In the blink of an eye, spring had arrived.
In Fuyao Hall.
After finishing her daily medicine, Xie Zhenrong began sewing an undergarment.
It was for the Crown Prince.
Although the Eastern Palace employed many skilled embroiderers, Xie Zhenrong still enjoyed occasionally making one or two pieces for the Crown Prince with her own hands.
The palace maid Hongbi entered and reported: “Crown Princess, Yongtai just came by and said the Crown Prince will be arriving shortly to dine with you.”
Upon hearing this, Xie Zhenrong hurriedly set aside the undergarment she was sewing.
She turned and instructed Zhuang Momo.
“Nanny, please go to the kitchen and have the Imperial Chef prepare several more dishes that His Highness enjoys.”
Zhuang Momo left cheerfully.
Yan Shixu arrived at Fuyao Hall in the middle of the Shen hour. Zhuang Momo glanced at the palace maid Caixia.
Understanding the hint, Caixia immediately went to the kitchen to have the dishes served.
When Yan Shixu saw the dining table nearly overflowing with dishes, he slightly furrowed his brow.
He couldn’t help but think of Wen Fengyi’s reheated pig trotters.
He looked at Xie Zhenrong and, after a moment’s hesitation, said: “There’s no need for such extravagance next time. The two of us cannot possibly finish so many dishes.”
Xie Zhenrong’s smiling face stiffened slightly but quickly returned to normal.
Zhuang Momo stepped forward and apologized: “This old servant took the liberty. I thought since the Crown Prince works tirelessly day and night, he should eat more to nourish his health.”
Yan Shixu looked at her: “Thank you for your concern, Momo. Then let’s remove some dishes and send them to the three Bong Yis at Yaohua Hall.”
“Yes.”
Zhuang Momo directed several eunuchs to come forward. They removed nine dishes in total and had them delivered to Yaohua Hall.
Seeing the dozens of dishes that remained, Yan Shixu was still not entirely satisfied, but ultimately said nothing more.
Among those prominent noble families, it was customary to maintain silence during meals and rest.
Palace maids stood nearby, serving dishes to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess as the two ate quietly.
Yan Shixu glanced up at Xie Zhenrong and noticed her bowl contained only a few vegetarian dishes and a plain soup.
After taking a few bites, she slowed her movements.
It seemed she was already full. She continued eating sporadically, merely to keep him company.
Yan Shixu suddenly lost his appetite and unusually advised:
“You’re too thin. You should eat more to regain your health.”
Xie Zhenrong was slightly startled. In their two years of marriage, this was the first time he had told her she was too thin.
Xie Zhenrong was indeed thin, with a slender frame and a waist so narrow it could be encircled by one hand.
To maintain her figure, she rarely ate meat, occasionally having some fish at most.
If she felt hungry during the day, she would snack on pastries or bird’s nest.
Pleased by the Crown Prince’s rare concern, Xie Zhenrong instructed Hongbi to serve her some meat dishes.
Seeing her eat a few pieces of meat as if facing an ordeal, Yan Shixu couldn’t help but recall how Wen Fengyi, during her first night serving him, had devoured an entire plate of pig trotters right in front of him.
Noticing the amusement in his eyes, Xie Zhenrong was puzzled.
Could her eating just a few pieces of meat make His Highness so happy?
Seeing her questioning look, Yan Shixu personally served her a piece of goose meat.
As if remembering something, he added: “The Imperial Observatory has been studying the celestial phenomena and predicts a meteor shower will occur in a few days.”
Upon hearing this, Xie Zhenrong was startled, her face paling slightly.
“A meteor shower? Has the Imperial Observatory confirmed which night? Your Highness, you must remember not to leave the palace.”
Seeing how frightened she was, Yan Shixu swallowed the words he had been about to say.
“It’s in three days. Since you’re afraid, you’d better stay safely inside Fuyao Hall.”
Xie Zhenrong didn’t think much and nodded repeatedly.
With a meteor shower descending from the heavens, how dare she go out?
The fall of a meteor shower often accompanies unfortunate events.
Such as the “Three Disasters of Youth” and “Unexpected Calamities” are all attributed to the meteor shower.
Thinking this, Xie Zhenrong once again reminded Yan Shixu, urging him not to leave the main hall on the evening three days later.
Yan Shixu didn’t nod in agreement. After finishing his meal, he left without staying overnight.
Xie Zhenrong watched his retreating figure, feeling somewhat reluctant.
…
In Yaohua Hall.
Wen Lier was just about to have her evening meal when an attendant from Fuyao Hall brought over two meat dishes and one vegetable dish, saying they were bestowed by the Crown Prince and Crown Princess.
Upon inquiry, she learned that the other two Bong Yis had also received rewards.
Wen Lier couldn’t finish so much food by herself, so she bestowed her own meal to Mama Qin, Qing Zhu, and Qing Mei.
She ate the dishes from Fuyao Hall herself.
Meanwhile, news of the meteor shower quickly spread throughout the palace, and naturally, the master and servants in Yaohua Hall also learned of it.
As usual, Wen Lier woke up early to pay respects to the Crown Princess. Upon returning, she saw Mama Qin kneeling outside the hall, bowing towards the sky while murmuring incessantly.
Puzzled, Wen Lier asked Qing Zhu beside her, “What is Mama Qin doing?”
Qing Zhu explained, “Mistress, Mama Qin is praying to the heavens. She’s asking the Lord of Heaven to protect you from being harmed by the meteor shower.”
So that was it.
On her way to pay respects today, Wen Lier overheard palace staff discussing the matter.
They were all terrified, fearing that even a single glance at the meteor shower would bring them a lifetime of misfortune.
But Wen Lier wasn’t afraid, because she had already witnessed a meteor shower once.
Not only her, but her entire family had seen it too.
That year she was eight years old, her father had been promoted from a seventh-rank county magistrate serving outside the capital to a fifth-rank official in the capital.
The whole family accompanied him to the capital for his new post. While passing through a remote area with no inns for lodging, her father found a dilapidated temple where the family spent the night.
Unexpectedly, that very night a meteor shower occurred.
Trapped in the wind-swept temple with a large section of the roof collapsed, they were forced to watch the meteor shower descend.
Wen Lier remembered how beautiful the scene was.
Meteors streaked across the sky carrying trails of fire, magnificent and dazzling.
At that time, both she and her older brother were mesmerized.
Their mother, terrified, rushed over and covered both their eyes with her hands.
But it was too late – they had already seen it, so they might as well enjoy the spectacle properly.
Over this incident, their mother worried for many days.
She constantly feared some misfortune would befall her children.
No amount of consolation from their father could ease her mind.
After arriving in the capital, as soon as they were settled, their mother hurried to a temple.
She prayed to Bodhisattva to protect her children from harm and keep her husband healthy.
She even offered to bear any potential calamities herself.
Later, she obtained protective talismans for every family member.
Only after a month passed without any mishap did she finally relax.
This proved that watching the meteor shower caused no harm – their family had been safe and healthy all these years.
If there was any misfortune, it was only when that scholar broke off their engagement, leading to her entering the Eastern Palace.
But actually, this couldn’t really be considered misfortune either.
For their family, it was unfavorable; but for some families, it was something they desperately desired.
Wen Lier discussed it with Mama Qin, Qing Zhu, and Qing Mei, but the three of them remained apprehensive.
Feeling somewhat helpless, she could only let them be.
…