Chapter Forty: Hidden Fragrance

The 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month in the 24th year of the Qianlong reign was the Little New Year.

The city of Yangzhou was covered by a light winter snow, and the bluestone pavement was covered with a thin layer of white frost, making a crunching sound when stepped on.

The Shen residence was already brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations. Crimson lanterns hung all over the corridors, and dried fish and meat were hanging under the eaves. The air was filled with the aroma of New Year's goods, but it still couldn't hide an indescribable sense of desolation. Without the figure who always accompanied her to the study to review accounts and to admire the snow with her under the plum tree, even the most lively New Year's festival felt empty.

Shen Rulan sat alone in her study, the year-end account books of the Jiangnan salt administration laid out before her. Her pen and ink lay untouched for a long time. Her gaze passed over the pages and landed on the century-old plum tree outside the window.

The plum branches were strong and vigorous, adorned with bright white blossoms, blooming proudly in the snow. A subtle fragrance drifted into the study, stirring up memories deep in her heart—at this time last year, Su Moqing was still in the mansion, and the two of them had brewed tea and admired the snow under this plum tree. Moqing said that the fragrance of the plum blossoms was the most elegant and could cleanse the heart. Now, thinking back, that was the warmest festival in her memory.

"Young master, it's cold. This old servant has made you some white fungus soup." Granny Rong walked in carrying a gilded tray with a bowl of steaming white fungus soup and a plate of freshly made osmanthus cake on it.

Seeing Shen Rulan gazing out the window in a daze, her eyes filled with worry, Rong Mama gently advised, "Miss Su is under the protection of the Imperial Concubine in the palace, so she must be doing well. Don't worry too much and harm your health."

Shen Rulan withdrew her gaze and landed on the plate of osmanthus cakes, a warm feeling rising in her heart. She picked up a piece, put it in her mouth, and the familiar sweet fragrance melted on her tongue, but it lacked some of the taste of the past. She said softly, "Granny, make more osmanthus cakes this year, using freshly dried osmanthus flowers, and seal them carefully."

Granny Rong sighed inwardly, instantly understanding—Miss Su loved this osmanthus cake the most, and the young master was preparing for her return. She bowed and replied, "This old servant understands. But young master, you must also take care of yourself. You've lost weight these days and are eating less. It pains this old servant to see you like this."

Just then, the study door was hurriedly pushed open, and Shen Fu walked in with a solemn expression, holding a letter sealed with wax in his hand: "Young Master, it's an urgent letter from the capital, sent by Lord Lin Xiao overnight."

Shen Rulan's heart tightened, and she quickly put down the osmanthus cake in her hand and took the letter. The sealing wax was intact, and Lin Xiao's personal seal was imprinted on it. She gently pried open the sealing wax with her fingertips and pulled out the letter inside.

The letter was only a thin page, with Lin Xiao's hasty handwriting containing just a few words:

"The Jin family has been acting strangely lately, frequently contacting people from the Imperial Household Department, seemingly trying to use the young lady's paintings to cause trouble. The young lady is currently safe and sound, and we have already noticed the abnormality, so please do not worry."

Shen Rulan's eyes instantly darkened, her fingers gripping the letter tightening slightly until her knuckles turned white. Granny Jin! She really wouldn't stay quiet! After Wen Shichang's downfall, she lost her backer, yet she still stirs up trouble in the palace. Now she's even setting her sights on Mo Qing, trying to use the painting to stir up trouble—she probably wants to find evidence of her connection to Mo Qing in the painting, hoping to use it as an opportunity to bring them down!

"Prepare paper and ink." Shen Rulan stood up abruptly, her tone icy and imposing. "I'm going to write a letter to Governor Zhou, asking him to mediate and keep an eye on the movements of the Imperial Household Department in the capital. We absolutely cannot let Granny Jin's conspiracy succeed."

Governor Zhou is a native of Yangzhou and has long-standing ties with the Shen family. He also enjoys considerable prestige in the court. With his assistance, we can certainly restrain Granny Jin's influence outside the palace.

Shen Fu dared not delay and quickly turned around to prepare writing materials.

Inside the study, the candlelight flickered as Shen Rulan picked up her brush and wrote swiftly. The tip of her brush swept across the paper, leaving behind powerful characters, each stroke revealing her determination—she absolutely could not allow Mo Qing to suffer injustice in the palace!

Meanwhile, inside the Changchun Palace in the Forbidden City, a completely different scene was unfolding.

The Little New Year has arrived, and the palace servants are busy sweeping, cleaning, and pasting up Spring Festival couplets, with the festive atmosphere of the New Year permeating everywhere.

Su Moqing was sitting in the Imperial Concubine's bedchamber, painting a "New Year's Offering Picture" for her—an essential painting for the New Year in the palace, symbolizing good fortune and auspiciousness.

A brand-new sheet of Xuan paper was laid out on the painting table. Su Moqing held a Huzhou brush and was carefully outlining the daffodils in the painting. With the tip of the brush flowing, several elegant daffodils soon appeared on the paper, complementing the plum blossoms and camellias on the side, creating a festive and peaceful scene.

The imperial concubine leaned against the soft couch, holding a book in her hands, occasionally glancing at the paintings with a hint of satisfaction in her eyes.

Granny Jin, who had been silently serving to the side, suddenly stepped forward upon seeing the Imperial Concubine's good mood. With a fawning smile, she said, "Your Highness, this old servant finds Miss Su's painting truly exquisite, especially the plum blossoms, which are incredibly lifelike. However, this old servant feels that while the plum blossoms are beautiful, they lack the profound vitality of an ancient tree. I've heard that the Shen family in Yangzhou has a century-old plum tree, planted by their ancestors, which has flourished despite the storms of time. If Miss Su could use that old plum tree as a model, I believe it would be even more expressive and imbued with spirit."

Su Moqing's hand holding the brush paused slightly, the ink hovering at the tip. She sneered inwardly—Granny Jin's words, seemingly praising the old plum tree in the Shen residence, were actually malicious. Knowing full well her special relationship with Shen Rulan, she suddenly mentioned the Shen residence in front of the Imperial Concubine, even emphasizing the old plum tree, clearly intending to provoke the Imperial Concubine into questioning her, subtly implying a close relationship, perhaps even a secret affair, between Su Moqing and Shen Rulan!

The Imperial Concubine raised her eyes, her gaze falling on Granny Jin with a hint of inquiry, her tone calm: "Oh? Granny Jin seems quite familiar with things in Yangzhou. I was surprised to learn that you also knew of such an old plum tree in the Shen residence."

Granny Jin panicked and quickly bowed, smiling, "This old servant heard it from an old eunuch in the palace. It is said that the old plum tree is the most efficacious, especially for women. If they make a sincere wish under the plum tree, they will find a good match and marry a good man. The Shen family's current prosperity must also be due to the blessing of this old plum tree."

These words were increasingly clever, yet subtly pointed—both elevating the Shen family and subtly steer the conversation toward "marriage," implying that Su Moqing and Shen Rulan might have already developed feelings for each other while Su Moqing was at the Shen residence, and might even have secretly pledged their lives to each other through the old plum tree's wish.

The hall fell silent for a moment. All the palace servants held their breath, their eyes unconsciously falling on Su Moqing, waiting to see how she would respond.

Su Moqing remained calm and composed. She slowly lowered her pen and continued to outline the daffodil leaves, her lines flowing smoothly without the slightest panic.

Her voice was calm and gentle: "Granny is joking. When I was in the Shen family, I was only focused on painting. I spent my days either studying painting techniques in the study or sketching in the courtyard. I never paid attention to such rumors in the mansion, nor did I ever see the so-called century-old plum tree. Perhaps the Shen family mansion is too big and I have not explored it all."

She paused, then looked up at the Imperial Concubine, her gaze clear and sincere: "However, I believe that the value of plum blossoms lies not in their age, but in their resilience against frost and snow, and their noble and elegant spirit. Just like this green plum tree in Your Majesty's palace, though not a thousand-year-old tree, it is a unique treasure in the world. When it blooms, its emerald green petals are translucent white, exquisitely elegant, more charming and distinctive than those hundred-year-old plum trees."

Upon hearing this, the Imperial Concubine smiled slightly, her eyes revealing admiration: "Well said. The essence of painting plum blossoms lies in capturing their spirit and character. Why be concerned with whether the actual tree is an ancient tree? Mo Qing's words have truly resonated with me."

Standing to the side, Granny Jin's face turned pale instantly, her fingers gripping the hem of her clothes tightly, and she dared not say another word. She hadn't expected that Su Moqing could so calmly defuse her difficulties and even flatter the Imperial Concubine, leaving her no room for rebuttal.

After the "New Year's Offerings" painting was completely finished, the Imperial Concubine carefully admired it for a long time, becoming more and more satisfied with it. She immediately had a pair of mutton-fat jade ruyi scepters brought to her and bestowed them upon Su Moqing: "These jade ruyi scepters were newly delivered by the Imperial Household Department the other day. The jade is warm and lustrous, and the meaning is auspicious. I am giving them to you as a reward for your masterpiece."

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!" Su Moqing quickly stood up to express her gratitude, accepting the jade ruyi with both hands, secretly relieved—she had finally passed this test.

That evening, Su Moqing returned to his side hall, dismissed Tao'er, and stayed alone in the painting studio.

She took out the painting manual "Pingshantang Landscape" that Shen Rulan had given her, and carefully flipped through it under the lamp. Her fingertips brushed over the familiar scenes in the paintings, and longing surged into her heart like a tide.

When she turned to the page depicting the ginkgo trees at Pingshan Hall, she was suddenly moved. She spread out a new sheet of Xuan paper, picked up her brush, dipped it in ink, and began to sketch on the paper.

She painted the ginkgo trees at Pingshan Hall again, their golden leaves falling in the snow, creating a serene and tranquil atmosphere. Towards the end, she added a figure standing under the ginkgo tree, holding an umbrella—the figure's gender was blurred, dressed only in plain clothes, holding an oil-paper umbrella, standing quietly amidst the swirling snow, gazing up at the golden leaves on the branches, as if waiting for something.

After finishing the painting, she wrote a line of small characters in neat, elegant calligraphy beside the figure:

"A traveler returns home amidst wind and snow."

This was her hope—that she could leave the deep palace as soon as possible and return to the Jiangnan region where Shen Rulan, ginkgo trees, and plum blossoms lived. It was also her belief—that no matter how much wind and snow they experienced, she and Shen Rulan would eventually reunite, like travelers returning home in the snow, finding their way back.

A few days later, the painting "Ginkgo in Wind and Snow" was quietly sent to Yangzhou by the Shen family's caravan.

As Shen Rulan unfurled the scroll in the study, her gaze lingered for a long time on the figure holding the umbrella, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She could understand Mo Qing's feelings; that figure was Mo Qing, and also her—their mutual longing and waiting.

"Young Master, another letter has arrived from the capital." Shen Fu walked in quietly and handed over a sealed letter. "It was sent by Lin Xiao. It details what happened that day when Granny Jin made trouble in front of the Imperial Concubine."

Shen Rulan took the secret letter and read it carefully.

In the letter, Lin Xiao reported in detail how Granny Jin used plum blossoms to cause trouble, and how Su Moqing cleverly resolved the situation. She also mentioned that the Imperial Concubine was increasingly appreciating Su Moqing and had been showering him with gifts recently.

After reading the letter, Shen Rulan lit it over the candle flame.

The flame flickered, turning the letter to ashes, which scattered in the wind. She gazed at the dancing candlelight, a cold glint in her eyes: "Tell our people in the capital that they don't need to wait any longer. It's time to give Granny Jin something to do, so she won't have time to keep an eye on Mo Qing."

Shen Fu's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly replied, "Yes, young master, this old servant will make the arrangements right away."

The 28th day of the twelfth lunar month is only two days away from Lunar New Year's Eve.

Suddenly, news spread through the palace: Jin Mama was found guilty of accepting bribes from officials outside the palace and secretly interfering with the Imperial Household Department's procurement, enriching herself at the expense of others. The Consort had ordered her demoted to the Laundry Department and banished from Changchun Palace forever. The news caused an uproar in the palace, and all the palace servants who had previously served Jin Mama lived in constant fear.

When the news reached Yangzhou, it was the end of the year, and the Shen residence was already decorated with Spring Festival couplets, exuding joy everywhere.

Shen Rulan stood in the courtyard, watching the fireworks bloom in the night sky. The colorful firelight reflected on her face, making her look exceptionally gentle. She gently stroked the brocade pouch given to her by Mo Qing in her hand, the warmth of which seemed to convey their mutual feelings.

The sound of drums echoed from afar, "dong—dong—", one after another, reverberating in the silent night sky, announcing that the old year was about to pass and the new year was about to arrive.

Shen Rulan knew that the downfall of Granny Jin was just the beginning of this power struggle both inside and outside the palace walls.

She didn't know how many more storms the future held; she didn't know how much longer Mo Qing would have to stay in the palace. But her belief was unwavering—as long as they were of one mind, cared for each other, and worked together, no difficulty was insurmountable, and no obstacle could separate them.

As night deepened, fireworks continued to bloom, illuminating the night sky over Yangzhou.

Shen Rulan gazed in the direction of the capital city in the distance, her eyes filled with anticipation and determination.

The belief in her heart was brighter and more fervent than the fireworks in the sky, supporting her as she waited for the day when spring would come and she could reunite with her beloved.