The noble girl is beautiful.

Ji Zhuo left, and not far off, Shen Qinghan returned. Shen Yourong collected her emotions and returned to her seat with her.

After the banquet ended, everyone expressed their thanks and left the palace. The old lady of the Qi State Duke’s residence accompanied everyone to spend some time in the Palace. When they were about to leave, Lady Shu still asked Shen Yourong to stay.

“I’m used to the quiet in this palace. Having the eldest young lady here makes it livelier,” Lady Shu said. The old lady naturally couldn’t refuse, so she told Shen Yourong, “You stay and accompany the empress. Tomorrow, ask Hua Mei and Du Juan to come and serve you.”

She agreed, and everyone finally dispersed.

She stayed in the palace. She wasn’t sure what Lady Shu’s intentions were. Logically, since Shen Qingyan’s marriage with the Fourth Prince had received the Emperor’s approval, it should have no further impact on her. However, Lady Shu never mentioned it again. Each day, Shen Yourong simply accompanied her for conversation and meals, just as before.

One day, the rain was misty, and the trees in the distance were veiled in mist, presenting a delicate and picturesque scene like the water towns of Jiangnan. Lady Shu decided to visit the Imperial Garden to enjoy the rain and asked Shen Yourong to accompany her.

“I’ve always liked rainy days,” she said. “When I was a girl, I loved going to the garden on rainy days. There was a pavilion in the middle of the lake from which the misty lake could be seen, looking like a fairyland. I wonder if that pavilion still exists.”

“It does,” Shen Yourong supported her, saying, “Father mentioned that you loved playing in the pavilion, so when they were restoring the lake, he specifically instructed to keep the pavilion. Usually, we are not allowed to go inside, as they fear we might damage things.”

Lady Shu smiled and said, “It’s just a pavilion. You should be allowed to enjoy it.”

Shen Yourong added, “Father often goes to the pavilion, sitting there for quite a while.”

Lady Shu’s smile gradually faded, revealing rare melancholy. “Since I entered the palace, I haven’t seen my brother for over twenty years. Even when we do meet, it’s only at palace banquets, and I can’t see his face clearly from afar.”

Shen Yourong didn’t know how to respond. Lady Shu patted her hand and said, “I have only one son, the Fourth Prince. I’ve always wished for a daughter. Looking at you is like seeing my own daughter. If you had married the Fourth Prince, you could have been with me every day. I always said my Rong’er was incredibly fortunate, destined for a life of luxury. It’s a pity this issue came up.”

Shen Yourong carefully replied, “Aunt has given so much care to me.”

Lady Shu shook her head and said no more. They entered a pavilion where servants quickly spread out bedding and burned incense. Lady Shu led her around a screen to an inner room and instructed the servants to open the windows, allowing them to look at the misty rain wetting the grass and trees. Shen Yourong brought hot ginger tea and said, “Your Highness, drink some ginger tea to ward off the dampness.”

Lady Shu took it and took a small sip. Suddenly, there was a noise outside, and the sound of servants kneeling and paying respects came through the screen.

“Long live the Emperor.”

Shen Yourong was startled and was about to rise when Lady Shu pressed her back down. She looked at her in confusion, but Lady Shu merely shook her head without saying a word.

So she remained silent and still, listening to the commotion outside.

The Emperor’s voice was old and weary. “It’s been a while since you last came to the palace. What have you been doing lately?”

“Replying to Your Majesty,” the speaker’s voice was clear and familiar, “there have been many scholars gathering in the capital recently. Unable to tolerate the socializing, I went to Donglin Temple. The head monk there is highly skilled in Buddhism, and I feel unworthy.”

The Emperor chuckled. “You are of noble birth; why compare your understanding of Buddhism with a monk?”

Ji Zhuo’s tone was humble and respectful, like that of a sincere scholar. “Buddhism emphasizes equality among all beings. Though I am a noble, my knowledge of Buddhist teachings is inferior to that of the monks.”

The Emperor laughed and then changed the subject. “Your nephew’s marriage is about to be decided. There’s no news from your side. Do you intend to become a monk yourself?”

Ji Zhuo smiled and said, “Such matters are dependent on fate.”

The Emperor looked at him and suddenly asked, “A few days ago at the palace banquet, a eunuch saw you meeting with the eldest daughter of the Shen family.”

Shen Yourong’s heart sank.

Outside the screen, Ji Zhuo’s expression remained unchanged. “Yes, I used to stay at the Qi State Duke’s residence and have a mentor-student relationship with the Shen family’s children. I had taught the eldest daughter calligraphy before. At the banquet, seeing her writing reminded me of mine, so I spoke with her directly.”

“You’re too cautious,” the Emperor said, lifting his tea bowl. “Speaking of which, there’s a matter I need to discuss with you. The eldest daughter of the Shen family was originally intended for the Fourth Prince, but since the Fourth Prince is interested in the third daughter, it’s no longer feasible. I’ve heard that a fortune teller said the eldest daughter’s fate is extraordinarily auspicious.”

The Emperor gazed steadily at the respectful Ji Zhuo. “Such a fate should not be left to chance in marriage. Therefore, I am considering bringing her into the palace. What do you think?”

Shen Yourong felt her heart drop to the bottom, almost unable to believe the Emperor’s words.

Ji Zhuo appeared slightly surprised, then pondered for a moment before replying, “If the eldest daughter of the Shen family were to enter the palace, it’s likely that the Qi State Duke wouldn’t be very willing. However, since Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, allowing the Shen family’s eldest daughter to enter the palace would be an honor and show favor to the Qi State Duke, so he would likely agree.”

Behind the screen, Shen Yourong’s hands, which were held by Lady Shu, were icy cold.

The Emperor was deep in thought. She felt as if a guillotine were hanging over her neck, with her fate resting on the Emperor’s next words.

“Never mind,” he said. “A young girl entering the palace to serve an old man like me goes against natural principles.”

The Emperor looked at Ji Zhuo and said slowly, “I also don’t want a repeat of the situation with Empress Zhao Yi.”

Ji Zhuo’s expression tensed instantly.

Empress Zhao Yi was his mother, who became empress at sixteen when the previous Emperor was already over sixty, an old man nearing the end of his days.

Behind the screen, Lady Shu patted Shen Yourong’s hands and whispered, “Go fetch a plate of pastries.”

It was rare for Shen Yourong to maintain her composure in such a situation. She stood up and returned with a plate of pastries from a small table. Her figure was blurred as she moved behind the screen.
The Emperor seemed to have just noticed someone behind the screen. A palace servant came in to report. The Emperor smiled at Ji Zhuo and said, “It turns out the Empress Dowager has brought her niece here. Let’s go for a walk elsewhere.”

Ji Zhuo showed just the right amount of surprise and agreed, “Alright.”

He left with the Emperor. The shadow of Shen Yourong remained on the screen, but he did not look back.

Behind the screen, Shen Yourong attended to the Empress Dowager.

“Rong’er, you heard what the Emperor said just now,” the Empress Dowager advised. “I’ll be direct with you. The Third Miss is merely a secondary consort to the prince. If you wish to contest for something more, it’s not impossible. Otherwise, with your current situation, who would dare to marry you? Rong’er, think carefully.”

Shen Yourong bowed and replied, “Thank you, Your Highness.”

In the afternoon, the Empress Dowager no longer kept Shen Yourong. She gave numerous instructions and rewards and had someone escort her out of the palace.

The rain grew heavier, almost turning into a torrential downpour. Shen Yourong, draped in a stone-blue cloak and escorted by palace servants, walked down the long palace path. The rain soaked her shoes and skirt, but she maintained a composed demeanor, though her steps quickened.

At the palace gate, the Qi State Duke’s carriage was waiting. As she reached the carriage, she suddenly heard footsteps behind her.

Turning around, she saw Ji Zhuo through the heavy rain. He was also leaving the palace at this time, with his carriage also at the palace gate. However, he did not get into the carriage; he stood in the rain, tall and upright like a green bamboo.

She looked at him but couldn’t make out his expression. The rain was so dense that it nearly obscured his entire figure. She opened her mouth, suddenly finding it hard to breathe. She stopped looking at him and turned to get into the carriage.

The wheels of the carriage rumbled over the stone pavement, and the rain beat against the roof, filling the world with these two sounds.

In the torrential downpour, several maidservants and servants came to greet her, though they were drenched by the rain. Upon returning to the courtyard, the maidservants hurried to boil water and prepare ginger soup, running back and forth. Shen Yourong walked into the courtyard and up the stone steps. Perhaps due to the rain, she felt an unprecedented heaviness.

She allowed the maidservants to change her clothes and undo her hair. Du Juan persuaded her to finish a bowl of ginger soup and helped her lie down on the bed. The red coverlet was dry and warm. Du Juan covered her with a blanket, drew the curtains, and sent all the small maidservants out. The room quickly fell into silence.

She stood by the door. After some time, she heard a suppressed sobbing coming from the bed.
——————–
https://ko-fi.com/quarinnah