Scharlachroter Regen überflutet die Stadt

Kapitel 22

A burning sensation in my throat made me grit my teeth and say, "If that's how you see it, it's better not to go, so as not to wrong yourself."

"When I was staying at the Prince of Huai's residence," his gaze drifted to me, "I heard a story about the princess's romantic past. Why didn't that pale-faced guard come with you to the capital and keep watch over you all the way?"

"If you really have the leisure and inclination, sir, you might as well go listen to some music or watch a play..."

As I spoke, I stood up, my long sleeves hanging down. With a clang, the purple clay teacup fell to the ground, and I turned and left.

Chapter Nineteen: The Female Official Lan Ruo

With the millennium fast approaching, I started to get as anxious as a headless fly on the stove.

The embroidery workshop would occasionally send me some patterns, and I would walk back and forth, pondering those patterns. The ones that were too simple lacked character, while the ones that were too intricate were beyond my ability to make. So I had to keep sending people to get new patterns.

Lu Li sat to one side, engrossed in his books. Every afternoon, his room would lose much sunlight, so around this time of year, he would bring his books to my desk in the outer room of the main house to study, without saying a word, and the afternoon would pass by like that.

Originally, this main room was his bedroom. After I married into the family, I took the main seat of the main house. Although the main room was nominally for both of us, it was actually occupied by me alone. He spent most of his days in the study and at night he either stayed in the study or went to Yiling's room in the west courtyard.

I suppose he was being mistreated; apart from his study, there wasn't a single room in the vast palace that was his own. So, I tolerated him spending an afternoon reading in silence, pretending no one was around.

"Liu Shang, bring me my chess score."

"Liu Shang, bring out the embroidery pattern from my inner chamber. It's the one Fourth Sister-in-law sent over last time."

"Liu Shang. Have you bought back all the paper and brushes from Qiu Mo Fang? I need Korean tribute paper and summer sheep hair brushes."

The person behind me finally slammed the book on the table, frowned, and raised his head.

"Can't you just shut up for a moment?"

I sat down at the octagonal table in the central hall with a disgruntled expression and poured myself a cup of tea. “Don’t worry, Your Highness. I’ll have everything ready by tomorrow. I’ll be going to the palace to prepare for the Millennium Festival competition. I might not be able to return to the manor for ten days or half a month. You can have as much peace and quiet as you want then.”

He casually flipped through the book, saying, "It's nothing special, yet you're so enthusiastic about organizing it."

I thought to myself that he was certain I would embarrass him, so I frowned and, in a fit of pique, drank the entire cup of tea.

He stood up and tossed me a collection of poems. "These are past exam questions for poetry and prose. Take a look; they might be of some use. As for other things like needlework and embroidery, I can't be of much help."

The wives of the princes moved into the palace three days before the Millennium. During these three days, the Imperial Study would send us exam questions. They were nothing more than writing poems, composing lyrics, and setting music. On the first day, the Emperor sent a Persian tribute crystal magnolia, and the topic was to write an essay about orchids.

I casually quoted a few pretentious lines of poetry and that was it. Looking at my sisters-in-law around me, each with an air of unwavering confidence, I couldn't help but feel a little ashamed.

"The princesses' beautiful essays will be presented to His Majesty for his personal review. As for the next topic, we will not know until the day before the millennium," a female official in white said calmly and authoritatively, standing before the crowd.

I pulled my sixth sister-in-law aside and asked, "This lady-in-waiting is really beautiful, whose daughter is she?"

Sixth Sister-in-law curled her lip, "Hmph, she's the most talented woman in the capital, and she's won the hearts of many princes. Even our Sixth Master is infatuated with her."

Fourth Sister-in-law came over, smiled at me, and pointed to the female official. "She is Qin Lanruo, the only daughter of Grand Tutor Qin. She could compose songs and poems at the age of three and was greatly favored by the Emperor. Since the age of five, she has been ordered to be a companion to the princes. Now she is a fifth-rank female official in front of the Emperor, in charge of the Bureau of Ceremonies, the Bureau of Records, the teaching of classics and history, and the paper, pen and desk; she also guides the three departments within the Bureau: the Music Department, the Guest Department, and the Praise Department."

"That's quite a high-ranking official position," I chuckled.

"This Qin Lanruo is known as a talented woman in the capital, and with her outstanding beauty, she often attracts the jealousy of the ladies of the inner court. But she is elegant and aloof, and has never caused herself any trouble." Fourth Sister-in-law continued, "The eldest, third, and sixth masters in the palace, and even the newlywed Xiao Jiu, are all determined to marry her into their household."

Sixth Sister-in-law grabbed me indignantly, "Look at her, she's just pretty and has a bit of a good temperament, and she's also quite knowledgeable. What's there to be so attached to?"

I covered my smile and nodded hastily, my gaze involuntarily drawn to the elegant figure in white. She was indeed a peerless beauty, possessing both talent and virtue.

Just as Qin Lanruo was about to leave with several female officials, her usually domineering third sister-in-law stepped forward and blocked her path. "Miss Qin, my master has been arguing with me so much about you that the roof is about to crack."

As soon as she finished speaking, her sisters-in-law all laughed. Although it was somewhat embarrassing, Qin Lanruo remained unmoved.

"Miss Qin, give me an answer. You call me 'sister,' so you think I'll just agree to let our master bring you into the manor and bestow upon you thirteen concubines just because I'm happy?"

The third sister-in-law was aggressive, but her eyes revealed envy and jealousy.

Qin Lanruo gave a slight bow, "Princess Consort Yu, please be respectful. Lanruo has no intention of leaving her quarters."

"You still have such a high and mighty attitude. If our master were to bring you into the house in a grand sedan chair carried by eight men, kicking me, this divorced woman, out of the main house, and marrying you with great fanfare, would you be satisfied?" Third Sister-in-law's words revealed a hint of anger.

Qin Lanruo concealed her surprise and said calmly, "I think the Princess Consort has misunderstood. You are the legitimate wife, while Lanruo is just a commoner. How could I be worthy to touch the gate of the Prince's mansion?"

"So what did our master say to you at the Imperial Ceremonial Bureau yesterday?" Third Sister-in-law persisted.

"If it's such an absurd thing, why bother saying it out loud?" Qin Lanruo said with a bitter expression.

"If you're too embarrassed to say it, do you want me to say it for you?"

Qin Lanruo opened her eyes wide in horror.

"Third Sister-in-law..." I smiled and walked up to her, taking her hand. "Why make things difficult for a palace maid?"

I quickly leaned close to my third sister-in-law's ear and whispered, "Actually, this girl has long been favored by my sixth brother, but she's too shy to tell him, which is why you all misunderstood."

My third sister-in-law looked at me suspiciously. "Really?"

I quickly tugged at Sixth Sister-in-law's sleeve, and she reluctantly said, "Yes, that's true."

I looked at Qin Lanruo and said, "You can go down now."

She nodded slightly, bowed to me, and turned to leave.

The first competition quickly came to a conclusion, with Crown Princess Rong Jihe emerging victorious. This was an expected result, as her elder sister's poetry, prose, and needlework skills had always been outstanding.

"Congratulations, sister!" I said with a smile as I walked up to her.

Rong Jihe simply smiled and gently adjusted her collar. "There are still two more tests to go. You're congratulating me too soon."

"These are all your strengths, what are you afraid of?"

Rong Jihe simply smiled and remained silent, but there was a hint of melancholy in her eyes, as if she were troubled by something else.