Chapter 70 Return to Beijing 1 Chen Jichuan's Tombstone
After a month's journey, the team finally arrived in the capital.
As the carriage passed Yongding Gate, Chen Jinshi was riding on a tall and handsome horse, his cloak blown by the wind.
Behind him, hundreds of fine horses lined up with their heads held high, their pace as steady as drumbeats, their glossy fur gleaming like satin in the sun.
People on the street stopped to watch, and even diners in the taverns along the street flocked to the windows, craning their necks to look, staring in amazement at the neatly arranged horse team.
"Lord Chen was a Jinshi (Jinshi) chosen by the late emperor. I heard he was ordered to pacify the border, and he managed to get Lou Fanren to offer up his fine horses without even having to fight a single soldier!"
The patrons on the second floor of the tavern lowered their voices, their gaze fixed on the figure at the front of the cavalry, their tone filled with awe. Someone nearby immediately chimed in, "That's right! I heard earlier that the people of Loufan are fierce and unyielding, never taking the imperial court seriously. What a great honor! When Lord Chen arrives, they'll be expected to offer their fine horses. Such prestige is unmatched by ordinary people."
The sound of discussion drifted on the wind to Chen Jinshi's ears, and also to Du Lan's ears.
Chen Jinshi remained calm, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. Some of the people were already bowing and shouting, "Welcome, Master Chen, back in triumph."
The clamor for a welcome grew louder and louder. Chen Jinshi reined in his horse and stood beside Du Lan's carriage, looking at her cautiously. "I'll go to the palace first to report. Mom will go back home first. I'll ask my brother to come out and greet you."
Du Lan replied softly "Okay" through the car curtain.
The curtains of the carriage were blown open a little more by the wind, and she caught a glimpse of Chen Jinshi's figure, as well as the arrogant expressions of those people as they looked at Loufan's "tribute" of fine horses.
It seems like these things should have been theirs.
Dulan closed the car curtain and didn't want to look at those expressions. She knew in her heart that a transaction was a transaction and her family had received the money.
After many years, the Chen Mansion in the capital is still the same big house, but the threshold is much higher than before.
When Du Lan got off the car, Chen Jinxing and Zhang Ruoling were standing at the door to greet her. Zhang Ruoling was holding a little girl in her hand, who was much younger than Qi Qige.
"Dulan, you're finally back."
Zhang Ruoling came forward and asked the little girl in her arms to call her: "You should call, you should call..."
Chen Jinxing stepped forward and said, "Call me Second Aunt."
Shi Ge'er had written to me beforehand, saying only that this time Am came back only to be Dulan, and they had nothing to do with each other as before.
The little girl called out crisply, "Second Aunt."
Dulan is Chen Jinshi’s wife, so of course the child should call her that.
Du Lan squatted down and touched her head: "What's your name?"
"My name is Chen Jiahe."
"What a nice name." Dulan sent someone to take the gift from the carriage.
Zhang Ruoling stepped aside and led the group toward the mansion. "The yard has been tidied up for you. It's the west wing where you used to live. The crabapple tree under the window is in full bloom this year, and the view is absolutely beautiful."
As soon as Dulan stepped over the threshold, she smelled a familiar incense that she used to love. The courtyard she had been away from for a long time soon enveloped her in warmth.
"By the way, where's Jinyun?"
Zhang Ruoling smiled and said, "I forgot to tell you, Jinyun got married last year. I'll write a letter tomorrow and ask her to come and see you."
Upon hearing the news, Du Lan was a little distraught, but considering the date, it was not surprising that Jinyun was getting married.
Zhang Ruoling held Chen Jiahe's hand, slowing down her pace. Her tone was a bit gentle as she walked, saying, "They're from a good family with decent character. Last year at the wedding, Jinyun cried and said she couldn't bear to leave her family, but now she's adapted. Alas, how can a girl avoid this step? Jinyun is young, so she's marrying up. The longer a girl waits, the harder it is for her to marry up."
Seeing Dulan's lonely expression, she couldn't help but explain more.
Of course Dulan wanted to come back and see Jinyun still staying at home well.
"You just got back, so take a rest first. Even though it's the beginning of spring, it's still cold in Beijing sometimes. The heating in the warm room is on, and the bedding has been freshly dried."
Dulan nodded. As she passed the corridor, she caught a glimpse of a birdcage hanging in the hallway. A thrush was chirping in the cage, its voice clear and crisp. It wasn't the same bird she'd left with.
As soon as she walked into the room, she felt a little uncomfortable with the warmth. Even when the building was at its hottest, it might not be as warm as this room.
She couldn't help but laugh. It had been a long time since she had such a precious life.
She lay on the familiar chaise longue, resting her head on her wrists, closing her eyes comfortably, and felt that living like this was pretty good.
The maid was instructed by Zhang Ruoling to bring in almond cheese.
"Second Grandma, I heard from Great Grandma that you used to love this. Put less sugar and more chopped almonds. Try it."
Du Lan was still a little uncomfortable hearing the maid calling her, but she took it with a smile, and the warmth spread from her fingertips to her limbs.
"Did your grandmother ever tell you that I don't need anyone to serve me in this courtyard? Don't come in without my permission from now on."
Dulan had a smile on her lips, but she spoke without leaving any room for negotiation. The maid holding the tray paused, a trace of embarrassment flashing across her face. Then she quickly bowed and replied, "Yes, I've made a note of that. From now on, I won't dare come in without your permission."
Having said that, he tiptoed out.
Du Lan held the white porcelain bowl, scooped up a spoonful of almond curd with the tip of the spoon, and thought that Zhang had established very good rules in the mansion over the years.
The delicate sweet fragrance wrapped in the mellowness of almonds spread on the tip of her tongue. It was still the same taste as before. She remembered the early morning in Loufan, when Qi Qige held a coarse pottery bowl with the herdsmen's own sour cheese in it, sprinkled with a handful of fragrant roasted barley, and ate it very deliciously.
She was lost in thought when the footsteps outside the window came closer and closer. The door was gently pushed open and Chen Jinshi took off his official hat and came in. The wings on the brim of his hat fluttered, making a slight sound.
She looked up at him and whispered, "Is everything in the palace settled?"
When Chen Jinshi saw her half-leaning on the couch, looking so gentle and beautiful, his heart couldn't help but be moved.
She always seems particularly gentle in such situations.
"It's all settled, you can rest assured."
He sat down beside her, his eyes fixed on her face. He took her hand, held it in his palm, and stroked it carefully.
Du Lan tilted her head and looked at him lazily, noticing how much he had matured over the years. Looking at the jade belt still attached to his official uniform, she suddenly said, "You've actually walked this path. I originally thought you wouldn't be able to stay in the court."
He held her hand, put it on his lips and kissed it softly, saying, "I've grown up, Am."
The incense in the warm room mixed with the sweet scent of almond butter and the aroma of pine nut candy he brought back, entwined together.
Chen Jinshi followed her gaze to the jade belt around his waist, his Adam's apple rolled slightly, and he reached out to untie it.
Just as he was about to bend over, he heard the light footsteps of a maid outside the yard, and she sounded hesitant as to whether to come in or not.
Chen Jinshi frowned and asked loudly, "What's the matter?"
The maid outside the door quickly replied, "Second Master, the eldest master and the eldest mistress have prepared dinner. Please come and enjoy it with the second mistress."
Almost all the people in the mansion have been replaced, with only a few old people left. No one dares to say that the new second wife is the former Miss Shen.
The two walked out side by side, and the birds in the corridor were still singing.
When she reached the main hall door, Chen Jinxing was waiting at the bottom of the steps. He had dismissed the servants and upon seeing her coming, he hurriedly bowed and said, "Auntie."
Du Lan reached out and helped him up: "Jinxing, don't call me like that anymore."
Chen Jinxing paused for a moment, then returned to normal without saying whether it was good or bad.
Zhang Ruoling coughed lightly and ushered the two of them to the table: "Hurry up and sit down, the food is getting cold."
The table was filled with exquisite dishes, which were obviously prepared by Zhang.
Du Lan smiled and said, "Judging from the color of this elbow, it must have been stewed for three hours."
Zhang Ruoling smiled subtly: "I watched it myself, you try it."
When Dulan took a bite, it was soft, glutinous and fragrant.
As the family ate, Zhang Ruoling said, "There haven't been many changes in the mansion over the years. In the past two years, we've added a few servants to clean the house, and there's also an old man named Zhou who takes care of the accounts. The former Chen Xing is old and has returned to his hometown in Jinling to take care of his grandchildren. If there's anything the west wing needs, just let me know."
Chen Jinxing put down his chopsticks and looked at her: "It's okay to tell me."
Du Lan nodded gently: "Qingming Festival is coming soon. I plan to go back to Nanjing to see the general. Jinxing, you can make the arrangements."
Chen Jinshi nodded immediately: "Yes, it would be nice to go back during Qingming Festival."
After giving all the orders in one breath, Du Lan realized that she was used to sitting in the main seat in this family. It was also Chen Jinxing's fault for being so respectful to her.
She felt a little uncomfortable and said something more: "Jinxing, thank you very much."
Upon hearing this, Chen Jinxing put down the silver chopsticks in his hand, looked serious, and lowered his voice: "Mom, I promised my father that I would honor you for the rest of my life, and I will never change my mind."
Chen Jinshi also put down his chopsticks, said nothing, and looked at her seriously.
Du Lan paused holding the chopsticks, and her eyes suddenly felt hot.
"I didn't actually do anything, but now I feel so guilty about this... I don't know how I'm going to go back and see your father."
Zhang Ruoling quickly tried to smooth things over: "What's the big deal? From now on, the two brothers should show their filial piety. Just accept it. Shi Ge'er has made such a great progress now. Father can't thank you enough."
Under the table, Chen Jinshi quietly held her hand and whispered in her ear, "Mom, why are you so serious all of a sudden? I'm a little uncomfortable with it. Besides, are you afraid of my dad scolding me or you? It seems like I'm the one who's taking advantage..."
Du Lan's eyes were still hot, and she was suddenly amused by him. She pulled her hand back abruptly and glared at him.
Chen Jinshi couldn't hide the smug smile on his face, and his expression relaxed.
Chen Jinxing glanced at him calmly, picked up his wine glass and said, "Now at home, the brothers are in harmony and the family is reunited. If my father sees this, he will only be happy."
"That's right!" Zhang Ruoling laughed and raised her glass.
Chen Jiahe sat aside, watching the adults talking animatedly, and joined in the fun. He grabbed a piece of cake with his little hand and passed it to Dulan: "Second Aunt, this is sweet, you have it."
A few days later, in the early morning, just as the pink and white buds of the crabapple trees in the west wing were blooming, a bright yellow imperial carriage suddenly arrived outside the Chen Mansion.
"The Empress Dowager has decreed that the Second Madam of the Chen family be summoned to the palace immediately!"
The eunuch's shrill voice passed through the layers of courtyards and reached Dulan's ears.
She had anticipated this. Firstly, she left in a hurry and did not say goodbye properly to the Queen Mother, who was still the Empress at the time. The Empress loved her very much. Secondly, even if the Queen Mother did not summon her into the palace, she had rashly used the Prince's jade pendant to handle matters some time ago, and she should give an explanation to the current Emperor when she saw him.
She changed into the dark green palace dress she wore many years ago. Her solemn face was reflected in the bronze mirror. This face was no whiter than it was four years ago. There was a healthy light red on her cheeks, and her skin had the texture of fine mutton-fat jade, appearing gentle.
Her lips were powdered, their lines clear when she wasn't smiling, adding a touch of the aloof, married elegance. But her eyes, once reflecting sunsets and galloping horses, still shone like a spring, still but not dull, bright but not blazing.
She raised her hand to adjust the wide sleeves of her palace dress. The dark green satin wrapped around her slender and graceful figure, making her neck look even more slender. She was nearly thirty years old, and the few faint lines at the corners of her eyes added a lot of charm to her.
The palace carriage was warm and filled with incense, unlike back in Loufan where I had to get up every morning to knead the frozen felt blanket and light a fire.
As I was thinking about it, a corner of the car curtain was suddenly blown open by the wind.
The glazed tile roof of the palace wall glowed with a light golden light in the morning light.
Soon, the imperial carriage stopped in front of the Cining Palace, and the eunuch's shrill voice of greeting was heard. Du Lan took a deep breath, straightened her clothes, and stepped onto the brocade stool brought by the young eunuch to get off the carriage.
"Your humble servant Dulan pays respects to the Queen Mother. May Her Majesty be well."
The hall was silent for a moment before the Queen Mother's calm and composed voice could be heard: "Get up. After four years, you are still the same, though you seem calmer than before."
Du Lan stood up as she was told, walked slowly into the hall with her eyes lowered, raised her eyes to glance at the empress dowager, and found that there was no one else in the hall.
The empress dowager was wearing a bright yellow dress embroidered with phoenixes, and a red gold hairpin inlaid with pearls was tucked into her hair. Noticing her gaze, she beckoned her closer. "Ever since you left, I can't trust the palace physicians anymore. I think it's time to add some female physicians. It's a shame, there are so few women practicing medicine in our dynasty. You alone are particularly dear to me."
Dulan quickly knelt down and apologized: "Queen Dowager, it is my fault."
The Queen Mother raised her hand to hold her arm. Du Lan was stunned. She had never thought that the Queen Mother would treat her so close.
"What do you mean? I don't blame you. You left in a hurry, it wasn't your fault. Now that you're back, I plan to make you a female official. From now on, you will serve me exclusively."
Du Lan lowered her eyes and said, "It's just that I've been in Loufan for these years, mostly treating common ailments like colds and strains. I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with the various ailments that occur in the palace, and I may not be able to help Your Majesty with her worries anymore."
"Back then, you relieved my headache with just one dose of medicine. I trust your medical skills."
There was still hesitation in Dulan's eyes until the Queen Mother asked again, "What else do you have doubts about?"
She felt a chill down her spine, and suddenly realized that this was not something she could refuse. The Queen Mother had only informed her today.
Having said this, there was no room for excuses. Dulan bowed and said, "Your Majesty, thank you for your grace."
The Empress Dowager smiled and nodded, then ordered a maid to bring a gilded lacquer box. When she opened it, she found a wooden plaque with the words "Attendant of the Cining Palace" engraved on it. "Take this, and from now on, when you walk around the palace, no one will dare to stop you."
Du Lan took the wooden sign with both hands. Suddenly, there was a sound of footsteps outside the palace, followed by a palace maid's announcement: "Empress Dowager, the virtuous concubine has brought the eldest princess to pay her respects."
The Queen Mother looked at Dulan, a smile flashing in her eyes: "It's just right, let you meet the people in the palace."
The virtuous concubine walked in wearing a pink palace dress, with a nanny behind her holding a two-year-old girl with two buns on her hair.
When Concubine Xian saw Dulan, she was stunned at first, then calmly bowed to the Queen Mother and said, "Your Highness, I greet you, Mother."
"Get up," the Queen Mother pointed at Dulan. "This is my newly appointed female physician. If you have any headaches or fevers in the future, you can send her to the palace to take a look."
A hint of surprise flashed across Concubine Xian's eyes, and then she smiled and nodded at Dulan: "Hello, my lord."
Dulan nodded slightly in return, her gaze fixed on the embraced eldest princess. The child was delicate and pretty, but her face was wrinkled, her hands tightly clutching the nanny's skirt, and the tip of her nose was a faint red.
Xianfei looked at her, still doubtful, and asked carefully: "Mother, this is the first time there is a female doctor in the palace. What do you think?"
The rank, salary, power... have not yet been established, but it is an official position created out of thin air.
The Empress Dowager pondered and said, "Dulan is usually only on duty in the Cining Palace. If anyone in the palace wishes to use her for medical consultations, I must first obtain your approval. As for her salary, it will be calculated as that of a fifth-rank female official."
This statement was very respectful to Dulan. Although her rank was not high, it meant that she was not someone who could be ordered around by anyone in the palace.
The virtuous concubine smiled and nodded: "My mother has considered it carefully, and I also think it is appropriate."
After being on duty in the Empress Dowager's palace for several days, the Empress Dowager only asked her to check the emperor's pulse every day. The rest of the time, she took her to visit the garden or watch operas. What surprised Du Lan was that she had never seen the emperor.
It seemed as if the other party didn't intend to care about what she did, nor did he intend to reminisce with her.
This is good. The other party is already the king of a country. If he still argues with her, she will have no room to resist.
It was probably just that the Queen Mother really liked her and wanted to keep her by her side as a female official.
That morning, Du Lan had just finished taking the Empress Dowager's pulse when a palace maid brought in freshly brewed pre-rain tea. Amidst the mist, the Empress Dowager suddenly pointed to the wisteria trellis outside the window and said, "Last year at this time, the wisteria was in full bloom, but it's a little late this year. Are there any flowers as beautiful as these in Loufan?"
Du Lan followed her gaze and saw only a few scattered buds on the vines. He replied softly, "Loufan has many grasslands. In spring, the most abundant blooming flower is the goldenrod. It covers the entire mountain and plains, and when the wind blows, the fragrance can waft for miles."
"That sounds quite lively." The Queen Mother smiled and took a sip of tea. Suddenly, she changed the subject and said, "The Emperor will lead the nobles to play polo outside the capital in a few days. Speaking of which, you could go and join in."
The Queen Mother seemed to have just remembered that the female doctor beside her was also very good at this.
Du Lan paused for a moment, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "I guess the field is full of men, so it's not easy for me to play."
"Why should it matter whether it's a boy or a girl?" The Queen Mother put down her teacup. "You're quite skilled, so it's a good opportunity for you to go up and show off. We can't let those men always steal the show."
Du Lan had no choice but to accept the offer and asked for leave from the Empress Dowager to go back to Nanjing with her family to visit the graves the next day.
The Queen Mother agreed and ordered the maid to prepare a box of offerings: "You can take it to General Chen on my behalf. It will be considered as a token of my gratitude."
Du Lan took it with both hands: "I thank the Queen Mother on behalf of the general."
When I came out of the Cining Palace, the setting sun had already dyed half the sky red.
As soon as Du Lan got off the palace sedan chair, she saw Chen Jinshi waiting outside the palace gate in official uniform.
"Have you been waiting for a long time? I'm busier than you right now."
Chen Jinshi reached out his hand to her and quietly held her hand: "It's okay, I'll wait for you from now on."
The two of them quickly left the palace, and the next day, the family set off back to Jinling.
There are many old stories in Jinling. Speaking of the locust tree in the yard of the old house, how much shade it can provide to the house in summer, Du Lan leaned against the car window, and those vivid scenes seemed to emerge in front of her eyes.
When she turned to look at Chen Jin, she saw that he was speaking seriously. The sunlight fell on his face, so gentle that her heart suddenly calmed down.
Until the housekeeper sent by the second house took the luggage from their hands and led them to the old house, a gust of wind suddenly blew locust leaves over and landed on Du Lan's shoulders. She reached out to brush them away, and her fingertips touched the rough texture of the leaves. In a trance, it overlapped with the touch of a spring or summer day in her memory.
The general's chess piece landed on the stone table with a "clack" sound: "Dulan, it's your turn."
Du Lan had been thinking for a long time and was about to make a move when Chen Jinshi, who had just returned from school, suddenly reached out and disrupted the chessboard: "Chen Ying, listen to me, make your move here! I guarantee you'll win."
Chen Jinshi was there to cause trouble, but Dulan, a weak chess player to begin with, fell for his lies and lost miserably. Even the two of them combined were no match for the general.
"Mom?" Chen Jinshi saw her stop and called her softly.
Dulan came to her senses and realized it was no longer midsummer, but early spring. She gathered her thoughts and walked deeper into the old house.
I thought she would never come back here again, but unexpectedly she came back.
Unfortunately, the person is gone, and even if she has thousands of words to say, there is no one to express them to.
There were no generals or chess pieces in front of them, only relatives from the second and third rooms, chattering around them.
Chen Jinshi put his arm around her shoulders, as if to show their relationship endlessly.
Many relatives exclaimed that this was ridiculous, but Chen Jinshi insisted that Dulan was just Dulan, a woman of another race who was only a few years older than him.
Since we have a clear relationship with the emperor, what can rumors do?
The moment I pushed open the door, a familiar, damp smell of grass and trees hit me. The old locust tree in the yard was thicker than I remembered, its branches slanting down to the eaves.
Chen Xing, who had returned to his hometown earlier to take care of his grandson, also came back specially to serve his masters.
"Dinner is ready, and the rooms are in their former order."
Chen Jinxing said "hmm", turned around and said respectfully to Du Lan: "Amu, go back to your room and rest first."
The next day, it was still dark.
About half an hour after leaving the city, the carriage stopped at the foot of the mountain.
The road up was muddy, and the fog thickened, leaving only hazy shadows of the pine trees along the road. Chen Jinxing and Zhang Ruoling followed behind with Chen Jiahe. Zhang Ruoling was worried the child would be cold, so she wrapped her up like a little bun, leaving only her round eyes exposed as she looked around curiously.
This was Dulan's first time here, and she did not come with the general when he was buried.
She walked slowly and Chen Jinshi held her arm all the time.
When they were almost at the tomb, the fog suddenly dissipated a little, and the morning light shone through the pine branches and fell on Chen Jichuan's tombstone. The four words on the tombstone were kept clean, without a speck of moss. There was another tombstone next to it, for his wife, their mother.
Chen Jinxing walked forward and placed the offerings he brought one by one.
Chen Jiahe was held by Zhang Ruoling, holding a piece of cake in her little hand, and asked softly, "Mom, is this for Grandpa?"
Zhang Ruoling nodded and said softly, "Yes, it's for grandpa and grandma. Can Jiahe talk to them?"
Du Lan squatted down, reached out and stroked the words on the tombstone. When her fingertips touched the cold stone, her eyes suddenly became red.
Chen Jinshi squatted beside her, gently held her hand, and said softly: "Mom, if you have anything to say, tell your father."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
