Longing for Love (Twice Reborn) - Chapter 15
On the first day of spring when the government offices reopened, a new batch of female officials officially assumed their posts.
Juchen became a Registrar, holding the eighth rank position.
New officials typically received congratulatory gifts from colleagues as tokens of goodwill before their appointment. In the current court, where the Empress Dowager held power behind the scenes, the Six Ministries naturally had to show some courtesy to Juchen, one of her close associates.
This morning, the various Ministers had sent their gifts to the Li residence.
However, while protocol dictated that the officials themselves or their direct subordinates should personally deliver them, most had only dispatched female family members, adhering to the etiquette of the inner court.
They still believed that female officials were, after all, just women different from them.
Mingluan, being guileless, was simply delighted by the arrival of gifts and did not pay much attention to whether the etiquette was proper. She gleefully unwrapped each gift box and found that the red coral bonsai sent by the Minister of Personnel stood out the most among the presents, particularly eye catching in its extravagance.
“Minister Liao is quite generous seems he holds you in high regard!”
Mingluan laughed, then opened another box and examined the bird’s nest sent by the Minister of Revenue. “Minister Wang is so stingy just a few measly pieces!”
Juchen smiled. “As the one in charge of finances, how could he afford to be lavish?”
Mingluan pouted, still convinced that the Personnel Ministry’s gesture carried more sincerity.
Grinning, she brought the gift over for Juchen to admire, but Juchen’s expression remained indifferent.
She was no longer the young girl who would feel flattered by the slightest show of attention.
In her past life, Liao Wenze had sent the exact same gift.
Back then, naive and inexperienced, Juchen had been moved by this small gesture, believing she had earned genuine regard. She had thrown herself into the miscellaneous tasks assigned by the Personnel Ministry with exceptional diligence.
Only to be betrayed in the end, earning criticism and demotion from the Empress Dowager.
It wasn’t until much later, when she had risen to a high position herself, that Juchen realized just how cheaply her youthful labor had been bought.
After a moment of silence, Juchen closed the red coral box without so much as a second glance. “Put this away properly. We’ll find an opportunity to return it later.”
“Return it?” Mingluan was stunned.
“One shouldn’t accept unearned rewards.”
Mingluan could not help feeling it was a waste but obeyed, packing the gift away. After a moment’s thought, she asked, “Should we return the Revenue Ministry’s gift too?”
Juchen chuckled lightly. “A few pieces of bird’s nest your mistress can afford that much goodwill.”
Besides, she had recently requested duties involving the Revenue Ministry from Song Mi. There would be plenty of dealings with them in the future.
Mingluan, however, was indignant, insisting that with her mistress’s abilities, even ten or a hundred red corals would be within reach someday.
Juchen beamed. “Mingluan is right. Your mistress is more than capable. In the future, we’ll have all these antiques and curios ourselves batch after batch, filling our storerooms to the brim.”
Mingluan nodded vigorously. “Exactly! No matter how precious, my lady is worthy of them all!”
Juchen continued smiling. “What’s precious isn’t these things.”
“Then what is?”
Juchen gazed at her reflection in the mirror and sighed. “Some debts of gratitude can never be repaid, even in a lifetime.”
Mingluan was baffled, scratching her head with a puzzled hum before turning to store the gift box in the inner room’s cabinet.
By the time she returned, Juchen was already seated at the dressing table, combing her hair.
Juchen caught sight of her approach in the mirror and turned her head, revealing a fair lotus like face with bright, expressive eyes that sparkled with vitality. She smiled and called out, “Ming Luan, come quickly and help me with my makeup. Today is my first official day on duty!”
As the morning bell tolled, Juchen entered the imperial city’s thoroughfare and arrived at the Phoenix Pavilion, where she stopped and bowed.
The Phoenix Pavilion was established in the first year of Jiahe by the Empress Dowager as a new administrative office.
During the late emperor’s reign, he and the current Empress Dowager were jointly revered as the “Two Sages,” sharing governance of the realm. Before his passing, the late emperor decreed that the crown prince would inherit the throne, but military and state affairs would still be decided by the Empress Dowager.
Thus, the Phoenix Pavilion was born a secretariat serving as the Empress Dowager’s liaison with the court. Before this, the imperial court had never had female officials serving in the outer court, and the official hierarchy remained underdeveloped, still following the rank system of palace women.
Juchen held the position of Dianji, an eighth rank official, equivalent to the Dianshan in the Imperial Kitchen.
But she needed not a shred of culinary skill, nor did she serve any member of the inner palace. She was the Empress Dowager’s Qijulang (court diarist), and in time, her greatest expertise would lie in drafting imperial edicts for the future empress.
At present, Juchen was still inexperienced and needed refinement. Yet when the Empress Dowager ascended the throne, she would become the first female Hanlin Academician personally appointed by the empress, breaking the five rank ceiling for palace women and rising as a full-fledged fourth rank court official.
And any edict penned by Academician Li in accordance with imperial will was almost never rejected.
Now, Juchen gently lifted the hem of her robe and stepped over the threshold of the Phoenix Pavilion.
Her mentor, Chief Secretary Shen, the current head of the Phoenix Pavilion, was instructing each new female official on their respective duties.
When Chief Secretary Shen’s sharp gaze fell upon her, Juchen promptly bowed and flashed her a smile.
Chief Secretary Shen’s delicate brows furrowed slightly, but she still acknowledged the gesture with a nod. Though she had never particularly liked Li Juchen, since the Empress Dowager had chosen her, she resolved to nurture her into a capable official.
First, Chief Secretary Shen taught her the fundamental responsibilities of a Qijulang, along with key points to note when recording the Empress Dowager’s daily life. Then, she handed her a fish tally and instructed her to visit the Historiography Institute to review past records of the emperor’s daily activities.
Looking back now, the Empress Dowager had already begun appointing her own Qijulang a clear glimpse of her imperial ambitions.
Juchen accepted the task and spent the morning immersed in the vast sea of historical records. When noon arrived, Xue Wan and Lu Yun peeked into the institute and softly called out, “Come, let’s go for lunch.”
The greatest difference between the female officials of the Phoenix Pavilion and those of the inner court was that they followed the same schedule as outer court officials: starting duty at chenshi (7-9 AM), enjoying a two-hour break at noon for meals and rest, and leaving duty at youshi (5-7 PM) upon hearing the evening drum. They also had one day off every ten.
Like all government offices, the Phoenix Pavilion had its own canteen. Out of consideration, the Empress Dowager even provided daily meal subsidies. If the Imperial Kitchen’s offerings were unappealing that day, the officials were free to dine outside.
Thus, during the noon break, the male officials of the outer court often watched with envy as a group of graceful female officials strolled down the imperial thoroughfare, chatting and laughing on their way to the taverns in the Golden Market.
Juchen, along with Xue and Lu, arrived at Taiyuan Tower, the closest upscale restaurant to the imperial city. The moment the three elegant young women entered, a stir rippled through the corridor, and many private rooms parted their beaded curtains to peek.
Xue Wan glanced up at the numerous male gazes lingering on the railings and could not help whispering to Juchen with a laugh, “Why is it that every time I go out with you, we encounter such scenes?”
Juchen replied honestly, “I think many of them are looking at you two.”
Lu Yun’s lips curled slightly as she shook her head. “Looking at us is just looking at our family prestige. Looking at you is admiring true beauty.”
“Tch, as if I don’t want family prestige?” Juchen’s delicate brows furrowed as she followed them up the stairs step by step. “If my ancestors hadn’t slacked off, what could I do about it?”
As her words fell, a man’s gentle mocking laugh came from the stairway landing and terrace.
Lin Zongbai covered his mouth slightly, seeing the young women’s gazes already turning toward him. He stood up with a smile and spoke a familiar, affectionate address that seemed to traverse an entire lifetime: “Little Chen.”
For a fleeting moment, Juchen was dazed, recalling the last time she had seen that gentle face in her previous life already cold within a wooden coffin.
Reunited with an old friend, joy bubbled up uncontrollably.
Juchen paused, the smile at her lips gradually rising to her eyes. The playful, familiar “Brother Bai” nearly slipped out, but then she noticed the handsome man seated at the same table behind him.
Song Mi leisurely lifted his teacup, took a sip, and cast a chilly glance in her direction.
Juchen quickly changed her tone, offering a soft curtsy. “Young Master Lin, it’s been a while.”
Lin Zongbai was momentarily taken aback.
Xue and Lu also stepped forward politely to greet him, then respectfully acknowledged the Prince of Pengshan behind him at the other table.
With a warm expression, Lin Zongbai asked, “Just off duty? Here for a meal?”
Juchen nodded obediently.
Lin Zongbai’s peach blossom eyes curved as he said cheerfully, “Order whatever you like my treat today.”
Juchen instinctively worried, “There’s no need, you….”
Lin Zongbai cut her off directly. “I have money now.” He fell silent briefly, glancing back before smiling. “Thanks to His Highness making connections for me, I just bought Taiyuan Tower today.”
Delighted for him, Juchen’s smile deepened at the corners of her eyes. She curtsied again and, while Song Mi wasn’t looking, whispered softly, “Congratulations, Brother Bai.”
Lin Zongbai’s brows lifted slightly, but he didn’t dwell on her shifting address. Instead, he summoned the manager personally to escort them and ensure they were well taken care of.
Thanks to Lin Zongbai, the three were seated at the best table opposite them.
Juchen nodded as she accepted the tea poured by the manager. Between sips, she couldn’t help glancing back.
Song Mi’s lashes happened to lift at that moment.
Their eyes met. Juchen stiffened, her heart pounding, before she quickly turned away.
Lin Zongbai lifted the teapot to pour for Song Mi, following his momentary gaze which had landed squarely on the three young women across from them.
Lu Yun happened to be seated opposite Juchen and noticed Lin Zongbai’s gaze.
She couldn’t help looking at him, struck once more by his refined, scholarly charm. Sighing, she remarked to the other two, “The eldest son of the Lin family was renowned in his youth. Even my grandfather praised his essays, saying he had the makings of a top scholar. Yet he ultimately chose commerce what a waste of such talent.”
Xue Wan blew on the tea foam in her cup and sighed. “It’s not that he lacked ambition. He simply had no choice.”
The year of the imperial examinations, the Lin family suddenly fell into ruin with both parents passing away. As the eldest son, Lin Zongbai had an elderly, critically ill grandmother above him and four inexperienced younger siblings below, along with massive debts. If he had entered government service, the meager official salary alone could never have supported such a large household. Asking him to take bribes would have been utterly impossible given his character.
Even childhood friends like Juchen and Princess Xuyang, who secretly stuffed fine bran into his family’s rice jar, later found everything returned. If forced to accept, he would meticulously record it as a loan.
Over the years, he had been tirelessly working to make ends meet, rarely finding time to reunite with old friends. Now, at last, he had overcome the hardships.
Juchen traced the rim of her cup with pale fingertips, her eyes softening with nostalgia. “Actually, achieving one’s aspirations isn’t limited to government service. As long as one holds a heart devoted to the nation, no matter their status, they will step forward when the country faces peril.”
In her past life, when the Turks pressed in with 200,000 troops, had Lin Zongbai not exhausted his family’s wealth to transport provisions for the frontline soldiers, the Great Liang would have suffered defeat after defeat.
She and Prince Pengshan might not have even held the Eastern Capital, let alone ushered in the era of tribute from myriad nations that followed.
Xue Wan and Lu Yun exchanged glances, silently agreeing with Juchen’s words, and couldn’t help raising their cups to her.
The three drank together, and Juchen smiled faintly. When she glanced back, Lin Zongbai and Song Mi were already chatting with arms slung over each other’s shoulders.
In her past life, Juchen had been close to Lin Zongbai but later grew displeased seeing him frequently mingling with Song Mi, feeling he was favoring outsiders.
Now, she finally understood what it meant to share the same ideals.
At the moment, however, Lin Zongbai still saw himself as merely one of Prince Pengshan’s drinking companions. Having just been refused by Song Mi who excused himself with afternoon duties at the Grand Secretariat he chuckled and raised an eyebrow. “I returned from a trip to Yangzhou yesterday, and Her Majesty the Empress Dowager summoned me to the palace.”
Lin Zongbai left it at that, waiting for a reaction, but Song Mi only gave him a cool sidelong glance.
Finding the lack of response dull, Lin Zongbai sighed and confessed, “It was nothing much. She just asked if you’d been associating with any new people in the past six months.”
Having recently become the guild leader of the Eastern Capital’s taverns and entertainment houses, no one was more attuned to the city’s whispers than Lin Zongbai.
Song Mi: “She ordered you to spy on me?”
Lin Zongbai shook his head with a laugh. “She’d never do something so likely to annoy you. If she really sent someone to tail you, wouldn’t you raise hell with her?”
At heart, the Empress Dowager felt guilty toward Song Mi and had no wish to provoke his displeasure.
Song Mi lowered his head to sip his tea while Lin Zongbai propped his chin on a hand, leisurely adding, “I told her you hadn’t been up to anything unusual just busy with official duties. At most, you agreed to let Lu Er work under you and once escorted his blind date home.”
Song Mi set down his cup and shot him a sharp look.
Lin Zongbai slapped his forehead, grinning. “Ah, right. I forgot to mention the blind date to Her Majesty.”
As he spoke, his gaze inadvertently drifted toward a delicate figure across the room, his lips curling in amusement. His expression made it clear he had caught something telling in Song Mi’s reaction.
So there really was a woman who could enter his carriage. Only someone as guileless as Lu Feng wouldn’t find it strange.
But as for what position this “newcomer” truly held in his heart, Lin Zongbai couldn’t quite figure it out.
With an air of nonchalance, he leaned slightly towards Song Mo’s side, lowered his voice, and probed, “If you ask me, Sister Chen is truly remarkable not only is she beautiful, but her personality is quite captivating as well.”
Song Mo narrowed his eyes slightly. “Have you been idle lately?”
Lin Zongbai acted as if he hadn’t heard and continued, “Unlike someone like me, who has no background and has to consider the status of a potential father-in-law to see if it can bring some prestige to the Lin family, you don’t have such worries. Looking around the Eastern Capital, whose family could possibly surpass yours in status? So, what matters most is the person herself as long as she suits your heart, that’s enough.”
The corners of Song Mo’s lips gradually flattened, and he let out a cold scoff.
Suits his heart, that’s enough.
No matter how much he thought about it, if he didn’t suit her heart, what could he do?
Seeing Song Mo’s brows furrow deeper, Lin Zongbai couldn’t quite grasp his attitude for a moment.
Was he feeling unworthy?
Did he only want her as a concubine?
Or was he merely looking for a fleeting, nameless romance?
Just then, a maid arrived with several plates of desserts assorted pastries of various shapes. Among them was one adorned with white orchids, its faint fragrance drifting subtly through the air.
Knowing Song Mo didn’t eat sweets, Lin Zongbai frowned. “I didn’t order this.”
The maid bowed slightly. “The manager said this is a new creation from the kitchen this year and asked the master to try it first.”
Lin Zongbai nodded and turned to Song Mo politely. “Would you like to try some?”
As expected, Song Mo shook his head, set down his teacup, and stood up. “I should head back. There’s still a pile of documents waiting on my desk.”
Lin Zongbai rose as well, preparing to see him out.
Song Mo paused by the table for a moment before turning back and pointing to the orchid-adorned pastry. “Pack this one for me.”
Without thinking, Lin Zongbai blurted, “But you don’t like sweets, do you?”
Before the words even settled, he immediately realized Song Mo might not like them, but someone else did.
The maid swiftly handed over the pastry, and Song Mo tucked it into his sleeve.
Watching his careful movements, Lin Zongbai hesitated but couldn’t help frowning. “If you don’t have serious intentions, it’s best not to provoke her. That girl has always been clear about love and hate once she sets her heart on something, not even ten oxen could pull her back.”
His intention was to warn Pengshan Wang against toying with the young girl’s affections, only to leave her heartbroken and weeping in secret.
But as soon as the words left his mouth, Song Mo’s handsome face darkened instantly, his icy gaze flashing with a trace of barely perceptible resentment.
Lin Zongbai quickly covered his mouth. Could it be… he had already been rejected?
“Forget I said anything.”
With that, Lin Zongbai gave an awkward chuckle and raised a fist in a gesture of encouragement.
The early spring sun held no trace of scorching heat, its warmth gentle and comforting against the skin.
Returning to the Phoenix Pavilion, Juchen found an unfamiliar package in her drawer wrapped in oiled paper, still unopened, its delicate fragrance seeping through the gaps.
On the back of the paper were two words, the ink bold and striking: Ci You.
Juchen stared at the familiar characters, her heart skipping a beat as she gazed at them.
Yet when the sun dipped westward, casting golden light across the courtyard steps, Juchen arrived at Ci You’s residence with an embroidered box in hand only to find Song Mo had yet to return from the inner court.
Juchen placed the brocade box in front of the dressing table, first removing his outer garments to bathe.
With damp long hair loosely tied, he sat by the bed, wringing it dry. He waited until dinner was served, yet there was still no sign of the man.
Unable to resist, Juchen moved to sit on the jade mat by the window, gazing outside.