Scent Of Time - Chapter 65

Chapter 65 

Extra Story 3: Epilogue (2) 

“Your Majesty, this is the list the Ministry of Ceremonies submitted. The waiting girls have all entered the palace. ” Gao Yu bent over and placed a booklet on the desk. 

Zhong Xiwu picked it up and casually flipped through it a few times before seeing a page of the Qi family. 

Watching Zhong Xiwu’s movements, Gao Yu hurriedly spoke, “This is a waiting girl sent by the Qi family, and is… Noble Consort Qi’s biological younger sister.” 

Zhong Xiwu smiled sarcastically. The Qi family was indeed extravagant. Knowing that Noble Consort Qi had already been disfigured and lost her power, they hurriedly sent another person in. But this was also a show of weakness. The Qi family had been suppressed in the past few years and was declining, and unexpectedly, they ruthlessly sent the only remaining legitimate daughter.

“Since it’s Noble Consort Qi’s sister, she will be directly titled as a Meiren and live in the side hall of the Ning Fang Palace.” Zhong Xiwu spoke carelessly. 

It was Noble Consort Qi who lived in the main hall of the Ning Fang Palace. 

“Yes, I’ll pass the decree.” Gao Yu arched his hand, “Then, for the other girls, Your Majesty ……” 

Zhong Xiwu closed the booklet and spoke, “Let’s wait and see.” 

Gao Yu collected the booklet and left. Song An followed his master to where the waiting girls lived. 

On the way, the broken-mouthed Song An couldn’t help but chime in, “The Emperor is good to Noble Consort Qi. He had not even met the waiting girls yet; he named Noble Consort Qi’s legitimate sister and allowed them to live together in the same hall, considering their deep love for each other.” 

Gao Yu walked with a puzzling smile, “Yes, the Emperor is genuinely good to Noble Consort Qi ……” 

However, let a disfigured noble consort face her beautiful sister daily—how can there be any sisterly love in this harem? 

After being left alone, Zhong Xiwu called Lin Jiang: “Has the person already departed?” 

Lin Jiang half-kneeled and replied: “Approximately, they will reach out of the country tomorrow. After that, Chen Yuan will be able to rush back.” 

Zhong Xiwu nodded, got up, and spoke, “Then I will go to the Empress Mother’s hall. I won’t be able to see her for some time.” 

When he stepped into the Empress Dowager’s hall, he heard laughter. A crisp, clear girl sounded, “Empress Dowager’s words are untrue. As a child, naturally, parents are the sky, but after getting married, you can’t take your husband as the sky. I think it’s better to carry half of the sky with your husband together.” 

Zhong Xiwu frowned. These déjà vu words made his eyes reveal some anger. Who the hell ignorant woman dares copy her? 

He saw a woman dressed in a goose-yellow dress sitting on the side of the empress dowager. Her face was clear and beautiful, especially a pair of eyes that turned like a fox. At first glance, he knew she was a restless girl, Zhong Xiwu defined. 

“Impudent, what is your identity, speaking so loudly in front of the Empress Dowager?” Zhong Xiwu spoke sternly, and the laughter in the hall stopped. 

The Empress Dowager saw this and spoke: “This is Minister Li’s daughter, Li Wanyi. She just entered the palace as a waiting girl. She especially accompanied me to relieve boredom.” 

Minister Li? 

Remembering Li Ji, who relied on his old age in the courtroom, Zhong Xiwu’s face suddenly worsened: “Minister Li only had a daughter when he was 50. Why was he willing to send his only daughter into the palace?” 

Li Wanyi was not frightened by Zhong Xiwu’s icy face. Instead, she respectfully bowed and answered, “My father said that the Emperor is the true son of heaven, and it is my good fortune to be able to serve the Emperor in the palace for a hundred lifetimes, so how could I be reluctant?” 

This pretense was precisely like her father’s, and Zhong Xiwu was still unforgiving: “Who said you could be selected? A lot of waiting girls are sent out after they reach 25 years old.” 

Li Wanwi raised her eyes without dodging: “I’m already satisfied to be close to the Emperor and receive the Emperor’s true dragon son’s blessing.” 

Artistic words. 

Empress Dowager couldn’t stand to watch and interjected, “In this palace, it’s rare for someone to accompany me as an old woman sincerely. The Emperor should not be harsh on her anymore.” 

Zhong Xiwu paused and met the Empress Dowager’s slightly melancholy gaze, and his heart couldn’t help but tremble. Once upon a time, such a person also treated the Empress Dowager with sincerity.  However, this Li Wanyi looked — much worse. 

Zhong Xiwu no longer looked at her but spoke to Empress Dowager, “I’ll have to trouble Empress Mother with the matter of the newly promoted waiting girls. I should be busier the next few days.” 

The Empress Dowager lowered her eyes, rubbed her fingers over the white jade bracelet on her wrist, and said, “There’s no need to worry about the matters of the harem. Just concentrate on your affairs.” 

Not long after that, Zhong Xiwu bid farewell, followed by Gao Yu, who was waiting at the door. After walking a few steps, he saw a goose-yellow figure behind. Zhong Xiwu stopped and turned around to rebuke: “Why are you following me?” 

Li Wanyi was startled by the sudden rebuke. She quickly blinked her eyes and said, “Replying to Your Majesty, this is my way back.” 

Zhong Xiwu’s brows furrowed deeper. Li Wanyi saw this and spoke tentatively, “If Your Majesty doesn’t believe me, then I will walk in front?” 

“Impudence!” Without waiting for Zhong Xiwu to speak, Gao Yu rebuked, “How dare you, a waiting girl, walk in front of the Emperor?” 

Li Wanyi pouted with some grievances: “I can’t follow nor walk in front either, but this is the only road. Why don’t you go first, and I will wait here?” 

Zhong Xiwu was choked momentarily, flinging his sleeves and walking away. He gritted his teeth, “Truly the same shrewish scoundrel as her father.” 

Next to the stream in the forest, a group of girls and daughters-in-law sat around washing clothes. They looked in one direction occasionally with envious eyes, and two figures were in that direction. One was Hua Rongzhou, who was washing clothes, and the other was Hua Qian, who was sitting by the stream soaking her feet and holding a small basket of cherries to eat. Initially, Hua Qian was washing her clothes. However, when her hand had just touched the water, Hua Rongzhou appeared out of nowhere, carrying a basket of cherries to replace Hua Qian’s basin of clothes. Each of these cherries was crystal clear and looked like it had just been picked and washed. Hua Qian’s feet patted the water and ate while saying, “Where are these cherries from? Look quite fresh.” 

“On the east of the mountain where I hunt, I unintentionally saw a wild cherry blossom forest last month, so I went to wait for it to ripen,” Hua Rongzhou answered while diligently washing clothes. 

No wonder he ran out of sight after lunch today. It turned out that he went cherry-picking. Watching Hua Rongzhou’s skillful action of washing clothes, Hua Qian couldn’t help but ‘tsk-tsk.’ He learned things fast. When he first came here and washed the clothes, none of the clothes survived after passing through his hands. But those damaged clothes were not wasted; they were all used by Hua Qian to teach Hua Rongzhou sewing. 

The more Hua Qian looked at it, the more satisfied she became, so she picked a big red cherry and handed it over, “Here, a reward for you.” 

Hua Rongzhou held the clothes with both hands and stretched his head over to take the cherry in Hua Qian’s hand. His soft lips brushed against Hua Qian’s fingers like a marshmallow had slipped away from his fingertips. Hua Qian took another one and handed it over. Hua Rongzhou opened his mouth and obediently ate it, like feeding a pet. Hua Qian felt happier than eating it herself. 

Then, she vaguely felt the atmosphere was not right. She glimpsed toward a group of disdainful girls and daughter-in-laws. Hua Qian felt shame and panicked. She quickly obediently sat down.

However, after sitting for a long time, her buttocks became numb. Hua Qian moved her body but accidentally shoved her shoe, which flowed down the river: “My shoe ……” 

She hadn’t finished her words, and the river resounded with girls’ cheers. Hua Rongzhou flipped from the shore, swept over, and landed on the river bank with one shoe. This series of actions was like that line, ‘floating clouds and flowing water.’ 

Hua Rongzhou returned the shoe and said, “Be careful. How can you lose your shoe just by sitting and eating?” 

Hua Qian froze, “Are you saying that I’m clumsy?” 

Hua Rongzhou did not reply and continued to wash the clothes. His expression looked like he acquiesced. 

Hua Qian’s wickedness arose from her heart. Then, she splashed water on Hua Rongzhou with her foot.

Hua Rongzhou dodged to the side and continued to wash clothes as if nothing had happened. Hua Qian was unconvinced and continued to hit the water with her foot. 

After a few rounds, someone finally spoke. It was the other women who were washing clothes together. 

“I can’t stand it anymore. They’re bullying those of us who come alone to do the laundry ……” 

“That’s right. Let’s go ……” 

 …… 

A group of women left with pots in their hands, and Hua Qian felt embarrassed afterward. Smiling apologetically, she turned her head to watch the leaving group.

Hua Qian’s body suddenly stiffened. 

Hua Rongzhou noticed it and followed Hua Qian’s gaze. He saw a familiar figure across the river. 

Hua Rongzhou hung his head and, after a moment, began to pack up the clothes around him. Then, Hua Rongzhou half squatted down, lifted the hem of his clothes, and reached out to pick up Hua Qian’s feet, which were still soaking in the water. He wiped them clean and then put her shoes on. 

Hua Qian turned back to look at him bewilderedly. She saw him pick up the washing basin and say, “Done with the clothes. I’ll go back and hang them up to dry first.” 

He took the cherry basket from Hua Qian’s arms and added, “Remember to come back.” 

After Hua Rongzhou turned to leave, Hua Qian reacted and looked in that direction again, but the silhouette was still there. 

Zhong Xiwu has been standing for half an hour. Maybe Hua Qian became relaxed. He has been looking at Hua Qian for a long time without her noticing. He only glanced at her twice in the capital before and was almost discovered by her. Sure enough, the life here was what she wanted. That was why she became lazy and dull compared to her previous intelligent and sensitive person. It looked like she had also gained weight. 

Hua Qian moved toward him, walked a bridge, and crossed a river. “The country can’t be without a king for a day. How did you appear here?” 

After she arrived in front of him, Zhong Xiwu realized that Hua Qian, who had been as simple as a country girl only moments ago, had turned into that ministerial daughter again in an instant. He was bitter in his heart but smiled and said, “But the king also gets sick.” 

Hua Qian froze before reacting to his claim that he was sick and dismissing the court to sneak here—what nonsense. The two stood face to face for a long time; neither seemed to know what to say or had much to say. 

Seeing Hua Qian’s eyes still contain vigilance, Zhong Xiwu slowly put his shaking hands behind his back, stood up straight, and said, “Hua Xiang is still alive.” 

Hua Qian’s eyes suddenly widened. Her face stayed blank for a long time before reacting. This royal pattern was still the same. In a flash, Hua Qian understood the purpose of Zhong Xiwu’s visit. Because Hua Xiang was ‘dead,’ she would be completely free. 

Hua Qian lowered her head and laughed lightly, smiling like the silly girl holding the basket and eating cherries on the other side of the river.  “Thank you.” 

Zhong Xiwu felt his eyes heat up, and those thoughts that had been bothering him for several years disappeared cleanly. She trusted him without even asking. 

When Hua Qian returned, the courtyard was silent. Seeing the piled clothes in the basin, Hua Qian couldn’t help but laugh in her heart. She was about to enter the house when she saw a person fall from the tree, none other than Hua Rongzhou. 

“What are you doing up the tree?” Hua Qian frowned. 

“If you stand tall, you can see far.” Hua Rongzhou’s always indifferent brown eyes became colorful. She had never seen him that happy before. 

Hua Qian’s heart warmed, smiled, and said, “Hurry up and hang your clothes. I’ll cook a bowl of noodles.” 

After Hua Rongzhou cleaned up, he saw Hua Qian carrying a sealed food box and said, “He should not have gone far yet. Give him this — a thank you gift.” 

Hua Rongzhou nodded his head and took it. He was about to leave when he heard Hua Qian’s voice ringing fondly, making one couldn’t bear to go, “Come back early.” 

“Okay.” Hua Rongzhou spoke mutely. For many years, no one had ever told him they were waiting for him to return. 

Like a scampering monkey, Hua Rongzhou used half an hour to catch up with Zhong Xiwu’s group. Before Zhong Xiwu could say anything, he saw Hua Rong Zhou place a food box on the ground before dropping a sentence and disappearing. “For you, a thank you gift, she said so.” 

Zhong Xiwu uncovered the lid. It was a steaming bowl of noodles; the heat was weak but quickly smoked his eyes red. Ultimately, he closed the lid before getting up and mounting his horse to leave. 

The accompanying Lin Jiang thought that the bowl of noodles must have been delicious; otherwise, how could the master’s eyes have gotten red without eating it? 

The sound of horses’ hooves raised, and a few moments later, it returned to silence as if no one had come, leaving only the dust flying in the air and the old food box on the ground. 

THE END