Chapter 434: The Soul-Condensing Incense of Yaoguang Palace
Inside the Yaoguang Palace, the golden beast exhaled auspicious sounds, and the long-lasting scent of the agarwood was quietly replaced by a new and strange fragrance.
The afternoon sunlight filtered through the crimson screen window, filtering into a hazy golden mist, lazily spreading on the shiny gold brick floor.
Madam Zhaohua was leaning on the chaise longue covered with autumn-colored brocade cushions, looking at the young man standing in the hall with his head bowed with a friendly face.
"Aunt is well."
Chen Zhengxuan was wearing a brand new royal blue Hangzhou silk gown, with an upright posture and a face that showed the dignity of a young man from an aristocratic family who was deliberately restrained.
He held a palm-sized jade box as white as mutton fat in both hands and presented it respectfully.
"My nephew recently got an ancient incense. I spent some time to prepare all the ingredients and made it according to the ancient method. I would like to present it to you, aunt. Please taste it."
The palace maid standing by took small steps forward, carefully took the jade box, then took small steps back to Madam Zhaohua's bed and gently opened the lid of the box.
Inside the box, there was a light layer of powder, the color of which was an indescribable light gold. Under the soft light in the hall, there seemed to be a faint glow flowing. Upon closer inspection, the powder particles were extremely fine and uniform.
An indescribable fragrance instantly dissipated, and at first it was refreshing, like a mountain cedar, with a barely perceptible coolness that penetrated into the nose.
Soon, the coolness melted away, turning into a strange warmth and sweetness, which seemed to be there and not there, lingering and sad, just like the vitality that quietly sprouted deep in the soil when the snow melted in early spring, bringing with it a hidden temptation, entwining the heart with strands of it.
Madam Zhaohua's originally careless eyes suddenly froze.
She sat up straighter, stretched out two jade-like fingers, carefully picked up a pinch of powder from the jade box, placed it under her nose, and took a deep sniff.
The strange warm and sweet breath instantly filled the lungs, like a warm stream pouring in from the Baihui acupoint and flowing smoothly through the limbs and bones, as if it could miraculously smooth out and cleanse the tension and irritability in people's hearts.
An indescribable feeling of relaxation and a vague, tingling tingling sensation rise up.
"This fragrance..."
Madam Zhaohua opened her red lips slightly, her voice carrying a hint of hoarseness and intoxication that she herself had not noticed, "What's your name?"
She twirled the light gold between her fingertips, her eyes lingering on it, and she was reluctant to look away.
Chen Zhengxuan's eyes flashed with a barely perceptible smugness, but his face became more respectful: "Aunt, according to the ancient recipe, this incense is called 'Ningpo', which means to concentrate the mind and gather the energy, consolidate the soul and nourish the essence."
"Condensing the soul..."
Madam Zhaohua repeated in a low voice, her lips slowly curled up into a smile as beautiful as a peach, "What a good name! What's more rare is that this fragrance is refreshing but not cold, warm but not greasy, lingering into the bones, and has a long aftertaste. It is much better than the incense you offered before."
"It is the greatest blessing of this incense and the greatest honor for my nephew that my aunt likes it."
Chen Zhengxuan bowed at the right time and spoke with pride.
It was worth the effort he put into making this incense.
Madam Zhaohua was in a good mood. She flicked her fingertips and flicked the Soul Condensing Incense Powder back into the jade box. She ordered, "Put it away. Go and call the Imperial Doctor Liu on duty immediately."
Even though it was given by her own nephew, and even though the fragrance made her feel comfortable both physically and mentally, she was in the vortex of the deep palace, where every step was frightening, and she knew that caution was the key to saving her life.
Especially for spices, which enter the mouth and nose and are close to the body, they must be foolproof.
Soon, Doctor Liu, with white hair and beard, hurried to Yaoguang Palace carrying a medicine box.
He first bowed respectfully to Madam Zhaohua, and then carefully took the jade box that the palace maid presented to him again.
The hall was extremely quiet for a moment. The only sound that could be heard was the slight sound of Imperial Doctor Liu opening the medicine box and taking out small silver spoons, jade pestles, white porcelain plates, scent-testing papers, etc.
He looked focused. He scooped out a little powder with a silver spoon, put it under his nose and sniffed it repeatedly. Sometimes he closed his eyes in thought, and sometimes he frowned slightly.
Then, he took some powder and placed it in a white porcelain dish, dripped a few drops of special medicine, and carefully observed the color changes and reactions.
Finally, he took out a piece of perfume test paper as thin as a cicada's wing, lightly dipped some powder on it, placed it on a small heater, and slowly smoked it with a very weak charcoal fire.
As the charcoal fire warms, the Ningpo fragrance powder on the fragrance test paper slowly emits fragrance, making people feel relaxed and happy.
Finally, after doing all this, Doctor Liu said with certainty: "This incense has the effect of calming the mind and nourishing the heart, and is of great benefit to the body. Your Majesty can use it with confidence."
Madam Zhaohua waved her hand and asked Doctor Liu to leave.
She was very happy and said to her nephew with a smile, "Zhengxuan is thoughtful."
Chen Zhengxuan has been doing business outside for many years and has seen many rare treasures. He also presents a lot of good things to Madam Zhaohua every year.
Madam Zhaohua was quite fond of her nephew.
"You just don't want to be disciplined. You are a good young man from a noble family, but you insist on becoming a businessman."
"Your father has been angry for so many years, but now he has let it go."
"Other things are fine, but now that you have started a family, you should spend more time at home. We must have more children in the Chen family."
Speaking of this, Madam Zhaohua thought of the fifth prince again.
Ever since the Liang Yuhua incident, the child has really been angry with her. Recently, he has been unwilling to go to the palace to see her.
The issue of the fifth prince's offspring is also a major concern for Madam Zhaohua.
The aunt and niece chatted about family matters, and then Chen Zhengxuan left the palace.
-
That night.
In the Yaoguang Palace, the smoke of the Ningpo incense swirled in the candlelight, dyeing the layers of silk draperies into an ambiguous amber color.
Madam Zhaohua was leaning on an embroidered cushion, wearing a rouge-red nightgown, which set off her fair skin and made her look charming and attractive.
Her fingertips circled the golden incense shovel, casually stirring the incense ash in the purple gold furnace, but the corner of her eye was always paying attention to the movement in the direction of the palace door.
"Your Majesty has arrived."
Following the eunuch's shrill "yes", the emperor strode into the hall.
Madam Zhaohua stood up and saluted, "My beloved concubine, there is no need to be polite."
The emperor's voice was the same as always, and if one listened carefully, one could clearly hear the fatigue in it.
Madam Zhaohua carefully examined the emperor's expression. The wrinkles on his face that were not very clear before seemed even more obvious under the candlelight.
The emperor is old.
Madam Zhaohua's heart trembled.
She knew that the emperor was no longer able to do what he wanted, and that he came to her only because he wanted a woman who would serve him tenderly and attentively, not for sexual pleasure.
As usual, Madam Zhaohua personally helped him change clothes and drink tea. The emperor leaned back in his chair, enjoying the attentive service of this beauty.
He smelled the fragrance in the room and said casually, "The fragrance smells good today."
Madam Zhaohua smiled and said, "Zhengxuan got an ancient recipe and tried every possible means to make it. It was just delivered to the palace today."
"I've asked Doctor Liu to check it out. He said it's very beneficial to the body. I also like the taste, so I ordered it."
The emperor closed his eyes and rested for a while, and felt that his whole body relaxed a lot. "He is really thoughtful."
"you do not say."
The two of them exchanged a few words, and the emperor, feeling sleepy, said, "Let's settle down."
Madam Zhaohua helped the emperor to bed, and soon, both of them fell asleep.
The next morning, when the emperor woke up, he felt refreshed and relaxed.
The emperor slept well last night without any dreams. It had been a long time since he had such a high-quality sleep. He glanced at the incense sticks in the incense burner that had already burned out, and said to the eunuch, "Have someone send this incense to the Imperial Hospital to have another look."
"I obey your order."
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