Chapter 285: Red Makeup Enters the House, Shadows Float
Outside the red lacquer gate of Prince Rong's mansion, two blue-wool sedan chairs landed. The gatekeeper's loud announcement was like a stone dropped into a calm lake, and could be heard clearly even from the corridor in the east courtyard.
Xiaoyanzi was standing on tiptoe watering the most lush crabapple tree when the copper kettle clanged against the stone steps, splashing mud on her skirt. She froze in place, the sun on her back burning warmly, yet she felt a chill creeping up her spine.
"Princess..." Little Dengzi's voice was cautious, "The west courtyard has been cleaned up. The maid sent by the Empress Dowager said...that it's time to invite Miss Chen into the palace."
Xiaoyanzi didn't look back. Her fingers unconsciously scratched the carvings on the pillars. She didn't feel any pain when wood chips got stuck in her nails. "I know." Her voice was muffled, like cotton wool soaked in water. "Let her in."
Yongqi walked quickly out of the study, the hem of his navy blue uniform sweeping across the threshold, creating a gust of wind. He stood half a step behind Xiaoyanzi, looking at her tense profile, his Adam's apple rolling. "Shall I accompany you to the front hall?"
"No need." Xiaoyanzi turned around abruptly, her eyes red like ripe cherries, but she insisted on raising her chin and smiling, "What's so good about it? Isn't it just more people to eat? Am I afraid that Prince Rong's Mansion can't afford it?" As she spoke, she walked towards the inner room, her sleeves brushing across the pot of crabapples that had just been watered, and a few petals fell on the green bricks.
Yongqi looked at her back and reached out to pull her, but his fingertips only caught a falling crabapple petal. Xiao Zhuozi came over with a cup of freshly heated tea. Seeing the prince's expression, he hid the tea tray behind him and winked at Xiao Chongzi - no one should come near now.
In the front hall, Chen Zhihua had already disembarked from her sedan chair. She wore a moon-white, plain cheongsam, a few delicate orchids embroidered at the collar. Her jet-black hair was adorned with a single jade hairpin, making her even more elegant than when they'd first met in the Imperial Garden. She clutched a plain handkerchief, her knuckles slightly white. She knelt to greet the approaching butler, her movements impeccable, though her ears blushed slightly.
"Miss Chen, you've had a long journey. Please come this way." The housekeeper's voice was neither too loud nor too low, but loud enough for the servants waiting in the courtyard to hear. The maids were already waiting in the west courtyard, their hands hanging down, and their demeanor was even more cautious than when they were serving in the east courtyard.
After all, Xiaoyanzi didn't return to the inner chamber. She clung to the vermilion lacquered wooden frame of the moon-shaped door, her gaze piercing through her fingers like a quenched needle, piercing directly into Chen Zhihua's moon-white cheongsam. Xiaowenzi came up to her, tiptoed to peer into the front hall, and muttered, "Wow, bang, bang! This is even more elaborate than when the princess entered the palace."
"What did you say?" Little Swallow turned around suddenly, and the fire in her eyes almost burned Little Mosquito's hat.
The little mosquito shrank back in fear. "No, nothing! I was just saying... this orchid embroidery isn't as beautiful as the crabapple one you have, Princess!"
Xiaoyanzi laughed out loud at his amusement, tears welling up in her eyes. She quickly wiped them away, and just then she saw Yongqi coming out of the front hall. Their eyes met mid-air, and they quickly looked away as if burned.
"Is everything settled?" Little Swallow lowered her head and kicked the stones under her feet, her voice as light as a sigh.
"Yes." Yong Qi walked over to her, his eyes falling on the muddy hem of her skirt. "The maid sent by the Empress Dowager said that she should first get familiar with the rules of the palace for a few days, and then the canonization ceremony will be held after some time."
"A conferment ceremony?" Xiaoyanzi raised an eyebrow, a sneer on her lips. "It seems that the Empress Dowager is determined to give you this concubine." She turned and walked towards the martial arts training ground, the sword at her waist clanging with each movement. "Come on, practice swordplay with me!"
The bluestone slabs of the training grounds were scorched by the sun. Little Swallow unsheathed her sword, a flash of cold light flashing, the red agate beads on the tassel making the scabbard crackle. Her swordsmanship, already wild and powerful, was now even more powerful. The sword's energy swept the crabapple petals all over the sky, landing in her sweat-soaked hair.
Yongqi stood by, watching, raising and lowering his sword several times. He knew Xiaoyanzi was pent up, a rage that would kill her if she didn't let it out. It wasn't until she struck the old locust tree with her sword, sending leaves cascading to the ground, that she leaned on her sword, panting, her chest heaving like a bellows.
"Tell me," Xiaoyanzi suddenly said, her voice hoarse, "Am I really useless? I can't even keep my own husband."
Yongqi's heart felt like it was struck hard by the scabbard. He took a few steps forward and grabbed her wrist, his palm burning with astonishing heat: "Don't say that! In my heart, there has always been only you, my princess!"
Xiaoyanzi looked into his serious eyes and suddenly lost her temper. She thrust her sword into the ground, the blade sinking half an inch into the stone slab. "But she's already here. Yongqi, this palace is so small, I see her everywhere. How can I bear this?"
"I won't let you suffer any injustice." Yongqi's voice was filled with the weight of a promise. He reached out and brushed the crabapple petals from her hair, his fingertips stroking her cheek. "Trust me."
Little Swallow said nothing, but turned her head and looked towards the west courtyard. There, under the eaves hung a new bamboo curtain. When the wind blew, the sound of the bamboo slats colliding was sharp and piercing, like countless needles pricking one's ears.
She knew this was just the beginning. Chen Zhihua, this seemingly gentle orchid, who knew what kind of flowers she would blossom into once she moved into this deep and spacious courtyard. And she, Xiaoyanzi, had never been one to be bullied.
The setting sun stretched their shadows far out, overlapping them on the ground covered with crabapple petals, like a crumpled painting. The wind from the martial arts training ground continued to blow, carrying the dry heat of late summer with a hint of an inexplicable chill.
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