Chapter 3, the phoenix feathers fall, casting shadows of the parasol tree
Shen Jue slowly lowered his head under her gaze, and in the snowy winter, a thin layer of sweat beaded at the tip of his elegant nose. His bowed posture reminded Yun Huang of the bamboo groves behind the Xinyi Palace, where the weight of the snow bent the bamboo branches, trembling as they drooped towards the ground
Yunhuang looked up, lost in thought
A pale face, raven-colored hair, a smile like a gentle breeze, unable to disperse the chill of the spring night dew
I remember, as if I truly remember
I do not wish to hear you call me Your Majesty. He gazed at her gently and whispered in her ear, Just as it was before, so it is now
Shen Juexiu stood with his hands clasped in the courtyard, having waited for a long time
"The princess need not worry, Your Majesty is benevolent and has always treated the meritorious with great favor." Shen Jue's words were laden with meaning, leaving much unsaid.
The Consort Ke was filled with joy, donning a new garment of bright colors, gracefully twirling with her sleeves. In the mirror, Yunhuang also appeared in a full red attire, the color of rouge, a hue of delight, resplendent like clouds at dawn. Was she wearing plain clothes in mourning for the deposed emperor, or was she adorning herself in vibrant red and green for the new emperor? The colors held profound meanings, concealing subtle layers of sorrow and joy. "I want this hairpin!" Consort Ke snatched the hairpin from Yunhuang's hand, her expression playful like that of a young girl. Yunhuang smiled and inserted the golden hairpin into her hairdo, and she ran off, laughing contentedly. Looking at the graceful figure of Consort Ke, Yunhuang felt a moment of confusion.
The corridor is filled with a brisk wind, the clouds hang low in the sky, and it seems as if there is an impending rain.
Those who follow the will of heaven will prosper, while those who go against it will perish. Only the one who treads upon the corpses of her father and brothers can determine her life and death, and can command her to ascend to the heavens or descend to the earth. On the day the palace fell, that person beheaded her father, executed her brothers one by one, and forced the concubines of the six palaces to drink poison and commit suicide. Yet, he alone allowed Shen Jue to enter the Xin Yi Palace, taking her and her mother away, and placing them in the Chang Wang Mansion. Seven days passed, and outside the high walls, the world was turned upside down, the royal banners changed color, but in a corner of the northern courtyard of the Chang Wang Mansion, it remained silent and still, as if forgotten in a corner untouched by the slaughter.
At last, Yunhuang's stiff shoulders slumped, and she knelt down before him, her voice hollow and ethereal, "I, your subject and sister Yunhuang, humbly beseech Your Majesty for eternal peace."
At this moment, the palace lanterns have just been lit, and it is nearly 7 o'clock.
The palace maid with a double bun adorned with green attire lifted the layers of hanging curtains, revealing the sequential palace lanterns, their soft light swirling into a mist. Yun Huang supported Consort Ke as they walked step by step, unaware of the profound tranquility within the Jingzhi Chamber. Behind the final layer of bright yellow gauze, the palace lanterns softened, casting a hazy silhouette.
Shen Jue Ding composed himself and said, "I am here on the Emperor's orders to escort the Princess into the palace for an audience."
The standoff of four eyes locked in gaze, a moment feels as long as a lifetime
Easily entering the palace confines, one by one the palace gates swing open, red walls and vermilion eaves with azure railings, glazed dragon platforms, and phoenix pavilions reaching into the sky
Seeing Shen Jue's serious expression, Yun Huang smiled, a strange flush appearing on her pale cheeks. "Lord Shen, you are overthinking it. I was merely joking. How could I dare to disobey the Emperor's command?" Her jest, however, concealed an unhidden mockery, with hidden needles lurking beneath her gentle smile, piercing towards him.
The princess and the Consort Ke finally emerged, their court attire and hairstyles meticulously arranged, adorned with layers of cloud-like hair and large pearls and jewels, embodying the grandeur of the royal family.
His hair is like finely cut, his eyebrows like painted, and his eyes resemble bright stars; this is the renowned Shen Lang of the imperial capital. Yun Huang gazes at him intently, her pair of phoenix eyes reflecting black and white, clearly revealing his image. At that time, she was still young, and he was also in the prime of his youth
Yunhuang smiled lightly, "What if I do not go?"
And she also lost the clear and radiant gaze she once had, her phoenix-like eyes lowered, her expression faint, making it impossible to discern her likes or dislikes.
One is the same, how can it be the same
The maidservant brought a brand new palace gown, attending to Yun Huang and Consort Ke as they changed and styled themselves.
His lips were thin and soft, carrying a cool hint of medicinal flavor, a blend of bitterness and sweetness that was hard to distinguish. He lingered on her trembling, tightly closed lips, not in a hurry to seize them, but simply savoring the moment, as if a child were enamored with their beloved candy. She trembled even more violently, yet no longer struggled or resisted, only gazing at him with wide, bewildered eyes, unblinking. Gradually, a mist formed in her eyes, dispersing a profound sense of desolation, reminiscent of a lotus pond on a rainy day, much like Shaohuan's smile.
The surroundings were so quiet that it was suffocating, and one could only feel the night gradually deepening.
Yunhuang's palms oozed with a slight sweat as she deeply bowed her head, lowering her voice even further, "I humbly beseech Your Majesty for peace and tranquility."
"What is there to be afraid of?" He regained his composure, still smiling, and reached out to pull Yun Huang into his embrace. "Are you afraid to call me Shao Huan again?" Yun Huang trembled, her lips turning pale from biting them, while her cheeks flushed bright red. He caressed her face, carefully examining the beauty that could not be concealed by the heavy makeup. The sadness she masked with thick cosmetics and the stubbornness hidden beneath the powder all crumbled under his lips.
The palace maids have also changed their attire. In the past, the Emperor favored the vibrant and colorful garments of the palace maids, who all wore delicate silk gauze in shades of purple and red. Now, however, they have donned plain blue silk, each with lowered brows and downcast eyes, moving lightly and silently, no longer the graceful and splendid figures of yesteryear. Yunhuang turned to look at Consort Ke, seeing her languidly reclining on the brocade cushion, her expression vacant and listless, indifferent whether coming or going. Perhaps in her eyes, the ends of the earth are all the same, and there is no place that is not part of the mundane world.
The light carriage awaited quietly at the back door of the Changwang Mansion, and the maid did not accompany them. Yunhuang personally assisted Concubine Ke into the carriage. Shen Jue hurriedly stepped forward to offer support, his fingertips inadvertently brushing against the sleeve of Yunhuang. Without turning her head, Yunhuang coldly pulled her wide sleeve away. Shen Jue stood stiffly behind her, his pale lips pressed together, losing all color.
The Consort Ke looked around in confusion, and before she could regain her senses, she was pulled by Yun Huang and knelt down together with her
This person, a complete stranger, boldly asked to take her as his wife in front of the emperor; having sought her hand, he did not dare to insist before his father, unwittingly making her the laughingstock of the six palaces; he married another from Linchuan, yet on the day of his return, he quietly followed her from behind... Yunhuang's gaze grew increasingly cold, as she scrutinized him without any pretense, the sharp glint in her eyes marking a stark contrast to her earlier restrained demeanor
The new emperor looked at the tear-streaked face of Consort Ke, his eyes filled with compassion, and reached out to support her. Before his fingertips could touch her, Consort Ke suddenly recoiled, exclaiming, "No, you are not His Highness!" This scream startled Yun Huang's soul back to reality. Turning around, she saw Consort Ke in a frenzied state, actually breaking free and rushing towards the outer hall. Just as Yun Huang was about to chase after her, she felt a tight grip on her wrist, held firmly by a well-manicured hand.
The sound of "Your Majesty's sister" deepened the smile in his eyes, while her kneeling posture with her head bowed was so submissive. He lifted her chin, the wide sleeves of his white robe falling down, the cool silk brushing against her cheek. "I have said that I would return, Yunhuang, do you remember?"
"The minister and sister remember." Yun Huang lowered her head, her brows and eyes quiet, without waves or ripples, "Your Majesty, it is the will of Heaven, and all the people rejoice."
The new emperor reclines on a brocade couch, draped in a dark robe embroidered with golden dragons over his shoulders, while beneath it, a white silk garment resembles snow
The inner servant entered the palace to report, and after a short while, a round and plump inner servant dressed in a dark blue brocade robe came out with a beaming smile. This person had a stout physique, yet moved with composure, bowing to Ying Huang and then greeting Shen Jue. Shen Jue asked in a deep voice, "Is His Majesty unwell?" The chief inner servant Wang Kuai nodded and sighed, "It is still the old ailment; His Majesty has finally managed to rest for a while, but I fear that Lord Shen will have to wait a bit longer."
There was silence behind the curtain for a long time
The garden is filled with deep purple and light blue hibiscus, blooming in a uniquely tranquil manner, with the fragrance of the flowers drifting in the afternoon breeze, seemingly capable of intoxicating one's senses
On the day when the palace fell, she also left in a light carriage. Yun Huang clearly remembered that the blue bricks of the palace path had turned dark red, with blood flowing through the cracks, winding into countless streams of crimson. The metallic scent of blood rushed into the carriage curtains, lingering until they had traveled far away. Just seven days later, passing through the same route, not a trace of red could be seen on the ground. The wheels rolled over the Han jade-carved bricks, and the ground was spotless, as if no blood had ever flowed there. Just seven days later, passing through the same route, not a trace of red could be seen on the ground. The wheels rolled over the Han jade-carved bricks, and the ground was spotless, as if no blood had ever flowed there. The courtyard trees and garden flowers that had been nearly destroyed that day had been replaced with new ones, blooming just as beautifully, filling the imperial garden with vibrant colors.
The inner servant leading the way wore a white robe and a green cloak, the hem of which was a deep blue, reflecting the appearance of floating duckweed outside the corridor, imbued with an unshakeable dampness. Consort Ke was supported by Yun Huang, walking joyfully along the path, occasionally stepping on the lotus flowers carved into the jade bricks beneath her feet. The Lotus Pool was originally built by Emperor Ming for Empress Xiaocheng, with each brick intricately carved with a thousand-petal lotus, making each step feel as if one were walking on blooming lotuses. The Emperor had a penchant for luxury and found this place too cold and gloomy, rarely visiting. The Lotus Pool, gradually forgotten, was once a favored spot of Yun Huang, yet the new emperor had chosen this very place as his study.
That was her maternal grandfather, who was beaten to death at the age of sixty by the Emperor right at the palace gates, in front of her mother. The Su family faced executions, demotions, and loss of favor, leaving only a clean slate. It is widely known that Duke Su Wending was punished for his disobedience, but Yunhuang was aware of another rumor, which claimed that her grandfather had conspired against the throne, sheltering the orphan of Crown Prince Huai Jin; others said that Consort Ke had once served as a reader in the Eastern Palace and had an affair with Crown Prince Huai Jin, which led to an assassination attempt on the Emperor, incurring his wrath. The truth and falsehoods are indistinguishable, and the mad consort has long forgotten the past, while the informed palace servants remain silent forever. The initially rampant rumors gradually faded away behind the dragon eaves and phoenix halls.
Yunhuang peered through the curtain seam, her gaze fixed on the ground passing by. The square tiles laid in the palace were predominantly in three colors: sky blue, jade white, and ochre yellow, adorned with carvings of auspicious beasts and patterns, with the blue tiles being the most common. In her childhood, Yunhuang often squatted on the ground to observe the patterns on the tiles, delighting in pouring clear water over them, watching as the trickling water flowed through the seams, seeping out strange designs.
"I do not dare, my lord." Yun Huang's face was pale to the point of being frightening, each word articulated clearly. He smiled, raised his hand to press against his chest, and coughed a few times. Yun Huang noticed that he was pressing his hand against the very spot where his old wound was located, and for a moment, her gaze was fixed, unable to look away.
Not long after, it was heard that the Emperor had awakened, yet he had not summoned them for an audience. A eunuch came to convey a message, stating that Duke Chen had arrived and was discussing important matters with the Emperor, and it would be necessary for Princess Qingping to wait a little longer. An hour ago, the eunuch came again with a message, this time summoning Shen Jue.
A line of medical attendants hurriedly approached from diagonally across, with the foremost person carrying a small stove for decocting medicine, while each of the others held a medicine box, hastening towards the imperial study. The strong scent of medicine wafted into the air, yet Yun Huang discerned a sweetness amidst the bitterness, reminiscent of the fragrance that often lingered in the Xin Yi Palace, inexplicably bringing a sense of peace to the heart
The subsequent two encounters occurred, one after the untimely death in Linchuan, and the other before Shen Jue's betrayal—what happened before that, Yun Huang did not know, nor did she have any interest in knowing. Four years after their separation, she had become a prisoner struggling to survive, while he had risen to become a powerful figure with great influence in the capital. The grand purple court attire he wore had stripped him of his youthful vigor; his features had deepened, his complexion had darkened, and his demeanor had gained a sense of calm and composure. The only thing that had not changed was his posture when he lowered his head, still resembling the slender bamboo bent under the weight of accumulated snow.
The past was tragic, yet those who truly experienced it had long since become numb. When Consort Ke was in her madness, Yun Huang was merely three years old, and everyone believed she was too young to understand. Those rumors trickled into Xinyi Palace intermittently, mingling with her mother's incoherent words. At first, Yun Huang could not comprehend them, and by the time she did, seven or eight years had already passed. The past had long since become a story that was of no consequence.
Mother, do you truly not remember, or are you unwilling to face it again
To pay homage to the new sovereign, is it to have her kneel before the throne in a vassal's posture, adding a new bloom to the splendid landscape?
Yunhuang gazed at him intently, her consciousness drifting outside her body in an instant, as if it no longer belonged to her. The countenance before her was ethereal and elegant, with the corners of the brows and eyes reminiscent of a dream she had once seen—whether she recognized him or not, whether it was he or not, it was all beyond alteration.
At last, the eunuch announced in a soft voice, "Princess Xuan Qingping requests an audience."
"Do you not recognize me?" He tightened his fingers, gazing at her with a smile, his pale lips devoid of color, still bearing a hint of illness.
After a long time without a response, the sight of the palace brocade skirt with flowing cloud patterns caught my eye, with entwined branches and fragments of gold falling like a veil, seemingly brushing past him, carrying a fragrant and chilling aura. Shen felt a slight pause, seeing her so close yet having the illusion of being unattainable.
He was so close that his breath brushed against her ear, carrying the bitter scent of medicine and a faint fragrance of calamus. The warmth swept across her skin, yet it made Yunhuang feel as if she had fallen into an ice cellar
Su Huan, Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, was posthumously honored as Duke Wending. In the fourth year of the Tianying era, he was executed by beating in the court for the crime of 'rebellion and disobedience'
A sword that startled before the Huitai Fei couch, a glance that seized the soul behind the blood-stained screen, a fleeting look before the desolate hall of the Changqiu Palace, his body temperature, his breath, his blood, faintly lingered from last night. He said he would return, yet she said, in this life we are worlds apart, never to meet again
The next day, an imperial decree was issued, designating Princess Qingping of Jin as Princess Ningguo and bestowing the title of Taifei upon the respected Ke Fei. Duke Wending of Su was honored for his loyalty and valor, and the entire Su family, from Duke Wending downwards, was granted noble titles. Duke Wending was given a royal burial in the imperial mausoleum with his official attire. Princess Ningguo was granted a fief of three thousand and was instructed to construct Qiwugong Palace, Tonghuadian Hall, and Fengying Terrace.
Shen Jue silently accompanied them, led by the eunuch, as three individuals proceeded towards the imperial study
"I am foolish and dull." Shen Jue lowered his head, suppressing all emotions, his expression becoming wooden.
Yun Huang remained silent, and he too coldly awaited her to speak.
It is unknown when the rain began to fall, gently at first and then intensifying, the raindrops overflowing the glazed tiles, with fine streams cascading down from the eaves. From Yiqing Pavilion to the Imperial Study, there is a winding corridor connecting them, beneath which lies a pool of clear water. In summer, red lotuses bloom abundantly, their fragrance wafting far and wide, hence the name Han Pond. In the dusk of March, amidst the misty rain, only the dense green of the floating duckweed remains, so deep a green that a mere glance seems to draw one into its depths.
A deep, laughter-tinged male voice finally came from within, "Why are you so anxious? Do you think I would eat people?"
With a mournful sob, two lines of tears rolled down Ke Fei's eyes as she called out, "Your Highness the Crown Prince." Her body swayed unsteadily, staggering towards Yun Huang. Yet, Yun Huang seemed lost in a trance, staring fixedly at the person before her, completely oblivious to Ke Fei's unusual state.
This sound falls upon the ears, soft yet slightly hoarse, weary yet warm, yet it strikes like a thunderclap beside one.
Shen Jue suddenly raised his head and saw the slight disdain in her eyes, rendering all the words of advice and comfort he had prepared unspoken. The smile at the corners of her lips deepened as she leaned closer to him, softly asking, "Will you protect Yun Huang, my lord?" This gentle voice, accompanied by a fragrance like orchids, blew into his heart, swirling and spiraling, drawing out threads of pain. It was clearly pain, yet it was also immensely pleasurable.
The Consort Ke let out a soft sound of surprise, and Yunhuang raised her gaze to see the Jingzhizhai right before her, the bitter fragrance of the medicine seeming even more intense, penetrating. However, the Consort Ke suddenly shrank back in fear, tugging at Yunhuang's sleeve and retreating. Yunhuang gently patted the back of her hand to soothe her, which calmed her down a little.
Shen Jue lowered his head deeply and said, "I cannot, only Your Majesty can protect the multitude."
The Yiqing Pavilion, where Yunhuang and Consort Ke were waiting, was not far from the Imperial Study. After Shen Jue left, there was a long period of silence, until suddenly a crisp sound echoed from afar, as if a cup had been dropped and shattered, followed by an eerie stillness.
I humbly beseech Your Majesty for peace. Yunhuang knelt outside the curtain and spoke softly.
"I, Shen Jue, pay my respects to the princess." Shen Jue took a step back and performed a formal bow to Yun Huang.
Suddenly, I found myself standing involuntarily, trembling as I reached out to lift that bright yellow veil of smoke