Chapter 66 [VIP]
Chapter Summary: Mooncakes.
A vast expanse of orange-red sunset clouds spilled down as Yu Jing and A Yu walked along the veranda. Yu Jing felt a little hot as they walked, so she turned around to look at the fan A Yu was holding. A Yu noticed Yu Jing's gaze on the fan and immediately understood, fanning herself a little more vigorously.
The sky darkened rather quickly today; just moments ago, the sky was ablaze with crimson clouds, but now it was already somewhat hazy. Yu Jing walked into the Imperial Garden, which was probably the Mid-Autumn Festival. The garden was filled with all kinds of chrysanthemums—white, yellow, and purple—vying for attention and emitting a faint fragrance, creating a lively scene.
Having not seen so many flowers in a long time, Yu Jing paused, hesitated for a moment, and then walked into the flower bushes to take a closer look.
When Xie Xuan arrived at the corridor, this was the scene he saw: Yu Jing, dressed in a bright crimson robe, stood amidst a cluster of white chrysanthemums, radiant and passionate yet exuding an elegant and detached charm. She truly gave off an aura of someone who didn't belong in this deep palace. The moment he saw Yu Jing, Su Siyang's words from earlier vanished from his mind. He had already thought it through before, and now dwelling on these things seemed truly unnecessary.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager." Ayu noticed Xie Xuan and whispered a reminder to Yu Jing. Yu Jing immediately stood up and turned around. Xie Xuan was standing quietly under the eaves.
Ayu frowned and led the others away. Once they were all gone, Yu Jing lifted her skirt and walked quickly towards Xie Xuan. When she reached Xie Xuan, the butterflies on her body swayed violently, as if they were about to fly away at any moment.
"Xie Xuan, you're here." Yu Jing jogged up to Xie Xuan, her face beaming with a smile, truly radiant and captivating.
Xie Xuan's heart trembled at the sound of the butterfly by her ear, and he felt inexplicably excited, replying with a smile, "Mm."
Then, thinking that he would be leaving for Youzhou tomorrow, he felt inexplicably lost.
It was already quite dark by then, and only when they were close enough could their outlines be barely discerned. Yu Jing stood before Xie Xuan, looking up at him, hesitant to speak. She didn't know if Xie Xuan would return from the battle, nor did she know when it would end. But she knew clearly that when Xie Xuan returned in triumph…
"What's wrong?" Xie Xuan asked with concern when he saw that Yu Jing also looked somewhat disappointed.
"Could I... not go?" Yu Jing murmured, then lowered her head. Her words carried a hint of coquetry, yet also revealed a degree of sincerity. If Xie Xuan didn't go, would they not need to go?
"Queque," Xie Xuan called out to Yu Jing.
Yu Jing looked up at him after a long while and said, "Hmm."
She responded softly.
The surroundings were bustling with activity—the sound of flowing water and chirping insects, the gentle breeze rustling through the grass and trees. Yet, amidst the liveliness, a profound sense of tranquility prevailed.
"I will definitely come back safely." Xie Xuan's voice was soft, but very solemn, like a promise.
Yu Jing knew Xie Xuan would definitely go the moment she spoke, but hearing him say this now made her feel a dull ache in her heart. She stared into Xie Xuan's eyes for a long time.
Xie Xuan looked at Yu Jing, whose expression had been somewhat forlorn, and suddenly a smile appeared on her face. Her smile was radiant.
"I will send you a letter after you go to Youzhou," Yu Jing said in a clear, cheerful voice, her earlier disappointment gone.
"Okay." Xie Xuan nodded with a smile.
"I've heard that the weather gets cold very quickly in Youzhou. It will get cold after the Mid-Autumn Festival, so please bring some warm clothes."
“I have everything prepared, so there’s no need to worry.”
Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival. Will you come to the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet?
"His Majesty said that tomorrow's Mid-Autumn Festival banquet will also be a farewell banquet, and my father and I will both attend."
"Could you come here again after the banquet?"
Xie Xuan looked up at Yu Jing with some confusion. Yu Jing squinted, her eyes crinkling, and didn't say anything. Xie Xuan suppressed his doubts and smiled, replying, "Okay."
"Magpie."
"Hmm?" Yu Jing was about to respond when Xie Xuan pulled her into his arms. Xie Xuan held her for a long time without saying a word. Yu Jing listened to his fast and strong heartbeat, and her heart also beat very fast.
"It's getting late, go back and rest early. See you tomorrow," Xie Xuan said, patting Yu Jing's back gently.
"Okay," Yu Jing nodded in response.
"You go back first, I'll watch over you," Xie Xuan coaxed softly.
Yu Jing turned around, and Xie Xuan watched her figure slowly disappear into the night, a sense of indescribable fear rising in his heart.
Ayu was keeping watch at the entrance of the corridor when she heard the sound. She was startled, but when she saw that it was Yu Jing, she gradually calmed down and whispered, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
"Let's go." Yu Jing said, turning back to look behind her with some unease. Xie Xuan hadn't come out yet; he was standing at the end of the corridor, only a blurry outline visible.
Back in the hall, Yu Jing excitedly asked A Yu, "A Yu, can you make mooncakes?"
Ayu raised an eyebrow slightly and replied, "I do know how, but it certainly won't taste as good as what I made in the small kitchen."
"Then teach me."
Ayu looked up at Yu Jing with some surprise: "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager intends to..."
"Yes, Xie Xuan will be going to Youzhou after tomorrow, and I want to make some for him myself."
"Let's go now," Yu Jing suggested.
Add some lard to the dough to make an oily dough for fluffing, then add rock sugar, pine nuts, walnuts, and other dried fruits. Yu Jing tucked the filling into the dough, gently pinched it, and turned to A Yu, saying, "It feels pretty easy."
Ayu replied softly, "Your Majesty, the difficulty lies not in making them, but in controlling the heat when baking the mooncakes."
At first, Yu Jing didn't understand what A Yu meant, but later when she saw that the mooncake had turned black, Yu Jing understood.
"Ah, it took me so long to make these mooncakes!" Yu Jing said regretfully, looking at the two dark, round pieces of mooncake.
"Your Majesty, why don't we have the cooks bake it?" Ayu suggested in a low voice.
Yu Jing paused for a moment, then said, "I'll try two more. If that doesn't work, I'll have the cook bake them."
Yu Jing carefully placed the mooncakes on the iron plate, then covered it and carefully poked at the flames in the stove.
Upon smelling the aroma of the pastries, Yu Jing cautiously tilted her head and asked A Yu, "A Yu, does it smell good now?"
"Why don't we lift it up and take a look?" Ayu suggested. As she spoke, Ayu noticed a small black spot on the tip of Yu Jing's nose, probably from some charcoal ash that had accidentally gotten on it. Ayu didn't think much of it and reached out to wipe it off for Yu Jing. Only when she was about to lower her hand did she realize what she had just done.
Xue Yu had never imagined that she would be able to make mooncakes with Yu Jing. Yu Jing seemed even more approachable than before.
Yu Jing didn't care at all; her attention was entirely on the mooncakes. She carefully opened the lid, took out the mooncake, and exclaimed excitedly, "Ayu, look!"
"That's wonderful!" Ayu exclaimed in agreement.
Later, she baked several more, but none of them were as good as the second batch. Yu Jing put the best ones into the food box. She then picked out two more and gave one to A Yu.
"It's freshly baked, try it and see if it's good!" Yu Jing said, taking a bite.
"It's so hot!" Yu Jing swallowed quickly, the aroma of nuts, dough, and rock sugar perfectly complementing the baking process, though it had a slightly burnt taste. It was still incredibly fragrant!
As Yu Jing swallowed what was in her mouth, she asked A Yu, "A Yu, is it delicious?"
"tasty!"
Hearing Ayu's words, Yu Jing was delighted at the thought of giving the food to Xie Xuan the next day. After taking the food box back to the palace, it was quite late by the time Yu Jing finished bathing. Lying on the couch, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Thinking that Xie Xuan would be leaving after tomorrow, she turned her head and stared blankly at the food box. Before she knew it, she had fallen asleep.
Yu Jing slept for a long time, waking up at noon, probably because she had stayed up late the night before and was quite tired. After dinner, she bathed and began to dress. Today, Yu Jing chose a Xiangfei-colored dress. Xiangfei-colored is a deeper shade than Shuihua Zhu, looking much more composed. As usual, she chose the magnolia-flower agate hairpin, but this time, the magnolia flower was just a small accessory to complement the hairpin. After all, it was the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, and it wouldn't be appropriate for her, as the Empress Dowager, to dress too plainly. She also chose a phoenix-red agate hairpin, with a circle of beautiful pearls hanging from the phoenix's tail, resting below Yu Jing's earlobes. It was beautiful, but also undeniably cumbersome, much heavier than yesterday's outfit.
"Your Majesty, it's almost time," Ayu said to Yu Jing as she entered, naturally taking the food box from the table. Ayu nodded to Yu Jing as she received the food box.
Yu Jing boarded the sedan chair, which swayed and rocked its way towards the main hall. At the main hall, the usual rituals unfolded: tedious bows and greetings, toasts, and listening to the ministers' incoherent flattery. Yu Jing inevitably drank a couple of cups of wine; her alcohol tolerance was always poor, and soon her cheeks were flushed. Seeing Yu Jing like this, A Yu stepped forward and softly asked, "Your Majesty, would you like a cup of tea?"
Yu Jing nodded, and A Yu then gave instructions to the palace maids following behind her.
Since returning from Guizhou, Su Siyang hadn't visited Cining Palace often; several months had passed in total. Su Siyang called her fickle, but when he saw her, his eyes couldn't help but linger on her, watching her every move. Seeing Ayu speaking softly to the maid behind her, he immediately understood that Yu Jing was probably a little drunk.
After drinking the tea, Yu Jing felt instantly refreshed. She glanced around the table and immediately spotted Xie Xuan in the crowd. His crimson attire was truly eye-catching. Su Siyang's gaze was still on Yu Jing. Seeing her locked eyes with Xie Xuan, he felt a lump in his throat and took a swig of wine in silence.
The banquet ended quickly, and Yu Jing, supporting A Yu's hand, prepared to go to the Imperial Garden to hand the mooncakes to Xie Xuan.
As she walked under the corridor, she saw Su Siyang walking towards her from the side path, his steps quick, as if he was trying to catch up with her.
"Your humble servants greet Your Majesty the Empress Dowager," Su Siyang and Yu Jing bowed and greeted her.
"Get up," Yu Jing replied.
Su Siyang didn't actually do anything wrong; the mistake was that she wasn't Sheng Hua, and she didn't want to have too much interaction with him.
[Author's Note]
Recommending my upcoming novel, "Raising a Sickly Prince".
Lin Yuan was assigned to the least favored prince.
She never imagined that Ying Huaixu, as a prince, lived a life worse than that of a mere servant. Having suffered endless bullying and humiliation, Lin Yuan felt a pang of sympathy when she looked at Ying Huaixu, who was about the same age as her younger brother.
She took him to play in the Imperial Garden, made him longevity noodles for his birthday, sewed him warm clothes in winter, and protected him when he was bullied...
A prince is a prince after all. As Ying Huaixu grew up day by day, everyone respectfully addressed him as "Ninth Prince".
Lin Yuan was not one to act without discretion; she joined them in addressing him as Ninth Prince.
Hearing her voice, Ying Huaixu looked up at her thoughtfully, and asked in a low voice as if aggrieved, "Why didn't you call me Yanzhen today, Yuanniang? Did Yanzhen upset you?"
"No, it was because I lost my composure in front of Your Highness before..." Lin Yuan was interrupted before she could finish speaking.
“In Yanzhen’s heart, Yuan Niang has never been a servant.” Ying Huaixu’s voice was slightly angry. Lin Yuan raised her eyes, met Ying Huaixu’s gaze, realized something, and her heart trembled.
Lin Yuan began to intentionally avoid Ying Huaixu. He was a prince, while she was merely a palace maid without birth, and there was such a significant age difference between them. No matter what, they were an unsuitable match.
Ying Huaixu seemed to sense Lin Yuan's avoidance, and one day, while drunk, he kissed her in a fit of rage.
She whispered, "Your Highness, one day I will have to leave the palace and get married."
"Whom do you want to marry? Lin Yuan, who do you want to marry? That poor scholar from the Imperial Academy?"
He questioned her sharply, then kissed her fiercely until the taste of blood filled their lips and tongues.
With blood still lingering on his lips, he breathed heavily and said to Lin Yuan with an almost satisfied expression, "Yuan Niang, in this life you can only marry me. The Empress's seat can only be yours, and only you are worthy of it!"
1. If the woman is six years older than the man, please consider carefully.
2.1v1, with a hint of forced marriage.
3. Lin Yuan (pronounced yan, second tone)
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