Chapter Thirty-Six: Smoke and Clouds Over the Capital
When Su Moqing's letter arrived at the Shen residence in Yangzhou, it was after the Double Ninth Festival, and the fragrance of osmanthus had not yet dissipated throughout the city.
Shen Rulan wore a moon-white silk robe, its soft texture shimmering faintly in the afternoon sunlight. Intricate cloud and bat patterns were subtly woven into the robe with silk threads of the same color, revealing its luxuriousness as she moved.
He wore a dark blue silk jacket with a front opening, the cuffs of which were trimmed with two intricate swastika patterns in royal blue satin. This was a popular style among the gentry in Jiangnan.
She sat upright behind a large rosewood desk by the window in her study, intently checking a thick stack of salt certificate accounts.
Besides the Four Treasures of the Study, there is also an ancient bronze incense burner with animal-shaped handles on the desk. A wisp of sweet sandalwood smoke rises from the burner, adding a touch of tranquility to the room filled with books and account books.
The ledgers spread out on the table were densely filled with the names of salt merchants, the quantity of salt transported, and the amount of taxes paid. The sheep-hair brush in her hand hovered over the paper, the thick ink on the tip about to fall, but when she caught a glimpse of the four characters "Phoenix Perching on the Wutong Tree" on the letter, her fingertips trembled slightly.
An ink blot unexpectedly fell onto the yellowed Xuan paper, spreading into a small, dark stain that just happened to cover the words "Yangzhou Prefecture Salt Tax of Three Thousand Taels of Silver".
"Young Master?" Shen Fu, who was standing by her side, noticed her unusual expression and quickly stepped forward, calling out worriedly, "Is there a mistake in the accounts?"
Shen Rulan slowly raised her hand, gesturing for him to step back, her voice calm and even: "It's nothing, you can go now. Without my orders, no one is allowed to come in and disturb us."
"Yes." Although Shen Fu was full of doubts, he dared not ask any more questions and bowed to close the study door quietly.
The moment the heavy, carved wooden door closed, Chen Rulan's tense back relaxed slightly. She placed the brush in the brush washer, the ink spreading into thin strands in the clear water, just like her chaotic thoughts at that moment.
She picked up the thin letter again and read it carefully in the morning light by the window.
The letter was written in delicate handwriting, clearly Su Moqing's handwriting. Apart from the sixteen-character coded message, there were no other words. Yet, Shen Rulan seemed to be able to see through the paper the caution and concern Su Moqing showed when she picked up her pen in the secluded side hall of the palace.
The Imperial Concubine found out. Not only did she know the truth about Shen Rulan's disguise as a man, but she also chose to protect her before the Emperor.
This realization was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up a thousand waves in her heart, leaving her with mixed feelings. On one hand, there was an indescribable sense of relief—Su Moqing had finally escaped danger and no longer had to walk on the edge of a knife; on the other hand, this sudden "blessing" made her feel immense pressure.
Having spent many years navigating the business world, Shen Rulan deeply understands the principle that "there is no such thing as a free lunch." The protection of the Imperial Concubine is never without reason. This means that the Shen family will be more closely tied to this noblewoman who lives deep in the palace, sharing both prosperity and adversity. It also means that Su Moqing, who remains in the palace, has become a "hostage" that effectively restrains the Shen family.
She ran her fingertips along the edge of the letter. The paper was fine, made of Xuan paper specially supplied to the palace, and must have been a gift from the Imperial Concubine.
After pondering for a long time, she spread out another sheet of plain paper, dipped her brush in ink, held her wrist in the air for a moment, and finally wrote only eight characters:
"The parasol tree has been planted; we await the return of the phoenix."
The brushstrokes are vigorous and steady, yet a subtle gentleness is hidden at the end of the strokes of the characters "凤还".
This is both a promise to Su Moqing—that she will establish a solid foundation in Yangzhou and wait for her safe return; and a statement to the Imperial Concubine—that the Shen family is willing to be a reliable sycamore tree, sheltering the "phoenix" from wind and rain, and remaining loyal and steadfast.
After finishing the letter, she summoned Lin Zhennan, carefully folded the letter, and placed it in a wooden box engraved with lotus patterns: "Send someone to deliver this letter to the capital immediately, and make sure to hand it to Miss Su personally. There must be no mishaps along the way."
"Yes, Young Master Shen." Lin Zhennan took the wooden box and carefully put it away.
“There is one more thing.” Shen Rulan got up and walked to the bookshelf, took out a list that had been prepared in advance, and handed it over. “Although Wen Shichang has been imprisoned, he has been cultivating his influence in the court for many years and must have many followers. It is hard to guarantee that someone will not retaliate in secret. I want you to send more people to disguise themselves as palace servants or guards to protect Miss Su’s safety in secret and report her situation back to Yangzhou every day.”
Lin Zhennan agreed: "I understand, I'll go and make the arrangements."
“In addition,” Shen Rulan pointed to the items on the list, her tone solemn, “send these items to Changchun Palace in my name and personally hand them over to the Imperial Concubine’s personal maid.”
Lin Zhennan looked down and saw that the list did not contain priceless treasures, but rather some inexpensive yet meticulously crafted items: a gilded dressing box with floral and bird patterns specially made by the Yangzhou lacquerware factory, a peony bonsai made by a pith flower artist over half a month, and a self-ringing clock purchased at a high price from a Western merchant—the clock body was made of brass, engraved with exquisite Roman patterns, and the pendulum would make a crisp and melodious sound when it swung, and it could also play different tunes according to the hour.
"Young Master Shen, aren't these items too ordinary and insufficient to express our sincerity?" Lin Zhennan was somewhat puzzled. With the Shen family's wealth, they could easily offer rare and precious treasures.
Shen Rulan shook her head, her gaze deep and thoughtful: "The Imperial Concubine lives deep within the palace; what rare treasures hasn't she seen? Sending those things would only appear like deliberate flattery. These Yangzhou specialties, imbued with the local customs and traditions of Jiangnan, show sincerity without being ostentatious. Especially that self-ringing clock; I've heard the Imperial Concubine has always been interested in Western objects, so sending this is exactly what she wants. The key is to strike the right balance, making her feel the Shen family's sincerity without making her feel that we are deliberately trying to curry favor."
Lin Zhennan admired him inwardly; Young Master Shen was meticulous and always thought things through so thoroughly.
While Shen Rulan was meticulously planning for Su Moqing's safety in Yangzhou, Su Moqing in the capital began a relatively stable life in the palace.
With the Imperial Concubine's explicit protection, those palace servants who had previously treated her coldly because of Eunuch Jin's faction now all wore respectful expressions. Granny Jin, implicated in Wen Shichang's corruption case, was ordered by the Imperial Concubine to be flogged and sent to the laundry department. The few palace maids and eunuchs who used to fawn over her scattered like monkeys after their tree fell, and no one dared to utter a single word of gossip about Su Moqing anymore.
The Imperial Concubine issued a special decree allowing Su Moqing to move freely within the Changchun Palace, the Imperial Garden, the Summer Palace, and other designated palaces and gardens after completing his painting assignments in various palaces. This was an immense favor among folk painters.
Su Moqing would get up at 7:00 AM every day, and Tao'er would help him wash and change his clothes. After having a simple breakfast, he would go to the various palaces to paint for the ladies.
Consort Qing favored meticulous flower-and-bird paintings, Noble Lady Rong preferred landscape paintings, and several other lower-ranking concubines would ask her to paint family portraits or auspicious paintings of "Fortune, Prosperity, Longevity, and Happiness." Su Moqing agreed to all of them. Her paintings, whether bold and colorful or fresh and elegant, always pleased the ladies.
On this afternoon, the autumn sun shone brightly, and the chrysanthemums in the Imperial Garden were in full bloom, yellow, white, and pink, their fragrance refreshing and delightful.
Su Moqing brought her easel and brushes to a secluded lotus pond to sketch.
Although the lotus flowers in the pond have withered, leaving only withered lotus leaves, they possess a unique desolate beauty under the autumn sun.
As she was intently sketching the outline of the withered lotus, she suddenly heard a suppressed sob coming from behind the artificial hill not far away, intermittent and filled with endless grievances.
Su Moqing put down her pen, a slight thought stirring in her heart.
Although the Imperial Garden was large, it was the time for the palace masters to rest at noon, and most of the palace servants were busy at their posts. This place was secluded, so why would someone be crying here? She hesitated for a moment, but still followed the sound of crying.
After passing several stacked and intricately shaped Taihu stones, Su Moqing caught a glimpse of a slender figure dressed in a plain green palace dress, with her back to her, lying alone on the white marble railing.
The girl was about fourteen or fifteen years old. She wore the most common braid hairstyle for palace maids, with a long braid hanging down her back. Because of her low rank, her hair was only decorated with a plain silver hairpin for securing it.
She was slender, and the slightly oversized palace dress she wore made her look even more pitiful. At this moment, she was sobbing softly to the golden carp swimming in the pond, her shoulders trembling slightly, unaware that someone was approaching.
"Why are you so sad, young lady?" Su Moqing asked softly, slowing her pace, afraid of disturbing the little sparrows by the water.
The girl was startled by the sudden sound and trembled. She hurriedly turned around, her still childish face covered with tears, her eyes red and swollen.
She recognized the woman in front of her as Miss Su, who had been painting in the palace recently. She hurriedly wiped her face with her sleeve, curtsied, and said in a trembling voice with a sob, "Miss Su, I... I have disturbed your painting. Please forgive me."
Su Moqing then recognized her as Xiuzhu, a palace maid who often served tea in the outer corridor of Changchun Palace.
She remembered that the girl was timid and not very skillful. A few days ago, she had accidentally knocked over a cup of pre-rain Longjing tea for the Imperial Concubine and was severely reprimanded by the head maid in public and made to kneel on the bluestone slab in the courtyard for a full half hour.
Seeing her like this now, she must have suffered some injustice again.
"Did you get scolded by the head maid again?" Su Moqing asked gently, taking out a plain brocade handkerchief from her sleeve and handing it over. "Wipe your tears. If your eyes are red from crying, you'll be punished again if someone sees it."
Xiuzhu was flattered and overwhelmed. She accepted the handkerchief with both hands, but dared not use it. Instead, she clutched it tightly in her hands, her voice barely audible: "Thank you, Miss. This servant... this servant is foolish and always does things wrong. Today, when I was delivering snacks to Consort Qing, I accidentally broke a Ru kiln teacup. The nanny said that I would be punished by copying the 'Admonitions for Women' a hundred times, and that if I didn't finish copying it by tomorrow, I would be sent to the Cold Palace to serve..."
As she finished speaking, her voice trembled with tears, which welled up in her eyes but she stubbornly held them back. The Cold Palace was the most miserable place in the palace; once someone was sent there, it was as if they had fallen into hell, with no hope of ever getting out.
Looking at her thin body and swollen fingers, Su Moqing couldn't help but feel a pang of pity.
In this deep palace, there are countless lowly palace maids like Xiuzhu. They are of low status and their lives are as fragile as grass. The slightest carelessness can bring disaster upon them. She recalled when she first entered the palace, she was also cautious at every step, afraid of making a mistake. She still vividly remembers that feeling of anxiety.
“I have some excellent wound medicine here, which was bestowed upon me by the Imperial Concubine. It is specially used to treat bruises and insect bites. Applying it to your swollen fingers will help.” Su Moqing said softly, “I will have Tao’er deliver it to you later. Don’t be too anxious. Although copying the ‘Admonitions for Women’ is tiring, it is much better than going to the Cold Palace.”
Xiuzhu was moved to tears and was about to kneel down to express her gratitude, but Su Moqing stopped her, saying, "There's no need for such formalities. We're all in the palace, so it's only right that we look after each other."
She pulled Xiuzhu to sit on a stone bench by the pond, gazing at the koi swimming in the water, and said seemingly unintentionally, "Actually, when I first entered the palace, I always made mistakes. I remember the first time I painted a picture for the Imperial Concubine, I was so nervous that I painted the phoenix's tail feathers in the wrong color. I was so scared that my legs went weak, and I thought I would definitely be kicked out of the palace."
Xiuzhu looked up in surprise, her eyes filled with disbelief: "Even someone as capable as you can make mistakes?"
"Why not?" Su Moqing smiled slightly, her tone calm. "No one is born knowing everything. Later, an old nanny who had worked in the palace for many years told me that to survive in the palace, one must not only be careful with one's words and actions, speaking less and doing more, but also learn to observe people's expressions and guess what the master is thinking."
She broke off a willow branch from the riverbank, gently twirling it in her hand, and slowly said, "For example, when serving tea to the Imperial Concubine, remember that she doesn't like it too hot, so the water temperature must be just right; when delivering a painting to the Consort De, choose an afternoon when she wakes up from her nap, as that's when she's in the best mood and most patient to appreciate the painting; the Consort Qing has always loved peace and quiet, so when delivering things, walk lightly and speak softly, so as not to disturb her; the Noble Lady Rong likes novelties, so if you have any interesting little items, you might as well share them with her, she will definitely be very happy..."
She recounted in detail the preferences and temperaments of the various palace masters she had observed over the past few days, without any boasting, as if she were sharing her experiences with a friend.
Xiuzhu's eyes widened as she listened, forgetting to hold the handkerchief tightly in her hand. These were the survival tips that the old palace staff kept secret, and Su Moqing had told her without reservation.
"Miss... Why did you tell me all this?" Xiuzhu asked, puzzled. They were not close friends. Su Moqing was now a favorite of the Imperial Concubine, so why would she bother with a lowly palace maid like her?
Su Moqing turned to look at her, his gaze clear and gentle: "Because I know that everyone in this deep palace has a hard time. It's always better to have more friends than more enemies. Perhaps these words can help you suffer less injustice and make fewer mistakes in the future."
After she finished speaking, she got up and picked up the drawing board that was placed to the side: "It's getting late, I should go back and continue painting. You should go back early too. Although copying the 'Admonitions for Women' is tedious, if you put your heart into it, you can always finish copying it."
After saying that, she turned and left, her light green skirt sweeping across the fallen leaves on the ground, leaving behind a faint silhouette.
Xiuzhu sat on the stone bench, clutching the plain handkerchief tightly in her hand, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She gazed thoughtfully in the direction Su Moqing had left.
In the following days, Xiuzhu indeed stopped making frequent mistakes. She kept Su Moqing's words in mind, became more cautious in her actions, and knew how to speak tactfully. Not only was she rarely scolded by the head maid anymore, but she also occasionally received a few words of praise from her master.
Grateful for Su Moqing's kindness, she would occasionally take the opportunity, under the guise of bringing Su Moqing snacks or writing materials, to secretly reveal some news from the palace—such as which concubine had fallen out of favor, which eunuch had been promoted, or what items the Imperial Household Department was planning to procure. Although these were all trivial matters, they gave Su Moqing a deeper understanding of this vast and complex imperial palace.
At the same time, the local specialties that Shen Rulan sent from Yangzhou also arrived at Changchun Palace one after another.
After the imperial concubine's personal maid personally inventoried the items, she presented them to the concubine for inspection. When she saw the Western-style self-ringing clock, the imperial concubine's previously calm face showed a hint of interest. She ordered the palace servants to place the clock on the long table in the main hall, and gently turned the pendulum. Before long, a clear and melodious tune came from the clock, with a brisk rhythm, quite different from the string and wind instruments commonly heard in the palace.
"This object is quite novel." The Imperial Concubine stretched out her slender fingers and gently stroked the patterns on the bell, her eyes filled with admiration. "It's commendable that Shen Rulan has put in the effort to find such an interesting trinket."
The trusted palace maid beside her quickly chimed in, "Yes, Your Highness, these Western items are indeed rare. Young Master Shen must have gone to great lengths to find them. Since Your Highness likes them, perhaps you should reciprocate with something, so that Young Master Shen may know Your Highness's feelings?"
The Imperial Concubine fiddled with the mutton-fat jade bracelet on her wrist, pondered for a moment, and then her gaze fell on the "Chrysanthemum Painting" that Su Moqing had just sent over on the table. She said indifferently, "Shen Rulan acts with propriety and knows how to be tactful. Giving her too much would only make her seem distant. Bring out the set of Huzhou brushes that the Imperial Household Department just received the other day and give them to Su Moqing."
She paused, then added, "Deliver it to her personally and tell her that her paintings are becoming more and more inspired. Tell her to focus on her work and not rush it. I will not mistreat those who put their heart into it."
"Yes, this servant will take care of it right away." The trusted palace maid bowed and agreed, then turned to fetch the writing brush.
The reward was quickly delivered to Su Moqing. It was a set of top-quality Huzhou brushes, twelve in total. The brush handles were made of the finest Xiangfei bamboo, with the words "Pure Heart" engraved on them. The brush bristles were full and smooth as jade, clearly a rare treasure.
Holding the set of Huzhou brushes, Su Moqing understood that this was the Imperial Concubine's response—since the Shen family was sensible and knew how to be grateful, she would not mistreat those who remained in the palace. The words "purify your heart" were both an encouragement for her to focus on painting and a suggestion that she should stay in the palace without worrying too much.
That evening, Su Moqing returned to the side hall, ordered Tao'er to light the lamps, and placed the set of Huzhou brushes on the table.
She spread out a brand new sheet of Xuan paper, took a medium-sized calligraphy brush, dipped it in thick ink, and slowly wrote the four characters "Three Friends of Winter" on the paper.
The brush moved swiftly across the rice paper, gradually taking shape the vigorous pine branches, the swaying bamboo shadows, and the elegant plum blossoms. But her thoughts had already drifted to Yangzhou, a thousand miles away.
I wonder if Yangzhou has already entered autumn? The ginkgo trees at Pingshan Hall must be a golden yellow by now? Are the boats on Slender West Lake still bobbing on the clear water? And what is Shen Rulan doing right now? Is she checking accounts in her study, or admiring chrysanthemums in the courtyard?
Su Moqing put down her pen and gently stroked the jade pendant on her chest. The jade pendant was warm and translucent, carved with a blooming black orchid. Now it was pressed against her clothes, with a slightly cool touch, but it reminded her of Shen Rulan's warm palm and the gentle look in her eyes when she whispered, "I will wait for you to come back."
"Waiting for the Phoenix to return..." she repeated the promise from the letter softly, a gentle smile unconsciously appearing on her lips. The longing and concern in her eyes were as gentle and lingering as the moonlight outside the window.
Meanwhile, in Yangzhou, a thousand miles away, Shen Rulan stood alone under the ginkgo tree at Pingshan Hall.
The autumn wind carried a chill, causing the golden leaves on the trees to flutter down like countless golden butterflies. A ginkgo leaf gently landed on her shoulder, lingered for a moment, and was then swept away by the autumn wind, drifting into the distance.
She wore a dark blue satin robe with a subtle floral pattern, over which she wore a plaster-colored silk jacket. She stood ramrod straight in the courtyard, hands clasped behind her back, gazing up at the ancient ginkgo tree, its branches laden with golden leaves. Autumn sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on her serene face.
The guards beside him stood at a distance, not daring to approach and disturb him.
Shen Rulan slowly picked up a ginkgo leaf that had fallen at her feet. The leaf was whole and graceful, with a faint blush on its edges, as if it had been dyed by the autumn sun. She carefully tucked the ginkgo leaf into a painting album called "Ink Orchid Painting" that she carried with her—it was a painting that Su Moqing had specially painted for her before leaving Yangzhou.
On the title page of the album is a handwritten inscription by Su Moqing: "Presented to Rulan, may you be like an orchid, pure and self-possessed." The handwriting is delicate, with a touch of feminine gentleness, yet it does not lack integrity.
Shen Rulan gently stroked the words on the pages of the book, then looked at the ginkgo leaves pressed between the pages. Gazing at the golden leaves covering the trees, she whispered, "Moqing, the ginkgo leaves have turned yellow again this year. When you come back, I'll bring you here to see them. The leaves here will surely be even more beautiful then than this year."
The autumn wind rustled through the treetops, as if responding to this longing that spanned thousands of miles.
The distant Slender West Lake shimmered in the sunlight, and the reeds on the shore swayed in the wind, enveloping the entire city of Yangzhou in a gentle autumn atmosphere.
Deep within the red walls of the palace, Su Moqing gazed at the moonlight outside the window, continuing to sketch the "Three Friends of Winter" painting. With each stroke of her brush, she expressed her longing and anticipation. Beneath the Pingshan Hall in Yangzhou, Shen Rulan stared at the ginkgo trees in full bloom, silently reciting her promise and waiting.
Two hearts separated by thousands of miles are tightly connected by the same longing.
A palace wall cannot block the longing that transcends mountains and rivers; countless waters and mountains cannot sever the yearning that binds their hearts. They are both quietly waiting for the day of reunion, waiting for the phoenix to return to the parasol tree, waiting for them to meet again in the misty rain of Jiangnan.
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