“At least your mistress is learning embroidery. I have several here. Choose whichever you find suitable,” Wei Lin said, bringing out her purple bamboo box of miscellaneous items. Jing randomly picked a sachet with a five-bat pattern before thanking her.
After Jing left, seeing it was nearly lunchtime, Wei Lin tidied up and headed to her mother’s room. Passing through the garden, Wei Feng Zhi suddenly dropped from a tree.
“What did Li Weiheng want?” Wei Feng Zhi asked.
“She wanted to borrow one for embroidery,” Wei Lin replied casually.
Wei Feng Zhi frowned, “Li Weiheng? Wasn’t it said that Li Niang was ill and staying in the palace? How does she have time for embroidery?”
Wei Lin said with a faint smile, “What’s strange about that? Isn’t Heng’er always like this?”
As July arrived, Wei Linxia brought her maid to live in the courtyard villa gifted by Xi Linxuan, where vibrant flowers filled the air with fragrance. She woke to the sweet scent of blooms and fell asleep to their allure. One day, captivated by a large red flower outside, she remembered Xi Linxuan’s mention of city girls donning hibiscus and peony. She had her maid pick some flowers for their hair, creating a lively scene.
The swing in the courtyard was entwined with flowers. Near dusk, Wei Linxia would swing and reflect on her blissful days, letting rumors drift away with the wind. She considered living in the mountains without marrying, despite the impact it might have on her parents’ reputation. An idea struck her: she could feign a terminal illness to accompany Tai Qing in the monastery, solving two problems at once.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, Wei Linxia claimed illness and did not enter the palace for greetings, while the entire Wei family gathered at the villa to celebrate.
Madam Wei mentioned that Princess Yan seemed to favor Wei Fenzhì, shocking Wei Linxia. Princess Yan and her brother had never been close, so this was surprising. If true, wouldn’t Tai Qing and Wei Fenzhì, who had known each other since childhood, be even more likely?
Could this be love? Wasn’t love supposed to be like Xi Zhaoting and Li Weiheng, without constant fault-finding or hostility? She couldn’t quite understand.
As the year ended, Wei Linxia fell ill, feeling weak daily with no fever or chills. Multiple imperial doctors couldn’t diagnose her condition and only provided tonics. During the New Year, the Empress Dowager sent ginseng and lingzhi, helping Wei Linxia regain her health.
This was the year of her coming of age, and her birthday would include a ceremony, allowing her to marry. She overheard her parents discussing the recent exam’s third-place scholar, considering him as a potential son-in-law. They seemed to acknowledge that she was no longer a candidate for the crown prince’s wife and were hurriedly seeking a suitable match, possibly ignoring rumors about her and the Thirteenth Prince.
Wei Linxia contemplated revealing the rumors to the scholar to prevent future regrets and potential divorce.
Her concerns became secondary when a significant event unfolded in the kingdom: Queen Shen passed away shortly after the second day of the second month. Wei Linxia accompanied her mother to the palace to pay respects. The queen’s coffin, crafted from golden nanmu wood and adorned with intricate dragon and phoenix carvings, created an eerie atmosphere. The palace was draped in a haunting white, further intensifying Wei Linxia’s unease.
As they left the palace, she caught a glimpse of Xi Zhaoting in rough mourning clothes, surrounded by others, though she didn’t see his face clearly.
With national mourning observed, people in Huo City could marry again three months later. Madam Wei subtly inquired about her daughter’s marriage preferences, but Wei Linxia feigned misunderstanding. After leaving her mother’s room, and with her medical texts read, she decided to visit the library.
While wandering among the bookshelves, she suddenly heard the door creak open, followed by an unfamiliar young man’s voice saying, “Master, please.” Alarmed, Wei Linxia held her breath and hid behind a bookshelf, planning to wait for them to leave.
After a quarter-hour, Master Wei appeared deeply engaged in conversation. Wei Linxia noticed her usually reserved father was unusually animated, even more so than when Xi Linxuan and Xi Zhaoting came for lessons. This disciple must be exceptional.
During their discussion, Master Wei recalled a cherished rare book and invited the disciple to help find it. Wei Linxia crouched down, observing them and shifting to a hidden spot.
“Who’s there?” Master Wei seemed to sense something.
Curious about this scholar who changed her father’s demeanor, she stepped boldly from behind the bookshelf, glancing over. He had a fair complexion and a tall, crane-like bearing.
Master Wei introduced her, “Fei Yun, this is my daughter Linxia, a bit mischievous. Forgive her.”
The scholar laughed, “Master, you’re too kind,” and then addressed Wei Linxia, “I’m Mu Feiyun from Hejian.”
After Master Wei sent Wei Linxia to her room, she pondered why her father was drawn to this scholar. Previous students, though talented, often exhibited a level of arrogance far from the “modest gentleman” her father admired. Mu Feiyun clearly embodied his ideal scholar.
Later, when her mother subtly mentioned Mu Feiyun, Wei Linxia wanted to laugh. She feigned confusion, saying, “Daughter was already rude hiding in the study. How could I dare to look directly at a strange man? I didn’t see clearly.”
She didn’t dwell on this, for a more significant event awaited: the King of Huo had not forgotten their two-year agreement and sent a eunuch to summon Wei Linxia to the palace to treat a concubine.
After several months, Wei Linxia entered the palace again, sensing a strange atmosphere that made her shiver. Indeed, Queen Shen had passed away, and a new queen was imminent, with every concubine having a chance. This strangeness likely stemmed from a hidden power struggle.
Concubine Ren was different from Concubine Li. She appeared gentle, her eyes filled with soft emotion. King Huo was present, with two long-bearded imperial physicians nearby, seemingly worried about potential mishaps. Wei Linxia thought that while King Huo seemed under pressure, she had successfully taught even the precious prince from the capital, so what difficulty could this pose? Therefore, her hand was steady, her demeanor calm and composed. In contrast, Princess Yan occasionally swallowed nervously, probably frightened by the pitch-black needle.
The first diagnosis went smoothly, and King Huo seemed pleased, praising Wei Linxia. Their smiling faces felt piercing to her – wasn’t Queen Shen also King Huo’s first wife? Could their connection truly end after her grand funeral?
This was Wei Linxia’s second stay in the palace, serving Concubine Ren.
She observed Concubine Ren’s care for Xi Zhaoting, often sending delicate food and sighing about the Crown Prince’s upcoming coming-of-age ceremony and the Queen’s premature death. Wei Linxia subtly praised the lady’s kindness.
In the royal palace, Wei Linxia felt time crawl. Every sunset beyond the palace walls reminded her of the courtyard Xi Linxuan had gifted to the Wei family, with its vitality unlike this solemn palace. Thankfully, Concubine Ren’s health was improving, allowing Wei Linxia occasional returns home.
Next, she was unexpectedly summoned by the Empress Dowager. An eunuch presented her with yellowed, torn papers that the Empress Dowager claimed her father mentioned she could read. Though puzzled, she dared not refuse.
The content turned out to be a poem, likely found during archival sorting. After reading it to the Empress Dowager, who smiled contentedly, Wei Linxia felt perplexed, given the Empress Dowager’s enigmatic nature. Later, several sachets were laid out before her.
