Chapter 148 Warm Spring
On February 10th, the emperor led his concubines to the "Wanfangyuan" royal villa on the outskirts of Beijing to prepare for the Flower Festival a few days later.
Wanfangyuan was not far from the imperial city. When the royal convoy came out of the imperial city gate in a grand procession, it attracted many people to come forward and watch.
At the head of the convoy were the guards, riding tall horses and walking with their heads held high.
At the very front of the imperial carriage was a golden palanquin carried by sixteen men, covered with a bright yellow palanquin cover. It was carried by the Imperial Guards and guarded by imperial bodyguards.
Although the people were kept at a distance by the guards and could not get a close look at the emperor's golden carriage, they still felt that it was very magnificent and indescribable from a distance.
As they received the small copper coins prepared by the palace servants and distributed along the way, they watched with curiosity the rare sight of the imperial palace procession.
Normally, when the emperor went out, ordinary people were required to give way. However, this time, perhaps because of the Flower Festival a few days later, the royal family did not ask ordinary people to give way. They even had the palace servants along the way distribute some copper coins to the people to celebrate together.
Some people curiously looked behind the golden palanquin and saw two apricot-yellow sedan chairs carried by eight people following behind.
"This must be Her Majesty the Empress! Her Majesty the Empress!"
"Don't shout nonsense. Look, this carriage isn't bright yellow, and it doesn't have phoenix patterns. How could it possibly be the Empress's phoenix carriage?"
"Not a phoenix carriage? But isn't that a golden carriage ahead?"
"If I'm not mistaken, this should be the imperial carriage, the palanquin that the Imperial Concubine rides in!"
"Yes, it seems there is a concubine in the palace..."
As Shui Xian sat in the sedan chair, she could vaguely hear the discussions of the people outside.
She found it amusing, so she lifted the curtain a crack and told Shu'er, who was serving outside the sedan chair, to throw some fruit or copper coins as rewards to the people.
However, by simply lifting the curtain, onlookers outside could vaguely see what was happening inside the car.
There stood a stunningly beautiful woman, dressed in brocade robes and adorned with pearls and jewels. Even her delicate hand, which lifted the curtain, was as smooth and lustrous as white jade, shimmering in the sunlight.
"Wow!"
"It's so beautiful!"
"As expected of the Imperial Concubine!"
Emperor Zhaoheng sat in the golden carriage in front, and vaguely heard the sounds coming from outside. He put down the book in his hand and glanced at Feng Shunxiang, who was serving him.
Upon receiving the order, Feng Shunxiang stepped out from behind the carriage curtain and returned shortly afterward.
"Your Majesty, just now Consort Jin had her maids distribute melons, fruits, and copper coins, and the people are expressing their gratitude to Consort Jin's palanquin."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Zhaoheng's eyes flashed with a faint smile.
Even though he was inside the golden carriage, he could vaguely see that scene through Feng Shunxiang's description.
Emperor Zhaoheng ran his long fingers along the spine of the book and whispered to Feng Shunxiang beside him, "Have the guards go to Consort Jin's side more often and protect her well."
Feng Shunxiang received the order and was about to leave when he was suddenly stopped by Emperor Zhaoheng.
"By the way, have people keep a close eye on the situation over there, and report back to me in detail about the public's reaction."
Emperor Zhaoheng seemed to be deep in thought.
Feng Shunxiang knew that the royal family always avoided public gatherings when they went out, and only on some major holidays would they create an atmosphere of celebration between the royal family and the people.
This was just the Flower Festival, but Emperor Zhaoheng unusually did not ask the people to avoid it, and he naturally had his reasons.
Having served the emperor for many years, Feng Shunxiang was naturally able to see things clearly.
He lifted the curtain and went out to arrange for guards and spies to keep an eye on Consort Jin, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
This Consort Jin is good in every way, except for her poor background.
Who would have thought?
Consort Jin's casual action unexpectedly aligned with the Emperor's thoughts; such good fortune was truly extraordinary.
......
Along the way, the people were enthusiastic and lined the streets to welcome him.
After leaving the city, the royal caravan sped up and arrived at the nearby "Wanfang Garden" before sunset.
After a long day of travel, the pampered concubines all looked tired and were helped down from their sedan chairs by their maids.
Their lodgings had already been arranged by Shui Xian and Consort De.
Although the Empress remained in the palace due to her frail health, she was still given the Fengyi Pavilion, which was second only to the Longzhang Courtyard where Emperor Zhaoheng resided.
The Orchid Fragrance Pavilion where Narcissus lived and the Plum Shadow Hall where Consort De lived were both luxurious residences in the Wanfang Garden, with pavilions, terraces, waterside pavilions and long corridors, all of which were exquisitely crafted.
The most wonderful thing is that there is a warm spring on the west side of the courtyard of Lanxiang Pavilion. Although it is a little chilly in spring, the spring is already warm.
Yinzhu arrived a day earlier than Shuixian and the others. When Shuixian entered Lanxiang Pavilion, she was instructing the palace servants to prepare dinner.
Seeing Shuixian enter with Shuer and Tinglu, Yinzhu greeted her, "Your Majesty must be tired from your journey. I have already arranged everything at the warm spring. Would Your Majesty like to have a meal first or take a bath to relieve your fatigue?"
"Let's have dinner first. You've worked hard, Eun-joo."
Shui Xian walked up to Yin Zhu and gently squeezed Yin Zhu's hand. Under Pei Jichuan's care these past few days, Yin Zhu's injuries had recovered quickly. However, she had been tortured in the Shenxing Division and inevitably had scars on her body.
Yinzhu had spent too long in the Department of Punishments, and some of her scars were no longer able to be removed; she could only try her best to fade them.
Even though it was springtime, Yinzhu still kept her wrists and neck, areas of skin that were easily exposed during movement, tightly covered.
Narcissus noticed Yinzhu's inferiority complex, so she often arranged for her to do things that didn't require her to see too many people.
"This servant is not tired."
Yinzhu bowed, the candlelight reflecting on her face. Fortunately, the Ministry of Justice left her with some leeway and did not torture her face, since a disfigured person could not serve a noble person.
But only she knows how many scars are hidden beneath her clothes.
Shu'er busied herself directing the lower-ranking palace servants to move all of Consort Jin's utensils into the Lanxiang Pavilion and set them up, while Tinglu and Yinzhu served Shuixian her meal.
When Yinzhu returned to Lihe Palace, Tinglu stayed with her for a period of time to take care of her, and the two became much closer.
A dining table was set up in the side hall. Both Tinglu and Shuixian knew that Yinzhu didn't like to see people these days, so after Shuixian sat down at the dining table, Tinglu sent away the other palace servants, leaving only the three of them in the side hall.
Tinglu was lively, and after standing for a while, she couldn't help but bring up the day's events with Yinzhu.
"Her Majesty is wise; she had me prepare plenty of fruits, coins, and even cloth and other things that are easy to throw in advance."
Yinzhu actually knew all this, after all, she was present when Shuixian gave the order, and the things prepared were all prepared by several first-class maids.
As Yinzhu listened to Lu's vivid description of the crowd's excitement, she felt as if she were listening to a storyteller, and a faint smile unconsciously appeared on her lips.
"Your Majesty, how did you know in advance that you needed to prepare all of this?"
While serving the vegetables to Shui Xian, Ting Lu couldn't help but ask curiously, "Did the Emperor tell you in advance?"
Today, on that stretch of road in the imperial city, only their carriage was surrounded by cheering people. The other concubines didn't have much prepared, and it was all given out in no time.
Because they were prepared in advance, they kept the festivities going all the way until they left the city.
No.
Exhausted from today's work, Shui Xian ate only a little and couldn't eat anymore. She washed her hands with the silver basin that Yin Zhu had brought.
"Normally, the common people would be asked to avoid the royal procession during the Flower Festival, but this time it was the first time since the emperor ascended the throne that the common people were not asked to avoid the procession during the Flower Festival."
Narcissus smiled and posed the question to Yinzhu and Tinglu.
"Why do you think that is?"
Both maids responded with bewildered looks, clearly having never considered the matter before and now their minds were blank.
Narcissus stopped keeping her in suspense and asked, "Considering that the Emperor hasn't been visiting the inner palace as often lately?"
Tinglu was still confused, but Yinzhu seemed to realize something and showed an expression of sudden understanding.
She subconsciously opened her mouth, as if to give an answer, but then saw Narcissus extend her slender index finger and press it against her lips.
Yes, some things can be guessed, but even at the Palace of Reiwa, they cannot be spoken aloud.
Yinzhu nodded cautiously. Tinglu looked at Yinzhu, then at the Empress, and instantly realized that she was now the only one who knew nothing.
Tinglu: "Good sister, please tell me."
She chased after Yinzhu and ran out of the side hall.
Narcissus rose from the table, watching the maids chase each other, a faint smile flashing in her eyes.
Emperor Zhaoheng has not visited the inner palace often recently because the war in the northwest has reached a fever pitch.
Hundreds of military reports poured into the Qianqing Palace. Although Shui Xian was not allowed to see the urgent military reports, she could tell that Emperor Zhaoheng had not entered the inner palace for many days, which must mean that the situation was extremely urgent.
If you connect these two things together, things become much simpler.
The war in the Northwest has lasted for many years. Emperor Zhaoheng's move was to appease the people and use the grand procession of the royal family to cover up the recent unrest among the people caused by the war.
If that was his purpose, then Shui Xian prepared some golden melon seeds in advance and mixed them into the gifts given to the people, which further gave the common people something to talk about.
Shui Xian was unaware that Feng Shunxiang believed that fate was on her side. All she knew was that only by daring to think and act could she reach the top.
After having dinner, and then going outside to coordinate with the accompanying eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department about the Flower Festival a few days later, Shui Xian returned to Lanxiang Pavilion.
After confirming with Yinzhu that nothing else would happen today, Shuixian breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that she could finally relax a bit.
She called Shu'er and went to the warm spring on the west side of the courtyard of Lanxiang Pavilion, intending to relax and get a good night's rest before dealing with the busy affairs of the next two days.
Orchids were planted around the warm spring, and half-person-high palace lanterns were placed among the orchids in a pleasing arrangement. After Shu'er lit them, she also set up a screen by the spring.
After doing all this, Narcissus, who had already changed her clothes in the hall, said, "Go outside and keep watch. I can manage on my own."
Even after being the mistress for so long, she still felt somewhat uncomfortable having someone watch over her while she bathed or fell asleep...
The maidservant beside Narcissus knew her temperament, and Shu'er bowed and retreated behind the screen.
Narcissus came alone to the warm spring.
She didn't take off her clothes, but only her shoes and socks, letting the spring water cover her calves. She then sat on a soft mat on the shore, enjoying the moment of relaxation.
The moonlight was cool, the spring water was misty, and she was surrounded by orchids, as if in a dream.
This was the scene that Emperor Zhaoheng saw when he walked in.
His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and his eyes suddenly darkened...
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