Xiao Nanhui was stunned for a moment before nodding and following the eunuch.
It seems that I came at the wrong time today, just when the emperor was taking a bath. But he started bathing immediately, this emperor also has many eccentricities.
Xiao Nanhui kept Xiao Zhun's usual instructions in mind and walked quickly with his head down, not even taking a second look at the scenery. When he arrived at the place, he was told that the emperor had not finished bathing yet.
Taihe Tangyuan was where the emperor bathed, and outsiders were generally not allowed to enter. Xiao Nanhui had to wait in the outer courtyard through three doors. In order not to "offend the emperor's face", he had to keep his body bent and his head lowered.
The walls of the Tang Garden were lower than those of the other courtyards within the palace, allowing the embanked sweet laurel trees to peek out from behind, creating a unique and picturesque scene. Within the garden lay a hot spring that flowed year-round, requiring cold water to be mixed with it. The steam from the spring often overflowed the walls, giving the entire Taihe Tang Garden the appearance of a divine bathing pool seemingly created from thin air.
Xiao Nanhui was facing the main gate of Tangyuan. It was built in a rare perfect circle, with many graceful patterns painted in bright yellow and dark green, extending all the way to the jade floor in front of the Tangyuan. However, the oncoming water vapor blurred her vision, and she stared for a long time but couldn't make out what the paintings were.
The steaming hot vapor enveloped them, and the June weather was already humid and hot. Xiao Nanhui, wearing his heavy official uniform, soon had his undergarments soaked through. In the blink of an eye, an incense stick of time had passed, and there was no movement from behind the Tang Garden. He wondered what the emperor was doing inside.
Isn't it said to be an audience with the emperor? You're not even allowed to raise your head, and there are thousands of walls and doors between us. How can you possibly "meet" a ghost...
Xiao Nanhui muttered to himself, hunched over and inched forward. "Shan Changshi, may I ask when the emperor will be able to finish his bath?"
Shan Jiangfei replied respectfully, "It should be soon." He paused and added, "The emperor doesn't like to have anyone around when he's bathing, let alone being disturbed. Sir Xiao, please be patient and wait."
Xiao Nanhui had no choice but to shrink back again, changing his pace with his feet under his long clothes, pushing on the left for a while and then on the right.
After about another stick of incense had passed, there was still no movement at the gate of Tang Garden.
Xiao Nanhui was already drowsy from standing. Even if the emperor was very particular, this shower was still too long, wasn't it? A grown man wasted so much time bathing? Was this a bath? Was this hair removal?
but......
Xiao Nanhui's mind drifted back to the beauties that had been pulled into the city in carts a few hours earlier. He thought, "If all of them were brought to the palace, the emperor would be spoiled!" "Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, one a day? Or several a day?" With that kind of calculation, it's no wonder she needs to soak for a while. This is kidney deficiency!
Xiao Nanhui felt an unspeakable pleasure in his own inference, and the corners of his mouth curled up involuntarily.
"General Xiao, what's so happy about that you're smiling so quietly?"
Xiao Nanhui looked up at Shan Jiangfei's smiling face, and a chill ran down his spine for no apparent reason. He quickly suppressed his smile, "No, no, Shan Changshi, you must have seen it wrong."
Shan Jiangfei said no more and just stood aside with his head bowed.
I don’t know how much time had passed, but when Xiao Nanhui was about to fall asleep, he suddenly heard a clear bell sound coming from the courtyard.
Xiao Nanhui opened his eyes in a daze. The maids who had been waiting at the outer wall of Taihe Tangyuan heard the bell and came in one after another. The round door was opened, revealing the courtyard inside. There was another round door in the courtyard inside. The palace maids opened a door and followed two people on both sides of the door, and the rest went to the inner courtyard.
This went on, layer upon layer, until there were six doors in total. When only the last door remained, the leading female official stopped moving and simply retreated respectfully to the side.
Shan Jiangfei respectfully said to Xiao Nanhui, "Master Xiao, please wait a moment. I will go and inform His Majesty."
"Thank you."
Shan Jiangfei walked through the layers of doors until he reached the elegant bamboo house in the garden.
"Your Majesty, Xiao Nanhui from the Qinghuai Marquisate requests an audience. Do you want to see him, or not?"
After a while, a low and hoarse voice came from inside the house.
"Let her come in."
Shan Jiangfei returned to Xiao Nanhui and said with a smile, "His Majesty wants you to come in."
Xiao Nanhui secretly breathed a sigh of relief and tightened the velvet box in her hand, thinking about completing the task quickly and getting it over with. She really wasn't suited to the atmosphere in the palace. There were so many rules and countless eyes watching her secretly. She couldn't afford to make the slightest mistake. She didn't want to cause trouble for the Qinghuai Marquis' Mansion.
I have heard for a long time that Emperor Tiancheng is notoriously cold and moody. He hates people getting close to him. Even important ministers often have to discuss matters with him behind a curtain. I wonder how those beautiful concubines live.
After estimating the most conservative distance, she stopped in front of the second-to-last door, cleared her throat, and announced her name aloud.
"Xiao Nanhui from the Qinghuai Marquis' Mansion pays homage to His Majesty."
After saying this, he bowed respectfully, lowered his forehead to the ground, and waited for your words.
After a while, the sound from inside the house was heard.
"Come closer."
Xiao Nanhui was a little surprised. She didn't expect that the emperor would think she was standing too far away.
After a pause, she stood up, carrying the brocade box, stepped over the threshold in front of her, and finally entered the innermost courtyard.
After entering the yard, Xiao Nanhui discovered that the bluestone slabs under his feet had disappeared, replaced by fine white pebbles. Those pebbles were sharp and rough, and people would unconsciously slow down their pace when walking on them.
"stop."
The sudden sound startled her. Xiao Nanhui stopped in her tracks, a look of panic on her face.
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