The Empress’s investiture ceremony banquet served nine rounds of wine, with music and dance performances in between, just like previous grand palace banquets. But what drew the most attention were the refreshing display arrangements. The usual display of sheep heads and fowl in front of Daqing Hall’s courtyard was replaced by an ancient pine tree, whose branches and leaves had the artistic conception of scholars and poets wielding their brushes, with spirit flowing like air and energy like rainbows, creating a vigorous and beautiful tree form. At the center beneath the trunk were inserted winter plum, iris, camellia leaves, and Southern bittersweet vines bearing red coral-like fruits, with branches extending in all directions of varying lengths and graceful postures. At the base of the trunk in the square basin stood two craggy strange rocks, making the entire scene evoke the charm of wild mountains, tall trees, green moss, and fragrant radiance.
The table displays had many flowers and fruits. The flowers were mostly pine, plum, camellia, and narcissus, while the fruits included kumquats, pomelos, and citron, either arranged in vases or on plates, elegant and refined, with colors and meanings that highlighted the festive atmosphere. Bamboo served as many of the vessels, crafted into bamboo tubes and boat shapes, holding water for flower arrangements, suspended from the hall’s beams, ridges, pillars, and brackets.
Before taking her seat, the Empress Dowager deliberately observed the ancient pine in the courtyard, secretly admiring it, and asked Zhang Zhibei: “Is this tree from the back garden? I don’t seem to have seen it before.”
Zhang Zhibei bowed and answered: “This tree is not a natural plant. It was assembled by Scholar Xuanyi Lin Hong using branches and leaves trimmed from the back garden.”
“Not a real tree?” The Empress Dowager said in surprise, then carefully observed the trunk’s details. After a moment, she exclaimed: “It truly surpasses nature’s craftsmanship.”
After the Empress Dowager was seated, she discovered that her table setting was different from others, with two flower vessels of different heights. The tall one was a Ru kiln vase containing pine branches, plum blossoms, and camellias arranged from high to low. The pine branches were lush and green, the camellias grand and beautiful, while the red plum curved downward in a cliff-like form, creating a rich yet elegant composition. The shorter vessel was a white porcelain water basin containing a small landscape composed of lingzhi mushrooms and agarwood mountain forms. Beside the vessels were two lily bulbs and a persimmon.
“Using these flowers and fruits takes the meaning of ‘everything as you wish, longevity welcoming spring,'” Zhang Zhibei explained with a smile.
“Did Scholar Xuanyi also arrange these flowers?” the Empress Dowager asked.
Zhang Zhibei replied: “Indeed. Today, all the floral decorations in the hall were made by him leading the Hanlin Academy eunuchs, but the arrangement on the Empress Dowager’s table was completed by him alone.”
The Empress Dowager nodded: “He is indeed a thoughtful person.”
Having heard that this banquet’s displays would all use flowers and fruits, the Empress Dowager had originally been quite displeased, thinking it would greatly diminish the imperial grandeur and carry a shabby air. Now it appeared that the scene was unexpectedly satisfying. Flowers and fruits could also create a prosperous and joyful atmosphere, and the most precious materials among all the displays – the lingzhi mushrooms and agarwood mountain forms – had been placed on the Empress Dowager’s table. These two items were precious and elegant, fitting the overall tone of the banquet while maintaining the dignity the Empress Dowager required, showing he completely understood her mindset.
Although Lin Hong had visited the Northern Inner Palace many times to discuss Jujing Garden matters, the Empress Dowager usually had Cheng Yuan receive him and relay messages. On the occasional two times the Empress Dowager spoke directly with him, she had him stand far behind several layers of curtains, never having seen his true appearance. Today, the flowers and fruits at the banquet had secretly impressed the Empress Dowager with his talent, making her somewhat curious about him personally. After the fifth round of wine, during the intermission when guests changed clothes and adorned themselves with flowers, the Empress Dowager immediately commanded Zhang Zhibei to summon Lin Hong before her curtains to speak with him.
Following protocol, Lin Hong had pinned a large silver-red silk flower beside his black silk cap. His fair complexion appeared even more jade-like under the flower’s reflection. The Empress Dowager had someone raise the pearl curtains and examined Lin Hong thoroughly, then smiled: “Scholar Xuanyi is indeed a fine talent.”
The Empress Dowager asked Lin Hong’s age, then whether he was married. After receiving his answers, she laughed to the Emperor and Empress: “How strange that those court officials with daughters would let him slip by!”
Both the Emperor and Empress smiled without speaking, so Zhang Zhibei answered from the side: “Those wanting to propose marriage to Scholar Xuanyi could form a line from Phoenix Mountain to Qinghe District, but unfortunately Scholar Xuanyi has closed his doors to visitors and never discussed marriage.”
The Empress Dowager then said to Lin Hong: “Perhaps Scholar Xuanyi hasn’t met a suitable candidate? Tell me what kind of young lady you admire, and perhaps I can serve as matchmaker.”
Lin Hong bowed in thanks to the Empress Dowager but didn’t answer, his face flushing red. Seeing this, the Empress Dowager laughed: “Very well, in front of all these people, I won’t make things difficult for you. While you’re working on the Jujing Garden project these months, you might also think about your own marriage. When you like someone’s young lady, tell me when Jujing Garden’s sleeping quarters are completed, and I’ll arrange it for you.”
Zhang Zhibei quickly reminded Lin Hong: “A marriage granted by the Empress Dowager – what tremendous honor!”
Lin Hong then bowed again to thank the Empress Dowager, immediately thinking of Zhenzhen and feeling that the Empress Dowager’s promise would surely allow them to achieve their heart’s desire, making him very joyful.
After the banquet, the Empress Dowager returned to the Northern Inner Palace, with Cheng Yuan accompanying her throughout. Thinking about the Empress Dowager’s attitude toward Lin Hong today, he felt quite surprised and carefully asked: “Is Your Majesty truly prepared to arrange a marriage for Scholar Xuanyi?”
“Yes.” The Empress Dowager closed her eyes and said indifferently: “Lin Hong has clear eyes and a clean presence, like a person carved from ice and jade. He and Consort Liu don’t really seem like siblings.”
The Empress Dowager’s intention to arrange a marriage actually made the Emperor quite uneasy. He knew that once Lin Hong was allowed to choose his own wife, Lin Hong would nine times out of ten choose Zhenzhen, which would disrupt his own plans.
After much deliberation, the Emperor felt this matter couldn’t wait, so one day he summoned the Crown Prince and Zhenzhen together to Funing Hall, having the Empress explain his arrangements to them.
The Empress spoke kindly to both of them: “Since the Crown Prince married, he has never taken a concubine. Although the Crown Prince and his wife are devoted to each other and the Crown Princess is very virtuous, the Eastern Palace is a large compound with many household matters requiring attention, which the Crown Princess might not be able to handle entirely. His Majesty hopes the Crown Prince will choose an intelligent and kind woman as concubine to help manage the Eastern Palace’s internal affairs. This way, she can both serve the Crown Prince and assist the Crown Princess, preventing her from becoming too exhausted. Zhenzhen is intelligent and capable, excellent at cooking, and extremely reliable in her work. She has made considerable contributions since entering the palace, and her age and appearance are quite suitable. Therefore, if you’re willing, I’ll prepare a dowry for Zhenzhen, choose an auspicious day, and send her to the Eastern Palace.”
Zhenzhen was completely unprepared psychologically. Hearing this suddenly, she was stunned and speechless, not knowing how to respond. Seeing this, the Crown Prince bowed to the Emperor and Empress: “I thank Father and Mother for their kind intentions, but I have always gotten along harmoniously with the Crown Princess, and she has done nothing wrong. Taking a concubine at this time might make her sad.”
“The matter of Meng Yunxiu could also be considered the Crown Princess’s fault,” the Emperor took over the conversation. “She ignored your opinion and publicly expressed her desire to choose Meng Yunxiu as the Crown Prince’s concubine, making Meng Yunxiu a target for everyone. After Meng Yunxiu was humiliated and attempted suicide, she only cried and pushed the matter of punishing Yu Rui’er onto you. As the Eastern Palace’s mistress, failing to punish the offending servant or deter other servants was complete dereliction of duty.”
The Crown Prince defended: “She was just too kind-hearted and couldn’t bear to severely punish servants.”
“This isn’t kindness, it’s weakness!” the Emperor said bluntly. “If she avoids handling such small matters, how can she become a mother to the nation in the future?”
Seeing the Crown Prince’s silence, the Empress spoke persuasively: “The Crown Princess comes from a noble family, raised in luxury, unfamiliar with worldly hardships, so she lacks experience in handling matters… His Majesty’s suggestion has merit. With Zhenzhen managing the Eastern Palace, she would certainly handle such matters extremely well, leaving the Crown Prince without worries.”
“Your Majesty, Empress, please allow this slave to say a few words,” Zhenzhen spoke up. “When two people discuss marriage, they’re preparing to spend the rest of their lives together. Shouldn’t the first consideration be whether their temperaments suit each other and whether their interests align? Your Majesty wishes to have the Crown Prince take a concubine, but it seems you’re not considering whether he likes her, but rather looking for someone to manage the Eastern Palace’s internal affairs. Actually, this purpose could be achieved by appointing a female official. Why must the Crown Prince take a concubine, creating an additional person between him and the Crown Princess?”
“The Crown Prince is the heir apparent who will become emperor. His harem won’t have only one empress. Taking consorts and concubines is inevitable, so why not do it now to manage the Eastern Palace and continue the family line, killing two birds with one stone.” The Emperor said this, then stared at Zhenzhen, speaking from the heart: “Zhenzhen, I’m also considering your lifelong future, hoping to find the most suitable person for you, someone who can let you continue using your talents while giving you sufficient honor. The Crown Prince is exactly this most suitable person.”
Zhenzhen shook her head: “For me, the most suitable person is someone who shares my feelings and interests, not someone who can give me honor.”
Hearing this, the Emperor’s anger flared inexplicably. He pulled the Crown Prince before Zhenzhen and angrily demanded: “Tell me, in what way is my son inferior to this person you think shares your feelings? Is it appearance, talent, character, or temperament?”
Zhenzhen tearfully lowered her head and prostrated herself: “How would this slave dare to criticize His Highness the Crown Prince? This slave is simply too humble to aspire to His Highness.”
The Crown Prince gently freed himself from his father’s grasp and also knelt before his father, bowing: “Father, Food Supervisor Wu’s words are not without reason. In the eyes of those in love, fame and fortune are all fleeting clouds. Only shared feelings can sustain a lifetime together. Food Supervisor Wu has someone in her heart and has no interest in me. I also don’t want to force her into the Eastern Palace just because I admire her talents. Please reconsider, Father.”
He solemnly bowed to the Emperor, then raised his head and slowly said another sentence to his father: “Talent can be cultivated again, but when lovers are separated, it’s for life.”
This sentence finally made the Emperor fall silent. After long deliberation, he waved his hand, commanding the Crown Prince and Zhenzhen to withdraw.
After withdrawing from the hall, Zhenzhen raised her hands above her head and performed a grand bow to the Crown Prince, thanking him for speaking up to save her. The Crown Prince couldn’t help but laugh: “Save you? I suppose entering the Eastern Palace seems like a lamb entering a tiger’s den to you.”
Zhenzhen quickly waved her hands: “No, no, I didn’t mean that…”
The Crown Prince gently consoled her: “I was just joking, don’t mind it.” Then he smiled and said: “I wish you and Scholar Xuanyi an early marriage and harmonious union.”
Zhenzhen was surprised and asked with a red face: “Your Highness knows?”
The Crown Prince smiled: “That day, Scholar Xuanyi had someone pour Meisi Dahua wine for you without asking first, obviously only being extremely familiar with you would he do such a thing. Later, when Pu Quxin pulled Shi Huaien and me to look at the mountain spring, Scholar Xuanyi, as the person leading the Eastern Palace project, stayed in the meditation room, which was inappropriate by all reason. I understood then that he must have very much wanted to be alone with you, which is why he stayed behind.”
Zhenzhen bashfully lowered her head, pondering Lin Hong’s thoughts at that time based on his words, feeling a warm current in her heart.
“Wait a little longer,” the Crown Prince said with gentle eyes, still smiling. “Soon, you two will be able to stay together forever.”