Chapter 56
The next morning, a ray of sunlight just passed through the window lattice and shone obliquely on the bluestone slabs of Furong Garden.
Caiwei was still rubbing her eyes and yawning when she saw the housekeeper leading a few servants, carrying a heavy rosewood box, and standing respectfully at the gate of the courtyard.
"Master Song," the butler said, his face beaming with a smile that was infinitely more sincere than usual, "the prince gave it to me as a gift. He said it was one of the four treasures of the study used by the great men of the previous dynasty, and it would be perfect for my master's taste."
Caiwei's eyes lit up instantly, and the sleepiness disappeared without a trace.
She hurried over and watched the servants carefully carry the box into the main room. The moment the lid was opened, a quiet scent of ink mixed with the fresh air of old wood hit her face.
Inside the box, covered with bright yellow brocade, quietly lay a Duan inkstone, several ingots of Huizhou ink, several sheep-hair brushes, and a stack of Chengxintang paper. Each item was simple and elegant, and at first glance, it was clear that they were priceless treasures.
"Master, look! The prince really has you in his heart!" Caiwei's voice trembled with excitement. She felt that the coldness in the room was warmed by this box of treasures.
Song Qingyuan was standing by the window looking at a newly sprouted green-calyx plum tree. Upon hearing this, he just glanced back indifferently.
Her gaze lingered on the set of four treasures for a moment, then returned to Caiwei's excited face, a faint smile playing on the corner of her mouth: "It's a good thing, accept it. Thank the housekeeper for me."
Her reaction was as calm as a pool of spring water, without the shyness or ecstasy of an ordinary woman after being favored, as if what was sent to her was not the prince's favor, but just an ordinary object.
The housekeeper wanted to say a few more flattering words, but seeing her like this, he didn't know how to start for a moment, so he had to bow awkwardly and leave.
"Master, why aren't you happy at all?" Caiwei was worried for her master. "This is a huge honor! The prince only sat here for half a day yesterday, and the reward has arrived today. Those people in the palace must be so excited that their eyes will turn red!"
"Those with red eyes are not necessarily envious." Song Qingyuan walked to the table, stretched out his slender fingers, and gently brushed the cool and smooth inkstone, "Caiwei, remember, the wind in Furong Garden gets colder the higher it goes.
The prince's reward is like honey, but also like arsenic. It all depends on how you eat it."
As she spoke, she took out a new brush, dipped it in water, and tested the tip of the brush on an old brick. The brush moved like a dragon, and the water marks spread out, forming a strong and powerful character for "quiet."
The water marks quickly evaporated, as if nothing had happened. Caiwei nodded, not quite understanding. She only knew that her master's thoughts were always more profound than others.
Just as Song Qingyuan expected, the news that the prince had rewarded Furong Garden spread to every corner of the palace in less than half an hour.
In Wen Yue's Tingzhu Garden, a set of valuable pastel-colored porcelain was accidentally swept to the ground and shattered. Her chest heaved violently, and her usually charming face was now twisted with jealousy.
"Restoring ancient books? Playing chess? What an elegant and refined Song Qingyuan! I thought she was a gourd with a sawed-off mouth, but I never thought she was a seductive woman who was the best at seducing men!"
The maidservant beside her quickly knelt down to pick up the pieces, whispering, "Master, calm down. It's not worth getting yourself hurt by this. What big waves can an unloved concubine's daughter cause?"
"Not favored?" Wen Yue sneered, grabbed a piece of freshly made peach blossom cake from the table, and crushed it fiercely. "The prince rested in the study last night, but everyone said that he was smiling when he came out of Hibiscus Garden! How long has it been since he smiled at me? Now, for a woman who plays with those dead things all day, he even doesn't come to my place!"
Her nails dug deep into her palms. The comfort brought by the secret letter of "Be patient" had been completely burned away by the flames of jealousy. She couldn't wait any longer. If she waited any longer, there would be no place for her in this palace.
In the main courtyard of the palace, in Cui Jingyue's study, the atmosphere was equally solemn.
Lu Zhu reported all the information she had obtained, including the origin of the set of four treasures of the study and the unusual smile on the prince's face when he gave the order.
Cui Jingyue listened quietly, fiddling with a cold white jade chess piece in her hand. Her face remained impassive, her emotions unrecognizable. Only after Luzhu finished speaking did she slam the piece onto the board, blocking the path of a large dragon.
"Song Qingyuan..." She whispered the name, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. She had never really cared about this sister.
In her eyes, Song Qingyuan was just a gift from her father to please the prince, quiet and boring, like an insignificant grass in the garden. But now, this grass not only survived, but also seemed to be about to bloom.
"Lüzhu, do you think she is truly indifferent, or... wise but appears foolish?" Cui Jingyue asked.
Lu Zhu pondered for a moment and replied cautiously, "From what I can see, Master Song is no ordinary person.
Her Hibiscus Garden may seem peaceful and secluded, but in reality, it's impenetrable. Caiwei, the girl, has been trained by her to be loyal and secretive.
Cui Jingyue nodded and her eyes fell back on the note that she had burned to ashes.
"Lin family..." She uttered the two words softly. Wen Yue, the chess piece, was ready to make a move. The people behind it were clearly trying to disrupt the palace. And Song Qingyuan's sudden rise was undoubtedly a huge variable.
Whether this variable is friend or foe is unclear. She needs an opportunity, a chance to reveal everyone's true colors.
"Go," she finally made up her mind, "tell them I've just got a batch of top-quality autumn chrysanthemums. Tomorrow afternoon, I'll hold a small chrysanthemum-viewing banquet in the garden. I'll invite all the sisters in the mansion to come and have some fun."
"Yes." Luzhu took the order and left.
Cui Jingyue's fingertips slowly moved across the chessboard, finally stopping at the position where Song Qingyuan had placed the piece yesterday.
She smiled lightly, with a hint of coldness in her smile: "Well, let me see whether you so-called sisters are human or ghosts. It's time to make some moves in this chess game."
On an autumn afternoon, the sun was warm and the breeze was refreshing. Several famous autumn chrysanthemums in the princess's yard were in full bloom, with clusters of golden, white, and purple blossoms, a truly beautiful sight.
Cui Jingyue hosted a chrysanthemum viewing banquet, and all the prominent concubines in the palace were present. Wen Yue was dressed to the nines in a pomegranate-red dress that seemed to outshine all the chrysanthemums in the garden.
She changed from the melancholy of the previous two days, with a sweet smile on her face. She stayed diligently by Cui Jingyue's side, asking about her well-being and being more considerate than anyone else.
Song Qingyuan was still dressed in simple and elegant clothes. She arrived neither early nor late and quietly found a corner to sit down, as if she really came just to see the flowers.
The gift she brought was also very simple. It was osmanthus candy she made herself using osmanthus flowers from the garden. It was placed in a small celadon jar and had a sweet smell.
"Sister, your skills are really getting better and better," Cui Jingyue took it and asked Luzhu to accept it. She smiled and said to Song Qingyuan, "The other day, I heard from the prince that sister is not only good at restoring ancient books, but also has outstanding chess skills. Even the prince praised her highly."
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