Section 6

Everyone listened carefully to the sounds in the sleeping quarters, timing it just right. Suddenly, the attending maid, Chunrong, deliberately called out loudly, "Long live our ancestor!" This was a signal, and everyone knew that the Empress Dowager had sat up. The two palace maids on night duty opened the half-closed door, allowing others to step over the threshold into the sleeping quarters, where those on duty that day lined up neatly to pay their respects. The curtain of the Empress Dowager's chamber was lifted halfway, as the head steward had already instructed Jinxu on her duties the day before. She lowered her head and entered with the maid in charge of the bedding, carrying a silver basin of hot water. Chunrong wrung out a hot cloth to cleanse the Empress Dowager's face and gave Jinxu a knowing glance. Jinxu stepped aside to lift the gauze cover over the lamp, standing by with her hands at her sides.

The concubine said: "Rest assured, my ancestors, I went to check today, and everything is already settled. It is said that the plan will proceed as usual." After a pause, she continued, "All the sisters are going, except for the many noble ladies of Yonghe Palace who have taken leave, saying they have been feeling dizzy lately and will not join in the fun."

The Empress Dowager smiled and said: "In the second month, the Qingming Festival brings forth lush greenery, next year will be another good year, it is the blessing of our eternal sovereign"

The man finally lifted his eyelids and looked over, his gaze cold and piercing, three times more chilling than the snow outside. His face bore no joy or sorrow, and although it exuded a distant aloofness that kept others at bay, it could not conceal his striking good looks. With brows like distant mountains and eyes that held the weight of ages, even those raised in a world of beauty could not help but sigh, feeling dazzled by his presence. Figures like Song Yu, Pan An, and Lan Ling Wang likely pale in comparison to him. How could such a person be serving in this Imperial Medical Institute? Jin Shu felt it was a pity; he should be wandering through mountains and rivers with a qin in hand, rather than enduring six years of hardship in this Imperial Medical Institute, a complete waste of his talents.

The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "That sounds wonderful! However, Concubine Zhang is not feeling well, and I fear she may become fatigued."

The concubine knew that the Empress Dowager had always disliked those who inserted official arrows beneath their trousers. With this casual remark, she saw that the Empress Dowager's expression indeed turned cold, and she felt secretly pleased. While pretending to be kind, she continued to belittle, her tongue rolling as she said: "Dear Ancestor, do not be angry. Many noble ladies have recently entered the palace, and they are still young. The Emperor's favor has been particularly strong lately, so they may be feeling overwhelmed."

Jin Shu quickly said: "Thank you, An Da, I will go get it myself, no need to trouble Da Mei." After saying this, he hurriedly went down the corridor

At the hour of Jiachen, the Empress Dowager returned to the side hall to rest, while Lingzi attended to her, inhaling two pots of smoke. After finishing the smoking ritual, they quietly stepped out to serve tea. Seeing that no one was around, Lingzi pulled her to the dripping water under the corridor and cautioned, "The herbs you are to gather are mugwort and safflower. The mugwort is not a concern, but the safflower must be handled with utmost care. Once you leave the longevity pharmacy, keep a close watch; not a single bit can be missed. Have the imperial physician write a prescription according to the quantities, and when you return to deliver it to Lvw, weigh it again. It is better to expend a little more effort than to lose a life due to uncertainty. In this palace... people's hearts are inscrutable."

Grandma Ta smiled and nodded, saying to Jinshu: "Go ahead, the ancestor has given permission."

Jin Shu always kept her head down and had no tasks that required her to serve closely, thus she was unable to see the Emperor's face. After the Emperor and the Empress Dowager spoke for a while, he set off to return to the Qianqing Palace

Jin Shu noticed that his nose was stuffy, as if he had caught a cold. Indeed, it is said that a physician cannot treat himself, and he did not pay much attention to it, merely saying: "Replying to the esteemed official, it is an issue with my leg. It has been somewhat swollen these past two days. A court physician has already taken my pulse the day before yesterday, and today I will soak my feet with a couple of herbal remedies."

Upon exiting the Left Gate of Yongkang, the wind in the alley grew stronger. Jinshu struggled to hold up the umbrella as she made her way to the Qianqing Palace, with snow mixed with hail falling in a flurry onto the umbrella, only to bounce off in a flurry. Once she entered the Yuelan Gate and walked under the corridor to close the umbrella, she looked outside and saw the sky dark and heavy, as if it were about to descend. The snow had stopped, leaving only hailstones, each the size of a sparrow's egg, falling densely onto the steps, causing the winter jasmine planted in the pot to tilt and sway.

The concubine replied: "The teachings of our ancestors are indeed profound"

The Empress Dowager did not take it to heart; she and the previous dynasty's Empress Dowager were once in-laws and were familiar with each other, so she did not find anything inappropriate about it. "Get up, it's almost New Year, we shouldn't be discussing this! Let's do as you suggested, and later we will go to the Imperial Hospital to get the medicine."

The Emperor said: "There is warfare in the north, the Tatars are disturbing our borders, having burned down two large garrisons at the frontier. Grandmother, do not worry; your grandson has instructed the Grand Council to issue an edict, ordering the troops stationed in Ningguta to cross the Wulan River and conduct a cleanup operation. The Tatars were defeated six years ago, suffering significant losses, and now only remnants remain, unable to form a significant threat. Ancestor, please rest assured; soon there will be good news sent back from Shengjing."

The Emperor paused slightly, let out a sound of acknowledgment, and did not pursue the matter further. He then said to the Empress Dowager: "Your Majesty is busy and has many concerns to attend to. This year's Cold Food Festival falls in February, and it is a year of favorable weather. Once spring arrives and the weather warms up, the willows by the lake will also bud. My grandson will accompany the Empress Dowager for a boat ride on the lake."

Chunrong did not speak harshly to others as she usually did; it was merely for show. She deliberately maintained a stern expression, saying, "Stop doing those trivial tasks; serving the Empress Dowager is the main priority. Lingzi is to be released in April, and time is short, so you must learn well from her. The matron has given instructions, and shortly you will go to the Imperial Hospital to collect medicine to be delivered to Green Wu, who serves in the bath. After you return, do not concern yourself with other matters; just observe how Lingzi performs her duties."

She brushed off the snowflakes from her clothes and headed towards the palace, where the sound of clear reading could be heard from the study. She felt a bit dazed; it had been many years since she last came to this place. In the past, she used to study and practice calligraphy here with her brothers. Now, she was the only one left, with no one to be found. Her father was gone, and she had fallen from being a mistress to a servant. Stepping back into this place, everything had changed, and the people were no longer the same.

Chunrong is in charge and has a very bad temper towards her subordinates. Jinshu just saw her gritting her teeth as she punished a young maid, which made her feel a bit apprehensive. She cautiously approached and said, "Aunt, do you have any instructions?"

Seeing her lost in thought, the person spoke up: "Is the Empress Dowager unwell?"

The Empress Dowager snorted, "One must be even more cautious in conduct under the imperial favor, considering her position, how can she act in such a manner!"

The brocade letter should be remembered in the heart. In the past, I asked for leave from Cui Guixiang. Chief Steward Cui looked at the sky and said, "The snow is so heavy! You need to go to the Qianqing Palace; the imperial pharmacy is located in the wing room on the southeast side of Qianqing Palace." He then quietly called over a young palace maid, "Dameizi, bring the umbrella from the back corridor."

The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "Why has the Emperor come at this time?"

The matron followed the gaze of the Empress Dowager and saw a brownish-purple figure swiftly disappearing into the corridor. The Empress Dowager's expression was faint, revealing no discernible emotion. The matron presented the newly crafted hairpieces made by the palace maids, saying, "These girls are truly skilled; whatever they weave turns out beautifully." She picked up a swallow-shaped sachet and handed it over, saying, "This was made by Jinshu. I believe this child is quite clever and likable. What do you think, Your Majesty?"

Grandma Ta looked at the Empress Dowager's face, which showed no displeasure, and said: "You have grown up in the palace, how would you know about these things?"

The emperor bent down and said, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over the posts on the writing desk, all of which were written in the elegant script of a young lady's boudoir, subtle, meticulous, and beautiful. He then asked, "Whose handwriting is this? It does not resemble that of Consort Tong."

The old lady said: "Looking at the lunar calendar, this year has a leap month. Spring arrives in the twelfth month, and by February, it will be clear and bright. It is cold now, but perhaps when the sun comes out, it will warm up."

The Empress Dowager, upon hearing the Emperor's words of comfort, said, "Although state affairs are busy, you must take care of your health. When it is time to rest, you should rest. Do not work day and night without pause; one cannot eat a whole bun in one bite."

The Empress Dowager strictly adheres to the ancestral teachings, believing that if one rises late, the family will face ruin. Therefore, it is imperative to rise at the hour of Yin each day.

The Empress Dowager said leisurely: "The Emperor has good eyesight; it is because of him that I have found such a clever child." She gestured towards Jinshu, saying, "It is that girl."

Through the window, I saw a person braving the wind and snow, carrying a yellow cloud dragon bundle as he entered the palace gate. That was Liu Bao, the hairdresser eunuch of the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager moved over and glanced outside through the main gate, only to see snow flying everywhere. She wondered, "Wasn't it said that this year's solar terms arrived early? With the New Year approaching, the snow is falling endlessly."

Everyone responded in agreement and helped the Empress Dowager to sit down. Jin Shu heard yesterday that the Empress Dowager's feet had been somewhat swollen and painful these past two days, so he kindly suggested from the side: "Ancestress, may I bring you a stool to rest your feet on? Elevating your legs a bit might alleviate the pain."

Jin Shu smiled and said: "My grandmother used to suffer from this ailment as well, and whenever it occurred, the palace maids would prepare these two medicines for her." As soon as the words left his mouth, he was suddenly alarmed; this was a grave taboo. Comparing the late empress of a fallen nation to the current empress dowager was a profound disrespect, enough to warrant ten executions! His legs buckled, and he knelt down, bowing his head and saying, "I have spoken out of turn, I deserve to die a thousand deaths!"

The Empress Dowager leaned against the soft cushion, gazing out the window. The sky was filled with wind and snow, and it was unclear whether it was rain or snowflakes, as they fell onto the eaves with a crackling sound. The kang was adjacent to the window, providing a clear view of the happenings within the palace. She watched as a messenger in fine robes made his way to the palace gate; the strong wind lifted the hem of his robe, revealing the legs of his trousers underneath. The person appeared frail, struggling to hold up an umbrella, as if he could barely stand.

At that moment, she did not know how to begin. The person wore a warm hat made of sable and was dressed in a deep blue pipa-collared gown, constantly lowering their head, making it impossible to discern their official rank. She could only bow and say, "I pay my respects to you, esteemed sir! I am a palace maid from the Cining Palace, here to fetch two medicinal ingredients for the Empress Dowager."

Jin Shu was momentarily stunned, the brush he was dipping in the inkstone paused, his mind blank. Upon seeing Tong Pin being assisted to stand, he quickly set down the brush and rose to his feet. Just as he steadied himself, he caught a glimpse of a palace maid lifting the soft curtain, and a figure clad in bright yellow stepped into the side hall. She lowered her head and, along with everyone else, respectfully bowed, only to hear the Emperor say with reverence: "Grandson pays his respects to the Empress Dowager."

The Empress Dowager glanced at her and said to Lady Ta: "This child is quite meticulous; I see in her the same vigor you had in your youth"

Jin Shudao moved a low stool to place under the feet of the Empress Dowager. Carefully lifting her two feet up, he felt a soft and insubstantial touch on her ankles through a thin layer of socks, which emboldened him to say: "Ancestress, please forgive me, but allow me to speak further. This afternoon, I will prepare a foot bath with mugwort and safflower for you. Once you soak and sweat profusely, the swelling in your legs will greatly reduce."

The person's gaze fell once again on the prescription, and he said leisurely, "I haven't seen you in the Cining Palace, what is your name?" Jin Shu slightly bowed and replied, "I am a new servant just assigned to the Cining Palace, my name is Jin Shu."

Sighing in despair, this is not the time for lamentation; delaying the task would lead to difficulties in providing an explanation later. Thus, I bypassed the study and headed towards the wing. Upon entering the southern third room, I noticed a large plaque inscribed with 'Longevity Medicine' hanging prominently in the center of the hall. Against the eastern wall was a row of tables, while to the west stood a tall medicine cabinet reaching the ceiling. A lamp on the counter flickered, illuminating much of the room. Looking around the entire longevity pharmacy, there was only one person inside, standing in front of the medicine cabinet. In front of him was a large mortar, with a scale in his right hand and a prescription in his left, which he was examining under the light. Upon hearing someone approach, he did not even lift his head.

Every word and phrase exudes grandeur, resonating like a drumbeat in the mind. Yu Wenlan Zhou was indeed a talented individual; after taking control of the realm, he brought prosperity to the northern territories, reclaiming the lands ceded during the Ming Dynasty and driving the barbarians beyond the Wulan River. This was something her father could never achieve. The civil and military accomplishments of these years have made the world submit, and she sadly thought that perhaps the people had long forgotten the Great Ye Dynasty. The common folk are like this; as long as their lives are prosperous, they care little for national righteousness, and it matters not who sits on the throne.

Jin Shu bent her leg and said, looking at her, Chun Rong's eyes held a gentle light. She knew that Chun Rong had good intentions, so she smiled slightly, her two dimples deepening, radiating a serene joy. The lines on Chun Rong's face softened, as if she wanted to laugh but felt a bit shy, clearing her throat in a pretentious manner before walking around her to direct the servants to tidy up the oilcloth under the table in the side hall.

The main palace gate has been locked, and Jinshu along with another maidservant responsible for menial tasks has brought a bucket of hot water from outside the palace to place at the entrance for use. A group of eunuchs and maidservants on duty that day are waiting outside, and before dawn, it has begun to snow, falling like salt. The northwesterly wind howls, swirling the snowflakes into the corridor, causing everyone to shiver from the cold

The Empress Dowager's face showed some displeasure, "If one is ill, one should call the imperial physician for diagnosis. What kind of serious illness warrants taking leave on such a grand day? The Noble Consort Zhang was seriously ill not long ago yet still came to pay her respects daily; that is what it means to understand the bigger picture. But she is so pampered, can she not get up from the bed just because she feels dizzy?"

She shivered, feeling the hairs on her back stand on end, her back alternating between chills and warmth, as if she were suffering from a severe illness. The sound overlapped with the voices from the prince's banquet, echoing and amplifying in her mind, leaving her in a daze, with only the rustling sound of the north wind against the window paper remaining in her ears

The Empress Dowager instructed someone to bring a stool to keep by her side and pointed, saying: "Please sit down, it is kind of you to think of me, everything is fine now. Dong Li mentioned that there is an urgent matter from the northern border, but what has happened?"

The Emperor of Chengde was a decisive individual, showing no mercy in the handling of state affairs. He would strike or kill when eliminating rivals, without batting an eye. However, despite his iron-fisted approach, he was renowned for his filial piety. It is often said that a dutiful person cannot be too bad; clearly, he belongs to the third category of people. Perhaps if one could easily decipher him, he would not have been able to become an emperor

"In the morning, I heard that the Empress Dowager was unwell, and I was concerned, so after finishing the memorials, I hurried over to take a look." As the Emperor spoke, he loosened the golden cord around his neck, and Cui Guixiang quickly stepped forward to help him remove his cloak, taking it in hand. Noticing that everyone in the room was kneeling, he said, "Everyone, please rise. Is Consort Tong here?" Consort Tong replied affirmatively, smiling sweetly.

The brocade letter sent a shiver down my spine, and my heart raced uncontrollably, causing me to lower my head even further

The concubine smiled and said, "Your Majesty is correct; indeed, it was not written by this servant."

The Empress Dowager played with the fragrance pouch for a while before putting it back, and slowly said: "Being too clever is not necessarily a good thing. Pay close attention to her; if she behaves herself, I am not someone who cannot tolerate others. However, if she does not behave and harbors any ill intentions, then there is no need to consider the Crown Prince; keeping her would only bring disaster."

The man raised his head to look at her, his lips tightly pressed together, and there was a probing look in his eyes. Jin Shu felt at a loss under his gaze, and for some reason, her heart raced anxiously, as if he had grasped some incriminating evidence against her. Every movement and glance from this man made her uneasy; she subtly furrowed her brows and then said, "Lord, please help me gather the medicine, so that I may return and report back."

The Empress Dowager finished her grooming, drank almond milk tea and porridge made from rouge rice, changed into a wide-sleeved robe and phoenix-soled shoes, and was assisted by Mama Ta to the quiet room at the easternmost end to pay her respects. After she emerged, she was to proceed to the central room of Sanming Liang'an to receive the morning and evening greetings from the various lords and young masters. Once she left, everyone took advantage of the moment to get busy. They swept the courtyard, tidied the corridors, wiped the floors and tables, with people bustling about inside and out. After finishing her tasks, Jinshu moved to the corridor to help others clean the railings, and Chunrong saw her and called her over.

The old lady understood very well that the Crown Prince was like a piece of her heart to her, and her affection for him was the same as that of the Empress Dowager. Naturally, she was always attentive and cautious towards Jinshu, which goes without saying

In the midst of the conversation, the eunuch at the palace gate shouted at the top of his lungs, "The Emperor has arrived!"