Chapter 25 The horse, like a dog, looked at her obediently.
Trees surround the green hot spring, dust obscures the red sunset [Note].
This warm spring is located behind the palace, flanked by towering, rugged rocks on both sides. One side faces the mountains and fields, where lush forests and intertwined branches offer a refreshing scent. On the other side are rows of shadowy wooden screens that extend into the summer palace.
Occasionally, a maid dressed in apricot-colored clothes would hurry by, carrying a wooden tray with soap beans, bath beans, or snacks and sake.
The palace servants in Taihua Palace had already received instructions from the chief eunuch Xu Sheng. They knew that the very approachable and charming beauty of Nuanquan was favored by the emperor, and that she was the mistress they had to serve diligently in the next few days.
Even Eunuch Xu secretly reminded them that it was alright to neglect His Majesty, but if they neglected the one in the warm spring, they would be in for a world of trouble!
So, Wen Miao, who was lying on the stone by the warm spring, realized that she had only been in the water for a short while when she saw several palace maids with slightly flushed faces coming and going. They brought bathing utensils, snacks, and then wine and tea. They waited carefully, as if afraid of missing Wen Miao's instructions.
Taihua Palace is far from the imperial palace and only comes alive once a year. It has few masters on a daily basis, so there are naturally few perks or rewards. Most of the servants who have no connection with the palace are sent here. They cannot go down the mountain normally, and only when the emperor goes to escape the summer heat can he see other people in the palace.
The palace maids here are not very old; the youngest is no more than thirteen or fourteen, and the older ones are probably not even twenty. Wen Miao herself is a full twelve years older than them. Seeing the young palace maids trembling with fear, she said softly:
"You can all rest around here, it's alright. I'll call you if I need anything."
Shi Cui and Wan Bi had always known that the lady was kind and gentle, but they were afraid that others would take her kindness for granted, so they took the initiative to play the good cop. The maids bowed repeatedly and then withdrew.
The warm spring was now deserted and much colder. Shi Cui knelt on the stone platform. "Madam, would you like me to wash your hair?"
Wen Miao shook her head, "You and Wanbi should rest too. The journey from the capital to the imperial palace is uncomfortable even after sitting in a carriage for a long time. I can soak in the water by myself."
Wanbi: "Madam..."
"Go ahead," Wen Miao said with a smile. "I'm not used to being served personally. You all go and rest and relax. I'll feel more comfortable washing myself."
Having said that, Shi Cui and Wan Bi abandoned their intention to continue serving the lady as she soaked in the hot spring. Having been with the lady for some time, they naturally knew her temperament.
Their wives were not used to having many people serving them, especially when bathing or washing. Apart from the complicated clothes and elaborate hairstyles, the wives usually did everything themselves and rarely asked or bothered others. They were excessively gentle with the servants around them, and never scolded or beat them, let alone spoke even slightly harsh words.
Logically speaking, such behavior makes it hard not to suspect whether she was born into a prominent family and was taught the art of managing women in the inner quarters. However, the lady's appearance and temperament dispel all doubts; she is the kind of person that even top-tier aristocratic families cannot cultivate.
Even Shi Cui and Wan Bi occasionally couldn't help but wonder if their amnesiac lady might have been born into some reclusive family.
Living far away in a secluded bamboo forest, listening to the rain and brewing tea every day, detached from worldly affairs and untouched by worldly dust, perhaps only a family with such a profound heritage could produce a noble lady as pure, gentle, plump, and beautiful as Madam. I wonder how His Majesty managed to meet such a fairy-like lady...
Thinking of this, Shi Cui and Wan Bi, who had retreated from the warm spring together, couldn't help but look at each other, but then felt a little fortunate.
When the late emperor was in power, the Great Chu was not as stable as it is now. It was only after the current emperor ascended the throne and implemented swift and decisive measures, coupled with the defeat of the northern barbarians, that the country enjoyed favorable weather and peace.
Even so, life is still tough for women. If it weren't for the Xie family's protection and His Majesty's secret care, a woman of Madam's looks and temperament would likely be kept in the private residences of powerful and wealthy people in Shengjing, with no freedom whatsoever.
Such a beautiful woman, without the protection of matching power, can only be slaughtered at the mercy of others.
Good fortune and misfortune are intertwined, but His Majesty's thoughts... are not necessarily simple.
Shi Cui and Wan Bi put their minds at ease. Although they verbally agreed to let the lady rest in the outer room, they actually went to guard outside the warm spring and took care of everything.
Inside the warm spring, Wen Miao's long hair was loose as she scooped up water and poured it over herself.
She rested her head on her arm against the cool edge of the rock, her fair skin pressed against the stone surface, slightly flushed. At first, she was just squinting to admire the beautiful mountain scenery, but as she lay there, she became a little sleepy.
Because she was going to leave the capital for Taihua Palace in the morning, Wen Miao got up early. The carriage swayed and rocked along the way, and she couldn't sleep soundly.
At this moment, the warm spring was steaming, and in no time, the woman lying on the sloping rock fell into a light sleep, her black hair winding around, as if outlining a landscape painting on her white jade-like back.
Meanwhile, inside the council hall of the Taihua Palace.
Emperor Qianyuan sat at the head of the table, expressionless, his deep eyes half-closed, making it impossible to discern his emotions.
Below, the officials reported on the progress of their respective official duties one by one, and after speaking, they stood quietly to the side, waiting for the emperor to ask questions.
In the early years, when Emperor Qianyuan had just ascended the throne, many court officials still held the same attitude as when the previous emperor was alive. They did not fully cooperate with the current emperor, and some even acted arrogantly as old ministers.
But no one could have predicted that the Chengying Guard, subordinate to the current emperor, had already been secretly planted and infiltrated throughout the Great Chu Kingdom when Emperor Qianyuan was still the crown prince.
From the highest officials of Shengjing to the various local powers and their inner quarters, they knew everything. Even though the emperor was deep in the palace, he had eyes and ears everywhere. Before anyone could react, he had already woven a secret web throughout the entire Great Chu.
The Chengying Guards inside the palace obeyed only the emperor's orders and were responsible for protection; the Chengying Guards outside the palace were scattered and were used by the emperor for both overt and covert investigations.
In this way, the entire Chu state became a sand table laid out before Emperor Qian Yuan, with all the rights and wrongs under his watchful eye. The ministers, who had previously been proud and arrogant, panicked. At first, they scrutinized those around them again and again, but after finding nothing, they became completely obedient and adopted a proactive attitude of "I will do whatever Your Majesty says."
They revered the current emperor, but also deeply feared him.
Since Emperor Qianyuan ascended the throne, he spent the first eight years dealing with "disobedient" ministers and subordinates and adjusting the structure of officials in the court, using both kindness and severity. By the ninth year, the emperor's authority had spread throughout the Great Chu, and all matters were firmly in the emperor's mind, allowing him to make decisions unilaterally.
Now, in the eleventh year of his reign, what he seeks is to create a peaceful and prosperous world—a world where his wife, after regaining her memories, would be willing to stay.
The ministers of the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Works, who have recently received much attention from the emperor, look thinner than last year, obviously due to official duties, but their spirits are not bad.
The Minister of Revenue was ruddy-faced, clearly indicating improvements in finances and land taxes; the Minister of Rites was in high spirits, saying that the encouragement of private schools was progressing smoothly; the Minister of Works was not only thin, but his face was also darker, as he had personally gone to the fields to inspect water conservancy projects and had made some progress in civil engineering.
After all the officials accompanying the emperor on his summer retreat had finished reporting, Emperor Qianyuan spoke at the opportune moment, deciding whether to reward or punish, all within the emperor's discretion.
It was an hour later when everything was finished.
The accompanying officials, having finished their official duties, were now free to take their leave one by one, preparing to enjoy the tranquility of the summer with their female relatives in the palace.
Emperor Qianyuan immediately stood up, dismissed Xu Sheng and Zhang Ji from accompanying him, and went straight to the palace where his wife was.
When the maidservant serving in the palace saw the emperor and was about to bow, Emperor Qian Yuan stopped her and made a "shush" gesture.
As you follow the screen inwards, the steam from the warm spring becomes increasingly dense, as if a thin mist is veiling your vision.
When Emperor Qianyuan entered, the beautiful woman who was lying on the stone by the warm spring was still dozing off.
A cool breeze blew through the woods in summer, but the temperature of the warm spring was still quite high, making the beautiful woman resting there have a rosy complexion, with tiny water droplets clinging to her eyelashes and nose, and her lips looking bright and luscious.
He approached silently, removed his outer robe, knelt by the warm spring, and carefully lifted his wife's half-dry, half-wet long hair. He then kneaded the bath beans, which had been soaked and crushed beforehand, into his palm before applying them strand by strand to his wife's hair.
During these events, the emperor's expression was gentle, his brows and eyes seemed to relax. If the court officials had seen Emperor Qianyuan at this moment, they would probably have thought they had seen a ghost.
Who doesn't know that His Majesty rarely even smiles? How could he possibly show such a gentle and considerate demeanor?
Even the lightest pressure applied to a strand of hair can be felt by the person experiencing it.
Wen Miao's eyelashes trembled slightly as she slowly regained consciousness. As soon as she opened her eyes, she felt a large, slightly damp hand reach out from behind and gently lift her chin.
"……His Majesty?"
Some of the still-sleepy beauties uttered words in a daze, showing none of the usual wariness and vigilance they displayed towards the emperor. Instead, they exuded a gentle warmth that seemed to be able to be tucked into one's arms.
Emperor Qianyuan's Adam's apple bobbed before he abruptly looked away, somewhat losing his composure. He simply said, "Sitting like this, your face is turning red. If you wish to continue sleeping, I will support you."
Wen Miao paused, snapping out of her daze, and fell silent for a moment because of the emperor's speech.
Emperor: "Madam?"
"...No need."
Wen Miao didn't know how she should face the emperor at this moment. The emperor's indulgence towards her was beyond imagination. At least she couldn't imagine that the emperor would kneel by the warm spring, holding her chin, just to make her sleep more comfortably.
As her thoughts wandered, Wen Miao unconsciously voiced her innermost thoughts. The emperor behind her chuckled softly and answered Wen Miao's question: "—That's all."
It was just four short words, not even as explicit or intimate as Emperor Qian Yuan's other words, yet Wen Miao inexplicably felt her ears and cheeks burning. The redness flowed down her neck to her collarbone and chest, instantly turning her snow-white skin, which was damp with moisture, completely flushed.
It's very beautiful.
Emperor Qian Yuan's little finger trembled slightly. He washed Wen Miao's hair in the warm spring water, then bent down and kissed the wet end of her hair.
"My lady, please don't keep me waiting too long, okay?"
Wen Miao tilted her head slightly, her bright, starry eyes reflecting Emperor Qian Yuan's restrained and patient expression.
Undeniably, the emperor at this time possessed an extremely charismatic and handsome appearance. His restraint and self-control were his shining qualities. Coupled with the slightly protruding veins on his forehead, the slightly scarlet eyes, and the obvious rise and fall of his chest, he was practically writing "want" on his face.
He seemed to be trying to hand the initiative over to Wen Miao.
He wanted Wen Miao to choose him.
When this idea first came to her, Wen Miao was somewhat skeptical, but as she recalled the details of her recent interactions with the emperor, she suddenly realized that it seemed to be true.
Wen Miao turned around.
Thick, black hair slipped from Emperor Qian Yuan's hand and fell back onto the warm spring. The mist was hazy and indistinct, and the woman's plump and exquisite body was half-hidden under the water. Only the bright moon could be vaguely seen in her arms, her plump skin and jade-like bones.
The emperor, kneeling by the warm spring, felt a tightness in his throat.
It was clearly him who had always craved his wife's closeness and initiative, but at this moment, he lowered his eyelashes, adopting the demeanor of a virtuous gentleman, as if he were not the one who had been so infatuated with the woman in his arms, holding her calves and ankles just a few nights ago.
Wen Miao's cheeks were redder than rouge. She raised her wet arm and, for the first time—in a proactive and peaceful manner—gently rubbed the water droplets that had formed on the side of Emperor Qian Yuan's chin with her knuckles.
Under Wen Miao's gaze, the emperor, who was bowing his head, let out a soft gasp.
He instinctively reached out, wanting to grasp the lady's snow-white wrist, adorned with droplets of warm spring water.
But Wen Miao avoided it, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
She was trying to find a way that suited her better—such as getting along with Emperor Qian Yuan, or taking a strong enough initiative in the relationship.
Emperor Qianyuan paused, remaining silent, gazing at Wen Miao with the submissive demeanor of a dog.
Although it was only a fleeting touch, Wen Miao's heart was still pounding.
Even if she didn't remember the past, she was certain that this was the first time in her life that she had encountered such a tall and imposing man as the current emperor—harder, hotter, and more powerful, exuding a dangerous aura that made people keep their distance even when he did nothing.
Wen Miao was somewhat lost in thought.
Facing the fervent and passionate Emperor Qian Yuan before her, she suddenly felt a pang of curiosity about her deceased husband. What kind of person was he? He certainly wasn't as aggressive as Emperor Qian Yuan…
"What is Madam thinking about?"
The emperor's hoarse voice prompted Wen Miao to speak subconsciously, revealing the answer she had in mind.
"I miss Cui Xu..."
This was the name of Wen Miao's deceased husband, and it sounded gentle and polite.
"Shh-"
Wen Miao couldn't say her words. Emperor Qian Yuan gently grasped her chin, and the unspoken words between her lips were pressed back down by the emperor's fingers, gently rubbing her crimson lips.
"My lady, I am very stingy."
"So please don't think about him in front of me, okay?"
Back in the cold winter of last year, when he learned that Wen Miao had lost her memory, Emperor Qian Yuan originally wanted to completely erase the matter of the so-called "ex-husband" - of course he was unwilling, in a way, he and his wife were childhood sweethearts, although it was only his one-sided opinion.
However, he also remembered what Physician Fang said: that the lady would eventually regain her memory. So, Emperor Qian Yuan suppressed his dangerous thoughts and instead used the fact that her "former husband" had died young to create a new identity for the lady that was safe, perfect, and sufficient for her to establish herself in the Great Chu.
In any case, the Great Chu only has the dead "Cui Xu", but there is no Cui Xu who married his wife in another world.
Emperor Qianyuan thought to himself, "He's such a cunning and wicked fellow. All this scheming and maneuvering is just a ploy to get some favor from my wife once she regains her memories."
...At least don't let him be eliminated outright.
The steam rising from the warm spring condensed into droplets on Wen Miao's lips, making them slightly itchy. She subconsciously pursed her lips, which happened to accidentally half-hold the emperor's finger between them.
A sudden silence fell amidst the hazy mist.
Emperor Qian Yuan, who was leaning over the warm spring, remained silent for a moment, then suddenly leaned down and kissed Wen Miao's moist and soft lips.
Before soaking in the hot spring, Wen Miao still had the lip rouge she had applied before leaving the capital during the day. It was a beautiful and bright crimson color. Now, due to the steam from the water and the kisses from Emperor Qian Yuan, it quickly smudged and spread to one corner of Wen Miao's lips, making her look charming despite her disheveled state.
"Madam, exhale."
Emperor Qianyuan held Wen Miao's nape and gently rubbed her lips. Seeing the woman in his arms with her hazy eyes and her beauty like peach blossoms, he couldn't help but chuckle softly. His voice trembled in his chest, causing Wen Miao, who was almost leaning against him, to blush and get angry.
"Let me go!" Wen Miao turned her head away, avoiding the emperor's hot breath.
Emperor Qianyuan kissed Wen Miao's temple and said in agreement, "As you command, I will assist my lady in taking a bath."
This time, Wen Miao was too lazy to struggle. She knew that the final result would not change, so she let Emperor Qian Yuan kneel by the pool and wipe her long hair. However, before she was about to leave the warm spring, she glanced at the emperor, her eyes showing a hint of shame, annoyance and warning.
Emperor Qianyuan readily accepted the good advice and closed his eyes.
This time, Wen Miao placed her hand on the other person's palm and carefully stepped on the damp stones to make her way up.
A gentle summer breeze blew, and a long, smoky purple handkerchief was draped over Wen Miao's body. Emperor Qian Yuan took over Wan Bi's task and chose a long, wide-sleeved, crimson dress with a bird-and-flower pattern for his wife, with a sky-blue undershirt underneath, resembling a mural in the Thousand Buddha Caves. Inside, she wore a Xiangfei-colored pleated strapless dress and an apricot-colored shawl with gold thread.
The clothing styles of men, women, and children in the Great Chu were the result of a fusion of various elements, so there were many kinds of clothing that could be seen on the streets, in palaces, and in mansions.
Wen Miao sat before the bronze mirror in the palace, where she was dressing. Shi Cui was about to step forward when Emperor Qian Yuan waved her away first, as if asking Wen Miao, "Shall I comb your hair, my lady?"
Wen Miao paused, a hint of disbelief on her face. "Your Majesty knows this?"
She herself couldn't manage to style those hair buns, so when she was in the Qin Garden of the Xie Mansion, she usually tied her hair low with a ribbon for comfort and convenience.
"It wasn't possible before."
The implication is that he later learned it for his wife's sake.
Emperor Qianyuan's skills were naturally not as refined and skillful as Shi Cui's, but he was still able to gather her hair and style it into a relatively simple and loose Suiyun bun for Wen Miao.
Hairpins, earrings, fresh flowers, combs, jade bracelets... He wanted to choose another necklace, but then he remembered the jade key lying on his wife's chest, so he gave up the idea. Even though everything he used was the best, Emperor Qian Yuan still felt that his wife was being treated unfairly.
Just as Emperor Qianyuan was about to put the hairpin and jade hair ornament into Wen Miao's hair, Wen Miao, unable to bear it any longer, raised her hand and grabbed the emperor's sleeve.
She said helplessly, "Your Majesty..."
Before he could finish speaking, the emperor already knew.
Too flashy and heavy, it's uncomfortable to wear, and it makes my scalp ache and my neck tired. Compared to those elaborate and gorgeous hairstyles and headdresses, Wen Miao prefers to wear her hair down and just tie it up with a ribbon.
Emperor Qianyuan stopped in frustration.
He glanced at his wife's hair, then removed a few slightly heavy hairpins and gathered the stray hairs at her temples, as if admiring his own creation.
The emperor thoroughly enjoyed the process of dressing up his wife. However, after tying up Wen Miao's shawl-like hair, he realized that applying makeup was indeed beyond his expertise. He could only step back and watch intently as Wan Bi and Shi Cui drew Wen Miao's eyebrows and applied lipstick.
Throughout the entire process, Emperor Qian Yuan remained silent, but his presence was so strong that even Shi Cui and Wan Bi, who were usually steady on their feet, couldn't help but tremble slightly with their wrists.
Even Wen Miao, who was staring at herself in the bronze mirror, felt her face heat up under that burning gaze, as if it had been covered with a warm blush.
Wen Miao had no choice but to say, "Your Majesty, perhaps you should go and look elsewhere."
Although he was driven out, the emperor's expression softened. He felt that his wife was treating him differently, which made him look forward to the moment when she would finally agree to marry him.
Every year, the emperor's trip from Beijing to the Taihua Palace included two main activities: escaping the summer heat and hunting on horseback.
The Taihua Palace is located in the opposite direction to the Nanyuan, where the emperor would go on his winter hunt. The latter is open and mainly consists of plains, while the former is surrounded by dense mountains and forests, with many pine trees and lush foliage.
When Wen Miao finished washing up and came out, she saw that Emperor Qian Yuan had changed his clothes at some point—not the dragon robe that showed his status, but a dark blue outfit of ordinary style, which softened the majesty of the emperor and added a touch of coldness and martial arts. He even had a knife hanging at his waist.
Wen Miao stared blankly at the emperor's appearance, "Why is Your Majesty dressed like this..."
"Today I am not the emperor, but the lady's personal bodyguard."
Emperor Qianyuan changed his self-address, raised his hand to take a tall, pure white horse from Zhang Ji, and gestured "please" to Wen Miao.
Since waking up, Wen Miao had almost never been in contact with a horse like this. Looking at the horse, she saw a mixture of curiosity and confusion in her eyes, and said helplessly, "I don't know how to ride a horse..."
"With me here, Madam can rest assured about everything."
Wen Miao let out a soft breath. Just as she handed her hand to Emperor Qian Yuan, he grabbed her waist and lifted her onto the horse's back.
The Xiangfei-colored skirt bloomed in mid-air like a peony in full bloom. Before Wen Miao could even exclaim in surprise, Emperor Qian Yuan had already helped her sit on the tall horse, supporting her waist and hips.
She froze, unsure of what to do with her hands and feet. The emperor, smiling like a groom, bent down and carefully placed Wen Miao's ankles, adorned with embroidered shoes, into the stirrups.
"Madam, please don't be nervous, I will hold the reins."
Emperor Qianyuan carefully straightened Wen Miao's skirt and then guided her hand to the small armrest specially placed in front of the saddle.
Wen Miao gradually relaxed, reached out and touched the horse's neck, and asked in a low voice, "What's the name of this horse?"
"The horse in the palace doesn't have a name. Why don't you give it one, Madam? Once it has a name, it belongs to you, and you can take it back to Nanyuan with you."
Undeniably, Wen Miao was somewhat tempted.
Looking at the beautiful mane of the pure white horse, she said, "Then... let's call it the Jade Lion."
As if it knew it now had a name, the white horse kicked its hooves, raised its head and neighed, then turned its head and nuzzled Wen Miao's arm.
Inside the Taihua Palace, the emperor's palaces were separate from those of his officials. Although they were connected by an entire mountain, the officials usually did not venture deep into the palace grounds.
After Wen Miao had settled into the jade lion for a while, Emperor Qian Yuan, just as he had said before, acted like a personal bodyguard, holding the reins and leading Wen Miao, who was riding a horse, into the forest.
The light spots were scattered and flickered, falling on Wen Miao's body. Because her hair was styled by Emperor Qian Yuan today, the edges were slightly loose. Although it was not as neat as usual, it still showed a lazy and casual attitude in the forest.
A gentle summer breeze stirred, causing the stray hairs on either side of Wen Miao's cloud-like hair bun to tremble and brush against her cheeks, bathing her in a soft, warm light.
On the other side of the hillside in the forest, Meng Hanzhou, who had come with Lin Su, happened to be looking down and saw the scene from afar.
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Author's Note: Farewell to Gentlemen in Tokyo (also titled Farewell to Friends in Xinfeng on Return to the Capital) by Meng Haoran (Tang Dynasty)
The deceased "ex-husband" finally has a name.
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