The winds within the palace had shifted once more.
News of the Emperor visiting the Mifei Palace twice in the middle of the night spread, leaving the palace, led by Consort Xian, both joyous and uneasy.
The joy stemmed from the Emperor finally showing interest again. The palace was filled with women longing for his favor, and since the Emperor was not yet forty, the possibility of having another child was not out of reach.
The unease, however, came from the fact that the woman of the Mifei Palace was none other than the sole daughter of the rebellious Marquis of Pingyang, someone deeply entangled with the traitorous Prince Wen and his attempted uprising. Even now, the remnants of Prince Wen’s faction had yet to be fully eradicated.
Why had the Emperor chosen her?
Naturally, there were sharp-tongued individuals in the palace who, in hidden corners, sneered, “It’s said her zither playing caught the Emperor’s attention. Such a talent should have been sent to the courtesan quarters instead. What a pity…”
Currently, Consort Xian held the Phoenix Seal, managing the affairs of the harem, and she didn’t know what to do with Wen Zhaorongrong. After much deliberation, she decided to consult her daughter.
Li Lanyao, a young lady yet to marry, had no useful suggestions to offer. So, she brought Gao Yuexing into the discussion.
Consort Xian cast a reproachful glance at her daughter. “Ah Xing is even younger than you. What could she possibly know?”
Li Lanyao retorted confidently, “It’s always better to have more people to discuss things with—more opinions mean more help.”
Gao Yuexing had already guessed the concerns troubling Consort Xian’s mind.
However, what occupied Gao Yuexing’s thoughts at that moment was something else entirely.
As the only daughter of the Marquis of Pingyang, Wen Zhaorongrong had been escorted to the capital by the Jinyiwei. Once in the hands of the Jinyiwei, no one could touch her—except the Jinyiwei themselves.
It had been nearly a year since Wen Zhaorongrong entered the palace.
This chess piece of the Emperor had been quietly idle in Mifei Palace for a year. Now, there was finally movement.
How patient she had been.
Gao Yuexing could see the difficulty in Consort Xian’s expression. The Princess was bent over blending incense, the rising blue smoke from the censer carrying the scent of snowy pines in winter. Wrapped in the fragrance, Consort Xian’s features seemed slightly blurred. Gao Yuexing stared at her for a long time before suddenly noticing faint traces of age creeping into Consort Xian’s visage.
Breaking the silence, Gao Yuexing asked, “What is it that’s troubling you, Your Ladyship?”
Consort Xian looked at her and slowly began, “The palace has been far too quiet these past years. It’s hard to find even a single sister to talk to. Wen Zhaorongrong has gained the Emperor’s favor, but her status is awkward. What should I do with her?”
To put it more bluntly, Consort Xian couldn’t decide whether to befriend Wen Zhaorongrong or keep her at a distance.
She looked at Gao Yuexing, her eyes carrying a hint of hope.
After all, Gao Yuexing was the Emperor’s personally chosen bride for Prince Xiang.
Subconsciously, Consort Xian felt she could be a person worth consulting.
Gao Yuexing replied, “The Marquis of Pingyang rebelled against the Emperor. The world belongs to the Emperor. Ultimately, it’s up to the Emperor to decide. If the Emperor says she’s a criminal, then she’s a criminal. If he says she’s a favored consort, then she’s a favored consort.”
Consort Xian still hesitated. “But the court ministers…”
Gao Yuexing said, “Your Ladyship, you have neither a royal son nor a powerful family backing you. No matter how chaotic the court becomes, it won’t concern you.”
Though blunt to the point of being hurtful, it was the truth.
Consort Xian instinctively resisted Gao Yuexing’s candid words, but she couldn’t help feeling they made sense.
The lowliness of her birth was a wound in Consort Xian’s heart that would never heal.
Looking at Gao Yuexing’s face, just recently shedding its childishness, Consort Xian couldn’t help but feel a pang of emotion. So this was how noble daughters from esteemed families conducted themselves, with such unwavering confidence from a young age.
Gao Yuexing’s confidence stemmed from her understanding of the Emperor’s intentions.
The Emperor intended to use Wen Zhaorong as a chess piece to restructure the harem. This required her integration into the palace’s affairs.
Thus, even if Consort Xian hesitated and refrained from facilitating this, the Emperor would personally find another way.
Gao Yuexing wouldn’t spell it out too bluntly.
Whether Consort Xian would act wisely or not was up to her.
Meanwhile, Li Fuxiang had fallen completely silent while recuperating from her injuries.
The incident of secretly meeting someone at Qianqing Palace that night not only failed to escape the Emperor’s notice but was caught red-handed by him. Although the Emperor hadn’t said much, Gao Yuexing dared not act recklessly anymore. She remained quietly in Chunhe Palace, embroidering and keeping her ears perked to catch any news from Mifei Palace.
Speaking of Mifei Palace… it was a place she had never heard of before.
Gao Yuexing asked Li Lanyao, “Was the name Mifei Palace given by His Majesty?”
Li Lanyao, knowing the backstory, explained, “That place wasn’t originally called Mifei Palace. You’ve seen it, haven’t you? It’s in a remote corner of the northwest imperial city, an empty palace that had been abandoned for years. When Wen Zhaorong entered the palace, the Palace Affairs Bureau, knowing her identity was extraordinary, interpreted the Emperor’s intentions and placed her far away… It’s said Wen Zhaorong herself hung a wooden plaque at the gate, naming it Mifei Palace, and planted the courtyard full of osmanthus trees. One day, when Father Emperor happened to pass by in a good mood, he casually approved the hanging of an official plaque for Mifei Palace.”
Gao Yuexing recited softly, “Osmanthus flowers linger in the twilight, curtain shadows diffuse autumn light. The wind softly scatters them, the night lingers endlessly…”
Li Lanyao leaned in closer. “What are you reciting?”
Gao Yuexing replied, “…I suddenly feel like meeting this Wen Zhaorong.”
What kind of person could simultaneously be a fearsome blade in the hands of the Jinyiwei and possess such poetic charm?
Li Lanyao, unaware of Gao Yuexing’s thoughts, shared her curiosity. “Ah Xing, to tell you the truth, I want to meet her too. Wen Zhaorong has been in the palace for a year now, yet no one besides His Majesty has seen her appearance. It’s said she’s truly beautiful… Let’s go see her.”
Gao Yuexing, thinking more carefully, asked, “How do we go about it? Would Wen Zhaorong even agree to meet us if we rashly requested it?”
Li Lanyao paused. “You’re right.”
Gao Yuexing’s eyes darted with an idea. She tugged on Li Lanyao’s sleeve and whispered in her ear, “This matter should be handled by Consort Xian. If she hosts a banquet, Wen Zhaorong will surely attend.”
Li Lanyao exclaimed, “That will work!”
However, Consort Xian had yet to make up her mind.
Li Lanyao turned on her heel and left, the embroidered shawl trailing hastily across the tiles as she made her way to persuade Consort Xian with all her might.
Finally ridding herself of Li Lanyao, Gao Yuexing stuck the needle she was holding into the embroidery frame, then stood up and walked toward the door.
Fu Yun, noticing this, also put down her needlework and followed closely behind.
Gao Yuexing turned her head to glance at her and said, “Just focus on your own tasks. I’m only stepping out for a stroll and will return shortly.”
Lowering her head, Fu Yun spoke with a hint of grievance, “Miss Gao, please don’t leave me behind again. That year when you went to play by the lake alone, you slipped and fell into the water and nearly lost your life. After you returned to the palace, Consort Hui instructed me repeatedly to ensure your safety!”
At the mention of Consort Hui, Gao Yuexing felt a twinge in her heart.
When you begin to harbor suspicions about someone, every action they take seems calculated, compelling you to scrutinize them over and over.
Gao Yuexing admitted to herself that she was being overly suspicious.
She had no evidence to suggest that Consort Hui’s intentions were dubious.
But based solely on a single remark from Li Fuxiang, Gao Yuexing would rather believe there was something to it than dismiss it entirely.
Gao Yuexing’s destination was clear—she was heading toward the Wen Yuan Library.
Accessing the Wen Yuan Library required a special token granted by the Emperor, which Gao Yuexing did not have. Therefore, she could only linger around the perimeter and think of another way.
Like a curious scholar, Gao Yuexing strolled around the steps in front of the library. The guards at the entrance, noticing her, cast her a few curious glances, wondering what she was loitering for.
After circling the steps once, she stopped at a nearby corridor directly facing the library’s main gate.
Fu Yun asked, “Miss Gao, are you hoping to go inside to look for books?”
Gao Yuexing hummed in agreement.
Fu Yun added, “If you’re looking for interesting books, Consort Hui’s Jingmen Palace has a small library, and Consort Xian’s Chunhe Palace also has a good collection, more suited for young ladies to read. The Wen Yuan Library mostly contains books for men—official examination essays and such—dry and difficult to understand.”
Gao Yuexing thought to herself, Not necessarily. There might be some fascinating tales of adventure or even seditious banned books.
But she didn’t voice these thoughts. Instead, as if something had come to mind, she asked, “Are there any women in the palace who can enter the Wen Yuan Library?”
Fu Yun chuckled and shook her head. “Only those with a token granted by the Emperor can enter the Wen Yuan Library. The people coming and going here are mostly scholars or high-ranking officials. It’s not a place for women in the palace.”
Gao Yuexing nodded, understanding.
So, it seemed there were court officials keeping an eye on Li Fuxiang.
As Gao Yuexing was lost in thought, she suddenly felt a cool sensation on the back of her neck, as if water had dripped onto it.
Frowning, she wondered, Is it raining?
She looked up, only to see the clear autumn sky stretching endlessly, bathed in sunshine.
What’s more, she was standing under the eaves, sheltered from wind and rain.
Gao Yuexing abruptly turned her head. Before she could clearly see who was behind her, her face was covered with soft, fragrant osmanthus petals. She shook her head to scatter the petals from her hair, and her vision finally cleared.
Li Fuxiang stood there in a pristine moon-white robe, incongruously carrying a bamboo basket on his arm. The basket was filled with freshly picked osmanthus petals. The cool, damp sensation on the back of her neck earlier came from him gently tossing dew-laden petals over her head, some of which had slipped down the back of her neck.
Gao Yuexing glanced at the petals in his basket and then at him. “What are you doing?”
Li Fuxiang replied with an astonishingly straightforward statement: “I wanted you to smell nice.”
Fu Yun had already retreated far away, turning her back to them with an expression that clearly said she wanted no part of this scene.
Gao Yuexing sighed helplessly.
Li Fuxiang’s occasional strange ideas and actions always caught her off guard.
Reaching out, Gao Yuexing scooped a handful of osmanthus petals. Suddenly, she thought of a type of pastry—osmanthus cake.
The osmanthus cakes sold in the capital’s bakeries came in countless varieties, with textures that varied widely. However, none could compare to the sweet, lingering fragrance of those steamed by Yagu, the mute maid.
Out of nowhere, Gao Yuexing began craving Yagu’s osmanthus cakes.
The blooming period of osmanthus was only a fleeting few days each year. The large handful Li Fuxiang had collected was more than enough to steam a whole pot of cakes.
Gao Yuexing suddenly guessed the intended purpose of these osmanthus petals. Smiling, she said, “If you keep throwing osmanthus on me, how will Yagu make cakes for you?”
To travel from Mifei Palace to Qianqing Palace, one had to pass by the Wen Yuan Library.
Perhaps it was pure coincidence, but as Li Fuxiang returned with the freshly picked osmanthus, he ran into Gao Yuexing.
Realizing his intentions had been seen through, Li Fuxiang grinned and invited her, “There’s more than enough. Why don’t you come back with me?”
Gao Yuexing raised an eyebrow. “To eat osmanthus cakes together?”
Li Fuxiang replied, “With you, even without osmanthus cakes, it would still be fine.”
Gao Yuexing shook her head. “No way. You need osmanthus cakes if you want me to come along.”
It seemed Li Fuxiang’s injuries were almost fully healed.
Gao Yuexing brushed the petals off her clothes and took the basket from his arm.
The basket looked much more fitting in her hands. The two of them turned and left together.
The osmanthus flowers were indeed nearing the end of their bloom.
—
Inside Mifei Palace.
The Emperor reclined on a soft couch, sipping tea. “Since this morning, I’ve noticed the fragrance of osmanthus has faded.”
Outside the intricately embroidered folding screen depicting birds and flowers, Wen Zhaorong stood sideways, her silhouette graceful. Her voice was soft yet firm. “It’s about time.”
The Emperor remarked, “When I visited last night, I saw there were still some buds yet to bloom on the branches. I’d guess this will be the final batch. Once they’re all in full bloom…”
Wen Zhaorong moved slightly, turning to face the Emperor. “Your Majesty, I’m afraid you won’t be able to wait that long.”
The Emperor paused, puzzled. “Why?”
Wen Zhaorong pushed aside the curtain, revealing a face of cold, unearthly beauty. She said, “At the break of dawn this morning, Prince Xiang took a basket and harvested every single osmanthus flower from the branches. Not one was left. If Your Majesty wishes to admire the flowers, you’ll have to wait until next year.”