Chapter 10, the spring sorrow is dim and melancholic

The officials from outside the palace have already arrived, having completed a round of congratulations, and are now scattered around, reminiscing and chatting while waiting for the banquet to begin. The imperial concubines flit around the emperor like butterflies. This second brother is different from the elder brother; although the elder brother has not performed well in governance, he has at least made an effort. This one, however, presents himself like a poet, so sentimental to the point of being almost overly emotional. Having ascended the throne for half a year, he has been preoccupied with the beauty of spring flowers and autumn moons, which truly makes one break out in a cold sweat for him

However, this year's Mid-Autumn Festival has piqued her interest, as the factory minister has returned from the south. At this moment, the political winds in the court are unpredictable, with the Western Factory within and the feudal lords outside. She is uneasy and ultimately feels the need to be present in person, ensuring that the grand banquet concludes smoothly.

No matter how impressive one's status may be, it counts for nothing in front of these meddlesome aunts and gossipers. Wanwan found herself surrounded and smiled awkwardly. She glanced at Yinlou, signaling her to go ahead, and indicated that she would join her in the Cining Palace garden after resolving these troubles.

Wanwan was dismissive, "If we get drunk, we won't eat at the banquet. You go back and get us two quilts, so that she and I can spend the night in the pavilion"

The copper ring is unclear, "Your Highness, you responded very well just now, how could you have lost your life?"

Although Lady Zhao is not often well-regarded by others, her elder brother is in a difficult situation after the collapse, and Wanwan, being kind-hearted, cannot stand idly by. Thus, she instructed the eunuch to lead the way and hurriedly followed behind.

The copper ring expressed some concern, "Do we still have to drink? If we come back reeking of alcohol, how will that look to others?"

She feels disheartened, as she has never truly attained anything, so why should she feel disappointed? If given another chance, would she be able to seize it? After much contemplation, she realizes that she lacks the courage, thus failure is only to be expected

She felt her heart tremble, as it was all too unfortunate... She took two steps back and turned around, feigning calmness: "Let's go, let's take a look elsewhere; perhaps there are people at the Lingxi Pavilion cracking crabs!"

What should I do? I cannot extricate myself, and I must not show impatience on my face. She gazed sorrowfully into the distance and suddenly noticed a figure standing under the lights deep within the palace, dressed in splendid robes, with a pair of proud eyes beneath a black gauze hat. He was also looking at her, leisurely, with a hint of amusement in his gaze. After a brief pause, he lowered his head again to fiddle with his beeswax prayer beads.

The gaze of the copper ring shifted to the sandalwood five bats holding up the cloud landing canopy, "People like us, once we enter the palace, can never expect to leave for the rest of our lives. I was only seven or eight years old when I came in; how could I have anyone I liked then"

Yin Lou cast a sympathetic glance, shrugged, and walked away. She was surrounded by a crowd, unable to take a single step. Turning to seek help from the Empress Dowager, it seemed that the Dowager was quite pleased with her popularity, whispering softly with Empress Zhang and occasionally glancing at her, showing no intention of rescuing her

Yin Lou has just recovered from a serious illness and has come despite her frail condition. The emperor engages her in conversation, but she dismisses him perfunctorily. Turning to Wan Wan, she whispers, "There are too many people at the banquet, and I fear we won't enjoy ourselves fully. I have instructed the servants to prepare crabs; let us hide in the garden and indulge ourselves."

Wanwan made a sound of acknowledgment and asked, "Tonghuan, have you ever liked anyone?"

She stepped over the threshold, and the courtyard was very quiet. It had been a long time since she had been here. She still remembered the scene from her childhood when her older brother took her to catch fireflies by the well. Memories flooded her mind, and she found herself unconsciously heading towards the backyard

Wanwan also loves to eat crabs, but they are quite troublesome to eat. The eight pieces of the crab need to be fiddled with, and by the time the meat is all picked out, it has basically cooled down. Eating cold crab with a fishy smell is regrettable. The method of eating at Yinlou is to bite directly into it, which is time-saving and convenient. In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, one can consume two crabs, providing a delightful experience akin to the pleasure of a cow chewing peonies.

Her throat felt constricted, rendering her unable to speak; she merely waved her hand and buried her face in the crook of her arm

At that time, Xu Niangniang was exceptionally talented, and Wanwan is her daughter, who naturally is taller than girls of the same age

The Qingzhai is not a luxurious place, and its specifications cannot be compared to the nearby Baoxiang Building. The furnishings here are extremely simple, consisting of a table, a chair, and a cabinet. Under the southern window, there is a throne, and the brocade cushion is rarely used, remaining as pristine as before.

He averted his gaze from her, and a warm smile quickly spread across his lips. Wanwan was momentarily taken aback, suddenly recalling that the person was the King of Nanyuan, her heart racing and increasingly difficult to bear.

She casually said it was nothing, and after entering the Range Rover door, she looked north: "Send someone to find a pot of Huadiao wine, I brought some good stuff to enjoy with the crabs."

Wanwan sighed, stood up, and watched as she held up the skirt to her, asking as she compared, "How about this turquoise one? Or is that pomegranate-colored one better?"

What book is the princess currently reading? How many volumes of the Book of Rites has she memorized?

The copper ring floated up with a desolate smile, "Eunuchs? I do not wish to be like them, having already lived as bitter as huanglian, why should I further degrade myself!"

The embroidery on this sachet is truly exquisite; did you make it yourself

Wanwan chuckled softly: "You really are something. I am only fifteen years old, and you are already eager to send me off. Alright, I will agree to you. In the future, when I make a decision, I will take you along. You won't have to endure hardships like they do. I will find you a good family, ensuring that you have hope for the rest of your life."

There are many festivals in the palace throughout the year. In addition to the days of universal celebration, there are also the birthdays of the emperor, empress, and the empress dowager, whether it be for longevity or for a thousand autumns, with celebrations occurring almost every few days. Wanwan does not have a strong concept of festivals; to her, it is mostly just a group of bored people finding an excuse to gather together for food, drink, and entertainment. Her status in the palace is quite special, and she is always invited to these events, which has made her somewhat numb to the frequent gatherings.

She followed behind the lamp-lighter, feeling dazed and unsteady, her steps uneven. Seeing that she was unwell, the copper ring came up to support her, "Your Highness, what is wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Those princesses are extraordinary, and they are very amazed that she has grown so much in such a short time: "It has only been a few months since we last met, and the princess has blossomed into a young lady!"

She stood up, wiped her tears, "It seems like something happened. It got into my eyes..."

The old woman with the lantern guided her through the secluded path to the door. Strangely, there was not a single standing eunuch in sight. Only the flickering candlelight in the front hall was visible, its glow resembling spread satin, illuminating half of the corridor.

She felt inexplicably troubled, as the palace examination generally involved answering their questions one by one, yet her gaze wandered restlessly, hoping that the banquet would suddenly commence and everyone would disperse. However, mealtime also depended on the hour; there were courtiers who arrived early and others who came later, and it was necessary to wait until everyone had gathered before the eunuchs could serve the meal

Wanwan looked at the empty room, feeling a sense of melancholy. After standing for a while, she contemplated leaving, when she faintly caught the scent of incense lingering in the air, a fragrance that was all too familiar—it belonged to Changchen.

The copper ring adorned her makeup, applying a thin layer of powder and a touch of lip balm, which complemented her delicate and translucent skin. She rarely engaged in elaborate grooming, relying on her good foundation, and would often appear in the Empress Dowager's palace with a bare face. Ever since Lady Li introduced Xiao You and Wu Qi, she had lost even the occasional interest in singing, and when the fragrant powder was applied to her face, she surprisingly felt unfamiliar when looking in the mirror

They pushed a girl, who was uncertain whether she was a princess or a county princess, to stand beside her, and everyone began to comment: "Look, Wanwan is two months younger than Baose, yet she is taller than her."

She took a deep breath and said, "Indeed, it doesn't hurt much anymore"

Wanwan hesitated a bit and turned her head to ask, "What do you think of Xiao Zhangyin? He is also a eunuch."

The copper ring lantern illuminated the scene, and her eyes were red, clearly indicating that she had been crying. However, she did not address it directly, instead using a handkerchief to tidy her up, saying, "It’s nothing to worry about; tears can wash away the dust. Your Highness, do try again; it shouldn’t hurt anymore, right?"

She praised her a couple of times, then took the sachet sent by the palace maid and carefully attached it to the knot of her garment at her side. Wanwan watched as her soft hands slowly combed through the peach-red dragon whiskers, and gently advised her: "You can still move around before the banquet starts, but afterwards, stay by the Empress Dowager's side! There will be many titles and noble families coming to pay their respects, so be attentive and observe. This way, you won't end up in a blind marriage or a silent union in the future."

Tsk tsk, the crowd was astonished: "I have never heard of such a thing, sending a portrait as a wedding gift, isn't that inviting bad luck!"

Why do I always hesitate and look back? ... This time it is indeed too late, having known her for five or six years ... She knows that Yin Lou is very good, upright, and has a lovely personality; if she were a man, she might even fall in love with her ... But ... She has always felt that Chang Chen was within reach, never considering that he would get involved with someone else on https://www.hetushu. This time it was a fatal blow that caught her completely off guard; she panicked, feeling lost and lonely without direction. She has always felt that Chang Chen was within reach, never considering that he would get involved with someone else on https://www.hetushu. This time it was a fatal blow that caught her completely off guard; she panicked, feeling lost and lonely without direction

She smiled and raised her sleeve to point, "It might be over there, why not take a look."

What about the eunuchs? I have heard that many palace maids pair up with eunuchs for future support. Our palace's Wen Jie also has a partner; the other day I saw her talking to someone behind the rockery, and that eunuch, I don't know which position he held, panicked and ran away when he saw me

She lifted the hem of her skirt and stepped over the dewdrops as she crossed the stone bridge. Under the pavilion by the stream, the lights were dim, but after searching around, she did not find any trace of the music building. Wanwan turned back to ponder whether she had misremembered the meeting place. She noticed a faint light coming from the Hanqing Study to the east. That place was specifically designated for the imperial consorts to pray and rest, with passages connecting the front and back, forming an independent courtyard that was detached from the outside world, making it a tranquil and elegant retreat. Wanwan turned back to ponder whether she had misremembered the meeting place. She noticed a faint light coming from the Hanqing Study to the east. That place was specifically designated for the imperial consorts to pray and rest, with passages connecting the front and back, forming an independent courtyard that was detached from the outside world, making it a tranquil and elegant retreat.

She slumped her shoulders, contemplating how to convey to herself the details of disguising as a eunuch to secretly observe the King of Nanyuan. After further reflection, she decided against it, realizing that digging up the past and exposing her own foolishness would only add to her embarrassment.

The copper ring hung down, observing from the side; among the three thousand beauties in the palace, there truly was not a single one who could compare to her. Her nobility was ingrained in her blood, and even in humble attire, she remained proud and dignified

"What does it matter? Westerners paint well, almost lifelike..."

Thus, eunuchs will always be eunuchs, and the spirited palace maids will ultimately look down upon them

What should I do, this is truly embarrassing... As she stepped out of the Moonlight Gate, her legs were still trembling, and she twisted her body, humming like a child

The copper ring smiled and assisted her towards Changxin Gate. After walking a few steps, they encountered a young eunuch who bowed and said, "I bring greetings to Her Royal Highness, the Princess. Her Highness was not present earlier; there was an incident in the Qianqing Palace... Lady Zhao and Lady Zhang, the Empress, had a dispute and were reprimanded by the Empress Dowager. At this moment, they are crying in the Golden Pavilion. The old lady Sun by the Empress's side could not persuade her, fearing that something might happen, so she sent a servant to invite Your Highness. Your Highness, please go and take a look."

The princesses are still chattering: "Last month, the princess of the Xiang Wang family got married, and besides the dowry, her family also commissioned a Western artist to paint a portrait."

This friend is well-connected and knowledgeable, though our temperaments may not be the same. However, what matters is our compatibility. Being with her often leads to new discoveries that I have never experienced before. As I was about to leave with Wanwan, I unexpectedly found myself held back by a few aunts from the clan.

He has been here? ... How strange ... . ... She turned her head to look at the carved cabinet, the intricate vines entwined, endlessly tangled. Suddenly, she noticed a corner of a skirt caught in the cabinet door, and upon closer inspection, it was a pattern of birds carrying auspicious flowers. A buzzing sound filled her mind; this design was a tribute from Goryeo, and only the music hall in the palace had used it to make skirts.

"Young ladies should still dress up nicely." The copper ring pinned a delicate flower inlaid with blue enamel onto her hair, examining it repeatedly. "Look how complete it is; it will be too late to care about appearances when you grow old. Today is different from usual; there is no need to avoid anything related to the palace. Your Highness should also start planning for yourself. As your close attendant, I will speak frankly: relying on anyone else to make decisions is unreliable; it is better to have your own judgment."

The master and servant laughed and joked for a while, and only when the sky began to darken did they enter the Qianqing Palace

She chose a lychee-colored horse-face skirt for herself, adorned with a pattern of flat gold ruyi on the hem, neither overly ostentatious nor too understated. After finishing the pose for the photo, she turned around with a hint of shy smile on her face, asking, "Do you think it looks good?"

She could not articulate it; it was not that there was something wrong with her body, but rather that her heart was deeply troubled. It turned out that Yin Lou and Chang Chen had already reached this point, and the dreams of youth were shattered in an instant

Wanwan noticed that everyone's attention had shifted and quietly tugged at the sleeve of her copper ring to slip out of the crowd. She was anxious to attend her appointment at the music building and hurried towards the palace gate. Halfway there, she saw the prince and was instantly filled with both shame and embarrassment, covering her face as she darted away from his gaze

The copper ring replaced her with a brocade long-sleeved jacket in the color of teeth, adjusting it repeatedly on the snow-white collar, she smiled and said: "For someone like Xiao Zhangyin, not to mention among the eunuchs, how many are there in the whole world? But what does it matter to be high-ranking and powerful? After a lifetime of service, one is ultimately trapped in this four-sided city, which is indeed a hardship."

The moon hung in the sky, large and desolate. She stepped out of the Range Rover and squatted down by the dark wall in the alley. The copper ring was startled and asked in alarm, "Your Highness, what is troubling you? I will immediately summon the imperial physician."