Zhang Chu, Hongxia, and others stood behind the Empress Dowager. Zhang Chu held a small hoe, Hongxia held a small shovel, and Du Bai carried a small wooden bucket filled with water.
The Empress Dowager was squatting in front of the flowerbed, arranging the chrysanthemums that had been well tended by the gardeners and were already in full bloom. "This year's chrysanthemums bloomed earlier than in previous years, and their colors are much brighter. However, their fragrance is still so faint. I think it is best to appreciate the chrysanthemums in the evening. In the evening, the golden sunset will make the colors even more to my liking. However, such beautiful chrysanthemums cannot withstand wind and rain. They must live in this magnificent Jade Hall to thrive for a long time."
Zhang Chu and the others exchanged a barely perceptible glance. What did the Empress Dowager mean by that?
However, if the Empress Dowager did not want them to understand, how could they easily guess and comprehend it? "Lady Zhang, have any great poets in history written poems praising plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums? Recite a couple of them for me to hear, so that I, a common person, may be enlightened."
Lady Zhang's heart skipped a beat. The Empress Dowager hadn't spoken like this in a long time; every word carried a deep meaning. However, she couldn't refuse. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Your Majesty, I only feel that poetry is a trivial matter. No matter how well a poet writes it, it's still something given by others. How can it influence Your Majesty? It has always been you who influences us. If we're talking about plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums..."
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager stopped her, her well-maintained hand resting on the chrysanthemum leaf, and said to herself, "Do not say that slander is as deep as the waves, nor that exiled officials are as sinking as sand. Though the process of sifting and filtering is arduous, only after blowing away the wild sand can gold be found. What do you think of these two lines, Lady Zhang?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chu's expression changed, and he knelt on the ground with a thud, bowing his head, "Absolutely not, Empress Dowager, absolutely not!"
The Empress Dowager turned to look at her, and snorted coldly, "Lady Zhang thinks that orchids grow deep in the mountains, exuding a delicate fragrance. Occasionally, people appreciate them and move them to a high hall. What about these few words?"
"Empress Dowager..." Zhang Chu lowered his head, not daring to continue, "Empress Dowager, please reconsider!"
Hongxia and the others had followed the Empress Dowager their whole lives. Hearing these words, they turned pale with fright and knelt down beside her. They did not try to stop her, but simply knelt quietly. The prince had left the capital, the princess had been assassinated, and the Empress Dowager was furious. So many years had passed, and the Empress Dowager had not been angry for a long time. Those people thought that the Empress Dowager was old, so they began to mess with her.
"Zhihai is the best at picking flowers and tending to plants. Go and call Zhihai back to me." The Empress Dowager turned around, not naming anyone to give the order, and continued to tidy up the already well-arranged chrysanthemums.
Hongxia silently stood up, curtsied behind the Empress Dowager, and turned to leave Cining Palace. Zhang Chu wanted to stop her, but after opening his mouth, he couldn't say anything.
She could only watch the Empress Dowager's retreating figure with hope, wishing that the Empress Dowager would change her mind.
However, after the Empress Dowager finished looking at the chrysanthemums, she moved to the Peony Pavilion. The peonies there were already in full bloom, while most of the peonies outside the palace had not yet bloomed. The gardener said that it must be because of the dragon's aura in the palace. "These peonies have lush branches and leaves and bright colors. They are really blooming very well."
"This servant also thinks it's a good idea." Jin Xi brought over the double-skin milk pudding. "Now that the weather is getting cooler, Your Majesty, please have some double-skin milk pudding while it's still warm. If the weather gets too cold, it won't be suitable to eat it."
The Empress Dowager glanced at Jin Xi, who had just arrived, and her gaze fell on the small porcelain bowl with bamboo patterns and a lid on the tray she was carrying. It was only 9:00 AM, and if one wanted to eat double-skin milk, it would be best to do so in 1:00 PM. Jin Xi was clearly pleading for Zhao Shu. After looking at her, the Empress Dowager turned her head away and remained silent.
Jin Xi placed the tray on the stone. "If Your Majesty feels it's not time yet, please have some fish soup. I just made a hundred-flower perch soup. I heard that perch is best eaten in autumn, when it's more delicious and plump. Your Majesty, please have a couple of sips since I've been cooking this all morning. You haven't practiced Tai Chi yet. I've seen you practice a few times and have learned a few moves. I even wanted to secretly learn some today. Your Majesty, you can't skip it."
She talked on and on, and Zhang Chu and Du Bai couldn't help but feel worried for her. The Empress Dowager hated it most when people pleaded for her, because the more they pleaded, the heavier the punishment would be. This was the reason why no one pleaded for the princess this morning.
They had watched the princess grow up, so how could they not feel sorry for her? How could they bear to see her punished? They wanted to plead for her, but they dared not. They were afraid that the princess would suffer even more and, like those other concubines in the palace who had lost favor, would never again catch the Empress Dowager's eye.
Despite Jin Xi's many words, the Empress Dowager remained silent, only gazing at the autumn peonies before her, and said, "Do you know why I planted so many peonies in Cining Palace?"
Jin Xi lowered her head. The Empress Dowager had not increased the punishment for the princess. It seemed that her plea for the princess had been effective. She was secretly pleased, but another question arose in her mind: what did the Empress Dowager mean by that?
After thinking for a moment, I braced myself and said, "The peony is the queen of all flowers and is famous throughout the world. Only the Empress Dowager, the mother of the nation, can control it. This humble servant is of no ability to know such things. Please forgive me, Empress Dowager."
"If you don't know, then leave." After saying this, the Empress Dowager flicked her sleeves and left. She walked in a straight line, kicking away any flowers or plants that blocked her way. The people behind her heard the sound of flowerpots being kicked and their hearts pounded in fright. The gardener, who was hiding in the distance, beat his chest in distress.
The sun was high overhead, and Zhao Shu's face was already flushed red. Her clothes were soaked with sweat, and beads of sweat kept dripping from her hair.
Ji Yun stood aside, unable to bear watching any longer. She said to the Empress, who was still kneeling upright a step in front of Zhao Shu, "Your Majesty, why are you doing this? The Empress Dowager has not punished you. You should get up and go back. What will happen if you hurt yourself?"
The Empress remained expressionless and unmoved by Ji Yun's attempts to comfort her. Even as her legs trembled from kneeling, she refused to be helped up.
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