Chapter 156: Cold and Warm Incense
The day after moving to Wu Qiu Nunnery, Wen Mingqian took Sang Er to Yuzhen Temple on Bowang Mountain.
The day agreed upon with the Grand Princess arrived, and Wen Mingqian dared not delay.
“It’s only been a short while, and the leaves on the mountain have all fallen. I remember when I first came, it was still a beautiful autumn scene!” Sang Er said, holding Wen Mingqian’s sedan chair and looking around. “Time really flies.”
The trees in the mountains were withered, covered in residual snow.
“Yes, a month or two passes in the blink of an eye,” Wen Mingqian said. “When you reach my age, you’ll understand what a lifetime is, like a plant in a single autumn.”
Upon reaching the mountain, when they were still dozens of steps away from the temple gate, Wen Mingqian alighted from the sedan chair.
The wind was strong on the mountain, making it exceptionally cold.
Sang Er quickly put the hood of Wen Mingqian’s cape up. “Mother is shielded from some of the wind, but this mountain wind is very fierce!”
The Grand Princess’s room was burning incense that Wen Mingqian had sent.
“The climb up the mountain was arduous, have a cup of hot tea to warm yourself!” The Grand Princess was wearing a long robe of honey-colored silk with hidden patterns today, and a shawl of lamb’s wool gifted from beyond the Great Wall.
Her slender figure made her appear even more delicate as she sat, looking much younger than her actual age.
“Thank you, Your Highness. This tea is so fragrant, it truly calms the mind.” Wen Mingqian held up her teacup, a Jian ware hare’s fur glaze, a treasured vessel for drinking tea.
“It’s a tribute from Southern Yue, but it’s just so-so to me. If you like it, I’ll have Yuhu bring you a jar later,” the Grand Princess said, stroking the lion cat curled at her feet.
Yuhu was the palace maid who served her.
Wen Mingqian thanked her again and asked Sang Er to present the gifts.
The Grand Princess’s slender jade fingers picked up the porcelain bottle, still cool to the touch, and sniffed its fragrance. She said casually, “I heard your son has become Tutor Zhuge’s closed-door disciple. What great honor.”
“Your Highness is too kind. This child was merely lucky,” Wen Mingqian said modestly.
“Other things might be achieved by luck alone, but this is not one of them. It shows your son is an outstanding person.” The Grand Princess smiled, using a jade hairpin to pick up some scented paste and dab it on her inner wrist. “Children often resemble their mothers; you and your son are both highly talented.”
“This humble woman is merely a foolish person. Today, to receive such praise from Your Highness’s golden mouth is like receiving an imperial edict. Perhaps I will become more intelligent from now on,” Wen Mingqian said with a smile.
The Grand Princess was the Late Emperor’s only blood descendant, and the current Emperor had specially permitted her to grant titles to officials below the fifth rank. Thus, Wen Mingqian’s statement was accurate.
However, the Grand Princess smiled upon hearing her refer to herself as “this humble woman.” “I heard you have divorced Gong Er. Where are you living now?”
“I’m living at Wu Qiu Nunnery; it’s quite peaceful there,” Wen Mingqian replied.
She had only been divorced for two days, and it had been no more than five days since the divorce was first proposed.
The Grand Princess, who lived a secluded life of pure cultivation, was surprisingly well-informed. This showed she hadn’t truly severed ties with the mortal world.
“Could you tell me why you divorced him?” the Grand Princess asked, looking at Wen Mingqian with a scrutinizing gaze.
“I hope Your Highness will not laugh when I say this,” Wen Mingqian said, maintaining her honesty before the Grand Princess. “In my heart, our ties were long severed, and promises broken. I only hesitated because I was reluctant to part with my son. Now that my son has a place to stay, I have nothing more to worry about. For years, I felt quite wronged, but what new revelations can be unearthed by repeatedly bringing up old matters? It’s better to part amicably and live our own lives.”
“You were quite decisive, in a way. Others might think staying with the Gong Family is far more respectable than lodging in a nunnery,” the Grand Princess said. “I imagine many people called you foolish.”
“I cannot control what others say, and the only thing I can do is follow my heart,” Wen Mingqian replied. “I know what I’ve done may not be wise, but even birds know to sing rather than die in silence. Ultimately, it’s hard to go against one’s nature.”
“There are so few people with backbone these days,” the Grand Princess shook her head. “I didn’t expect to see such pride from a young woman like you.”
“This humble woman is humbled. How can I possibly bear the title of ‘pride’?” Wen Mingqian blushed.
“Your ancestors were renowned loyal officials. Though their influence has waned, their spirit remains,” the Grand Princess said. “Let me try the things you brought.”
The maidservant returned to refill the tea. The amber-colored liquid exuded a noble fragrance.
“This scented paste seems slightly different from the last one; the scent is even more intriguing,” the Grand Princess said, lowering her head to sniff her wrist.
“Your Highness has a discerning mind. I’ve added a little more Spikenard to it,” Wen Mingqian said. “This time, I only made this one bottle; the rest are the original formula. Do you still like it?”
“The original was clear and crisp, this one is mellow and rich. Both are good, depending on when they are used,” the Grand Princess commented.
“This humble woman agrees. The previous one is suitable for early mornings, snowy weather, or after bathing. This one is better for sipping tea, playing the qin, or before sleep,” Wen Mingqian shared her thoughts.
“The previous two times were a bit rushed, and I didn’t have time to properly appreciate them with you,” the Grand Princess said. “For a master of incense like you, your standards are naturally very high. Otherwise, what you create would just be common perfumes.”
“Your Highness praises me too highly. It’s merely some simple thoughts. I thought that since it’s colder on the mountain, and Your Highness prefers cool scents, you should have some warm scents to accompany you in winter,” Wen Mingqian said with a slight bow of her head, respectfully. “Of course, these are just my humble ideas.”
“You don’t need to be so self-deprecating. The incense you make suits my taste perfectly,” the Grand Princess said. “For so many years, I’ve only used cool scents and never warm ones. It’s because I dislike those frivolous and sweet smells that become lonely and weary in the end.”
A faint melancholy lingered in the Grand Princess’s eyes. A spring dream from many years ago had been so beautiful and sweet.
She was lost in it, unwilling to wake for a long time.
But dreams eventually end. When the harsh wind and rain broke through the window, even the most beautiful spring dream turned into an illusion.
And the more beautiful the dream, the deeper and more intense the pain of waking.
Wen Mingqian watched the Grand Princess fall into thought, not daring to disturb her, kneeling quietly.
It wasn’t until the mountain wind snapped a branch and it fell on the window lattice that the Grand Princess seemed to awaken from her reverie.
She couldn’t help but laugh, “The incense you make is enough to make one lose their senses.”
“This humble woman only wishes for Your Highness to have sweeter dreams,” Wen Mingqian said. “As for myself, I prefer green plums, so I made a green plum wine scent. Smelling it before sleep makes my heart feel exceptionally relaxed.”
“Yes, though scent is formless, it can enter the heart. I am tired of being surrounded and fawned over, but I don’t wish to live like a withered tree,” the Grand Princess took a sip of tea. “At least with the qin, the cat, and the incense for company, life is interesting. It’s a pity there’s no one to play chess with me. Do you know how to play?”
“I know a little, but I’m quite clumsy. It might not be worthy of Your Highness’s attention,” Wen Mingqian replied.
“You are good at everything else, but your name is too modest for your person,” the Grand Princess said. “Someone as intelligent as you wouldn’t be bad at chess.”
