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The Catastrophic Consort
墨書 Inktalez
-0-
By chance, maid caught sight of a secret. That day, she left the palace to deliver clothes to her elder brother's house. When she returned, the setting sun was glowing red, and the evening breeze was desolate. The main gate was about to close, and she saw a beautiful woman standing in front of the palace gate like a statue. The woman seemed to have been standing there for a very long time, her slender white neck stretched forward, her eyes, soaked in black jade, staring intently at the empty horse path.
In the palace's back garden, hundreds of flowers are in full bloom, and the most abundant are the beauties. However, this beauty is like the most exquisite flower among them all, dressed in a green gown that complements her rosy skin, with lacquered hair and a delicate agate and glass bead necklace around her slender neck. Draped in a cloak, she shines like a goddess in the dimming world between heaven and earth.
She seems to be waiting for someone.
Occasionally, the concubines in the harem would come here privately, either to miss their families or to attend urgent matters at home. The maid dared not interfere, but after walking a distance, she heard the increasingly loud sound of horse hooves and the neighing of horses carried by the wind. Curious, she quietly turned back to look.
The man on the horse immediately grabbed the reins and jumped down, taking a few steps to stand in front of the beauty, his face obscured by her presence. As the sunset approached, the shadows of the palace walls turned slightly red, creeping up to the edge of her embroidered shoes. The silk ribbons fluttered in the wind like bird wings, and she relaxed her tightly pursed lips, making up her mind. She said, "I won't blame you for the past, since you didn't act. But since I've come here, you know what I want to do." The young man in front of her remained silent.
She continued to declare, "I will become Consort, Noble Consort, and even..." The last word was barely audible. The sharp knife about to be spat out was retracted into her body, drenching her whole body in blood: "In this way, do I have the qualification to form an alliance with Sun?"
"Rongyue," the young man had a pair of pitch-black eyes, in which no object could reflect its outline, just like the night cannot, "Cao Rongyue. Your sister's matter, you should think carefully about it. Your true self, I..." He had something to say, but couldn't finish it.
She turned her back to him: "The concubine has said all that needs to be said, waiting for Sun to change his mind one day."
maid Unable to hear their conversation, I only saw that they seemed to have a falling out and parted ways unhappily. The beauty removed a hairpin from her cloud bun and resolutely threw it away, running towards the palace with her shoulders draped in a fluttering cloak, like the broken wings of a bird.
Afraid of being caught peeking, maid hurriedly lowered her head and walked on. The beauty didn't notice her, and as she ran past, she repeatedly wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, surely the tears she had been holding back while speaking.
She was so heartbroken, her shoulders trembling, that she had to use her hand to support herself against the wall as she slowly continued walking forward.
maid Looking back, the broken hairpin on the ground is no longer there. By the palace gate, there seems to be the silhouette of a young man, with a shining silver hairpin. Like a beauty, he didn't look back, and rode away.
——
Beyond the wall Xing, by the window, peach and plum blossoms, a few branches fall into the green bottle.
Sparrows on the eaves, warblers beneath the leaves, their songs tell of matters unrelated to you.
-1-
The sun has risen, but thin mist still lingers in the palace. The maid with Tao Hong attire hangs her head, her eyes closely following the footsteps of the one in front, winding along the stone bricks. A row of swallows perches on the wall, quiet, watching the passing figures between the palace walls.
Today's harem is too quiet, as if waiting for something. Not only the voices are waiting, the lan room is also waiting for the Consorts who have just finished dressing up. The ears are waiting, and the eyes are waiting. Consort Meng Xiaoju who lives in Zhao Hua palace unexpectedly did her hair by herself today, combed it once, and looked outside. She is like a Camellia, very gorgeous, with a delicate temperament, and greatly favored by the Emperor.
The maid gently placed the rouge box on her dressing table, knelt down, and was about to leave. The Consort spoke: "I'm asking you. What color and ingredients are in the powder that Noble Consort uses?"
The maid with a plain appearance and no complexion, replied softly, "Reporting to Zhao Hua Consort, it's pear blossoms, colorless."
"Still fond of pear blossoms. You may leave." Facing the mirror, she pinched her slender shoulder and applied Dancon, sinking her fingertip into the soft flesh. She murmured to herself, "Innate charm... Hmph."
The Consorts' bone structure and appearance were so delicate, with a Tao Hong complexion, that one dared not look too long. Once they did, they couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache and desolation when facing their dim reflection in the mirror.
After leaving Zhao Hua palace and passing three palace walls, they arrived at The Noble Consort's Palace. Stepping through the palace gates, the maid's restrained pace became more relaxed. Unlike the quietness along the way, The Noble Consort's Palace was bustling today, with many palace guards unexpectedly present.
These people don't usually come to the harem. Once they do, it means something unusual has happened. The maid stood at the steps, hesitant for a long time, then continued inside. When she saw the familiar slender figure in the inner room, she exclaimed with joy, "Noble Consort—"
She was not the most beautiful woman in the harem, but she had delicate bones, a slender figure, and natural charm. She treated the maid and maidservants very well. Anything that the Emperor did not send her, she would give to them.
Noble Consort Cao had not yet dressed up. She paid no attention to the guards who were moving things in and out around her. She tilted her face up and let the maidservant apply makeup, saying, " Xing'zi isn't coming back? She didn't even take the box of eyebrow powder I gave her. It really hurts my heart." Her face lightly leaned on the maidservant's arm, hiding a look of sorrow: "What does she want? Why doesn't she come to me and talk about it..." A little sunlight shone in from the door, as if sprinkling powder on her face, making her skin crystal clear.
The maid smiled and said, "Don't be sad, Your Highness. Look, Noble Consort Cao is here." For some reason, Noble Consort Cao favored maid Tao Hong. Every time she came, Noble Consort Cao would specifically ask her to help with her hair, and after she finished, Noble Consort Cao would give her fabric or jewelry. A guard stood next to the dressing table, holding a small book and comparing items on the table. He was asked by Noble Consort Cao to stand further away to make room for the maid.
" Consort Cao ……" Tao Hong knelt behind her, carefully picking up the fallen black hair, reaching for a wooden comb, only to touch warm silk. It wasn't silk, it was a hand. The hand of maid was held by Noble Consort Cao, and Noble Consort Cao's smooth fingertips rubbed against her calloused ones for a moment before letting go. Noble Consort Cao said, "It's so cold in the morning, your hands are all wrinkled. Lijie, go get that box of ointment for Tao Hong." "Thank you, Your Highness..." Tao Hong was grateful and couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, what are these people here for?" "These people?" Seemingly finding the situation amusing, Noble Consort Cao actually laughed. When she laughed, she truly was radiant, "They are here to search by order. It seems that someone has accused me of having an affair with someone."
The Noble Consort had an affair with someone.
With a sound like a knife cutting through the air, the maid lost her grip on the comb, which fell to the ground with a crisp clatter. In this luxurious room, it felt as if the guards were about to draw their swords and stab at the woman in front of the maid. The Noble Consort's slender neck was encased by her collar, and feeling the chill in the air, she put on a large-sleeved garment. The black cotton coat, trimmed with golden thread, exuded a sense of solemnity.
Noble Consort Cao stood up, stretched her arms lightly, and smiled as she commented on herself, "This outfit looks like something the Empress Dowager would wear; it's truly presumptuous. Sister Liu, bring me another one. I want it pink— the pinker, the better."
"Do you want those pink shoes?"
"Mm. Bring them out as well."
There are light pink and dark pink, both not easy to match with clothes. Worn by Noble Consort Cao, they detract from her beauty, leaving only her naturally lovely and enduring face. She sits down again and has Tao Hong continue to style her hair into a bun.
Tao Hong She was timid and couldn't handle much, her hands trembling slightly: "Madam... I want to help you put up a new hair bun, to match your outfit."
In the bronze mirror, the maid behind her carefully gathered her excessive hair, slowly dividing and braiding it. After a long wait, the hair bun in the bronze mirror gradually took shape. Noble Consort Cao smiled and gently reminded her, " Tao Hong, you've made me look ten years younger. I used to wear this kind of double-loop bun when I was a child."
Tao Hong was afraid of making mistakes, too nervous, and explained softly, "This, this matches the pink, Madam looks very beautiful."
maid When speaking softly, her voice is sweet and mellow, and in the mirror, Cao Rongyue seems to have truly returned to that age. In a good mood, she leaned back into the arms of maid, resting against her slender shoulders. "You are like my sister, but you are so young and tender. It's pitiful." She spoke naturally, and the intimacy of their closeness felt natural as well. Besides being startled, Tao Hong also caught a faint, elusive fragrance. The Consort's clothing was always scented at night, but this scent was not detected through the nose, but rather transmitted through the skin in their closeness. It was the first time in her life that Tao Hong had seen the Noble Consort up close, and her eyes seemed to be glued in place—so big were her eyes, so small her face, and so delicate her waist. Tao Hong's shoulder was patted, and her maid, Xiliu, urged her to get up. "If you stay like this, we won't be able to tidy up properly. Let me do it."
Tao Hong Like waking up from a dream, she quickly stood up and moved to the side. But she saw Noble Consort Cao still staring at her in the bronze mirror, and she felt a sticky and unusual sensation in her heart, unable to discern what it was.
Adjusting her attire, Noble Consort Cao chose a golden hairpin and hairpiece, gesturing above her head, glancing at the busy guards checking items, and spoke loud enough for everyone to hear:
"Go and throw that box of thing into the pond for me, let it sink."
When the guards heard these words, they reacted as if they had discovered prey. Several of them closely followed the two maids who were carrying a box out of a hidden compartment, while the others hurriedly ran outside. The iron box was intricately carved with concentric locks, intertwined Mandarin ducks, and entwined phoenixes. The guard holding the thin booklet carefully examined it, flipping through the pages and comparing the handwriting before concluding, "This, this is truly not a gift from the palace!"
The maids swiftly and skillfully threw the box into a small pond outside, where it made a cool splash. Then they went in to retrieve it.
"Emperor is here—"
The eunuch's sharp voice pierced through the ears like a needle.
Cao Rongyue walked calmly and gracefully, stepping outside. She saw a man, not dressed in formal attire, standing with his hands behind his back, watching the turmoil in the pool caused by the rushing guards. Without speaking, Cao Rongyue finished her salutations, and the man, noticing her presence, turned to look at her. Although not particularly handsome, the man had a straight back and a certain air of dignity.
He didn't say a word, but his eyes, which had seen too much falsehood and were overly calm, seemed to want to pierce her.
He was observing her. She was also observing him.
Cao Rongyue leaned against the door and saw her lover, and scolded, "Emperor, you were clearly waiting outside the hall, why did you come so slowly on such a short distance?"
Now he spoke, saying, " Noble Consort, you are being reckless."
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