The next morning, after just one night had passed.
Pan’er noticed that the atmosphere at the dining table had become slightly delicate.
The weather was chilly today, and hearing Nianyao speak with a hint of nasal congestion, Pan’er had prepared a radish porridge.
Pan’er glanced at Nianyao, who was coughing lightly, and then at Xu Mo, who sat with a stern expression, silent, yet his gaze repeatedly fell on Nianyao.
She shook her head and decided not to bother with them, focusing instead on filling her own stomach first.
Last night, the wind was cold and the dew heavy. Nianyao had sat on the bluestone steps for a long time, and upon waking this morning, she felt a tickle in her throat, her voice thick with nasal tones.
But Nianyao paid no mind to this. Her gaze subtly followed Xu Mo, her eyes filled with tenderness.
If she wasn’t mistaken, Xu Mo must be the child her aunt had risked her life to bring into the world.
Though she didn’t understand why the news from the palace back then had claimed both mother and child had perished.
Just by looking at his familiar features, Nianyao could sense that Xu Mo was undoubtedly her aunt’s surviving bloodline.
Her cousin.
Her only relative in the palace, unseen for over a decade.
Even if her cousin didn’t acknowledge her now, Nianyao was still content.
After breakfast, the scent of incense and sandalwood filled the Buddha hall, so pervasive that even when Nianyao lowered her head, she could smell it on her clothes.
The main hall of the Buddha hall was much larger than the rear courtyard, with a light layer of snow covering it, making the entire place feel even more serene and secluded.
The low murmur of sutra chanting echoed faintly in the air. Even Nianyao paused nearby, bowing her head to silently offer a prayer.
It wasn’t until Pan’er nudged her that Nianyao snapped out of her thoughts.
Her gaze fell on Xu Mo, kneeling on a cushion in the inner hall.
For the sutra chanting, he had changed into a dark gray robe.
The robe bore no embroidery, simple and ancient in style, yet it complemented his otherworldly eyes perfectly.
After Xu Mo finished chanting, he turned to look at the two standing on the stone steps.
His gaze never once landed on Nianyao.
Xu Mo spoke to Pan’er: “The task of collecting snow water today will be assigned to her.”
Pan’er was taken aback and instinctively looked at Nianyao beside her.
Her eyes fell on Nianyao’s fair, delicate fingers.
A flicker of pity crossed Pan’er’s eyes.
“Sister Nianyao is new to the Buddha hall and isn’t familiar with many rules yet. Perhaps I should still—”
Before she could finish, Xu Mo shot her a glance.
Pan’er knew that once he spoke, his words were never retracted.
Though she didn’t know what Nianyao had done to upset Xu Mo, Pan’er still gave him a reproachful look.
She then pulled Nianyao away.
Nianyao’s gaze lightly brushed over Xu Mo, like a colorful butterfly fluttering among flowers for just a moment before flying away.
Mist hung in the air, a rare fine day in winter.
Thinking of Xu Mo’s earlier words, Pan’er glanced again at Nianyao’s slender, jade-like fingers.
She whispered, “Did you hear what he said just now?”
Nianyao nodded: “I heard. Eunuch Xu asked me to collect snow water.”
She paused briefly: “When I was with the Empress Dowager, I also collected snow water for her tea. I wonder if what Eunuch Xu wants is different?”
Pan’er muttered quietly: “Of course it is. He’s deliberately making things difficult for you. This is a once-a-year task, and he’s giving it to a newcomer like you.”
Nianyao wasn’t far from Pan’er and naturally heard what she had just said.
Nianyao lowered her long eyelashes, her fair and smooth forehead appearing even fuller. The faint smile at the corner of her lips was quiet and well-behaved.
“It’s fine. It’s all work anyway. Pan’er, just take the trouble to teach me.”
Seeing her like this, even as a woman, Pan’er felt her heart soften.
“The snowmelt is to be offered to the Buddha statues. You must use clean hands to hold the snow on the branches and buds in your palms until it melts, then collect it in a small box.”
Hold the snow until it melts?
Nianyao lowered her gaze. When Pan’er had stopped her earlier, she thought it would be some extremely laborious task.
Turns out it’s just freezing her hands.
Nianyao met Pan’er’s worried eyes, her lips curving upward: “Don’t worry. I’ve done all kinds of hard and tiring work before. This is nothing.”
Her words greatly surprised Pan’er.
Pan’er looked her up and down, taking in Nianyao’s delicate, beautiful lotus-like face and her white, pearl-like fingers.
She didn’t look at all like someone who had done rough work before.
Seeing Pan’er’s somewhat disbelieving expression, Nianyao pressed her lower lip but didn’t wish to say more.
Noticing that Nianyao didn’t seem to take this matter to heart and hadn’t complained to her about the task Xu Mo assigned, Pan’er felt relieved inside.
There had been people entering the Buddha hall before, but Xu Mo’s temperament was solitary and rigid, like an old pedant.
With such a supervisor, they naturally didn’t want to stay long.
Before long, those people found other places to go and were no longer in the Buddha hall.
Someone as beautiful as Nianyao surely had a future beyond this.
But her temperament was gentle, and she was never cunning or lazy. Even today, when she was clearly unwell, she still accepted the task Xu Mo assigned.
She even considered the extremely boring Buddha hall a good place, wearing a gentle smile on her face every day.
Due to her unspeakable identity, Pan’er had never left the Buddha hall. She truly admired Nianyao’s temperament.
The sun was slowly rising higher, and Nianyao knew she couldn’t delay any longer.
If she delayed further, the snow might be melted by the sun.
She took the porcelain bottle from Pan’er’s hand and headed out.
The palace was enormous; walking on foot, one couldn’t cover it in a day and a night.
Nianyao’s knowledge of the palace was limited to the places she had been before.
If she needed to collect snowmelt, going to the Imperial Garden where there were the most people would be best.
But Nianyao didn’t want to go to places where she might frequently encounter her masters.
After thinking for a moment, she turned a corner and headed toward the Plum Garden.
The Plum Garden was desolate and remote. Even during the plum blossom season, aside from some maidservants like herself, masters rarely visited.
But before she could step into the Plum Garden, she bumped into a figure.
The small porcelain bottle in Nianyao’s hand suddenly felt as heavy as a thousand pounds. Her eyes darted around, unsure whether she should proceed.