Chapter 3, The Startling Dream

This body is truly lacking in foundation... She sighed silently, recalling her previous life where she was exceptionally talented and fortunate enough to meet a renowned master, and then, it was...

This is not a place of great appeal; on ordinary days, one faces dirt and stones, and when the masters and mistresses come to enjoy themselves, there are rules to be followed, requiring one to stand aside. Therefore, the notion that an ordinary person might encounter a noble is nothing but a fanciful delusion.

The morning dew brings her joy in solitude; without the presence of these nobles, she is spared from trouble. This separate dwelling allows her to thrive like a fish in water

Cai'er, sensing the melancholic atmosphere, smiled and said: "Actually, there is nothing wrong with the Imperial Garden. If the Emperor were to visit one day and take a liking to someone, then... Chenluo, you must work harder!"

Aunt He nodded: "She is indeed a considerate girl... Since that is the case, you may go."

The faint candlelight flickers unsteadily in the gentle breeze, casting its glow on the girl by the window, who appears solitary and desolate

The Imperial Garden is located at the eastern corner of the palace city, where a riot of colors blooms in competition, not to mention the clear blue pond, the jagged rocks, and the long corridors of black tiles and white walls by the water, all meticulously arranged by skilled artisans and transported bit by bit from the Jiangnan region, distinctly different from the northern scenery of the capital city

The naming here is quite peculiar. It is said that the late emperor once wrote a large character for "Heaven" and then, upon finishing, threw down his brush, overwhelmed with grief. The palace was left in astonishment, and later, it could only be referred to collectively as the Imperial Garden

She smiled faintly, the ethereal coolness in her eyes warmed into a spring of warmth by the smile, only to return to its icy state shortly thereafter

After some contemplation, Chen Lu still did not unlock the door with the thin branch, even though it was as easy as pie

I have a basic understanding of it. In the past, we also took care of that garden in Yunqing Palace

... ...

A high wall obstructs the path, and the iron gate in the center is already mottled and rusted

After a while, he finally opened his eyes, glanced slightly at the morning dew, and inquired about the name and origin.

She walked to the window, and the cool night breeze blew in through the gaps in the window paper, clearing her mind

Only then did my aunt's expression soften: "My surname is He, so you can just call me Aunt He. Since you are in my horticulture class, you must work diligently. Any insincere behavior, cunning laziness, or greedy antics that I catch sight of will certainly result in your expulsion."

Upon hearing that there was a separate room available, Chen Lu recalled the secret practices and other undisclosed matters. She felt a sense of relief and quickly replied, "Thank you for your kind offer, Aunt. My home is quite remote, and I have been accustomed to living there since childhood, so I am not afraid. As I am new here, I would feel uneasy about disturbing others by moving."

This is her residence. Since that day when Aunt He assigned her the task, she has been living here. In the blink of an eye, more than ten days have passed

She could no longer endure it and resolutely stood up, pushing open the large door

The young eunuch smiled and said: "Aunt, your kindness and compassion are profound; only you could teach this girl. If she were to join the construction team, I fear that the stones and bricks would break her back!"

She sighed deeply in disappointment: the growth of her internal energy was exceedingly slow, incomparable to the rapid progress of a thousand miles in a single day in her previous life. Although her understanding of the techniques was thorough and clear, without strong internal energy, there was simply no way to execute them.

Her footwork is extraordinary; with just a slight movement on the wall, she reaches the other end

This dynasty was founded by the late emperor, who had considerable knowledge in the field of gardens. Based on the original foundation of the Qingbi Garden, he further expanded it, resulting in its present scale

She glanced at Chen Lu's slender figure, hesitating slightly: "You live alone, and it's such a desolate place... How about I have someone move in to keep you company?"

Chen Lu looked at her worried expression, feeling a warmth in her heart. Then, she smiled shyly and said, "Sister, where are your thoughts wandering? With my ordinary appearance, how could I possibly be worthy of becoming a phoenix?"

The palace attendants in the Imperial Garden were divided into two groups, one responsible for construction and the other for the flowers and trees. When the young eunuch led her there, the steward was resting, smoking from a jade pipe inlaid with gold, with his eyes closed as he savored his tea

She concealed herself in the darkness, silently moving deeper towards the east.

The palace is filled with many splendid sights; just in the gardens alone, there are places such as Ju Xiang, Xiao Han, and Yao Lin. However, when it comes to the three characters "Imperial Garden," it must refer to the area by the Mirror Lake.

The person in charge of the flower and tree class is a woman in her forties, tall and thin, with a waxy yellow and gloomy complexion. Upon inquiring about their origins, she coldly remarked: "So this place has become a desolate land for exiles, where all those discarded by their masters, whether old or young, and those unable to work, are thrown here"

She had Chen Lu follow an old palace maid to perform tasks, primarily weeding and watering. If she noticed any precious flowers or trees withering, she was to report to her for a decision

Sitting cross-legged in the morning dew, after completing thirty-six cycles of energy cultivation, I opened my eyes

Her gaze was dazed, filled with joy, sorrow, bewilderment, and finally, a resolute determination

The early spring night remains cold and desolate The world seems to have fallen into a deep slumber

In this manner, after a while of farewells among the four, the steward of the Imperial Garden had sent a young eunuch to escort them. Chen Lu stopped, gazing deeply at the resplendent and elegant Yunqing Palace behind her, as well as Rong'er’s reluctant gaze.

Bai Ping sneered: "It is precisely because of foolish people like you that such thoughts arise... Last time, when the Emperor rewarded us with snow, the maid from the Yuantian Pavilion deliberately wore a green-patterned silk dress—she truly suffered from the cold. The Emperor remarked that she was a fairy in the forest, but before he could even approach her, the Empress Dowager declared her to be a seductress who bewitched the ruler, and she was beaten to death with forty strokes.

Aunt ignored her and turned to Chen Lu, asking: "Do you know how to tend to flowers and plants?"

This deep path winds on endlessly. After walking for a while behind my house, the surroundings become increasingly desolate. The mugwort gradually reaches my knees, and the road beneath my feet is faintly discernible in the moonlight

The other side of the wall

Morning Dew, having received instruction, was just about to leave when Aunt He waved her back and said: "In my class, there are twenty students, and all the accommodations are fully occupied. How can your living situation be good... Therefore, there is a room at the far east that is usually used for storing miscellaneous items. I will have the young eunuch clear it out, and you can move in there."

The three fell silent for a long time, until Rong'er finally spoke: "Such matters are not unusual in the palace; both openly and secretly, there are countless incidents that merely provoke gossip for a while, and then gradually fade away. After some time, who still remembers this wronged spirit? Therefore," she looked at Chen Lu, her face bearing an unprecedented seriousness, "Chen Lu, even if you truly see the Emperor, you must not harbor any thoughts of rising in status!"

The past ten days can be described as exceptionally calm. During the day, the tasks are not heavy, consisting mainly of weeding, watering, and so on. Those tasks related to pruning flowers and nurturing plants can easily be handled by a few elderly eunuchs. However, Aunt He mentioned that although their skills are commendable, they are too old, visibly aging and weakening, and have not passed on their knowledge to any apprentices. If they were to pass away, it would be difficult to find anyone to take their place

This place is located at the eastern corner of the imperial city, originally the Ningbi Garden of a favored concubine from a previous dynasty. It is said that the ground was paved with shattered jade, flowers were made of cold silk, and through the technique of geothermal energy, it captured the essence of heaven and earth, creating a pool of clear lotus. In winter, it is enveloped in mist, resembling a fairyland.

Bai Ping no longer exhibited her former sharpness, and sighed, saying: "Alas... we people like us are merely objects in the hands of the nobility, casually exchanged and swapped. Thinking about it is truly meaningless"

This body is fundamentally too weak, inherently frail, and lacking in proper care later on. Chen Lu originally came from a humble family; her parents passed away early, and she relied on the support of her clan, managing to scrape by with basic sustenance, let alone discussing any form of health maintenance.

Morning Dew swiftly packed her belongings—just two sets of clothes and a few pieces of meager silver. Rong'er, with red-rimmed eyes, choked back tears and said: "Once I leave, I do not know when I will be able to see you again. Take care of yourself, be cautious, and do not offend the noble ones..."

He thought for a moment and said, "You are too thin and small to work in the construction class; you should go to the horticulture class instead"

... ...

In the dark blue sky, the stars twinkle playfully, a display of millions of years of lightness, almost an infinite coldness

This is her first residence after rebirth, her first companion