Chapter 85 Second Meeting with the Imperial Concubine
In early September, the butterfly-shaped incense pendant made for Consort Yu was completed, and the Yongqing Marquis's Mansion sent a message to the palace.
Qiu Heng entered the palace again.
It was Zheng Yuxian who took her to see Qiu Meiren again.
On the way, Qiu Heng handed over a paper package the size of a palm.
Zheng Yufei quickly glanced around and said, "Ahem, Miss Qiu, there's no need for that."
“It’s osmanthus cake.” Qiu Heng smiled. “It’s rare for me to see my elder sister in the palace, so I brought some osmanthus cakes that we made at home. Please have a taste, Eunuch Zheng.”
Osmanthus cake—Zheng Yu, realizing her misunderstanding, felt embarrassed for a moment, then casually took it and put it in her pocket.
"Actually, it's best not to bring food into the palace," Zheng Yu couldn't help but remind her as they walked.
"Thank you for reminding me, Eunuch Zheng. I won't bring it anymore."
As they spoke, they arrived at the Hibiscus Palace, where Qiu Heng was slightly surprised to see Qiu Meiren again.
Unlike the dried flowers I saw last time, which seemed to have lost all their moisture, the Autumn Beauty flowers look quite different now.
"Is Sixth Sister's sachet finished?"
"yes."
"Then send it to the Imperial Concubine. Be careful with your words and actions."
Qiu Heng handed over the food box she had brought.
“This is—” Qiu Meiren’s gaze fell.
"I made some osmanthus cakes at home, and I'm bringing them to my sister to try."
"At home?" Qiu Meiren raised an eyebrow, a half-smile on her face, clearly not believing it.
“My maid is good at making pastries. I think the osmanthus cake is delicious and I would like to let my sister try it too.”
"Sixth Sister is so kind, put it down."
As Qiu Heng followed Zheng Yu outside, Qiu Meiren suddenly called out to her, "Did you pick the osmanthus from the osmanthus tree in the Earl's mansion garden?"
"yes."
"That really tastes like home," Qiu Meiren murmured, waving her hand to signal Zheng Yu to take Qiu Heng away.
Once the room was quiet, she opened the food box herself, picked up a piece of osmanthus cake, examined it carefully for a long time, and then took a small bite.
In the Jade Palace, Emperor Jingping was enjoying a song and dance performance with Consort Yu.
Upon hearing that Qiu Heng had arrived, Consort Yu said indifferently, "Have her wait outside."
Qiu Heng stood outside the hall, waiting for an hour or so.
The faint sounds of string and bamboo instruments and dance music could be heard, and occasionally, the laughter of men could be heard.
In this palace, the only man who could laugh like that was Emperor Jingping.
Finally, the music stopped, and a eunuch came over: "Miss Qiu, please come in."
The hall was filled with a fragrance, a mixture of the lingering aroma of wine from the banquet and the incense smoke emanating from the incense burners in the corners.
"Indulging in extravagance and debauchery"—this phrase flashed through Qiu Heng's mind.
She slightly raised her eyes and glanced at Emperor Jingping, who was sitting on the low couch.
He lacked any imposing presence; all that could be seen was a middle-aged man whose eyes and brows were brimming with pleasure from indulging in enjoyment.
"This humble woman greets Your Majesty and the Noble Consort."
Emperor Jingping chuckled and said, "Get up."
Consort Yu beckoned: "Come to my side."
Qiu Heng lowered her eyes and walked over, handing over a small box containing the scented pendant: "The scented pendant that the Imperial Concubine requested has been made."
The eunuch came over, took the box, and presented it to Consort Yu.
Emperor Jingping curiously leaned over to take a look, and saw a pair of butterfly-shaped pendants on plain silk in the box, simple yet exquisite, which was refreshing.
"Is this a fragrant pendant made of incense?" Emperor Jingping picked up a butterfly-shaped fragrant pendant and examined it carefully.
The delicate fragrance of plum blossoms wafted into my nose, as if I had crossed the golden autumn and arrived at the crisp early spring.
Emperor Jingping, who was an expert in the art of incense, couldn't help but praise, "Your ingenuity is truly remarkable; my incense-making pavilion is lagging behind."
Consort Yu chuckled: "I said long ago that the Incense Making Pavilion needs a talent like Miss Qiu Liu."
"Hmm." Upon seeing the scented pendant made by Qiu Heng, Emperor Jingping felt that the young girl's impulsive nature wasn't a big problem. Looking at the well-behaved girl standing there, he asked, "What does Miss Qiu Heng think?"
The young woman who was being asked looked up, her eyes instantly shining brightly: "The Palace Incense-Making Pavilion is full of talented people, and it is my honor to learn from these masters of incense. Your Majesty, may I visit the Incense-Making Pavilion today?"
Qiu Heng's reaction pleased Emperor Jingping: "Haha, of course—"
"Your Majesty," Consort Yu suddenly interrupted Emperor Jingping.
"What's wrong, my beloved concubine?"
"I just remembered that Miss Qiu Liu is the younger sister of Consort Qiu. If you are going to the Incense Pavilion, you should tell Consort Qiu in advance."
When Emperor Jingping heard Consort Yu mention Lady Qiu, his desire to have Qiu Heng enter the Incense Pavilion faded again.
Although Qiu Meiren was cold-hearted, she was also quite interesting, and he didn't want to ruin the good mood they had been having together.
"We'll talk about that later."
Consort Yu smiled and glanced at Qiu Heng: "I am quite satisfied with the sachet made by Miss Qiu Liu. I will reward her."
"Thank you for the reward, Your Highness."
"Step down."
"This humble woman takes her leave."
With the gifts bestowed upon her by Consort Yu, Qiu Heng left Yu Chen Palace.
I could hear Zheng Yu's breathing in my ear.
Qiu Heng turned her head: "What's wrong with Eunuch Zheng?"
"It's nothing." Looking at the nonchalant young woman, Zheng Yu couldn't help but ask, "Sixth Miss Qiu, do you know what the Incense-Making Pavilion is?"
"Let's make incense for the Emperor."
“Yes…it’s almost entirely men there, and His Majesty goes there often…” Zheng Yu didn’t want to explain too clearly, but he believed any woman could understand.
"Thank you for the reminder, Eunuch Zheng."
Zheng Yu was confused.
Why does it seem like Miss Qiu Liu isn't worried at all?
A noblewoman enters the palace and spends her days with artisans. It is common knowledge that the emperor often visits her. What reputation will she have left? How will she be able to marry into a respectable family?
Qiu Heng was indeed not worried.
There are too many restrictions on entering the Incense-Making Pavilion now, so it's best not to go. This is also why she noticed that Consort Yu had a penchant for going against the grain and showed great pleasure in doing so.
But it wouldn't matter if she actually got in, since what she was going to do inevitably involved dealing with the most distinguished people in the Great Xia.
After sending Qiu Heng out of the palace, Zheng Yu reported to Qiu Heng about what happened at Yu Chen Palace.
Qiu Meiren's expression was subtle.
Why does it sound like Consort Yu sometimes wants her sixth sister to enter the Incense Pavilion, and sometimes she doesn't?
Unable to fathom Consort Yu's thoughts, Consort Qiu noticed that Zheng Yu was behaving strangely: "You've put your heart into this."
Zheng Yu seems to care a lot about Sixth Sister.
Zheng Yu hurriedly said, "Miss Qiu is the beauty's younger sister, so naturally I have to take good care of her."
Although the little girl was a bit eccentric, the osmanthus cake was really delicious.
What's rare is that he shows goodwill to others with such ease, making those who receive it feel inexplicably comfortable—something so rare in the palace.
Of course, Zheng Yu only acknowledged that it was thanks to the osmanthus cake, and nothing else.
"Zheng Yu".
"This servant is here."
"If it were Sixth Sister who entered the palace, I suppose you wouldn't have suffered such neglect from me for so many years, would you?"
Zheng Yu was startled by these words: "My beauty, you can't say that."
If this gets out, both the beauty and Miss Qiu will be criticized!
"I was just saying it to you casually." Qiu Meiren closed her eyes, concealing the coolness in them.
She had been in the palace for many years and had never quarreled with anyone, but she was unjustly tormented by Consort Wu. Helpless, she sent a butterfly-shaped pendant to Consort Yu to curry favor, and only then did she get through that ordeal.
But once you start, you can't stop.
The fragrant pendant she sent out attracted Sixth Sister to the palace, the emperor's favor, and a change in the attitude of everyone in the harem towards her. It also led to a change in her own mindset.
Perhaps it's time for a change.
No one knows about Qiu Meiren's change of heart yet. When Qiu Heng left the palace, she met an official who was rushing into the palace and couldn't help but take a second look at him.
The man's prominent ears were very eye-catching, and he looked very much like Li Liang, the Vice Minister of Works described in the book.
Li Liang was convicted of embezzling public funds, and although he was not as infamous as the Five Thieves, he was still a corrupt official.
"Lord Xue!" Qiu Heng saw Xue Han hurrying out on the way out of the imperial city and went over to him.
Xue Han's eyes flickered slightly: "Sixth Miss Qiu has entered the palace again?"
"I came to deliver a fragrant pendant to the Imperial Concubine, and by such a coincidence, I ran into Lord Xue."
"It's quite a coincidence."
They had first met by chance at Qinglian Lake, and now they had met by chance at the palace. If he could, he wouldn't want such a chance encounter.
Xue Han knew that once the palace was involved, it often meant that he was powerless to do anything.
Even now, he is still unsure of his own feelings, but his desire to protect her has never wavered.
"I almost bumped into an important person just now. I wonder who he is and if I offended him?" Qiu Heng said with a troubled expression.
"What kind?"
"Tall and thin, with ears like this." Qiu Heng raised her hands and placed them beside her ears to show.
A smile quickly flashed across Xue Han's lips: "It should be Vice Minister Li of the Ministry of Works. Vice Minister Li doesn't care much about these things, so Miss Qiu doesn't need to worry."
"That's good."
The guess was confirmed, and Qiu Heng couldn't help but wonder: What could it be that Emperor Jingping summoned Vice Minister Li to the palace alone?
The dam that Li Liang was in charge of collapsed, it seems, around the year after next.
"Miss Qiu, I'd like some snacks." Seeing that Qiu Heng was about to leave, Xue Han opened his mouth with difficulty.
We promised to send snacks to Uncle Xu, so we can't keep putting it off.
Qiu Heng's gaze, like a dragonfly skimming the water, swept over the boy's reddened ears.
Asking for a few pastries is too much to ask for; it's not the time to keep pressing her about the smell of blood.
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