Pushing open an ornately carved wooden door inlaid with peach blossoms, one enters the Rongyi Hall.
Jiang Kui took the excuse of the Consort having words for her, and quietly slipped away from the earlier fortune-telling session. Xie Yao was still clinging to Xie Kuan, asking him to divine her peach blossom luck, while Xie Kuan had rearranged his bamboo lots and started chanting again.
As the door closed behind her, the noisy chatter from outside was blocked off. Tranquil floral fragrances drifted inside the hall, mingled with the sweet cleanness of gardenias, the extravagance of roses, the refreshing nature of lotuses…all kinds of fragrances blended together, for a moment it was as if flowers were blooming in profusion, unfolding a dazzling early spring.
“Has the young miss come?” Consort Zhao sat before an incense table, head bowed as she adjusted an incense formula. “The fragrances in this hall are a bit too strong, I wonder if it displeases you?”
Jiang Kui shook her head. “It smells very nice.”
Consort Zhao indicated for her to sit nearby, then picked up a porcelain bottle and held it under her nose, asking: “I recently formulated this new scent, does it smell alright?”
A faint, clean fragrance emanated from the bottle. It was extremely faint, yet somehow provoked an inexplicable feeling of intoxication. Jiang Kui cradled the bottle and sniffed it for a while, then nodded. “Lovely fragrance.”
“I waited seven years for this scent,” Consort Zhao said with a smile. “Sandalwood, cinnamon leaves, winter-plum-blossom snow – those were easy to find. It was that pot of peonies brought from Jiangnan I nurtured for years before they finally bloomed. At summer’s end I plucked the petals and soaked them in our mountain springwater to make this scent. Who knew, after a summer had passed, the flowers had withered. I’m afraid I won’t be able to revive them in future.”
Her tone was leisurely, as if she were merely chatting about flowers. Yet her words also seemed meaningful, each syllable containing many inexpressible connotations, sounding serenely amidst the hall full of fragrances.
“Let’s not talk about this.” She pushed over a white porcelain bowl and placed it in front of Jiang Kui. “Has young miss dyed her nails before? Since this is our first meeting, as an elder I should gift the junior something. Not knowing what else may delight you, I thought to teach you one of my cosmetic secrets.”
The white porcelain bowl contained a crimson liquid, squeezed from fengxian flowers. Consort Zhao’s cosmetic secret for nail dyeing turned out to be her own method of coloring her nails. She dipped a brush into the prepared fengxian juice and carefully painted onto Jiang Kui’s smooth, petite nail beds. Soon that pair of fair, slender hands were dyed a bright hue which strikingly contrasted their fairness.
As Consort Zhao painted, she said: “I devised this method myself. His Majesty was most captivated when he first saw it. Later, the entire Chang’an city tried to emulate it, but they could never reproduce the same color from these flowers.”
Within the fragrance-filled hall, Consort Zhao taught Jiang Kui to dye nails while chatting casually about things from Chang’an stories to Jiangnan sceneries. Whenever an amusing anecdote was mentioned, she would give a laugh. Jiang Kui soon grew fond of this gentle Consort, and understood why Gui Fei had praised her agreeable temper.
When daylight waned and it was time to bid farewell, Consort Zhao pushed the white porcelain bowl back to her side, then inconspicuously tugged Jiang Kui’s sleeve.
From this motion, Jiang Kui perceived that she was finally about to broach her true objective.
After spending so much time in the Rongyi Hall, the two women had in fact been waiting for the chance to speak all along. Since Consort Zhao claimed to “have words” for her, what she wanted to say definitely wasn’t tips on nail dyeing, but rather, she had important matters to discuss.
Consort Zhao’s expression grew solemn. Head lowered, she softened her voice. “The General’s Residence is facing adversity.”
Jiang Kui waited for her to continue.
“This matter is far too confidential, I do not know how else to convey it to the Imperial Concubine. I can only pass it through you.” She bent her head to tidy up the nail dyeing tools, the clinking sounds of porcelain hiding her words. “I have an old townsman from Huai Prefecture who holds office in court. He caught wind of a rumor – that someone is plotting to impeach the General’s Residence for faction forming. It’s said evidence has already been mostly gathered…”
“The Imperial Concubine helped me greatly when I first entered the palace, so I’m repaying her kindness. But being confined deep within the palace walls, my abilities to help are limited to just this…”
Speaking softly, she stood to store the porcelain wares back into a sandalwood cabinet. Turning around, her expression changed as she smiled again and switched topics: “The one I birthed – his wits are dull. He’ll have to keep troubling young miss to guide him in future.”
Jiang Kui curtsied to her. “The Consort’s words, this young miss takes to heart.”
“Go back now,” Consort Zhao smiled with an inclination of her head. “It’s late, the Imperial Concubine awaits you.”
When Jiang Kui stepped into the Penglai Hall, lights already blazed brightly within.
Before the magnificently carved hall gates, Gui Fei stood smiling amidst the glow, awaiting her arrival. Clad in a gown of rose-printed gauze over silk crepe, half-veiled by a thin silken cloak, she held aloft a golden lotus lantern. Long dark tresses were elegantly coiled into a beauty’s upward do, serene as still water amidst the shifting radiance.
Having exchanged curtsies in greeting, Jiang Kui hurriedly called out: “Elder sister! I have words for you.”
Gui Fei raised a hand to press over her lips. “Let’s speak inside the palace.”
The bright-faced young aunt looped arms to walk inside with her. Jiang Kui listened for her swaying beaded hangings, steps light and pleasing to the ear. Once in the room, seeing no one else inside, Jiang Kui whispered into her ear: “Consort Zhao asked me to pass along a message – the General’s Residence faces adversity…”
Gui Fei silenced her again with a finger upon her lips.
She murmured: “Say no more, I already know.”
Jiang Kui blinked.
“Whatever news Consort Zhao knows, I’m bound to know as well. By relaying through you, she also wants to emphasize to me again that things are not so simple. I will later send her gifts in thanks.”
“Will the situation become…very serious?”
“As confined women of the inner palaces, there is little we can do to interfere in courtly matters.” Gui Fei frowned and shook her head. “Accusations of faction forming are bogus…don’t worry.”
Jiang Kui tilted her head to gaze at her. Amidst candle flames, her profile was glamorously fair. Darkened brows knitted over the bridge of her nose as she fretted, then slowly unfurrowed.
“Is my Xiao Man hungry now?” Her tone turned breezy. “I waited to dine together with you.”
Within the formal hall, two dining tables were laid out and draped in tribute silks and brocades, laden fully with assorted dishes and delicate morsels. Bathing in warm candlelight, the spread looked extremely fragrant and tempting.
The two women partook of supper together. Jiang Kui sat with knees gathered before Gui Fei and carefully recounted the day’s events, avoiding only the misadventure of trespassing into the imperial mausoleum.
She talked about attending lecture at the Academy, plucking lotus roots in the Eastern Palace, and Xie Wuyan’s zither performance. Gui Fei listened intently, interjecting occasional commentary. When Jiang Kui described the academy lessons’ content, Gui Fei supplemented a hilarious childhood story about Jiang Kui’s third older brother’s school days. The two laughed merrily together.
After laughing for a spell, Gui Fei tidied Jiang Kui’s collar and said to her: “What will you wear for the Autumn Festival banquet preparations?”
Jiang Kui tilted her head puzzledly. “Am I allowed to leave the palace to attend the banquet?”
Gui Fei smiled. “Naturally. The future Crown Princess, soon to be wed next month, must dazzle at this autumn’s grandest Autumn Festival banquet in Chang’an City. Let those young ladies from prestigious houses look and see for themselves what makes an unparalleled beauty that can captivate a nation.” She shook her head with a smile. “I was famed all over Chang’an around your age too.”
She clapped her hands. “Bring it out.”
Two palace women rolled out a clothing rack from which a formal gown was suspended.
It was an ankle-length long skirt made from twelve panels of Shu brocade. The gown’s under-layer was snowy white silk, while its outer layer was luxurious Shu brocade. Sparrow motifs in gold thread were intricately embroidered over the skirt, each the size of a grain of rice. The complex decorative patterns were woven from fine threads made by twisting colored feathers together.
Fold after fold of lustrous brocade material gathered at the skirt’s hem, colors light and dark spilling forth like a bubbling fountain. Candle flames filtered through the semi-translucent veil overlay, illuminating the outermost layer of scarlet brocade. Embroidered flowers and birds shimmered vibrantly to life.
In the stirring breeze, unfurling sleeves were like blossoms spreading for beauties to pluck.
“Do you like it?” Gui Fei gazed fondly upon her young niece. “I prepared this to gift you, consider it a present from auntie. You seldom venture outside usually and dress very plainly. For your first banquet since getting engaged, you must be finely adorned.”
Jiang Kui went up to run her fingers over the vibrant material. The slightly cool, smooth texture was pleasing against her fingertips. She murmured in soft admiration: “So beautiful…I’ve never worn such opulent clothing before.”
Gui Fei laughed with a shake of her head: “Once you’re formally wed next month, your bridal ensemble will be exponentially more splendid than this.”
“Wear this to the banquet,” she said, pride lining her voice. “The Jiang clan’s daughter is born to dazzle Chang’an.”
Accompanied by two palace women, Jiang Kui went to try on the dress in the inner chamber. Gui Fei watched her retreating back, then abruptly recalled her own girlhood days – innocent and unrestrained, full of youthful spirit, wearing such fineries that stunned all Chang’an with her beauty too.
Alone beneath the dim candle flames, she gave a wistful sigh after a passing smile.
On the twenty-seventh of July, the Riverside Autumn Festival Banquet.
Beneath the newly lit lanterns, pleasure barges dotted the river, vibrant pennants drawing close to touch the heavens.
This year’s Autumn Festival Banquet demonstrated remarkable ingenuity. The host had requested guests board small boats to float from shore towards the festooned barges, drifting slowly amidst shimmering waters, arriving unhurriedly amidst illuminations and moonbeams.
Strains of strings and pipes sounded alongside, picturesque lakeside vistas greeted the eye. The ambience was refined and poetic.
Aboard an ebony skiff sat an elegant youth wearing a jadeite cap. Clad in dark crimson court robes and gold-lined black calfskin boots, he leaned indolently in the cabin, propping up his chin as he listened to music wafting over the waters.
“Your Highness, we’ve arrived.” Luo Shiyi extended a hand to assist him.
Xie Wuyan lifted a corner of the gauze curtain and bent to exit the cabin. Glancing up, he saw in the distance, standing atop one of the barges, the girl.
She stood amidst endless glows of lantern light. Garbed in a scarlet ankle-length gown, long dark tresses elegantly coiled atop her head in a decorous hair knot. Candle radiance softly outlined the fine lines of beauty, tracing the portrait of a bright, gorgeous noble lady.
Many figures clustered around her, men and women. They hemmed her in front and back, some pouring wine, some chatting, some leaning in very close – like bees drawn by the scent of blossoms.
Xie Wuyan’s brows knitted slightly.
The girl on deck happened to turn around then and glimpsed the approaching skiff.
As if sensing his gaze, she quietly made a full curtsy towards the small craft amidst the crowds. Rippling waters reflected her silhouette curtsying within wavering lantern glows, the long shadow cast onto the shimmering surface.
Xie Wuyan remained standing at the prow, returning her greeting from afar.
Starlight from the vast heavens scattered soundlessly over both bowing shadows.
Xie Wuyan’s mood abruptly lightened.
“Your Highness?” Luo Shiyi asked.
“It’s nothing,” Xie Wuyan gave a faint smile. “Let us go enjoy the festivities.”
Leave a Reply