Chapter 216: Fengyi Palace is warm, and the undercurrent begins to emerge
The morning light from the Imperial Study had not yet faded, but the faint scent of sandalwood wafted through the warm chamber of Fengyi Palace. The Empress sat upright on a rosewood chair, her fingertips twirling a string of oriental Buddhist beads. Her gaze fell on the newly blossoming magnolias outside the window, a faint smile playing on her lips. The Twelfth Prince, Yongqi, stood at his desk, copying the "Lanting Preface." The fragrance of ink and flowers intertwined in the air, creating a tranquil and warm atmosphere.
"Mother, look at the way I write the character 'zhi'. I can never quite capture the elegance of a book." Yongji frowned and sighed like a grown-up. The wolf-hair brush in his hand hovered over the rice paper, a drop of ink spreading across it like a small blob. He was wearing a royal blue uniform today, the collar embroidered with an intricate dragon pattern, which accentuated his gentle expression.
The queen put down her Buddhist beads, walked over, and gently rubbed his head. The tassels on her silver hairpin swayed with her movements. "Don't worry. Calligraphy requires a calm mind. Look at this magnolia. It gathers strength when it is in bud, and only when it blooms can it fully unwind." She took his hand, guiding the brushstrokes. "Just like in life, we must abide by the rules, but also conceal our edge."
Yongqi nodded, half understanding, but glanced out the window. "Mother, yesterday, as I passed by the Imperial Garden, I heard the palace maids say...that Princess Mingzhu isn't the Emperor's daughter?" He paused, the ink stain growing larger, his face filled with confusion. "But Princess Ziwei is so kind and gentle, she even taught me poetry. How could anyone say such bad things about her?"
The Queen's face darkened slightly, but then she softened her tone. She picked up a handkerchief and gently wiped the ink stain from the tip of his nose. "Nine out of ten words spoken in the palace can't be taken seriously. Some people can't stand seeing others succeed, so they love to gossip. Remember, Ziwei is your father's adopted sister, your elder sister. That's all." A hint of coldness flashed in her eyes, but her gentle tone masked it. "From now on, don't pay any attention to these gossips, and don't spread them around."
"I understand." Yongji nodded heavily and tightened his grip on the pen. "I will protect Sister Ziwei just like I protect my sisters."
As she spoke, Madam Rong entered, her footsteps soft and silent, carrying a bowl of Tremella fuciformis soup. She wore a dark green palace dress, a silver hairpin tucked into her temples. She knelt in greeting upon seeing the Empress, her voice steady, "Your Majesty, this Tremella fuciformis soup is freshly prepared with rock sugar and lotus seeds. Please try it."
The Queen took the jade bowl, her eyes misty with mist: "You must have heard about those rumors outside, right?"
Rong Mama lowered her eyes, her tone tinged with disdain. "This morning, when I went to the Imperial Household Department to collect something, I overheard a few eunuchs gossiping. I glared back at them. They're just opportunists, relying on the support of others to fabricate faults against the princess." She folded the handkerchief and placed it on the table. "Don't worry, Your Majesty. I've had people keep an eye on those who passed on the message. I'm sure they won't cause any trouble."
The Empress scooped a spoonful of Tremella fuciformis soup, her gaze fixed on the swaying magnolia branches outside the window. "Noble Concubine Gao has acted too hastily. Ziwei's life story is well-documented, and the Emperor knows it like a mirror, yet she's walking right into his crosshairs." She gently set down the jade bowl, the porcelain spoon making a crisp sound as it clashed against the rim. "It's only hard on the two princesses, having to endure all this injustice for nothing."
"The Empress is kind-hearted," Rong Mama whispered. "Yesterday she even had some freshly made peach blossom pastries sent to Shufangzhai, saying they were to calm the princesses. I saw Princess Huanzhu's eyes light up like stars when she received the pastries. She even pulled Mingyue aside and said, 'The Empress is much better than I imagined.'"
The Queen couldn't help but smile, and the fine lines around her eyes softened. "That girl has a temper like a firecracker, easily ignited, but she's also very warm-hearted. Last time at the palace banquet, she blocked the wine for Ziwei, drank until her face flushed, and still insisted that she couldn't get drunk. She was quite cute." She paused, her tone becoming more serious. "But in this palace, just being warm-hearted isn't enough."
Just as she finished speaking, Nanny Gui hurried in, her face pale, clutching a handkerchief embroidered with orchids. "Your Majesty, something bad has happened! I was just delivering a festival gift to Concubine Gao when I heard Nanny Li whispering to Eunuch E's men, saying they were... going to Jinan to find a 'witness' to prove Xia Yuhe had an affair!"
The Empress's grip on the Buddhist beads tightened sharply, the eastern pearls rubbing against her palms painfully. "How dare they!" She stood up, the hem of her formal dress sweeping across the table, knocking over a small jade vase. "Jinan is Xia Yuhe's hometown, and it's also the Emperor's cherished dream. How dare they go there and act so recklessly?"
Aunt Rong quickly supported her and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, please calm down. We need to think this through carefully. If we really let them find a false witness, I'm afraid it will cause more trouble."
The Queen took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. Her gaze fell on Yongji's confused face, then turned to Rong Mama, "Immediately send someone to Jinan as fast as they can to find Xia Yuhe's neighbors in her old house and protect them. Tell the local prefect that this is my order. If any stranger inquires about Xia Yuhe in the near future, they will be detained and questioned!"
"I'll do it right away!" Rong Mama didn't dare to delay and walked out quickly. The hem of her skirt swept across the threshold, bringing up a breeze.
Nanny Gui held the fallen jade bottle and whispered, "Your Majesty, if Concubine Gao knew that we ruined her plans, she would probably hold a grudge against us..."
"Hold a grudge if you want," the Queen interrupted her, her tone returning to its usual dignity, but her fingertips remained icy. "I am the mistress of the harem. How can I allow them to be so presumptuous? The Emperor treats the two princesses with great affection, and Ziwei is his dearest treasure. Protecting them is protecting the dignity of the royal family." She walked to the window and looked at the blue sky beyond the palace wall. "Besides, although Princess Huanzhu is an adopted daughter, she is like a little sun, very warm. This palace is too cold. A little warmth is always good."
Yongqi put down his pen, ran to the empress, and looked up at her: "Mother, I will also go to help Sister Ziwei! I can go tell the emperor that those are all fake!"
The queen squatted down and gently stroked his cheek, her eyes full of love. "It's good that you have this kind heart, Ji'er. You should practice calligraphy well and learn your skills well, so that you can protect the people you want to protect in the future." She picked up the jade bottle on the ground and gently wiped away the dust. "Some storms will always require me to protect you first."
Outside the warm room, a few magnolia petals blew off the wind, drifting onto the bluestone slabs. In the distance, the gentle footsteps and laughter of the palace maids drifted in the distance, yet no one knew that within this moment of tranquility, Fengyi Palace had quietly prepared a defense against the distant storm. The empress gazed out the window at the sunlight, her fingertips slowly sliding across her Buddhist beads, a single thought in her mind: This life should have more warmth and fewer regrets.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
