Chapter 16: Removing the Thorn

Chapter 16: Removing the Thorn

After leaving Cining Palace, Xiao Sheng looked up at the sky and asked, "How are things at Ning Shou Mountain?"

Sheng An bowed and replied, “Your Majesty, Empress Dowager Li still refuses to say much.”

Although she doesn’t speak, both master and servant can guess that the incense burner was not only aimed at the Noble Consort and the heir, but clearly also targeted at Your Majesty. Back in the Eastern Palace, Your Majesty often visited Noble Consort's Yichun Hall.

Does Consort Hu not realize that this would harm the Emperor? Of course, she knows. For her, even if the cinnabar turned into mercury couldn’t take Xiao Sheng's life, causing Jiang Hui to miscarry was already worth a try.

Xiao Sheng paused, his face expressionless: “Empress Dowager Li has been serving diligently at the imperial mausoleum, her body is exhausted and ill, hard to heal. I am deeply saddened.”

“Yes, I understand,” Sheng An bowed his head.

"'How have the Noble Consort and the Crown Prince been these days?' the Emperor inquired."

"'The imperial physician reports that the Crown Prince's eating and sleeping habits have improved. The Noble Consort has been taking Yangrong Pills daily and is showing slight improvement,' replied Sheng An promptly."

"Emperor Xiao Sheng hummed in response, 'Return to the Liangyi Hall.'"

"On the way to the Liangyi Hall, passing by the Taiye Pool, he saw Xu Xiuyuan gracefully approaching to pay respects."

"'Xu Xiuyuan of the Xu family, wishing Your Majesty peace and prosperity.'"

"Xiao Sheng rubbed his forehead and said, 'Rise.'"

"A pleased look crossed Xu Xiuyuan's face as she stepped forward, the layers of her bright silk skirt opening like a blossoming flower, and she softly offered, 'May Your Majesty try some lily pastries I personally made?'"

"Xiao Sheng coughed lightly, and Sheng An stepped forward to take the intricately carved eight-treasure food box from the maid behind Xu Xiuyuan, smiling, 'Noble Consort, His Majesty is preoccupied with state affairs. I will keep these lily pastries, and he can enjoy them when resting.'"

"'That's fine then,' Xu Xiuyuan reluctantly agreed, about to say more, but the imperial carriage had already departed."

"'Your Majesty—' Xu Xiuyuan's voice trailed off, looking at the departing palanquin with disappointment, 'Not visiting Yaohua Palace, and so rarely coming to Guangyang Palace too?'"

"'Your Highness, shall we continue to enjoy the scenery at the Taiye Pool?' asked Haitang, a maid behind her."

"'The Chuxiu Palace will soon welcome new occupants. Of course, we'll continue to enjoy,' Xu Xiuyuan replied, turning to walk towards the Zhaoyue Pavilion by the Taiye Pool."

*

"It was noon at the Liangyi Hall."

"The Xuan bird water dropper on the large rosewood desk ticked steadily, while the lacquered wall table held a snake pattern Boshan censer and a Ru kiln beauty vase. The censer was gently burning dragon's blood incense, filling the hall with a light fragrance."

"Xiao Sheng set down his vermilion brush and took a sip of tea. Seeing this, Sheng An signaled to the two palace maids standing in the hall. The maids approached the Emperor, bowed slightly, and began to massage his shoulders."

"Xiao Sheng relaxed his taut shoulders, leaning back in the dragon throne, and closed his eyes for a brief rest."

"Sheng An then tiptoed around the twelve-panel silk-embroidered landscape screen, signaling to someone waiting outside dressed as a senior eunuch holding a wooden tray."

The eunuch immediately bowed before the Emperor, kneeling on the ground, holding up a wooden tray and respectfully said, “Your servant Quan Shun from the Palace Warehousing Bureau requests Your Majesty to draw lots.”

Xiao Sheng opened his eyes, and in the redwood tray in front of him, inlaid with pearl ruyi patterns, were neatly arranged a few jade-carved ivory lots. As he was about to proceed, he suddenly remembered the morning's events at Cining Palace. He changed his mind, waved off the maid, stood up, and without a glance at the still kneeling eunuch, walked towards the door.

Sheng An hurriedly followed, bowing and scraping, “Your Majesty, where are you heading?”

Xiao Sheng kicked him, “To Yaohua Palace.”

*

Jiang Hui was making peach blossom cakes in the small kitchen.

That morning, several maids had picked many peach blossoms. Apart from those used for decoration, there were plenty left for making cakes.

She washed the fresh peach petals in saltwater, soaked them for about fifteen minutes, then lifted them out. She added milk, lotus root powder, and crushed rock sugar, stirring until smooth, then simmered it on low heat until thickened and non-sticking. The mixture was then poured into peach-shaped wooden molds to set and solidify.

When Qingfeng reported that the imperial carriage seemed to be heading towards Yaohua Palace, Jiang Hui was still busy in the kitchen. She nodded slightly, showing no intention of changing clothes. Only when the shrill announcement of the eunuch at the palace gate rang out did she take off her apron, clean her hands, quickly tie her hair with a wooden hairpin, and wearing a plain moon-white brocade dress, went to the front hall to welcome the Emperor.

“Your servant greets Your Majesty, may Your Majesty be blessed with peace and prosperity.”

Xiao Sheng had never seen Jiang Hui like this before.

Jiang Hui in her youth was vibrant in red, radiant and cheerful. After her coming-of-age ceremony, she was like the bright moon, gentle and tranquil but always with a hint of aloofness.

Yet at no time, whether then or now, had she appeared as she did today, as if a celestial being had finally descended to the mundane world, tainted with the mundanity of life, and very close to him.

Xiao Sheng hesitated for a moment, then reached out to help Jiang Hui up: “No need for such formalities, Hui’er, rise quickly.”

After a pause, he asked, “What is Hui’er doing?”

Jiang Hui looked up at him, smiling softly, “I am making peach blossom cakes in the small kitchen. I came to greet Your Majesty in a hurry, please forgive me.”

Peach blossom cakes, a delicacy the young Princess of Anning used to make and bring to the Chongwen Pavilion to share when she first learned cooking.

“Has Hui’er finished making them? Would I have the honor to taste them?” Xiao Sheng asked playfully.

“Just the final step left,” Jiang Hui replied, lifting her delicate hand and pointing with a slender finger.

"The Emperor, intrigued, followed Jiang Hui into the small kitchen, startling the servants there."

"Jiang Hui put on the apron handed to her by Aunt Ping, washed her hands in a copper basin, and began to remove the now-shaped cakes from the wooden molds."

"She directed the Emperor, 'Your Majesty, please help me fetch some hawthorn slices. They are in the carved lacquer cabinet, in a porcelain white jar with fish patterns.'"

"The Emperor rummaged for a moment and, holding the jar, showed an intention to help. He pulled out the red wooden stopper and peeked inside, asking, 'How many hawthorn slices should I use?'"

"'Five or six will do, they need to be chopped finely.' Jiang Hui glanced back and, seeing the Emperor ready to use the kitchen knife, hurried over to stop him, 'Your Majesty mustn’t use this. Be careful not to hurt yourself.'"

"The Emperor initially insisted but, noticing the tense looks of the palace staff, he refrained from proceeding. If he handled the kitchen knife in the Yaohua Palace today, petitions criticizing the Noble Consort would likely pile up in the Liangyi Hall tomorrow."

"Xiao Sheng thus stepped back and watched Jiang Hui continue her work."

"She finely chopped the hawthorn, sprinkling it over the milky white cakes with a hint of peach blush. Finally, she gently placed the remaining washed peach blossom petals on top with a bit of warm water, completing the delicate and charming peach blossom cakes."

"Returning to the main hall, Aunt Ping arranged the peach blossom cakes on a jade plate, accompanied by perilla drink, and set them on a table in the warm chamber before quietly withdrawing."

"Jiang Hui changed into a snow-green colored gown with silver embroidery and restyled her hair into a single coil, adorning it with a dangling flower jade fan hairpin. Wearing jade gourd earrings, she entered the warm chamber and found the Emperor intently examining a sheet of white paper with a few lines of poetry on the bookcase by the window."

"On the rosewood desk, there was a green-glazed lotus-patterned plum vase with several freshly picked peach blossoms. To the right stood a bamboo pen holder filled with various sized goat hair brushes, next to an inkstone with a remaining ink stick, and a tray with leftover ink."

"The pristine white paper was spread beside the pen holder, held down by a rosewood bamboo-pattern paperweight, the writing on it resembling dewy pearls and clouds of smoke."

"A high hall set for wine, a sorrowful song over a brimming cup."

Life is fleeting, passing away like the morning frost.

Time never returns, and flowers do not bloom again.

Apple blossoms shine in the spring sun, while orchids emit fragrance in the autumn air.

Future days are short, and past days are long.

Now I am not happy, with crickets chirping in the room.

Joy arises from gathering, and sorrow from parting.①

How brief is human life, vanishing like the dew of morning. Even in revelry, there’s only the lament of sorrow, the sadness hard to forget. Time does not come back, flowers do not re-bloom. Apple blossoms bloom only in spring, and orchids only emit their fragrance in autumn. The remaining days are so short, yet the days gone by are so long. In the late days of the year, one should make merry while they can. Meeting friends brings joy, but parting brings sorrow…

Hearing the faint footsteps of Jiang Hui approaching, Xiao Sheng picked up the thin sheet of white paper, turned around, and softly asked, “Why does Hui’er suddenly recall the poems of Lu Pingyuan?”

Jiang Hui paused in her steps, a faint mist in her eyes, as she quietly stopped beside the silk screen. Her snow-green skirt shimmered with silver threads, giving her a serene and tranquil appearance, almost like a celestial being descended to Earth.

Her eyebrows relaxed, and she smiled lightly, "Just a momentary melancholy, a needless sigh of sorrow."

The Emperor, however, did not let the topic go and approached Jiang Hui. His expression was inscrutable, his eyes deep, as he continued to inquire, “The verse ends with 'How can it be said that there's no feeling, for sorrow is forgotten for the child.’ Why didn’t the Noble Consort write it?”

How can it be said that there's no feeling, when it's just that seeing you makes one forget sorrow.

Jiang Hui smiled: “When I wrote this poem this morning, there was no one yet to alleviate my sorrow.”

Taking the white paper from the Emperor’s hand, she walked over to the writing desk, spread it out, and held it down with a paperweight. After grinding some ink, she lifted her left sleeve, dipped the brush in the ink, diffused it on the inkstone, and completed the verse on the paper.

"— 'How can one say they feel nothing, sorrow forgotten because of you.'"

——————

"Note: ①Excerpt from 'Short Song Line' by Lu Ji."