The banquet for the Empress's investiture ceremony followed the customary nine rounds of toasts, accompanied by music and arranged dances, much like previous grand court feasts. The most significant change was the refreshingly novel display platters. In the courtyard of the Great Celebration Hall, the usual display of sheep heads, meats, and fowl was replaced by a majestic pine tree. Its branches and leaves bore the artistic flair of literati brushstrokes, with a spirit as vast as the sky and an energy as vibrant as a rainbow, the tree's form robust and elegantly beautiful. At the center, beneath the trunk, were inserted wintersweet, irises, camellia leaves, and bittersweet vines bearing fruit like red coral beads, their branches extending in all directions, varying in length and displaying graceful postures. At the base of the trunk, in a square pot, stood two rugged and peculiar stones, lending the entire scene an air of towering mountains, lofty trees, and the poetic charm of green moss and fragrant light.
The display platters on the tables featured an abundance of flowers and fruits. Flowers predominantly used pine, plum, camellia, and narcissus, while fruits included kumquats, pomelos, and citrons. These were either arranged in vases or displayed on plates, exuding an elegant and refined aura, with colors and symbolism that highlighted the festive atmosphere. Bamboo was often used as floral containers, crafted into tubes or boat-shaped vessels, filled with water and flowers, and hung from the beams, pillars, and brackets inside the hall.
Before taking her seat, the Empress Dowager deliberately observed the pine tree in the courtyard, silently admiring it, and asked Zhang Zhibei, "Is this tree from the Rear Garden? I don’t recall seeing it before."
Zhang Zhibei bowed slightly and replied, "This tree is not a natural plant. It was assembled by Court Gentleman for Promotion of Righteousness Lin Hong using branches and leaves pruned from the Rear Garden."
"Not a real tree?" the Empress Dowager exclaimed in surprise. She examined the details of the trunk more closely and, after a moment, sighed in admiration, "Truly a masterpiece that rivals nature."
After taking her seat, the Empress Dowager noticed that the arrangement on her own table was unique. There were two floral containers, one tall and one short. The tall one was a Ru kiln vase, in which pine branches, plum blossoms, and camellias were arranged from top to bottom. The pine branches were lush and green, the camellias grand and abundant, and the red plum blossoms cascaded downward in a cliff-like manner, creating a lavish yet elegant composition. The shorter container was a white porcelain water jar, arranged with a miniature landscape of lingzhi mushrooms and eaglewood mountain scenes. Beside the containers were placed two lily bulbs and a persimmon.
"These flowers and fruits are meant to convey the meaning of 'all things as desired, longevity, and welcoming spring,'" Zhang Zhibei explained with a smile.
"Were these flowers also arranged by Court Gentleman Lin?" the Empress Dowager asked.
Zhang Zhibei replied, "Indeed. All the floral decorations in the hall today were done by him with the assistance of the Hanlin Office eunuchs. The arrangement on Your Majesty’s table was completed by him alone."
The Empress Dowager nodded. "He is quite thoughtful."
Upon hearing that the display platters for this banquet would exclusively feature flowers and fruits, the Empress Dowager had initially been displeased, believing it would diminish the imperial grandeur and exude an air of poverty. Now, however, the scene had turned out to be unexpectedly satisfying. Flowers and fruits could indeed embellish an atmosphere of prosperity and joy. Moreover, the most precious materials among all the display platters—the lingzhi mushrooms and eaglewood mountain scenes—had been placed on her table. These items were both valuable and elegant, fitting the overall tone of the banquet while maintaining the dignity the Empress Dowager required. It was clear that he fully understood her mindset.
Although Lin Hong had visited the Northern Inner Palace multiple times to discuss matters related to the Gathering Scenery Garden, the Empress Dowager had mostly assigned Cheng Yuan to receive and relay messages. On the rare occasions when she spoke directly with him, she had him stand far behind multiple layers of curtains, never allowing her to see his true appearance. Today, the floral arrangements at the banquet had secretly won her admiration for his talent, sparking a degree of curiosity about him personally. After the Five Cups of Wine were served, during the intermission when guests refreshed themselves and adorned their hair with flowers, the Empress Dowager immediately ordered Zhang Zhibei to summon Lin Hong before the curtains to converse with him.Lin Hong, in accordance with etiquette, wore a large silver-red silk flower pinned beside his black gauze headdress. His fair complexion, set against the flower, made him appear even more handsome, like jade carved into a crown. The Empress Dowager had someone lift the beaded curtain and examined Lin Hong carefully before smiling and saying, "Indeed, Court Gentleman for Spreading Righteousness is a man of remarkable talent."
The Empress Dowager asked Lin Hong his age and whether he was married. Upon receiving his answers, she smiled and remarked to the Emperor and Empress, "How strange—the officials in the court with daughters have actually let him slip by?"
Both the Emperor and Empress smiled without replying, so Zhang Zhibei answered on their behalf: "Those wishing to propose marriage to Court Gentleman for Spreading Righteousness could line up from Phoenix Mountain all the way to Qinghe Lane. Unfortunately, he keeps his doors closed and refuses to meet anyone, so no marriage arrangements have been made."
The Empress Dowager then said to Lin Hong, "Court Gentleman for Spreading Righteousness, have you not yet met a suitable match? Tell me, what kind of young lady do you admire? Perhaps I could act as a matchmaker for you."
Lin Hong bowed in gratitude to the Empress Dowager but did not answer, his face flushing slightly. Seeing this, the Empress Dowager laughed and said, "Very well, I won’t embarrass you in front of everyone. In the coming months, while you oversee the construction of the Gathering Scenery Garden, you may also consider your own marriage. If there is a young lady you admire, tell me when the sleeping quarters of the Gathering Scenery Garden are completed, and I shall make the arrangements for you."
Zhang Zhibei quickly reminded Lin Hong, "A marriage arranged by the Empress Dowager is a great honor!"
Lin Hong bowed again to express his gratitude to the Empress Dowager. Then, thinking of Zhenzhen, he felt that the Empress Dowager’s promise would surely allow them to fulfill their wishes, and his heart swelled with joy.
After the banquet, the Empress Dowager returned to the Northern Inner Palace. Cheng Yuan accompanied her along the way and, recalling the Empress Dowager’s attitude toward Lin Hong that day, cautiously asked, "Is Your Majesty truly prepared to arrange a marriage for Court Gentleman for Spreading Righteousness?"
"Yes," the Empress Dowager replied with closed eyes, her tone calm. "Lin Hong’s eyes are clear, and his entire being is pure, like a person carved from ice and jade. Consort Liu and he do not seem like siblings at all."
The Empress Dowager’s intention to arrange a marriage for Lin Hong made the Emperor quite uneasy. He knew that if Lin Hong were allowed to choose his own wife, he would most likely choose Zhenzhen, which would disrupt his own plans.
After pondering the matter several times, the Emperor felt he could not afford to wait. One day, he summoned the Crown Prince and Zhenzhen together to the Hall of Blessing and Tranquility and asked the Empress to convey his arrangements to them.
The Empress spoke kindly to the two: "Since the Crown Prince’s marriage, he has not taken any concubines. Although the Crown Prince and his wife are deeply devoted to each other, and the Crown Princess is exceptionally virtuous, the Eastern Palace is a vast and complex household with many affairs to manage. The Crown Princess may not be able to handle everything alone. The Emperor hopes that the Crown Prince will select an intelligent and kind-hearted woman as a concubine to assist in managing the affairs of the Eastern Palace. This way, she can serve the Crown Prince while also helping the Crown Princess, so that she does not become overly burdened. Zhenzhen is clever, capable, excels in culinary arts, handles matters with great care, and has made notable contributions since entering the palace. Her age and appearance are also suitable. Therefore, if you are willing, I shall prepare a dowry for Zhenzhen and choose an auspicious day to send her to the Eastern Palace."
Zhenzhen was completely unprepared for this. Hearing the news, she was stunned and speechless, unsure how to respond. Seeing this, the Crown Prince bowed slightly to the Emperor and Empress and said, "I thank Father and Mother for your kind intentions. However, the Crown Princess and I have always lived in harmony, and she has done nothing wrong. Taking a concubine at this time would likely cause her great sorrow.""Regarding the previous incident with Meng Yunxiu, it could also be said to be the Crown Princess's fault," the Emperor continued. "She disregarded your opinion and openly expressed her intention to choose Meng Yunxiu as the Crown Prince's concubine, making Meng Yunxiu the target of public criticism. After Meng Yunxiu was humiliated and hanged herself, the Crown Princess only knew how to cry and pushed the punishment of Ruier onto you. As the mistress of the Eastern Palace, she failed to punish the guilty maid or deter the other servants—a complete dereliction of duty."
The Crown Prince defended her, saying, "She is simply too kind-hearted and cannot bear to punish the servants harshly."
"This is not kindness; it is weakness!" the Emperor stated bluntly. "If she avoids dealing with such minor matters, how will she ever be fit to become the mother of a nation?"
Seeing the Crown Prince fall silent, the Empress spoke gently to persuade him: "The Crown Princess comes from a noble family, raised in luxury and comfort, and has never experienced the hardships of life. Therefore, she lacks experience in handling such matters... The Emperor's suggestion certainly has merit. If Zhenzhen assists in managing the Eastern Palace, she will undoubtedly handle such affairs with great propriety, allowing the Crown Prince to have no worries."
"Your Majesty, Empress, please allow this humble servant to say a few words," Zhenzhen spoke up at this moment. "When two people discuss marriage, they must be prepared to spend decades together. Shouldn't the first consideration be whether their temperaments are compatible and their interests aligned? Your Majesty's intention to arrange a concubine for the Crown Prince seems not to consider whether he likes her but rather to find someone to assist in managing the Eastern Palace's affairs. In truth, this is a task that could be accomplished by appointing a female official. Why must the Crown Prince take a concubine, adding another person between him and the Crown Princess?"
"The Crown Prince is the heir apparent and will one day become the Son of Heaven. The imperial harem will not consist of only an empress. It is only a matter of time before he takes consorts and concubines. Since that is the case, why not do it now? It would both assist in managing the Eastern Palace and expand the royal lineage—killing two birds with one stone." At this point, the Emperor fixed his gaze on Zhenzhen and spoke candidly, "Zhenzhen, I am also considering your lifelong happiness, hoping to find the most suitable person for you—someone who can allow you to continue utilizing your talents while also granting you sufficient honor and status. And the Crown Prince is precisely that most suitable person."
Zhenzhen shook her head. "For me, the most suitable person is someone with whom I share mutual affection, not someone who can grant me honor and status."
Hearing this, the Emperor felt an inexplicable surge of anger. He pulled the Crown Prince in front of Zhenzhen and said to her angrily, "Tell me, in what way does my son fall short of the person you believe shares mutual affection with you? Is it in appearance, talent, character, or temperament?"
Zhenzhen lowered her head, tears welling in her eyes, and prostrated herself. "How dare this humble servant presume to comment on the Crown Prince? It is this servant's misfortune to be unworthy of His Highness."
The Crown Prince gently freed himself from his father's grasp and knelt before him, clasping his hands respectfully. "Father, what Palace Manager Wu said is not without reason. In the eyes of those in love, fame, fortune, and glory are but fleeting clouds. Only mutual affection can sustain a lifelong union. Palace Manager Wu already has someone she cares for and has no intention of entering the Eastern Palace. I also do not wish to force her into the Eastern Palace merely because I admire her talents. I implore you to reconsider."
He solemnly kowtowed to the Emperor, then raised his head and slowly said to his father, "Talented individuals can be cultivated again, but if lovers are separated, it is for a lifetime."
These words finally silenced the Emperor. After pondering for a long while, he waved his hand, ordering the Crown Prince and Zhenzhen to withdraw.
Once outside the hall, Zhenzhen raised her hands to her forehead and performed a deep bow to the Crown Prince, thanking him for speaking up on her behalf. The Crown Prince couldn't help but smile. "Speaking up on your behalf? I suppose entering the Eastern Palace seems to you like a lamb entering a tiger's den."
Zhenzhen hurriedly waved her hands. "No, no, that's not what I meant..."The Crown Prince gently comforted her, "I was only joking, please don't take it to heart." Then, with a warm smile, he added, "I wish you and Lord Xuan Yi an early union of good fortune, with harmonious companionship like the qin and se."
Zhenzhen was surprised, her face flushing as she asked, "Your Highness knows?"
The Crown Prince smiled faintly, "That day, Lord Xuan Yi had someone pour you Meisidahua wine without asking you first—clearly, he is extremely familiar with you to act so. Later, when Pu Luxin pulled Shi Huaien and me to see the mountain spring, Lord Xuan Yi, as the host and the one overseeing the Eastern Palace project, should not have stayed behind in the meditation room, whether by reason or propriety. I understood then that he must have stayed because he very much wanted to be alone with you."
Zhenzhen lowered her head in embarrassment, pondering Lin Hong's thoughts at that time as he spoke, and a warm feeling naturally arose in her heart.
"Wait a little longer," the Crown Prince said gently, his eyes still holding a smile, "Soon, you two will be able to stay together for a long time."
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