As the carriage turned, dust flew and horses galloped, and Jue's carriage disappeared into the smoke. I finally couldn't hold back my tears. While wiping them away, I told myself not to cry. It wasn't like we were parting forever. Jue said he would come back for me, and I still have Xiao Wu and Xiao Qing.
During the days since Jue left, I always find things to do. I'm afraid that if I stop, I'll think of the happy times I had with Jue. Even when I'm in a bad mood, I don't complain about life. Fortunately, Jie'er comes to keep me company from time to time. Xingyi sometimes teases me, but she leaves angrily after my sarcastic remarks. Strangely enough, these days, the concubines haven't bothered me. Perhaps it was Xingyi's order. I haven't seen the Empress Dowager either. This life can only be described with one word: 'idle'.
However, what struck me as odd was that Xiao Wu seemed to have a strong aversion to Jie'er—no, it should be said that she loathed her. Whenever Jie'er came, Xiao Wu never gave her a kind look. Although she had always had a deadpan expression, it became even more pronounced when Jie'er was around, and the air seemed to drop rapidly, making everything around her feel chilly! Actually, I always thought it was just my imagination, until one time when I asked her to pour Jie'er a cup of tea, and that girl said she couldn't afford it. Well, since I couldn't get her to do it, I had to ask a palace maid to pour it for me. I felt so embarrassed towards Jie'er!
By evening, I couldn't stand Xiaowu's alternating hot and cold behavior any longer. I felt that if I endured it a few more times, my body would definitely have problems. After Jie'er left, I decided to have a heart-to-heart talk with her.
"Xiao Wu, do you really hate Jie'er?" I bluntly stated what was on my mind.
"Why do you ask that, Miss?" She didn't answer me, her eyes focused intently on sewing the mandarin duck pattern in her hands (I asked her to sew it because it was very beautiful).
"Xiao Wu, I can't be sure about others, but from the time we met until now, how could I not know that there's someone you dislike?"
"Yes, I hate her," Xiaowu put down what she was doing, looked up and answered me directly.
I choked up. Everything I was going to say was cut short by Xiaowu's admission. I thought she wouldn't admit it so quickly, and I had prepared a whole bunch of arguments to force her to admit it. Now, I don't know what to say.
"Why?" Yes, now all I can ask is why, I have no more questions to ask.
"It's nothing, it's just annoying, Miss. In this palace, there are no true friends, so you should be careful."
I held Xiaowu's hand and said, "Xiaowu, I used to think the same way, but after meeting Jie'er, I don't think that way anymore. You're overthinking it!" Actually, that's what I said, but I wasn't really sure if there were really such friends in the palace.
Perhaps my expression angered her, for Xiao Wu said sternly, "Miss, I'm not joking. You must remember my words."
Looking at Xiao Wu, who had never been so fierce to me before, Geng Geng nodded and said, "I understand."
Seeing that I had agreed, Xiao Wu didn't say anything more and took the mandarin duck picture out.
Um, wait, this isn't what a heart-to-heart talk is supposed to be like! We haven't even exchanged ten sentences! I was planning to stay up all night! Xiaowu, come back here! My heart-to-heart talk is over! I'm on the verge of tears... This can't be fair!
I yelled in the direction Xiao Wu left, "Xiao Wu, what are you doing? I'm a young lady!"
A faint voice drifted from afar, "Miss, it's time to sleep. Don't scare people tonight."
My expression froze. This little Wu hasn't learned anything from me, but she has learned to tease me.
Lying in bed, I thought about how life still had to go on, and what awaited me. I didn't know what role I played in this treacherous palace, but I could say for sure that this was no simple matter.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Jue has been gone for eight days, and I haven't thought about him a moment in those eight days. I hope he can come back soon. Actually, there are two reasons for this thought: First, I really miss Jue. Second, Jue, please come back soon. I don't hate you, I really don't hate you. Why did you have to send two icebergs to my side? Don't you know I like a happier atmosphere? You're indirectly torturing my nerves. I admit I've been very disobedient, but there's no need for you to have two of the coldest people next to me suppressing me!
Because I simply couldn't stand the cold atmosphere between the two of them, I lured Xiaowu to get me some pastries and Xiaoqing to tidy up my room. (Author's note: Did you get them mixed up?! Zixue's note: I did it on purpose, because Xiaoqing always gives me the cold shoulder! ~Author's helpless note: A vengeful woman.)
So, thanks to my brilliant plan, I managed to slip away successfully.
"Hehe, Xiao Wu and the others are so stupid. They thought they could get away with just keeping an eye on me." I walked aimlessly, feeling smug, without realizing that I had taken the wrong path.
After regaining my senses, I exclaimed, "Huh... where am I?" I stared blankly at the blue stone steps. A gust of wind blew by, causing the trees in front of me to sway gently. A few tiny flowers bloomed on either side of the stone path, so insignificant, much like myself in the palace. Though I possessed a noble status, I was a stranger to the palace. Sometimes I felt important, sometimes insignificant, so small that I could only be used. Perhaps that was my very importance! Ahead of the stone path was a small lake, its surface a strange, blue shimmering light. Several willow trees stood by the lake, their heads bowed, some branches drooping onto the water, like a girl washing her hair by the lake.
I walked along the stone path, determined that as long as there is a path, I can always find a way out, and I kept moving forward without looking back.
As I walked, the distant sound of a zither drifted over, its notes mournful and plaintive, like a lament, a sob, a whisper, lingering and persistent. Though I know nothing of the zither, I always felt that this music stirred the sadness deep within my heart, as if it were soothing my wounds, like a wounded black panther licking its wounds to comfort itself.
Who is it? Who is so sorrowful? Who is so mournful?
Following the sound of the zither, I arrived at a rather secluded place. A palace called 'Xuanlan Palace' appeared before me. It lacked the opulent grandeur of the Empress Dowager's palace, the refined elegance of the Jade Sound Palace, and the striking beauty of the White Garden. It was quite ordinary, with only a wooden door and a plaque prominently displaying the three characters "Xuanlan Palace." The calligraphy was delicate and graceful, clearly written by a woman. (Author's note: Wow, not bad! How did you know? Zi Xue scoffs: Nonsense, no man could write so weakly! Uh...)
With a creak and a bang, I gently pushed open the door, afraid that going in like this would be disrespectful to the owner inside, and annoyed that I had broken the tranquility.
"Who is it?" A little girl in a pale yellow dress ran up to me, and the music inside stopped as I opened the door.
"Who are you?" the little girl asked me sharply.
"Um..." Well, I'm still thinking about how to answer that question.
"Who is it, Xiaoying?" A gentle voice came from inside the room, one that evoked a feeling of tenderness. Thank goodness I'm a woman; if it were a man, he would have given up long ago.
Just as I was about to answer, I saw a woman emerge from within, her delicate eyebrows like a crescent moon, her clear eyes as lively and spirited as an autumn pool. Her skin was like solidified milk, or as translucent as spring water, so delicate it seemed as if it could be broken with a touch. Her jet-black hair was parted in the middle and coiled at the back of her head, with two slender braids wrapped around the bun on either side. A butterfly-shaped hair ornament adorned the center, with three silver-white flowers dotting its center. Her hair grew to her thighs, with two strands of dark hair falling in front of her chest, and two pale blue-white ribbons fluttering above it, without much embellishment. She wore a long white dress, the bodice resembling lotus petals, layered and partially hidden. A white veil covered her, leaving only about three inches of fabric visible, and a white sash tied at her waist. The hem of the dress was as light as smoke, fluttering gracefully, and the sleeves opened to her knees, moving with the wind. Although her attire was not overly embellished, it gave off a sense of dynamism and holiness.
In the presence of this ethereal beauty, my own appearance paled in comparison, and I was somewhat at a loss.
"Xiaoying, you scared her." She walked over to me. "Are you alright? Xiaoying didn't mean it."
I said in a panic, "No, it was my rudeness that I came in without your permission." I clutched the hem of my clothes, not knowing what to do with it.
"Hehe, come in and sit down!" With a sweet, coquettish voice, she pulled me inside. Behind us came Xiaoying's exasperated voice, "Miss, how can you let strangers in like this?" Then we heard the sound of the door closing hurriedly and the sound of people rushing in.
I looked around the inner room. A table was placed in the center with two seats, and a pot of white magnolia flowers was placed next to it, exuding a delicate fragrance. To the left of the inner room was a simple bed, and to the right were a desk and a zither. Such ordinary furnishings! It's unbelievable that there are such halls in this palace. However, this place looks like a cold palace. But this did not diminish the woman's temperament at all. On the contrary, it made her seem like an immortal, free and unrestrained from the world.
"Sit down!" She pulled me to sit in a chair, looking at me with a charming smile.
"En" dared not speak loudly in front of her, for fear of startling the woman in front of him.
"Xiao Ying, go get the tea," I said, turning back to the maid who was glaring at me angrily.
"Miss!" the maid said angrily.
"Xiaoying, go!" The woman's face darkened, and she snapped at her maid with a hint of anger.
"Hmph," the maid glared at me fiercely, then stormed off to make tea.
I chuckled awkwardly at the woman. It seemed I hadn't offended her; I'd just barged in. But I had apologized, so why was she still looking at me like that?
Who is she? I didn't see her at that banquet. Could she be a neglected concubine?
"How did you come to be here, young lady?" the woman asked softly, making it hard to refuse her answer.
"Hehe, I got lost by accident. I heard the music and followed it here," I tilted my head, gently rubbing my cheek, and answered shyly.
"Hehe, where are you from, young lady? I'll have Xiaoying escort you home," she said, covering her mouth with a handkerchief and smiling at me.
"Uh, I'm from the Jade Sound Palace," I replied immediately. Great! I was just wondering how to get back. Having someone to guide me makes things much easier.
Suddenly I heard a cup fall to the ground behind me. I turned around and saw Xiaoying staring at me blankly.
What's wrong?
Chapter Thirty-Seven
I turned around and saw Xiaoying staring at me blankly, as if she had encountered a ghost.
"Xiaoying, what's going on?" I heard the slightly angry voice of the woman behind me.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Xiaoying said hurriedly, bending down to pick up the porcelain shards. I couldn't see her expression, but I noticed her hands were trembling slightly, and I was really worried that she would cut herself.
Is the Jade Sound Palace terrifying?
"Are you from the Jade Sound Palace, young lady?" I turned around, looked at her gentle expression, and nodded curiously.
When she received my answer, her eyes filled with sorrow, misty and hazy like the morning fog, something that haunted her yet could not be erased.
"What happened to the Jade Sound Palace?" I asked her impatiently, but then I felt that I was being presumptuous, so I shut my mouth and stopped talking.
"No, miss, have some tea~" While I was talking to her, Xiaoying had already placed the tea in front of me, standing behind her mistress like a frightened kitten, seeking some comfort.
"Don't worry about her, young lady. This girl has never been outside of here before, so it's understandable that she's a little scared when she hears about things outside," the woman said with a smile when she saw me staring at Xiaoying.
That makes sense; this is the imperial palace, not some commoner's home.
"Oh, you've never left here before?" I withdrew my scrutinizing gaze and asked the woman in surprise.
The woman looked at me with a deep, unwavering gaze, her calm eyes filled with longing.
"It's been three years already. I wonder how things are outside?" She sighed slightly, then turned to me and asked, "Are you a palace maid in the Jade Sound Palace?"
"Ah, no, I live there. My name is Zixue. What's your name?" I told her everything without any reservations. To be honest, I had a good impression of this woman from the beginning. I didn't feel any disgust at all. Perhaps it was her temperament that attracted me, or perhaps it was her gentle tone that made me feel like I had found a friend to confide in.
She gave me a complicated look. "So, you're Madam Jue?"
"Well, you could say that," she said, raising an eyebrow as she thought about it. "That's probably the right way to address me!"
She stood up, knelt slightly, and bowed her head, saying, "May Madam Jue be blessed." Even Xiao Ying, who was dissatisfied with me, knelt down in a panic behind her.
I was startled by her and quickly pulled her up. "What are you doing? Get up!"
"Madam Jue, I'll have Xiaoying take you back right away." Though her words sounded like she was trying to get rid of me, they didn't offend me.
I joked, "What, are you kicking me out so soon?"
She looked at me with her clear eyes, eyes as clear as spring water that could see right through me.
With a flick of her long sleeves, she sat back down in her original spot, a slight smile playing on her lips, and her voice, as clear as a bell, rang out, "Sit down! It's been a long time since I've had anyone to keep me company."
"That's right, why are you rushing me away so fast?" He took a sip of tea, smacked his lips twice to taste it. As for tea, I don't know what good tea is or what bad tea is. I just like tea with a light fragrance, not too strong or too weak, like Longjing tea, which is my favorite. This cup of tea is not Longjing, but it has the fragrance of Longjing, and also has a floral scent. It is bittersweet, which makes people feel comfortable.
"What kind of tea is this? It's so delicious." I looked down at the ripples in the teacup caused by my shaking.
"Miss made this herself, I don't know what it's called," Xiaoying answered me timidly from the side.
I looked at the girl thoughtfully. This Xiao Ying is really strange. When she didn't know who I was, she yelled at me. But when she knew who I was, she was as scared as a mouse when it encountered a cat. She is really two different people!
"What's your name?" I asked, looking at the ethereal and graceful woman before me.
"Youlan" in a soft tone
It suits her perfectly, like an orchid in a secluded valley, proud, resilient, and serene, giving people a feeling of beauty they've never experienced before.
"That sounds so nice. I've decided, I'll call you Lan from now on."
Watching the birds chirping outside the window, Lan and I didn't speak, yet the air was so harmonious and warm. It was just like Jia once said, "Some things don't need words; you can feel each other's warmth." Jia and I used to get along like that too—not many words, not many actions, just a glance was enough to know what the other wanted. Some friends joked that we were like a married couple, and I wanted to tell them that we had even better understanding than a married couple. To have traveled here and met a woman so similar to Jia—how lucky!
Lan invited me to stay for dinner. The meal was simple, but it felt like home, as if I were back in the days when my mother cooked for me. I miss you so much, Mom.
We looked at each other without saying a word. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the piano over there and pointed at it, saying, "Play it for me!"
She didn't speak, but walked over and sat down, gently stroking the zither. She laid it flat, and her jade-like fingers began to dance across the strings, flowing smoothly. Accompanied by the zither, she produced layers of rippling music. The tone was like a pool of clear water, clear and melodious... like a gentle breeze on a summer night lake... bringing relaxation and refreshment to the heart...
"The sunset is infinitely beautiful, but it's nearing dusk." Before I knew it, I had been here for a long time. People outside are probably going crazy looking for me!
Lan thoughtfully asked Xiaoying to take me home. After dropping me off, Xiaoying hurriedly went back home.
The palace maids and eunuchs outside the hall had all disappeared, and the hall was completely silent, with only a single candle trembling slightly in the wind. The coolness made me shiver involuntarily.
"Miss," a voice with a sob in its voice sounded behind me.