Something happened in Huaiyao?
In the palace, what could possibly happen to a princess like her?
After thinking it over, Yuan Yao concluded that either Huai Yao had caused trouble, or she had eaten something bad.
Yuan Yao looked at Dan Qing: "What did Huai Yao eat last night?"
Danqing pondered for a moment and replied, "The princess eats more cold food."
Cold?
Could it be that he or she ate something bad?
Yuan Yao said to Jing'er, "Jing'er, take the palace exit token and send the flowers to Si Shi Chun, so that Sister Yu'er can make them into flower cakes."
She knew the method.
Tell her to remember to imprint some pretty patterns on the cookies; I'm going to give them away as gifts tomorrow.
Jing'er said happily, "I've got it. I'll leave the palace now."
Yuan Yao called Dan Qing over and took four bright red roses: "Let's go to Beichen Palace."
The young eunuch was already waiting at the entrance of Qianhua Palace.
The sedan chair was also waiting at the door.
Yuan Yao glanced at it and asked in confusion, "Is this Princess Huairou's palanquin?"
"Your Highness, it is the palanquin from Beichen Palace," the young eunuch replied.
The palanquin of Beichen Palace?
That must be the Imperial Concubine's palanquin?
Yuan Yao boarded the sedan chair and gazed at the departing Qianhua Palace. She asked the little eunuch who had come to deliver the message, "Did Sister Huairou say what happened to Huaiyao?"
The young eunuch replied respectfully, "I'm not entirely sure, but it's related to Yonghe Palace."
Yonghe Palace?
Concubine Zhao?
Something happened at the Marquis of Changdu's residence. Could it be that Consort Zhao sought out Huaiyao?
Given Huaiyao's personality, I'm afraid he's likely to get into trouble!
Yuan Yao was a little worried and urged the eunuchs carrying the sedan chair, "Hurry up!"
Beichen Palace was unusually quiet.
As soon as Yuan Yao alighted from the sedan chair, a young eunuch went to announce her arrival.
Soon, someone arrived: "Princess, the Imperial Concubine requests your presence."
Yuan Yao had Danqing straighten her skirt before stepping into the gate of Beichen Palace.
The Hall of Fireflies.
A senior palace maid serving Consort Lin was already waiting at the door. Upon seeing Yuan Yao, she bowed and said, "Princess, Consort Lin is waiting for you inside."
Consort Lin was the mistress of Beichen Palace and also Huaiyao's mother.
Anyone wishing to meet anyone from Beichen Palace must first pay their respects to her.
Inside the Hall of Fireflies, flowers and plants were arranged.
When Yuan Yao entered, Consort Lin was pruning the flower branches with scissors.
Yuan Yao bowed obediently: "Yao'er greets Your Highness, the Noble Consort."
"Get up."
With a "snap," Consort Lin cut off a hibiscus flower with blossoms still attached.
The pink, double-petaled hibiscus flowers are exquisitely beautiful.
That cut broke Yuan Yao's heart.
The hibiscus flower was different from the rose in her hand.
Hibiscus flowers have a very short blooming period; once cut, they wither quickly, while roses can last for several days...
Consort Lin put down the scissors, picked up the flower branch, and said coldly, "The hibiscus flower is beautiful, but it blooms in the morning and withers in the evening."
This flower has withered and needs to be cut off so that nutrients can be saved for other buds to bloom.
Yuan Yao looked at Consort Lin with a puzzled expression.
Your Highness, is this hibiscus flower a metaphor for Consort Zhao, or for the Marquis of Changdu's residence?
As she was pondering, Consort Lin spoke again.
Consort Lin said emotionlessly, "If an old hibiscus plant becomes diseased, you can still cut off tender branches, carefully propagate them, and next year, you can cultivate even better plants and produce even better flowers..."
Yuan Yao opened her big eyes and said softly, "Yao'er has remembered."
Consort Lin glanced at the roses in her arms: "I have heard that Qianhua Palace has planted many rose seedlings."
"Once the seedlings have grown, may the Princess send me a few?"
Yuan Yao's voice was sweet and soft: "If Your Majesty likes it, Yao'er will give you more."
"Hmm." Consort Lin responded coldly before saying, "You're close to Huaiyao, go and see her."
“Okay,” Yuan Yao replied obediently.
Consort Lin raised her hand and placed the cut hibiscus flower into a frosted green ceramic bottle with a narrow mouth that she had prepared beforehand. She then handed the bottle and the flower to Yuan Yao and said, "Have Huaiyao deliver this flower to Consort Zhao on my behalf."
"good."
Yuan Yao carried a vase in one hand and roses in the other as she went to the Red Palace.
Just as I arrived outside the Red Palace, the sound of porcelain shattering came from inside.
Huaiyao said angrily, "Royal sister, don't anyone try to persuade me! I don't want to see that crazy woman!"
“Huaiyao,” Huairou said helplessly, “Your elder sister knows you dislike Consort Zhao, but she’s sent people to find you in such a grand manner. If you don’t go, and she really commits suicide, it will be bad for your reputation…”
Huaiyao said angrily, "If she wants to die, let her die. What does it have to do with me?"
I survived birth, so her death today is just as good! I didn't have a mother like that!
Hearing these words, Huairou sighed, unsure how to offer further advice.
Yuan Yao, carrying the flowers, stepped into the hall: "Sister Huairou, Sister Huaiyao."
Hearing the little voice, Huairou was overjoyed: "Yao'er, you've finally come."
Yuan Yao walked over with a smile.
"Danqing greets the two princesses." Danqing bowed and accepted the vase.
Yuan Yao divided the flower branches into two bunches and handed one bunch to Huairou: "Sister Huairou, the flowers planted in Qianhua Palace have bloomed today. I think they are blooming beautifully, so I brought two branches for you sisters to play with."
Huairou accepted the flowers with great joy, her beauty mark at the corner of her eye seemingly sparkling: "These flowers smell so good and are so beautiful! Thank you, Yao'er!"
"I'm glad you like it, sister." Yuan Yao smiled sweetly.
She took the remaining bouquet of flowers and walked to the bedside: "Sister Huaiyao, these are flowers for you. Take a look and see if you like them?"
"Hmph!" Huaiyao snorted coldly and turned her face away.
"It seems Sister Huaiyao doesn't like my flowers." Yuan Yao sighed, feigning disappointment. "Sister Huairou, perhaps I should..."
"Wait!" Huaiyao interrupted her.
Yuan Yao turned her back to Huai Yao and winked at Huai Rou.
Huairou smiled helplessly.
With a flick of her red skirt, Huaiyao jumped angrily off the bed: "Did I say I don't like flowers? Give them to me!"
After speaking, she reached out and took the flowers from Yuan Yao's hand.
The roses were in full bloom, their petals still glistening with dew, so tender that one hesitated to touch them…
This red color matches Huaiyao's fiery red dress perfectly.
From a young age, Huaiyao has loved the color fiery red.
At first, I liked red because of the Ninth Prince.
That powerful eunuch, despite being just a eunuch, always dressed in flamboyant red and paraded around the palace.
Later, Huaiyao felt that red represented freedom and resilience...
Although she was a princess, she also wanted to be like a prince, doing whatever she wanted.
From then on, she fell in love with the color red...
Holding the vibrant roses carefully, Huaiyao's mood finally improved considerably.
She scoffed, "Pretty as it may be, these flowers will wilt in less than two days!"
“That’s easy!” Yuan Yao said in a childish voice. “When the petals soften, pick them all, put them in a thick book, press them down, and after some time, you can get a beautiful flower token.”
Beside her, Huairou exclaimed softly, "How come I didn't think of that?"
Yuan Yao smiled and said, "Besides picking the petals, there is another way to preserve them."
Find a dry, well-ventilated place, hang the flower stems upside down to air dry, and you'll get perfectly dried flowers!
Huairou and Huaiyao secretly memorized the method.
Then, Huaiyao sneered, "Yuan Yao, you went to see my mother?"
“Yes, I saw it!” Yuan Yao nodded, took the hibiscus flower from Dan Qing’s hand, and handed it to Huai Yao: “The Imperial Concubine said that you should deliver a flower to Consort Zhao in Yonghe Palace on her behalf.”
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