Чистое сердце в нефритовом сосуде - Глава 141
"Why are you crying?" Gan Lin asked with a worried look on her face, then lowered her eyes. "Did you remember someone?"
She raised her hand to wipe away the water droplets that had slid down her cheeks, and said with a faint smile, "The name of this soup is quite profound, making one feel rather sentimental, but I wonder what it tastes like." As she spoke, she picked up a spoon and took a sip of the five-flavor soup. The soup swirled in her mouth, but she couldn't quite taste it. After swallowing, only a warm feeling remained on the tip of her tongue, telling her that she had just drunk a sip of hot soup.
"Why is there no smell at all? It smells quite nice." He craned his neck to look into the earthenware jar, feeling extremely suspicious.
Gan Lin frowned and said, "No, I just drank some too. It tastes a bit like chicken soup, but it's not quite."
I shook my head. This soup is really strange. When my son Nuo comes back later, I have to let him taste it to see if there's something wrong with my sense of taste or if this soup really tastes different to everyone.
Zinuo finally returned, ate a few bites of food hastily, and prepared to leave. The five-flavor soup was a bit cold, but I still ladled out a bowl and presented it to Zinuo. Zinuo took it with a smile, but frowned as soon as she took a sip, yet still swallowed it, looking at me with some dissatisfaction: "Sister, you know I don't like sour tastes, why did you give me this sour soup? Are you trying to tease me again?"
It turns out that it tasted sour in Zinuo's mouth; it wasn't a problem with my sense of taste.
Seeing that I didn't answer, Gan Lin explained, "There's something strange about the soup. Maybe the next bowl will taste completely different."
Without paying any more attention to the Five Flavors Soup, we had to hurry on our way. We had already wasted too much time dealing with the crowds of onlookers outside because of Yin Nuo. If we didn't hurry, the city gates of Lizhou would probably be closed by the time we arrived.
The carriage was pulled away, and the people on the street were no longer crowded together, but they still lined both sides to see us off. It seems that Zinuo's delay was worthwhile, otherwise, when we came out, we would have been surrounded by crowds and unable to move an inch.
As the carriage left Liu'an Town, I lifted the curtain and saw the words "Liu'an Town" inscribed on the tall wooden archway behind us. After traveling for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a fork in the road appeared before us. To the left was the road that Shen Haoyu and I had taken to escape back to Youjing, while to the right was the road leading to Lizhou.
Because it was a plain along the river, the road to Lizhou was much smoother than the previous one. They rode at full speed and finally arrived in Lizhou before sunset. Without lingering, the carriage sped through Lizhou city and stopped at the imperial palace on Biluo Mountain, ten miles southeast of the city. Gan Lin helped him down from the carriage, only to find that the area outside the imperial palace was already filled with kneeling people. Only the three women at the very front curtsied to Zinuo. When they looked up, they realized that it was Luo Li, Luo Yan, and Zi Ling.
Zi Nuo stepped forward and supported Luo Li, whose waist was even thicker than before: "Why isn't Your Highness resting properly? Why are you coming out to perform this perfunctory ceremony?"
"Luoyang is working hard for the people of Jinque Kingdom, so this ceremony is on their behalf. I can't make that decision myself." Luo Li smiled sweetly, her words a little mischievous, but as she was about to become a mother, she was no longer the girl who disguised herself as a man and sneaked into Chongde Palace.
The sky was already slightly dark, but one could still see a hint of embarrassment on Zi Nuo's face: "Is Your Highness going to make fun of Luo Yang for leaving Shao Yuan behind and coming here to steal a few days of leisure?"
Luo Li smiled and said, "Your Highness has worked hard. You should go inside and rest early." As she spoke, a palace maid stepped forward to help Luo Li, who then walked into the palace first, with Zi Nuo and Luo Yan quickly following behind.
After they had walked a distance, Zi Ling walked up to Gan Lin and me. Gan Lin completely ignored Zi Ling, his gaze wandering elsewhere. It's always like this, and even now I still don't understand if Gan Lin is genuinely uninterested in Zi Ling or just putting on an act.
Walking with these two, I felt like a super third wheel, and the atmosphere was silent and strange. I had to quicken my pace to catch up with Zinuo, but Ganlin beside me kept the same pace.
"Qingqiu, I'll come find you after I've settled into my accommodations." Ziling suddenly spoke up, no longer awkwardly addressing me as "Holy Maiden," but calling me by my name.
You're all coming to see me for Gan Lin, aren't you? But I still slowed my pace and smiled, "Sure, you're welcome anytime."
Sensing Gan Lin's clearly displeased gaze beside him, he shook his head and automatically ignored it. Regardless, he should try his best to create opportunities for them. There weren't any other women around who caught his eye, and Gan Lin's love life couldn't just remain empty. Even if Gan Lin wasn't interested in Zi Ling now, perhaps he would develop feelings after getting to know her better.
Because the Golden Sparrow King had few heirs, his two sons, Luo Chen and Luo Hua, had to stay in Han Yue City to assist him with other matters. Only Luo Li, Luo Yan, and Zi Ling came to the palace, so most of the palace buildings were empty. Zi Nuo chose the Ting Yu Pavilion by the lake for me, and stayed in the Hua Ying Palace, which was closest to the Ting Yu Pavilion.
As expected of the royal family's summer palace, I slept in Tingyu Pavilion for one night and didn't feel the slightest bit of heat. In the middle of the night, Ruosheng even helped me add a thin blanket, so I slept very comfortably.
I woke up early in the morning, leaned against the headboard, and listened to the melodious song of the orioles outside the window, a slight smile involuntarily creeping onto my lips. Ruosheng brought in water, placed the basin on the shelf, and turned to open the window. I jumped out of bed barefoot, brushed my teeth, and washed my face, feeling refreshed. Sitting on a stool, I took a few deep breaths, and the delicate fragrance wafted into my nostrils. I couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Ruosheng, did you use incense?"
"No, it's the scent of lotus flowers outside," Ruosheng said, tucking my hair back.
"Are there lotus flowers outside?"
"It's in the lake below. It must have been too late last night for the Holy Maiden to see it."
"Oh." I almost forgot that when I left Hanyue City, many of the lotus flowers in the palace had already budded, but due to the continuous heavy rain, they hadn't bloomed properly. Now, they're probably blooming all over the lake.
After combing my hair, I went to the window and saw a large expanse of lotus flowers in full bloom below—white, pink, red, and yellow. Amidst this vibrant color, there was a striking black spot. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was also a lotus flower. Black lotus flowers? Am I just ignorant?
"How can there be a black lotus?" asked Ruosheng, who was about to carry water out. Ruosheng replied, "There weren't any before. This is the only one that has bloomed this year. It only bloomed a couple of days ago, and the palace servants have been looking at it for a long time. It's quite a strange thing."
It turns out there isn't actually such a variety; it seems some kind of mutation has occurred.
After breakfast, we called Zinuo and Ganlin, boarded the small orchid boat, and the eunuch took up the oars and led us toward the black lotus that had been admired by countless people.
I scooped up a handful of lake water; it was cool and clear. Looking down from the boat, I saw only water plants swaying in the clear waves, the sunlight casting dappled golden light on them. The small boat glided through the lotus leaves, and some dewdrops that hadn't yet evaporated sprinkled on us, leaving round watermarks—it was quite lovely.
Parting the obstructing lotus leaves, one could see a single black lotus flower standing alone in the water, quite a distance from the surrounding flowers. In the middle was a relatively spacious area of water. The eunuch explained that there used to be flowers here as well, but they had been cut off because they were obstructing the view of that unique flower. Only then did one notice several clearly severed stems on the bottom of the water.
Looking closely at the black lotus, its petals were as black as ink. Aside from its color, it was no different from other flowers. Compared to other brightly colored lotuses, it possessed not only a mysterious allure but also a unique and dignified air. Who says flowers must always be beautiful?
After admiring the flower, I had the eunuch row the small boat back to the lake. Zi Nuo asked if we should pick this unique flower and keep it in the house, but I shook my head and refused, saying, "If it can still bloom black flowers next year, then I will pick it." If not, it won't enjoy sunshine and rain for more than a few days anyway, so why should I plunder its brief few days?
“Perhaps we could have the people from the Department of Agriculture give it a try and see if they can cultivate such a flower,” Zi Nuo added.
There's a saying, "Things are valued for their rarity." If several or more lotus flowers of this color appeared, would people still find them beautiful?
Zinuo turned to look at me, his expression thoughtful.
Do not lean against the west railing to lock in the clear autumn. Chapter 124
Chapter word count: 3417 Update time: 09-09-16 13:12
Zi Ling said she was coming to see me, and she did come, but she only said hello before heading off to find Gan Lin. It's much freer here than in the palace; there aren't many places she can't go. Zi Ling isn't bound by many restrictions here, and she uses all her charm to stick to Gan Lin's side all day long.
At such times, I would quietly leave Tingyu Pavilion, take Ruosheng with me, and go to Huaying Hall to find Zinuo.
Regarding Gan Lin and Zi Ling's relationship, Zinuo and I held similar attitudes, both happy to see it happen. However, due to their status, they couldn't intentionally matchmake like I did, and could only secretly lend a hand.
However, Gan Lin resented my abandonment of Zi Ling as soon as she arrived. Now, he avoids me whenever he sees me and hasn't spoken to me for several days, not even giving me a proper look.
I felt a little uneasy, and for some reason, I didn't dare to talk to Gan Lin. So I just stayed by Zinuo's side all day long.
At the palace on Biluo Mountain, I woke up earlier than usual every day. There was no way around it; the mornings here were too lively, with all sorts of birdsong constantly waking you from your sleep, yet leaving you completely undisturbed. As soon as you opened your eyes, you felt refreshed.
After breakfast, I unusually asked Ruosheng to find me a book to read. Ziling didn't come today, and I wasn't in the mood to go out.
After setting up a reclining chair under the banana tree, Ruosheng returned to Tingyu Pavilion to arrange other trivial matters. I sat down on the reclining chair with a book in my arms, gently rocking my head as I recited: "A five-acre homestead, planted with mulberry trees, will provide enough silk for the fifty-year-old to wear. If chickens, pigs, dogs, and swine are raised at the right time, the seventy-year-old will have enough meat to eat. A hundred acres of land, if not cultivated at the right time, will ensure a family of eight will not go hungry. Carefully study the teachings of the order of things, and emphasize the principles of filial piety and brotherly love, so that the white-haired will not have to carry burdens on the roads. The elderly will wear silk and eat meat, and the common people will not be hungry or cold, yet..."
Before I could finish reading, a figure in blue flashed in front of me, a fawning smile spreading across his face: "Gan Lin!"