Chapter 214: Coming to the Palace
As expected, within two days, the Empress issued an imperial decree summoning Wen Mingqian to the palace to serve as a fragrance official.
However, she was given three days to settle her affairs.
Wen Mingqian first found Sang Er and asked her, “I am going into the palace, and naturally, I cannot bring you. I had previously planned for you to stay by the Grand Princess’s side. But now that you are with Cuiyi, I want to ask for your opinion.”
Sang Er lowered her head and thought for a moment before saying, “If it’s about closeness, I naturally want to stay with the Zhou family. No matter what, that child is still my uncle’s blood.
But I think I should become more useful. In the Zhou family, I can only be a maid. If anything happens, I would be of no use other than to pass on information.
I don’t know if their family will face any other changes in the future. My uncle is, after all, just a merchant. My mother has entered the palace, and matters outside cannot be attended to for the time being.
So, it would be better to go to the Grand Princess’s side. If something truly happens, I can borrow the Grand Princess’s strength to help others.”
“You have grown up, not just acting on your own whims,” Wen Mingqian said, affectionately stroking her head. “If that is so, go and inform Cuiyi and your uncle, and I will send you to the Grand Princess.”
Wen Mingqian took the opportunity to visit Liu Cuiyi and gave her many instructions.
Liu Cuiyi told her to rest assured, “Sister, just go into the palace and don’t worry about us mother and child. I am no longer the person I used to be, and I will be able to take care of myself and the child. You told me long ago that relying on anyone is not as good as relying on yourself. Now I truly understand that principle.”
Hearing her say this, Wen Mingqian felt relieved.
After leaving the Zhou family, Wen Mingqian entrusted Sang Er to the Grand Princess. The Grand Princess did not forget to instruct Wen Mingqian, “As you enter the palace this time, be careful in everything. If you need to find me for anything, just go to the Imperial Wardrobe Department and find Aunt Cui. She will help you pass messages to me.”
The Grand Princess knew that once Wen Mingqian entered the palace, she would be on her own, so having a helper was always good.
Wen Mingqian thanked the Grand Princess and left the scented pastes and other items she had made for her, saying earnestly, “Since I am entering the palace, I fear I will not see Your Highness for some time. For the items you use often, I will make them in the palace according to the dates and have them sent out to you.
Sang Er has always been mischievous around me, and now that she is entrusted to Your Highness’s care, I no longer need to worry about her. If Your Highness writes to the Prince, you can also tell him that I have entered the palace and will act according to the situation.”
After leaving Bowang Mountain, Wen Mingqian wrote letters to Gong Changan and Zhang Ma, informing them of her recent situation.
Finally, she went to Prince Zhao’s Mansion to see Princess Consort Zhao.
Princess Consort Zhao said, “People say to start well and finish well. You were introduced to the Empress by me, so it is only fitting that I escort you into the palace.”
“Your Highness’s deep kindness is something Mingqian can never repay,” Wen Mingqian said, her eyes glistening with tears.
“There’s no need for that. You are a piece of fine jade, which is why you have gained appreciation,” Princess Consort Zhao said. “If you encounter any difficulties in the palace, you can speak to Imperial Physician Wu. He will relay messages to me.”
Thus, Wen Mingqian entered the palace with Princess Consort Zhao and became a fragrance official by the Empress’s side.
The people in the palace were inevitably curious about her, but Wen Mingqian had always been low-key and cautious, which inadvertently resolved many troubles.
One day, after the Empress had finished breakfast, she asked someone beside her, “Why do I feel like I haven’t seen Mingqian for the past two days?”
Chun Ying smiled and said, “Indeed, she has shut herself in her room for the past two days, working on something.”
“Go and call her. I want to ask if she has concocted anything new and wonderful,” the Empress said, also very interested.
This was because she knew Wen Mingqian was skillful and her creations were always delightful.
A moment later, Wen Mingqian was summoned and paid her respects to the Empress.
“What have you been doing these past two days?” the Empress asked, telling her to rise.
“Replying to Her Ladyship, this servant has indeed been trying to make something,” Wen Mingqian said with a slight smile. “I just don’t know if it will meet with your approval.”
“Oh? What have you made for me this time?”
“This servant has already asked several eunuchs to help carry it over. It is just outside the hall.” As Wen Mingqian finished speaking, the Chief Eunuch Yu Lu entered with several little eunuchs carrying an extremely large frame.
The entire frame was enclosed with copper pipes, and there was an empty trough beneath it.
“What is this thing?” the Empress and everyone else were puzzled.
“Your Ladyship, please wait. Once this servant has assembled this and made it run, you will understand,” Wen Mingqian said with a smile, directing two little eunuchs to help.
Then, two buckets of water were brought in and poured into the trough below.
Gently turning the crank, the water was lifted.
“You need to crank it for a while at the beginning. Once the water starts circulating, you can let go,” Wen Mingqian told the little eunuchs.
As the little eunuchs cranked diligently, everyone noticed water flowing down from the copper pipes at the top. It turned out that the horizontal copper pipes at the top were covered with fine, round holes, and the water flowed down in streams, forming a rain curtain.
The things Wen Mingqian made, though appearing simple from the outside, were actually filled with intricate mechanisms hidden within.
Everyone only saw the water circulating back and forth from bottom to top.
“This servant heard Your Ladyship casually mention one day that she enjoys the sound of rain, so I took the liberty of making this rain curtain,” Wen Mingqian said respectfully. “I thought that if there was no rain, Your Ladyship could still listen to the sound of rain.”
“What you have made is very much to my liking. I appreciate your ingenuity and even more your thoughtfulness,” the Empress said, extremely pleased with Wen Mingqian. “No wonder Princess Zhao praised you to me as a treasure that breathes. With this rain curtain, I can not only hear the sound of rain but also enjoy its coolness. Go and make a few more. I want to give one to His Majesty as well.”
The palace maids and eunuchs who heard this could not help but cast envious and admiring glances at Wen Mingqian.
The Empress was very difficult to please. For them, simply to be without fault was already a great fortune, let alone to earn the Empress’s praise.
Yet, Wen Mingqian had not been in the palace for long and was already considered a treasure by the Empress. Therefore, they felt they had to befriend Wen Mingqian.
One day, the Emperor came to the Empress’s Palace for lunch.
The Empress, in high spirits, pointed to the rain curtain and said to the Emperor, “Your Majesty, look at this. It was made by Wen Mingqian, the new fragrance official. Shall I have her make one for you in the same style?”
“It is quite novel,” the Emperor said after looking at it. “Is the Empress sleeping well these days?”
“Indeed, very well,” the Empress said with a relaxed smile. “This is also Consort Wen’s merit. By the way, she hasn’t met His Majesty yet. Go and call her here to pay her respects to His Majesty.”
Wen Mingqian had been in the palace for ten days, and today was the first time she had the opportunity to meet the Emperor.
She entered with her head bowed and knelt to pay her respects, calling out “Long live.”
The Emperor merely glanced at her and said, “Rise! You have served the Empress with merit, and I should reward you with something.”
“Serving the Empress is this servant’s fortune. How dare I ask for a reward?” Wen Mingqian replied. “To receive a word of praise from Your Majesty is more than enough.”
