Section 1

This is a rare occasion that happens only once a year, and on this day, everyone in the palace can sleep in a little longer. Jinshu, being still a child at heart, was overjoyed upon hearing this; not only was there a reward, but they could also sleep in—what a wonderful thing! With a smile, they murmured a greeting and requested a double peace, then went to find Lingzi in the listening room.

They were in a flurry, tumbling on the kang, pushing and shoving each other. Jinshu smiled and moved aside a bit, picking up the basket on the kang table to continue weaving the half-finished net. Ruhua shoved aside Damei and leaned closer, shaking her shoulder and saying, "Hey, just after you went to the Qianqing Palace, the Crown Prince sent Feng Lu to inquire about you. Time and again, he asked Mama Taota to look after you. I see that sooner or later, you will be entering Jingren Palace. When that time comes, if there are good results, don't forget our sisterhood in sweeping the floor together."

Jin Shu, quickly convey my gratitude to Manager Cui for his guidance. Cui Guixiang waved his hand and said, "It's no big deal, no need for thanks. Hurry and deliver the medicine; it's not good to delay."

Lingzi realized that she was not very happy, feeling a bit awkward for a moment, "I am sorry for making you sad"

Lingzi said: "It doesn't hurt now, Uncle Zhang Fu's rat oil is truly effective! I burned my hand while pouring water at the copper tea kettle in front, and it hurt so much that I had to press my hand in the snow. Later, Uncle Zhang Fu brought a jar of medicine, saying it was oil extracted from hairless baby rats that had just been born, and it worked wonders with just a dab."

Lingzi clutched her chest and sighed softly, "You have snatched back a life once more"

Jin Shu put down the net and patted his robe, "Let us go, Master, I will accompany you."

Jin Shu Dao is, carrying the medicine towards the eastern side hall, just as a eunuch is bringing a bathtub to the corridor below. Ta Mama is currently assigning someone to lay out the oil cloth in the hall. Jin Shu pays her respects and hands her the prescription. She glances at it, says nothing, leads her into the dark room to weigh it, and then calls over the bath attendant, Lu Wu, to collect the medicine.

Jin Shu was somewhat unwilling. It is not uncommon for a girl to speak of romantic matters, but linking her with someone from the Yu Wen family is rather inappropriate. With her eyelids drooping, she responded without a word, "I am not so fortunate. You are all good people sent to the palace, and it is a smooth affair for you to be favored by the master and promoted to a concubine or a noble consort. I am burdened with guilt; how could I dare to entertain such extravagant thoughts?"

Jin Shu stepped forward and took her hand to look. The pad of her middle finger and the area around her thumb were badly burned, with a large patch affected. It had a layer of ointment on it, greasy and emitting a strange odor. He took the scissors from her hand and asked, "Did you get burned while on duty? Does it still hurt?"

Lingzi was taken aback, "Has the Emperor recognized you?"

Damei came over with a flushed face and said, "What nonsense are you talking! Who wants to climb the social ladder? If this reaches the ears of Grandma Ta, it would be strange if she doesn't skin you alive!"

Jin Shu responded and asked, "An Da, is it sufficient for me to deliver the medicine to Lu Wu?"

Sleeping in the palace is sometimes permitted; usually, one should be settled by the hour of the pig. However, on New Year's Eve, it is different, and one can stay up late. Everyone gathers to bid farewell to the old year, and at the hour of the rat, we bow to the Empress Dowager, wishing her longevity and eternal blessings.

Lingzi pouted her lips, for who could she blame for getting burned at this moment, she could only accept her fate

Jin Shu recalled the figure carrying the scales to weigh the medicine, standing together with the Crown Prince like brothers. The Crown Prince aspired to inherit the throne, but it would take at least thirty to forty years.

Lingzi chuckled softly, took out a red paper package, and handed it to her, "This is your share, a hairpin and a two-tael silver ingot, awarded by the Empress Dowager. I have collected it for you, to save you the trouble of asking for it later in case the person who is supposed to reward you forgets, and you would feel embarrassed to ask."

Jin Shu smiled and said, "With my status, what aspirations can I have? It is good enough to preserve my life."

What else do we aspire to, other than eating, sleeping, and reading? Unlike you, who still hopes to climb the social ladder! You must hurry, as the spring will soon bring the selection of maidens, and if you are not busy now, you will miss the opportunity later!

Lingzi blushed and, after a moment of hesitation, said: "He is a guard, serving at Shangyu. He is just a half-baked fellow, usually accompanying the princes in trivial pursuits like climbing trees to catch sparrows, with no serious duties."

Jin Shu returned to the Cining Palace in a daze, still feeling anxious about Yu Wenlan's words. Cui Guixiang approached with a look of great displeasure and asked in a deep voice: "Why did you take so long? No matter how strong the wind and snow were on the way, it shouldn't have taken an hour. Just look at what time it is!"

Damei, who was just replaced from her post at the door behind the soft curtain, sneaked into the attendant's room to chat, "Look at you, usually so quiet and reserved, but as soon as food is mentioned, you come back to life."

Damei said softly: "What is there to be afraid of? After all, we have the Crown Prince. To speak a word of disrespect, when the Crown Prince ascends to the throne in the future, who would fear not having a day to rise up?"

Cui Guixiang then let out a sound, looked around, and said: "If the Empress Dowager asks, do not mention that you encountered the Emperor at the longevity pharmacy; just say that I instructed you to go to the storeroom to fetch some tobacco leaves."

Several people exchanged glances, thinking that they had touched upon a sensitive issue, and were at a loss as to how to smooth things over, resulting in an awkward atmosphere

Cui Guixiang sighed, "The Emperor is not angry, consider yourself fortunate! The matron is in the eastern side hall, currently making arrangements for the Empress Dowager's bathing. If you give her the medicine along with the prescription, she will know everything."

The tea is served on the table, and sitting on the stool, one says, "Today we will have a hot pot," laughing so hard that their bones feel weak. "In the afternoon, we will have a mountain chicken hot pot, and in the evening, a mixed hot pot. I just love to eat a hodgepodge.

I encountered His Majesty at the longevity pharmacy, which caused a delay

Jin Shu hesitantly said: "Do not shout, I did not know that was the Emperor. The Emperor was dressed in ordinary clothes, alone in the longevity pharmacy, without any attendants present. I thought he was the on-duty imperial physician, so I foolishly asked him to prescribe medicine.

As you enter the painting, you hide and laugh. "Do not reach for high branches; every time the Crown Prince comes, what are you secretly watching him do? Don't think I don't know. If you dare to act, you must also dare to take responsibility. Why act like a timid turtle?"

"You should go to the duty room to find your master. Today is New Year's Eve, and the Empress Dowager has rewards for you all, a hairpin for each person to enhance your adornments," said Ta Mama with a smile. "Your master noticed you weren't back and has already taken yours. Go and get it from her. Do your duty well today, and tomorrow morning you can sleep in for sure."

Cui Guixiang lowered his voice and said: "Don't do that. If you want to keep your head and make a living, it is best to give the medicine to Granny Ta and let her weigh it. Be cautious, as a little care can go a long way... Have you asked the imperial physician for a prescription?"

Jin Shu nodded and said, "Since I have entered the Cining Palace, there are hardly a few in the entire Forbidden City who do not know me."

The snow in the sky fell incessantly like salt, while Jinshu held the box containing the door god, his two hands long since frozen and numb. On New Year's Day, his mood was different from other times; looking around, he saw no one. The white snow contrasted with the red walls, and many years later, this would remain one of the most beautiful segments in his memory

Secret Messages: If you knew that I had a match with the Emperor, you would surely faint from shock. I won't say much more, just tidying up the blue items. At this moment, the Empress Dowager is bathing, and the palace maids attending to her are busy, while those without tasks have gone to the waiting room to rest.

Upon hearing that the brocade letter was made from oil boiled with rats, she immediately felt nauseous and hurriedly released her hand to cut the shoe pattern on the blue cloth.

Ru Hua leaned on her shoulder and whispered in her ear, "Rely on me, the Crown Prince is merely a Crown Prince, not as reliable as His Majesty, don't you think?"

Lingzi tugged at the corner of her mouth, "Well, it is what it is. We haven't even met, how can anyone know the good or bad? It's just like drawing lots; whatever you draw is what you get, it all depends on fate." She continued, "Why have you been gone for so long? Cui Andai is already furious. Fortunately, the Empress Dowager didn't inquire, otherwise, it would have been impossible to explain."

Jin Shu took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and respectfully presented it, "Five packets of medicine, each packet containing two taels of mugwort and eight qian of safflower"

Cui Guixiang took a look and was astonished, for the prescription was clearly in the Emperor's handwriting. He then asked, "The Emperor prescribed this medicine for you? How dare you have the Emperor prescribe medicine for you? You have quite a boldness!"

Lingzi in the listening room was using scissors to sketch on a piece of blue cloth. Upon seeing her arrive, she called out, "Come quickly and help me twist it. The design is ready, but I've burned my right hand and can't exert any strength."

The letter states: "I apologize for the delay, it is only because I encountered His Majesty at the longevity pharmacy, and His Majesty asked me some questions, which caused a slight delay."

Lingzi mentioned that her family was smiling, and Jinxu thought of the eternal daylight. If Daye were still around, he would have reached the age of starting a family. Arranging a marriage, establishing a government office, and living his own little life, everything was supposed to go so smoothly. Unfortunately, such a life ended before it even began

Lingzi said: "In a little while, Chunrong should be getting up; let her take my place. Tomorrow is the New Year, and I will be a year older. I have been in the palace for five years now, and I haven't been able to go home to take a look all these years. I heard that they have built an additional floor at home, waiting to find a wife for my brother!"

Lingzi shook her head, "How many years will that take? Our Emperor will only turn twenty-nine next year during the Dragon Boat Festival, which is the prime of his life."

On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, Jinshu and Lingzi got dressed. Jinshu changed into a purple-red spring silk cotton jacket, while Lingzi came over with a jade hairpin dipped in lip balm to apply it on her lips. After finishing their grooming, they walked together along the path towards the Cining Palace. It had snowed all night, accumulating a thick layer, and by the time it was the hour of Chen, it had mostly stopped, with only a few flakes falling sporadically. Lingzi, carrying a small bundle, parted ways with her at the intersection and went to meet her family at the Shenwu Gate.

Jin Shu smiled and said: "That sounds great, it won't be tiring. Walking closely with the brothers, when they are granted titles in the future, once promoted, you are sure to prosper. You have indeed made a good match!"

Upon opening the brocade letter, it revealed a gold-inlaid emerald ornament. The palace maids are usually not allowed to wear jewelry; they can only keep what their masters bestow upon them, which they may eventually take out of the palace for use, while they themselves are left with only what is stored at the bottom of the chest. She wrapped it up again and tucked it into her sleeve, looking at Lingzi's hand and saying: "I still cannot go on an errand; how will you recover from this burn? Who can take your place?"

Jin Shu forced a smile, thinking that her own misfortune should not make others cry along with her. Besides, it was the New Year, so why bring up unpleasant matters? It was better not to think about it at all. She then turned and said, "Look at you smiling like that, tell me, who did your family arrange for you? What does your fiancé do?"

Two people laughed as they went to the side hall to fetch some items. Jin Shu held up the door god, which depicted the usual Wei Zheng and Xu Maogong, but it was not on paper; rather, it was a woodblock print of a Yangliuqing New Year picture. The faces of the figures in the painting were smooth and rosy, dressed in the attire of martial characters from operas, with flags inserted in their backs and high-soled boots on their feet, standing with an imposing presence that was quite amusing to behold

Chunrong entered from outside, and everyone saw her face was frozen pale, so they quickly made room for her to sit by the kang. Holding a cup of hot tea, she warmed herself and said: "I went to Shou'an Palace, and the Empress Dowager rewarded each of the imperial concubines with a box of oil cakes and a box of lama cakes. Goodness, I almost froze into an ice lump. " Turning to Lingzi, she said, "I will take your place, so I will hand my duties over to you! This time, you haven't caught a break; excuse me, it's time to post the new paper at the palace gate. The paste is by the railing of the corridor, and the door pair is being offered in front of the altar in the dark room!"