Chapter 185 The Queen
In the evening, Yu Huatang emerged from Tianjing Pavilion. As she reached the door, a woman approached and asked, "Is this the Miss Yu who invited the miraculous doctor from Pharmacist Valley for Madam Zhao?"
Yu Huatang nodded, but also looked at her in surprise. Anfu came over and asked, "Excuse me, who are you, young lady?"
The woman took out a token with a phoenix pattern on it. Yu Huatang couldn't figure out what the token was.
The woman said, "This is the token from the Empress. I am a female official serving with the Empress, and I am here to ask Miss Yu to come to the palace."
After the woman finished speaking, she gestured for her to look behind. The sedan chair had already been prepared, and the people carrying it were all well-dressed. They did look like people from the palace.
Yu Huatang had never met anyone from the palace, and Zhao Yan was not here today, so she was a little undecided.
Although Anfu had seen the world with his master, he had never been to the palace. He was worried about offending the noble, so he said, "My master is Zhao Shilang of the Ministry of Works. He has ordered me to protect Miss Yu. Wherever Miss Yu goes, I must go."
The woman smiled and said, "Yes, but you can only wait at the palace gate."
Anfu looked at Yu Huatang, who nodded. She saw that the woman spoke and acted in an orderly manner, and her demeanor was also very impressive.
There have been dozens of female officials in the imperial court so far. It is said that they have all been selected through assessment and are as talented as men. After seeing her today, I also felt that this woman's movements and posture are indeed different from those of ordinary scholars and nobles. She must be from the palace.
Yu Huatang got on Jiaozi, and Anfu followed Jiaozi outside. When they arrived at the palace gate, Anfu stayed and Yu Huatang continued walking.
After walking through many roads and corridors, she finally stopped in front of a palace door. She looked up and saw the large gold-plated characters that read "Feng Yi Palace".
"Please come in, Aunt Yu," said the woman.
Yu Huatang didn't say anything, but just became more cautious and followed him inside.
After passing through a few doors, there was a majestic courtyard. Someone came out and said, "Auntie is back."
The woman said calmly, "Well, where's the queen?"
"The queen is resting inside, please go in quickly."
The woman nodded and said to Yu Huatang, "Miss Yu, please wait a moment. I will go and inform them."
After a while, the woman inside came out and said, "Miss Yu, the Queen wants you to come in. Please follow me."
The floor of the hall is paved with mirror-smooth marble. The other decorations are warm and elegant. The bookshelves are filled with various books and calligraphy and paintings, which shows that the queen must be fond of these.
Yu Huatang stopped looking around after entering and just followed the woman. When the woman stopped, she stopped too. The woman said, "Madam, Miss Yu is here."
She knelt down before the throne, which was made of precious wood and carved with exquisite floral designs. "I, Yu Huatang, pay my respects to the Queen."
"Get up." A voice came from above.
The voice was bright and pleasant, with a hint of dignity. Yu Huatang knew that this was the Queen.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." She leaned forward and kowtowed.
"Look up and let me see." said the queen.
Yu Huatang raised her head, but still kept her gaze on the ground, falling on two shoes inlaid with pearls, but from the corner of her eye she could still see the woman's general demeanor, graceful and elegant.
There were a few golden hairpins in her hair, which made her look extremely noble. I guessed she was in her twenties.
The Queen looked at her and smiled kindly, "So Miss Yu is so beautiful. I originally thought she was a woman, but I didn't know she was so young. It was you who presented the ingenious device to the Pharmacist Valley. I heard it could kill a person from a hundred steps away, so the Pharmacist Valley sent the miracle doctor here."
Yu Huatang said, "Your Majesty, I'm so kind! I just happened to see a square brocade box at the post station on my way to the capital, and it inspired me to make this."
"I heard that you are now the sister of the miracle doctor?" said the queen.
"Your Majesty, it is Doctor Su's kindness that has led him to do this."
"Well, I called you here today because I have something I want you to see. The Honglu Temple has encountered a difficult problem. An envoy has presented a treasure as tribute and has also created a 'Starry Sky Box'. They say that only by deciphering the code of the stars can one see its true appearance. I have asked many people to look at it, but they can't come up with a solution, so I came to you to take a look."
After saying this, he motioned for someone to bring it over, and then said, "Come here, give Miss Yu a seat."
Yu Huatang bowed again in thanks, stood up and sat down, carefully picking up the box to examine it. At this time, the palace maid outside said, "Your Majesty, the little prince has awakened."
Yu Huatang thought that this person might be the Straw Sandal Queen who was attacked by court officials. She had heard Madam Zhao talk about this queen at the Zhao Mansion.
According to legend, she made and sold straw sandals before entering the palace. After entering the palace, she was extremely favored. Now she has two sons and one daughter. The little prince just mentioned is one of them.
The Queen said a casual 'hmm'.
Yu Huatang continued to observe the Starry Sky Box. There was no lockhole on the box, only twelve raised jade buttons that glowed faintly.
"Do you also feel you have no idea where to start?" asked the Queen.
Yu Huatang replied, "It's a bit tricky. Has the Queen also seen it?"
The Queen's face lit up with admiration. "I've been studying it day and night, but I'm not very good at it, and I don't know how to do it. Also, the envoy said there are only three chances to open it, and after three attempts, it will be impossible to open it again. That's why no one has dared to touch it yet."
Yu Huatang knew that everything in the harem was no small matter. The queen was probably taking so much trouble to share the emperor's worries.
Thinking of this, she said, "Please allow me to take a closer look."
Maybe this thing isn't that hard to open.
With a sudden thought, she pressed her fingertip against one of the malachite stones. The entire box suddenly emitted the roar of turning gears, and seven bronze rings engraved with foreign characters popped out from the secret compartment.
Could it be that the words on these seven rings correspond to the positions of the Big Dipper?
She guessed in her heart that the queen beside her also followed her finger movements.
Finally, she said, "I would like to give it a try, and I hope Your Majesty will approve it."
"It's okay, be bold. Just give it a try." The queen said gently.
She made up her mind and pressed the malachite placed in the southeast corner. Sure enough, the words on the bronze ring began to flow, turning into the trajectory of the Big Dipper rotating in the night sky. Finally, with a "click", it opened!
A burst of joy appeared on the queen's face, and Yu Huatang respectfully handed her the item.
The Queen asked, "How did you open it?"
Yu Huatang said, "Actually, this lock isn't difficult; it's just an ordinary Big Dipper. I think the foreign envoys played a psychological game, telling people it only needed three times. Most people would think it was difficult and wouldn't dare to try. But since I got the Empress's approval, I naturally felt bolder, and that's why I dared to try. Ultimately, it was the Empress's majesty that gave me the courage."
The Queen looked at her. She had a youthful face, but her voice was very charming. Everything she said touched her heart, making her like her even more. She said, "No wonder you are favored by Eunuch Cao. I heard that you are currently studying in the Tianjing Pavilion. Are you planning to join the Imperial Household Department or make tribute lanterns for the royal family?"
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