Palace Gate

Jiangning Prefecture, the land of gold and powder during the Six Dynasties, is far more prosperous and solemn than Lin'an.

The Jiangnan Circuit Inspector General's Office, located west of the city, was originally the residence of a prince from the previous dynasty. It boasted a grand scale and deep courtyards. Upon Xie Wuqi's arrival, he kept a low profile, bringing only Jingzhe and a few other close associates with him. However, the pressure brought by his dual identities as "Prince Jing" and "Inspector General" still stirred undercurrents throughout the Jiangning officialdom.

Xu Xianyue was housed in a secluded inner courtyard called "Tingxuexuan," a quiet and peaceful retreat far removed from the hustle and bustle of the front yamen. Xie Wuqi, true to his promise, did not interfere with her freedom, assigning only two skillful and taciturn maids to her side, ostensibly to serve her but in reality to protect her. Jingzhe personally arranged for all necessary materials and tools, providing them with even greater quality and quantity than in Lin'an.

She still spent most of her time in the makeshift workshop, but the style of her velvet flowers had quietly changed. They were less gentle and graceful than those of the Jiangnan water towns, and more airy and majestic. She even began to experiment with incorporating special gold threads and emerald feathers, which were only permitted to be used in the Imperial Household Department, to create even more intricate and ornate palace flower designs.

She knew full well that having chosen to follow Xie Wuqi into this land of power, she could no longer remain completely aloof. Her skills were her only recourse, and perhaps... they would be the key to breaking the impasse.

That afternoon, Xu Xianyue was putting the finishing touches on a jade-inlaid hairpin shaped like an antique magnolia flower when a flurry of hurried yet measured footsteps reached her from outside the courtyard. Jingzhe arrived in person, his expression more solemn than usual.

"Miss Xu," he said, bowing, "The prince asks you to come to the flower hall immediately. A distinguished guest has arrived and wants to see you."

A distinguished guest? He specifically asked to see her? Xu Xianyue put down her tools and frowned slightly. She didn't know anyone in Jiangning.

"Who?"

Jingzhe lowered his voice and uttered two words: "From the palace."

Xu Xianyue's eyes flashed. The palace? Arriving so quickly?

She straightened her plain dress without any wrinkles, and still wore in her hair the simplest silver-thread orchid hairpin she had made herself, and followed Jingzhe to the flower hall in the front yard.

The atmosphere in the flower hall was solemn. Xie Wuqi sat in the main seat. Though dressed in casual attire, he exuded the dignity of someone long in a high position. Below him sat an elderly eunuch with a pale, beardless complexion and sharp eyes, dressed in a dark purple eunuch's uniform. He leisurely sipped his tea, and two younger eunuchs stood behind him.

Seeing Xu Xianyue come in, the old eunuch put down his teacup, and his sharp eyes, like a searchlight, immediately fell on her, looking her up and down with undisguised scrutiny and evaluation.

"Is this Master Xu?" the old eunuch said in a high-pitched voice, with the characteristic palace accent. "My surname is Gao, and I've come to visit you on the orders of the Empress Dowager."

Empress Dowager! Chief eunuch of the Cining Palace, Gao Desheng!

Xu Xianyue understood. Apparently, news of her treatment of Grand Princess Rong'an and her arrival in Jiangning with Xie Wuqi had already reached the palace. The Empress Dowager had sent someone here, ostensibly to visit, but in reality to test her, or even... to investigate.

She took a step forward, kneeling slightly, her gesture standard but not humble, and said in a clear and calm voice: "I, Xu Xianyue, pay my respects to Eunuch Gao."

She did not call herself "the subject's wife", but still called herself "a commoner girl", and her attitude was clear.

A flicker of surprise flashed across Eunuch Gao's eyes, then deepened into a deeper inquiry. He smiled, though the smile didn't reach his eyes. "Master Xu, there's no need for formalities. The Empress Dowager has heard that Master Xu is exceptionally skilled, especially in creating tranquilizing velvet flowers, a skill even the Grand Princess Rong'an has praised. She's become quite curious. It just so happens that the Empress Dowager has been experiencing poor health lately, unable to sleep at night. The imperial physician's prescriptions haven't been effective. Therefore, she has specially sent us here to ask Master Xu... to create a tranquilizing velvet flower for the Empress Dowager. Would you, Master Xu, be willing to serve?"

The words were polite, but it was a naked imperial decree that could not be refused.

Xie Wuqi sat in the main seat, his face calm, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the armrest. The Queen Mother's move was, first, to verify whether Xu Xianyue was truly as miraculous as the rumors said, second, to bring her under her control, and third... perhaps also to warn Xie Wuqi.

Everyone's eyes were focused on Xu Xianyue.

Xu Xianyue lowered her eyes and stood still for a moment, then raised them with a clear and open gaze, meeting Eunuch Gao's scrutinizing gaze: "The Empress Dowager is in good health, a blessing to all the people. I am a humble girl with limited skills, but I will do my best to show my gratitude to the Empress Dowager for not abandoning me. But..."

She changed the subject slightly, her tone still respectful but with an unquestionable principle: "To create this kind of velvet flower, it must match the wearer's mood and temperament, so as to achieve twice the result with half the effort. I have never seen the Empress, so I am afraid it is difficult to grasp the essence. If I make it rashly, I may disappoint the Empress's high expectations."

Eunuch Gao frowned slightly: "What do you mean?"

"I dare to ask you, eunuch," Xu Xianyue bowed slightly, "to report this to the Empress Dowager. If you approve, I will carefully consider the pulse diagnosis of the imperial physician, as well as your preferences and the layout of your bedroom, and then make a design. Or... if you have time, it would be even safer if you could allow me to meet you from afar and experience your demeanor."

She neither refused outright nor took on the responsibility, but instead made a reasonable and responsible request. This saved the Empress Dowager's face, bought her some time and the opportunity to learn more, and subtly indicated that her skills were not simply a matter of following a prescription, but required a "heart-to-heart connection."

Eunuch Gao looked at her deeply, a hint of imperceptible admiration flashing in his eyes. This woman was indeed extraordinary. Calm, rational, neither humble nor arrogant, and thoughtful.

"Master Xu is indeed very thoughtful and considerate." Eunuch Gao curled his lips. "We will definitely report Master Xu's intentions to the Empress Dowager in detail."

He exchanged a few more polite words with Xie Wuqi, then stood up to say goodbye.

After seeing off Eunuch Gao, only Xie Wuqi and Xu Xianyue were left in the flower hall.

Xie Wuqi walked up to her and looked at her with complicated eyes: "The Queen Mother is a man of deep thoughts. This move may not be well-intentioned. Do you know that by accepting this task, you are entering the trap?"

Xu Xianyue raised her eyes and met his, her gaze cold and firm. "From the moment I decided to follow you to Jiangning, I've been drawn into the game. Now that I'm in, there's no point in avoiding it. I can only face it head-on."

She paused, a faint, proud arc appearing at the corner of her lips. "What's more, the Queen Mother needs my 'skills', and I also need a chance to gain a foothold in Jiangning, in this... palace."

What she wants is never dependence, but equal, value-based dialogue, or even... cooperation.

Xie Wuqi looked at the quietly burning fire in her eyes and swallowed back all his words of dissuasion. He knew he couldn't stop her. She was like a peerless sword, destined to be unsheathed and revealed.

"If you need anything, let Jingzhe do it." He finally said in a deep voice.

"Yeah." Xu Xianyue nodded slightly, turned and left, his back still straight and proud.

Back at Tingxuexuan, Xu Xianyue immediately set to work preparing velvet flowers for the Empress Dowager. She asked Jingzhe to obtain the transcript of the Empress Dowager's pulse diagnosis from the Imperial Hospital, which was naturally done by Xie Wuqi. She also inquired in detail about the Empress Dowager's preferences, color preferences, and the furnishings of the Cining Palace.

The Empress Dowager, nearing sixty, was already highly respected, but she had lost a son in her later years, and the Crown Prince had died young. Her relationship with the Emperor was delicate, and deep within the palace, she seemed revered, but in reality, every step was a matter of fear. Her insomnia stemmed more from excessive worry and restlessness.

Xu Xianyue pondered for a long time before finally settling on the "Buddha's Hand" as the shape. The Buddha's Hand, resembling a finger grasping a flower, evokes Zen sentiment and symbolizes longevity and good fortune. Its refreshing fragrance also has a calming effect. She used honey-colored silk, the softest and most mellow color, as the primary material, and used gold thread to outline the flower's shape. Within the flower's core, she ingeniously embedded several moonstones, each as tiny as a grain of rice and shimmering in color, along with a wisp of her own blended medicinal powder, which has a subtle, soothing aroma.

As she weaves, she casts aside all distractions, imagining not the lofty empress dowager, but an elderly woman trapped in the palace, aging, and feeling lonely and exhausted. She slowly blends the concepts of tolerance, calmness, and letting go into the rhythm of her fingertips.

This production was more demanding than any previous one. She worked almost non-stop, repeatedly adjusting and adjusting, striving for perfection in every detail, ensuring it would both conform to the Empress Dowager's status and demeanor, and truly touch upon her deepest desires.

Three days later, a Buddha's hand velvet flower with a lifelike shape, gentle color, and a faint breath of peace and tranquility quietly appeared in the brocade box.

When Eunuch Gao returned and saw the Buddha's Hand velvet flower, even though he was used to seeing fine things, a flicker of astonishment crossed his eyes. The velvet flower seemed to have life; holding it in his hands, he could feel a strange, calming power.

"Mr. Xu really lives up to his reputation." Eunuch Gao's tone was much more sincere than last time.

He hurried back to the capital to report, taking the velvet flower and Xu Xianyue's detailed explanation of the reasons for its production and its meaning.

Another seven or eight days later, Jiangning Prefecture received the Empress Dowager's reward. It wasn't gold, silver, or jewelry, but several pieces of extremely precious, in-house-made, high-quality brocade, as well as several exquisite palace-made jewelry. Meanwhile, Eunuch Gao privately conveyed a message to Xu Xianyue:

"The Empress Dowager was delighted and said the Buddha's hand was very much to her liking, and she slept well at night. She also said that since everyone is so thoughtful, they can make some new and unique ones and send them to the palace for appreciation when they have time."

This seemingly ordinary sentence actually held extraordinary significance. It signified that Xu Xianyue, with her skills, had initially passed the Empress Dowager's test and even won a precious glimmer of her "sacred heart." She finally had a small, yet solid, foothold in Jiangning, and indeed in the future imperial court.

As the news spread, the Jiangning officials and their wives, who had initially been cautious and even dismissive of the unknown "Xu family" accompanying Prince Jing, suddenly underwent a subtle change of heart. Visiting cards and invitations to Tingxuexuan gradually increased.

Xu Xianyue remained a secluded woman, spending most of her time at Tingxuexuan studying her skills. However, files and documents related to the Jiangning officialdom and the forces in the capital, which Jingzhe had "accidentally" left behind, began to appear on her desk.

She flipped through the pages calmly, her clear eyes flashing with wisdom and calmness.

The palace gate is as deep as the sea.

And she has already thrown a stone.

The ripples are slowly spreading.