“Chapter 14: Rumors”

"Chapter 14: Rumors"

"In the spring sun, delicate rays danced on the jade-like surface of the pond, bringing with them the faint scent of peach blossoms."

"Beside the Suoyue Pond, under the bustling peach trees, Jiang Hui sat in Fenglai Pavilion, half-leaning on the dark brown wooden railing, quietly watching the young maids Shan Zhai and Bi Yun picking peach blossoms."

"Around Fenglai Pavilion hung translucent light blue curtains. Inside, a lone rock table stood, covered with a silver light satin embroidered with ten different patterns. On it was a red lacquered, carved, double-layered food box, its lid now open, revealing an array of snacks inside."

"Cloud cakes, pea cake, jujube paste pastry, white sugar cake, crystal lotus seed cake, a bowl of silver fungus soup, and a bowl of perilla drink."

"Aunt Ping carefully placed these delicacies one by one on the stone table, respectfully inviting her mistress to enjoy."

"Jiang Hui turned her gaze from the peach trees, picking up a piece of jujube paste pastry with ivory chopsticks. The pastry was sweet but not cloying, with a hint of sourness from hawthorn."

"'Aunt Ping, your culinary skills have improved even more,' praised Jiang Hui."

"'As long as you like it, my lady,' responded Aunt Ping."

"Jiang Hui nibbled on a few pieces, then set down her chopsticks, her eyes following the young maids outside as they directed eunuchs to move a wooden ladder back and forth, smiling."

"Seeing her mistress so relaxed and without a hint of worry, Aunt Ping couldn't help but say, 'My lady, about the rumors spreading in the palace these past few days...'"

"His Majesty has not set foot in the Yaohua Palace for ten days now."

"Ten days is not a particularly long time, but given the sparsity of the current imperial harem, totaling only two or three people, His Majesty's absence from the palace of the once highly favored Noble Consort for such a period is enough to raise eyebrows throughout the palace."

"It's worth noting that in the past, even when the Noble Consort was pregnant or unable to attend to His Majesty due to her monthly cycle, he never failed to visit her."

"Rumors are now circulating that the Noble Consort might have fallen out of favor. With new concubines soon to enter the palace, it seems a change of guard is imminent."

"Although the Noble Consort holds a high position and is the mother of His Majesty's only son, while the palace staff dare not neglect her, gossip and whispers are harder to control."

"Aunt Ping can manage the people of Yaohua Palace, but not the mouths of everyone in the entire palace. Seeing Jiang Hui's apparent indifference, how could she not be anxious?"

"Okra and Hongying stayed in the Qionghua Hall to care for the Crown Prince. At the moment, only Wan Song and Pomegranate were attending, and hearing Aunt Ping’s words, Wan Song gave her a look, trying to stop her from speaking further."

"But Aunt Ping, disregarding this, became even more earnest, taking advantage of the fact that they were among their own."

"'My lady, His Majesty is both a ruler and a husband. If there is something amiss, it's best to endure it. We women of the harem depend entirely on His Majesty – you mustn't be capricious!'"

"'I am aware,' Jiang Hui reassured Aunt Ping with a calming smile, speaking lightly, 'There's no rush. The time is not yet right.'"

"Indeed, the time was not right."

"Jiang Hui had long suspected that she was someone His Majesty had longed for in his youth and had previously been betrothed to another. With such a background, how could she eagerly seek more favor from His Majesty?"

"She had already understood why His Majesty was acting so out of character."

"The Penal Bureau had surrounded Fuyang Palace for just one day. All the palace maids in the Baoqing Hall died due to the 'flood,' along with Lady Hu. It was a blatant silencing."

"Lady Hu died because of her, and must have harbored deep hatred towards her. Thus, what she might have said to His Majesty before her death to turn him against Jiang Hui was conceivable."

"What did she possess that Lady Hu knew of, which could cause His Majesty to harbor silent resentment?"

"What could cause an emperor to suddenly neglect a favored consort, yet refrain from taking any further action?"

"His Majesty was not a foolish ruler. Baseless accusations would not trouble him. What kind of words would be so significant to him that he would resort to silencing others?"

"It must be a matter concerning a woman's reputation."

"But who then, could be falsely accused as the 'adulterer'?"

"On the night of her marriage to the Emperor, he had asked Jiang Hui if she was willing."

"Jiang Hui couldn’t say whether she was willing or not, merely following the imperial edict. Of course, in front of Xiao Sheng, she had to appear as if he was the only one in her heart."

"As for her early-deceased fiancé, Chen Xianyu, the Crown Prince of Anguo, that bright and clear-spirited young man, she had long since stopped thinking about him and never acted in any way that could be misunderstood."

"Lady Hu, not being from the capital and of an inconspicuous family background, couldn’t possibly delve into her youthful associations. Thus, the only grounds for Lady Hu’s slanderous accusations must have occurred after Jiang Hui entered the Eastern Palace."

"After carefully considering all the people and events since her arrival at the Eastern Palace, Jiang Hui identified the supposed 'adulterer' – Xiao Xu, the Prince of Qi, whom she had encountered by chance last May at the Summer Resort."

"It must have been that encounter which Lady Hu had witnessed."

"In the current dynasty, although women were not as strictly controlled as in previous times, anything related to a woman's honor was still a matter of utmost seriousness."

"After ten days, His Majesty must have already sent someone to verify the matter with the Prince of Qi. Jiang Hui picked up a spoon, scooping a mouthful of perilla drink, and sipped slowly."

"But considering the Prince of Qi's character, the Emperor wouldn’t harbor such a misunderstanding. His current actions probably stem from suspicion that their meeting was not coincidental, coupled with her past engagement, leaving a knot in His Majesty’s heart."

"Some thorns, if ignored, only penetrate deeper, eventually cutting the skin and causing wounds that bleed and fester. And now, this was Jiang Hui's opportunity to remove the thorn."

"The Fenglai Pavilion was built over the water of the Suoyue Pond, connected by wooden planks, a delicately constructed pavilion at the heart of the lake. Several large peach trees were planted along the pond, their twisted branches leaning over the water, perfectly shading the pavilion."

"A tree full of peach blossoms burned with the colors of spring, a few petals falling into the water, creating soft ripples and shimmering reflections. From afar, it perfectly embodied the saying, 'Peach blossoms playing with the water's color, waves gently rocking the light of spring.'"

"Miss Zhao, the third daughter of Marquis Changping, entered the palace from the Chaoyang Gate, following a matron from the Cining Palace. As she passed by the Yaohua Palace, she caught sight of this beautiful scene from a distance."

"The Suoyue Pond was small, allowing those in the pavilion to clearly see the woman walking gracefully along the palace path."

"The woman was beautiful, dressed in a coral red skirt embroidered with butterflies, her hair in a young maiden’s style, with a gold begonia pearl hairpin by her temples, dazzling in the sunlight."

"The other party seemed to have noticed her as well and curtsied from the palace path, her swan-like neck bowing gracefully, her movements exuding the elegance of a noble family."

"'My lady, it’s the third Miss from the Marquis of Changping’s household,' Wan Song said softly."

"Jiang Hui nodded and asked, 'Did the Empress Dowager not grant her a jade palanquin?'"

"She seems to have entered from the Chaoyang Gate. It's quite a distance from there to the Cining Palace."

"'I am not sure, perhaps she encountered some situation on the way?' suggested Wan Song."

"After completing her courtesy, Zhao Ruyun, seeing no further instructions from the people in the pavilion, continued following Matron Li towards the Cining Palace."

"Without asking further, Matron Li volunteered, 'Miss Zhao, the lady you just saw is the Noble Consort, mother of the Crown Prince.'"

"Zhao Ruyun, having passed by the Yaohua Palace every time she entered the palace, could easily guess that the noble lady leisurely sitting in the Suoyue Pond Pavilion was the renowned Jiang Noble Consort. It was just that during her previous visits, the Noble Consort had been ill and not present at the Cining Palace."

"Walking along the palace path, Zhao Ruyun kept her eyes forward, recalling the brief glimpse she had just had."

"Underneath the dazzling peach blossoms, above the clear azure waves, the lady in the pavilion wore a dark blue dress, with a lily hairpin, adorned with a simple and elegant fat jade orchid, slanted in her hair. Her demeanor was casual, her brows hinting at a snowy elegance. Even through the light blue curtains, one could discern she was a beauty of stunning grace."

"A beauty as ethereal as a flower beyond the clouds."

"Zhao Ruyun thanked Matron Li and said softly, 'I had the fortune to meet the Noble Consort as a child. Seeing her again now, she is just as my aunt described: gracefully refined and peerlessly beautiful. Once seen, she is unforgettable.'"

"Leading the way ahead, Matron Li slightly turned her face upon hearing these words. The wrinkles around her eyes stretched with her smile as she said, 'Miss Zhao, you’ve passed the initial selection and will soon go through the final one. After that, you’ll reside in the Chuxiu Palace. Then, meeting whoever you wish will be easy.'"

"Zhao Ruyun gave a shy smile, lowering her head in silence."

——

"Note: ①Li Bai, 'On Parting with a Friend'"