Chapter 1, Heavy Clouds

Bansnow replied with a "don't know" and buried her head in her needlework. Lingrou sat sideways on the stool by the door, feeling a sense of unease in her heart. Before she could figure out the situation, the door curtain was lifted again, and a young girl hurried in, casting a casual glance at Lingrou while speaking without pause: "Shucui, has the瓦色 outer garment that Empress Qin prepared for Xiaochun been embroidered yet?"

Su Ying looked around: the fiery red flowers bloomed vibrantly throughout the courtyard. It is unknown who brought so many pomegranates to adorn the Danxi Palace, allowing warm colors to be seen everywhere amidst the deepening autumn atmosphere

Cui Luohua pulled Wang Qiuying to this secluded place to talk. Just as they stood still, they saw someone passing by, so she swallowed her words until the palace maid had gone past. After weighing her options several times, she felt that no matter how she phrased it, it would not be satisfactory, so she decided to be straightforward and asked: "How much longer can the Emperor's illness be delayed?"

"Rock Candy Lotus Seeds?" Cui Luohua smiled when she opened it. "If I don't plan to spend my whole life here, why prepare such gifts to alleviate loneliness?"

"Eh?" Cui Luohua looked at her in surprise, not understanding how such words could come out of her mouth

Her good friend, however, was not as optimistic as she was, shaking her head and saying: "What I worry about is your 'unchanging nature.' If only you could slightly change and shift your focus from those withered herbs to the ever-changing faces of people, that would be great"

Once the autumn equinox has passed, the drifting winds gradually bring with them a sense of chill. After several rounds of cleansing through the heavens and the earth, all things in the world have changed their colors. The increasingly clear azure sky appears even more vast and boundless, while the vegetation gradually exudes a sense of desolation day by day

A tender voice from within the room replied, "It has already been put on the cuff." Immediately feeling tense, I asked again, "What is it? Does Your Highness have any instructions?" The embroidery tasks assigned by the palace consorts sometimes change their minds. The embroidery work always begins from the small edges to avoid difficulties in making alterations.

Upon her remark, a gentle murmur of admiration spread throughout the room

At this point, Su Ying chose to avoid the topic and淡淡地 said to her, "I cannot see my father very often, so I need you to persuade him more."

"It is good that there are no flowers." The girl who entered found her own seat and carefully placed the blue satin in her arms into the box beneath the embroidery frame, saying: "I just went for a stroll in the Danxi Palace and happened to hear that the Prince Ping presented a red birch-colored robe to Her Majesty the Empress, which was worn by Xiao Chun. It is very close to the color of tiles and is embroidered with amber-colored peony vines. I remember you mentioned that Consort Qin did not specifically instruct you, and you planned to embroider these two items."

King Ping took the red-painted stick, his face turning pale. Su Ying did not spare her father a glance, flicked her sleeves, and returned to the palace, leaving him awkwardly bowing alone, receiving the one hundred sticks, and angrily exiting the palace

As it was getting late, Zhi Hui said, "You still have to go to ring the bell tonight, so you should rest now." Ruan Ruan nodded and bid farewell to Zhi Hui as she headed back.

Su Ying let out a cold laugh, "Does Father know how his land came to be? And how the women came to be?" Seeing the King of Ping in a daze, she continued, "Father has always been lenient with his subordinates, and the servants in the residence do not even regard the displeased young ladies. Now that they are at the Empress's family, they are likely even more arrogant, having developed a habit of wrongdoing, thinking that there are hardly any people in the world who can manage them, right?"

Ling Rou glanced at the skilled needlework woman, Bai Xue, smiled and nodded at her, and asked softly, "Is Zhi Hui not here?" Her voice was low, as if afraid that a third person might overhear.

"You did not see—on the night when His Majesty recovered, the expression of the Empress seemed to transform into that of another person." She let out a long sigh and reached out to pluck the last flower from a nearby cluster of roses. "I never expected that someone so cautious and timid would possess such a resolute gaze. It was as if... the one who was about to die was her. In the few days that remained, anyone who obstructed her would be ruthlessly kicked aside."

Su Lan felt a sudden jolt in her mind, glanced at her sister, and jokingly asked, "What has happened to the Empress recently? One moment it's 'a year', the next it's 'a year'; I seem to have heard this several times already."

Ban Xue smiled as she turned her face towards Ling Rou, "Sister Ling Rou, as a member of the Danxi Palace, have you ever seen Her Majesty the Empress with the golden mask?"

Perhaps at that time, we had already taken a liking to each other..." Unbeknownst to who uttered such a phrase in infinite reverie, it immediately provoked a wave of tense reprimands: "Stop it! Can such baseless speculation be said so casually?"

Chunwen shook her head and smiled, saying: "I am going to the Danxi Palace to collect the robes that the female officials need to change. To see Her Majesty the Empress, what a great fortune that would be!"

Hush! Zhi Hui immediately looked around and reproached, "How can you call the name of Her Highness!"

Wang Qiuying smiled gently, "We are still good sisters now, and this will not change."

Ling Rou silently listened as she spoke to this point, muttering, "Su Ying's thoughts are quite strange."

Hearing his daughter's tone, King Ping felt a twinge of guilt and stammered, "It is my failure in discipline..."

I have heard that among the palace maids who are very close, they prepare this item before major festivals and swear to "share joys and sorrows". Sharing the candied lotus seeds means they become lotus sisters, living together like real sisters during every major festival that follows. Wang Qiuying watched her eat a few and then said: "This Double Ninth Festival, I will definitely stay in the palace; at that time, you will be the only family member by my side." She also picked up a lotus seed and whispered: "Luohua, you worry that I cannot read others' expressions, but I am concerned that it will become increasingly difficult for you in the future— the Empress will want to know more and more, and I fear you will have to read her face and keep yourself busy. Although I cannot help much, it is better for the two of us to keep each other company than to be alone."

As she approached the Danxi Palace, she passed by a secluded corner and seemed to catch a glimpse of two female officials, one in blue and the other in crimson, engaged in conversation. She had no intention of looking closely, but a hurried glance was enough for her to recognize them: the one in crimson was Cui Luohua, the chief attendant of the Danxi Palace, and the one in blue was Wang Qiuying, who had recently been treating the emperor. Upon noticing someone passing by, they paused their conversation and stepped back a few paces, prompting Rou to hurriedly lower her head and quicken her pace

Su Ying let out a soft hum and nodded to the palace maid as a signal. The Ping Wang was still unaware of her intentions when he saw a line of eunuchs in red robes emerge from the pomegranate grove, each carrying a bundle of vermilion-painted long staffs. They bent down to place the staffs at the foot of the steps and quickly retreated. Su Ying did not give her father much time for speculation and said sternly: "This is a reward for the Ping Wang's residence—should anyone in the residence have a dispute with a commoner in the future, regardless of right or wrong, master or servant, they shall first receive thirty strokes. If a servant dares to bully others and commit wrongdoing, they shall receive seventy strokes before being handed over to the authorities"

I have never seen pomegranates bloom so beautifully. Your Highness, there will surely be good news this year. Su Lan smiled and glanced at her sister, who was dignified and composed. Seeing her remain silent, she could only give a subtle signal to her father, King Ping, to suggest that he say something to ease the situation.

Su Lan watched from the side, not daring to interject. At this moment, she forced a smile and said: "Sister, your righteous act of punishing a family member is merely for the sake of appearances for others. Why must you humiliate our father in front of so many palace maids?"

Your Highness

Ling Rou saw that she was safe and sound, and her heart was set at ease: "I heard that you were called to Danxi Palace early in the morning, and I was worried about you"

She appeared calm, and the King suddenly realized: it must be that he had just seen the pomegranate, and he could not help but bring up the matter of bearing a son, which angered the Empress. He sighed, casting a sidelong glance at the lively and beautiful grandson in the palace maid's arms, feeling both jealousy and worry in his heart. "Your Highness, His Majesty is blessed by heaven; it is only a matter of time before he recovers. You are still young, and there will be more opportunities..."

Their legends are filled with boundless vitality and hope, without a trace of retreat or a hint of frustration. Yet that beauty belongs to three hundred years ago. The winds and clouds change, and the years easily scatter beneath the vast sky. What remains unchanged is the sacred autumnal sacrifice, the custom of royal marriages numbering fourteen, and the two esteemed families that unite to encompass the world, standing proudly at the pinnacle of the empire, gazing down upon the nation. However, three hundred years have also brought about too many changes; the traces of the Luo River are hard to find, and the once glorious palace city has lost its pride and vitality, becoming silent over the years. What remains unchanged is the sacred autumnal sacrifice, the custom of royal marriages numbering fourteen, and the two esteemed families that unite to encompass the world, standing proudly at the pinnacle of the empire, gazing down upon the nation. However, three hundred years have also brought about too many changes; the traces of the Luo River are hard to find, and the once glorious palace city has lost its pride and vitality, becoming silent over the years.

Wang Qiuying, however, did not respond and calmly retorted, "Is this a question from Her Highness, or is it a question from someone else?"

Therefore, the position has never fallen from the hands of the Su family. Our Empress also has the blood of the Su family. Wang Qiuying, not knowing what she recalled, her expression dimmed, "I hope the Empress's wishes come true"

Cui Luohua's eyes sparkled with a glimmer of light, and several questions were swirling in her mind. She began to piece together some clues and said with a sense of relief: "Qiu Ying, we have been good friends since childhood, and we were just a step away from becoming sisters-in-law."

Ling Rou was already surprised to hear the words "Danxi Palace". Upon learning that Zhi Hui had been gone for a long time, she became even more anxious and hurriedly asked: "What does Her Majesty the Empress want with Zhi Hui?"

Zhi Hui is a few years older than Ling Rou, and her demeanor is also more composed and experienced. After listening to Ling Rou, she smiled and said, "It's not a big deal. The pomegranates here are thriving, and the people from Danxi Palace asked me to pick a few good ones, which I just transplanted. On the way back, Deputy Supervisor Bai asked about the winter clothing for the palace maids, so I was delayed." As she spoke, she tidied Ling Rou's hair at her temples and added, "You shouldn't always be so suspicious; you'll end up with gray hair. " She paused and continued, "I don't think the Empress is someone who dwells on the past. If we talk about Deputy Supervisor Bai's background, isn't it much better than your situation? He still managed to get promoted to Deputy Supervisor. That person has his own abilities, and the Empress hasn't been overly critical about his brother's matters, has she?"

Ban Xue was momentarily taken aback and said, "But she is Sister Lianzi's sister, it wouldn't be good to neglect her."

In the corner, someone is still daydreaming, when suddenly a voice emerges: "There was only that one time, by a twist of fate, flowers were added to the empress's hunting attire. I wonder if it looks good when worn..."

I am merely a passerby and will not always be here. Shaping oneself into the form of a palace, what does it matter once one steps out of the palace gates?" Wang Qiuying chuckled lightly, took out a silver round box from her sleeve, and handed it to Cui Luohua. "Let us not think of those things for now—this is for you.

"Your Highness—" he tentatively called out, only to see Su Ying stand up and walk towards the door, clearly not intending to hear him out. He hurriedly followed her, standing at the steps.

The Prince Ping, feeling as if sitting on pins and needles, pondered for quite a while. The Empress's family had presented ceremonial robes before the festival; whether the Empress would wear them was another matter. After receiving the garments, it was customary to bestow some rewards, and that would conclude the formalities. The Prince had invested heavily in preparations months in advance, and today he had come with great enthusiasm to present the Double Ninth Festival robes. However, he did not expect that Her Majesty the Empress would not show his father a favorable countenance, completely omitting any mention of rewards, and yet she did not allow him to leave. The Prince was well aware that his accomplished daughters had their tempers, and he was familiar with their various displays of displeasure. Yet, the Empress, when filled with anger, always remained silent, which made it difficult for the Prince to adapt. Each time he was left guessing and anxious, he would rather endure a few sharp rebukes from her.

The descendants of the gods residing within, if they too experience fleeting fatigue, perhaps it is today at this moment

It is fortunate that there is still time to change the pattern. The younger seamstress took a roll of fabric from the box at her feet, stitched a few stitches on it, made a mark known only to herself, and recorded this matter.

Su Ying descended the steps, bent down to pull out a long stick from a bundle, and handed it to King Ping, saying: "This one is reserved for the chief steward Su Ping at the residence. You should know how to use it."

Sister Hui has gone to the Danxi Palace and has been away for quite a while; she should be back soon. Banxue replied cheerfully and frankly, adding, "Sister Lingrou, please wait here for a moment."

Su Ying had no intention of retaining her. After her sister left, she seemed to be completely drained of strength, slowly letting out a sigh.

King Ping was taken aback for a moment and nodded, saying, "Indeed"

At this very moment, if someone can walk near the needlework shop at a leisurely pace, even if their attire is indistinguishable from that of the seamstress, it can still be inferred that they are from elsewhere

It is I who ask. Cui Luohua said quietly: "The Empress will not always let me know what she is thinking, but I must know her thoughts in advance. Otherwise, I will be of no use to her."

Su Ying cast a glance at her younger sister, her gaze as cold as ice and snow, clear yet indifferent. She looked up at the ceiling above her, her tone turning helpless once again. "The first master of Danxi Palace, our ancestor Empress Su, why did she lose this palace? Was it not because her family was arrogant and overbearing, incurring the resentment of the people and officials? I do not expect my father to undergo a complete transformation; as long as he can keep a low profile and not cause any more trouble this year, I will be at ease"

Su Lan knew that asking her again would yield no results, and with a smile, she said: "I could tell from the expression on the Prince Ping's face just now that I should take the opportunity to visit my family."

"Then do not overthink it," Zhi Hui gently comforted, taking out three or four beautifully colored silk flowers from her collar. She selected two that were elegant and handed them to Ling Rou, saying, "I just noticed that the silk flowers on Vice Supervisor Bai are a bit loose. On my way to Yuan Yao's place, she gave me four and specifically asked you to deliver a nice one to Vice Supervisor Bai. It is not appropriate to present something expensive right away. Although these are small items, giving him this little trinket will show your thoughtfulness. In the future, you can slowly seek his favor."

If migratory birds flying south were to overlook the capital from the sky, they would surely discover that the once restless court, shaken by a series of events during the summer, has now settled into tranquility. Everything is proceeding in an orderly manner, showing little difference from the past. The needlework workshop remains the busiest during autumn— with the Double Ninth Festival approaching, they have just distributed thousands of newly made robes for the festival to various palaces and courtyards, while also busy checking the silk garments that the imperial family will change into in October, and simultaneously rushing to produce the blue winter attire for the inner court officials and palace maids. The garments for the Double Ninth Festival and the winter clothing are exchanged every two months, and even these skilled seamstresses, who have honed their craft over many years, do not dare to be negligent.

Once the curtain fell, the young girls finally breathed a sigh of relief. With the outsiders gone, they felt more at ease to speak. Chunwen softly said, "Bansnow, why did you engage in conversation with her? I heard that although she is a low-ranking maid of the Danxi Palace, she was almost sent to the laundry room! Once you enter that place, you can never come out... I don't know what taboo she has committed, but even now she is often punished to ring the bell at night." She has always been sociable, making acquaintances with many maids in various places, and is well-informed.

I always feel that she has some plans. Ling Rou's expression darkened, "She specifically brought me back to Danxi Palace, yet does nothing. Over the course of more than a year, nothing has happened. Isn't that strange? Even if I can read all the subtle expressions of the Su family in the palace, I still cannot guess what she is thinking."

The embroidery workshop is very bright, with dozens of embroidery frames arranged according to the light. Behind each frame sits a young girl engrossed in her needlework. The embroiderers are busy throughout the year, and those who are slightly older can hardly manage the work, making it rare to see anyone with gray hair here. The girl near the door looks up at her and greets with a smile: "Sister Lingrou"

The palace maid was in her early twenties, her complexion still retaining a youthful delicacy, yet her expression bore a hint of indifference. As she reached the doorway, she intentionally paused, holding her breath to listen for any inappropriate conversations within, before finally lifting the curtain to enter. Once she crossed the threshold, she took a small step to the side, standing cautiously in the shadow by the door, quickly glancing inside.

That sigh was so light that it could not reach a third ear, and its meaning would forever be understood only by her alone

It is said that several years ago, the Empress was a fragrant maidservant in the Danxi Palace. While embroidering, Chunwen chatted with her sisters about the legendary tales she had heard, saying, "Later, after leaving the palace, it wasn't long before the Emperor welcomed her back to become the Empress."

The girls laughed for a brief moment, then focused once again on the exquisite world before them, and the surroundings fell silent once more

Ling Rou outside the door let out a soft sigh. She did not walk away, still wanting to know how they spoke about her and Zhi Hui behind their backs. Clearly, she was overthinking: these girls, surrounded by exquisite satin and embroidery, were lost in fantasies of extraordinary romances, enjoying a carefree and joyful ignorance of the truth. Ling Rou suddenly recalled that she too had once been like these girls, curious about the lives of the empresses and consorts. However, at that time, the empress was another, even more beautiful and radiant woman from the Su family. It seemed like a lifetime ago. Now, the other Su empress she had served, Ruo Xing, was beyond the realm of the little palace maids' imaginations; they had neither seen her nor heard the legends and tragedies surrounding her.

Ling Rou lowered her head and walked away quickly, avoiding those who were completely different from herself, nearly colliding with Zhi Hui on the road

Sister Xiang has frostbite on her hand, which is why you happened to encounter her. I wonder how many years it will take to embroider for Her Majesty the Empress again

Someone said: "On that occasion, I accompanied Sister Hui to deliver the young prince's robe, and the empress happened to come out of the Danxi Palace. From a distance, I could see that the empress was a very young person, with a gentle demeanor, speaking and acting in a calm and peaceful manner"

Wang Qiuying lowered her eyes and slowly said, "The Emperor's illness is a forbidden topic that cannot be discussed. I cannot tell you." Cui Luohua stared at her without blinking, and Wang Qiuying could only shake her head and say, "It is a decree from the Emperor—one cannot go against the will of the sovereign."

The branches trembled lightly as a fiery red pomegranate flower was gently plucked by a delicate hand and presented before the beauty with a face like frost.

Ling Rou reluctantly grasped the tassel flower, her expression still somewhat strained, yet she said, "I appreciate the concern of both elder sisters." Zhi Hui sighed and replied, "There is no need for formality among sisters. Originally, Wan Wei from Dan Xi Palace has passed away, and Mi Yan is unknown about her life in the princess's residence. The inner weaver, A Pu, has been released from the palace... Back then, the sisters who shared rock candy lotus seeds together are now left with only Yuan Yao from the Tai Zuo Fang and you and me, which is truly desolate." Ling Rou responded dully.

"Ling Rou!" she called softly, pulling her aside. "Why do you look so lost? Has something happened?"

Cui Luohua silently ate a few lotus seeds before sighing, "When she was twelve, I already found her to be quite special. However, I never imagined she could truly ascend to the back seat, nor did I expect that at twenty, she would be in such a situation. The Cui family has always served as the teachers for the Su family, yet Su's performance never fails to astonish us."

The girls fell silent for a moment, and finally, someone could not contain their curiosity and asked the girl who had just entered, "Chunwen, did you see the Empress?"

Su Ying turned her head and cast a cold glance at her father, not expecting that his mind was solely preoccupied with this matter. "There is no need for the Prince to worry," her voice was crisp and clear, yet her tone was not very amiable. "I have heard that your steward, Su Ping, has recently purchased a good piece of land on the outskirts of the city and built a garden to welcome his fourth concubine. Is this not true?"

The sunlit room fell silent once more. The only large shadow present was by the door, where Rou Rong stood motionless in the shade. She did not show any particular reaction and after a moment said, "No." Her subdued voice was still weak. It seemed to take her considerable effort to utter those two words. She slowly stood up and added, "When Zhi Hui returns, please let her know that I have been here." After saying this, she walked out.

It is said that the royal family and the latter family are descendants of the celestial deities and the female immortals. On the banks of the Naluo River, the female immortal played with the green deer. The celestial deity, attracted by her joy, descended on a white horse from the heights of the heavens. They met in the morning light, and when the first star appeared, a son and a daughter of the deities were born. The children of the gods grew to adulthood in seven days, and on the fourteenth day, they married. With divine power, they defeated the local tribes and acquired their land in the lush pastures, becoming the ancestors of the Northern Empire