Klares Wasser und wunderschöne Berge

Kapitel 23

I vaguely guessed what Miao Zhaorong meant by "promising", but I felt that it might not be Qiuhe's wish.

After I escorted her home that time, she treated me like a brother, and we became quite close. She started talking to me more often. Whenever she came to Yifeng Pavilion, I was still the one who escorted her out.

On the day she learned that she had been transferred to the position of Empress, everyone in Yifeng Pavilion congratulated her, but she only smiled and did not show any particular joy.

I saw her off. She seemed preoccupied, her head bowed as she walked among the blossoms under the locust trees planted on either side of the palace wall, lost in thought. I couldn't help but ask her, "Qiuhe, is something troubling you?"

"Oh, no," she replied, continuing to walk slowly, as if afraid of disturbing the fallen petals. After a while, she hesitated and stopped, turning to ask me, "Huaiji, do you have a wish?"

I paused for a moment, then replied, "Watching the princess grow up carefree... if that can be considered a wish."

This answer might have surprised her. She stared at me for a long time before finally smiling gently: "Of course, you can always stay by her side."

Seeing her mention her wish, I recalled the Emperor's promise and asked Qiuhe, "So what is your wish?"

“After Qixi Festival last year, many people asked me, but I never answered,” Qiu He said with a light smile. I immediately felt that I was being nosy and asked her such a private question. Unexpectedly, she was willing to tell me: “But I can tell you… about leaving the palace. One day, I will ask the Emperor to allow me to leave the palace.”

I asked her blankly, "You don't like staying in the palace? Then why don't you tell the Emperor now?"

Qiu He did not answer, standing silently in the rain of locust blossoms falling in the gentle breeze. After a moment, she looked up, half-closing her eyes, and looked at the vast blue sky through the branches and blossoms above her head, where a layer of yellow and white petals fluttered down from her gauze crown.

Seeing her focused expression, I also looked up and saw geese flying in formation above the palace.

"Huaiji, is Young Master Cui still in the capital?" she asked hesitantly, then lowered her head and looked down, her face flushed.

I immediately understood that her wish was related to Cui Bai.

I frankly told her that since being transferred to the provincial capital, I had rarely had the opportunity to contact people at the art academy and didn't know anything about Cui Bai's current situation. She then asked if I could inquire about him for her. I agreed and asked her, "Do you have any message to pass on to him?"

She unconsciously twisted the corner of her sleeve, her voice barely audible: "The painting he gave me last time... that 'Autumn River and Hibiscus' painting... the wild geese on it... please ask him for me... about those wild geese..."

Seeing her in this state, and recalling the details of the "Autumn Harvest" painting, I realized that geese are considered "virtuous birds," monogamous, and once one mate dies, the other remains unmarried for life. The *Book of Rites* states, "When the marriage ceremony is held, geese are used as the betrothal gift." This symbolizes steadfast fidelity to one's spouse, representing the auspicious sign of yin and yang harmony and the wife's obedience to her husband. Therefore, in the marriage customs of our dynasty, geese were still used as tokens of commitment. Cui Bai's painting depicts two geese; given his free and unrestrained nature, gifting this painting to Qiu He might have hinted at a marriage agreement, or at least indicated his interest in her.

Cui Bai is handsome and has the air of a talented scholar, so it's not surprising that young women are attracted to him. Judging from Qiu He's attitude, she is clearly deeply in love with him. Since she is inquiring about Cui Bai's whereabouts, she must want to find him to ask about her feelings. If he is indeed willing to propose marriage, she is willing to leave the palace and become his wife.

Having figured this out, I immediately said to Qiuhe, "I'll go find someone to ask right now, and I'll let you know as soon as I have any news."

I first went to the Painting Academy to find out Cui Bai's address in the capital. Then I asked Zhang Chengzhao to find a former palace eunuch who could leave the palace to purchase items to inquire about him. Unfortunately, the reply Zhang Chengzhao brought was not good: Cui Bai had already left the capital, saying that he was going to travel around the world to sketch and paint. No one knew when he would return.

I relayed the result to Qiuhe, and she was naturally disappointed. So I quickly promised her that I would contact Cui Bai as soon as he returned. Qiuhe said it was alright, "It's good to stay in the palace now. I really enjoy playing with these flowers, powders, and incense. If I leave the palace, where will I find so many?"

This wasn't just an excuse; it was clear that Qiuhe genuinely loved her work as a palace decorator. What we found tedious and boring, she found enjoyable. This made her wait seem less tedious and long, I thought optimistically. She could spend a few years in the palace doing what she wanted, then leave the capital, marry a good husband, and live out the rest of her life as a devoted wife and mother. A kind girl like Qiuhe deserved such a perfect life.

In the seventh year of the Qingli reign, the thirteenth militia leader and Gao Taotao were sixteen years old. The Emperor and Empress reminisced about their childhood betrothal, and, mindful of his childlessness, were deeply moved. They then proposed that the Emperor preside over the marriage of the thirteenth militia leader and the Empress preside over the marriage of Gao Taotao. Thus, the people of the palace began preparations for this joyous occasion of "the Emperor taking a wife and the Empress marrying off her daughter."

Before Miss Gao had her coming-of-age ceremony, the marriage was arranged, and the ceremony was scheduled for the day before the Cold Food Festival that year. On that day, the Empress led the palace ladies and servants to the Gao family residence to witness the ceremony. The princess also wanted to go, but unfortunately, she had caught a cold and had to stay in her room to recuperate. With nothing to do, she was very bored.

In the afternoon, the palace maids in the pavilion made cakes from jujube flour according to custom, strung them on willow branches, and stuck them on the lintel. When the princess saw this, she also wanted to stick one on the lintel, but was stopped by Consort Miao. The princess then lay down sullenly, looking quite pitiful.

Han suggested to Consort Miao that they invite Miss Fan to come and play with the princess. Consort Miao said that the Empress was attending Miss Gao's coming-of-age ceremony today, so Miss Fan should have gone with her. However, Han shook her head and said, "I heard that Miss Fan has been feeling unwell these past few days and cannot attend the auspicious ceremony."

Miao Zhaorong raised an eyebrow upon hearing this: "Hibiscus water?"

Han said yes, and Consort Miao was somewhat surprised: "She's still quite young..."

Madam Han smiled and said, "You see her every day, so you don't think she's that big. Actually, Miss Fan is four years older than the princess. She's fourteen this year."

“Alas, these little girls have grown up without us even realizing it, which shows how old we are.” Consort Miao sighed, then called me over and instructed me, “Go and ask Miss Fan if she would like to come and talk to the princess.”

I accepted the order and immediately went to the central palace to find Miss Fan.

Because the Empress was traveling that day, she was accompanied by a large number of servants, so there were not many palace servants left in Kunning Palace, making it seem deserted. I went to Miss Fan's pavilion, but I didn't see her. Her maid pointed to the main hall of Kunning Palace and said that she was adding incense and medicine inside, so I went to the main hall.

There wasn't even a palace attendant guarding the gate in front of the main hall. I had a vague feeling that something was wrong, but I still slowly walked in.

There seemed to be no one in the hall. The brocade curtains hung low, and the four walls were silent. The first thing that came into view was the two golden lions sitting on the seven-jeweled imperial couch. Both beasts were over ten feet tall, and a few wisps of emerald smoke drifted out of their mouths, filling the air with fragrance.

Starting tomorrow, the Cold Food Festival, fires will be extinguished in the capital for three days. Therefore, today is the last time incense will be burned before the festival, and more incense will be used than usual. In addition to the two golden beasts, two gilded silver incense balls hang from the painted beams in the hall. The balls are intricately carved with openwork, and can be opened and closed in the middle. They contain incense and medicine, and there is burning charcoal at the bottom of the balls, which is suspended by fine silver chains. A dense layer hangs in front of the brocade curtains on both sides, shimmering and colorful, like a beaded curtain.

A warm, fragrant aroma wafted silently from within the gilded silver incense ball. It was the finest Ling Shui incense, its floral scent a harmonious blend of delicate fragrances, swirling and lingering in the tranquil space. I had visited the Kun Ning Palace many times, but had never experienced such a peculiar atmosphere. As if under a spell, I moved slowly and silently forward through this fragrant haze.

Suddenly, the curtain on the left twitched, and several silver incense balls collided with each other, producing a delicate, melodious sound. I turned slightly towards the source of the sound and peered out.

Inside the silver beaded curtain, two figures were vaguely visible. I stared intently and first discerned Miss Fan's figure. She held a box containing incense and medicine in one hand and a silver spoon in the other. Beside her, a silver incense ball was open, waiting for her to add incense.

But she had no time to do that at the moment.

A man was gently embracing her waist and lowering his head to kiss her.

The sound of the silver bell just now must have been caused by this sudden event, which occurred abruptly when Miss Fan added incense with a spoon, so she was still almost in the same position as before.

The man first pecked at her lips little by little. Miss Fan's body trembled slightly, probably because she was a little startled, but she did not push him away in the end. So the man began to kiss her deeply.

They were hidden behind the curtain, facing me sideways. I was quite a distance away from them, and I hadn't made a sound before, so they weren't aware of my presence.

This scene terrified me, and all I wanted to do was escape. I had never witnessed such a romantic affair between a man and a woman, let alone... let alone them.

To avoid being discovered, I slowly backed away, moving silently, yet fearing they would hear my anxious heartbeat. Finally reaching the door, I abruptly turned and ran out, fleeing in a panic.

Just as I rushed out of the main hall's courtyard gate, I suddenly saw a gauze canopy leading the way, embroidered fans covering the double curtains, and two rows of palace attendants escorting a palanquin—it vaguely resembled the Empress's ceremonial procession. I wanted to run even faster, but as soon as I turned around, I heard someone shout, "How dare you! The Empress has arrived, and you dare not show her any respect!"

I had no choice but to stop and bow to the Empress as required by custom.

The Empress was chatting and laughing with the Palace Attendant who was accompanying her at the time. Seeing my impolite behavior, she did not change her expression and continued to smile as she stepped down from the palanquin and asked, "Huaiji, why are you in such a hurry? Are you rushing back?"

I answered yes unconsciously, but then realized it was wrong and quickly changed my answer to no. For a moment, I couldn't think of a way to explain, and my face burned down to my ears, and I was sweating profusely.

The Empress, noticing something amiss, gazed intently at me and asked, "Did you come from Kunning Palace?"