Chapter 81 Please have Miss Meng examine you.
Two more landed in front of Ji Yun's desk. One of them was particularly restless, leaping up suddenly from his desk and flapping its wings violently, creating a whistling sound in his ears.
The sound of flapping wings grew louder and louder, instantly drowning out all the surrounding music and voices like a tidal wave. All he could see were those gray-white wings that kept approaching and vibrating wildly, and his vision became blurred.
A suffocating tightness gripped his chest, and Ji Yun instinctively raised his hand to block, but to no avail. He felt the wind, carrying the stench of birds, seeping in relentlessly, drawing ever closer…
The park was instantly thrown into chaos.
Meng Yutong stared intently, sensing something unusual. Her gaze quickly swept across the entire area, noticing that most of the pigeons were simply scattering and taking flight like headless flies.
Most of them circled the crowd at the banquet once before heading towards the trees and flowers in the garden. On a pomegranate tree behind Meng Yutong, a pigeon was perched. It skimmed over the pomegranate blossoms, bending the branches low, before taking flight and flying towards a hibiscus tree not far away.
One pigeon, seemingly having identified its target, flapped its wings and swooped straight towards Ji Yun's face.
In a flash, without hesitation, she curled her fingers, brought them to her lips, gathered her inner energy, and blew the pigeon whistle that Liu Sijun had taught her a few days earlier.
A clear, long, and penetrating whistle suddenly rang out, shattering the chaos in the garden.
Strangely enough, the flock of pigeons that had been flying wildly and erratically, upon hearing this sound, seemed to be held back by invisible threads, their flapping wings gradually slowing down, and they stopped their reckless flight.
Meng Yutong concentrated and calmed himself, whistling continuously, sometimes short and sometimes long, containing a unique rhythm.
In a short while, the flock of pigeons seemed to understand the command, and they all turned around and flew towards the high wall in an orderly fashion, disappearing into the vast twilight in the blink of an eye.
This sudden turn of events came quickly and ended just as fast. All that remained were the sighs of those still reeling from the shock, and the scattered petals and leaves on the ground.
Before anyone could process the chaos that had just transpired, Princess Jingfu had already witnessed the entire scene below and the whole story of how Meng Yutong had extricated herself from the predicament.
She began to comfort the crowd below, "You have all been frightened. I don't know where the flock of pigeons came from. Perhaps they were excited and flustered because they saw the lush flowers and plants in my garden and the pleasant fragrance."
After Jingfu finished speaking, he looked at Meng Yutong again and saw that she had calmly returned to her original seat, showing no intention of taking credit.
A complex emotion flashed across her face. The scene of the clear whistle sounding and the pigeons scattering in response had indeed amazed her for a moment. Did this woman really have such skills? After the pigeons dispersed, she also knew better and behaved herself.
However, this thought of appreciation was quickly suppressed by a deeper sense of unease.
Considering this woman's humble origins, her practice of medicine was already an improper path, and she had even used her leg ailment to blackmail him, she was truly a dangerous person whose intentions were unpredictable.
But she did have some real skills. She had tried her prescription as a last resort, but after two months, her leg actually improved.
Although she looked down on Meng Yutong, if this woman could really cure her leg...
Seeing that the people in the garden still looked somewhat frightened, Li Wan changed the subject by saying something else. The minor incident was temporarily put aside, and the banquet was able to resume its proper order.
Next came the part where the guests presented their gifts.
The items presented were mostly rare and precious treasures, including a necklace made of pearls from the South China Sea and a Guanyin statue carved from a single piece of Hetian jade, a tribute from the Western Regions. The dazzling array of items illuminated the magnificent courtyard.
Dou Zhijie, the son of the Minister of Rites, was also present at the banquet. He stepped forward with a smile and a respectful demeanor, presenting a pair of items in a box made of Phoebe zhennan wood.
He paused slightly, then gestured for his attendant to bring out another brocade box, and said with a smile, "This is a painting from the previous dynasty called 'The Gathering at the Jade Terrace,' which my father acquired by chance. The painting is exquisite and the artistic conception is ethereal. Thinking that the princess also has a fondness for calligraphy and painting, I took this opportunity to present it to the Buddha and respectfully congratulate the princess on her birthday. May the princess's beautiful appearance and youthful years remain as they are today, and may she be happy every year."
Dou Zhijie inherited his father's style, being adept at social maneuvering and speaking tactfully. The Dou family maintained close ties with the Dowager Empress's lineage, sharing both glory and hardship.
These words both expressed the Dowager Consort's care and conveyed the family's own sentiments, covering all aspects. Even Jingfu, a picky person, nodded slightly and a faint smile appeared on his lips: "I appreciate the Dowager Consort's concern. Young Master Dou and Minister Dou are also very thoughtful. Please convey my gratitude to the Dowager Consort. I am very pleased with these gifts."
The current Consort Xian is the birth mother of Prince Rong and the Consort Xian during the reign of the late Emperor. In the past, when the late Emperor was alive, Prince Rong was the eldest son of the Emperor and was once a potential heir apparent. However, the late Emperor favored the second prince, who was born to the Empress.
At that time, the current emperor was the seventh prince. His birth mother died early, and he was later raised by the virtuous concubine.
However, fate is unpredictable, and the struggle for the throne was fraught with twists and turns. The second prince died young, and the eldest prince also fell out of favor due to his poor performance in supervising the silk tribute case in Jiangnan. In the end, it was the kind and filial seventh prince who was made crown prince and inherited the throne.
After the new emperor ascended the throne, he honored his adoptive mother, Consort Xian, as Consort Xian Dowager, and his elder brother as Prince Rong, showering him with favors and honors.
Although Consort Xian was advanced in years, she was not content to live a life of leisure in the deep palace. She maintained the connections she had cultivated over many years in both the court and the inner palace.
After Dou Zhijie presented his gift, several other noblewomen followed suit, offering gifts such as South China Sea coral, pearl jewelry, and silk screens. Princess Jingfu accepted them one by one, her smiles masking her growing disinterest.
She lazily tapped the table with her slender fingertips, her gaze sweeping over the crowd and landing on Meng Yutong, who sat quietly alone in a corner. She raised an eyebrow slightly, her tone laced with deliberate curiosity and critical eye: "These gold and jade antiques that you have sent are beautiful, but to my opinion, they are all rather similar. I wonder if I can see anything truly fresh and unique today?"
These words caused a moment of silence in the room. Those present were all from noble families, and their gifts were mostly ordinary treasures of immense value. The princess's words made those who had not yet presented their gifts somewhat uneasy.
Meng Yutong knew in her heart that this was clearly aimed at her.
Her expression remained unchanged as she calmly rose and presented the simple wooden box she had brought to the table. The lid opened, revealing not jewels and precious stones inside, but a neatly folded velvet blanket.
She unfolded it with both hands, and saw that the carpet was made of dark blue brocade, on which a magnificent scene of ten thousand horses galloping was embroidered with various colored silk threads. The horses were in different postures, some raising their hooves and neighing, and others galloping like lightning. The stitches were fine and exquisite, and the scene was majestic.
The moment the blanket was unfolded, a delicate and mellow herbal fragrance gently wafted out, neither strong nor overpowering, bringing a sense of tranquility.
Meng Yutong spoke in a clear and melodious voice, introducing the item with neither arrogance nor servility: "Your Highness, this item is called the 'Hundred Herbs Warming Blanket.' The blanket is woven with special medicinal thread mixed with wool. After it is woven, it is repeatedly fumigated for seven days and seven nights with more than ten kinds of medicinal herbs that promote blood circulation, such as Sichuan lovage, mugwort, and angelica pubescens, so that the medicinal power can penetrate deep into the fibers."
"Although it is the height of summer, when used at night, the medicinal properties inside the blanket will slowly diffuse with body temperature, which can help blood circulation, relieve limb stiffness, and make you feel more comfortable and refreshed when you wake up in the morning."
She spoke clearly and acted with composure, showing no timidity despite her different social status. This demeanor drew admiring glances from some of the guests.
The palace maid carried the blanket to the main seat as instructed, allowing those on either side to examine it closely. The blanket had a rich, full texture and a serene color. The embroidery was incredibly lifelike, with the horse's mane seemingly moving in the wind. It was no ordinary item found on the market, and one could tell at a glance that it had taken a great deal of effort to create.
Princess Gyeongbok lowered her eyes, her gaze sweeping across the carpet, lingering for a moment on the embroidered horses, which were unrestrained and full of life. Her eyes, compared to when she looked at the gold and jade, did indeed have a slightly more subtle gleam.
This woman is quite bold. When ordinary people give silk items as gifts, the patterns on them are usually just flowers, birds, insects and fish. Although there is nothing wrong with them, they are quite boring.
This image of galloping horses was the first of its kind that anyone had ever thought of. In her bedchamber, there was a thin quilt that resembled it, embroidered with a vast scene of galloping horses over grasslands. It was a gift from Madam Wu in her early years, and she was quite pleased with it.
Jingfu then raised his eyes, a half-smile curving his lips, his tone still carrying his usual arrogance: "It is a strange and unusual thing, flashy and colorful, and it even smells of medicine."
Seeing this, Li Wan smiled and spoke gently: "Your Highness, you may not know, but the calming medicinal pillow that Miss Meng sewed for me before was extremely exquisite in its workmanship. The medicinal ingredients inside were properly proportioned, and it made me sleep very well. I see this blanket; the stitches are fine and the pattern is unique. Miss Meng must have put a lot of effort into preparing it."
Upon hearing this, Princess Jingfu turned her gaze to Li Wan, her tone carrying a hint of feigned sourness: "Sister, why didn't you praise the pair of red gold and jeweled phoenix hairpins I gave you for your birthday? Now you're speaking up for an outsider, how unfair!"
Li Wan smiled calmly and replied, "Between you and me, there's no need for such empty formalities."
As the two chatted and laughed, Princess Jin'an, who was usually so quiet she was almost invisible, spoke up timidly in a soft voice: "Aunt, this blanket is indeed quite unique. I've never heard of using medicinal herbs to fumigate a blanket to invigorate the body... It's truly amazing. I wonder... if I could take a closer look?"
Her amber eyes held a cautious plea, and coupled with her delicate and frail appearance, it was hard to refuse her.
Jingfu didn't take it seriously and casually waved his hand. The palace servants then brought the blanket to Jin'an.
Jin'an stretched out her hand, her slender fingers adorned with crimson nail polish, which made her fair and flawless skin even more striking.
She gently stroked the embroidered galloping horses on the carpet, pausing slightly as her fingertips brushed across the patterns. She murmured in admiration, "The Meng family girl's embroidery skills are truly renowned. The form and spirit of this horse seem to leap off the carpet, so lifelike."
Afterwards, she gestured to the palace maid beside her to present her gift, a hint of caution and shyness appearing on her face, her voice becoming even softer: "I am clumsy and do not have the exquisite craftsmanship of Miss Meng. I have only haphazardly grown some flowers and plants in the palace, which have fortunately grown to be fairly bright. So I picked some newly opened safflowers, and personally ground, washed, and dried them to obtain this small jar of lip rouge."
"The color... looks bright and elegant, and I think it might match your splendor, Aunt... but my skills are poor and the gift is meager, so I hope you won't find it offensive."
A palace maid presented a delicate white porcelain box. Princess Gyeongbok opened the lid and saw that the ointment inside had a fine texture, a very pure and rich vermilion color, bright and lustrous, and emitted a sweet and elegant floral and fruity fragrance. It was clear at a glance that it had been carefully prepared.
Princess Jingfu glanced at Jin'an indifferently upon hearing this. She knew all too well that her niece was in an awkward position in the palace. Although she held the title of princess, no one really cared about her; she was a transparent figure whom everyone could look down on.
Jingfu himself was flamboyant and arrogant, and had never liked such timid and submissive people. He usually had little contact with her, and at this moment he only politely replied, "You are also frail, and it must have taken a lot of effort to make this by hand." He then gestured for the palace servants to accept the lip rouge, and said nothing more.
Following this, the other guests presented their birthday gifts one after another. This lively yet lengthy ceremony lasted for about half an hour, and Princess Gyeongbok's birthday banquet finally drew to a close. The guests rose one by one, preparing to take their leave.
Princess Jingfu personally saw Li Wan and Lady Wu, the wife of the Earl of Zhongyong, off.
By this time, most of the people in the garden had left. Princess Jin'an, who had been quietly sitting at the table, looked at Ji Yun, whose face was still somewhat pale, in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft. Her voice was full of concern: "Cousin Yun, you don't look well. Were you still going to continue with the matter of taking my pulse after the banquet? I've heard that Miss Meng is also skilled in medicine. If you're not feeling well, why don't you go back to your residence and rest? It wouldn't hurt for Miss Meng to examine you."
After she finished speaking, her gaze turned to Meng Yutong, who was about to get up and leave.
Meng Yutong paused, a hint of doubt passing through her mind. Jin'an's medical records were personally handled by Ji Yun, who never entrusted them to others. Why would he suddenly ask her to examine him today?
Ji Yun did indeed look unwell at the moment. The shock brought on by the flock of pigeons had not completely subsided, and he had to force himself to endure the rest of the banquet while suppressing his dazed state of mind.
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