7 Requesting an Audience
◎Gu Ningxi politely asked, “Could you please inquire whether Prince Zhao is currently at his residence?”◎
Apart from this minor incident, the entire midday banquet at the Eastern Palace could be considered a pleasant gathering for both guests and hosts.
Prince Zhao’s orders were naturally carried out immediately. Shortly after the banquet concluded, an official from Prince Zhao’s residence came to brief Gu Ningxi on the arrangements.
In this dynasty, officials had one day of rest every ten days. As she held positions in both the Ministry of Works and the Eastern Palace, Gu Ningxi typically served at the Eastern Palace on days ending in three, six, or nine, while attending the morning roll call at the Ministry of Works on the remaining days.
The new arrangement was quite straightforward: from now on, Gu Ningxi would go to Prince Zhao’s residence on days ending in three, six, or nine, while her duties at the Ministry of Works remained unchanged.
Gu Ningxi tentatively inquired, “May I ask how long I will be assigned to Prince Zhao’s residence—one month or two?”
The official, however, evaded the question, smiling ambiguously. “This humble official does not know His Highness’s intentions. If you have any concerns, Lord Gu, you may personally ask His Highness.”
Having conveyed the arrangements, he did not linger, bowing and saying, “This humble official takes his leave.”
Gu Ningxi returned the courtesy while inwardly sighing.
Her colleagues from the Eastern Palace had already left for home one after another. Knowing that Lord Gu would soon have an audience with the Crown Prince, none invited her to leave the Eastern Palace together.
Two of them seemed hesitant to speak, wondering if today was simply an unlucky day for Lord Gu. Attending a banquet in good spirits, yet unexpectedly caught up in such a disturbance.
But upon calm reflection, it was not entirely surprising. After all, they were more or less aware of the old grievances between Prince Zhao and Zhongyun Gu. Back then, the edict demoting Prince Zhao and sending him out of the capital, personally drafted by Lord Gu, was exceptionally eloquent. When Lord Gu was still at the Eastern Palace, it was manageable, but now that she had entered Prince Zhao’s residence, how she would be treated was entirely up to Prince Zhao.
While everyone else left with ease, Gu Ningxi sat alone under the corridor, waiting for the Crown Prince to have leisure to summon her.
…
Already thoroughly exhausted from the day, Gu Ningxi had little energy to attend to the scrolls placed in her study shortly after returning to the residence. Around the hour of Shen, Marquis Xuanping sent word that he would dine at Qinlan Courtyard in the evening.
Madam Meng naturally made preparations according to protocol, unable to contain her joy. “It’s fortunate you’re at the residence today, so you can have a proper talk with your father.”
Gu Ningxi forced a smile, well aware of her father’s intentions.
Madam Meng still harbored hopes of restoring her daughter’s true identity. Seeing that Xi’er had already passed her nineteenth birthday, she wondered what plans the Marquis’s household had in mind.
“If the opportunity arises, you should mention it to your father,” she said. The Marquis still cared for Xi’er; surely he would not simply neglect his daughter’s happiness.
Half of the orchids in the courtyard had bloomed, elegant and delicate. Marquis Xuanping occasionally visited to admire the flowers when he had leisure.
“Greetings, Marquis.”
There were few maidservants attending the inner courtyard, and they all paused their tasks to bow upon seeing the Marquis.
Marquis Xuanping was not in official attire, his appearance dignified and handsome. Even past the age of forty, he remained imposing and distinguished.
The side room was prepared with dishes. Madam Meng, meticulous as always, had instructed that the two dishes the Marquis had recently favored be placed closer to him. She knew that the Marquis had punished the third young master by making him kneel in the ancestral hall the day before. He was always strict in disciplining his sons but gentler with Xi’er. Moreover, Xi’er had always been sensible, giving them little cause for worry.
Marquis Xuanping sat at the head of the table, accepting the soup Madam Meng offered.
Stirring the copper spoon unhurriedly, he said, “I heard that at today’s banquet in the Eastern Palace, Prince Zhao transferred you to his residence?”
Madam Meng was startled, pausing as she ladled soup for her daughter.
Gu Ningxi replied “yes” and truthfully recounted the situation at the banquet. News of the Crown Prince and Prince Zhao contending at the Eastern Palace banquet—how could such information possibly be kept hidden?
Marquis Xuanping paused for a moment: “What is His Highness the Crown Prince’s opinion?”
After the guests had all dispersed, Gu Ningxi remained in the Eastern Palace study for an additional two quarters of an hour. Fortunately, His Highness the Crown Prince was reasonable enough to understand that this matter had nothing to do with her.
Gu Ningxi said: “His Highness ordered me to first follow the arrangements of Prince Zhao’s residence. If there are any difficulties, I am to inform him directly.”
His Highness the Crown Prince had always treated others with leniency and kindness. Upon hearing this, Madam Meng felt somewhat reassured.
Of course, Gu Ningxi did not truly expect the Crown Prince to take her side; she merely took his words at face value.
Marquis Xuanping pondered for a while: “What are your plans regarding this matter?”
“Prince Zhao’s influence is formidable. For now, I can only respond to changes by remaining unchanged.”
She waited for her father to convey the family’s stance, but Marquis Xuanping only said: “That is also acceptable. His Majesty values both the Crown Prince and Prince Zhao. You need only fulfill your duties.”
Since Madam Meng was present, Marquis Xuanping did not discuss court affairs further.
“I understand.”
Gu Ningxi lowered her head to drink her soup. Her father’s attitude was somewhat more composed than she had anticipated. Originally, she thought that since the Gu family had aligned itself with the Eastern Palace, if she were to go to Prince Zhao’s residence, the family would surely need to deliberate carefully. Her father’s decision represented her grandfather’s will. Could it be… that the Gu residence still had a backup plan?
The meal was consumed with each harboring their own thoughts. After Marquis Xuanping left, Madam Meng worriedly said: “Everything was fine, so why are you going to serve at Prince Zhao’s residence again?”
In front of her mother, Gu Ningxi naturally had another prepared explanation: “It’s just a routine transfer. After all, I receive an official salary from the court and must follow arrangements.”
This reasoning made some sense, and Madam Meng’s furrowed brow relaxed slightly.
Gu Ningxi spoke half-truths: “Moreover, I have known His Highness Prince Zhao for many years, so there is some familiarity. Serving at Prince Zhao’s residence might even be more comfortable than at the Eastern Palace.”
Madam Meng knew something of her daughter’s past with Prince Zhao. Back when Empress Yiwen was alive, she had been very fond of Xi’er.
Having reassured her mother, Gu Ningxi smiled and said: “Mother, I am tired today and will retire to rest now.”
Having attended two social engagements in one day, she was indeed exhausted.
Madam Meng nodded: “Go quickly then, and sleep early tonight.”
“Yes, alright.”
Returning to Leyou Courtyard, the maids were already preparing hot water for her bath.
Gu Ningxi sat in her bedroom for a moment before pushing open the door to the bathing chamber.
The entire day had been chaotic. She sank into the bathtub.
Originally, she had been wavering, but now she had no choice but to go to Prince Zhao’s residence and investigate.
White mist swirled, the full moon sank in the west, and tonight’s dreams were once again filled with lingering tenderness.
The night-luminescent pearl in the corner of the hall emitted a faint, luminous glow.
A palm covered…, slender, jade-like fingers freely…
Perfect fullness, the touch was supremely smooth, soft, and luxurious.
The moonlight dimmed.
…
Even though Gu Ningxi, upon waking, was unwilling to face Prince Zhao, by the third quarter of the hour of mao, her carriage had arrived before Prince Zhao’s residence.
Prince Zhao’s residence was located west of the imperial city. It was the mansion personally designated by His Majesty when Prince Zhao Lu Jing was enfeoffed as a prince and established his residence at the age of fourteen.
Gu Ningxi’s attendant behind her went to present her name card to the residence’s gatekeeper. She waited at the foot of the steps for a while, looking up she could see the gilded residence plaque inscribed by His Majesty’s own hand.
The morning sun had just risen, bathing the ground in its light. A servant stepped forward and bowed: “Lord Gu, please.”
Gu Ningxi had visited Prince Zhao’s residence many times before, but after its renovation, she was no longer familiar with many of the paths. Fortunately, a servant from the residence guided her.
Passing through several covered corridors, several rows of duty rooms had been newly added to the west side of Prince Zhao’s residence, specifically for officials on duty.
When Prince Zhao returned victorious to the court, His Majesty had issued an edict praising him, granting him permission to appoint his own officials and recruit talents. The official regulations were only reduced by twenty percent compared to the Eastern Palace, so it was not without reason that Prince Zhao requested officials to come to his residence.
Gu Ningxi was assigned a separate duty room, working apart from the other officials of Prince Zhao’s residence. This arrangement allowed everyone to feel more at ease, saving them the trouble of having to guard against each other.
The room was divided into two sections. On the elmwood desk, brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were fully prepared, and there was also a bookshelf for storing books.
Sunlight streamed through the window, making the room exceptionally bright.
A maid came to brew tea, but aside from that, there were no other visitors.
“If you have any instructions, Madam Gu, you may call for me.”
Gu Ningxi nodded politely to her, placed the teacup on her left side, and spread out the Ministry of Works blueprint she had brought on the desk.
The day before yesterday, while on duty at the Ministry of Works, the Vice Minister had specifically called her in for a discussion. Prince Zhao’s residence had not yet been fully expanded, but His Majesty and Prince Zhao seemed dissatisfied with the completed sections. For this reason, His Majesty had summoned the Minister for detailed inquiries. Fortunately, according to Prince Zhao’s wishes, the already completed sections did not need to be altered, to avoid wasting the treasury’s resources. His Highness was considerate, but for the remaining areas of the residence, the Ministry of Works had to put in extra effort to readjust.
Gu Ningxi had not been involved in the project for Prince Zhao’s residence over the past six months, but as the Ministry of Works was reassigning personnel for this task, she was eventually selected. Moreover, the Vice Minister knew that she had just been assigned to Prince Zhao’s residence for duty, saying, “With this proximity, you can devote more attention to it.”
The original blueprint was finalized and handed to her yesterday, but Gu Ningxi had not yet had the chance to examine it in detail. The blueprint depicted a newly expanded section of Prince Zhao’s residence, covering eleven acres from the garden to the training ground.
Two other officials from the Ministry of Works were also involved in this matter. Gu Ningxi was in charge of drafting, though her rank did not yet qualify her to take full responsibility. On one hand, the construction of Prince Zhao’s residence was mostly completed; on the other, the project had become a hot potato, and it was handed to her under the guise of a “heaven-sent opportunity.”
Treating it as a learning experience, Gu Ningxi did not seek to achieve merit but only hoped to avoid mistakes.
She familiarized herself with the blueprint, occasionally making careful annotations on it.
The duty room was quiet and undisturbed. Outside the window, the trees were lush and green, making it an ideal place for work.
At lunchtime, someone delivered a meal—three dishes and a soup, mostly to Gu Ningxi’s taste. However, she had little appetite and only drank half a bowl of soup.
Throughout the day, Prince Zhao’s residence did not assign any other miscellaneous tasks to her, allowing Gu Ningxi to focus entirely on her work.
She rubbed her temples. In truth, it was not bad to have such peace and quiet; it was even more relaxed than being in the Eastern Palace or the Ministry of Works. But Prince Zhao’s residence was not a place where she could stay for long, and she did not know when the Crown Prince would summon her back.
After familiarizing herself with the blueprint, Gu Ningxi knew it was unwise to rely solely on theoretical planning in the duty room. She lacked confidence in renovating Prince Zhao’s residence based solely on the blueprint.
Although yesterday’s dream was embarrassing, it was not real. As long as she did not dwell on it, no one else would know.
Gu Ningxi comforted herself in this manner. After pondering for a long while, she pushed open the door. Two attendants were waiting outside for her instructions, both of them from Prince Zhao’s residence.
Gu Ningxi politely asked, “Could you please inquire whether Prince Zhao is currently at the residence?”
One of them bowed and replied, “Yes, Lord Gu.”
[Author’s Note]
Daughter: Seriously, what kind of dreams have I been having all day?
Little Lu: Seriously, why can’t I have dreams like these?