Chapter Seven, Eastern Palace

If Wei takes a few steps closer and bows slightly, "Your Highness, do you have any questions? Wei is willing to explain in detail!"

When they saw the Crown Princess, both of them were momentarily stunned

Fujii had not yet responded, and the youngest of the Cui family, like a treasure offering, eagerly answered: "In response to Your Majesty, Sister Quan plays the jade flute exceptionally well"

Listening to the report delivered by the Chief Eunuch Huang Yan in the grand hall, Wei's heart was stirred with waves of emotion. It turned out that these several Korean beauties each had their own backgrounds, all of which were remarkable. In addition to the Gwon family, there were also the daughter of Ren Tianian, the Left Minister of the Renwu Prefecture, named Ren; the daughter of Li Wenming, the judge of the Gong'an Prefecture, named Li; the daughter of the military guard Lu Guizhen, named Lu; and the daughter of Cui Defei, the Deputy Minister of the Central Army, named Cui

Zhu Zhanji and Ruo Wei both withdrew from the auspicious ceremony

Upon thinking of this, one cannot help but feel a tinge of sadness in one's heart

Certainly

From the moment she learned that she was to enter the palace, Ruo Wei understood that from then on, she would have to navigate the ups and downs of the imperial harem of the Ming Dynasty, with her life, survival, and honor all dependent on the path she chose to take

However, the ways of pleasing are all fundamentally the same

If the smile that greeted him upon their first meeting was as beautiful as a flower, then her current timid and delicate demeanor is what truly stirs his heart

The Crown Princess waved at him: "Geer, come here quickly, this is Ruowei!"

"Mother, why does this younger sister seem so familiar?" The Crown Prince Zhu Zhanji asked in a daze

Haha! The noble Consort Wang couldn't help but cover her face and laugh: "Long live! What the Lady of Pengcheng said is indeed true. At such a young age, to articulate such a series of praises so eloquently, she is truly both beautiful and wise. Not only is her appearance exquisite, but she is also clever and outstanding!"

On that day, an imperial decree was issued, designating Lady Quan as the Virtuous Consort, Lady Ren as the Obedient Consort, Lady Li as the Attendant, Lady Lü as the Concubine, and Lady Cui as the Beauty

Hehe! The Crown Princess could not stop laughing and gently pushed Zhu Zhanji.

"How?" Zhu Zhanji asked, somewhat puzzled. He stopped in his tracks and couldn't help but glance at her once more. Yet, Ruo Wei seemed to be prepared for this, still smiling sweetly at him and bowing deeply.

Stepping out of the hall, Ruo Wei let out a long sigh

Rather than passively accepting and allowing others to dictate one's fate, it is better to take charge, to strive and to fight for oneself

Therefore, regardless of what happens in the future, for now, within the palace, she must make them like her. Only in this way can she safely wait for her gradual growth. When her wings are fully developed, whether she truly ascends like a phoenix in the sky or roams freely across the seas, at that time, there will be more room for maneuvering, will there not

If Wei was completely stunned, oh my! She exclaimed in her heart. Because she discovered that the Crown Princess before her was actually the person depicted in the scroll her father held that day. What kind of connection could there be between the Crown Princess of the Ming Dynasty and her father? In an instant, her mind was filled with thoughts and speculations.

If Ruo Wei rises, lightly moving her lotus steps, she approaches a little closer, yet does not dare to overstep too much, and thus she bows again in the hall: "Ruo Wei pays her respects to Her Majesty, may you live a thousand years, a thousand thousand years!"

He and she met like this, on a warm sunny afternoon, in the palace of the Eastern Palace's Crown Princess. One was like a flower from a dream, delicate and charming, while the other resembled a young nobleman with a jade-like demeanor. In the moment their eyes met, there was a slight surprise from both.

At once, someone presented a jade flute.

If Wei is ultimately brought to the Eastern Palace, she will meet the Crown Princess here

I am afraid that I might inadvertently offend Your Highness in the future, so I have come to pay my respects in advance. " Ruo Wei raised her small smiling face, and Zhu Zhanji was momentarily taken aback. Her charming smile and beautiful eyes were captivating. It turned out that the "smile that intoxicates and the flowing autumn waves" described in the book were just like this. He felt a slight tremor in his heart, and his tone became even gentler: "How could you possibly offend me?"

But she called out nonetheless

The grandson and the emperor seem to be separated by a vast distance of one hundred thousand miles.

At this moment, it seemed as if someone in the hall was calling out his name

A slight awkwardness in the atmosphere was unexpectedly broken by Ruowei first.

Hmm! she replied loudly, and finally, a hint of a smile appeared on his face. Thus, in the garden, he walked ahead and she followed behind, as he meticulously introduced her to the palaces and furnishings of the Eastern Palace.

At this moment, the Crown Princess Zhang Yan was filled with astonishment, for although she had long anticipated that he and her daughter would be so outstanding, no matter how bitter her heart felt or how prepared she was, the first sight of Ruo Wei, as delicate and charming as a budding flower, still brought her an overwhelming shock

This is your residence!" Zhanji pointed to an exceptionally tranquil courtyard and said

That unexpected feeling arises from familiarity, indeed, although it is the first encounter in this lifetime, yet that gaze is strikingly familiar

She looked up and saw a middle-aged beauty sitting at the lower seat of the emperor, frequently waving at her: "But Ruowei? Come closer, let me see you clearly."

If Ruo Wei shook her head: "When Ruo Wei arrived at the palace, she saw the grand halls and towering pavilions, all around her was resplendent with gold and jade, the grandeur was so overwhelming that it felt like a dream. Upon entering the hall and gazing upon the true faces of the Emperor and the Empress, she felt an even greater sense of awe and majesty, which filled her heart with trepidation, causing her to momentarily lose her composure."

The Son of Heaven nodded and said, "Go fetch it."

The imperial concubine spoke! The Son of Heaven nodded slightly. It was only then that Wei realized this was the renowned Wang Guifei, prompting her to look up and gaze a few more times, which caused the concubine to laugh continuously. Meanwhile, the Son of Heaven seemed to be more focused on the Quan family, and suddenly asked, "Does the Fuyi have any talents?"

He still blushed, quietly turned his head away, and responded in a barely audible voice: "Ruowei"

The smile on Wei's face grew even more pronounced. She walked over, performed a graceful bow, and addressed him as "Your Highness, the Long Sun." However, privately, she softly called out, "Brother Zhan!"

"Jingyaxuan," Ruo Wei murmured as she gazed at the plaque above.

The oldest is eighteen years old, while the youngest, Cui, is only fourteen years old

She smiled, her delicate hands like jade gently rubbing the pink ribbon of her dress, and finally, a hint of age-appropriate timidity appeared on her face: "In the palace, anything is possible, so I am afraid"

I like it! If she smiles, her face is as pure as a pool of clear water, which leaves those who see it somewhat astonished

Her soft call made Zhu Zhanji's face flush red, and he couldn't help but glare fiercely at the young girl. He then walked over to the Crown Princess and whispered softly in her ear. The Crown Princess observed this and laughed charmingly, saying: "You don't ask yourself, yet you make your mother ask?" After saying this, she glanced at Ruowei, as if with deeper meaning.

This is an independent small courtyard located on the southwest side of the Prince's Palace. The garden features a backdrop of mountains and reflective waters, with lush bamboo and cypress, creating an atmosphere of tranquility

She smiled again, her bright eyes sparkling with anticipation: "Brother Zhan"

The eunuch in attendance immediately left the palace to fetch him, and shortly thereafter brought Xiao in.

Quan Fuji slightly turned her body, holding a jade flute, and soon the elegant and melodious sound of the flute emerged. As the piece concluded, the audience was momentarily entranced, and it was only after a brief moment that sparse applause began to sound. Fuji raised her head and saw that the one clapping was none other than the emperor seated on the dragon throne

"Why do you worship me?" Zhu Zhanji was taken aback, looking at the girl in front of him who was five years younger than himself, feeling an inexplicable sense of pressure suddenly wash over him.

Oh? The Son of Heaven could not help but laugh and said, "Blow it and let me hear."

Is it an overstep

Your Highness! She raised her small face, a smile gracing her features, and the tiny dimples radiated pure happiness and joy. There was no trace of timidity or fear, nor the sorrow and pity of a child leaving home; only a clear innocence of childhood. In that moment, the Crown Princess Zhang Yan finally set aside her grievances, opening her arms to embrace Ruo Wei.

Do not be afraid! he blurted out

However, Quan Fuji remained unmoved, only softly saying: "This knife is merely a tool for use; Fuji still hopes for Your Majesty's grace, allowing me to use the utensils I have commonly used in the past"

Zhan Ji steadied his mind and said in a clear voice: "If it is 'Wei', which two characters could possibly convey the meaning similar to 'rose'?"

"When one reaches the end of the water, one sits and watches the clouds rise." The Crown Princess Zhang Yan felt a tightness in her heart, as memories flooded back to her, causing her to become momentarily dazed. She then said, "Ji'er, take Ruo Wei to stroll around the garden. Tomorrow we will meet Princess Xian Ning, so do offer her some advice."

There is no shyness and panic of the first meeting between noble sons and young ladies in secluded chambers, only familiarity and closeness

They, along with twelve maids and twelve chefs, were sent to a foreign capital thousands of miles away. As they left their hometown, the cries of the selected ladies' parents and relatives filled the air. The five Korean ladies frequently looked back, tears streaming down their faces, knowing that their hometown would only appear in their dreams from then on, and that this parting would be a separation of ten thousand miles.

Mother!" A young boy dressed in a light purple robe leaned against the palace entrance and called out softly.

If Ruo Wei had clearly not expected him to care about her name, she paused slightly and then said: "Your Highness, Ruo Wei means 'as light as a wisp of dust', derived from 'A wisp of dust stirs, while the morning dew rests upon the body; I walk to the end of the water and sit to watch the clouds rise.' My father appreciates Wang Wei's poetry and enjoys the tranquil essence of life, which is why he named me Ruo Wei."

"Forget it!" Lady Wang still wore a gentle expression, her smile undiminished: "I just called you, but you seemed lost in thought. Are you homesick?"