Seeing that he did not budge, she urged him, “Hurry, go on.”
“Very well.” Song Heting stood up, fetched the box from the shelf, and returned to the bedside. Unable to help himself at last, he pulled at her collar to tidy her attire.
Lü Yanghua found nothing improper about it. Though men and women were expected to maintain distance, Tingyuan was hardly a real man after all; having him look at or touch her slightly was of no consequence.
She fumbled out a tiny key from beneath her pillow, inserted it into the keyhole, and with a soft click, the box popped open.
Inside lay the gold and silver jewelry she had cherished for a long time—some gifted by her mother before she entered the palace, and some bestowed by high-ranking nobles within the palace.
Pouring these items out in a single heap, she displayed them to Song Heting with quite a grand air, saying, “Our initial meeting was hurried, and I was unprepared. Feel free to choose; consider it a welcome gift from me.”
Looking at the pile spread across the quilt, Song Heting truly looked down upon such an obvious attempt to win people over. He said, “These items are far too precious; Young Mistress need not waste such effort on me.”
“Are you lacking an eye for value? These are all fine things.”
Having reached this point, Song Heting had no choice but to pick out an ordinary jade pendant of average design from the pile of plain jewelry. “This one, then.”
Lü Yanghua could not see clearly, so she leaned closer, only to realize that what Song Heting held in his hand was the very jade pendant her mother had specifically given her to keep her safe. She usually hid it at the very bottom of the chest; how could it have appeared here?
It turned out her overly hasty movements had broken the mechanism of the hidden compartment. Her complexion shifted repeatedly, but since an item already given away could not easily be demanded back, she simply gritted her teeth. “That will do.”
Acting as though he had not noticed her predicament, Song Heting said, “I shall certainly take good care of Young Mistress’s thoughtful gesture.”
Two days later, he surprisingly braided a tassel for it and wore it tied directly at his waist, allowing Lü Yanghua to see it constantly.
“You had better put it away; it is not good to display it outside like this.” Having glanced at it for an entire morning out of fear that Song Heting might accidentally bump or break it while working, Lü Yanghua had been trailing behind him like a tail before finally failing to hold back her suggestion.
Song Heting, however, replied, “An item bestowed by Young Mistress should naturally be carried on my person at all times.”
Holding her breath in frustration, Lü Yanghua vented her temper at the shrimp dumplings in her bowl, missing the subtle curving of Song Heting’s lips beside her.
After morning prep, this small courtyard, which had been quiet for several days, finally welcomed a guest.
Lanzhi entered through the door, reporting, “Young Mistress, Eunuch Zhang from Noble Lady Shu’s palace has arrived.”
Hearing those words, Lü Yanghua’s brows twitched. She slammed her teacup heavily onto the table, thoroughly unwilling to see him, yet bowing to the other party’s status, she still said, “Let him in.”
“Yes.”
When Eunuch Zhang walked in, he happened to brush past Song Heting, who was heading out; their eyes locked in the air for a moment before parting.
He had long heard that a new batch of servants had been swapped into Lü Yanghua’s palace, and now he had finally seen them. Zhang Xiaohe had judged countless people in his time; with a single glance, he could discern what kind of goods stood before him, securing a clear idea in his mind.
Seeing him standing there looking around with an arrogant smirk, the anger inside Lü Yanghua flared upward. Since Noble Lady Shu was absent, she had no reason to be polite to a mere servant. Knitting her brows, she said, “Have you looked your fill, Eunuch? Speak whatever business you have quickly; I am tired.”
Noble Lady Shu was currently enjoying overflowing Imperial favor, and even Zhang Xiaohe, who had followed her since entering the palace, had risen along with her status. Everyone who met him would accord him some deference, yet he had never expected to be belittled today by a mere low-ranking Concubine of Talent.
“Oh my, Young Mistress, your constitution is delicate indeed,” Zhang Xiaohe said with displeasure, his tone laden with sarcasm. “Our Noble Lady Shu has spoken: on the seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, all the noble ladies in the palace are invited to her hall to admire the plum blossoms.”
“Admire what plum blossoms?” Lü Yanghua expressed confusion, asking on the spot, “Aren’t the plum blossoms all planted in the Imperial Garden?” Playing right into Zhang Xiaohe’s hands.
“That is something you would not know.”
He raised his eyebrows like a triumphant rooster. “Seeing that Her Ladyship enjoyed them, His Majesty took pity on her freezing outside in the bitter winter cold, and specifically had the finest blooming winter plums transplanted from the Imperial Garden to send over.”
“Coming from a humble background, Young Mistress, it is only natural you have never witnessed such sights.”
“You!” Provoked to fury by him, Lü Yanghua wanted to smash something. Yet catching sight of Song Heting walking into the room behind Zhang Xiaohe, she reined in her momentum and slapped her palm onto the table, making a considerable racket.
Walking to Lü Yanghua’s side, Song Heting first placed the medicine on the table. “Young Mistress, it is time to take your medicine.” Watching her finish it, he only then turned back to look at Zhang Xiaohe, who had been left out in the cold for a moment.
As if only just realizing someone was still standing there, he feigned surprise and said, “You haven’t left yet?”
The moment those words left his mouth, the glowing face of the triumphant Zhang Xiaohe turned a shade darker. That was not all; Song Heting immediately added, “Noble Lady Shu’s favor continues unabated, and she will surely carry dragon offspring before long. You had better return quickly to guard her well, Eunuch.”
Hearing such ordinary words of concern, Zhang Xiaohe instead gave him a sinister glare. With words dripping with veiled malice, he remarked, “You two had better show more concern for yourselves.”
Then he turned on his heel and left without looking back once.
Lü Yanghua watched his retreating figure walk far away. To make herself appear quite scheming, she silently lowered her head to eat candied fruit. Today’s style was her favorite, sour and sweet in her mouth, making her want to eat a bowl of silver ear soup as well.
Just as she was thinking about it, Song Heting beside her carried away the remaining few pieces along with the dish.
Meeting Lü Yanghua’s pursuing gaze, he stated frankly, “You are eating too much.” Having spoken, his eyes took a turn around her lower abdomen.
Lü Yanghua froze on the spot, taking a long while to snap out of it. She touched her soft stomach and gave it an uncertain squeeze. Unsure if it was an illusion, after being told so by Tingyuan, she really felt it had grown a bit plumper. “It is all your fault! Why did you fetch me so much candied fruit!”
“May Your Ladyship forgive my offense.”
When Lanzhi arrived to relieve Song Heting, Lü Yanghua watched her tidy up the items before tapping the table, pretending to casually chat with her: “Today Tingyuan wished Noble Lady Shu an early birth of a noble son, and Zhang Xiaohe’s face turned green with rage. Do you know why?”
Lanzhi lowered her head and replied, “This servant does not know.” She waited for Lü Yanghua to enlighten her.
Lü Yanghua had not expected this reaction from her. After the two remained silent for a short while, she found a way out for herself: “Speak up boldly. You are different from other palace maidservants; this Consort intends to groom you keyly.”
Thus Lanzhi curtsied slightly and then spoke, “Presumably it is because Concubine of Talent Yu, who shares the same living quarters with Noble Lady Shu, has come into joy with child, whereas Her Ladyship has shown no signs whatsoever.”
Noble Lady Shu had enjoyed continuous favor for several years since entering the palace, and anyone with sharp eyes knew that as long as she gave birth to a son, she could be conferred as a Consort. Yet that grace flowed like water, while her belly remained unyielding.
Meanwhile, Concubine of Talent Yu under the same roof had only happened to serve His Majesty a few times and somehow conceived.
Comparing the two, how could Noble Lady Shu not be furious!
Given this single hint, Lü Yanghua realized everything in a flash. Tingyuan was implying that Noble Lady Shu was a hen that couldn’t lay eggs!
Having finally understood the key mechanism behind it, her face wore a solemn nod. “Indeed, Lanzhi, your mind is quite flexible.”
Pretending not to notice, Lanzhi curtsied and told her she would fetch more charcoal to replenish the fire. The moment she stepped out the door, she saw Song Heting sweeping snow. She walked over, intending to take the broom from his hands to help out, but he dodged away.
“How is it?” Standing beneath the concealed veranda, Song Heting asked her.
Lanzhi shook her head and said, “You saw it as well; she possesses not a shred of cunning. She cannot even understand the underlying meaning of your words.”
Looking left and right, she lowered her voice and continued, “Her foolish demeanor does not appear to be an act.”
Song Heting uttered a quiet “Mhm” and said nothing more.
The days in the twelfth lunar month were short and cold; Lü Yanghua only wished to curl up in her room and warm herself by the charcoal fire. The reason she was currently standing inside Noble Lady Shu’s Weiyang Palace was that Tingyuan had told her the Emperor would come.
That was truly a rare sight. The Emperor had never cared to join the inner palace’s tea gatherings and casual chats. Lü Yanghua had originally thought this time would be no different, intending to claim illness to pass it over, but fortunately received the news just as the idea formed.
Yet she, who ought to have been waiting joyfully to catch a glimpse of the Emperor, currently bore a cold expression on her face, looking for all the world as if she had come to meet an enemy.
Today she wore a goose-yellow dress with light makeup and only two plain hairpins adorned on her head. Standing among the throng of brightly dressed women, she appeared exceptionally plain and drab.
Her rank was not high to begin with, and her family background was poor. Sitting at the very end of the room where cold winds blew in from time to time, she could not join in the conversations of the others either. Her body was cold, and her heart was even colder.
Song Heting pushed open the door to bring her a filled hand warmer, letting in a gust of cold air that spilled over Lü Yanghua’s face.
At this moment, she could no longer bear to stay. Glaring at Song Heting, she made up a random excuse and stepped outside.
She walked in front with steps as swift as the wind, while Song Heting followed silently behind.
In this manner, the two came to a halt beneath a newly planted plum tree.
Song Heting stepped forward and called out to her, “Young Mistress.”
In return, he received a cold snort from Lü Yanghua.
“Now you are satisfied—everyone looks at me as if I were a laughingstock.” Lü Yanghua tugged at the light-colored jade necklace hanging around her neck, unable to refrain from speaking first.
Song Heting looked at her current appearance: her face was tiny framed by the fur collar, showing a pale pink hue, while her lips tinted with rouge uttered resentful words.
Immediately after, he received another sharp glare from Lü Yanghua.
“Look, look, look! You also think I am dressed today as miserably as a newly widowed woman!”
“What kind of talk is that?” Tingyuan smiled softly, adjusting her slightly tilted hair ornament. In doing so, the two drew very close. “Mistress need only wait; in a short while, they will no longer be able to laugh.”
Lü Yanghua nearly bumped into him when she looked up, but she had no heart to mind such details. Grabbing Tingyuan’s wrist, she asked, “The Emperor is coming? When? You always have to keep even me in the dark!”
Her hands were very cold; Song Heting’s claim that her constitution was weak was no lie. He held both of her hands within his palms to warm them, and after a moment, tucked them back beneath her cloak.
“Young Mistress need only admire the flowers here without doing anything; the Emperor will naturally come to see you.”
“Really?!” Hearing the word “Emperor,” Lü Yanghua was like a cat sighting a fish.
Every feature of hers was flawless, even the folds of her eyelids were just right. Paired with her long, curved eyelashes, looking at anyone made her appear exceptionally affectionate.
Song Heting was taken aback for a moment by her gaze, but then acted as though nothing had happened. “When have I ever lied to you?”
Seeing that the timing was about right, he prepared to step aside to leave a private space for the two of them, only to be called back.
Lü Yanghua’s voice echoed in his ear, sounding somewhat strange.