Chapter 42 Flower Goddess, your beloved is both far away and close at hand...
"Simple and solemn."
Just as Madam Zhong finished speaking, Meng Lingyao was swallowing her tea.
"Cough cough—" She coughed violently, her face flushed, and tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.
Madam Zhong quickly got up and patted her back, scolding, "What's wrong? Why are you coughing like this all of a sudden?" Seeing her daughter coughing so badly, she couldn't help but wonder, "Do you know this young master Jian?"
"Not familiar with her." Meng Lingyao finally caught her breath, wiped the water from her lips, and said decisively.
Madam Zhong looked at her with some skepticism, then sat down again. "Judging from Madam Shi's words and actions, Young Master Jian seems to be quite good. If you are interested, I can arrange an opportunity for you to meet him."
The thought of Jian Su's disheveled appearance as he hurriedly climbed out of the window that day brought a smile to Meng Lingyao's lips. If the truth were revealed, would he have to dig a hole and crawl out this time?
Trying to suppress the wild thoughts in her mind, she waved her hand and said, "Mother, there's no need. I have my own plans."
"Plans?" Madam Zhong glanced at her. "I've been too lenient with you before. Neither Lu Heming nor Zhou Yizhi are good matches. You're still too young and prone to misjudging people. You should always listen to your elders..."
"I will remember my mother's teachings." Meng Lingyao stood up, took her mother's arm, and gently shook it. "But business is at a critical juncture right now, so I have no time to think about personal matters with my children."
Before Madam Zhong could speak, she added, "A few days ago, my daughter made a new kind of rouge, which I will bring to Mother for her to try later."
Her eyes were sparkling and soft, like spring water in March. "Without my mother's opinion, it certainly wouldn't be perfect."
Madam Zhong was not fooled. "Bring me the rouge, and we'll discuss the rest later."
Meng Lingyao clung to her mother for a while longer, but seeing her mother's firm attitude, she had no choice but to make an excuse and slip away.
Madam Zhong watched her daughter's hurried departure and sighed, "Children are all debts."
Just as Jian Su stepped into the mansion, he heard the voice of a maid in his mother's room, "Young Master is back. Madam is looking for you."
He went straight to his mother's courtyard, pushed open the door and entered. He saw Madam Shi sitting on a soft couch, smiling and with a bright light in her eyes.
"Su'er is back." Madam Shi beckoned, "Come here quickly."
Jian Su walked closer and, seeing that his mother was in high spirits, couldn't help but ask, "What did you do today, Mother?"
Since moving from Yizhou, my mother has been unfamiliar with many places in the capital and has always lived a secluded life. It is rare to see her so happy.
"I visited a friend's house today," Madam Shi said enthusiastically. "Madam Zhong is cheerful, generous, and kind. We had a very pleasant conversation."
Jian Su sat down in the chair, picked up his teacup, and listened quietly.
"And I also have a well-behaved, lovely, and intelligent daughter," Madam Shi continued, her voice filled with undisguised affection. "She is also very charming, and I feel sorry for her."
Jian Su slowly put down his teacup, looked at his mother, and had a vague sense of unease.
Sure enough, Madam Shi's next words were: "Su'er, you must see him. You will surely be delighted to see him."
“Mother,” Jian Su rubbed his temples, “the Dali Temple has been very busy with official duties lately…”
Upon hearing this, Madam Shi's smile vanished instantly. She lowered her head in silence and slowly began to wipe away her tears.
Jian Su couldn't bear to see her in this state, and finally sighed, "Mother can arrange it."
Madam Shi immediately stopped crying and smiled, patting the back of his hand: "That's a good boy."
Jian Su picked up his teacup and casually asked, "Which family's young lady is she?"
“Miss Meng, Meng Lingyao,” Madam Shi replied.
"Pfft—" Jian Su sprayed a mouthful of tea onto his sleeve and coughed repeatedly.
"What's wrong?" Madam Shi hurriedly handed over a handkerchief.
Jian Su covered his face with his sleeve, "The tea... is too hot."
Upon receiving the invitation from Zhao Xu to travel together, Jian Su felt as if he had been saved and immediately accepted.
On their day off, the two rode horses outside the city. When they returned, it was just dawn, the sky was full of rosy clouds, and the horizon was shrouded in a thin veil of pink.
“You’re quite enthusiastic today,” Zhao Xu said, riding alongside him. “It’s not easy to get you to come out on ordinary days.”
Jian Su did not reply, but urged his horse to gallop.
"Oh, right," Zhao Xu suddenly remembered something and joked, "I heard from my mother that your mother intends to arrange a marriage for you with a virtuous lady?"
Jian Su glanced at him subtly. If he knew who that lady was, would he still be able to smile?
"That's not true," he replied dismissively.
“You’re not young anymore, no wonder your mother is anxious,” Zhao Xu continued. “Men should marry when they are of age, and women should marry when they are of age; it’s a matter of course.”
“If I remember correctly, we were born in the same year,” Jian Su replied.
Zhao Xu's expression suddenly darkened. "I do have a lady in my heart, but she..."
He bent down and stroked the horse's mane. "I haven't seen her for some time."
Jian Su, who was beside him, did not respond.
Zhao Xu looked up in confusion, only to see Jian Su with a complicated expression, gazing at the carriages entering the city not far ahead.
“Your beloved,” Jian Su said slowly, “is far away, yet right before your eyes.”
Zhao Xu followed his gaze and saw the familiar carriage in the distance. His eyes lit up, and he immediately spurred his horse to approach.
"Miss, it's General Zhao." Cang Dian relayed the message from outside the carriage.
The sedan curtain was lifted at the sound, and instantly a whole carriage full of fragrance came into view. Jasmine with morning dew still on it was like snow, rosebuds were like rosy clouds, and there were also jasmine and peony with morning dew on them. Layer upon layer, the carriage was decorated into a mobile flower house.
Miss Meng, whom he longed for, sat gracefully among the flowers, dressed in a light blue ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), her black hair as black as clouds, her face as beautiful as a peach blossom. She was gently plucking a jasmine blossom and inhaling its fragrance. The morning light filtered through the gauze curtains, casting a hazy glow around her, making her seem like a goddess who controlled all the flowers and trees in the world, her beauty otherworldly.
Amidst the fragrant blossoms, she raised her eyes and smiled faintly, "General Zhao." Her gaze swept over Jian Su, who was following closely behind, and she paused, the smile on her lips fading slightly, "Lord Jian."
Zhao Xu subconsciously held his breath, unable to utter a single word, and could only stare blankly at her, as if afraid that this beautiful scene would disappear if he were not careful.
Jian Su stared at her for a moment, then looked away. "Miss Meng."
"Miss Meng," Zhao Xu finally found her voice, but stammered, "What is this...?"
"Buying flowers." Meng Lingyao smiled slightly. "I've had some free time lately, so I've been making fragrant powder and floral dew following ancient recipes. The flowers in the flower market outside the city are the freshest."
She suddenly remembered something and took out a small enamel box. "This is the jade hairpin powder I tested the other day. If General Zhao doesn't mind..."
Zhao Xu was overjoyed and was about to take it when Jian Su suddenly spurred his horse forward half a step, saying, "I didn't expect Miss Meng to have such a deep understanding of this as well."
"I have only a superficial understanding." Meng Lingyao closed the box, her eyes sparkling. "If Lord Jian is in the mood, you are welcome to come to Juxianglou to taste it another day."
Jian Su was momentarily speechless; the irritating fragrance from that day in the private room seemed to fill his nostrils again. He quickly turned his head away.
Meng Lingyao subtly raised an eyebrow.
The distant chimes rang out melodiously. She nodded slightly. "It's getting late. If I don't go back soon, the flowers will lose their freshness. Farewell, both of you."
The carriage curtains were lowered, and the fragrant blossoms gradually faded into the distance, leaving only a faint scent floating in the morning light.
Holding the face powder box, Zhao Xu looked lost and forlorn. Suddenly remembering something, he turned to Jian Su and asked, "What did Miss Meng just mention about Juxiang Pavilion? What is that?"
Jian Su said coldly, "It's just a run-down restaurant, nothing to say."
-
As soon as the curtain was drawn, Meng Lingyao immediately felt as if her bones had been removed, and she leaned against the cushions. Her unpleasant mood from waking up early was greatly improved by Jian Su's sour face later on.
I don't know who gave him the audacity to repeatedly offend her.
“Miss, I just saw that General Zhao…” Songlan covered her mouth and laughed, “You were staring at him so intently that your eyes almost popped out.”
Meng Lingyao reached out and caught a dewdrop rolling off a petal, then smiled.
This was an unexpected delight; she hadn't expected to run into Zhao Xu at this time. She casually picked out a blooming peony to play with, then held it up and asked Songlan.
"Who is more beautiful, me or the peony?"
Without a second thought, Songlan replied decisively, "Of course, Miss is more beautiful."
Meng Lingyao slowly shook her head and said with a smile, "I admire the beauty of the indigo plant because I am a fanatic."
Songlan didn't quite understand and said, "If Miss asks General Zhao, she will definitely get the same answer."
Meng Lingyao sighed softly, "If you ask him now, he will definitely answer like this, but who knows if he will continue to answer like this in the future?"
Song Lan opened her mouth, but thinking of Lu Heming and Zhou Yizhi from before, she ultimately remained silent.
As they traveled along Jinwu Street, the carriage, which had been moving smoothly, suddenly came to a screeching halt. Meng Lingyao was admiring the newly picked roses when, caught off guard, most of her palm landed on the thorns, and several beads of blood immediately oozed from them.
"hiss."
"Miss!" Songlan hurriedly took her hand. "The thorns are stuck deep. I need to apply medicine for you."
She retrieved a first-aid kit from a hidden compartment in the carriage, carefully treating the wound while questioning Cang Dian, "What happened?"
Cang Dian hesitated for a moment outside the curtain, then whispered, "They seem to be people from the palace."
Meng Lingyao frowned, parted the embroidered curtain, and saw several palace maids in crimson robes riding past. A corner of bright yellow was faintly visible in the arms of the leader, and they disappeared at the end of the long street in the blink of an eye.
"The imperial decree was delivered at this hour..." Meng Lingyao gazed thoughtfully in the direction they had gone. That direction was inhabited by powerful and wealthy people. A cool sensation spread through her fingertips as Songlan carefully applied ointment to her.
"Miss, don't move. This medicine needs to be pressed for a while to take effect." Songlan gently blew on the wound with concern. "Let's go back quickly."
Meng Lingyao didn't have much doubt for long; in the afternoon, Cang Dian brought the news.
"Miss, the news has spread far and wide." Cang Dian rushed in. "This morning, the Empress Dowager issued an imperial decree, specifically summoning Miss Lin from the family of the Minister of Personnel to the palace as a lady-in-waiting."
"Lin Yunshu?" She paused, flipping through the incense manual. "Do you know why?"
"It is said that there is currently a vacancy for female officials in the inner court, and there are especially few who are literate. Miss Lin is learned, gentle, kind and frugal, and is just right to organize and transcribe Buddhist scriptures for the Empress Dowager."
“However,” Cang Dian lowered his voice, “there are rumors outside…”
Meng Lingyao looked up at him, and Cang Dian immediately fell silent.
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