Chapter 3, The Blossoming of a Hundred Flowers
Aunt Qiyun, please go and speak to the supervisor of the inner servants at the Inner Servants Department about replacing some of the palace maids in Tonghui Palace. Ask him to select a few well-proportioned maids to serve in the palace. Tongxi's concerns are best understood by Qiyun, who immediately took her leave to handle this important matter
Tong Xi supported her chin with her wrist, pondering whether the fact that the Imperial Concubine Zhao had been attending to the Emperor for three consecutive days was a good or bad thing; she felt quite sympathetic towards the Imperial Concubine Zhao
A few days later, the Empress Dowager sent someone to convey a message, requesting Tongxi to visit the Changxin Palace
What caught Tong Xi's particular attention was the palace maid with an indifferent gaze
Tong Xi nodded slightly, indicating that she was indeed a young lady from an official family. However, the county magistrate, holding the rank of a seventh-grade official, was truly considered a minor official among the families of the selected candidates. No wonder, with her beauty, she was unable to be chosen.
Xuanxuan and Shubo stood by, seeing their master in high spirits, and exchanged a smile. Xuanxuan took the fragrant balm of the wintersweet and evenly applied it to Tongxi's hair, nourishing her beautiful locks
Let Qionghua serve my tea then
In the palace, what the concubines are most concerned about every night is which palace the Emperor has stayed in. A few days ago, the Emperor left the palace in disguise and only returned today. Naturally, everyone is eager to know which concubine he summoned first. Tongxi is no exception; the Emperor is her everything, the source of all her glory and wealth
The servant's father is Jin Shirong, the magistrate of Shuangliu County
In the inner hall of the Tonghui Palace, the beams are made of cloud-top sandalwood, with crystal jade discs serving as lamps, and pearls forming the curtains, while the bases of the columns are crafted from fine gold. A curtain of pink crystal beads divides the light into a unique radiance, hanging down from beams several feet high. The newly hung cherry blossom pink silk curtains sway gently in the breeze, resembling the flowing ribbons of celestial maidens from the heavens. Above the treasure dome in the hall, dozens of luminous pearls of varying sizes are suspended, shining brightly, and at night, looking up, it appears as if the sky is filled with countless stars. The floor is laid with white jade, carved into the shape of lotus flowers, comparable to the extravagance of Pan Yuer's golden lotus steps in ancient times.
Ten palace maids, Tongxi, have all remained, officially filling the twelve positions of the palace maids in the Tonghui Palace
Tong Xi was reclining on the rosewood beauty couch beneath the southern window
In her palace and the hall where she resides, candles are not allowed to be lit; instead, luminous pearls are used, showcasing the utmost luxury. This is all a precautionary measure.
However, she did not dare to act recklessly and quickly placed the teacup in front of Tongxi. "Take it to the dressing table in the inner room; I will go in shortly."
After a whole day, she felt tired and entered the inner chamber to rest, instructing Qionghua to prepare tea.
"Isn't Qionghua a more pleasant name? Did your father give it to you?" Tongxi observed her floating up and down, and concluded that she was probably not the daughter of a distinguished family
Shu Bo responded and went down to convey the message. However, Tong Xi did not refrain from using incense for these reasons; rather, she was concerned that someone with ill intentions might have mixed something inappropriate into the incense.
After Tong Xi finished her grooming and had breakfast, the chief eunuch of the Imperial Eunuch Department, Eunuch Rong, personally delivered ten palace maids selected by Aunt Qi Yun to the Tonghui Palace
Under the eastern window stands a zitan dressing table adorned with gold, beside which is a pure silver mirror frame intricately carved with reliefs of dragons' whiskers, phoenix wings, sparrow feathers, rabbit fur, floral patterns, and leaf veins, all as fine as a strand of hair, with every detail vividly displayed, a true masterpiece of craftsmanship, unparalleled in its exquisite beauty, leaving Qionghua in awe.
Tongxi was very fatigued, had a hasty dinner, and then went to bed to rest
Qionghua glanced again at the sleeping quarters, where there was a moon gate carved from rosewood with chrysanthemum patterns. In the center hung a light purple crystal bead curtain, which faintly refracted a dreamy haze. Behind the curtain was a rosewood screen inlaid with jade floral designs, but the interior could not be seen clearly. Qionghua let out a soft sigh, longing to see how splendid the consort's chamber was.
Her eyes sparkled with a clever smile, exuding an air of calm confidence. "That woman truly could not hold back any longer"
As one travels along the way, it sways and shines, making it difficult for others to gaze upon it
Before long, Shu Bo entered with a jade incense burner adorned with entwined lotus designs, saying, "Your Highness, the officials from the Imperial Wardrobe have presented a box of fragrant incense. Shall I light it for you?"
The next day, Xuanxuan brought a light purple palace dress for Tongxi, but she rejected it, saying, "This one is too plain and elegant; wear the one in Xiangfei color with the embroidered golden hibiscus flowers instead."
In this palace, only the Emperor's sleeping quarters, the Purple Chen Palace, the Empress's sleeping quarters, and Tongxi's Tonghui Palace have bathing pools fed by natural hot springs. The white jade pool is over 3 zhang wide and more than 8 zhang long, with a depth of about 4 chi, and the water is crystal clear. The hot spring flows into the pool from three dragon heads standing by the white jade pool, and Tongxi enjoys resting her legs under the dragon heads, relishing the impact of the water flow. There are also six or seven openings at the bottom of the pool for circulation, with water bubbling up like rolling pearls, gurgling as it rises.
It is Empress Zhao, and His Majesty also has his evening meal in Zhao Yang Palace
In recent days, Tongxi has been perusing the daily records and has realized that the Empress Dowager can no longer remain idle. The Zhaofei has served the Emperor in bed for three consecutive nights since his return to the palace, forcefully taking the days that Liang Chongyuan was supposed to serve.
Tong Xi carefully observed this young Cui, whose appearance was stunning, personality serene, movements graceful, figure lithe, and posture enchanting, reminiscent of seventy percent of the charm of the Zhao Fei. "What was your original name?"
In the gaze of the lifted head, there is fear, envy, and also indifference
Shu Bo observed that Tong Xi was determined to dress up beautifully today, so she styled her hair into a high circular Wangxian bun. This hairstyle is tall and majestic, exuding a sense of exquisite nobility. It originated from the dream of Emperor Wu of Han, who envisioned the Queen Mother of the West at the Yaochi, accompanied by various celestial maidens, and upon waking, he ordered the palace concubines to emulate it. In this palace, apart from the Empress, only the Noble Consort and the legitimate princesses are permitted to wear such a hairstyle
"Aunt Qiyun, whom is His Majesty summoning to his bedchamber tonight?" Tongxi lay with her eyes closed on the beauty couch, while Xuanxuan gently massaged her legs with a beauty pillow.
Qionghua then left in a flustered and disheveled manner, retreating to a corner to carefully recall and savor the luxury she had just witnessed
Tong Xi carefully reviewed the history of the past three years. The first two and a half years were indeed dull, as the routine of alternating nights of service remained unchanged. However, things began to differ after Mu Zhao Wen conferred the title of Zhao Fei. Two months ago, she served two nights in a single month, and subsequently, it was established as a fixed system that she would serve two nights each month.
Tonghui Palace
"I do not dare," yet there was no trace of the expected trepidation in her voice, indicating that she is also a person of ambition and confidence
"Your Highness, that Qionghua is quite frivolous. How could you allow her to stay? It is entirely the fault of this servant for not handling matters properly and selecting such a person." Aunt Qi Yun began to blame herself.
What is your name
Xuan Xuan took a robe from the gilded and painted clothes rack beside her to assist Tong Xi in putting it on, while she reclined on the zitan-carved beauty couch adorned with lotus patterns, flipping through the documents and records sent by the court ladies of the Imperial Palace.
Tongxi could not help but recall the stunning woman who looked at her with sympathy. The people in this palace are becoming increasingly interesting
Tong Xi asked each one in turn, and in the end, she caught sight of a pair of timid, glistening eyes. This woman was not exceptionally beautiful, but those eyes were captivating to the soul. "What is your name?"
"Your Highness, I am the servant Xiaocui." The response was neither humble nor arrogant, and the tone did not reveal any signs of nervousness or anxiety.
Aunt, please do not scare her anymore. Tongxi cast a charming glance at Qiyun.
"Your Highness, what are you doing?" Aunt Qi Yun asked in confusion
"Servant, Yu'er."
Qionghua joyfully walked into the crystal curtain upon hearing these words
Seeing others envy her life, she felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction
Qionghua was almost overwhelmed by the opulent atmosphere here; she never dreamed that the palace of the favored concubine could be so luxurious, making her envious to the point of tears. She felt that in her lifetime, she too should reside in such a house, so as not to have lived in vain.
Beside her, a secondary palace maid held a tray, on which neatly arranged towels were stacked, each folded properly, with twenty-five towels in a stack, four stacks totaling one hundred towels, resembling a small hill. Each towel was embroidered with a golden phoenix using yellow silk thread, and each stack depicted a different posture: some with their heads held high, some looking back at the moon, some playing with pearls, and some spouting water. The edges of the towels were adorned with a beautiful and exquisite border made of golden thread, featuring an endless pattern of the character "wan". Additionally, they were pressed neatly and set against a purple-red wooden tray, making them particularly luxurious and eye-catching. The maid took a towel to wipe the back of Tongxi.
Aunt, how is the selection of palace maids from the Imperial Guard going?
Tong Xi and Aunt Qi Yun smiled as they watched her retreating figure, while Qi Yun disdainfully curled her lips, remarking that someone from a humble background lacked experience. As Qiong Hua entered the Baoping, she saw a grand bed made of fragrant sandalwood, adorned with gold carvings of nine dragons and four phoenixes. The double-layered canopy featured an inner layer of moon-white gauze, with intricate gold-thread embroidery on top. The bed was set with a green jade fragrant pillow, covered with a soft silk and ice-cold mat, and layered with a peony-patterned brocade quilt.
"Qionghua is merely a girl from a humble background. If she is not given a little bit of stimulation, how can she aspire to great heights? Would that not be a betrayal of the investment I have made in her?" Tongxi smiled
Tongxi had not opened her eyes; it was indeed evident that Zhaofei was highly favored. Although Tongxi had spent a year with Emperor Tianzheng, she always felt that he was cold and indifferent, yet unexpectedly, he treated Zhaofei with a different regard.
As Tong Xi turned her shimmering, wave-like eyes, she said, "No need, put it away. Let the Imperial Kitchen offer a few fruits daily; aren't they more fragrant than those common scents in this palace?"
"Jin Huifei? What a lovely name. This palace is indeed in need of a Consort Hui," Tongxi teased.
"Your Highness, the Noble Consort, I am your servant Nie Qionghua," she replied softly, yet her voice could not conceal the joy hidden within it
In addition to the service of the Concubine Zhao, Tongxi also noticed that it was common for Emperor Tianzheng to spend the night with two women or to summon two women to serve him simultaneously. Her fingers began to tap nervously on the booklet, and it took her a while to calm her mind.
Tong Xi inhaled the warm fragrance in the air, and reflecting on the cold three years at Yaoguang Temple, her resolve became even more steadfast. She simply adored everything here, despite that small flaw.
Xuanxuan quickly brought over the luxurious and enchanting palace gown. The embroidered golden hibiscus flowers were crafted with threads as fine as baby hair, adorned with yellow gemstones and small pearls at their centers. The beaded tassels sparkled like starlight, radiant as flowing clouds, exuding a mesmerizing royal splendor. On her arms, she wore light gauze of gilded gold, securely fastened with gold inlaid jade.
A red gold hairpin adorned with ten tree-shaped ornaments is inserted into her hair, with a phoenix and dragon motif holding an eastern pearl as the centerpiece. The eastern pearl extends to her brow, reflecting the waves of her autumn water-like eyes. The wings are made of amethyst and the tail of emerald feathers, each wing embellished with lapis lazuli, purple crystal, amber, moonstone, sapphire, and eastern lotus jade. The body of the phoenix, dragon, and feathered bird is composed of pearls, green chalcedony, white jade, and coral, radiating a dazzling brilliance. The jadeite serves as a cloud of elegance, while the golden inscriptions and white pearl tassels form the hairpin and earrings, scattering an infinite array of crystalline splendor and luminous pearl light, making her appear as stunning as the celestial maidens of the palace.
However, she had no objections to the matter of serving the Empress Zhao consecutively, but rather welcomed it.
"Returning to the Empress, my father has opened a rice shop." Qionghua spoke with a hint of shyness in her words; she had never liked being asked about her background, but when the noble consort inquired, she had no choice but to respond
This formula uses clove, agarwood, and green wood fragrance, along with pearl, jade powder, Shu water flower, peach blossom, stalactite powder, papaya flower, pear flower, red lotus flower, plum blossom, and cherry blossom. The flowers and fragrances are to be crushed separately, then the pearl and jade powder are ground into a fine powder, mixed with soybean powder, and ground together a thousand times before being stored tightly. It is commonly used for hand washing, bathing, and facial cleansing, resulting in a complexion as smooth as jade, radiant, and moist, effectively eliminating all unpleasant odors and residues.
Her satisfaction always comes from the envy in the eyes of others; if she does not see that kind of gaze for a day, she feels that life is dull.
Nai Qionghua is also quite clever; however, in just one day, she has thoroughly understood Tongxi's preferences. She timidly walked into the inner chamber, almost tripping over the opulence within.
Thank you, Your Highness
"No, I merely thought that the name Qionghua sounded more pleasant, so I informed my father to change it." Aunt Qiyun gasped in surprise, realizing that she had misjudged the situation; this woman appeared to have quite significant ambitions.
Tongxi supported her chin with one hand, while her fingers of the other hand pointed at the daily records. This was indeed somewhat unusual, as Consort Zhao was the only consort of Emperor Tianzheng to have been favored for two consecutive nights. Tongxi glanced at Mu Zhaowen's background; her father was merely a minor official of the fifth rank, with nothing particularly noteworthy to attract the special attention of Emperor Tianzheng.
The remaining nine individuals are also rare beauties, likely having fallen into the ranks of palace maidens due to their less favorable family backgrounds. These ten women are probably even more beautiful than the newly promoted talented women from last year.
"Everyone, please lift your heads." Tong Xi said softly. Looking at their figures, it is evident that there are all kinds of shapes, both plump and slender. It seems that Aunt Qi Yun has selected one of each type.
The servant's original name is Jin Huifei
She closed her eyes and inhaled the fragrance from the pond, "It is a recipe from Sun Simiao's 'Qianjin Yifang' that I particularly like."
They have already been selected according to the Empress's wishes, and they will come over tomorrow
"One must not be disrespectful; how dare one still claim a name from outside the palace?" Aunt Qi Yun pointed out from the side
Qi Yun looked coldly at the already weak Qiong Hua and said, "Put down the tea and go out!"
Who is your father? Tong Xi not only wanted to see the beauty of Gong E herself, but also to examine her family background
Then I shall call you Qionghua from now on. What is your father’s occupation
Or did the Empress Zhao truly possess some enchanting tricks that captivated Emperor Tianzheng? Tongxi was at a loss to understand this
"Stay by my side, and perhaps one day it will come to pass." Tongxi nodded slightly, "From now on, you shall be called by your original name, Huifei; I believe this name suits you better."
Aunt need not feel guilty; there are not many bright and lively women like Qionghua in the palace, and moreover, she possesses some means. She must have bribed the promotion of the eunuch supervisor to have the opportunity to be recommended to you. Is such a woman not interesting?
Xuanxuan and Shubo, attend to this palace for bathing and changing clothes. Tongxi stood up, having run around all day and feeling exhausted. She circled around the twelve-panel screen inlaid with purple sandalwood and dyed with intricate patterns, extending her arms to allow Xuanxuan and the other to assist her in removing her garments, and slowly stepped into the steaming hot spring pool