The Prime Minister's White Moonlight - Chapter 10

Chapter 10: The Dream

The Dream

After Hanbi’s injury had healed, it was time again to pay her respects at the Taiji Palace. However, the lotus flowers in front of the palace had withered, leaving behind a pool of dead blossoms, looking somewhat desolate, much like the typically low-profile Empress lately.

Hanbi arrived a little late. After sitting down in her spot, Consort Shu, Yun Tinglu, immediately jabbed at her. “Why is Consort Cui arriving so late?”

Before Hanbi could respond, the Empress intervened for her. “Consort Cui’s injury has just healed. It’s perfectly fine to be a little late.”

Yun Tinglu glanced at the dignified-looking Ning Changyi, feeling a little confused. She wondered why the Empress, who supposedly disliked Cui Hanbi the most, was pretending to be kind now.

Consort Shu had been a bit temperamental because Zhao Yan had not taken her to the hunt, but she secretly rejoiced when she heard how dangerous it had been. However, seeing the uninterrupted flow of medicine sent to Zhaoyue Palace for Hanbi’s injury, she felt a pang of jealousy and resentment. She had assumed Ning Changyi felt the same, but now the Empress was feigning kindness.

Since the Empress had spoken, Consort Shu naturally could not continue the argument. So, everyone exchanged some irrelevant pleasantries and then retired. Consort Bao, Xie, and Consort Rong, Chen, naturally could not attend the hunt. When Zhao Yan returned, they were initially happy, but they were disappointed when he did not set foot in the harem for nearly half a month.

However, because of the matter of the medicinal recipes, the two had become closer. When Ning Changxue returned from the Imperial Garden and saw the two, she asked Taozhi, “Are those two also concubines?” Taozhi answered honestly, “They are Consort Bao Xie and Consort Rong Chen. I don’t know when their relationship became so good.”

The two met Ning Changxue. Logically, Ning Changxue should have bowed to them. However, Ning Changxue had the Ning family and the Empress backing her, and the three were of similar age, so the two performed a courtesy reserved for peers. “Second Miss Ning.”

Ning Changxue naturally returned the greeting and asked, “Have you two seen my sister?” The two nodded. Consort Bao Xie remained silent, and Consort Rong Chen replied, “Yes, after paying our respects to the Empress Niangniang and exchanging a few words, we left.”

Ning Changxue smiled. “My sister looks solemn, but she is actually soft-hearted.” This was meant to speak well of the Empress. The two remembered the day’s events; the Empress was indeed better than Consort Shu, so they agreed and then left.

Ning Changxue watched their retreating figures, lost in thought. After returning to the Taiji Palace, she changed her clothes before going to see Ning Changyi. Talking about meeting the two palace concubines outside, Ning Changxue said, “Consort Bao Xie looks honest and dull, but Consort Rong Chen is quite shrewd. They are together, so Consort Rong Chen must have given her some advantage.”

What Ning Changxue didn’t say was that she could guess a little. Women in the palace only ever care about favor, children, and the like. Since Hanbi and Yun Tinglu were in favor, it could only be about children. However, Ning Changxue was not foolish enough to tell Ning Changyi everything without reservation. Even if the Empress was her own sister, she had to keep some things back.

Ning Changyi put down her teacup. “Oh? Let them be. They won’t cause any big trouble anyway.” Ning Changxue felt that her sister would regret this decision, but she did not interrupt, only retreating silently.

Returning to her residence, Ning Changxue took out a notebook and wrote down the names of Consort Rong Chen and Consort Bao Xie. Previously, she had already written down the names of Cui Hanbi and Yun Tinglu, while her eldest sister, Ning Changyi, was prominently displayed on the first page.

After the ink dried, she closed the notebook, a smile playing on her lips. In fact, the Empress’s change in attitude towards Hanbi was also her idea. Compared to the well-established Yun family, the helpless Hanbi was clearly a better person to use. Since Consort Shu was powerful, it would be good to support Hanbi to challenge her.

The former Ning Changyi held a grudge against Hanbi for using her to return to the palace, so she naturally lacked such a strategy. But it didn’t matter, “I will prompt my sister,” Ning Changxue thought happily, her smile becoming more evident.

That evening, Zhao Yan rarely came to visit Hanbi and had dinner with her.

After such a long time apart, Hanbi was naturally very attentive during the meal. When Zhao Yan had drunk some wine, Hanbi said, “This concubine wishes to go to Jing’an Temple tomorrow to pray for Your Majesty’s blessing. The hunt was too dangerous.” Zhao Yan looked at her. In the candlelight, her small mole looked like a teardrop, making her appear very endearing.

“That is a good thing, but should I send some Imperial Guards to protect you?” Zhao Yan asked. Hanbi smiled. “Whatever Your Majesty decides. This concubine also has a martial arts maidservant with her. Bringing her along will be even safer.”

Zhao Yan made no comment. He had handed the matter of the Northern Di assassins over to the Dali Temple, but there had been no progress. Moreover, with the autumn exams approaching, he really didn’t have much time for the harem.

Although he had already appointed Shen Zhuo as the chief examiner in court, he was still young, and some officials in court were bound to be unconvinced of his appointment. Although the Grand Commandant hadn’t said anything, the subordinates should be unconvinced, too. Zhao Yan had spent a lot of effort suppressing these people, along with the preparations for the final palace exam. All these matters combined made him extremely annoyed.

Zhao Yan did not spend the night at Zhaoyue Palace, but Hanbi didn’t care much about that. Her goal had been achieved. Besides, too much favor was not necessarily a good thing. For example, Yun Tinglu was once unrivaled in influence, but now many people were waiting to see her fall.

The next day, Hanbi got up. Hua Wu helped her wash and dress. Since it was for praying, Hanbi chose only a plain-colored dress. She instructed Hua Wu and Ningzhi to look after the Zhaoyue Palace. She took Linglong and got into the carriage leaving the palace.

Jing’an Temple was not far from the palace, and the journey was smooth. Hanbi, wearing a veiled hat, was helped out of the carriage by Linglong. There were only a few begonia flowers in front of the temple. Looking at the familiar scenery, Hanbi said to the accompanying Imperial Guards, “Just wait outside. I don’t want anyone to disturb my prayers.”

The Imperial Guards naturally dared not disobey. Hanbi and Linglong then stepped into the temple gate. Jing’an Temple was under royal patronage, and most of the temple’s residents were nuns, so female pilgrims liked to come here. The abbess naturally recognized Hanbi. She was dressed in a simple nun’s robe, but her eyes held a sense of compassion. After hearing their intention, she quickly led her to the main hall to pray for blessings.

After entering the hall, Hanbi first lit three sticks of incense and placed them in the censer in front of the Buddha statue. She then knelt on the cushion on the ground and sincerely bowed three times before rising.

Seeing her devotion, the abbess chanted a Buddhist epithet. “Zhaoyi is so sincere. Her wishes will surely be granted.” Hanbi merely smiled faintly and did not reply.

The abbess pointed to a wooden bamboo tube nearby. “Does Zhaoyi want to draw a fortune stick?” After a moment, Hanbi said, “Alright.”

She reached out a delicate hand and placed it on the stick. It contained a fragmented line of poetry: “Dense green, ten thousand branches, one red spot.” “What is the meaning of this stick?” Hanbi handed the stick to the abbess, who smiled and shook her head. “This humble nun is shallow and unable to interpret it.”

Hanbi did not press the abbess. She only said she wanted to rest for a while in the meditation room. The abbess naturally agreed, but when the abbess offered to lead the way, Hanbi declined. “No need to trouble the abbess. Just send the vegetarian meal to the room.”

Linglong stood guard outside. Hanbi entered the meditation room, closed the door, and only relaxed when she saw Shen Zhuo inside, with no one else around.

The furnishings in the meditation room were extremely simple, but Shen Zhuo himself, merely sitting there boiling tea, was enough of a beautiful sight. Boiling water was poured into a celadon teacup. The water turned jade green, and the tea leaves tumbled within.

Hanbi took a sip and said, “Isn’t it too wasteful to treat a guest with Xiaolongtuan (a type of prized tea)? Shen Zhuo did not answer. He filled another cup for himself, then stopped his movements and said, “Speak. Why did you summon me here?”

Hanbi looked at him without reservation. “I hope you will handle this autumn exam impartially. Now that the noble families are entrenched, even with the Imperial Examination, if one lacks background, no matter how well their policy essay is written, there is no hope.”

Shen Zhuo gently tapped the corner of the desk. “I would deal with it this way even if you didn’t say anything. The court established the Imperial Examination to recruit talented individuals, but now it has been monopolized by the noble families.”

Hanbi chuckled upon hearing this. “You really haven’t changed.” Shen Zhuo’s eyes deepened for a moment, but it quickly passed. Haven’t changed…?

“Since there’s nothing else, I’ll leave first.” Shen Zhuo was about to stand up when he heard movement outside and Linglong’s voice.

Hanbi placed her hand over his lips, signaling him not to speak. Her soft hand lightly brushed Shen Zhuo’s lips.

Yun Tinglu had learned the news that Hanbi was leaving the palace to pray for blessings. She vaguely felt that the matter was not simple. Was Hanbi leaving the palace for something illicit?

Thus, she also came to Jing’an Temple, under the pretense of praying. Seeing Linglong guarding outside, Yun Tinglu became more certain that Hanbi must be meeting someone in private, which led to the commotion outside.

“What is all the noise about?” Hanbi pushed the door of the meditation room open. She saw Linglong nearly getting into a fight with the people Consort Shu had brought, but Linglong easily restrained the two maidservants by Consort Shu’s side. Consort Shu, seeing her, became brazen. “Consort Cui is quite at leisure. What are you doing alone in this meditation room? Are you perhaps meeting someone in secret?”

Those words were malicious. Even Hanbi frowned slightly. “What do you mean, Empress Dowager? You wrong this concubine. I was only feeling tired, so I had Linglong guard outside for a convenient rest.”

Consort Shu did not listen to her explanation and instead wanted to go in and find out. She pushed Hanbi aside. Linglong, reacting quickly, rushed forward to support Hanbi.

Inside the meditation room, it was completely empty. Only the couch showed signs of being disturbed. Consort Shu thought she had caught Hanbi in the act but had unexpectedly found nothing. She was momentarily annoyed.

There were not many furnishings in the meditation room. How could a person be hidden? But she still did not give up and searched for a while, yet still found nothing. Consort Shu was both angry and frustrated. She could only flick her sleeves and leave.

After Consort Shu left, Hanbi closed the door again. “Alright, come down.”

It turned out that Shen Zhuo had been hiding in the rafters. Since the rafters hadn’t been cleaned for a long time, Shen Zhuo’s clothes were covered in dust. Hanbi knew Shen Zhuo was fond of cleanliness and attempted to wipe him with a silk handkerchief.

Shen Zhuo uncomfortably avoided her. “I’ll do it myself.” The handkerchief was in her hand, and as soon as Shen Zhuo’s hand touched Hanbi’s, he immediately withdrew it.

After wiping himself, Shen Zhuo carefully folded the silk handkerchief. “I’ll have someone wash it and return it to you when I get back.” Hanbi smiled. “No need. It’s not a valuable item anyway. Leaving evidence would be bad. You… Lord Shen, just burn it.”

She was still indifferent and distant. Thinking of this, Shen Zhuo felt an inexplicable emotion in his heart. Hanbi was oblivious to this and instead instructed him, “When you leave, use the back door of Jing’an Temple. Consort Shu is probably not giving up and will surely be guarding the main entrance.”

Shen Zhuo nodded slightly. Before leaving, he glanced at Hanbi, his eyes profound.

When Shen Zhuo returned to the Shen Mansion, the sky was already cloaked in dusk. In the Listening Pine Pavilion, he dismissed Mo Chi and sat alone by the desk, taking out the silk handkerchief from his sleeve. In truth, the handkerchief was unremarkable; Hanbi wouldn’t be foolish enough to put any identifying marks on it.

Shen Zhuo spread the handkerchief on the desk. Actually, at that moment, he had wanted to ask Hanbi about her previous injury, but he ultimately didn’t ask. He really wasn’t in a position to ask a palace concubine such a question.

Yet, Hanbi was willing to meet him. A faint feeling of good fortune arose in his heart. Even though he knew this was treasonous, his coveting the new Emperor’s concubine was fundamentally against all law and reason.

That night, as he lay on his bed, in Shen Zhuo’s dream, the Cui family did not suffer that misfortune, and he and Hanbi got married smoothly.

In the wedding chamber, with the festive red candles, he used the measuring rod to lift her veil, revealing her face like a hibiscus under the lamplight. She even had a pomegranate blossom-shaped huadian (forehead decoration) pasted on her forehead. Perhaps she had instructed the makeup artist herself.

“Liuniang,” Shen Zhuo’s voice was low. Hanbi looked at him with a smile and blinked.

“It’s time to drink the wedding cup (Hejin wine),” Shen Zhuo handed her the half-gourd filled with wine. She wore a flowery crown today, her eyes shimmering. Seeing Shen Zhuo staring at her, she smiled and said, “Why are you staring at me?” Then she drank the wine with him.

Shen Zhuo casually put the wine vessel back. His slightly cool fingers touched Hanbi’s lips. The sensation was like the petals of a pomegranate flower after the rain, with a hint of dampness.