The Great Accumulation Hexagram (Middle to Upper Level)
Chapter 26, the Great Accumulation Hexagram (Upper-Middle Hexagram): Old Marriage Contracts and People of the Past
As dawn broke, the morning breeze that wafted through the window was just right, like fine downy feathers gently brushing against my face, dispelling my drowsiness.
When Rong Yan opened her eyes, a cotton wad was hanging down on her face, which annoyed her for disturbing her sleep.
When she came to her senses, Karin was standing in front of her, looking at her with a somewhat restrained expression.
Xie Chengzhi, dressed and with his back to her, sat on the edge of the bed. Several lamps were lit in the room, and she was awakened by the light.
Rong Yan woke up with a start.
Why didn't you call me? What time is it now?
Hua Li glanced at Xie Chengzhi furtively, and seeing that he remained silent, she whispered, "The eldest young master wouldn't let me call you until Chenshi (7-9 AM)."
She had thought that her mistress would wake up as soon as the lamps were lit, but she didn't wake up for a long time. Even though Xie Chengzhi had prepared everything and drunk several cups of tea, she was still asleep.
Huali seemed to have something to say to her, her eyes constantly glancing furtively at Xie Chengzhi, as if she couldn't find the right opportunity to speak to her.
Because she was going to the palace today, Lady Wang specially sent Chunlan to do her makeup.
Chunlan instructed Yuling from the side, and Yuling styled her hair into a high bun. A high bun is usually a noble lady's hairstyle, which is proper and will not go wrong.
Chunlan had brought some hair wigs, but when she saw that Rong Yan's hair was thick and abundant, she took them back.
Rong Yan's hair is very smooth and black, making it perfect for a pearl and plum blossom makeup look.
So, she used a vermilion pen to draw a few strokes on her eyebrows. Chunlan's movements were very skilled, and she drew a simple plum blossom shape in just a few strokes.
Rong Yan looked at herself in the mirror as Yu Ling carefully drew her eyebrows. Her eyebrows were already very good; they hardly needed any drawing.
The plum blossom decoration between her eyebrows has now been adorned with pearl flowers, and two pearls have also been placed on her lips.
Wearing a light green pleated dress, she looked both fresh and sweet.
Not only was Chunlan stunned, but even Yuling and Huali thought their master was really handsome.
"Young mistress is so beautiful."
Rong Yan only dressed up on her wedding day; she didn't dress up much even when returning to her parents' home, prioritizing her own comfort.
Just as the two were about to leave, Xie Chengzhi suddenly took out a hairpin from the pocket in his sleeve and handed it to Rong Yan.
Rong Yan took it and saw that it was a light yellow glass hairpin. It was completely transparent and flawless, with auspicious cloud patterns, and was wrapped with gold and brocade threads, as well as several deep purple sea pearls.
She was immediately delighted, especially by the deep purple pearl, which was a highly sought-after item in Bianjing and extremely difficult to obtain.
"This...is for me?"
Xie Chengzhi nodded, took the hairpin from her hand, and wanted to help her insert it into her hair bun, but hesitated after raising his hand.
Huali quickly took it, "This servant will put it on for the eldest young master, it suits the young mistress very well."
Rong Yan was delighted and gave Xie Chengzhi a sweet smile, "Thank you."
Xie Chengzhi smiled slightly and did not reply.
As soon as Rong Yan stepped out of the room, he knew what Hua Li had been hesitating to say. There, he saw the two maids sent by Duan kneeling outside the door.
Rong Yan looked up at Xie Chengzhi, but Xie Chengzhi offered no explanation.
Aunt Qiushi, who was waiting outside the door, only said a few words, "These two maids have broken the rules and presumptuously served the young master's medicine. From now on, they are expelled from the inner courtyard and sent to do rough work in the outer courtyard."
"However, both of them were well-versed in medical books."
After glancing at Xie Chengzhi, Aunt Qiushi replied, "The eldest young master does not like it."
No matter how talented you are, you won't gain his approval if he dislikes you even for a single word.
Rong Yan lowered his eyes and nodded. These two were Duan's openly placed spies under her watchful eye, but now Xie Chengzhi had removed them. She wondered what other tricks Xie Chengzhi would play next.
Was his action truly unintentional?
The carriage was waiting at the gate early in the morning. The two remained silent the whole way into the palace, each lost in their own thoughts.
As for Rong Yan, she couldn't fully trust Xie Chengzhi. Xie Chengzhi had no need for a marriage of convenience to ward off bad luck, yet he still obeyed the arrangement and married her, a powerless and vulnerable illegitimate daughter. What was his purpose?
He knew about the people in the mansion who wanted to harm him from the beginning, but he never revealed a word of it, so he probably didn't trust her.
The palace servants were already waiting at the gate. After the palace gates were opened wide, Rong Yan followed their instructions and did not dare to look around. Because their sedan chairs were not allowed to enter, they had to walk.
The shoes were high heels meant to match the clothes, and walking in them for a long time inevitably caused some foot pain. Fortunately, Xie Chengzhi wasn't walking fast, which relieved some of the soreness in her insteps.
The palace was indeed very spacious and magnificent. After entering from the east gate and walking for half an hour through the high walls and wide passages, we finally saw Consort Rong's bedroom.
Suddenly, a eunuch dressed in light gray ran towards them from the road. As he got closer, Rong Yan saw that he was wearing a python robe with four claws, so he must be a senior eunuch.
Rong Yan bowed to him, and Eunuch Qian quickly followed suit, speaking in a high-pitched voice to Xie Chengzhi: "Young Master, the Prince of Yan has returned to the capital and been appointed as the Military Governor of Shannan West Circuit. Now that he knows that you have arrived, he is moved by the fact that we have not seen each other for many years and, remembering our friendship before you left home, has specially asked this old servant to wait here to invite you."
Rong Yan glanced at Xie Chengzhi, whose expression remained unchanged, even showing a hint of indifference.
"Eunuch Qian, please go back. I need to take my lady to Consort Rong's residence."
“The Prince of Yan said that since your wife and Consort Rong are having a get-together, instead of not being able to enter, you might as well take a detour and go to his place for a get-together. If you don’t go, he can wait until after the eldest daughter’s Hundred Flowers Banquet, and then you and your wife can go and get to meet him together. He said that the eldest son is seriously ill and didn’t even invite him to the wedding, which prevented him from seeing the eldest daughter, and he really wants to see her.”
Oh, is this a threat?
Rong Yan certainly recognized it, and Xie Chengzhi couldn't possibly not.
The Prince of Yan actually used himself to threaten him?
Unfortunately, he miscalculated. The couple treated each other with polite respect, but there was no real affection between them.
After a while, Xie Chengzhi followed Eunuch Qian away.
Rong Yan was somewhat taken aback. She had thought that Xie Chengzhi wouldn't care. After all, he had just told her last night to find an opportunity to leave as soon as possible.
Unexpectedly, he was also asked to leave.
Before leaving, he told her, "I'll pick you up later."
Watching his slowly receding figure, Rong Yan suddenly felt that walking in this deep palace had become much quieter.
After the palace gates were cleared, the security was much looser once you entered Consort Rong's bedroom.
After being informed, she was taken to a garden.
However, it was only 9 AM, and many noble ladies were already standing in the Imperial Garden. The reason we knew they were the daughters of ministers was because their attire was not that of concubines.
In short, those who can come here are mostly people of some status.
Consort Rong invited dozens of noble ladies, while the Empress and other concubines did not attend. It seems that they had been informed beforehand, so those present were all outsiders invited by Consort Rong, which made these women feel much more relaxed.
After glancing around, Rong Yan noticed that Princess Yongqing was not present.
Even before Consort Rong arrived, the young ladies present were already getting restless.
It was a rare privilege to enter the palace, so everyone dressed in a dignified and luxurious manner, with hairpins adorned with either peonies or agate. One noblewoman's dress was even made entirely of gold thread.
In comparison, Rong Yan appears rather fresh and innocent.
However, the other ladies did not see it as dapper or elegant, but rather as "shabby".
It wasn't their first time entering the palace, and none of them had ever seen Rong Yan before, so they were quite curious about her.
"Who is that person? Judging from her attire, she doesn't seem to be a noble lady from any household, but the hairpin in her hair is quite expensive."
"I don't know. Anyone who could be invited to the Hundred Flowers Banquet by Consort Rong must not be a commoner. Hairpins? Oh dear, aren't those imported goods? I've been waiting until now, even with a price increase, and I still can't buy them."
"Isn't that right? Don't even mention you, even the daughter of the Prime Minister would have to wait in line. I'm quite curious. Also, look closely at her dress, isn't it a dress from Jiuzhen Shop? Although it can't compare to the older sisters' dresses, it's not too bad either."
As they spoke, they got up and walked to Rong Yan, smiling and bowing to him.
Rong Yan smiled slightly and returned the greeting. Only after getting closer could one see Rong Yan's face clearly.
Everyone held their breath. Rong Yan was very beautiful, with a beauty as delicate and full as that of a woman from a water town, and the sparkle in her eyes was like scattered starlight.
Especially since they are petite and tall, when several people get close, they all appear to be a size larger than others, even though they are not plump to begin with.
"Consort Rong has arrived!"
As the palace attendant announced the news in a high-pitched voice, everyone hurriedly bowed their heads in greeting.
Rong Yan lowered his eyes, and before he could see the person, he heard her voice.
"Has the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Runan arrived?"
Rong Yan was startled; she had only just arrived and already wanted to see her. She wondered if it was for Xie Chengzhi or for Princess Yongqing.
She quickly lowered her head and replied, "Your subject is here."
As Consort Rong approached her, Rong Yan noticed a faint scent of rose dew that intensified as she drew nearer.
"Raise your head." Her voice was soft, but the authority she conveyed made none of the young ladies present dare to speak.
Rong Yan raised her head as instructed, and only then could she see Consort Rong's face clearly. At first glance, her face bore a resemblance to Xie Chengzhi's, but upon closer inspection, they were not quite alike.
Consort Rong had deep-set double eyelids. She was carefully examining Rong Yan, and finally nodded with a smile, "He's good-looking, reward him."
At her command, a vermilion wooden box was respectfully presented by a palace maid.
Rong Yan received a reward without doing anything, which aroused whispers among many noble ladies.
Of course, she couldn't refuse, and she had no choice but to accept the gift with a composed expression. Princess Yongqing regarded her as an enemy, yet Consort Rong treated her with great courtesy. What kind of trick was this?
Consort Rong seemed genuinely interested in seeing her, but after meeting her once, she left her aside and went to chat with other noble ladies.
After that, she didn't come over to them again. Finally, she said to them, "I'm tired. I won't participate in the Hundred Flowers Poetry Banquet later. Someone will take care of you afterwards. Please make yourselves at home."
Then he returned to the palace.
Because of her curiosity and desire to see him, Rong Yan got up early in the morning and rushed into the palace, just to catch a glimpse of her.
If you are born as an ant, you must bow down to the powerful and wealthy.
When her gaze lingered on the delicate white plum blossoms, she suddenly recalled Xie Chengzhi sitting under the plum tree that day. The sunlight shone on his face, giving him a warm and cozy feeling. Thinking of this, it was as if a ray of sunshine had entered her heart as well.
She thought of Xie Chengzhi, who had been taken away.
This trip to the palace might not be because Consort Rong wanted to see her.
Instead, the King of Yan wanted to see Xie Chengzhi.
Whether it was the Grand Eunuch who had been waiting for them on their inevitable route, or from the moment Xie Chengzhi decided to accompany her into the palace, their every move was probably already being monitored and reported.
Or perhaps, the Prince of Yan was certain that Xie Chengzhi would go to see him.
Rong Yan had a slight headache, unsure whether it was from the fragrance of the flowers or from overthinking. She rubbed her temples, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw the hem of a pale yellow skirt approaching her.
"Your humble servant Liu Yutang greets Your Highness."
Rong Yan turned her face to the side, causing the red agate earring beside her cheek to sway. The red of the agate made her skin appear even whiter, and even in the dry weather, her skin was moisturized and rosy, truly a natural beauty.
Liu Yutang was somewhat envious of her natural beauty, like a gentle piece of jade, but also somewhat disliked it, because this piece of jade was too beautiful and too eye-catching.
Liu Yutang?
Seeing her somewhat puzzled look, Liu Yutang smiled and looked up at her intently. "Madam, you are a busy person and must have long forgotten me. Then I wonder if you still remember Liu Ziqian, the third son of the Liu family?"
It's her.
Liu Ziqian was her childhood sweetheart.
When she looked again, although her face had changed a lot, there were still faint traces of her childhood in her brows.
She is Liu Ziqian's younger sister, Liu Yutang.
Rong Yan fell silent, looking at her with an expression that suggested she was a sycophant.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
