As evening approached, the sun began to set, and the sky was ablaze with sunset colors. We rode to the Summer Palace on Liushan Island. A gentle breeze carrying the scent of the sea blew, instantly cooling us down. However, Wei Yu fell into a deep sleep.
Liushan Island is actually a peninsula, surrounded by the sea on three sides and connected to the mainland on one side. The summer palace occupied most of the island. After being managed by five emperors, its system and scale were similar to the imperial city. The front part had the Qin Zheng Hall and the Military Affairs Office, the Three Departments and Six Offices, and rows of exquisite buildings with flying beams and painted rafters, where the emperor and his close ministers could handle state affairs as usual, and where the accompanying officials and attendants lived. Behind the Hall of Diligent Governance is the Yanqing Palace, the summer residence of the emperor and empress. Further to the east and west are thirty-six pavilions, terraces, and gardens, filled with exotic flowers and rare plants that bloom in all four seasons, as well as precious species. There are small bridges, flowing water, lush greenery, and winding paths leading to secluded spots, making it a place of breathtaking beauty. The thirty-six pavilions are for living, viewing, or leisurely sitting, each with its own unique style, gathering the essence of scenery, gardens, and architecture from all over the empire. The most breathtaking is the Tingtao Pavilion, built on a high slope at the northernmost point of the island. One side is connected to a flat green lawn by stone steps, while the other three sides face the sea. With each ebb and flow of the tide, there is a different scene. At low tide, the rocks are rugged, while at high tide, the waves surge and crash against the shore, creating thousands of piles of snow. It is truly magnificent and majestic.
Zheng Song, the military governor of Bohai Commandery, was already waiting at the entrance square of the Summer Palace. Arrangements for welcoming the emperor had been made in advance. As soon as the large entourage arrived, they all settled down in an orderly manner. Zheng Song led the civil and military officials of the commandery into the palace with the imperial carriage. They stopped at the Hall of Diligent Governance. Gao Qing conveyed the emperor's decree that they were exempt from paying homage, leaving only Zheng Song and a few others behind. The rest would perform the grand ceremony at the court assembly the next day. Ying Tianchi alighted from the imperial carriage. Zheng Song and the others knelt to greet him, but Ying Tianchi stopped them. He ordered the imperial carriage to be carried directly into Yanqing Palace and instructed Gao Qing to take good care of it. Then he beckoned everyone to rise and entered the Hall of Diligent Governance first. The important memorials for the day had been sorted out by the Left Secretary of the Secretariat and needed to be dealt with first before being sent by fast horses to the capital and various places.
As usual, Ximen Yixiao led the Tiger Guard to guard the outer perimeter and the front half of the Summer Palace, while Hengchong led the Dragon Cavalry to guard the palace and the important officials. Zheng Songyuan was the deputy commander of the Tiger Guard and a close confidant of Ying Tianchi. They were very familiar with each other. He lagged a few steps behind and whispered to Hengchong, "Is the one in the carriage the mistress of Chengqian Palace?" It was the first time he had seen His Majesty so nervous. Rumors in the capital said that this concubine was the most favored in the harem. His Majesty had changed the regulations so that the ailing concubine could live in Qianqing Palace. Half a year ago, he had rushed to the capital and was also ill, so he hadn't paid much attention. Today, seeing this, he was sure to find out.
Hengchong nodded and waved his hand, gesturing for silence, indicating that His Majesty had entered the Northern Study.
After the eunuchs served fragrant tea, they filed out. Ying Tianchi asked everyone to sit down, first reading several important memorials and writing marginal notes. Gao Qing was not present, so Heng Chong took over, affixing the imperial seal and placing them in the jade box. "The Left Commander's handling was excellent; proceed accordingly." He then inquired about Zheng Song's military and political affairs in Bohai County and the implementation of his decrees, praising him, "Very good. I feel very reassured with you here." He paused, then asked, "Has your throat ailment improved?" Zheng Song was taken aback, deeply moved, and quickly stood up respectfully, "Your Majesty, I am much better." Last winter, when he went to the capital to pay his respects to the Emperor, his throat was so swollen and painful that he could not speak coherently, so he had to write his report by hand. He had not expected His Majesty to remember him.
As they were talking, Gao Qing walked in and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, dinner has been prepared."
Ying Tianchi stood up and said, "All of you, dine with me." Living in the Summer Palace was not as formal as in the palace. It was common for Ying Tianchi to serve meals to his important ministers. So, tables and chairs were quickly set up in the east wing. Ying Tianchi sat down at the round sandalwood table in the center. After everyone apologized, they took their seats. In front of each person was a lacquered carved table with eight dishes, one soup, two staple foods, and two desserts.
"Is everything settled with the Imperial Concubine?" Ying Tianchi asked Gao Qing.
"Yes, Your Highness, everything is prepared. You can have your meal after your nap."
"Yes, I have state affairs to discuss with my ministers after my meal, so I will be there later. Go and inform the Consort that she should go to bed first. Go and make sure she has eaten before you come back."
"Yes." Gao Qing withdrew.
Ying Tianchi picked up his chopsticks, and the others followed suit. "Zheng Song, tomorrow we'll submit the memorial tablet, and you'll also have a chance to meet the Imperial Concubine."
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On a summer morning, as dawn broke, Ying Tianchi woke up as usual, but did not get up immediately, because he was in the summer palace and the court assembly would be much later.
Beside her, Wei Yu lay wearily, her beautiful hair piled up on the pillow like silk. The buttons of her bodice were loose, and a crystal-clear jade Pixiu dangled from her neck, making her skin look as white as jade, exquisite and translucent.
A thoughtful look crossed Ying Tianchi's eyes. The jade carving was exquisite, with fragments of yellow and green jade strung on the knot. Platinum inlaid with diamonds served as the connection between the jade and the knot, making it incredibly delicate and unique. He had asked Wei Yu about it before, and she said it was a keepsake from her mother. He had been quite surprised at the time. Pixiu, along with Qilin and lions, were sacred objects of the royal family, generally used in architecture. Ornaments were reserved for emperors, empresses, and empress dowagers, and were extremely rare to him. This Pixiu, however, was a masterpiece of exquisite craftsmanship, its technique likely emerging only in the last decade. Yet, the jade itself wasn't of the highest quality, certainly not royal jade. The Yuan Ning Song family had long since declined, and for decades no one had been associated with the royal family. How could Wei Yu possess such a pendant? He couldn't understand it, but he had no intention of pursuing the matter. Should he punish her for overstepping her bounds?
Wei Yu turned over, and the soft silk quilt slipped off. She was only wearing a bra and pajama bottoms, which clung to her body as soft as skin, outlining her slender figure. His eyes darkened, and he took the quilt and gently covered her with it. With such a beautiful and pure woman in his arms, he smiled bitterly. It was torture, but the taste was sweet.
He tiptoed off the bed, put on a silk robe, and went to the living room outside. Gao Qing, along with palace maids and eunuchs, were already waiting for him in the main hall.
Wei Yu opened her eyes. She had woken up when Ying Tianchi covered her with a blanket. Hearing the faint sounds from the outer room, followed by approaching footsteps, she quickly turned over, closed her eyes, and pretended to sleep. The curtains were drawn back, and Ying Tianchi saw that the blanket was askew to one side, so he gently pulled it back over. He listened to the footsteps receding into the distance, and then the room became completely silent.
Wei Yu stared blankly at the light blue embroidered swallow curtain. Her period was twenty days late and there was still no sign of it. Last night she was so sleepy that she didn't even know when she arrived at the Summer Palace. Was she pregnant?
Her gaze shifted down to her belly. Was there her and Ying Tianchi's child inside? Ying Tianchi seemed busy selecting talent and implementing new policies, unaware of her change, assuming she was simply tired.
Is it really true? She had been very careful, and her heart was filled with fear. She couldn't call the imperial physician; what would she do if it was confirmed?
Is she truly prepared to spend her entire life in this time and space devoid of electricity and information? In an ancient society where patriarchy reigns supreme? To be the emperor's favored concubine? Ying Tianchi's affection moved her and filled her with guilt, already binding half her heart. For some time now, she's been trying to escape her inner turmoil, but with a child, she must face reality. Everything will be different, and she'll have another burden. Can she go back? The hope of returning is already slim. Even if there's a chance in the future, how can she abandon her child? Taking him away is a pipe dream; abandoning him is heartbreaking. From childhood, she so envied her cousin, so longed for the love of parents. How can she let her child live alone in this treacherous palace without a mother's care? Perhaps he'll even lose his father's favor and die young. How can she bear it?
A pang of pain shot through her heart as she contemplated aborting the child, and tears streamed down her face. She clutched her abdomen, refusing to even entertain such a thought. She grasped the Pixiu (a mythical creature believed to bring good fortune) and cried, "Mother, what should I do?"
Exhausted, she fell into a deep sleep again. Ziyi checked on her several times but dared not disturb her. The young lady was always rather frail, and after three days of traveling by carriage, she was probably tired. It was almost noon, and there was still no movement. Ziyi grew worried. Gao Qing arrived, saying that the Emperor had invited the Lady to lunch at the Qin Zheng Hall in the front. Ziyi, however, said the Lady hadn't gotten up yet. The two immediately tensed up; this mistress couldn't afford the slightest mistake. Just as they hesitated whether to go back, they heard a soft voice from inside: "Ziyi, who is it?" The voice was gentle and the lady was silent. The two breathed a sigh of relief. Gao Qing respectfully replied, "It is this servant. The Emperor has invited the Lady to lunch at the Qin Zheng Hall."
"Oh, please go and tell them, I'm a little tired and don't want to leave the palace today."
The reply was that Ying Tianchi returned to Yanqing Palace. The rules of the Summer Palace were not as strict as they were in the main palace. Zheng Song and Heng Chong also accompanied him to the main hall.
Ying Tianchi entered. The curtains were already drawn. Wei Yu put on her outer robe and half-reclined, half-sitting on the bed. The woman in purple robes stepped away. Ying Tianchi sat down beside the bed and took her hand in his palm. "Are you very tired? Should I call the imperial physician to come in and take a look?"
After a long sleep, Wei Yu regained her energy. "No need, I'm much better now. I was probably just tired from the journey. Why did you come back? If you abandon your duties, your ministers will have something to say."
"My ministers are all very loyal and are my right-hand men. They care about my thoughts. What I'm worried about is you. Why don't we call the imperial physician?"
"Oh dear, I said I didn't need it, and I didn't. You made me sick even though I wasn't sick before. Don't you think I'm sick enough?" Wei Yu became irritable, thinking that if the imperial physician came and took her pulse, what should she do if it was a diagnosis? She really wasn't ready yet, and she would try to delay for as long as possible. She forcefully pulled her hand out and leaned back against the wall.
Now that Wei Yu is a bit temperamental, Ying Tianchi smiled helplessly. Seeing that she looked really good, he put his arm around her shoulder and said, "Alright, alright, if you don't want to see, then don't. I originally wanted to have Zheng Song, the military governor of Bohai Commandery, meet you. He is an important official of the court, a powerful local official, and a subordinate that I can use. If you and I have a legitimate son, he will also be a capable minister who can be used in the future. Since you are tired, let's do it another day."
Seeing him sitting on the edge of the bed, gazing at her with eyes full of concern and affection, Wei Yu felt touched and increasingly guilty. She almost blurted out the words, then snuggled closer. "Why are you so good to me? Am I being too willful?" Tears welled up in her eyes. No matter what the future held, being loved by him made her happy in this moment.
"Silly girl." Ying Tianchi hugged her.
Over the next few days, Liu Chuang escorted tribute and the deceased Xu clan to the Summer Palace. A series of ceremonies were held, including the presentation of prisoners, acceptance of surrender, and bestowal of titles. Ying Tianchi worked tirelessly, leaving early and returning late, as he had too many affairs to handle. Two prefectures in the northwest had suffered varying degrees of flooding, and urgent reports kept arriving from the capital. Ying Tianchi quickly dispatched officials to provide disaster relief and distribute funds. He shared meals with his ministers, only having one dinner with Wei Yu during this period. When Wei Yu mentioned the need to guard against plague after the floods, he immediately drafted an urgent decree ordering the Imperial Medical Academy to mobilize. Fearing a shortage of manpower, he also issued a decree throughout the country to recruit folk healers, encouraging them to serve the country. Soon, there was significant news: Shang Qingtao, along with his wife and disciple, the renowned physician Yu Qiushui, led a hundred carts of medicine north to provide disaster relief. Under his influence, many aristocratic families, wealthy merchants, and nobles contributed money and effort, and the northwest had resumed normal production and life.
What was certain was that Wei Yu was indeed pregnant. Perhaps her body had been properly prepared, as she showed no signs of pregnancy, only an exceptionally good appetite. Ying Tianchi was busy with state affairs and returned home to find Wei Yu already asleep, so he kept it a secret. Zi Yi had some suspicions. When she was about to have her period, she suddenly realized that it had been almost two months since her mistress had her period. She was the one who took care of her mistress's underwear, and she hadn't smelled that distinctive metallic scent in a long time. She tentatively asked Wei Yu, but Wei Yu said that her period had already passed and that she had gotten confused. Zi Yi was half-convinced.
On a hot summer day, enjoying a cool breeze and chilled fruit syrup at Tingtao Pavilion is truly one of life's greatest pleasures.
Ziyi cut open the watermelon and placed pieces of red flesh and black seeds on a jade plate, then laid a thick layer of ice underneath, emitting a cool breeze. Jinyun watched with drooling eyes, turning back to look longingly at Weiyu.
Wei Yu chuckled slightly. Thirteen-year-old Jinyun usually acted like a little lady, but she was still a little girl after all. Under the care of Consort Geng and the influence of Ying Tianfang, she was very cheerful and outgoing, just like Consort Geng.
"You've already had several cold drinks, can you still eat?" Wei Yu asked deliberately. Jin Yun twisted her face and exaggeratedly said, "No way, Your Majesty." Wei Yu chuckled, "Eat."
Jinyun cheered and immediately grabbed a piece of the swirling cloud.
Chilled fruits are considered delicacies in this era. Fruits are easy to obtain, but ice is hard to come by; only noble families have the ability to make ice. The Summer Palace has chilled drinks and fruits every day, which are exceptionally fresh and sweet due to their lack of pollution. Most of the harem's allowances are not given to Wei Yu, and the majority of the food goes to this little girl.
Jinyun breathed out cold air, saying, "So cold, so cold," but then grabbed a piece. She didn't dare eat more, holding a small piece in her mouth and chewing slowly until it was warm before swallowing. The watermelon was unusually large today, and there was still a large plate on the table. Seeing Jinyun's eating habits, she was a little worried; Jinyun had been feeling unwell for the past few days. "Ziyi, you two help the eldest princess eat some. Eating too much by herself will upset her stomach." She then looked at the palace maids, guards, and eunuchs below, "They work very hard too, cut a plate for them." Ziyi and Chengyi nodded in agreement.
When Ziyi returned, she saw Jinyun leaning against the cool couch on the left, rubbing her stomach comfortably. "Your Majesty, Father is so good to you. Why don't I become your maid from now on? Wouldn't I be able to enjoy delicious food every day?"
Chengyi scoffed: "Come on, you're always eating and sleeping, expecting you to serve people is a stretch."
Since Empress Dowager Zhou wasn't coming, the imperial concubines couldn't come either. Jinyun came with Weiyu. Since she couldn't stay at Yanqing Palace, Weiyu temporarily assigned Chengyi to her. Chengyi was three years older than Jinyun, and both were lively and active. After a few days, they got along very well. Jinyun admired Chengyi's martial arts skills, watching her fly through the air and pluck leaves. She kept saying she wanted to become Chengyi's disciple. She thought it was much more interesting to be a maid than a princess.
Chengyi glanced at Jinyun's noticeably fuller waistline and said, "If you keep eating like this, you might not be able to find a prince consort."