Ling Jingshu’s conduct had apparently been satisfactory enough to set Empress Xu’s wariness at ease, at least for the time being.
In the days that followed, Empress Xu did not summon Ling Jingshu alone again, nor did she say anything further of note.
Ling Jingshu remained vigilant and on guard inwardly, though she let none of it show on her face. Day after day she went about her duties as usual, and in her spare moments she circulated and exchanged words with Qiu Shuang and the others — just as all the other female officials in Jiaofang Palace did.
Ling Jingshu and Wei Yan did on occasion cross paths. Whenever they met, both maintained a composed and indifferent manner, exchanging only a brief greeting, giving no indication of familiarity or closeness.
Empress Xu had eyes and ears throughout the palace; neither of them could afford to be anything less than careful.
Living in the palace, Ling Jingshu had no way to contact her family, and knew nothing of what was happening with Ling Xiao and the others. However, she had grown considerably more informed about other matters.
For instance, she had learned that after Prince Yan and Princess Yan’s honeymoon period had passed, the warmth between them had cooled considerably.
Princess Yan came to Jiaofang Palace to pay her respects. There had been no one else present, and no one knew what Empress Xu had said to her. All anyone knew was that when Princess Yan left Jiaofang Palace, her eyes were ever so slightly red.
For instance, Princess Changping had swept into the palace to pay her respects, her face radiant with excitement over something or other, only to be harshly scolded by Empress Xu — though no one knew the cause.
Princess Changping was not the sort to submit meekly. Displeased at being upbraided, she actually argued back at Empress Xu. The result was that mother and daughter parted on bitter terms. Empress Xu was in a dark and gloomy mood for days afterward, and everyone in Jiaofang Palace tiptoed carefully, each person terrified of becoming the outlet for the Empress’s anger.
Then there was this: the Emperor, who had been resting and recuperating for two months, had at last recovered his health. Everyone in the palace — from Empress Xu down to the humblest eunuchs and maids — breathed a sigh of relief and brightened visibly.
The civil and military officials at court were even more heartened. The Emperor could finally hold court once more.
None of these things were of any great consequence.
The topic that had most recently captured everyone’s attention and become the object of endless, enthusiastic discussion was, of course, the imminent grand wedding of the Crown Grandson.
Maids who crossed paths would inevitably exchange a few words about it.
“I have heard that the gifts the Duke of England’s estate has prepared as the Crown Grandson’s Consort’s dowry are even more lavish than what the Duke of Ping’s estate prepared for Princess Yan’s dowry!”
“But of course. The Duke of England’s estate has only the one legitimate daughter — Miss Jiang. The Duke of Ping’s estate has three legitimate daughters.”
“His Royal Highness Prince Yan was married last year, and now it is His Highness the Crown Grandson’s turn.” The maid who said this was quite pretty, and her words carried a note of longing and faint wistfulness. “I do wonder when we might ever have a chance to marry.”
The other maids burst into laughter. “So it is a case of being anxious to wed! It is difficult enough to enter the palace — it is even harder to leave. If you want to leave and marry, you had better settle in for a long wait!”
By palace regulations, a maid would only be considered for release from palace service upon reaching the age of twenty-five. And who knew how many women had never left at all, spending their entire lives and dying within these walls.
A sharp-eyed maid caught sight of a figure not far away and quickly lowered her voice: “Enough — stop talking! Lady Ling is coming!”
The maids who had been huddled together sighing and lamenting quickly scattered. One of those who could not run — still on duty — steeled herself, picked up a pair of pruning shears, and made a show of trimming the potted plants.
“Give me those shears.” A soft and melodious voice sounded beside the maid’s ear. “When trimming potted plants, one must focus with undivided attention — one absolutely cannot let one’s mind wander. Otherwise, this plant will end up ruined.”
Face flushed crimson, the maid handed the shears to Ling Jingshu and stood with her head bowed, waiting to be reprimanded.
But Ling Jingshu said nothing at all. She carefully trimmed the potted plant, then set down the shears and walked away.
The maid let out a breath of relief and silently counted herself fortunate.
Compared to Luoyan — who wore a stern expression and scolded people at the slightest provocation — Ling Jingshu’s temperament was considerably gentler.
……
Ling Jingshu’s mood at this moment was not nearly as calm as she appeared on the surface.
The Crown Grandson was about to be married.
That handsome, coldly composed, and proud young man — the one who had saved her life at the most perilous moment; who had graciously permitted Ling Xiao to make use of the Crown Prince’s estate to treat his eye condition; who had fixed his cool yet intent gaze upon her; who had, in a moment he could not help himself, declared his feelings for her…
She had been the one to refuse him without hesitation.
Because she understood clearly — she and he did not belong to the same world. His feelings were something she could not accept, and did not wish to accept.
He was about to be married to Jiang Rongyue. His heart held within it the weight of the realm and the affairs of state — he would never allow himself to be undone by sentiment, nor allow personal feeling to diminish his stature. And so she, too, had no cause for guilt. She would simply watch from afar, in silence, and wish him well.
“Miss,” Bai Yu’s voice broke through her thoughts. “Why have you come back?”
She had walked back to her quarters without even realizing it.
Ling Jingshu came to herself and responded with an absent-minded hum.
Miss seems out of sorts today. Bai Yu puzzled over this silently, then ventured carefully: “Did something happen? Shouldn’t Miss be in the peony courtyard at this hour every day?”
Ling Jingshu steadied herself and said: “Just now I happened to hear some maids whispering about His Highness the Crown Grandson’s wedding. I lost my focus for a moment and ended up walking back here.”
In front of Bai Yu, she had concealed nothing of her true feelings.
Bai Yu was at a loss for words. After a long pause, she murmured softly: “Miss — when you chose not to accept His Highness the Crown Grandson’s feelings back then, are you regretting it now?”
“No.” Ling Jingshu’s expression had already returned to its usual composure. “I have never regretted a decision I have made. Hearing this news simply stirs a certain wistfulness in me. That is all.”
This was perhaps the common affliction of women. Even a young man one had rejected oneself — upon hearing that he was to be wed to another, one could not entirely escape a faint, unsettled pang.
Bai Yu smiled gently and was about to offer some words of comfort when the sound of footsteps approached from outside the door.
It was Qiao Yun!
Bai Yu immediately swallowed the words she had been about to say and deftly steered the conversation elsewhere.
Qiao Yun was, after all, a covert guard sent by the Crown Grandson. Certain things were not for her ears.
……
Three days later.
The Crown Grandson’s grand wedding took place.
As was customary, the Minister of Rites personally oversaw all the arrangements. The grandeur and festivity of the occasion surpassed even Prince Yan’s wedding of the previous year.
The Emperor and the Empress each dispatched people to send generous congratulatory gifts. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort were personally present to receive the guests. The procession to receive the bride was magnificent and imposing, and the escort party accompanying the dowry was even more impressive in scale and spectacle. The citizens of the capital who loved a good spectacle were treated to a truly dazzling display.
All this celebration had nothing to do with Ling Jingshu, who remained within the palace.
On this day, she went about things just as she always did — first making a circuit of Jiaofang Palace to verify that the maids were diligent and had not slackened in their duties, then making her way to the peony courtyard.
Spring had arrived, and the weather was gradually warming. The willows trailed long new branches, and green grass spread across the ground in abundance. The peony courtyard, too, was full of flourishing vitality.
In the flower pots along the bamboo frames, some of the peonies had already formed small buds. Surrounded by green leaves, they pulsed with life and vibrancy, brimming with the warmth of spring.
Within less than a month, every peony would bear buds and gradually come into full bloom. The air would be filled with a heady, intoxicating fragrance.
Ling Jingshu carefully inspected the growth of each individual potted peony, paying particular attention to the more than twenty pots of newly cultivated varieties — these she examined with even greater care.
It was at that moment that footsteps suddenly sounded behind her.