She's in her popular phase.
Consort Risu—
Risu—
my first impression of her was that she was a child who couldn't read the room.
When the first half of the banquet ended and a break was called,
Maomao
and
Guien
headed for the princess. While Guien swapped out the warmed stones that had gone cold, Maomao checked on the baby's condition.
(She doesn't seem to be unwell.)
With her rosy, apple-like cheeks,
Princess Lingli
was far more expressive than when they'd first met, and was doted on by both her father, the Emperor, and her grandmother, the Empress Dowager.
(But is it really alright for her to be stuck outdoors like this?)
If the baby caught a cold from all this, it would be Maomao who lost her head — utterly unreasonable.
So she'd had a craftsman build a special lid for the basket, creating a sleeping nook like a bird's nest.
(Well, she's cute, so I suppose it's fine.)
If even Maomao, who wasn't fond of children, thought she was cute, then infants truly were terrifying creatures.
Now that the princess had started crawling and wanted to go outside, Maomao gently placed her back into the basket and
was about to hand her to Hongniang
when she heard rough breathing from behind.
A young woman in a lavish, deep peach-colored wide-sleeved gown was staring at them. Several attendants trailed behind her.
She had a lovely face, but she was pouting to make her displeasure perfectly clear.
(So this is the young aunt?)
Hongniang
and
Guien
bowed their heads deeply, so she did the same.
Consort Risu, still looking displeased, left with her attendants.
"Is that the Virtuous Consort?"
"Yes, it is. Well, I'm sure you could more or less tell just by looking."
"Can't you read all sorts of things from it?"
What she couldn't read was the atmosphere in the room.
As for the four consorts, each was given her own set of symbols.
Gyokuyou
had crimson and jade as her symbols,
Rifa
had ultramarine and crystal. The Scholarly Consort's colors were probably black, judging from her attendants' robes.
The Garnet Palace
was where she lived, so her gemstone would be garnet.
(If
they took them from the Five Elements,
then white would be the appropriate choice.)
The robes Consort Risu wore were a deep peach — overlapping with Gyokuyou's red, so to speak. Looking at the seating arrangement at the banquet, Gyokuyou and Risu were seated side by side, and the color clash was immediately apparent.
(Come to think of it,)
the argument between court ladies she had overheard from a distance was probably about this very topic.
"How should I put it? She's still rather immature, isn't she?"
One deep sigh from Hongniang said it all.
She placed the cooled hand warmer into the brazier she had prepared beforehand.
The maidens from other quarters were watching from a distance, so Maomao decided to ask Gyokuyou for permission first and hand a few of them out.
It was rather amusing that maidens so accustomed to silk and precious jade would be delighted by nothing more than warmed stones.
Unfortunately, the maidens of the Crystal Palace maintained a fixed distance whenever Maomao approached, as if repelled by magnets, so she was unable to hand any to them.
"Aren't you just too soft-hearted for your own good?"
Yinghua
asked in an exasperated tone,
"Now that you mention it, perhaps you're right."
She said honestly what was on her mind.
(Come to think of it,)
ever since the break had started, there had been an unusual number of people passing through behind the curtain.
It wasn't just maidens — military officers and civil officials seemed to be filtering in as well.
Everyone was holding some kind of accessory in one hand.
Some were facing a single court lady one-on-one, while others were surrounded by several at once.
Guien and
Airan
also appeared to be talking with a military officer they didn't recognize.
"That's how they recruit talented people hiding away in the Garden of Flowers."
"Yes."
"They hand over the accessories they're holding as a sign."
"Is that so?"
"Well, there's another meaning to it, too."
"I see."
Maomao's replies were unusually disinterested, so Yinghua crossed her arms and pursed her lips.
"I said there's another meaning, too!"
"Is that right?"
He didn't even try to draw out what that other meaning was.
"Well then, that
hairpin —
give it to me."
"Fine. But with the other two,
rock-paper-scissors —
play it first."
She said, flipping the warming stone in the brazier.
This was none of Maomao's concern, since she planned to return to the pleasure district the moment her two years of service were done.
More importantly,
"(If I'm going to be worked to the bone like that, I'd rather
have been an errand boy
at the Crystal Palace.)"
And as she stared ahead with dead-cicada eyes,
"Miss, here you go."
A hairpin was held out before her.
She looked up to see a large man with sharp features smiling sweetly at her. He was still young and clean-shaven. His looks fell into what one might call the ruggedly handsome category, but to Maomao, who had built up a strong tolerance for unnecessarily sweet smiles, he drew no particular reaction — she simply gazed back.
The soldier seemed to sense that her response wasn't what he'd expected, but he couldn't withdraw his outstretched hand. Bent at the waist with his weight on his toes, his legs were trembling.
Maomao appeared to realize that she was the one putting the man in this awkward spot.
"Thanks."
When Maomao took it, his face lit up like a puppy being praised by its owner.
She thought he somehow had the air of a stray dog.
"Well, see ya! Nice meeting you. I'm
Li Bai —
that's my name."
(Probably won't ever see him again, I think.)
The large dog waving its hand still had over a dozen hairpins stuck in its sash.
He must be distributing them to all the maids so they won't be embarrassed.
(In that case, I did something wrong.)
As I gazed at the hairpin adorned with peach-colored coral,
"Did you get one?"
Guien and the others arrived. Each had their spoils of war tucked into their sashes.
"It's a participation prize."
Maomao answered without any sentiment.
Then, from behind,
"That alone must be rather lonely, don't you think?"
A noble voice I recognized rang out.
I turned around — ample bosom, or rather,
Rifa
Consort was standing there.
(She's put on a little weight, hasn't she?)
Still, it didn't compare to her former figure. But the lingering softness only served to enhance the consort's beauty. She wore a deep indigo skirt with a sky-blue jacket and draped a blue shawl over her shoulders.
(She must be a little cold, shouldn't she?)
As long as I was assigned to Consort Gyokuyou, I couldn't show any favoritism toward Consort Rifa.
Even after leaving the Crystal Palace,
Jinshi
was the only one through whom I'd been able to inquire about her condition.
Even if I visited the palace, I knew the maids would turn me away at the door.
"It's been too long."
"It's been a while, hasn't it?"
When she looked up, Consort Rifa reached out and touched Maomao's hair.
Something pricked lightly, just as it had with Jinshi.
This time it didn't hurt.
"Well then, farewell."
With an air of effortless grace, she swept away, gently admonishing her attendants who could not hide their shock.
It was the attendants of Emerald Hall who stood there stupefied.
"Oh my. With this, Lady Gyokuyou isn't just going to be sulking — it's worse than that."
Yinghua flicked the ornamental part of the hairpin with a weary look on her face.
Three red crystal beads dangled in a row, swaying gently.