Qin Lan was rescued
Early autumn mornings always arrive a little late. When Ya Huan and I went out carrying the food box, a thin layer of frost still clung to the palace walls. As we walked on the bluestone path, our shoes occasionally brushed against withered yellow sycamore leaves, making a soft "rustling" sound. Ya Huan pulled the food box closer to her chest, her nose red from the cold. "Sister Zhao," she said, "I heard the imperial kitchen is making chestnut porridge today. Let's hurry, maybe we can catch some while it's still hot." I smiled and agreed, but my gaze was drawn to the clusters of wild chrysanthemums by the roadside—the chrysanthemums, after the frost, bloomed even more vibrantly, purple, yellow, and white, crowding at the foot of the palace walls, adding a touch of life to the cold, desolate palace.
Just as we turned the corner leading to Consort Li's courtyard, we saw Granny Zhang standing under the old locust tree, clutching a small blue cloth bag in her hand. Seeing us approach, she quickly waved. "We've been waiting for you." Granny Zhang shoved the bag into my hand, her fingertips slightly cool, her voice very low. "A young eunuch from Consort Hui's palace just came by. He said Qin Lan has been transferred to her palace, and he specifically asked me to give this to you."
I quickly opened the cloth bag. Inside was a neatly folded piece of plain paper. The handwriting was delicate yet carried an undeniable air of firmness. It read: "Qin Lan is now serving in my courtyard. You need not worry about her daily life. You must be diligent in managing the affairs of the Cold Palace. If Consort Li makes even the slightest mistake, you'll be in for a world of hurt." At the end, there was a crookedly drawn osmanthus cake, presumably added to prevent the handwriting from looking too fierce.
Ya Huan leaned over and her eyes lit up instantly. She almost jumped up, then quickly covered her mouth and whispered with joy, "That's great! Sister Qin Lan doesn't have to suffer in the Laundry Department anymore! Consort Hui looks tough, but she's actually soft-hearted!" Granny Zhang also smiled and patted the back of my hand, "Consort Hui was afraid you'd worry, but she couldn't bring herself to say anything nice, so she deliberately found an excuse—she told everyone that Qin Lan was Consort Li's former maid, and that 'torturing' her was to 'apologize' to Consort Li. In reality, she was protecting her very well, not even letting her do chores like carrying water or sweeping the floor, and she even arranged a place for her to live near the warm pavilion."
I clutched the plain paper, my fingertips able to feel its rough texture, and a warm feeling welled up inside me. Just as I was about to thank her, I heard a soft cough coming from Consort Li's quarters; she must have woken up. Granny Zhang gave me a few more instructions, "Don't give anything away, lest you cause trouble for Consort Hui," before turning to walk towards the steward's office. After a few steps, she turned back, pulled an oiled paper packet from her sleeve, and handed it to me: "This is osmanthus cake that the Imperial Kitchen just made. Consort Li used to love it; take it to her."
When I entered Consort Li's residence carrying the food box, she was sitting by the window tidying up old things. On the wooden table lay the double-flowered orchid handkerchief, its light purple and pale yellow silk threads shimmering softly in the morning light. "Your Majesty, the Imperial Kitchen has prepared chestnut porridge and your favorite osmanthus cake today." I placed the food box on the table, lifted the lid, and the sweet fragrance of osmanthus mixed with the warm aroma of chestnuts instantly filled the air.
Consort Li put down her handkerchief, her gaze falling on the osmanthus cake. Her eyes softened, and she gently touched the edge of the cake with her fingertips. "The aroma of this osmanthus cake reminds me of my childhood..." Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly stopped, as if she remembered something. She quickly picked up a spoon, scooped up a spoonful of chestnut porridge, and slowly drank it.
Ya Huan, who was helping to set the table, said with a forced smile, "Your Highness, I heard from a eunuch in the Imperial Kitchen a few days ago that many palace maids have recently been relocated, some even to the palaces of high-ranking consorts. I heard they're living much more comfortably than before." Consort Li paused slightly in her hand holding the spoon, looked up at me with a hint of inquiry in her eyes, but didn't press for details. She simply gave a soft "hmm," picked up a piece of osmanthus cake, and ate it in small bites.
After delivering Consort Li's breakfast, we carried the food boxes towards the residence of Consort Xian. Passing Consort Su's courtyard, we saw her squatting on the stone steps, drying herbs. Her bamboo basket held dried honeysuckle and dried tangerine peel, and the sunlight falling on her plain-colored dress made her appear exceptionally serene. Seeing us, she smiled and waved, then took two persimmons wrapped in cotton paper from the bottom of her basket and handed them to us: "These are fruits picked from the moat. They're sweetest when they're soft. Take them back and try them."
I took the fruit and took the opportunity to tell her that Qin Lan had been transferred. Consort Su smiled with relief and gently stroked the herbs in the bamboo basket with her fingertips: "Consort Hui is thoughtful. Qin Lan can finally breathe a sigh of relief. You don't need to worry too much in the future. With Consort Hui looking after her, Qin Lan can be more at ease in the palace."
When we arrived at Consort Xian's residence, she was sitting on a rattan chair in the corridor, holding needle and thread in her hand, with half a plum blossom, just begun to be stitched, on the embroidery frame. Seeing us enter, she put down her needle and thread, smiled, and pointed to the stone bench beside her: "I could tell from the aroma of osmanthus cake that you had finished delivering food to Consort Li." I recounted Consort Hui's situation in detail and handed her the plain note to look at.
The Empress Dowager took the plain paper, looked at the handwriting, and couldn't help but smile: "This child, still the same as always, her concern for others carries a hint of fierceness. But that's good, Qin Lan is safer in her palace than anywhere else." She paused, picked up the embroidery frame, her fingertips pinching the silver needle, and said softly, "From now on, when you deliver meals, pay more attention to Consort Li's mood. She's worried about Qin Lan, and if she knows Qin Lan is alright, she'll be more at ease."
Ya Huan sat to the side, placed the fruit on the stone table, and said excitedly, "Your Highness, when Sister Qin Lan has time, could we invite her to sit in the Cold Palace? I also want to show her the chrysanthemum petals I've collected, and maybe we can even make sachets together." The Empress Dowager smiled and nodded, "There will be an opportunity. Once things have calmed down, we can have a proper get-together."
When I emerged from Consort Xian's residence, the sun was already high in the sky, the thin frost had long since melted, and the paulownia leaves swayed gently in the breeze. Ya Huan carried a food box, walking briskly ahead, humming an unknown tune. I followed behind her, looking at the wild chrysanthemums by the roadside, clutching the plain note with Consort Hui's instructions in my hand, my heart filled with peace.
When I delivered dinner in the evening, I specially brought Consort Li some fruit that Consort Su had given me. I also casually mentioned, under the pretext of "hearing it from a young eunuch in the Imperial Kitchen," that "Your Majesty, I heard that a palace maid recently transferred from the Laundry Department went to work in the palace of a high-ranking consort, and she's living quite comfortably." Consort Li paused, her hand holding the persimmons softening, a warmth flickering in her eyes. She said softly, "That's good. At least I can finally live a good life." Moonlight streamed through the window paper, falling on her face, making her look as gentle as she did in her youth. Looking at her relaxed expression, I secretly hoped that such peaceful days could continue forever.
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