After Ru Ge and Xiao Liu'er, the two of them, entered the East Side Hall, they hadn't even taken their seats when Xiao Liu'er couldn't help but exclaim,
"This residence is truly magnificent! It seems that Consort Shun treats Miss very well. When others enter the palace, they usually stay in the West Side Hall or the Warm Pavilion, but only Miss gets to stay in the East Side Hall."
She pursed her lips and there was a hint of pride in her tone as she said, "But it's also because Consort Shun considered the Emperor's face. Everyone knows that among the newly entered concubines, it was His Majesty who personally bestowed Miss with a title."
"It's not what I wanted," Ru Ge said, showing little interest.
She leaned back on the pearwood chair and took out the heart-shaped pendant with the character 'Rong' engraved on it, tightly clenching it in her hand.
The dried herbs adorned on it had long withered, and the straw prickled her delicate palm, causing her pain.
The pain made her shed tears.
Xiao Liu'er hurriedly took out a handkerchief and wiped her tears, tenderly advising, "Miss, please don't be sad. After entering the palace, you and Prince An are separated by mountains and oceans. This lifetime, we may never... I know Miss is feeling sad, but even for the sake of Master and Madam, we must live our days well. Isn't that right? Moreover, Consort Shun and Miss have similar preferences, so it shouldn't be difficult for them to get along."
"Similar preferences?" Ru Ge raised her weary eyes and looked at the blooming fields of fragrant grass outside the window, smiling bitterly as she said, "Are you referring to those fragrant grass?"
Xiao Liu'er said, "Doesn't Miss always want fresh fragrant grass in her chamber? And when we came here earlier, I saw that Shunxiang Gate is right ahead, and not far from there is the Ruyi Gallery. Isn't it more convenient for Miss to appreciate paintings in her daily life?"
A bitter smile formed at the corner of Ru Ge's lips, and she stopped speaking.
What she liked was not fragrant grass, but the resolute and steadfast plum blossoms that withstood the harshest snowstorm winds.
But because Xiao Jingyan liked fragrant grass, she felt that she should like it too.
She didn't like paintings, yet she stayed next to the Ruyi Gallery, which housed countless famous artworks.
Others always thought that Ru Ge had obtained everything she liked,
but only Ru Ge knew in her heart that there would be no joy in her life anymore.
She got up and walked to the side of the bed, lifted the pillow, and carefully placed the heart-shaped pendant under it,
then quietly laid down on the bed, pulling the thin curtain, and whispered to Xiao Liu'er,
"I'm tired, let's settle down."
*
Nightfall, the main hall of Zhuixia Palace.
Rongyue sat alone on a warm seat, holding a heart-shaped pendant in her hand, her gaze fixed upon it.
This pendant was no different from the one in Ru Ge's hand,
except that it was embroidered with a single character, 'Yan',
and the stitches were crooked and twisted, clearly not made by a woman's hand.
In the past, Rongyue and Xiao Jingyan had exchanged these heart-shaped pendants as a pledge of their love,
each sewing their own name, presenting them to each other in anticipation, becoming 'hearts as one'.
After entering the palace, Rongyue often found herself lost in thoughts while looking at this heart-shaped pendant,
resulting in slight yellowing around the edges.
"Squeak"
The palace doors were pushed open, startling Rongyue. She hurriedly hid the intertwined heart-shaped knot under a soft cushion made of goose feathers. Looking up, she saw Cai Ying enter with a calming drink. Only then did she place her hand on her chest and let out a sigh of relief.
"You walk so silently that you almost scared me," Rongyue said.
Cai Ying smiled and replied, "Perhaps the mistress was lost in thought, not even noticing the sound of her maidservant knocking."
She placed the calming drink on the table next to Rongyue and continued, "These past few nights, the mistress has been having trouble sleeping. This is a calming drink prescribed by Imperial Physician Zhang. Drinking it will help you sleep peacefully."
Rongyue picked up the calming drink, frowned, and drank it in one gulp. Just as Cai Ying was about to leave with an empty cup in her hand, Rongyue took out the intertwined heart-shaped knot hidden behind her and handed it to her.
"Take it and burn it carefully," Rongyue said.
Cai Ying was startled and asked, "Why would the mistress want to burn such a precious item?"
Rongyue smiled bitterly and shook her head. "Zhao is right. This palace is no longer just mine. I don't know the depths of Mrs. Nalan's intentions. Keeping this thing by my side will only invite trouble in the future."
She tightened her grip on the intertwined heart-shaped knot, took one last reluctant look at it, and said, "I don't want to involve him. I only hope that he will be fine."
Cai Ying nodded and replied, "Mistress, rest assured, I understand."
With that, Cai Ying took the intertwined heart-shaped knot and respectfully left the room.
The next morning,
When the concubines went to pay their respects to the empress, Zhi Lan, who was beside Consort Yun, came forward to ask for leave.
"Reporting to the empress, my mistress is feeling unwell this morning and cannot come to pay her respects."
Zhao Hua said, "It's alright, let her rest well."
While speaking, she noticed a tinge of pink and slight swelling in Ru Ge's eyes and asked, "Precious one, did you not rest well last night?"
Ru Ge replied, "Thank you for your concern, Empress. I'm fine, but I miss my parents..."
Zhao Hua said, "Once you enter the palace, this becomes your home. You must let go of many unnecessary thoughts."
These ambiguous words, Zhao Hua didn't know if Ru Ge caught their meaning, but she saw Ru Ge nod slightly and didn't continue speaking.
Afterwards, the concubines exchanged a few idle words, mostly the newcomers flatteringly praising Zhao Hua and expressing gratitude for her arrangements.
As the audience came to an end, Zhao Hua saw Rongyue stepping out of the palace gate, but she was stopped by Xiao Yinzi.
Not knowing what Xiao Yinzi said to Rongyue, after a brief conversation, Rongyue followed him.
Zhao Hua quickly ordered Xiao Fuzi to inquire about the situation.
About fifteen minutes later, Xiao Fuzi hurriedly ran back and said to Zhao Hua,
"Just now, Xiao Yinzi said that Consort Yun went to Chaoyang Palace early this morning and waited for the Emperor to finish court before requesting the Emperor to dismiss the attendants and had a long conversation with him inside.
When Xiao Yinzi went in again, the Emperor's expression was already not good, and he suppressed his anger and ordered him to inform Consort Shun to go to Chaoyang Palace to ask questions."
Hearing this, Zhao Hua's brows furrowed, and she had a vague sense of unease.
She quickly said, "Yun Shan, prepare some refreshments. We will go to Chaoyang Palace."
Meanwhile, in Chaoyang Palace.
As Rongyue entered the hall, she was surprised to find that there were no palace maids in such a large main hall. Xiao Jingheng sat at the head, his face covered in a gray haze, his gaze fixed sternly upon her.
Consort Yun, on the other hand, sat below on the platform, raising her delicate eyebrows and observing Rongyue as if watching a play.
The atmosphere in the hall was heavy, and Rongyue felt the pressure weighing on her chest.
Standing at the platform, she kneeled down and greeted Xiao Jingheng with a respectful gesture, "Your Majesty, I offer my greetings and well wishes."
Before Xiao Jingheng could respond, Consort Yun threw something dark and faintly red in front of her, exclaiming, "Consort Shun! How dare you!"
Rongyue was momentarily startled, her gaze falling upon the object in front of her.
Upon closer inspection, she realized it was a half-burnt intertwined love knot!
