Lin Hong walked alone toward Lizheng Gate. Zhenzhen thought for a moment and, still feeling uneasy, quietly followed behind him as he re-entered Brocade Rouge Corridor, intending to escort him to the palace gate. As they neared the end of the corridor, she suddenly saw Zhao Ai and Yin Ti approaching from the opposite direction. Both were dressed in tight-sleeved hunting attire, carrying bows and arrows on their backs, having apparently just returned from a hunt. Zhao Ai held a porcupine in his hand, laughing as he playfully swung it toward Yin Ti. Yin Ti, holding a gray wild rabbit with both hands, dodged left and right to avoid being pricked by the porcupine’s quills. The two chased and frolicked in the corridor like mischievous children of seven or eight.
Upon seeing this, Lin Hong stopped and waited quietly for them to approach. Zhenzhen covered her forehead with her hand, turned her head aside, and sighed inwardly, thinking how utterly childish the two were. In comparison, Lin Hong before her seemed even more like an orchid or jade tree—elegant, refined, and dignified.
Yin Ti was the first to notice Lin Hong. Having previously been ordered to escort Lin Hong to Gathering Scenery Garden for surveying, he recognized him immediately. With a smile, he stepped forward to greet him and introduced him to Zhao Ai: “Second Great King, this is Court Gentleman for Ceremonial Service, the cousin of Consort Liu.”
Lin Hong returned Yin Ti’s greeting and then turned to bow to Zhao Ai. However, Zhao Ai had already spotted Zhenzhen behind Lin Hong. His smile instantly faded as his gaze swept briefly over Lin Hong and Zhenzhen before settling on their shoes. His brow furrowed slightly.
Zhao Ai knew that The Emperor and Consort Liu were hosting Lin Hong at Furong Pavilion that day. Seeing Zhenzhen accompanying Lin Hong, he guessed that The Emperor had likely ordered her to escort him out. However, both Lin Hong and Zhenzhen had traces of soft mud on the edges of their shoes, indicating that they had not taken the main palace paths for the entire journey. From Furong Pavilion to this point, the main paths were paved with brick steps or wooden floors. Unless they had strayed from the steps and corridors into flower beds or dense woods, their shoes would not have been stained with mud.
Zhao Ai held his breath and looked up, carefully observing Lin Hong. He found him poised and dignified, his demeanor and grace indeed as exceptional as rumored. Then he noticed a small locust flower clinging to one side of Lin Hong’s three-tiered crown. The locust grove was far from Brocade Rouge Corridor and rarely visited at this hour. The thought deepened Zhao Ai’s suspicion. He glanced at Zhenzhen and saw her silently gazing at Lin Hong’s retreating figure, lost in thought, even forgetting to greet him.
A pang of jealousy stirred within him, but Zhao Ai suppressed it, careful not to let his emotions show. In a flash of thought, he smiled warmly and stepped toward Lin Hong, clasping his hands in greeting: “So it’s Uncle Lin! I’ve long heard of your reputation. What a pleasure to meet you!”
The term “uncle” took the other three by surprise. Lin Hong lowered his eyes and said, “I dare not accept such an honor.” But Zhao Ai stepped forward enthusiastically, took Lin Hong’s hand, and guided him toward Zhenzhen, saying with a smile, “Zhenzhen, Uncle Lin is our elder. You must show him extra respect and not neglect propriety. When escorting Uncle Lin out of the palace, how can you walk behind him? You should walk ahead to guide the way.”
Who are you to say “our”! And forcing Teacher Lin on me as an “uncle”? Zhenzhen fumed inwardly, silently cursing Zhao Ai. Yet, bound by etiquette, she couldn’t openly refute him in front of others. With a cold expression, she muttered an indistinct acknowledgment and stepped ahead of Lin Hong.
Seeing the situation between the two, Lin Hong understood somewhat. He bowed slightly to Zhao Ai and said, “The palace gate is just ahead. There’s no need to trouble Director Wu to escort me further.”
Zhao Ai nodded. “In that case, Uncle Lin should return early and rest.”
Lin Hong bid farewell to Zhao Ai, Yin Ti, and Zhenzhen in turn.
After Lin Hong had gone, Zhao Ai smiled at Zhenzhen and said, “Let me escort you back to the Bureau of Palace Provisions.”Zhenzhen said coldly, "There is a distinction between noble and humble; I dare not trouble the Second Great King to see me off." She gave him a slight bow, then turned and left.
Zhao Ai chuckled lightly and continued along the Brocade Rouge Corridor back to his residence. Yin Ti hurried to catch up, asking curiously, "Consort Liu is only Your Highness's stepmother by concubinage, and her rank isn't high. Your Highness is the Emperor's legitimate son, so why do you call her cousin 'uncle'?"
Zhao Ai replied indifferently, "Our dynasty esteems propriety. As a member of the imperial clan, I should set an example for others, showing extra respect to elders among the imperial relatives. What harm is there in calling him 'uncle'? One can never be too courteous."
"Oh, I see..." Yin Ti seemed to have a sudden realization, scratching his head before laughing, "Come to think of it, I'm also Your Highness's elder. Should Your Highness start calling me 'uncle' from now on? How embarrassing..."
"What did you say? I didn't hear you." Zhao Ai picked up the porcupine again, gesturing as if to swing it toward Yin Ti's backside. "Hurry up, Yin Ti!"
Lin Hong soon requested to resign from the Emperor, asking permission to return to his hometown. The Emperor naturally refused, repeatedly urging him to stay. However, Lin Hong was determined to leave. He left his official cap, robes, and the drawings he had made over the past days for the Gathering Scenery Garden in his residence, changed into plain clothes, and rode away from the capital on horseback.
The Emperor was quite annoyed and somewhat anxious. The Empress Dowager had never liked Consort Liu. The Emperor had accepted the Consort's recommendation to involve Lin Hong in the design of the Gathering Scenery Garden, hoping his work would please the Empress Dowager and improve the relationship between her and the Consort. Initially, he dared not tell the Empress Dowager that Lin Hong was Consort Liu's cousin. Instead, he first presented Lin Hong's proposal. After obtaining the Empress Dowager's approval, he summoned Lin Hong to meet her and discuss the details in person. The Empress Dowager was full of praise upon meeting him, repeatedly exclaiming what a talented person Lin Hong was. Only then did the Emperor cautiously reveal Lin Hong's familial relationship with Consort Liu. Although the Empress Dowager was somewhat displeased, she silently accepted the fact because she genuinely admired Lin Hong's talent. Now, unaware of these underlying circumstances, Lin Hong had rashly resigned and returned to his hometown. How should the Emperor explain this to the Empress Dowager? He feared she might think the siblings had conspired to mock her, leading to even greater resentment toward the Consort in the future.
When the Emperor discussed this with Consort Liu, she too became fearful. With tears streaming down her face, she knelt and bowed, saying, "Ning Ge'er has long lived in the mountains, like a carefree cloud or a wild crane, accustomed to following his whims. He doesn't understand rules or know what's important. It is my fault for not teaching my cousin well. I beg Your Majesty to punish me. I willingly accept all blame and am also willing to personally go to Wuyi Mountain to bring my cousin back."
"Nonsense!" the Emperor scolded. "As a consort, how could you leave the palace and travel to a distant commandery? Your cousin's ignorance is one thing, but you, having long resided in the palace, speak so thoughtlessly!"
Consort Liu wept bitterly, prostrating herself on the ground, removing her hairpins to apologize.
Zhenzhen, observing this, understood the Emperor's dilemma. Seizing an opportunity when they were alone, she requested of the Emperor, "Your Majesty, if permitted, this humble servant might go to Wuyi Mountain to persuade the Court Gentleman for Manifest Righteousness to return to the capital."
"You?" the Emperor asked in surprise. "You've only met him once. What confidence do you have in persuading him?"
Zhenzhen gently presented a cup of Blooming Wintersweet Tea before the Emperor and said, "Before I entered the palace, the Court Gentleman taught me culinary skills. This Blooming Wintersweet Tea, as well as the previous Crab-Stuffed Orange and Cloud-Skimming Hotpot... were all dishes he taught me to make. We share a master-disciple bond. I know his temperament and character. With careful persuasion, he might listen."The Emperor studied her for a long while before finally saying, "Very well, you may go and try. The journey to Wuyi Mountain is long. I will send two eunuchs to escort you. Make sure to return as soon as possible. As for the Empress Dowager, I will tell her for now that Lin Hong has family matters to attend to and must leave the capital for a few days. Once everything is settled, he will return soon."
Accompanied by the two eunuchs, Zhenzhen arrived at Wuyi Mountain. At the entrance of the Woodcutter Inquiry Post, she saw Xin Sanniang feeding cranes in the garden but no sign of Lin Hong. Zhenzhen called out to San Niang, who looked up and saw her. In that instant, San Niang forgot her earlier displeasure before Zhenzhen’s departure and greeted her joyfully, "Zhenzhen, you’re back? Come in quickly!"
Zhenzhen explained to Xin Sanniang that she had been sent to find Lin Hong. San Niang said, "Last year, the young master bought a garden in Suzhou. A few days ago, he sent a letter saying he would go to Suzhou for a few days. If you wish to find him, I’ll give you the address later, and you can follow it to look for him."
After dinner, once the two eunuchs were settled in their accommodations, Xin Sanniang led Zhenzhen to her former room and said, "After you left, the young master didn’t let me change anything in here. It’s still kept exactly as it was when you were here. He even asked me to wash the bedding regularly, as if waiting for your return."
Zhenzhen looked around the room. It was as elegant and clean as before—every bed, chair, cup, and bowl remained exactly as it had been, as if she had never left.
"Last year, on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the young master came to this room, opened the doors and windows, gazed at the moon, and sat alone all night," Xin Sanniang said. "A Che and I both guessed he was missing you."
Clearly, he had been waiting for her to fulfill their Mid-Autumn Festival promise. Hearing this, Zhenzhen didn’t know whether to feel joy or sorrow. As San Niang described the spot where Lin Hong had sat, imagining his lonely vigil throughout the night, her eyes reddened. Under San Niang’s gentle questioning, she explained the reasons she had to enter the palace to find her mother and shared the news of her mother’s passing.
Xin Sanniang sighed with emotion, then took Zhenzhen’s hand and advised, "Since your mother is no longer here, there’s no need for you to stay in the palace. You and the young master care for each other deeply—why not be together? Although you entered the palace, you’re only a court lady and still have the chance to leave. In the future, when The Emperor releases palace women, you can request to go. They say The Emperor is most benevolent and will likely agree."
Zhenzhen remained silent for a moment before smiling sadly and saying, "In the palace, I saw 'Luo Shen.'"
Xin Sanniang was taken aback. Zhenzhen elaborated further, "The Luo Shen that A Che spoke of, the Goddess of Childbearing that San Niang mentioned... the painting that Teacher Lin guards day and night."
"You saw Liu Luowei?" Xin Sanniang asked.
Zhenzhen replied gloomily, "The one Teacher Lin truly loves is her, isn’t it?""Ah, that was so many years ago," Xin Sanniang sighed, deciding to tell her this past story. "After the young master's father passed away in Lin'an, his mother took him back to live in Wuyi Mountain. When the young master was five years old, a young woman came to see his mother, bringing an eight-year-old girl with her. She said her surname was Yu and that she was the girl's wet nurse. The girl's surname was Liu, and she was the young master's cousin. They had come from Lingnan because that year, a plague was raging there, and the little girl's parents had both fallen ill and died. The wet nurse had no choice but to bring her to seek refuge with the Lin family. Then she produced several documents to prove their identities. The young master's father did indeed have a cousin who had married into Lingnan, but they were far apart and had not been in contact for many years. Seeing that the little girl was lovely as jade and snow, and well-behaved, the mistress took a liking to her and took in both her and her wet nurse. That little girl was Luo Wei."
Zhenzhen nodded. "I heard about this from The Emperor and Consort Liu. Later, Madam Lin also passed away from illness, and from then on, the two children grew up relying on each other."
"Exactly. They were the only family each other had, so they became especially close. The young master was very attached to Luo Wei, following her around every day..." Xin Sanniang continued, "It’s strange to say, but although Madam Yu was a wet nurse, she was beautiful, with skin as white as snow, unlike someone from Lingnan. Moreover, she not only knew how to cook but could also play the qin and dance. Her speech and manners were like those of someone from a well-to-do family who had seen the world. She taught Luo Wei music, dance, and culinary skills from a young age, and also had her study alongside the young master. They studied from morning till night. If Luo Wei showed signs of fatigue or stole a moment to rest, she would be scolded by her..."
Zhenzhen said in surprise, "She was just a wet nurse—how dare she scold the young lady of the household?"Xin Sanniang said, "Indeed, we also found it strange. She was extremely strict in disciplining Luo Wei, scolding her in front of us and sometimes even whipping her behind closed doors. Once, the young master discovered this, shielded Luo Wei, and angrily reprimanded Madam Yu, after which she restrained herself somewhat. We felt her behavior was excessive and advised her many times, but she said Luo Wei's parents hoped she would grow into a refined lady, well-versed in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, skilled in cooking, and capable of supporting her husband and raising children in the future. She claimed she was supervising the girl in accordance with her parents' wishes. So, we couldn't say much more. However, the young master despised her and grew increasingly inseparable from Luo Wei, protecting her and preventing Madam Yu from hitting or scolding her... As they grew older, everyone in the Lin family hoped the young master and Luo Wei would naturally marry, but Madam Yu was unwilling. She became even stricter in controlling Luo Wei, absolutely forbidding the young master from being alone with her. When Luo Wei turned eighteen, The Emperor announced the selection of commoner girls to enter the palace. Madam Yu secretly took Luo Wei to apply without telling us, only informing us after she was selected and about to leave. The young master wept bitterly, begging Luo Wei to stay. Though reluctant, under Madam Yu's watchful eye, Luo Wei said nothing, only sighed. On the day of departure, Madam Yu and Luo Wei left the mountain before dawn to avoid the young master's attempts to stop them. But shortly after they left, the young master discovered their absence. In the chilly dawn of late autumn, he rushed out in just a thin robe to chase after Luo Wei. He finally caught up with her by the river and even grabbed her hand, but Luo Wei pulled away and resolutely boarded the boat. The young master stood motionless on the riverbank, watching her leave until noon, when we forcibly dragged him back. Later, he fell seriously ill. During that time, I quietly disposed of the utensils and belongings Luo Wei had left behind, fearing they would stir his emotions, and forbade A Che and the others from mentioning Luo Wei again. After recovering, he never asked about her, but he painted that portrait himself and hung it in his room, gazing at it all day long..."
At this point, she paused, patted Zhenzhen's hand, and smiled at her. "Later, when you arrived, the young master regained some vitality and began to smile again. I thought that after so many years, those who crave vanity would fade from his memory, at least to some extent. Luo Wei has become The Emperor's consort—a fact that cannot be changed—and he surely understands this. So, as long as you put in some effort and treat him well, he will surely forget Luo Wei and accept you."
The next morning, Xin Sanniang saw Zhenzhen off at the ferry, holding her hand and repeatedly urging, "Once you reach Suzhou, spend a few more days with the young master. Don't rush back to the palace... The young master's garden is spacious enough for you to stay in, so don't look for an inn outside."
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