Two flowers bloom

The next morning, Cheng Yuzhi woke up.

A strange softness permeated every bone, and the lingering warmth from last night's tent, mixed with a faint smell of alcohol, lingered around my nose.

A flush appeared on her face again.

Cheng Yuzhi pulled the brocade quilt upwards, but there was a force pulling it down. She turned around and found that her husband was pressing it down.

Cheng Yuzhi quietly got off the bed and looked at her husband.

Perhaps due to excessive drinking last night, Zhu Liji's eyes remained closed, his brows slightly furrowed, his thin lips tightly pressed together, and his long, curled eyelashes trembling in the light streaming in from the window.

Like a pair of delicate butterflies, fluttering about.

Cheng Yuzhi's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason.

After wiping with her fingertips, Cheng Yuzhi felt only a dense, itchy sensation on her hands.

She scrutinized the person in front of her for a while, then tried to pull her hand back, but it was grabbed again.

“Mother…” Zhu Liji murmured, his voice trembling with sobs. He tightened his grip and moved closer to Cheng Yuzhi.

Cheng Yuzhi paused.

She thought of her younger brother.

She held her only younger brother's hand in the same way when she couldn't sleep for several nights after their mother passed away.

Pale, weak, almost dried-up tears.

Is her husband like this too? And why is he crying?

Cheng Yuzhi didn't know.

She simply tidied Zhu Liji's sweat-soaked sideburns, as if 'coaxing a younger brother,' patting his shoulder gently.

"The sky is dark, the moon hangs high, little child, go home..." she hummed a lullaby.

What was the next line again? Cheng Yuzhi closed her eyes, searching for that vague tune deep in her memory. When she opened her eyes again, she was on the palace path made of bluestone bricks.

In the spring of the first year, the two entered the palace together.

With a distance of three feet, Zhu Liji was slightly ahead, while Cheng Yuzhi, wearing high-heeled shoes, tried her best to maintain a dignified demeanor and keep up with his pace.

No one spoke, but when things got uneven around the corner, Zhu Liji raised his hand and helped her up.

The following spring, the two entered the palace together.

Zhu Liji walked slightly ahead, while Cheng Yuzhi followed slowly, the two side by side.

In the spring of the third year, the two entered the palace together.

Cheng Yuzhi, with her round belly, was in front of him, her hand firmly held. Zhu Liji supported her waist, a smile on his lips.

Four years, five years, six years...

One spring, four years, ten years of youthful days, goodbye to immaturity, and grown up with hair tied in knots.

Over the past ten years, she has given birth to one child for Zhu Liji, damaging her health and making it difficult for her to conceive again. Zhu Liji has also provided her with protection, giving her power in her own backyard and unwavering trust.

He refused the beautiful concubine sent from another household for her sake, and she took care of all the affairs of the household for him.

Even after he married Wan, Zhu Liji always respected and revered her.

This is what a couple should be like.

What more could one ask for?

Cheng Yuzhi looked up at the pitch-black palace road, where there were no stars all night.

Zhu Sheng was fast asleep on Granny Jiang's shoulder, mumbling something unintelligible. Cheng Yuzhi looked at the adorable child and couldn't bear to put him down.

She poked Zhu Sheng's little face. She remembered when the child was first born, his features were all curled up, like a chubby little monkey.

Zhu Liji stayed by her bedside, teasing Zhu Sheng with a small wooden sword he had personally carved.

Zhu Sheng wasn't interested in the wooden sword and kept yawning. Soon he burst into tears. Zhu Liji was so frightened that he panicked and his usually indifferent face showed signs of distress. Cheng Yuzhi laughed as she witnessed the father and son's first interaction.

Before we knew it, the little monkey who used to cry all the time has grown up so much.

"Husband, look at Sheng'er." Cheng Yuzhi softened her eyes and habitually turned her head, wanting to share this joy with the person beside her.

However, there was nothing beside him.

The smile on Cheng Yuzhi's lips froze slightly.

Zhu Liji walked ahead alone early on, disappearing around the corner and into the starless night.

——

"If I had known he was coming, I wouldn't have come." Zhiwei's eyes were practically rolling back to the top of their heads. In front of Shen Danxi, she wished she could show more of her disgust.

She dressed up beautifully today, intending to come to the Empress's residence to chat and learn about incense in a cheerful manner, but unexpectedly, Zhu Mingyu, an uninvited guest, also arrived here.

The two had been in a cold war for over a month, but when Wei thought about what happened that day, she was still angry.

She avoided Zhu Mingyu, choosing a spot far away from him, and turned her head away from the occasional glances he cast at her.

Zhu Mingyu was at his wit's end, and with tears in his eyes, he looked to his mother for help.

Shen Danxi called Zhiwei over and pulled Zhu Mingyu's ear: "Mingyu has been around me for a long time and knows a bit about incense making. Let him teach you."

Zhiwei pouted.

The first day of learning incense.

A faint scent of sandalwood wafted through Shen Danxi's bedchamber. Zhiwei stood before the incense table, looking at the sandalwood and borneol laid out on it, at a loss for what to do.

"Try kneading it into a dough." Shen Danxi demonstrated, mixing the scented powder and honey water together, "Make sure to apply even pressure."

Zhiwei tried to knead the powder, but the powder kept leaking out between her fingers, making her hands all over.

Seeing this, Zhu Mingyu moved closer to her. Zhiwei thought he wanted to wipe her hands, so she turned away.

Zhu Mingyu didn't give up and took two more steps, almost bumping his elbow into her.

"Trying to please me won't work!" Zhiwei was annoyed.

"I just wanted to tell you that you're doing it wrong." Zhu Mingyu reached out to touch the incense ball, but just as his fingertips were about to touch it, Zhiwei suddenly pulled her hand back, and the incense ball fell to the table with a "thud".

The results of several hours of work were destroyed in an instant, and the two of them were stunned at the same time.

Mingyu's ears turned bright red, and he turned to leave, saying, "I forgot about military affairs."

"Are you satisfied now?" Zhiwei punched and kicked Zhu Mingyu's fleeing back. "Get out of here, get out of here!"

Day three of learning incense.

Zhiwei was grinding incense powder when Zhu Mingyu arrived again.

He was carrying a food box and placed a plate of rice cakes on the table: "I asked the kitchen to make these especially for me."

Zhiwei didn't look at him, focusing intently on grinding the agarwood.

"I shouldn't have acted the other day and ruined your work."

He knew the subtle signs but did not respond.

Zhu Mingyu squatted down beside her, looking at her drooping eyelashes, and suddenly said, "And what I said that day, I shouldn't have been so harsh."

“I know you’re worried about me.” His voice lowered.

Zhiwei stopped what she was doing.

"Please don't be angry with me anymore, okay?"

Zhiwei didn't answer, but pushed the rice cake pastry in front of him.

Day 10 of the incense learning program.

The incense tablets were arranged neatly on the altar, each one square and upright.

Zhiwei was engraving words on an incense plaque when Zhu Mingyu came over and said, "Let me see."

His breath brushed past her ear, and Zhiwei's hand trembled, causing the carving knife to make a wrong mark on the incense tablet.

"It's all your fault," she said reproachfully.

"My fault, my fault." Zhu Mingyu laughed and snatched the carving knife. "I'll fix it."

He carved a small plum blossom on the wrong spot, making it even more unique than before.

Zhiwei looked at the plum blossom and suddenly remembered the box of hand cream from Shu County. Just as she was lost in thought, Zhu Mingyu handed her a small porcelain box: "For you."

Upon opening it, I found a box of hand balm, with a white plum scent mixed with the gentle warmth of almond butter. It was very similar to the one from Shujun, but even more delicate.

“I made it myself according to the recipe, and it’s better than the one from Shu County.” He scratched his head. “I know you’re always doing manual labor, so you should take care of your hands.”

Zhiwei held the porcelain box, feeling warmth at her fingertips.

"Zhu Mingyu." She looked up, "You're not allowed to act foolishly anymore, and you're not allowed to yell at me anymore."

"I won't risk it again." Zhu Mingyu smiled like a child. "Having learned my lesson this time, I won't dare to do it again."

Shen Danxi stood under the corridor, watching the two people inside the hall smiling at each other, the teacup in her hand steaming.

...

In the third month of learning incense, Zhiwei had begun to grasp the basics of incense making, and her every move exuded a calm and composed charm.

Zhu Mingyu continued to use the pretext of visiting his mother to frequently visit Chen Danxi Palace.

He spoke earnestly to his mother, but his eyes kept drifting to Zhiwei, who was quietly blending perfumes or looking at perfume recipes.

He watched her lowered eyes, her fingertips as she picked up the spices, and the occasional frown as she pondered… Every subtle movement fell into his eyes like a pebble thrown into a lake, rippling outwards.

On this day, the moonlight, as clear as water, flowed quietly along the palace road.

As usual, Zhu Mingyu escorted Zhiwei back to Jingfang Garden.

The two walked side by side, their shadows stretching and shrinking behind them, their sleeves occasionally brushing against each other, sending a slight, heart-fluttering tingling sensation through them.

As soon as they reached the courtyard gate, Zhiwei's eyes lit up, as if she had discovered some miracle, and she pointed to the windowsill: "Look!"

Zhu Mingyu followed Zhiwei's fingertips and looked in that direction.

It turned out to be that pot of Moon Orchid.

No longer gnarled and withered branches, its trunk has sprouted tender green buds, like timid little fists, swaying gently in the night breeze.

"It came to life."

"It actually grew up." Zhu Mingyu's voice was full of surprise.

"Mmm," Zhiwei responded softly.

She gazed at the new green shoots, then her eyes moved from the new buds to Zhu Mingyu's face.

Under the moonlight, Zhu Mingyu's eyebrows relaxed, and his smile was pure and bright.

She recalled the words Zhu Mingyu had said when he first gave her this pot of flowers.

Wow, it's been more than half a year since she entered the palace.

Everything went smoothly, both as a lady-in-waiting and as a prospective queen.

Zhiwei blushed. She looked up and saw Zhu Mingyu standing beside her, smiling as he looked at the flowers. Suddenly, she tiptoed and quickly kissed him on the cheek before turning and running into the courtyard.

"Remember to escort me again tomorrow."

“Okay…” Zhu Mingyu responded softly to the empty courtyard gate, his voice so gentle it could melt water.

As if he wasn't enthusiastic enough, he touched his burning cheeks, grinned foolishly, and shouted, "I'll give myself to you for the rest of my life."

The lights in Jingfang Garden are on.

Shao Zhao peeked out of the window, covered half her face, and chuckled.

"It's so sour, sister." Shao Zhao mimicked Zhu Mingyu's words, "I'll give it to you for the rest of my life."

"You two are so lovey-dovey," Shao Zhao commented to Zhi Wei.

Zhiwei waved her hand and glared at Shao Zhao.

"Did you learn the characters that Shao Yang taught you to write today?" she asked. "I'll be checking on you tomorrow."

"Can't I take a day off?!" Shao Zhao was poked in the back and turned to Shao Yang for help.

Shao Yang and Zhi Wei exchanged a glance.

The master and servant both said in unison, "No."

"Ah ...

Zhiwei peeked through the curtain and saw Zhu Mingyu still standing in the courtyard.

The moonlight stretched his shadow long, mingling with the fragrance of flowers in the corner of the courtyard, where the orchids swayed in the breeze.