Chapter 64: Beautiful Scenery
Consort Li was so furious she wanted to tear Lan Wu’s mouth apart. However, the jadeite thumb ring was conspicuously worn on Lan Wu’s hand, proclaiming His Majesty’s favor toward her and also declaring—no one could touch her.
Hearing Lan Wu’s words, the surrounding imperial concubines each lowered their heads, unwilling to get involved, yet delighted to watch the drama unfold. They all cautiously observed the scene.
Faced with Lan Wu’s accusation of her so-called “insincerity,” Consort Li glanced at Consort Shu and Consort Rou above her. Swallowing her anger, she forced a slightly twisted smile and spoke again, “I misspoke earlier. Sister Zhen, please do not take offense. I will punish myself with three cups to celebrate your birthday.”
With that, she picked up the wine cup from the low table at her seat and downed three cups in succession.
Watching her drink the three cups, Lan Wu didn’t wait for anyone else to speak. She clapped her hands first and praised, “Sister Consort Li truly has a great capacity for wine. It seems you were just speaking nonsense after getting drunk earlier. The scenery today is so beautiful; you should take a good look.”
She was right—today’s scenery was truly rare.
Kongshan Garden was a small piece of land surrounded by a lake. From the outside alone, one couldn’t see the beauty within, but upon entering Kongshan Garden, one could behold the unique scenery all around.
It was summer, with flowers blooming everywhere. The dense yet orderly shrubs were arranged along both sides of the path. The gravel path was clean, and exquisite palace lanterns hung high nearby, ensuring that even after nightfall, the scenery remained enchanting.
Passing through the wooden carved archway, there was a long corridor, three zhang wide, with glass lanterns hanging from its beams and colorful paintings and inscriptions inside. The corridor was close to the water, where fish swam, and the potted plants along the shore varied yet complemented one another.
The hollow-carved wooden doors on the inner side of the corridor faced the main hall, casting light and shadows into the hall. The intricate patterns were reflected on the woven gold palace carpet, along with the shadows of the shrubs outside.
Lan Wu had already observed the outer parts of the garden earlier. She had to admit, the garden was truly beautiful. Surrounded by water on all sides, it was cool and refreshing even in the summer heat.
Although His Majesty had ordered the imperial concubines to ascend Kongshan Garden to enjoy the scenery, this garden was originally built by the Late Emperor for Empress Dowager Jingwen. No one dared to frolic excessively in the garden. Even if curious, they merely glanced around.
Lan Wu, however, wanted to stroll through the garden. If she didn’t do so now and instead wasted time exchanging pleasantries with them, it would be a pity once it grew dark and the garden’s beauty could no longer be appreciated.
After drinking a cup of tea, she stood up without hesitation and said with a smile, “This concubine is visiting this garden for the first time, unlike the ladies who have seen much more. I must go and admire the garden’s splendid scenery. Please do not laugh at this concubine for being playful.”
No one dared to stop her.
Watching her skip away joyfully, the imperial concubines present also grew restless. Having come all this way, who would be content to just sit here idly?
But they were not Lan Wu. Without imperial favor or power, they dared not make any missteps.
Kongshan Garden was not small, and it had everything a garden should have. In preparation for the evening feast, the palace servants had begun their preparations earlier.
“Your Ladyship, there are fewer people ahead, and it looks rather empty. Should we still go forward?” Lian Xi and Lian Qiao accompanied her. Seeing the slightly overgrown area ahead, they immediately tried to persuade Lan Wu to turn back.
Lan Wu pensively lowered her head to look at the weeds that reached past her calves, then lifted her gaze forward, spotting a small, neatly tended vegetable patch further ahead.
Someone was growing vegetables here?
Not only Lan Wu saw it, but Lian Xi and Lian Qiao also noticed that orderly vegetable plot.
“Who are you?” A somewhat hoarse woman’s voice sounded from behind.
The three turned around and saw a woman dressed in old clothes with graying hair.
The woman did not look young, with deep wrinkles between her brows as if she had been frowning without relief for a long time, her gaze sharp and unyielding.
Lian Qiao felt a chill run down her spine under her stare, too afraid to speak.
Lian Xi, however, spoke up at that moment: “How dare you be so disrespectful to Her Ladyship Shuyi.”
The woman’s gaze shifted to Lan Wu, taking in her appearance and attire. She frowned slightly at first, then offered a perfunctory bow: “Greetings, Your Ladyship Shuyi.”
Her tone was far from respectful, and without waiting for Lan Wu to speak, she made a gesture as if to shoo them away: “This place is remote and messy. Your Ladyship should move along further ahead.”
As she spoke, she walked forward, ignoring Lan Wu and the others, and went straight to the small vegetable patch. She crouched down and began pulling out the surrounding weeds.
Lian Xi glanced at Lan Wu first, and seeing Lan Wu shake her head gently, she remained silent and stood to the side.
Lan Wu observed the woman curiously, certain she had never met her before, yet the woman gave her an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
She stood there racking her brain for a long time but couldn’t figure it out, so she had to let it go for the moment and turned to leave.
Once they were farther away, Lian Qiao finally let out a sigh of relief.
Her sigh was so audible that Lan Wu found it amusing: “What, do you know her? Were you too scared to speak?”
Lian Qiao quickly shook her head, then nodded repeatedly, explaining in a hushed voice: “Your Ladyship, please don’t laugh at me. I felt that the auntie’s presence was quite intimidating, like the aunties from the Inner Court Administration who discipline newly entered palace maids. Those aunties are very skilled with the paddle and are quite fierce.”
Having grown up in the Music Bureau, Lan Wu had no impression of the aunties from the Inner Court Administration that Lian Qiao mentioned, but the Music Bureau also had elder aunties who taught the new batch of girls learning dance and music. Those who didn’t perform well would always be punished.
So she roughly understood what Lian Qiao was afraid of.
But that woman…
If Lan Wu wasn’t mistaken, she should have been a palace maid who served Empress Dowager Jingwen during her lifetime.
Looking at those vegetables, they weren’t the work of a single day. To come to the garden daily to tend to this vegetable patch, it must be someone close to Empress Dowager Jingwen who had received Your Majesty’s permission.
Following the relatively wide path around to the front, they unexpectedly ran into a group of people.
Lan Wu narrowed her eyes slightly, observing Consort Rou holding Rong Shu Yi’s arm with a gentle and concerned expression. A mischievous idea surfaced in her mind as she curled her lips.
She did not offer a greeting but instead took two steps forward, looking Rong Shu Yi up and down before saying leisurely: “How is Rong Shu Yi’s health?”
Rong Shu Yi looked at her but did not speak immediately.
Consort Rou watched this scene with satisfaction, then gently pulled Rong Shu Yi to stand behind her—a clear gesture of protection. She addressed Lan Wu: “Sister Zhen, have you finished your stroll? There’s a butterfly grove further ahead. If you haven’t seen it yet, you might want to take a look.”
Her clearly diversionary remark only deepened Lan Wu’s smile. She replied unhurriedly, “Really? Then this concubine must go and see it—it must be very beautiful. However, this concubine heard from the Court Physician that those suffering from chills should avoid being near water. Sister Consort Rou cares so much for Rong Shuyi, how could you still let her walk by the water’s edge?”
As she spoke, Lan Wu glanced sideways at the nearby pond.