Returning to the palace to distribute gifts

As I entered the courtyard, dusk had already fallen over the palace walls, and the palace lanterns on the eaves lit up one after another, casting dappled shadows through the window paper onto the bluestone slabs. Just as I stepped over the threshold, I saw Ya Huan skipping and hopping from the corridor, clutching a newly woven straw rabbit in her hand: "Sister A Zhao! You're finally back! Consort Rong and I have been waiting for you for so long!" Consort Rong followed behind her, carrying a cloth bag. Seeing me, she whispered, "You…you're back. I…I left you some embroidery thread."

I smiled and nodded, handing the cloth bag on my back to Ya Huan: "I brought you some good things, let's go back to the courtyard to talk." Consort Rong's eyes brightened, and she followed us lightly, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes, as if she was expecting something.

Back at our lodgings, I unfolded the cloth bag, and the table was instantly covered with pastries and embroidery thread. Ya Huan immediately spotted the two strings of candied hawthorns and reached for them, but I gently stopped her, saying, "Eat them later, let's distribute the gifts to everyone first." She stuck out her tongue and obediently handed me the gifts.

“Consort Rong, these are embroidery threads for you, light pink and pale blue. You mentioned you like spring flowers and plants, and these two colors are perfect for embroidering peach blossoms and orchids.” I handed her the threads and then took out the packet of honeysuckle. “Consort Su said you occasionally catch a cold; this honeysuckle, when boiled in water, can calm the nerves and also treat minor colds.” Consort Rong took the threads, her fingertips gently tracing the spool, a glimmer in her eyes. She whispered, “Thank you… You still remember my favorite colors.” She held the threads close to her chest as if they were precious treasures, then quietly took out a sachet embroidered with plum blossoms from her bag and handed it to me: “This… this is for you, welcome back.”

I took the sachet, the faint scent of plum blossoms lingering in the air, warming my heart. Ya Huan watched from the side, saying enviously, "Consort Rong's embroidery is so beautiful! Sister A Zhao, where's my gift?" I smiled and handed her the sesame candy and grasshopper: "Here's the sesame candy for you, and this grasshopper, woven by a craftsman in town, even more exquisite than yours." Ya Huan took the sesame candy, unwrapped the paper packet, took a bite, and squinted her eyes in satisfaction: "So sweet! Much better than the ones in the palace!"

Just then, Consort Su and Consort Xian entered. Consort Xian carried a food box and said with a smile, "We heard you were back, so Consort Su and I left you some hot porridge." Consort Su opened the food box, revealing a bowl of warm lotus seed soup inside: "It was just brought from the Imperial Kitchen. You must have been hungry on the way, so drink it while it's hot."

I took the lotus seed soup, sipped it slowly, and handed the pine nut cake to Consort Xian: "Your Highness, this is pine nut cake I bought for you. It's soft and fluffy, perfect for your teeth." I then handed the osmanthus candy to Consort Su: "Consort Su, this is osmanthus candy. You said that osmanthus is most fragrant in autumn, and making it into candy can preserve it until winter. You can soak it in water or eat it directly." Consort Xian picked up a piece of pine nut cake, took a small bite, and said with a smile, "It's so sweet, even better than what the imperial kitchen makes." Consort Su opened the paper package of osmanthus candy, smelled it, and her eyes were full of smiles: "This fragrance reminds me of the days back in my hometown."

Consort Li arrived last, having just returned from a walk, still carrying the faint scent of winter plum blossoms. "I heard you were back, so I came to see you," she said with a smile, her gaze falling on the jujube paste pastries on the table. I quickly handed her the pastries: "Consort Li, these are jujube paste pastries from an old shop in the west of the city. Consort Hui said you used to love them, so I bought them especially for you." Consort Li took the pastries, opened the paper package, picked up a piece, and took a small bite. Her eyes softened: "They still taste the same as before. Thank you for your thoughtfulness." She paused, then took a small box from her sleeve and handed it to me: "These are plum blossom cakes I made for you. I made extra while you were gone. Please try them."

Everyone sat around the table, eating snacks and chatting, the room filled with laughter. Ya Huan took out candied hawthorns and handed out a skewer to everyone. Consort Rong took a skewer, took a small bite, and some sugar crumbs got on her lips. Ya Huan smiled and wiped them off for her, her cheeks instantly turning red, and she whispered, "Thank you." Consort Xian looked at us, her eyes full of satisfaction: "It's been a long time since our Cold Palace has been this lively." Consort Su nodded as well: "Yes, with you children around, life has become much more interesting."

I took out the locust flower cakes my mother had made from my cloth bag and distributed them to everyone: "These are locust flower cakes made by my mother, with dried locust flowers. Please try some." Consort Li picked up a piece, took a small bite, and said with a smile, "They're so delicious! Your mother's cooking is excellent." Consort Rong also picked up a piece, ate it in small bites, and said softly, "When I was little, the head housekeeper also made locust flower cakes for me, and they tasted just like this." Her voice was very soft, but it was filled with deep nostalgia.

We chatted until late before everyone gradually dispersed. When Consort Rong left, she carefully held the embroidery thread in her arms and turned back to say "See you tomorrow" to me; Consort Xian told me to "get some rest early, you must be tired from the journey"; Consort Su helped me tidy up the snacks on the table before turning to leave; before Consort Li left, she placed the box of plum blossom cakes on my bedside table: "If you get hungry tonight, have a piece." Ya Huan stayed in my room, insisting on sleeping with me, hugging her sesame candy, and chattering on and on about the fun things that happened on her way home.

The next morning, as soon as I got up, I saw Consort Rong standing at the courtyard gate, holding two bolts of new embroidery thread in her hands. She whispered, "I... I want to embroider a peach blossom handkerchief. You... could you come with me?" I smiled and nodded, "Sure, let's embroider together." Ya Huan also came over and said, "I want to join too! Although I don't know how to embroider, I can help you pass the thread!"

We sat on the veranda. Consort Rong held the embroidery frame, and I helped her thread the needle, while Ya Huan handed her things. Consort Rong's hands were very skillful; the peach blossoms she embroidered were lifelike, the pink petals gradually blooming under her fingertips. "Your Highness, you embroider so well!" Ya Huan couldn't help but exclaim. Consort Rong's cheeks flushed slightly, and she said softly, "I... when I was little, the head housekeeper taught me, but I haven't embroidered in a long time." I smiled and said, "Since you embroider so well, we can embroider more handkerchiefs to share with everyone." Consort Rong nodded, her eyes full of anticipation.

Consort Su and Consort Xian also joined in the fun. Consort Su helped us organize the embroidery threads, while Consort Xian told us interesting stories from the past. When Consort Li passed by, she also stopped and looked at us embroidering handkerchiefs, smiling and saying, "Your embroidery is so beautiful. When you're finished, save one for me too." Consort Rong quickly nodded, "Okay... okay, I'll embroider an orchid one for you."

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, falling warmly on us. The courtyard was filled with the aroma of locust flower cakes and the faint scent of embroidery thread, occasionally punctuated by bursts of laughter that lingered in the desolate palace. Looking at the people around me, I felt a deep sense of peace—life in the desolate palace lacked luxury, but it offered the purest warmth; it lacked intrigue, but it was filled with the most sincere affection.

Perhaps this is the best life: having friends, caring for each other, and warm companionship. In ordinary days, we transform a cold, desolate palace into a home full of poetry and warmth. And we, in such days, will support each other, accompany each other, and wait for every spring when flowers bloom.

As evening fell, Consort Hui sent word that her father's case was nearly resolved, and the Emperor would issue an edict in a few days to overturn her conviction. Everyone was overjoyed upon hearing this news, and Consort Li's eyes welled with tears. The Dowager Consort Xian smiled and said, "What wonderful news! Once Consort Hui's case is overturned, we'll have a proper gathering in the Cold Palace to celebrate." Consort Su nodded in agreement, "Yes, we'll prepare some delicious food and have a good time."

I watched the sky gradually darken outside the window, my heart filled with anticipation. Life in the cold palace was like the warm winter sun—weak, yet capable of dispelling all the chill. I knew that in the days to come, we would encounter many more beautiful things, and the friendship forged in the cold palace would, like fine wine, grow richer and more precious with age.