satisfy
Incense leads to the golden palace, blending in with the dust.
Jingling West Palace seemed to be isolated from the world, with no sign of the bustling world outside the gate.
Perhaps because the whitewashed walls here were too high, the light and shadows within the hall seemed dim when Tai Shi Zheng raised her eyes. She held the bouquet of birthday gifts, the saint's favorite, and stood before her portrait, silent. She waited, waiting for someone to approach her.
After Tai Shi Zheng spoke, Cui Zhijun understood that the purpose of her trip was to take him to meet an old friend.
He stepped into the palace and saw the person in the painting.
The painting depicted a crown adorned with nine dragons and nine phoenixes, a blue and red robe, and a figure adorned with pearls, seated on a brocade-draped chair. This figure was graceful and elegant, her eyes filled with compassion for all living things. This was Emperor Zhang's first wife, the virtuous, benevolent, and compassionate Empress Shunhe.
This was the first time in Choi Shik-kyung's life that he saw Queen Sunhwa.
Until now, Cui Zhiyun's impression of her had only come from word of mouth. It wasn't until this meeting that he finally grasped the essence of a bodhisattva's appearance.
Tai Shi Zheng did not look back, she just looked at the saint quietly.
She might have felt some regrets, regrets that the saint hadn't seen her wedding day, that he hadn't personally tied her scarf like her mother had. But regrets are common in life, and Zheng should learn to let go. At least, Cui Zhiyun, who was by her side at this moment, wasn't such a bad person.
Tai Shi Zheng silently walked towards the offering table, holding a fresh bouquet of flowers.
She carefully removed the oil paper and respectfully placed the flowers in a green-glazed vase. Then, she spoke solemnly to the Saint, "Saint, Xiao Zheng hasn't visited you in a long time. How have you been lately? Do you know? Xiao Zheng is married now. She's no longer a child. She won't cause you and the emperor any more worries."
"You'll be happy for me."
"And... we picked these chrysanthemums together for you. I remember you always liked to place a pot of these earth-grown chrysanthemums on the windowsill of Kunning Hall. You said chrysanthemums are the qualities of a gentleman, pure and noble. So, I think a saint would definitely like them."
As soon as he finished speaking, clusters of gorgeous chrysanthemums filled the elegant vase.
There was finally a bit more life in the high hall.
Tai Shi Zheng calmly picked up the first three incense sticks, turned to look at Cui Zhijun, and turned around to introduce this person to the saint.
"Sage, this is the son-in-law I've chosen, the Second Young Master from the eldest branch of the Pingkang Marquis's mansion. Take a look at him. Are you satisfied? This is the scholarly family my father has always dreamed of. He always says our family is all rough and uncouth and should change its ways. But when I tell him, sage, aren't you one of the scholars among us? Then my father says our family won't produce another like you in eight hundred years."
He sneered.
Taishi Zheng lit the incense in his hand and chatted calmly with him, just as he had done in the presence of the saint in the past. "I originally wanted to bring him here to pay my respects on the day of my return, but something went wrong along the way, and we've been delayed until today. Please don't blame me."
Cui Zhijun focused his attention on her figure.
This was the Taishi Zheng that Choi Shik-jun had known since their first meeting, a completely different person from the one he had known since. The person before him, depicted beneath Queen Sunhwa's portrait, spoke and acted more like the young prince addressed by the eunuchs than the confident and lively Taishi Zheng.
It seems that there is still a lot for them to understand each other.
But life is long, and if they grow old together, they still have plenty of time.
Taishi Zheng silently raised the incense stick above her head, resting her folded thumbs between her brows. The auspicious smoke, scented with sandalwood, curled upward, swirling. Connecting heaven and earth with the gods, she believed the saint would surely receive her sincere prayer from beneath the high temple.
No matter what the future holds, may the saints bless us with eternal clarity.
It wasn't a clichéd promise of eternal love. Taishi Zheng's question by the pond that day was merely a casual probing of Choi Shik-jun. In reality, she simply wished they could forever preserve their true feelings. This, she believed, was a thousand times more difficult than growing old together.
"My dear, you come too..."
Tai Shi Zheng buried the incense in the small stove, but didn't wait for her to finish her words.
Cui Zhijun politely picked up the sandalwood from the table. He deserved to meet the elders of the family. A gentleman's dignity was evident in Cui Zhijun's every gesture, which was graceful and appropriate. Tai Shizheng watched with fascination, fearing he would resist joining her in the worship.
But seeing Cui Zhijun so proactive, she felt relieved.
When the incense was returned to its place, Cui Zhijun actually stepped back and knelt on the cushion, kowtowed and bowed as if to an elder in the family. He said, "My nephew, Cui Zhijun, pays homage to the Saint. This is our first meeting, and I was in a hurry and did not prepare any offerings. I hope the Saint will forgive me. I will apologize next time I come with my wife."
Hey, I didn't expect... this guy is quite capable~
This time it was Tai Shi Zheng who looked at his back with a smile, standing tall and straight and bowing modestly.
If you ask what ordinary happiness looks like?
Zheng might answer that he protects you in front of his family and respects you in front of your family.
Then, she touched her skirt and chose to kneel down with Cui Zhiyun.
In the past, the saint hated the practice of emperors and ministers kneeling before her. She said, "I'm not a god, so why should I come to worship me?" Therefore, from then on, anyone who met her would be exempted from these tedious rituals, with only a few simple greetings being enough. But Zheng said that she was compassionate to the people and had a heart for all living things, making her a merciful god.
But the sage always answers that he still has a long way to go.
But today is different. Cui Zhijun and Taishi Zheng are showing their respect and sincerity to their elders, so the saint should not resist anymore.
Cui Zhijun turned to look at the person next to him.
At this moment, daylight streamed in, illuminating dust particles that drifted through the hall. He saw Taishi Zheng's fair face, tinged with a delicate pink. He had rarely paid such attention to her face. For a moment, Cui Zhijun felt that she bore a striking resemblance to the figure in the painting.
"What are you looking at so intently?"
Taishi Zheng stood up from her knees. Noticing Cui Zhijun looking at her, she smiled and looked him straight in the eye. "Could it be that you plan to kneel here with me all day? Even if you are willing, I don't think the Saint would be willing—"
"It's nothing, get up." Cui Zhijun took her arm without saying anything.
Tai Shi Zheng pouted and complained, "Hey, I can do it myself. Please don't embarrass me in front of the Saint!"
"No." Cui Zhijun shook his head and did not let go of Tai Shi Zheng.
He would never act rashly in front of a saint.
Standing up and shaking out her wrinkled skirt, Taishi Zheng bowed and said goodbye. "Saint, the beginning of winter is approaching. I hope you are well. My new son-in-law and I will leave without further ado. We will come to see you next time."
Cui Zhiyun's wife followed her husband's lead and said, "Goodbye, nephew."
After a brief stay, the couple paid their respects and left the hall for fear of disturbing the saint.
At that moment, a gentle breeze blew through the hall, blowing up a cluster of elegant yellow petals, which then blew away Cui Zhijun's futou from the inside out. Tai Shizheng glanced up and grabbed his sleeve, "Wait, don't move. Lower your head."
"What's wrong?" Cui Zhijun stepped through the door and landed outside the hall.
Taishi Zheng stood on tiptoe to pluck the fallen petals from Cui Zhijun's headdress. Cui Zhijun was puzzled, but he still bowed his head for her. Then he took the yellow petals into his palm. Taishi Zheng smiled sweetly, and she slowly opened her palm. The wind carried the petals to the lotus-filled ditch.
She said, "Saint, I am satisfied."
"Satisfied with what?" Cui Zhijun still didn't understand.
Taishi Zheng, in a trance, turned back to gaze at the compassionate gaze of the figure in the painting. In that moment, the aunt and niece gazed at each other from afar, separated by the high gates of Kunning Palace. The people in the palace were still dressed in the same silks and satins as before, while Taishi Zheng had removed the golden hairpins from her head and was heading towards a different future.
Saint,
She is satisfied that I married you.
"Nothing." Taishi Zheng turned her head, and the saint disappeared. Cui Zhijun asked her, "Should we go to Huaiqingfang next?"
Zheng looked at the afternoon sky and responded, "No hurry, sit with me in the corridor."
Seeing that Cui Zhijun hadn't responded yet, she sat down on the ground in front of the corridor outside the hall with her legs hanging outside.
Seeing him standing there in a daze, Zheng patted the wooden floor beside her and said, "You have to take your time when doing things. Dad won't be angry if you don't apologize. Don't worry, don't worry. Today's weather is so nice, it's perfect for daydreaming. Come, sit for a while. Every nook and cranny of Jingling Palace is wiped clean every day. Look, there's not even a speck of dust. It's not dirty."
Cui Zhijun is a bit of a germaphobe, but it’s okay to sit with her for a while.
But he had never been so relaxed and unfocused as she was. It was as if everything had been going according to plan for Choi Jik-jun since birth. The word "free and easy" seemed a bit far-fetched to him. It was as if even the slightest bit of relaxation was unforgivable.
If you are not careful enough, Cui Yu will regard you as useless trash.
But when Cui Zhijun actually sat beside Taishi Zheng, the breeze from the corridor caressed his face, and everything around him was quiet and gentle, the light not too glaring. Cui Zhijun suddenly realized that people do not feel tense because of the passage of time, but instead gain a kind of contented leisure...
He looked back at Tai Shi Zheng.
The person beside her, hands on the ground, legs wobbling, head held high, eyes closed, facing the sun, savoring the warmth bestowed upon her by nature. She was so relaxed, unlike Choi Shik-kyung's "craving."
Taishi Zheng's eyes were still closed, but she called out softly, "Erlang."
"Hmm?" Cui Zhijun lowered his eyes and looked at the ditch in front of the hall. He felt that Tai Shi Zheng had something to say.
Waves of warmth descended upon him. Tai Shi Zheng, feeling the response, asked him, "I've noticed you're a lot like a saint. You're just as afraid to relax. While you appear elegant and indifferent, you live a life of self-discipline and righteousness. It's said that a virtuous person can carry all things, but I think this is too tiring for you."
One word says it all,
Although Taishi Zheng is broad-minded, he can see everything.
Cui Zhijun didn't respond, his silence reflecting his contemplation of a response. This was an unsolvable dilemma for him.
Zheng opened her eyes, light and dark shadows alternating in her vision. She said, "Of course, I'm not asking you to be as selfish as them, but it's always right to pay more attention to yourself. When we're together in the future, you can do whatever you want~"
"We are not outsiders either."
Thinking of Cui Zhijun's wild appearance after being poisoned that day, Tai Shi Zheng couldn't help laughing.
She felt that there was nothing wrong with Cui Zhijun, except that he was a little "domineering".
Cui Zhijun turned around in confusion, "What do you want? Just like that?"
What can he do?
"Yes." Zheng nodded and continued, "My dear, do you know why Dad was fine seven years ago, but suddenly retired from the army and returned to the fields?"
Cui Zhiyun shook his head.
Zheng didn't rush to speak. She slowly withdrew her legs from the corridor, bent her knees and leaned her back against Cui Zhijun. Then she said, "Because the saint who worked so hard for many years has passed away, Dad suddenly felt that he had worked so hard for the court for so many years, but had never lived for himself. How could the end be coming soon? So he entrusted everything to my eldest brother and returned to the capital from Weizhou. But... I really didn't expect that Dad's biggest dream in this life was to be a chef--"
Zheng chuckled. There were many things she couldn't understand before, but now she can see many things clearly.
Cui Zhijun leaned against someone in the corridor, still silent. The feeling of being close to each other was wonderful, and he was just a listener.
Until Cui Zhijun saw the bright young man appear under the pine trees in the courtyard in the distance. Perhaps because the man was standing in the shade, Cui Zhijun could not see him clearly. He said to Taishi Zheng: "Madam, look, is there someone standing over there?"
Tai Shi Zheng leaned on Cui Zhijun's shoulder and looked back casually.
Even though she couldn't see the man's face clearly at first glance, Zheng could still recognize that familiar figure. She called out in surprise, "Tenth Brother?!"
Under the pines in the courtyard,
When Qi Liyuan heard the call of "Tenth Brother", he ignored it.
He just clenched his fists and glared at the affectionate couple in the distance.
Cui Zhiyun
How long have you known each other? Get off Zheng right now!!!
Cui Zhijun looked at him in confusion. He thought this person was someone Taishi Zheng had called over, so he asked, "Tenth brother? Did Madam invite other relatives today?"
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