Chapter 8 Zanggu Temple: "The one who painted this must have a heart full of hidden wisdom, a heart that holds profound meaning..."
Jiang Ce sat in Jilan Pavilion for a while longer before Xiao Huaiting arrived.
As soon as they arrived, they saw Jiang Ce under the wall, diligently picking flowers and tucking them into his sleeves.
The sunlight shone on the snow and also on Jiang Ce's silver-white robe, making it appear as bright as the frost and snow.
"Bozhou"
Jiang Ce was just looking at the two camellias in his palm when someone called him. He turned around and saw a young man in a snow-white fur coat walking quickly toward him.
Jiang Ce feigned a complaint: "Young Master Xiao is such a busybody. I didn't even see you come to see me when I returned to the capital."
Xiao Huaiting patted his back and explained softly, "It's not that I don't want to see you, it's just that my father has been seriously ill again these days, and I really can't get away. When he's feeling better, Zheng Shaoyu and I will invite you and Youyu to have tea at Ningcui Tower."
"Is he sick?" Jiang Ce's playful tone vanished. "Is Lord Mingyi feeling any better?"
"His Majesty sent the imperial physicians to take care of him, and he has recently improved." Seeing that he suddenly became anxious, Xiao Huaiting quickly comforted him gently, "He has only just recovered a little, and that's why I went to the palace to thank His Majesty."
The two walked along a path, the fragrance of plum blossoms lingering in the air.
Jiang Ce said, "His Majesty is your maternal uncle, so it's only right that he remembers you."
"Alas!" Xiao Huaiting hurriedly pulled him to the side and said solemnly, "You must not say that. There is a distinction between ruler and subject. How can you claim kinship?"
Jiang Ce didn't say anything because of his humble and meticulous manner, but asked again, "But why is Lord Mingyi ill again?"
Xiao Huaiting sighed deeply, gazing at the plum blossoms.
"You know perfectly well that seven years ago, my eldest brother went to Tongzhou for disaster relief and was fatally injured by a mob. My parents have been heartbroken ever since. Two days ago was my brother's birthday, and my father was overcome with grief..."
Jiang Ce looked at him and saw that he had become more upright and self-disciplined over the years, which was far from his carefree and unrestrained appearance in his youth. He couldn't help but sigh.
"These past few years haven't been easy for you either, have they?"
Xiao Huaiting simply smiled gently: "My parents raised me, and now that my elder brother is gone and Yangjun is still unmarried, these are responsibilities I should bear. It's not a matter of whether it's easy or not..."
"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Have you seen Shao Yu?"
Jiang Ce shook his head: "I can't see the person, but I do receive letters every few days."
Xiao Huaiting laughed and said, "He had a fight with the Zhuang father and son last month, which angered the Zhuang teacher so much that he went home. Grand Tutor Zheng was so angry that he scolded him for many days and kept him at home to study. I haven't seen him much this month either."
As the two drew closer to Fangchun Pavilion, Xiao Huaiting finally remembered to ask.
Where are we going?
"Go to Fangchun Pavilion to cultivate your character and temperament."
The two strolled past the shadows of a flowering tree and slowly entered the painting gallery. At this time, apart from a few court painters creating paintings for the year-end, only palace servants were busy cleaning and sweeping inside.
As soon as they entered, everyone stopped.
Jiang Ce waved his hand casually and said, "I just came to look at the paintings. You all go about your business."
Because the emperor often watched the court painters paint at Fangchun Pavilion, he would bring several of his sons with him. In particular, the heir of the Earl of Mingyi was skilled in both calligraphy and painting, and he often came to the pavilion to appreciate the paintings and have the court painters appraise them, so they got to know each other to some extent.
As for Jiang Ce, he was good-tempered and loved to talk and laugh, so everyone let the two of them wander around and went about their own business.
Jiang Ce strolled around with his arms crossed, his gaze shifting to the easel against the wall on the other side.
He stepped forward and looked down.
“This painting… doesn’t seem to be made by the court painters. Why is it placed here?” Xiao Huaiting walked to Jiang Ce’s side and said softly.
The eunuch who came with Jiang Ce laughed and said, "This is His Majesty's intention. Why don't you two take a closer look? You'll know His Majesty's meaning if you don't know who is wrong."
The two stood before the painting, which was about three square feet in size, and examined it carefully. The painting was inscribed with neat, small characters: "An ancient temple hidden in the mountains."
The water ripples along the mountain stream.
A thin, young monk was fetching water from the stream, carrying his wooden bucket back home. The bucket swayed, leaving water droplets along the winding mountain path that led deep into the forest.
The stream ripples gently, the bamboo grove is lush and verdant, and an ancient temple is hidden among the green mountains.
Xiao Huaiting's gaze fell on the word "hidden," and he understood in an instant.
"Looks like you already know?" He nudged Jiang Ce.
Jiang Ce withdrew his gaze. He knew that Xiao Huaiting was always very knowledgeable, and said calmly, "Since you already understand, why do you need to ask me again?"
Xiao Huaiting smiled gently, reached out and stroked the painting, lowered his eyes and spoke softly.
"The person who painted this must be a person with a heart full of sincerity and hidden talents, possessing both beauty and brilliance."
Jiang Ce raised an eyebrow and turned his gaze back to the painting.
"That's right." The young attendant, carrying a painting, walked up to the two of them and said with a smile.
"On that day, His Majesty and Miss Xue exchanged painting skills with us at the Painting Academy. His Majesty used 'Ancient Temple Hidden in the Mountains' as the theme and ordered us to paint. However, most of us painted temples and mountains, which were more in line with the theme but lacked inspiration. Although Miss Xue's painting was a bit immature in brushwork, it was superior in its ingenious conception. His Majesty was very pleased and kept the painting in the Painting Academy."
"Miss Xue?" Xiao Huaiting looked at Jiang Ce, who was looking down at the painting, and raised his eyebrows slightly.
Jiang Ce paused, looked up, and asked, "Who?"
"Who else could it be?" The attendant said jokingly when he saw his surprise, and then left.
Xiao Huaiting teased, "Consort Xue was recommended to the palace because of her talent, and her brother Xue Chenghuai is an exceptional calligrapher and painter, known as Master Xue. Now that you see your daughter's calligraphy and painting, why don't you seem happy?"
"I'm not unhappy." Jiang Ce smiled.
I just think this painting looks a lot like a temple.
The Kuzhu Temple, which he climbed out of after being seriously injured for three days.
The two looked at the paintings in the museum for a while, and then they noticed that it was getting dark.
Through the open window, Jiang Ce saw that the West Pavilion, which used to be used only for storing books and paintings, was now lit up with several lights, vaguely casting a shadow.
"I heard from the palace servants that Li Qingyan's 'Copy of the Flower Calligraphy' is kept in the West Pavilion. It's rare for it to be in the palace, so let's go take a look."
"Hey! There it is---"
There is someone.
Eager to read the letter, Xiao Huaiting pulled Jiang Ce and headed into the West Pavilion.
Upon entering, the first thing they saw was a landscape painting screen. They wondered when the screen had been erected, when a figure appeared behind it.
If it weren't for the painted screen separating them, and Jiang Ce quickly pulling Xiao Huaiting back, the two would have almost collided in their haste.
Although it was not very clear, the figure and the tinkling sound of jade pendants as it hurriedly retreated were clearly visible.
It was a woman.
The two immediately turned to the side, and Jiang Ce apologized, "We were unaware that there were people in the West Pavilion. We apologize for our abruptness and offense."
After saying that, he immediately lowered his head and bowed with his hands clasped in greeting. Xiao Huaiting also bowed somewhat awkwardly.
The person behind the painted screen did not speak, but gracefully bowed in return.
"I'm sorry for the offense."
Jiang Ce apologized again and immediately pulled Xiao Huaiting out of the west pavilion. As soon as they stepped down the stone steps, Xiao Huaiting looked back and then lowered his head in deep thought.
What are you thinking about?
When Jiang Ce asked, Xiao Huaiting simply smiled, brushed away the slightly familiar figure, and replied, "It's nothing."
The two hurriedly left Fangchun Pavilion and soon circled back to Jilan Pavilion.
Jiang Ce asked the accompanying eunuch, "Why was the West Pavilion opened up?"
"By His Majesty's grace, Miss Xue may paint in the West Pavilion of Fangchun Pavilion when she enters the palace."
Jiang Ce turned around and could only see two pale lights shining from the lanterns hanging on the eaves.
"The palace gates are about to be locked. You two should hurry and go home." The eunuch urged the two of them to walk further and further away, as it grew dark.
After all was quiet, Xue Chan stepped out from behind the screen. She picked up the bright red camellia that had fallen to the ground and gently stroked its cool petals. After a moment of silence, she let out a long sigh.
Yun Sheng asked, "What's wrong, young lady?"
Xue Chan shook her head slightly: "I just feel like my luck isn't very good..."
"Why do you say that?" Yun Sheng was a little confused.
Xue Chan added, "Huaizhu said she went to pick plum blossoms, but she hasn't returned yet. Let's go to the back and take a look."
The two men, carrying lanterns, bypassed Fangchun Pavilion to search for Cheng Huaizhu. The plum garden was extremely secluded on this winter night. After walking for a while, they seemed to be going deeper and deeper into the area.
Xue Chan immediately stopped and pulled Yun Sheng back.
"Aren't you going to look for it anymore?"
"It's nighttime, and it's not good to stay in a secluded place for too long. She must have already returned to Fangchun Pavilion or Funing Palace."
It started to snow lightly, and the wind picked up a bit.
Xue Chan grabbed Yun Sheng, turned around, and left quickly out of the plum garden.
But then a north wind suddenly rose, swirling up snowflakes. The lamp in her hand was blown out, and she could only walk back by the faint light from the pavilion.
The snowy night was so dark and the snow was so heavy that the two of them walked very slowly.
After walking a few steps, the two seemed to have entered some unknown alleyway, which became even more desolate in the snowy night.
Here, the air is no longer just filled with the chill of frost and snow, but also with the deep fragrance of plum blossoms, as if we have been transported back to the vicinity of the plum garden.
"He treats you badly, doesn't he?"
"This has nothing to do with you."
Xue Chan wanted to walk further, but she vaguely heard someone talking, so she quickly stopped and quietly pulled Yun Sheng back.
"He's gone out to have fun again, hasn't he?"
"I told you, this has nothing to do with you. It's a snowy and windy night, and we're in the palace. You should go back. If someone sees us, who knows what trouble will ensue."
"What's there to be afraid of? It's a snowy and windy night, who would come here?"
Xue Chan: "......."
Of course, it's those two unlucky souls, her and Yunsheng.
Xue Chan didn't want to hear it, nor did she want to get involved in any trouble, so she and Yun Sheng walked even more quietly. But the snow fell on the bricks and stones, covering the withered branches and fallen leaves, and even though they were being as careful as they could, there were still faint sounds.
"Who goes there!"
Upon hearing a low shout, Xue Chan felt utterly unlucky and quickened her pace.
Someone was already chasing after them, their footsteps following closely behind.
The other person appeared to be a man, walking quickly and closely, exuding a chilling aura.
Although Xue Chan was blind, her hearing was extremely sharp.
Ignoring her fear, she quickly led Yun Sheng away, weaving through the woods, managing to avoid being caught.
Suddenly, a blurry figure appeared from the other side and chased after them.
Xue Chan tried to escape, but was dragged into a rockery and quickly moved through the darkness. No one asked any questions; they simply followed the person who had dragged her away.
Leaving the rockery, there are two palace paths on the left and right. Walk to the right until you reach the end, where you will find a bright spot.
The other party stopped.
Xue Chan looked up and found herself back in the alley behind Fangchun Pavilion.
With the light, she could vaguely see the people leading them away.
The other person was slightly older than them and dressed in simple palace robes: "Fangchun Pavilion is just ahead. You two should hurry back."
Xue Chan: "Thank you very much today."
"It was just a coincidence. You two should go back now. This servant will take her leave."
"I still don't know which palace you belong to, what your name is, or how I should thank you."
In the winter night, the palace maid's calm and steady voice came: "This servant is just a lowly palace maid in the inner palace responsible for pruning flower branches. If Your Highness really wants to thank me, just forget about today's matter."
Xue Chan wanted to chase after him, but he had already disappeared.
Yun Sheng finally came to his senses, his voice already trembling with tears: "Miss..."
Xue Chan squeezed Yun Sheng's cold hand and comforted her, "Don't be afraid, let's go back quickly."
They circled around to the front of Fangchun Pavilion, where a faint light drifted toward them in the night and snow.
Yun Sheng lowered his head and whispered to Xue Chan, who was squinting at the road, "It's Miss Huaizhu."
"Where have you been? Why are you up so late?" Xue Chan reached out and brushed the snowflakes off Cheng Huaizhu's hair.
"I ran into Consort Shu and played with the Fourth Princess. I didn't realize how late it was." Cheng Huaizhu covered up the fact that she had been teased by the Fourth Princess Baojia, and said only, "It's freezing cold. Let's go back quickly."
After saying that, she pulled Xue Chan up and led her through the wind and snow.
As they walked away, a person emerged from the alleyway, gazing thoughtfully in the direction Xue Chan had gone.
Back at Funing Palace, Xue Chan was already exhausted, but she still mustered her strength to organize the paintings.
"We're about to leave the palace, you should go to sleep early."
After Cheng Huaizhu urged her several times, Xue Chan finally lay down with a yawn.
She started feeling sleepy as soon as her head hit the covers, while the person next to her was already fast asleep.
Snowflakes fluttered outside the window. Xue Chan opened her eyes, remembered the palace maid, and turned to lift the curtain.
Through the thin paper window, the pure white snow fell.
A note from the author:
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