Chapter 126: Roses
The words obtained from that Master Huifan were all ambiguous. On one hand, Lan Wu felt he knew something; on the other hand, she sensed he wouldn’t say much more to her.
Isn’t Buddhism most averse to such matters?
Something about… revealing heavenly secrets?
Lan Wu leaned against the edge of the bath, with palace maids washing her hair behind her. A faint floral fragrance wafted through the bathing hall.
It was already deep winter. The flowers in the Imperial Garden had withered, and even the tree leaves had turned yellow and fallen, yet this floral scent was exceptionally pleasant.
“Does Your Ladyship find this fragrance pleasant?” Lian Qiao smiled behind her, speaking softly, “These roses were cultivated by the Linheng Office. Though they are roses, their scent is different—more intense and fragrant than ordinary roses.”
Lan Wu glanced around and saw vases placed on shelves in the four corners, indeed filled with pinkish-white blossoms.
“It smells quite nice.”
“As soon as the roses bloomed, the Linheng Office rushed to send them to our Yilan Hall,” Lian Qiao said with a chuckle. “They certainly have good judgment.”
Lan Wu hadn’t paid it much mind initially, but hearing this, she hesitated and asked, “Were they sent only to our palace?”
Lian Qiao quickly shook her head and replied, “There weren’t many pots of these cultivated flowers. They sent four pots to our palace and two pots to Lady Shufei’s palace.”
Consort Shu…
Lan Wu carefully calculated in her mind. Apart from Yue Zhaorong and Mu Xiurong, who had visited her palace that day, it had been nearly half a month since she had seen any other imperial concubines in the palace.
“Has there been any movement in the palace lately?” She had been preoccupied with uncovering the truth about her past life and meeting Master Huifan. Although she occasionally had free time, Chu Mingheng had insisted she avoid going outside to catch a chill until she fully recovered. She had almost forgotten that Consort Shu was still lurking in the palace, watching intently.
Thinking of how Consort Shu had waited outside the door in her previous life, only for it to be shut in her face…
“Nothing much else, but a few days ago, Zhaoyi Wen sent her personal palace maid to Noble Consort Li’s Jinghua Palace, claiming to inquire about Noble Consort Li’s well-being. Many unpleasant words were exchanged, and the maid likely reported everything truthfully to Zhaoyi Wen upon her return. Zhaoyi Wen fell ill the very next day.”
As she spoke, Lian Qiao poured warm water over Lan Wu’s hair to rinse it. Her ladyship’s dark tresses resembled overlapping waves of shadowy sea—a sight too beautiful for Lian Qiao’s simple words to describe. Yet she felt such beautiful hair was perfectly suited to such a beautiful woman.
With these thoughts, Lian Qiao’s movements grew even gentler.
Mentioning Noble Consort Li, Lan Wu frowned slightly, clearly displeased.
“Why would Zhaoyi Wen send someone to Noble Consort Li’s Jinghua Palace for no reason?”
To inquire about her well-being?
More likely to kick someone when they’re down.
“On the day His Majesty brought Your Ladyship back to the palace, didn’t you develop a high fever and summon an Imperial Physician? Many imperial concubines came to visit, but Noble Consort Li did not. Perhaps Lady Shufei felt slighted and wanted to make things difficult for Noble Consort Li in return.” These were Lian Qiao’s own speculations. Though the rear palace was vast, it wasn’t hard to guess the intentions of its mistresses as long as they didn’t conceal their actions.
After all, Zhaoyi Wen didn’t seem inclined to spare Noble Consort Li any face either.
Lan Wu nodded and asked, “What about Consort Shu?”
Currently, Consort Shu holds authority over the palace affairs in the rear court. By all accounts, this should be a time for her to feel triumphant, yet she has remained so quiet. Could she be brewing some sinister scheme?
“There has been no news of any movement from Yifang Hall.”
Zhaoyi Wen lay ill on her bed. Unlike Lan Wu, who had suffered from high fever throughout the night, her illness manifested as a dry, sore throat and persistent coughing. This bout of sickness had even infected several of the palace maids in her hall, and for a time, few dared to visit Hanlu Palace.
Xiuyi Bai wanted to visit her, but she still had to attend to Consort Shu. Fearing she might contract the illness and pass it on to Consort Shu, she only sent word that she would visit in a few days when Zhaoyi Wen had recovered somewhat.
“Her constitution is far too weak. How could she fall ill just by staying in her own palace?” Consort Shu frowned slightly upon hearing Xiuyi Bai’s words, clearly displeased.
Xiuyi Bai felt a hint of awkwardness but managed a smile. “Perhaps it was due to the words Noble Consort Li spoke a few days ago. You know how easily she takes things to heart.”
“Noble Consort Li…” Consort Shu propped her head up and sneered. “Her mouth truly is foul. Since it’s already so foul, there’s no need for her to eat too well.”
“One of these days, have Yushan Fang prepare her daily meals with extra care, so she won’t have the energy to gossip.”
Just as Xiuyi Bai was about to agree, she noticed someone entering the hall.
Yunqing walked in from outside, followed by two palace maids carrying two pots of roses in full bloom, their fragrance wafting through the air.
Xiuyi Bai immediately shifted her attention to the flowers, marveling, “It’s already winter, yet the roses are blooming so beautifully.”
Consort Shu also turned her gaze to the flowers and asked Yunqing, “Where did these come from?”
“Your Highness, they were sent by the Linheng Office. They said these are newly cultivated varieties with a stronger fragrance,” Yunqing replied calmly, instructing the two maids to bring the flowers forward for Consort Shu and Xiuyi Bai to examine closely.
Xiuyi Bai leaned in for a sniff and indeed caught a more intense, refreshing floral scent. She couldn’t help but smile. “The Linheng Office truly has a knack for creativity. They’re quite sensible, knowing to send any good things to Your Highness first.”
Consort Shu gently stroked the petals, though she didn’t seem particularly interested. She had never been fond of flowers or plants.
But after a moment, noticing Yunqing’s silence, she sensed something amiss.
“Who else received these flowers?” she narrowed her eyes slightly, her fingers lightly pinching a petal as she asked Yunqing coldly.
“Your Highness, the Linheng Office also sent four pots to Yilan Hall,” Yunqing replied with a bow, not concealing anything.
Consort Shu curled her lips into a cold smile and crushed a petal between her fingers.
“The Linheng Office truly knows how to flatter this Zhen Zhaorong,” she remarked, plucking another flower and examining it in her palm for a moment before tossing it lightly at Yunqing. “Take it to the Cold Palace for Consort Zeng. She always loved these trivial flowers and plants—utterly lacking in refinement.”
Xiuyi Bai dared not breathe too loudly, only to hear Consort Shu change her mind.
“One pot for Consort Zeng, one for Noble Consort Li. Perfect—they won’t have to fight over them.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Yunqing replied before leading the others out of the hall.
Only the two of them remained.
Xiuyi Bai reached for her teacup, the hall now quiet.
Just as she took her first sip, she suddenly heard Consort Shu address her.
“Xiuyi Bai.”
Xiuyi Bai shuddered all over, immediately set down her teacup, and slightly bowed as she replied, “Yes, Your Highness.”
“Although both you and Zhaoyi Wen serve me, to be honest, the two of you are not as useful as a dead Cairen Liu. Oh, you still remember Cairen Liu, don’t you?”
Xiuyi Bai nodded and replied slowly, “Your servant remembers.”
“So, you must show me more loyalty, and I can ensure you won’t be persecuted to death by others like Cairen Liu.”
Xiuyi Bai suddenly raised her head to look at her, catching the coldness in Consort Shu’s eyes. She instinctively swallowed, saying, “Your servant will remember this well.”