In the blink of an eye, Ling Jingshu had been in the palace for half a month.
During those two weeks, Ling Jingshu had performed her duties in a steady and unremarkable fashion. Each morning, she joined Rui Lian and the other female officials to pay their respects to Empress Xu and report the day’s intended tasks. The rest of her time was spent either in the peony garden or making her rounds among the potted plants throughout Jiaofang Palace.
Luo Yan had waited day after day, yet Ling Jingshu never came to seek her out to ask for the maids back. On top of that, she heard that Ling Jingshu intended to personally take over the care of the new-variety peonies in the peony house. Luo Yan could not help but laugh coldly to herself.
Such eagerness to show off!
Those new-variety peonies had been raised with meticulous care — every single pot was more delicate and difficult to tend than the last. And Ling Jingshu had the nerve to take them over without a word, intending to look after them herself.
Come the fourth month, when the peonies were in bloom, she would see how Ling Jingshu answered to Her Majesty the Empress!
That Luo Yan had been covertly making things difficult for Ling Jingshu was known to Rui Lian and the others as well. They had also been quietly waiting in private to see how things unfolded. Unfortunately, Ling Jingshu had made no move at all.
Sharing the same eager curiosity, the women all waited expectantly.
It seemed this particular spectacle would not come to a head for another two months or more!
On this particular day, after the female officials had concluded their reports, Empress Xu made a point of keeping Rui Lian behind.
“Rui Lian — how has Ling Jingshu been conducting herself these past days?” Empress Xu asked in a mild tone.
Rui Lian answered respectfully in a low voice. “In reply to Your Majesty the Empress: this servant has been having her watched closely at all times. Since she entered the palace, her words and conduct have been thorough and careful, giving no one any handle to find fault with. When Luo Yan made things covertly difficult for her by deliberately retaining the two maids skilled at tending the peonies, she did not say a word and simply took the peony house over herself. She personally loosens the soil and tends to the plants each day, moves the pots into sunlight, and carries them back in at dusk. In addition, she makes a full round of the premises every day. In the course of these two weeks, she has not made a single mistake!”
“Oh?” A flicker passed through Empress Xu’s eyes, and the corner of her mouth curved slightly upward. “By your account, she is quite conscientious and diligent in carrying out her duties.”
Rui Lian quietly gauged Empress Xu’s frame of mind as she replied. “This servant would not venture to speak of other matters, but on this point, this servant can say with certainty.”
Empress Xu’s right hand moved gently over the jade bracelet on her left wrist. Her expression was unreadable, and after a long pause she slowly asked, “Has she privately sought any of you out?”
Rui Lian understood the implication in Empress Xu’s words and answered at once with respectful precision. “She often comes to this servant to talk, and has given this servant a few small gifts — though nothing of any real value. As for Qiu Shuang and the others, it is likely much the same.”
If Ling Jingshu had been too generous with her gifts, privately seeking to cultivate and draw in one of the female officials, it would plainly indicate a scheming and treacherous nature. As things stood, this was no more than the ordinary social exchange common within the palace — there was truly nothing here to fault.
Empress Xu gave a quiet sound of acknowledgment. “This Empress understands. Have someone continue watching her, and report to this Empress immediately if there is any unusual movement.”
A long road reveals a horse’s stamina; time shows a person’s true heart!
A brief show of good conduct counted for nothing. Ling Jingshu was shrewd — she knew to bide her time and conceal her light, and she was meticulous and unassuming in all she did and said. However, no matter how skilled a person was at putting on a performance, traces would eventually surface with the passage of time.
Rui Lian dared not be inattentive, and quickly assented.
Empress Xu rose to her feet. “It is not early — accompany this Empress to the Hall of Purple Morning.”
……
The Emperor had taken to his bed on the first day of the new year, and had been recuperating on a regimen of medicine. After a full month, he had at last begun to show a gradual improvement. His appetite was somewhat better than before, and he could now manage to get out of bed and walk about for a little while each day.
With his condition improving day by day, the Emperor refused to let Prince Yan and the Crown Grandson continue attending to his sickbed, and instructed them to attend to their own proper affairs. The duty of waiting upon him now fell to the consorts of the palace.
When Empress Xu arrived at the Hall of Purple Morning, the Emperor was walking at a slow and measured pace, supported on either side by Wei Jieyu and Princess An Ya.
It was unclear what Princess An Ya had said, but whatever it was had greatly delighted the Emperor. He turned and shared a smiling glance with Wei Jieyu.
At such an age, still carrying on with this sort of affectionate, tender exchange — have they no shame?
Empress Xu gave a cold inward snort.
Had this been a few years ago, witnessing this scene would have moved her to quietly deliver a few pointed remarks to Wei Jieyu. But by now the Emperor was already deeply aged and frail — the ones he occasionally summoned to his chambers were only the younger consorts. She and the Emperor had not shared the same bed for years; she had long since ceased to trouble herself over such things.
Wei Jieyu looked up and caught sight of Empress Xu, and quickly released her hold to pay her respects. “This consort pays respects to Your Majesty the Empress.”
Empress Xu smiled pleasantly. “Please, rise at once.”
At the same time, she stepped forward quite naturally to take the position Wei Jieyu had been occupying. “To see His Majesty well enough to be up and walking again fills this Empress’s heart with genuine joy.”
The Emperor had been walking for a while, and fine beads of perspiration had gathered at his temples. His hands and feet also felt weak and sore. Though he would have forced himself to push on, he had no strength left to do so, and said with a self-deprecating smile, “This Emperor is already exhausted — I can go no further.”
Empress Xu immediately helped the Emperor to his seat on the imperial reclining couch, then gave the order, “Someone, go and summon Imperial Physician Wei.”
Very shortly afterward, Wei Yan arrived.
For the past month, Wei Yan had been residing within the Hall of Purple Morning to be on hand at all times should he be summoned for a consultation.
Wei Yan stepped forward to examine the Emperor. Empress Xu stood at the Emperor’s side, and her gaze settled quite naturally on Wei Yan’s face.
After all these days of exhaustion, his face had grown thinner, and the shadows of weariness had gathered in dark circles beneath his eyes. Yet he was still as pleasing to look at as ever.
From the youthful inexperience of his earlier years to the refined and graceful elegance of now — she had been looking at this face for more than a decade.
The more he shrank away in rejection and avoidance, the more deeply she thought of him and the more tightly she refused to let go!
What a pity that the Emperor, that old and decrepit man, kept on refusing to meet his end. She dared not act too freely while in the palace, and could only watch helplessly as Wei Yan went about unscathed right before her very eyes…
Wei Yan was aware of Empress Xu’s gaze, yet maintained his composure without any visible change.
After examining the Emperor, Wei Yan said quietly, “His Majesty’s health continues to improve — this is a cause for great rejoicing. This subject will now administer the acupuncture for His Majesty.”
The Emperor gave a quiet sound of assent.
……
During the acupuncture, everyone was required to withdraw. Even Empress Xu had to temporarily step back outside the inner chamber.
After half an hour had passed, Wei Yan emerged from the inner chamber.
Empress Xu looked at Wei Yan for a long moment, then smiled and said, “Imperial Physician Wei has truly worked hard these past days — this Empress will see to it that you are generously rewarded!”
“Many thanks to Your Majesty the Empress!” Wei Yan expressed his gratitude with respectful decorum.
Empress Xu added, “During these days, you have been occupied with attending to His Majesty, leaving you no time to check this Empress’s pulse for well-being. That cannot be held against you. Now that His Majesty’s condition has improved, you should have time to spare. Come to Jiaofang Palace tomorrow to take this Empress’s pulse.”
Wei Yan assented with the same composed courtesy.
Not a trace of reluctance showed on his calm and composed face.
Empress Xu gave him a glance, then went back into the inner chamber.
Wei Jieyu walked over to Wei Yan’s side, and her steps paused briefly. She said in a low voice, “There is nothing more that requires your attention here — go and rest. Just look at you — you have grown so much thinner during these past days. Do not wear yourself out and damage your health.”
Her tone was filled with heartfelt concern.
Wei Yan felt a warmth stir within him, and gave a quick nod.
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