Chapter 156: Checking Into The Temporary Palace
On the eighth day of the first lunar month, there was a heavy snow. Although the snow stopped the next day, the weather became even colder.
When Yang Hui got into the carriage wrapped in a cloak, it was hard to tell if she was happy or not.
The cancellation of the usual palace banquet had made her very unhappy.
However, an imperial decree soon came from the imperial palace, stating that as the princess’s companion reader, she had to attend the martial arts banquet.
But what fun was a banquet held at the temporary palace? The food was bad, the sleep was bad, and it was said they even had to do horseback archery, which was both cold and exhausting.
Yang Hui was feeling depressed when she heard a voice from beside her say, “Young Lady, bring two sets of riding and shooting attire; they’re especially pretty.” Her anger flared up even more.
“What’s the use of being pretty? Do you know how to do riding and shooting?” she snapped irritably. “Don’t dress so nicely; if people see you, it’ll be embarrassing.”
Mo Zheng smiled. “I grew up in the countryside and have hunted rabbits and such.”
Yang Luo snorted. “Miss Hui should worry about herself; she’s neither accomplished in literature nor in martial arts.”
Duke Ding’an’s Wife, already nursing a headache, became even more annoyed and scolded, “Stop arguing.”
After a round of scolding and instructions, she sent the two onto the carriage. They would arrive at the temporary palace today, the main banquet was tomorrow, and they could return the day after.
Two carriages carrying two young ladies and two maidservants set out under the guard of five servants. Duke Ding’an’s Wife’s ears finally regained their quiet, but she felt even more distraught.
She hadn’t expected that in the end, only she and her husband couldn’t go.
“Duke, nothing will go wrong, will it?” Duke Ding’an’s Wife said.
In the living room, Duke Ding’an was making tea. Hearing this, he said, “Something will definitely go wrong.”
Duke Ding’an’s Wife, who had just sat down, shot to her feet, glaring and snapping, “And you still have the mood to drink tea?”
Duke Ding’an poured himself a cup of tea.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “Even if something happens, the good will be blessed by heaven and turn misfortune into good fortune.”
With that, he drained the tea in one gulp, lay back in the rocking chair, patted his knees, and hummed a little tune.
Duke Ding’an’s Wife became even more distraught. The duke really wasn’t acting normal. Sigh, ever since that Yang Luo arrived, nothing had been normal.
……
……
“Stop! Whose carriage and horses are these, shoving around like that!”
When Duke Ding’an’s Mansion’s carriage and horses arrived outside the temporary palace, even with imperial guards and eunuchs guiding them, the carriages were still jammed.
The carriage carrying Yang Hui and Mo Zheng slowed down.
Yang Hui irritably urged the coachman to hurry. The coachman whipped the horses, but after just two steps, a female voice shouted from ahead.
Accompanied by the shout, the coachman panicked and pulled the reins. Yang Hui, caught off guard inside the carriage, nearly fell over.
“You damn thing, what are you—” She irritably lifted the carriage curtain and cursed outward. Raising her eyes, she saw a chestnut horse beside the carriage, with a young girl in a red cloak and red hood on it, her eyebrows sharp…
This face wasn’t unfamiliar.
Chai Wan’er.
Yang Hui’s face stiffened as she quickly dropped the curtain, but it was too late—Chai Wan’er had already seen her.
“I thought it was who, so domineering and charging straight ahead. Turns out it’s Miss Yang from Duke Ding’an’s Mansion, who dared to pay respects to the libationer as her teacher and ignore the empress—” She drawled with a cold laugh.
The people passing by all looked over.
Yang Hui sat in the carriage inwardly cursing her luck. She was Miss Yang, but she wasn’t a libationer disciple and hadn’t ignored the empress!
It was all this Yang Luo’s fault! She glared fiercely at “Yang Luo” sitting beside her.
But she saw this Yang Luo smile and raise her hand to lift the carriage curtain.
Chai Wan’er was about to continue speaking when she glimpsed a smiling face appear.
“So it’s Miss Chai,” Mo Zheng said with curved eyebrows and a smile. “What a coincidence—this must be enemies meeting on a narrow road, right?”
The people around inwardly exclaimed. This Miss Yang wasn’t holding back either.
But what she said was good—enemies with a grudge. That remark from Miss Chai about ignoring the empress was naturally slander and not to be taken seriously.
Chai Wan’er’s hand gripping the reins tightened. This wench had become even more brazen!
“Young Lady, Madam has already changed clothes. Hurry, you still need to pay respects to the empress,” the maidservants riding beside her hurriedly reminded.
Chai Wan’er loosened her grip and looked at “Yang Luo” with a cold smile. “It’s great to see Miss Yang again.”
With that, she urged her horse forward.
The eunuchs had already cleared the way, and Chai Wan’er’s group galloped into the temporary palace.
The Chai Clan had a separate courtyard inside the temporary palace. Chai Wan’er dismounted, and a servant woman who had received the news came to greet her.
“Young Lady did well this time, not conflicting with that Miss Yang in public,” the servant woman said with a smile of praise.
Chai Wan’er snorted. “Conflicting with her on the road would definitely make her say I’m bullying others by relying on my power, and she’d frame and slander me to her aunt the empress again. This wench is very cunning.”
She wasn’t stupid.
Last time was a mistake; she’d been provoked by that wench’s few words into losing her composure.
Now that she’d learned her lesson, there were plenty of ways to deal with this wench.
She’d originally regretted that Duke Ding’an wasn’t qualified to attend the martial arts banquet and wouldn’t see this wench.
Luckily, the princess had given this wench a spot out of favor.
Chai Wan’er, wearing deer leather gloves, cracked her whip. With a sharp crack, the bright red whip gleamed with barbs in the sunset’s afterglow.
Ever since that day, she’d been diligently practicing with the whip every day.
When the martial arts performance came, once the Yang girl suffered a loss, she could only blame her own lack of skill and couldn’t say she was bullying others by relying on her power.
Wench, tomorrow you’ll get yours!
……
……
“Young ladies, this is the princess’s courtyard.”
“Two to a palace room; they’ve all been prepared.”
“Young ladies, please do not leave the princess’s garden.”
“The princesses will also come here to live together with the young ladies.”
“There are many men attending this martial arts banquet, so please don’t wander around, to avoid any collisions or impropriety.”
The princess’s garden was brightly lit with melodious voices, lively and bustling.
But just as the palace maids gave this reminder, a man arrived in the princess’s garden.
Though he wasn’t exactly an outsider.
“Dr. Ling.”
“Senior Brother Ling.”
Seeing the young man standing in the front hall of the princess’s garden, the companion reader ladies all paid their respects.
Because it was New Year, Ling Yu wasn’t wearing his usual blue robe but a deep red brocade robe. His face was fair as jade, his refined temperament now more elegant and dignified, though he still held a scroll in his hand.
He smiled and returned the courtesies to the companion reader ladies, then let his gaze wander in search of…
“Senior Brother Ling.”
Mo Zheng’s voice came from inside, and she came out smiling, paying respects to Ling Yu.
“Happy New Year; paying New Year respects to Senior Brother.”
Ling Yu smiled without saying much. “There’s a small banquet tonight; Teacher wants us to go together.”
Mo Zheng agreed and said to Liu Chan who had followed, “Tell A Sheng.”
The maidservants were all busy arranging the bedding in the palace rooms.
Liu Chan nodded and urged her, “Go quickly.”
Mo Zheng then followed Ling Yu out. Just as they reached the doorway of the palace courtyard, Princess Pingcheng slowly approached, surrounded by a group of palace maids.
The princess wore New Year palace attire with tall side buns, radiant and gorgeous, completely different from her academy look.
Seeing Ling Yu, she nodded slightly. “Senior Brother Ling.”
Ling Yu and Mo Zheng bowed. “We have seen the princess.”
Before Princess Pingcheng could ask, Ling Yu stated his purpose.
Princess Pingcheng listened, her expression somewhat apologetic. “Father Emperor knows all the companion reader ladies are here and has set a few topics to test us. Taking advantage of Father Emperor’s small banquet tonight, I plan to write them with everyone and then submit for Father Emperor and the court ministers to critique.”
As she spoke, she looked at the young girl standing behind Ling Yu.
“Miss Yang, come with us too.”
Ling Yu looked up and said, “Teacher also wants to test her; writing there is the same.”
Princess Pingcheng smiled faintly. “We’re all going together to be critiqued together, so the other companion reader ladies can feel less nervous. Please understand, Dr. Ling.”
Ling Yu frowned, about to say more, when a finger lightly poked his back. The words on the tip of his tongue stopped.
Mo Zheng stepped out from behind him and nodded.
“Senior Brother, I’ll go with everyone,” she said, with a hint of nervousness. “Even alone in front of Teacher, I’m very nervous.”
Ling Yu shook his head. “Write what you know; it doesn’t matter where.” But he said no more, bowed to Princess Pingcheng, “Then as the princess wishes,” and walked away.
With Ling Yu gone, Mo Zheng quickly stood before Princess Pingcheng and asked with slight nervous curiosity and apprehension, “Princess, are His Majesty’s questions difficult?”
Princess Pingcheng knew this Miss Yang was extremely perceptive; sure enough, she smoothly changed the subject.
She knew her limits and when to advance and retreat—this was best.
Princess Pingcheng smiled in response, half serious, half joking. “Difficult for some, but certainly not for Miss Yang.”
Mo Zheng smiled and said, “I will do my best and not disappoint the princess’s praise.”
