Longing for Love (Twice Reborn) - Chapter 52

This morning, Lu Feng and Song Mi appearing near Juchen’s room was no coincidence.

Originally, Lu Feng had come to see her with a message an old acquaintance from their hometown had heard of her arrival and wished to meet, specifically requesting him to relay the invitation.

When Juchen heard the name “Zhou Qingxi,” she froze momentarily.

Song Mi noticed her stiffness as he leaned casually against the wall, asking who the visitor was. Lu Feng succinctly hinted, “Cherry.”

That was the girl who had once pushed Juchen into the water in a rage after Juchen “stole” her fiancé.

Song Mi’s brow furrowed slightly, concerned that this might be trouble. From the moment Zhou Qingxi stepped into the room, he lingered on the corridor outside Juchen’s door, keeping cool in the shade.

Inside, Zhou Qingxi walked to the table, set down a gift box, and fixed her gaze on Juchen. Years of trading between two nations under the harsh northwestern sun had darkened her skin, but her eyes shone with resilience.

Compared to her days in the Eastern Capital, she now carried herself with steady confidence.

She took two steps toward Juchen, who instinctively leaned back, watching her warily.

Zhou Qingxi lifted the hem of her robe and bowed deeply to Juchen in gratitude for saving her life.

Juchen stood rooted in place, stunned.

Zhou Qingxi revisited their past grievances involving “Cherry.” Back then, though she had resented Juchen’s allure, she also knew that “flies don’t bother an uncracked egg.” After breaking off her engagement, ashamed to remain in the Eastern Capital, she followed her mother into business, traveling far and wide. It was then she realized how vast the world was and how much she could achieve.

Last year, she married a foreign merchant. Their marriage was loving, free from the rigid formalities of noble families, allowing her to live freely and unrestrained.

Later, upon returning to the Eastern Capital, she learned that her ex-fiancé’s family had been executed for embezzlement.

Years of commerce had honed her insight. That night, standing by the bridge, watching the river flow, she pieced together Juchen’s actions back then and in a flash of clarity, everything made sense.

Zhou Qingxi prostrated herself, preparing for a third bow a gesture akin to Tibetan pilgrimage rites. Juchen, feeling undeserving, avoided the honor and helped her up instead. Through the window, Song Mi glimpsed the two women now seated at the table, chatting amiably as if old grudges had melted away.

The Liang envoy was set to depart for the capital tomorrow. Lu Feng came to fetch Song Mi to discuss travel plans. Seeing the unyielding smile on Juchen’s lips, Song Mi left reassured.

Following his gaze, Lu Feng walked beside him and remarked with a chuckle, “You know, Li Juchen reminds me of an old saying.”

Song Mi glanced at him.

“Time reveals a person’s heart,” Lu Feng said.

“That girl at first glance, she might seem all about appearances. After all, back in her youth, a single glance from her could make countless boys swoon.

But once you get to know her, you realize she’s genuine kind on the outside, even kinder within.”

As a notorious charmer, Lu Feng had a silver tongue, having lavished praise on hundreds of women in front of Song Mi each time improvising on a whim.

But this time, he noticed that Song Mi actually listened to him attentively and even flatteringly replied, “You’re right.”

After Juchen finished catching up with Zhou Qingxi, Zhou expressed regret that she had left too early and couldn’t take her to see the scenery of the border market.

With a smile, Juchen said, “There will be opportunities.”

Mentioning the market reminded Juchen of something. She leaned close to Zhou Qingxi’s ear and softly inquired about the extent of her influence there. “If new merchants set up shop, could you be the first to know?”

“Most likely. After all, we merchants must always keep an eye on our competitors.”

Juchen’s gaze flickered toward the palace where Yong’an resided, a trace of contemplation flashing in her eyes as she earnestly requested, “Within the next two years, if you see a man with a full beard wearing an eye patch, please send someone to notify me immediately.”

Since she could not stop Yong’an from marrying into another family, she had to make an effort in other aspects of her life.

The eastern capital welcomed another harsh winter.

Juchen had always been diligent. Upon returning to the capital, after a brief rest, she hurried back to her duties at the Phoenix Pavilion. It wasn’t that she didn’t know the importance of balancing work and rest it was just that as soon as she arrived home, she knelt at her doorstep to receive the emperor’s decree commending their successful mission. At the same time, an imperial edict from the empress dowager arrived, directly promoting her by one rank as a reward for her efforts.

Li the Archivist became Li the Chief Archivist. Though only a seventh-rank position, insignificant in the grand scheme of the eastern capital’s officialdom, she was the first female official in the Phoenix Pavilion to receive such a promotion.

The empress dowager also authorized her to assist Chief Secretary Shen in managing the Phoenix Pavilion. With Chief Secretary Shen on a three-year mourning leave, this move undoubtedly placed the acting leadership of the Phoenix Pavilion in Juchen’s hands.

Such heavy responsibility made Juchen ask Song Mi three times in bed if he had said something to the empress dowager. Song Mi teased her all three times before truthfully answering, “No.”

Only then did Juchen feel at ease. The next morning, dressed in new clothes, she appeared on the imperial city’s thoroughfare, radiant with joy.

After nearly a year, Juchen finally reappeared on the imperial city’s thoroughfare, her graceful figure like a startled swan, instantly drawing the sidelong glances of many newly appointed scholars.

Juchen’s beauty wasn’t the aggressive kind. At first glance, she seemed pure as a spirit, like an orchid hidden in a secluded valley. But the longer one looked, the more one became immersed, especially in her eyes clear and innocent as a deer by a mountain stream, yet when they curved, they held a hint of allure, like crescent moons that could inadvertently captivate and halt one’s steps.

“Is that Chief Archivist Li?”

It was just after court dismissal. Many green-robed officials from the front departments, holding their jade tablets, passed through the thoroughfare. A casual glance made some forget their path, nearly colliding with the young eunuchs guiding the way.

Hearing the voices, Juchen turned her head, the hairpins on her head barely swaying, her demeanor gentle and graceful.

She didn’t stop walking, but many young officials paused, craning their necks in anticipation.

Chief Eunuch Pei and Censor Fan happened to witness this scene from a side path. Fan, known for his rigid propriety, couldn’t help but flick his sleeve and shake his head in disapproval. “Against the rules.”

When he sternly asked Chief Eunuch Pei, “Why is the female official of the Phoenix Pavilion dressing so freely against regulations?” Pei bowed deeply and gently explained that the court had never imposed dress restrictions on their department.

Vice Censor-in-Chief Fan frowned slightly, his expression displeased as he said sternly, “Since the official ranks of the Phoenix Pavilion follow the system of the inner court’s female officials, they should logically dress accordingly as female officials. As state ministers setting an example for the realm, one should restrain oneself and restore propriety, observing laws and regulations. Wearing such casual, gaudy attire that attracts attention like bees to flowers is indecent and utterly improper.”

Chief Pei maintained his pleasant demeanor as he explained, “The female officials of the Six Bureaus in the inner court attend to the daily needs of the nobility and are considered inner servants ultimately subordinates. The Phoenix Pavilion shares governance responsibilities and serves as pillars of the state, composed of talented ladies personally selected by Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, many from distinguished noble families. Having them dress the same as servants would be inappropriate. Thus, while Her Majesty granted them official ranks equivalent to female officials, she treats them like palace consorts without restricting their attire.”

Vice Censor Fan remained unmoved, snorting coldly. “It’s just a set of clothes what’s the difference? The court officials’ robes are all of uniform design. Women are always so finicky about such trivial details.”

Chief Pei smiled without reply, merely sweeping his gaze over Vice Censor Fan’s imposing official robes, thinking to himself: How could these possibly be the same?

Suddenly, Chief Pei recalled the year Vice Censor Fan passed the imperial examinations in his youth, when he himself happened to be announcing the names of the new jinshi scholars in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

When Vice Censor Fan entered the hall upon hearing his name and was bestowed the green robe of a jinshi though the style differed completely, its color was identical to that of eunuchs his face darkened. Later, he specifically petitioned to change to a different shade of green.

He wrote an extensive memorial, practically threatening to dash himself to death on the jade steps of the Golden Luan Hall if the emperor refused.

Juchen walked unhurriedly through the gates of the Phoenix Pavilion courtyard.

Xue Wan and Lu Yun were currently swamped with work inside. Hearing of Juchen’s arrival, they rushed out to greet her.

Juchen promptly presented the gifts she had brought back from Tibet.

However, apart from these two who were familiar with her and dared to set aside their tasks to chat, the other female officials of the Phoenix Pavilion remained at their desks, heads buried in work.

Juchen studied the mountainous stacks of documents on their desks. She didn’t recall Chief Shen mentioning any major ongoing projects during their handover. Unable to resist, she asked about the situation. Having been away for months, it was natural to seek clarification. Lu Yun opened her mouth as if to complain, then hesitated.

Juchen furrowed her delicate brows. “What’s wrong?”

Xue Wan said softly, “The Ministry of Personnel has demanded we assist in compiling performance evaluations for all officials. They’ve sent people to hurry us several times already.”

Juchen’s heart sank.

In her past life, she’d taken on this very task.

When the Empress Dowager established the Phoenix Pavilion against all opposition to cultivate her own faction, she’d instructed them to remain humble and eager to learn, maintaining good relations with the Six Ministries.

The tedious compilation of official evaluations fell outside the Phoenix Pavilion’s purview. But back then, Juchen and her colleagues were low-ranking newcomers to officialdom, maintaining modest attitudes and accommodating every request from the ministries, no matter how trivial.

They’d handled countless menial tasks for them, had many achievements claimed by others, and suffered numerous hidden losses.

In the end, their efforts went unappreciated. With a single accusation of “causing trouble,” all her hard work was negated, forcing her to take the blame and be demoted to Jiangyang.

Now, Juchen asked calmly, “Are they pressing very urgently?”

After much hesitation, Xue Wan nodded truthfully.

Juchen frowned in deep thought for a long while before sighing helplessly.

“Since they’re in such a hurry, we shouldn’t delay them. Let them handle it themselves.”

Xue Wan and Lu Yun stood frozen in place for quite some time.

With her usual gentle expression, Juchen asked, “Did you not understand me?”

Yet despite her familiar mild countenance, an inexplicable air of authority seemed to emanate from somewhere around them. After a brief daze, the two immediately bowed deeply. “Understood!”

A faint smile playing at her lips, Juchen stepped across the threshold before turning back to instruct the attending eunuchs to summon Physician Zhang from the Imperial Hospital the official in charge of treating the imperial harem.

Ministry of Personnel, back hall.

Vice Minister Zheng was bent over his desk drafting a memorial when he heard that Li Juchen had returned to duty. Without looking up, he asked, “Has the preliminary draft of the officials’ performance evaluations been completed?”

Sun Wenxuan bowed deeply. “We’ve already urged them repeatedly.”

Vice Minister Zheng’s face darkened with displeasure, his brow furrowing.

“Had I known the Phoenix Pavilion would be so sluggish, we should never have entrusted this matter to them.”

Not that they wanted to handle such tedious and meticulous work themselves.

With winter setting in and the year drawing to a close, without the Phoenix Pavilion’s preliminary evaluations, their year end summaries and merit assessments couldn’t proceed at all. Though seemingly menial tasks, without the Phoenix Pavilion laying this foundation for the Ministry of Personnel, they couldn’t possibly construct their edifice of achievements.

Sun Wenxuan hesitated. “Chief Recorder Li has just been promoted. Should we go offer our congratulations? After all.”

Vice Minister Zheng cut him off disdainfully. “What’s there to congratulate about some minor official moving from eighth to seventh rank?”

As a properly appointed fourth-rank official of the court, for him to fawn over some irregular seventh-rank female official would be utterly ridiculous.

Seeing his superior’s contemptuous expression, Sun Wenxuan lowered his voice.
“I heard Vice Minister Liu from the Ministry of Revenue sent her gifts this morning.”

Vice Minister Zheng sneered. “That slippery Liu Rong excels at currying favor and putting on appearances. That the Ministry of Personnel deigns to assign tasks to the Phoenix Pavilion is an honor for them. Just a bunch of women who don’t even attend morning court hardly fit for proper company. What can they accomplish beyond menial chores?”

After a silent moment, Sun Wenxuan forced a laugh in agreement. “As you say, my lord.”

Vice Minister Zheng set down his brush and leaned back arrogantly. “Now that Li Juchen has returned, send someone to press the Phoenix Pavilion again.

Tell them to hurry up with that draft they mustn’t delay our affairs.”

Sun Wenxuan had already been there once that morning. “Wouldn’t that be too much pressure?”

“Just go ask them outright whether they want to keep their positions. Do not worry given their obsequious manner, they will surely bend over backward to make a good impression on us. They wouldn’t dare refuse.”

Sun Wenxuan said no more, simply acknowledging the order before hurrying out.

But the moment he stepped beyond the Ministry of Personnel’s gates, he came face-to-face with envoys from the Phoenix Pavilion returning stacks upon stacks of performance evaluations from various prefectures.

“Chief Recorder Li instructed us to convey that the officials’ evaluations are far too important for the Phoenix Pavilion to presume to handle. Therefore they’re withdrawing from the task.”