Chapter 75: Punished to Kneel

Chapter 75: Punished to Kneel

Soon, on the day of the Double Ninth Festival, Yaohua Palace was also adorned with festive treats like chrysanthemum cakes and chrysanthemum tea.

Wan Song attached an autumn fragrance-colored silk sachet, embroidered with green chrysanthemums and filled with cornel, to Jiang Hui's waist, remarking, "The sun is quite strong today. Although we won't need a canopy, I'll bring a few bamboo umbrellas just in case."

The Emperor celebrated the festival by feasting with his ministers at Dongguan Tower, while Jiang Hui fancied reading at Langhuan Pavilion.

"Arrange as you see fit," Jiang Hui said softly, then asked, "Is Nian'er awake?"

Wan Song immediately replied, "Just woke up and is being sunbathed in the courtyard by the wet nurse."

Nian'er was nearly a year old now, getting healthier and could now be exposed to the wind.

Jiang Hui couldn't help but smile. After playing with Nian'er in the courtyard for a while, she instructed Shiliu and Hongying, "Don't let him sunbathe for too long. Later, have Mama Yang prepare some mashed fish for Nian'er to eat."

"Yes," the two maids replied crisply.

Langhuan Pavilion, located near the Zizhu Forest next to Chuxiu Palace, was a five-story pavilion with a resting hilltop style. The pavilion was intricately carved with mythical beasts like qilins and bai ze, and there were two wells in the courtyard nearby to prevent waterlogging in the pavilion.

Langhuan Pavilion, mythically known as the place where the Heavenly Emperor stored his books, was named so by the Great Ancestor, who filled it with ancient texts and rare manuscripts collected during his military campaigns.

"This servant greets Noble Consort Zhao, may Noble Consort Zhao be blessed with peace and prosperity."

The two young eunuchs guarding the door respectfully performed their salutations, and Jiang Hui nodded slightly, signaling them to rise.

Qiu Kui stepped forward and politely inquired, "I heard recently that the registrar Tian is airing out the books. Is it convenient to visit today?"

The eunuch replied with evident anxiety, "Yes, yes, the books were aired out yesterday. Noble Consort Zhao, please come in!"

As Jiang Hui stepped into the courtyard of Langhuan Pavilion, she saw the registrar Tian, who had hurriedly come out from the pavilion to greet her.

"What book would Noble Consort Zhao like to see? I will fetch it for you."

Registrar Tian was a woman with a delicate appearance, always carrying a faint scent of wormwood. To prevent bookworms, dried wormwood was often placed among the books.

Wormwood's fragrance is subtle initially, but after drying, the longer it is stored, the more intense and enduring the scent becomes.

"Is there a copy of 'Rongdi Shenglan' in the pavilion?" Jiang Hui asked softly.

'Rongdi Shenglan' is a travelogue about the northern Rong and western Di tribes, describing many customs and geographical features of the grasslands.

Its author, Hermit Li, also known as Xie You with the courtesy name Yuanzhou, was one of the key contributors to the founding of the Great Zhou dynasty, awarded the title Marquis Pingning. He is also a direct ancestor of the House of Marquis Cheng'en.

Unfortunately, the title of Marquis Pingning was not hereditary, and the members of the Xie family, later ennobled as Marquis Cheng'en, were all executed not long ago.

Registrar Tian appeared slightly startled, seemingly not expecting Noble Consort Zhao to seek this particular book, and quickly responded, "Yes, Noble Consort Zhao, please wait a moment."

Saying this, she gestured to the two young palace maids following her to attend to Noble Consort Zhao, while she herself lifted her skirt and headed to the deeper parts of the pavilion.

Jiang Hui didn't wish to simply sit and wait for Tian Sijie to fetch her book. Dismissing the two palace maids who were about to approach, she, accompanied by Qiu Kui and Wan Song, entered the pavilion, ascending to the second floor via a wooden ladder.

She wandered in front of several tall shelves for a while, turned a corner, and unexpectedly encountered Luo Meiren.

Luo Meiren, engrossed in a bamboo scroll, turned around at the sound of footsteps, quickly bowed, and said, "Noble Consort Zhao, greetings."

Luo Meiren, skilled in literature, always carried a subtle scholarly aura in her eyes and demeanor.

Before Xue Meiren discreetly interacted with Luo Meiren, she had even mentioned to Jiang Hui in Yaohua Palace that Luo Meiren seemed to deliberately imitate her behavior and style.

Seeing Luo Meiren holding a collection of Yuefu poems, Jiang Hui knew she had put effort into preparing a poem for the Double Ninth Festival, and said indifferently, "Rise."

Luo Meiren seemed a bit uneasy, softly asking, "Is Noble Consort Zhao also here to read in Langhuan Pavilion?"

"I'm merely strolling around. Continue with your reading," Jiang Hui replied without the intention of further conversation and continued forward, walking past a wooden shelf and gradually moving away.

Su Jin, following Luo Meiren, whispered, "My lady, shall we continue reading?"

Luo Meiren didn't answer immediately, gazing after Jiang Hui's departing figure somewhat absently before softly saying, "Let's read for another quarter of an hour."

Tian Sijie, well acquainted with every book in Langhuan Pavilion, quickly brought a handwritten copy of 'Rongdi Shenglan' to Jiang Hui.

Jiang Hui frowned slightly and asked, "Is the original copy of this book not available?"

Tian Sijie bowed and respectfully replied, "To answer Noble Consort Zhao, the original copy of 'Rongdi Shenglan' was taken by His Majesty a few days ago."

"His Majesty?" Jiang Hui slightly raised her eyebrows and nodded, "Thank you for your effort."

After the Double Ninth Festival, the weather turned colder day by day.

One day, Jiang Hui unusually felt like strolling around Taiye Pond. Just as she walked past a rockery, heading towards Zhaoyue Pavilion, she heard voices coming from inside.

"Sister Luo's poem for the Double Ninth Festival was indeed wonderful. No wonder His Majesty praised it. But, sister, you probably didn't expect His Majesty to still visit Yaohua Palace, did you?" It was the voice of Xue Bilin.

"What good does it do you to be promoted to a Talent, Sister Xue, if you still lack the ability to nurture an imperial heir?" Luo Meiren's voice carried suppressed anger.

Xue Bilin benefited from her father's merits as a Jinwu Guard Colonel during the autumn hunt and was promoted by the Emperor from Beauty to a sixth-rank Talent.

"Well, at least it's better than being just a sixth-rank beauty like Sister Luo, who's been in the palace for so long," said Lady Xue, her voice carrying a hint of haughtiness.

"You—!" Lady Luo seemed a bit angry and blurted out, "Ever since Sister Xue cozied up to Empress Dowager Zhao, she's become even more arrogant. Everyone knows that the crown prince is frail from birth and needs to take medicine all year round—"

"How dare you!" Qiukui scolded, stepping forward and assuming the stance of a senior maid in charge at Yaohua Palace. "Speaking ill of the prince is against palace rules. You should be punished with an hour of kneeling and three days of confinement."

It was then that everyone at Zhaoyue Pavilion realized that Jiang Hui was nearby. Their faces turned pale with fright as they bowed in greeting.

Lady Luo, especially, knelt before Jiang Hui with a pale face and said in a thin voice, "Empress Dowager Zhao, I didn't mean to—"

"Didn't mean to?" Jiang Hui looked down at Lady Luo kneeling at her feet and saw Lady Xue sweating profusely inside the pavilion. She said lightly, "If that's the case, then I'll waive the confinement. Just punish Lady Luo with two hours of kneeling."

Biting her lip, Lady Luo bowed her head and said, "As you command, Your Highness."

Losing interest in the scenery, Jiang Hui turned to leave, remarking indifferently, "Kneel on the path to Taiye Pool Palace instead. The stone path here at Zhaoyue Pavilion might harm your body."

The path to Taiye Pool Palace was bustling with palace staff, in contrast to the quiet and sparsely populated area around Zhaoyue Pavilion.

"Yes," Lady Luo replied, her fingers curling slightly as she struggled to speak.