increasingly profound, unpredictable, and autocratic emperor, they don't have the guts!

They could only pray to the gods and Buddhas in their hearts, hoping that the emperor would believe more in the will of Heaven and that the people of Great Chu would be able to have an empress and concubines!

The auspicious omens in the stars did not cause any trouble in the court, but somehow they spread out of the palace and became a legend among the common people. Within a few days, children were singing nursery rhymes about them.

The current emperor sees this as a source of joy for the people and sees no need for further intervention.

As a result, the nursery rhymes spread widely and were copied down by folk scholars, making them worthy of being passed down to future generations.

The fifth day of the same month was the Dragon Boat Festival.

Five-colored new silk threads wrap around the horn-shaped rice dumplings, which are presented on a golden plate, while a silk fan painted with two phoenixes is displayed. [Note]

Early in the morning, Consort Rong led her entourage away from Shou Kang Palace and headed to Lingyun Temple on Huiling Mountain. Taking advantage of the Dragon Boat Festival, she discussed Buddhism with Master Mingjue and drew a fortune stick after paying homage to the Buddha.

This is what His Majesty desires.

Consort Rong handed the fortune stick to Mingjue and asked, "Master, what is the meaning of this fortune stick?"

Abbot Mingjue of Lingyun Temple took the bamboo slip, remained silent for a moment, and then smiled and said, "This is the best fortune. Your Majesty, please wait patiently for the right match and let everything take its natural course, and all will be well."

Consort Rong was overjoyed and donated 100 taels of silver to Lingyun Temple for incense offerings before leaving with a smile.

...

Inside the Qin Garden of the Xie residence.

In the pavilion in the courtyard, Wen Miao was carefully weaving with her fingertips, the five colors of red, yellow, blue, white and black intertwined and twisted together. At the end of the connection, she thought that since this was for a young girl, it should have more patterns, so she added colorful tassels and bells.

A gentle breeze rustled through the pavilion, causing the bright red pomegranate blossoms in her hair to tremble. She wore a Suzhou-style silk robe with bamboo leaf patterns, her flowing garments and light skirts fluttering in the wind.

Not far away, Xie Mengjun, dressed in a new peach-colored dress, ran over quickly and handed over a sachet that she had carefully embroidered for several days, on which was embroidered a round, chubby little bird.

Wen Miao smiled and put it on her waist, then tied the longevity thread she had already braided to Xie Mengjun's wrist. The golden bells jingled softly as she moved, which was both pretty and a little childlike.

During the day, Wen Miao ate with her maternal grandfather and Meng Jun at the mansion, enjoying all the traditional Dragon Boat Festival dishes. In the afternoon, Xie Jingxuan had an appointment with a colleague, while Xie Mengjun accepted an invitation from Meng Yuanniang of the Duke of Wei's mansion, who said that a group of young girls would get together and watch Meng Yuanniang's brother row a dragon boat.

Wen Miao asked, "Didn't Meng Yuanniang from the Duke of Wei's mansion make fun of you before?"

She was a little afraid that Xie Mengjun would be bullied by others.

To everyone's surprise, the little girl didn't seem to care at all. "Now they all envy me!"

Wen Miao was curious.

Xie Mengjun lowered her voice and whispered to Wen Miao, "At the last magnolia banquet, they saw how beautiful my aunt was and secretly asked me how to become as beautiful as her! I hold a grudge, so I won't tell her easily!"

Young girls yearn for mature beauty, while older women can't forget their youthful days.

Wen Miao chuckled, and her worries subsided. The young children had their own way of getting along; it was her concern that had clouded her judgment.

With both the elderly and the young in her family on commitments, Wen Miao herself was also busy.

Two days earlier, she had arranged to go on a trip for the Dragon Boat Festival with her new friend, Li Qing, the lady in the household. They planned to stroll around the streets together in the afternoon when the sun was gentler, and watch the dragon boat races on the rivers in the capital.

Just before leaving, Wen Miao hesitated for a moment, then picked up something and hid it in her sleeve.

The streets outside the mansion were already bustling with activity, and children were gathered along the alleyways, singing popular nursery rhymes.

“In mid-May, auspicious omens appear, and auspicious red and white auras form a phoenix.”

"Birds fly, birds land, landing in the imperial city and transforming into golden phoenixes."

Li Qing, dressed in a plain-colored dress, shook her head and chuckled, "His Majesty doesn't seem like the type to believe the astronomical observations of the Imperial Observatory."

Wen Miao was aware of the recent rumors about the "phoenix and luan bird" in the capital. Her thoughts were similar to Li Qing's. Based on her several interactions with Emperor Qian Yuan, he didn't seem like someone who believed in such things.

Wen Miao asked, "Then do you believe it?"

Li Qing thought for a moment and said, "Miao Niang, I only trust myself."

Li Qing's father was sickly and passed away on the day she passed the imperial examination. After that, she lived in the capital with her widowed mother. Because of her good learning, meticulousness and boldness, she gradually became a private tutor hired by prominent families in the capital. She is the same age as Wen Miao this year and is unmarried. She occasionally suffers from gossip from the neighbors, but she lives a carefree life without much restraint.

But Wenmiao knew that her friend's ambitions were far from over.

As dusk settled, lanterns were hung along the streets. Wen Miao and Li Qing were surrounded by a crowd as they walked toward the river. There, the crowd was bustling with activity, drums were beating, and people were preparing to burn incense and light candles for the "Prosperous Dragon Ceremony" before the dragon boat race, praying for favorable weather and a bountiful harvest.

Li Qing patted Wen Miao's arm and tried to raise his voice in the crowd, saying, "Miao Niang, Meng Jun is over there!"

Wen Miao looked across the river, where several dragon boats were moored. Xie Mengjun was all smiles on the wooden platform, and a tall, proud young girl stood beside her. This must be Meng Yuanniang, Meng Jingqiu from the Duke of Wei's mansion.

Wen Miao smiled radiantly, but an evening breeze stirred on the river, lifting the veil beneath her hat.

With her bright eyes, red lips, and jade-like face half-hidden, she was made even more radiant by the lanterns beside her, which captivated a handsome young man on the opposite bank, dressed in a deep red outfit and with exquisite features.

A note from the author:

----------------------

The young, handsome male supporting character has appeared, and His Majesty is even more anxious!

Note: In ancient times, women would fill their menstrual pads with wood ash. Women from wealthier families would use soft paper, but paper was expensive, and menstruation was considered "unlucky" in ancient times, so most families used wood ash. Although wood ash absorbs moisture and kills bacteria, it still posed a risk of infection for women.

[Rose] I highly recommend the pre-order novel "My Deceased Ex-Husband Was the Emperor" – check out the first link in my author column!

[Self-conquest/Self-jealousy/His beloved emperor × A voluptuous and beautiful/temperamental widowed mistress]

Chu Qingyi lived in Jinling for a long time and married a hunter.

After their marriage, the hunter treated her very well, always putting her first, and they lived a peaceful and prosperous life.

Chu Qingyi thought it would always be like this.

Who would have thought that in the second year of their marriage, her husband fell into the deep mountains and was never seen again, neither alive nor dead.

Three years after her husband's death, Chu Qingyi was approached by a nobleman from the capital and learned that she was actually a descendant of the Duke's family who had been left outside the capital.

She was brought back to the capital as a widow, a situation she found awkward. She only intended to stay away from the turmoil and live a low-key life.

Unexpectedly, at a palace banquet, Chu Qingyi saw her "dead" ex-husband wearing a dragon robe, his crown tassels swaying gently—it was none other than the current Emperor Chenyuan.

*

Emperor Chenyuan often had a dream in which a woman smiled sweetly and kissed his lips, acted coquettishly in his arms, pinched his ear and scolded him as a "lecher," and called him "husband" with teary eyes, begging him to be gentle and slow.

Every time he woke up from his dream, Emperor Chenyuan felt that the woman was reckless and frivolous, and wondered why he couldn't forget her.

Until that day at the palace banquet, he saw the beautiful widow who had just been brought back to the Duke's mansion.

She was exactly the same as the woman who bit his lip in his dream.

The emperor, who ruled over the entire country, thought that once he tasted it, he might never forget it.

*

later--

In the dimly lit imperial study, Chu Qingyi's wrists were bound, rendering her unable to move.

The emperor slowly removed her hairpin, letting her black hair fall loose, and kissed her raised, snowy neck.

He listened to the trembling sobs of the beautiful woman in his arms and asked in a hoarse, low voice:

"Madam, did your late husband ever kiss these places?"

Notice:

① Both are virgins, the female lead is a time-traveler, and the male lead is an emperor.

②It's a cliché amnesia trope, but the male lead absolutely loves it.

③The female lead is a beautiful and voluptuous older sister, while the male lead is a secretly crazy younger man.